Why the nickel corner is different and harder

[MightyGiants]

Former Seahawk starting QB Marcus Trufant is moving inside and talks about the adjustment

Trufant

[President Rick]

today, a team needs three CB's just to start the game [in a passing situation].  given nfl injuries, having a solid 4th CB is a given.  then, 2-3 backups are needed as well.  it's like DE.  for me a lot of this relates to the still absurd 53/45 man roster rules.  you have 22 positions, plus P, K, and LS.  that's 25 guys if no one gets hurt.  53 / 45 just aren't enough unless you want to have starters on the ST's all day long.  and with fatigue and injuries, THAT would diminish the quality of play.

[murderhill]

today, a team needs three CB's just to start the game [in a passing situation].  given nfl injuries, having a solid 4th CB is a given.  then, 2-3 backups are needed as well.  it's like DE.  for me a lot of this relates to the still absurd 53/45 man roster rules.  you have 22 positions, plus P, K, and LS.  that's 25 guys if no one gets hurt.  53 / 45 just aren't enough unless you want to have starters on the ST's all day long.  and with fatigue and injuries, THAT would diminish the quality of play.

rick- we do have starters on ST.  I don't think fatigue would play a big part and I am not positive, but I don't think we had a lot of ST injuries either.  Do you know if the 53/45 rule gets debated/reconsidered? 

[MightyGiants]

The Giants kept 5 CBs and 5 Ss last year.

Also didn't they bump the game day roster to 46 and did away with the 3rd QB rule?

[Painter]

That's a good explanation of the added difficulty posed by the slot corner position. It always have been a fact; it simply has become much more significant in recent years.  Not long ago, the only time the offense put three WRs on the field was on an occasional 3rd and long, or more likely when they were trying to play catch up. Now they may do it on any down and distance, and at anytime in the game. And so the 3rd receiver, the one in the slot has become a weapon not just a sub.

Correspondingly, the third DB, the guy we have referred to in an almost dismissive manner as the Nickel Back, has become a specialist as well.  He's no longer just a Nickel Back or Nickel Corner; he's the Slot Back.

But we tend to think that the outside, the perimeter Corners have the toughest job because they may be covering the opponents best receiver. True, but when a corner is lined up on the outside, coverage actually can be easier. The opposing receiver is limited as to where he can go. He has the sideline constraining him. A good corner can use the sideline as a defender and pin receivers against it. And he almost always has a Safety behind him.

But unlike perimeter DBs who can often dictate the release of the receiver by their leverage - how far inside or outside of the receiver they line up- the slot DB needs to be quick enough to react to a

[Jian]

Newp!  Just kidding Painter... Very well written and informative post.

Jian

[Painter]

  Thanks, Jian.

Cheers!

[MightyGiants]

PFF talked about the Eagles failure:

Seeing the success of the Packers, the Philadelphia Eagles tried to create a Woodson. Hoping to  duplicate Woodson