Jump to content

Is Big Nickel “Need” overblown?


Recommended Posts

3 hours ago, billsfan89 said:

It seems to me that they use Edumonds and Milano to cover RB's and TE's and it works. I think "Big Nickel" is a niche that can be filled by quality coverage LB's. Even in that niche I think the Bills have players that can fill it. 

The big nickel is the coverage LB or a LB who can drop in coverage and allow Edmunds and Milano to blitz.  He's also an in the box safety who can blitz himself.  He's also a slot Defender.  See Shaq Thompson in Carolina who was a safety in college (he's a starter and a big nickel in Buff would probably be too).  He's a Swiss Army knife.  Basically, a faster Milano.  Sign me up for that if you can find it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

26 minutes ago, purple haze said:

The big nickel is the coverage LB or a LB who can drop in coverage and allow Edmunds and Milano to blitz.  He's also an in the box safety who can blitz himself.  He's also a slot Defender.  See Shaq Thompson in Carolina who was a safety in college (he's a starter and a big nickel in Buff would probably be too).  He's a Swiss Army knife.  Basically, a faster Milano.  Sign me up for that if you can find it.

 

Question about this position because if you are in Nickel does the "Big Nickel" take the place of a LB or the slot corner? 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 minutes ago, billsfan89 said:

 

Question about this position because if you are in Nickel does the "Big Nickel" take the place of a LB or the slot corner? 

 

Normally I believe the Sam LB if you are in your base 4-3 and the slot CB if you are in your regular nickel.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

“Big nickel” importance aside, I think Dugger the 24 y.o. who dominated 20 y.o. in D2 is too risky and raw for 2nd round - at least for my taste.  

 

Is he a very good athlete?  Yes.

 

Is he ready to play in NFL?   Probably not on defense.

 

Are you interested in a 24 year old special teams player with your 2nd round pick?
 

 

 

 

  • Like (+1) 1
  • Thank you (+1) 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

8 minutes ago, RealKayAdams said:

 

Normally I believe the Sam LB if you are in your base 4-3 and the slot CB if you are in your regular nickel.

 

Then it just seems like a coverage LB position. I don't get why it has to be so heavily specialized. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, billsbackto81 said:

Good post. One of those 2 could elevate this defense even more, especially considering we don't have that 3rd caliber LB to go with Edmunds and Milano. Klein is serviceable but in a Big Nickel Dugger or Chinn would be a nasty addition.

Klein isn’t close to good enough to see meaningful snaps, in my opinion, but agree otherwise. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

23 minutes ago, billsfan89 said:

 

Question about this position because if you are in Nickel does the "Big Nickel" take the place of a LB or the slot corner? 

Shaq Thompson is the Carolina version and he is a converted college safety who starts at a LB position.  What do you know, the Bills have an open LB spot.   I believe the guy would be a LB in name only though.  They are really a chess piece.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 minutes ago, jrober38 said:

The weakest position on our defense is our nickel back.

 

It's certainly a need. 

Disagree.  Taron Johnson is good, but unfortunately, gets hurt and misses time.  They could look to get competition for his spot, but it wouldn't be based on his talent.  It would be based on finding equal talent who can also stay available.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, purple haze said:

Disagree.  Taron Johnson is good, but unfortunately, gets hurt and misses time.  They could look to get competition for his spot, but it wouldn't be based on his talent.  It would be based on finding equal talent who can also stay available.

 

OK.

 

If it's not our biggest need, what is?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, purple haze said:

Shaq Thompson is the Carolina version and he is a converted college safety who starts at a LB position.  What do you know, the Bills have an open LB spot.   I believe the guy would be a LB in name only though.  They are really a chess piece.  

 

Sorry for all these questions but this seems to be a heavily specialized and nuanced position. But in my mind Edumonds and Milano are the starting LB's in the Nickel with Klein the third LB in the 4-3 package. So I don't see an open LB spot. I also think that Milano and Edumonds are both fast young LB's who cover well. I just don't see where the fit is on the Bills seeing as they have two good LB's who can cover. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 minutes ago, billsfan89 said:

 

Sorry for all these questions but this seems to be a heavily specialized and nuanced position. But in my mind Edumonds and Milano are the starting LB's in the Nickel with Klein the third LB in the 4-3 package. So I don't see an open LB spot. I also think that Milano and Edumonds are both fast young LB's who cover well. I just don't see where the fit is on the Bills seeing as they have two good LB's who can cover. 

This player would basically be a starting LB and is faster/quicker that 49/58.

 

It could allow us to be in our "base" defense and still cover 3 wide. Or put this player on a TE.

Edited by TheyCallMeAndy
Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 minutes ago, billsfan89 said:

 

Sorry for all these questions but this seems to be a heavily specialized and nuanced position. But in my mind Edumonds and Milano are the starting LB's in the Nickel with Klein the third LB in the 4-3 package. So I don't see an open LB spot. I also think that Milano and Edumonds are both fast young LB's who cover well. I just don't see where the fit is on the Bills seeing as they have two good LB's who can cover. 

 

Most NFL teams are in their nickel package much more than their base defense these days. 

 

Lorenzo Alexander was our SLB last year and he didn't play much. 

Edited by jrober38
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just now, TheyCallMeAndy said:

This player would basically be a starting LB and is faster/quicker that 49/58

 

So who gets displaced in the Nickel? Milano or Edumonds? That would easily push Klein to the bench and given that they put in a decent chunk of change into him I think they probably want him to have some significant role no the defense. 

Just now, jrober38 said:

 

Most NFL teams are in their nickel package much more than their base defense these days. 

 

Lorenzo Alexander was our SLB last year and he didn't play much. 

 

I get that, Milano and Edumonds are the starting LB's in the Nickel and both work well in coverage. So I don't see exactly what this need is? 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, billsfan89 said:

 

So who gets displaced in the Nickel? Milano or Edumonds? That would easily push Klein to the bench and given that they put in a decent chunk of change into him I think they probably want him to have some significant role no the defense. 

 

I get that, Milano and Edumonds are the starting LB's in the Nickel and both work well in coverage. So I don't see exactly what this need is? 

 

A big slot guy who can defend the pass and stop the run.

 

That's where the NFL is going. You need a chess piece you can move around in the box or the slot and not expose yourself to either the run or the pass. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

×
×
  • Create New...