49ers film study: 2017 roster fits in Robert Saleh’s nickel defense
By Chris Wilson
Jaguars Sub-Package Defense
In Jacksonville, sub package means “nickel,” because the Jaguars don’t play dime defense.
When the Jaguars switched from their base defense to a sub package, they almost exclusively played nickel. Barring injury or other extreme circumstance, the Jaguars always had two inside linebackers on the field.
The Jaguars also did not switch their base linebackers out on obvious passing downs. The Jaguars base MIKE and WILL linebackers, Paul Posluszny and Telvin Smith, played in all sub-package situations, no matter how many wide receivers were on the field.
The Jaguars played nickel on long third downs:
They played nickel in their prevent defense:
They played nickel on the last play of the game, when the offense needed over 80 yards to score:
The Jaguars’ nickel strategy is consistent with Saleh’s “extreme physicality” philosophy; the 49ers want to be bigger and hit harder than their opponents. Of course, this also means that their inside linebackers will often be in coverage against smaller receivers, so they better be ready to run.
If Saleh’s 2017 defense is consistent with the Jaguars’ 2016 defense, it also means the 49ers’ sixth defensive back will get limited, if any, playing time.