"The nickel now has become a premium position, a defensive-defining position. So having that length and strength is a big advantage, you know, to be able to reroute and disrupt releases of routes. Foot speed to be able to match routes when you're talking about being able to play true single-high coverage. And then your vision to be able to identify route concepts."
"The value of a great nickel is way higher than what most personnel departments think. Most personnel departments are really way behind the times. When you look at it, you look at these offenses that run in-breaking routes off of reductions, and then that is already defeating quarter leverage. And then we talk like, 'Oh, well, the corner is still the most important one.' I just think that that's grossly inaccurate if you're talking about keeping up with the times."
The nickel is a premium, defensive-defining position that demands length, strength, foot speed, and vision to reroute and disrupt route releases. Nickel defenders must identify route concepts and process time and distance much faster than safeties. Safeties have roughly seven to twelve yards to react; nickels must make their first movement within four to five yards. High-quality nickel play neutralizes in-breaking routes and reductions that erode cornerback leverage. The modern offensive landscape increases the value of great nickels, while many personnel departments undervalue or misunderstand that premium role.
Read at Blogging The Boys
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