Nickel or Dime defense?

[Rooster]

I certainly am no football expert so please help me with this. As a defense we continue to allow other teams to convert on 3rd and long. I noticed at the game today that we never seem to have more than 4 DBs in the game even on 5 WR sets (our normal base defense is in the game). It looks like we run a zone with our OLB Jackson covering the flat. This seems to allow WRs to head up the seams for easy catches of 20 or more yards. It seems to me especially against a team like Duke (when I suspect we have better athletes) why not man up on the five receivers and take your chances man to man? Am I wrong on this? Is this more of an NFL concept?

 

[VaDeac]

Zone got burnt today. I think another DB would just mean five guys getting burnt instead of four.

 

[RiskyBusiness]

As for talent, Duke's recruiting classes are consistently ranked better than our recruiting classes.

 

[PhDeac]

As for talent, Duke's recruiting classes are consistently ranked better than our recruiting classes.

True. Consistently over the last 12 years. I'm pretty sure we've sent more players to the NFL though.

So what changed today?

 

[Dillon Fence]

if it makes anyone feel better, the State secondary may be worse than wake's. how they let the miami WR behind them today, I have no idea. And Amerson actually slowed down to let the Miami kid make the catch!