Do CBs play differently in 4-3, Nickle, and Dime or is personnel the only difference?

[tpaterniti]

Lankylegz just made this suggestion so I am curious. Do the CBs play different in Dime than they do in Nickle, or is the only difference between the formations the switching of the LB for a S?

[nyknicks33]

This is a good question, becasue as I mentioned on the thread below..I rarely see people use the base dime defense. Even if they have a stacked secondary.

The most common long down/distance D's is the 3-3 nickle by far...followed by 3-2 dime and base nickle. People seem to prefer to have their LB's on the field as much as possible

[tpaterniti]

So you think the same CB will cover better if you call a Dime play than if you called a Nickle Play?

[Lankylegz]

It's not that they play better it's where they lineup. If you pick a 2 soft zone in dime the CB lines directly infront of the slot guy in a 4 wr set. Pull him up and he will cut of the short out. In 4-3 you have a LB lineing up in the middle of the field. That LB is too slow to get out there and guard the slot wr in a 4 wr set. 4-3 is meant to cover the middle of the field not short outs by wr that are alot faster than LB's. Yes the plays look the same on paper but it's where they lineup and the speed of the players that makes the dime much more effective 4 wr sets. 4-3 is better against I-pro formations. Thats why the NFL teams never come out in 4-3 against a 4 and 5 wr set. You would never see that.

[Lankylegz]

Also yes the same CB will play better in Dime then in a 4-3. He has much less territory to guard. If you pick 4-3 and that cb has two guys in his area... he has to choose which guy to guard. He can only guard one. If you pick dime he has help right beside him to cover the other guy. Simple football basics.

[saviour2k8]

This thread is a bit misleading. 4-3, Nickel, and Dime are terms used to define the personnel package, not a defensive formation. So, no a CB is going to play the same way regardless of the package that you chose. The players will be aligned differently as the package defines what you are trying to defend. (Pass vs Run)

3-4 = 3 defensive lineman, 4 linebackers, 4 defensive backs (Base package geared to stop the run)
4-3 = 4 defensive lineman, 3 linebackers, 4 defensive backs (Base package geared to stop the run)
Nickel = 4 defensive lineman, 5 defensive backs, 2 linebackers (Pass defense)
Dime = 4 defensive lineman, 6 defensive backs, 1 linebacker (Pass defense)

[s38s38s]

Man some questions are just weird, of course the DB's will be more apt to defend the pass becasue they will have more help.

[tpaterniti]

I understand the alignment differences. I am mostly referring to boundary CBs and whether they are programmed to play better in Dime than in Nickle. That means will your LCB play better in Dime than in Nickle simply because he is in Dime. I think not but stranger things have happened. This has nothing to do with alignment unless focus is involved, which I doubt. If you don't understand what I am asking no problem. You don't have to respond to every thread.

[Lankylegz]

Yes he will play better because he has less territory to cover.