bill belichick

A little defensive X and O nerdery from BB’s presser today. This time on the difference between the Big Nickel and Regular Nickel defenses.

Q: What’s the biggest difference scheme-wise between a big nickel, three safety secondary and a standard situation with a nickel secondary where you have two safeties and multiple corners?

BB: I would say the ability of that fifth defensive back, that third safety vs. the third corner, what the skills of that player are and what you’re playing against.

Q: Do you see less of the big nickel because of the passing games, just as a simple generalization?

BB: Again, I think it depends on the team and it depends on the player. Like the Giants, they really play the third safety. We’ve played it that way with [Patrick] Chung in the past. I think if you have a true third slot receiver, a guy like whoever it is, whether it’s [Wes] Welker or [Davone] Bess or [Jeremy] Kerley or whoever you happen to be playing, then it’s who you want matched up against that guy and what your options are, who you want to put on him. Running game can factor into that. Again, who that player is, sometimes that – like a bigger slot receiver or is it a smaller, quicker guy? Is it 12 personnel, is it two tight ends and that inside receiver is more of a tight end type player. And who are your players, who are you talking about putting on them relative to the matchup? Some teams like to put the same guy in there and do everything with one guy and then there’s continuity to the defense. Other teams like to match up to try to get the player they want matched up against the other team’s guy that he’s going to be facing. It depends, there are a lot of variables.

Q: What is your evaluation of the play of the secondary in the first half? What are things to be improved upon? They’ve given up a lot of big plays.

BB: Sure, defensively that would be a big area for us, is to limit the number of big plays. That’s a whole team defensive thing. It’s not one thing. Anytime they throw the ball deep down the field, that involves pass rush, it involves pass coverage, it involves possibly scheme depending on how you’re playing it. But yeah, we can improve in every area.

This is a must listen this week! You’re not going to ever find BB more happy than after a Jets win (no matter how ugly) and he is really in a great mood for this appearance. I’ve rarely heard him so passionate as when he was discussing the new overtime and how he hates it. And then there’s a great moment when Michael Holley tells him what the average score of a Patriots-Jets game has been in his tenure, and BB counters asking what the record is. Really great moment, and if you’re feeling unsure about the Pats at the moment this will put you at ease a bit.