What is a discription of nickelback?

Answer 1

A nickel back refers to a position on defense in American Football when a team adds a fifth cornerback, subbing out either a down lineman or linebacker. This type of defensive substitution is typically run in obvious passing downs. When a team runs this type of formation it is usually called the "Nickel D".

If you have a base 3-4 base defense, you would have three down linemen (D. Tackle, Nose Tackle, D. Tackle) and four linebackers (ROLB, RILB, LILB, LOLB), two corners and two safeties. In a nickel D, the 3/4 defense typically subs out a line backer so the defensive front would be 3/3/5, three linemen, 3 linebackers, 5 defensive backs.

In a 4-3 base defense, you would have four down linemen (D-End, D-Tackle, D-Tackle, D-End) and three linebackers (LOLB, MLB, LOLB), two corners and two safeties. In a "Nickel D", the 4-3 defense could sub either a lineman or a linebacker. If you sub out a line backer, the defensive front would be 4/2/5, four linemen, 2 linebackers, 5 defensive backs. If the team were to sub out a lineman the defensive front would be 3/3/5, three linemen, 3 linebackers and 5 defensive backs.