While first introduced as a “wrinkle,” Chinander’s nickel package quickly became a staple of last year’s defense, particularly when facing spread offenses. Yet, somehow, it’s gone unnamed. It needs one… something catchy. Personally, I like the alliteration of Nebraska Nickel, so I’ll stick with that**^([1])**. Tangent aside, the look seems to be pretty popular with the defensive coaching staff, which makes it all the more surprising that I haven’t seen much discussion over the change.
For those unfamiliar, the look is a 2-5-4 package where the DEs shift inside to play DT while two OLBs play near/on the line, similar to DEs in a more traditional 4-3 defense ([here’s a visual](https://youtu.be/DsvI7bIJNis?t=301)). When forming the package, Chinander took a lot of influence from Alabama’s Rabbits schemes, which have a very similar [2-4-5 look](https://www.al.com/alabamafootball/2016/10/how_alabamas_nickel_rabbits_pa.html). While Alabama uses a fifth DB called a “STAR,” NU’s nickel player is a coverage-oriented OLB (aka JoJo Domann**^([2])**). In short, it’s whole purpose is to try and counter the ever-increasingly-popular spread offenses who keep +3 receivers on the field at all times. Basically, [it’s a 4-3 defense for 3-4 teams](https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/well-yes-but-actually-no).
With all that taken into account, I think it’s important to talk about the NU Nickel. The 2020 defense started 5 of 8 games in their nickel package, and I wouldn’t be shocked to see that number increases in 2021; Illinois may be a wild card, but I’d bet money that we use it in the first drive against Fordham and Buffalo. What’s more, in the previously linked Big 10 highlights video ([here it is again](https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=301&v=DsvI7bIJNis&feature=youtu.be)), the nickel package makes up a vast majority of the tape. In all, while I’m not saying the Huskers will be dropping the 3-4 any time soon, as long as Chinander is commanding the D, the Nebraska Nickel will likely be a big part of the team’s future. As such, let’s consider the 11 positions in the NU Nickel, and which players might be thrown into its rotation this year and down the line. Since all [but one](https://www.chiefs.com/team/players-roster/dicaprio-bootle/situational/) of the starters have returned to the program, I don’t think many of the 1st rotation guys will be too much of a shock, but as always, the battles brewing lower on the depth chart make for some interesting converstation.
***The DL*** – A lot of players vying for only two spots in this package.
**The 1-TECH****^([3])**: This is the bigger of the two D-linemen, a guy who’s gonna line up off the center an take a double team from a guard to plug up the A-gap running lane (think [Suh](https://www.theringer.com/2017/7/24/16078290/ndamukong-suh-nebraska-cornhuskers-2009-season-highlights-a9d81f415ca)). [Robinson](https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/ty-robinson/42880) and [Riley](https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/jordon-riley/42879) have the size and athleticism for the 2-deep in this role, while a true NT, like [Daniels](https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/damion-daniels/42801) and [Hutmacher](https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/nash-hutmacher/42831) might be used when a bulkier body is need. Eventually, [Black](https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/marquis-black/42784) and [Weaver](https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/jailen-weaver/42755) should make their way into this conversation, too.
**The 3-TECH**: The lighter lineman, the 3-TECH seeks to fill up the B gap and serves as the inside pass rush. This is a position that could easily see 3 players rotate in-and-out as [Stille](https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/ben-stille/42893) filled the role very well last year, while [Rogers](https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/casey-rogers/42881), [Thomas](https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/deontre-thomas/42897), [Feist](https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/colton-feist/42810), [Newsom](https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/mosai-newsom/42863), [Walker](https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/chris-walker/42900), and [Buckley](https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/ru-quan-buckley/42739)**^([4])** are jockeying for a solidified place in the rotation for 2021. Expect the depth chart below Stille to be a week-to-week battle. However, with the D-lines’ depth, I’m sure well see several player in the mix, as whomever doesn’t take that second spot could see a few snaps at either the 1-tech and 3-tech.
***The LBs*** – As far as I know, NU doesn’t really name their OLBs, but I think it helps to separate the 5 LBs pretty well**^([5])**.
**EDGE:** ASU used to call them a DEVIL, but EDGE is a pretty universal term nowadays. This is the typical OLB/DE we see in a lot in the NFL, a pass rusher who’ll rarely drop into coverage in this system. Their whole job is to get into the backfield and disrupt plays, typically from a stand-up position, but this is certainly a role for players who can put their hand in the dirt, too. [Nelson](https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/garrett-nelson/42862) played here a lot last year and I think the less the team has to put him in pass coverage, the better. After that, [Payne](https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/pheldarius-payne/42870) is a former DE with a quick jump who’s expected to make a [big jump](https://247sports.com/college/nebraska/Article/Nebraska-Huskers-football-Pheldarius-Payne-168635844/) this year. Additional bodies include [Jackson](https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/damian-jackson/42833), [Gunnerson](https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/blaise-gunnerson/42817), [Butler](https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/jimari-butler/42791), and [Wildeman](https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/tate-wildeman/42903), [who is an OLB now](https://247sports.com/college/nebraska/Article/Nebraska-Huskers-defensive-line-2021-season-preview-Tony-Tuioti-168796470/)… he looks to have slimed down, too.
**JACK:** Okay, JACK can mean a lot of different things, but in that case I mean it as a jack-of-all-trades. This is the other OLB that lines up near the line of scrimmage, however, unlike the EDGE, the JACK doesn’t always set the edge. Instead this OLB moves around the line and is more of a threat to drop back into multiple levels of pass coverage. Again, expect a returner here in [Tannor](https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/caleb-tannor/42895), however, after him, the room is pretty open. Depending on their pass coverage abilities, expect to see the aforementioned [Gunnerson](https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/blaise-gunnerson/42817) and [Butler](https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/jimari-butler/42791), maybe even a guy who has some experience at OLB, like [Henrich](https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/nick-henrich/42824), who could rotate between JACK and the ILB spots.
**NICK:** It’s short for nickel linebacker–I know–earth-shattering. This is the hybrid OLB/S role Nebraska practically added back into the fold for [Domann](https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/jojo-domann/42805). Since it’s inception, the NICK spot has added proteges in [Wright](https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/javin-wright/42906) and [Gifford](https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/isaac-gifford/42814), but don’t expect them to see snaps unless the D earns some garbage time. It should be noted that Wight is now around [220 lbs](https://journalstar.com/sports/huskers/football/most-intriguing-huskers-no-20-redshirt-freshman-olb-javin-wright/article_cfd26878-0827-560c-8a05-f14cd5b32af9.html), while I haven’t seen much on Gifford gaining mass. I know weight isn’t an end-all-be-all for Gifford’s chances at playing NICK in 2021, but size does matter in the Big 10. If he isn’t up to fighting weight in 2021, he could still slot in better as a depth SS for year while practicing at NICK. Moreover, another guy who could be getting looks at NICK is a guy who played some safety in JUCO, ILB [Mauga-Clements](https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/eteva-mauga-clements/42848).
**WILL:** The ILBs in this package don’t change too much from their 3-4 mentality. Positionally, I think it’ll be most interesting to see who winds up where in the rotation, as [Henrich](https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/nick-henrich/42824), [Kolarevic](https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/chris-kolarevic/42909), and [Reimer](https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/luke-reimer/42877) all have a lot of versatility. It’s hard to say who holds an edge right now, but–bellow those three–[Snodgrass](https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/garrett-snodgrass/42891), [Hannah](https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/jackson-hannah/42820), and [Mauga-Clements](https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/eteva-mauga-clements/42848) can expect to make their way into the fold, while the freshmen trio of [Gbayor](https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/mikai-gbayor/42741), [Ho’ohuli](https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/wynden-ho-ohuli/42918), and [Kpai](https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/randolph-kpai/42743) might play some snaps before getting a redshirt.
**MIKE:** Although it isn’t explicitly stated as much as with the DBs, Nebraska has done a good job of making sure that their ILBs can be moved between the WILL and MIKE spots with a ton of ease. As such, I won’t waste time by throwing out the same names I did for the WILL position. Nonetheless, if [Honas](https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/will-honas/42828) can somehow return to 100% before the end of the season, expect to see him at MIKE. Also, can he earn a medical hardship wavier of some sort and return for a 7th season? If that were the case, Honas might as well being holding a PhD by 2022’s Senior Day.
***The DBs*** – Nothing too different here.
**SS:** Not much to say here, [Dismuke](https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/marquel-dismuke/42804) has played a lot of football at NU and deserves a solid season so he can try to get on a pro roster. Behind him is [Farmer](https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/myles-farmer/42808) and *maybe* [Gifford](https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/isaac-gifford/42814) if needs be. In reality, the most interesting movement in this position will be which player eventually slots into the backup role behind Farmer in 2022.
**FS:** Man, our safeties don’t get enough credit. I won’t go as far as saying [Williams](https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/deontai-williams/42904) will get drafted, but he’s another guy who could really boost his pro stock this year. Aside from him, a lot of fans have been waiting for [Pola-Gates](https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/noa-pola-gates/42873) to have a coming out party, which could be in store this season. Yet, like the SS position, the coaching staff hasn’t been keen to list who else might end up playing FS in the coming years.
**FIELD CB:** 2 words, [Taylor-Britt](https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/cam-taylor-britt/42896). Like Domann, CTB won’t come off the field too often. That being said, I will be interested to see who takes the most snaps at FIELD when he’s not in the game, as that could be an early indication for who takes over for him in 2022. I’ll get to who those guys could be when talking about the BOUND CBs. As for CTB, he’ll have his work cut out for him facing some of the best receivers in the nation this year. Hopefully some throws come his way.
**BOUND CB:** Okay, this is a position battle that could come down to the wire. Frankly, I like [Johnson](https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/tyreke-johnson/43321) for this spot. I don’t think he would’ve come to Lincoln unless he had a solid chance at earning a starting spot. Obviously learning the playbook is a hurdle, but corners can be more easily thrown to the fire in that regard. Nonetheless, [Clark](https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/braxton-clark/42794), [Joseph](https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/nadab-joseph/42836), and [Newsome](https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/quinton-newsome/42864) can’t be written off, while [Lynum](https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/tamon-lynum/42843), some of the true freshmen, or [Sanford](https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/phalen-sanford/42884) could see limited rotational play.
***Final Take***
All things considered, I’m interested to see if Nebraska begins recruiting defensive players more based on the Nickel, rather than their 3-4 looks. Likewise, if certain players fail to fit in with the scheme, could the coaching staff expect increased attrition on the defensive side of the ball? More so, do you think Nebraska has the talent and depth at LB to be putting out 5 guys at a time?
While it would be a fun exercise to try and project the depth chart for this scheme a year or two down the road, I’ll save that thought for another day. For now, we’re less than three weeks out, so I’ll leave you with a final parting question? Illinois lines up on their own 25 yard-line**^([6])** for their first drive of the game, do we see the 3-4, or the NU Nickel?
​
***TLDR***: 3-4 bad, wonky 4-3 good.
End Note
1. Now we just need to find a better name for DUCK-R… maybe HUSK-R (idk, there’s gotta be something better than that).
2. Kinda surprised I haven’t see it more often, but can we talk about how Domann and Nate Gerry are super similar players (albeit, Gerry was more dominate up to this point in his college career).
3. Little disclaimer here. Yes, the D-Line can shift and/or adjust their tech, but the 1-TECH and 3-TECH are an easy way to separate the two and determine which players are more inclined for whichever tech.
4. Yes, that order is my guesstimation of the current depth chart (Buckley should redshirt).
5. Spoiler alert, don’t expect a SAM, the ILBs still play with the 3-4 mindset.
6. I know, I know, we have to get a KOS who can get it into the end zone, first. Just let me have a positive mindset on that one.
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