Now let’s get into where James fits specifically in these packages. Adderley typically lines up on the right side, and James typically lines up on the left side. For the Chargers, those safeties are Nasir Adderley and James - unless James is moving around, which we will get into in a minute. That is just a fancy way of saying there are two safeties in the deep part of the field at the snap. More on this later.Īs you can see from these alignments, the Chargers operate almost exclusively out of a two-high-safety shell. Like with his nickel packages, Staley will also add substitution wrinkles to his dime packages. Here is an example from the Raiders game: And one defensive back usually playing a hybrid linebacker-safety role, which Staley calls the Money position. When a team brings on a sixth defensive back, it’s referred to as a dime package. Here is an example of a nickel package in which Staley removes an inside linebacker, leaving one linebacker, three defensive linemen and two edge rushers in the game with the five defensive backs. When I use the term “multiple” to describe the defense, this is part of what I am alluding to. This allows him to create different looks and packages under the umbrella of nickel. Sometimes Staley will take off an inside linebacker or even an edge rusher as the substitute for the slot defender. That effectively creates a four-man front. In this variation, Staley brings on Tevaughn Campbell as the slot - or Star defender - and takes off a defensive lineman. Here is an example of one variation of the nickel package from the Raiders game so you can see the alignment. In Staley’s defense, the defender covering the slot is called the Star. The defense is just matching personnel and, by extension, speed. The package is typically used when an offense brings on three or more receivers. This allows defenses to have a defensive back covering the slot. When the team brings on a fifth defensive back, this is known as the nickel package. And tight end Darren Waller is lined up left, just detached from the formation. Fullback Alec Ingold is lined up inline off the left tackle. Tight end Foster Moreau is lined up inline off the right tackle. In this case, the Raiders have only one receiver in the game. Teams usually utilize their base packages against bigger offensive personnel packages. Those marked “CB” are cornerbacks, and “S” are safeties. The players marked “ER” are edge rushers. The players marked “DL” are the defensive linemen. Here is a look at the Chargers’ base package from the Raiders game. A 4-3 scheme, on the other hand, would feature four defensive linemen and three linebackers with those four defensive backs. In Staley’s 3-4 scheme, the base package features three defensive linemen, two edge rushers, two inside linebackers and those four defensive backs. A base package refers to a defensive personnel grouping with four defensive backs: two cornerbacks and two safeties. Let’s start with a crash course in defensive terminology.Ī package refers to a group of players, or personnel, on either side of the ball. So, what are these five positions? And how do they work within Staley’s defensive scheme? Him playing five roles for us helps us be the best defense and the best team that we can be. “The weight of that is real, and I’m sensitive to that because if Derwin James were just doing two jobs out of five, it would be easier for him and you may see more production from him. “It’s a tall job description, and he’s one of the few guys in the entire world that can do it,” Staley said this week. The more important takeaway: James embodying a Swiss Army knife on the field and making plays at all five of his positions has allowed the Chargers to weather injuries and emerge as a top 10 defense in football. When you ask a player to play five positions, all while calling the defense in the huddle - even a player as gifted as James - a mistake is inevitable here or there. There is no other player in the NFL doing what James is doing right now, and that is because there is no player in the NFL capable of doing what James is doing right now, physically or mentally. Staley, meanwhile, wanted to provide the media with context. James tipped his cap to Ruggs after the game. James was playing deep-field safety on the play, and he simply got beat by Ruggs’ blazing 4.27 speed. Staley had just mentioned one of the few “errors” James has made all season: a 51-yard completion to Henry Ruggs III in the fourth quarter.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |