Get Home With Nickel Knife Fire Zone 3
We call this pressure Nickel Knife Fire Zone 3. We are playing 3 fire zone behind this Nickel and Will pressure. It is one of over 57 different varsity defensive pressures in FirstDown PlayBook. “57?” you say. That’s right but it doesn’t stop there.
FirstDown PlayBook then takes everyone of these pressures and fits them up against six different formations. Why? Because any good defensive football coach knows that the formation adjustments can have huge implications on how you execute any defensive pressure.
Hold on though, that’s not all. Then FirstDown PlayBook takes everyone of these pressures vs all six formations and we motion and tight end trade adjust each one. Starting to get the picture?
Oh yeah, two last things before we sign off. See the player assignments and coaching points at the bottom of this page? That’s right, we do that for every pressure in FirstDown PlayBook.
More FDPB: Keep Your Kickoff Returns Simple & Deceptive
Finally, and the last thing might just be the biggest thing…Now you can edit all of these to fit your system. Talk about a time saver. Enjoy this nickel pressure and the coaching points. Click on the play below to see how you can make FirstDown PlayBook apart of your defensive game planning in 2019!
Nickel Knife Fire Zone 3 Coaching Points
Defensive Front
CALL SIDE END:
ALIGNMENT: 4 TECHNIQUE
ASSIGNMENT: SLANT INTO THE B GAP. READ THE BLOCK OF THE GUARD.
KEY: OFFENSIVE TACKLE TO OFFENSIVE GUARD.
RUN: B GAP.
PASS: B GAP PASS RUSH.
NOSE TACKLE:
ALIGNMENT: 0 TECHNIQUE.
ASSIGNMENT: SLANT INTO THE AWAY A GAP. READ THE GUARD’S BLOCK.
KEY: OFFENSIVE CENTER TO OFFENSIVE GUARD.
RUN: AWAY SIDE A GAP.
PASS: AWAY SIDE A GAP PASS RUSH.
Related: The Same Technique Will Get You Home Vs A Punt Or A Drop Back Passer
AWAY SIDE END:
ALIGNMENT: 4 TECHNIQUE.
ASSIGNMENT: SLANT TO THE C GAP WITH EYES BACK INSIDE.
KEY: OFFENSIVE TACKLE TO TIGHT END IF ONE IS ALIGNED TO YOUR SIDE.
RUN: C GAP.
PASS: CONTAIN PASS RUSH
Linebackers
SAM LB:
ALIGNMENT: 9 TECHNIQUE.
KEY: TACKLE TO RB.
RUN: C GAP. IF TE BLOCKS YOU, KEEP OUTSIDE LEVERAGE.
PASS: DROP INTO COVERAGE & PLAY SEAM FLAT & READ QB’S EYES.
Related: The Transfer Portal & Special Teams
MIKE LB:
ALIGNMENT: 40 TECHNIQUE. (POSSIBLE ADJUST TO THE SKILL)
KEY: TE TO RB (RUN/PASS KEY)
RUN: B GAP.
PASS: PLAY HOOK #3. PASS KEY IS #3. CAN HELP WITH NEAR RECEIVER OR CROSSING ROUTES.
WILL LB:
ALIGNMENT: 20 TECHNIQUE. (POSSIBLE ADJUST TO THE SKILL)
KEY: BACK THRU CENTER.
RUN: B GAP.
PASS: BLITZ B GAP.
Secondary
NICKEL:
ALIGNMENT: HEAD UP TO INSIDE LEVERAGE OF #2.
KEY: #2 TO TACKLE.
RUN: BLITZ C GAP. SET THE EDGE.
PASS: BLITZ C GAP. CONTAIN RUSH.
STRONG SAFETY:
ALIGNMENT: ALIGNMENT: 8-10 YARDS DEEP HEAD UP TO INSIDE OF TE.
RUN: ALLEY INSIDE OUT.
PASS: DEEP MIDDLE THIRD.
FREE SAFETY:
ALIGNMENT: 8-10 YARDS DEEP HEAD UP TO INSIDE OF #2.
ROLL DOWN OVER #2 PRIOR TO SNAP.
KEY: #2.
RUN: ATTACK #2 & DEFEAT HIS BLOCK. KEEP OUTSIDE LEVERAGE ON #2 IF HE BLOCKS.
PASS: ROLL DOWN OVER #2 & SEAM FLAT DROP & READ QB’S EYES.
CALL SIDE CORNER:
ALIGNMENT: OUTSIDE LEVERAGE 7-9 YARDS OFF WR.
RUN TO: ATTACK THE BLOCKER AND WIN OUTSIDE LATE.
RUN AWAY: MAN TO CUTBACK TO PURSUIT ANGLE.
PASS: DEEP THIRD.
AWAY SIDE CORNER:
ALIGNMENT: OUTSIDE LEVERAGE 7-9 YARDS OFF WR.
RUN TO: ATTACK THE BLOCKER AND WIN OUTSIDE LATE.
RUN AWAY: MAN TO CUTBACK TO PURSUIT ANGLE.
PASS: DEEP THIRD.
Notes:
-THE FRONT IS SET TO THE TIGHT END.
-THE PRESSURE (CALL SIDE) IS SET TO THE PASSING STRENGTH.
-THE NICKEL DB WILL LINE UP TO PASSING STRENGTH.
-THE PRESSURE WILL COME FROM THE PASSING STRENGTH.
-THE COVERAGE PLAYED IS 3 UNDER 3 DEEP.
-SEAM FLAT DEFENDERS COLLISION VERTICAL ROUTES & ZONE OFF AT 10-12 YARDS.
-HOOK DEFENDER KEYS #3 RECEIVER IN THE LOW HOLE AREA.
-COVERAGE CAN BE PLAYED AS COVER 1.
