Tag: Nickel Back

The 1972 Washington Redskins were a ‘special’ team

Washington’s 1972 team was a special group.

50 Years ago, the 1972 Washington Redskins became the first team in Washington history to play in a Super Bowl.

Kicking off the season was a Monday Night Football contest, as Washington traveled to the Minnesota Vikings of Fran Tarkenton, the Purple People Eaters and coach Bud Grant.

When future Hall-of-Famer Tarkenton connected with John Gilliam for the only score of the third quarter, Washington trailed the Vikings 14-10. Washington would come back to win 24-21, behind touchdown runs by Larry Brown and Charley Harraway. Surprisingly the Vikings had outgained Washington 382-203 and collected 26 First Downs to only 11 by the Redskins.

How had Washington won this MNF game? They sacked Tarkenton four times. They won the turnover battle 2-1, and there was the one play I have recalled all of these years from watching the game in my youth.

Early in the opening quarter, Washington had stopped the Vikings deep in their own territory forcing a punt. Vikings punter Mike Eischeid lined up on his own 18-yard line to punt. Washington reserve receiver Bill Malinchak lined up outside on the right of the rushing Washington line. As Eischeid’s foot met the ball on the 20-yard line, suddenly a thump was heard as an outstretched Malinchak’s hand blocked the punt, sending the ball toward the left to Eischeid’s right. Malinchak scooped up the ball at the 16 and ran into the end zone untouched for the game’s first score.

Head coach George Allen had already been an NFL innovator. When the defensive coordinator for George Halas’ Bears, Allen had invented the nickel back, replacing a linebacker with an extra defensive back on passing downs. In 1969 as head coach of the Rams he had hired the first special teams’ coach in the NFL (Dick Vermeil).

In ’72 Allen repeatedly preached the importance of special teams preparation and making big plays on special teams. Special teams coach Marv Levy and Allen produced remarkable results as Washington blocked 5 field goals and 4 punts in the ’72 season. In 1990-93 the same Levy coached the Buffalo Bills to four consecutive AFC Championships and 4 Super Bowl appearances.

Special teams played a major role 50 years ago as Washington (11-3) won the NFC East, the NFC championship, and played in Super Bowl VII. This present generation of coaches stands on the shoulders of those like Allen who changed the NFL forever with his emphasis on special teams.

 

 

 

Marquise Blair confident he can play nickel corner role in 2020

Seattle Seahawks safety Marquise Blair expressed his confidence that he will be able to play the nickel corner position in the 2020 season.

Seattle Seahawks safety Marquise Blair is confident that he can play the nickel back position in his second year in the NFL while Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs occupy the two safety spots.

“I feel like I can cover,” Blair told reporters over a Zoom call on Monday. “I feel like I can blitz. I can fit in run gaps. So yeah, just everything that nickel does.”

Blair has asserted this conviction despite his testimony that he has no prior experience in that slot. He is more than willing to give it a shot, however.

“Everything was brand new to me (last year), so really it’s just re-learning everything,” he said. “I feel like it’s easier. I knew what I was doing, but you still don’t want to mess up. Now I’m just rolling.”

Coach Pete Carroll believes the young safety needs to get reps and ease into things.

“He’s just gotta get there and get the reps and get comfortable with it,” Carroll said. “He can do everything you need him to do there. He just hasn’t had the background of experience doing it. He’s a rook at that spot. But we’ve conveyed to him the different aspects of it are like this as a safety, like he’s played before. And like that. So he just has to incorporate it all.”

Carroll stated that Blair has shown potential as a ballhawk, but must improve his coverage skills, having already displayed promise as a hard-hitting player in the vein of former Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor.

“He’s in a spot where the ball comes his way a lot,” Carroll said. “And he’s a ballplayer; a ballhawk type of kid. It’s a cool spot for him. He’s got to work on his coverage stuff, bring him along in all of that; the combinations of stuff he does there. But the fact that he can pressure from there and get his hits from there. We’ll see. It’s going to take some time. We have a month to figure it out.”

We will see what Blair brings to the table as a nickel corner if the 2020 season proceeds without interruption.

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Seahawks considering using Marquise Blair in nickel packages

The Seattle Seahawks are going to let Marquise Blair compete for snaps at nickel cornerback, a package they plan to use more in 2020.

The Seattle Seahawks, much to the chagrin of many fans and football analysts, stubbornly stuck with their base 4-3 defensive format nearly 70% of the time in 2019, far more than any other team in the league.

While Bobby Wagner, K.J. Wright and Mychal Kendricks was an elite trio of linebackers, the base defense forced them into pass coverage far too often, and allowed opposing offenses to move the ball efficiently in short yardage situations.

Now, with Kendricks out of the picture and Ugo Amadi more prepared to handle regular duty at the nickel corner position, it appears the Seahawks might be willing to move away from the base defense at such a high clip in 2020.

In fact, coach Pete Carroll not only implied exactly that on a recent conference call with Seattle media members, he discussed the possibility of using safety Marquise Blair in nickel packages as well.

“He’s a guy that we’re very interested in finding a role for him,” Carroll said. “We’ve already mapped that out. He’s got some real special talent that we want to find a spot for him…In the nickel package he is going to get a lot of consideration to contribute in some additional ways, because he’s unique and he’s got some special stuff.”

Blair appeared in 14 games during his rookie season, making three starts and totaling 32 combined tackles, two forced fumbles and one pass defended while playing primarily on the special teams – especially after the midseason acquisition of Quandre Diggs.

Now, while he’s still in the mix at either free or strong safety, the opportunity to compete for snaps with Amadi at nickel corner further adds to his versatility, and gives the Seahawks more confidence in their nickel package, a move that should help the defense on the whole in 2020.

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Pete Carroll wishes Seahawks played Ugo Amadi at nickel sooner

Seattle Seahawks rookie defensive back Ugo Amadi has taken to the nickel spot quickly, making Pete Carroll regret not playing him sooner.

All training camp, Seattle Seahawks rookie Ugo Amadi battled to be the team’s starting nickelback.

It was a battle he did not win, as the team opted to run their base 4-3 defense at a league-leading rate instead, and when they did go nickel, they opted for veteran Jamar Taylor. However, Taylor struggled mightily all season long, before finally getting released after Week 10.

That should have marked the beginning of the Amadi era, but because of matchup concerns the Seahawks started Akeem King in that role for the next few weeks.

Finally, after not seeing a single defensive snap between Week 3 and Week 14, it was Amadi’s time to shine against the Panthers in Week 15 – and he quickly reminded everyone why he should have started in the first place.

Amadi has already shown tremendous growth in just four short weeks with regular playing time, and his recent performance has coach Pete Carroll wishing he had turned to him sooner.

“He’s doing a good job,” Carroll said on Wednesday. “I’m really glad we made the commitment a few weeks back to get him in there to allow him to grow. I wish we would’ve done it a little bit earlier. We would’ve seen him develop faster because he’s really kind of blossoming. He understands the position well. He understands the disguises of it. There’s a lot of intricacies in the nickel spot. He’s a really bright kid and he’s handling it really well. He’s in a good place to make plays.”

Amadi was drafted in the fourth round out of Oregon thanks to his versatility as a cornerback, safety, special teams contributor and even potentially as a return man.

However, it was always expected he would settle in at the nickel spot, replacing dynamic playmaker Justin Coleman.

While it look a little longer into his rookie year than expected, Amadi is finally finding himself at a crucial time for this Seahawks squad, as they look to advance past the divisional round for the first time since 2014.

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Is it time for Seahawks rookie Ugo Amadi to get more opportunities?

Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll confirmed rookie defensive back Ugo Amadi will get more opportunity on defense this season.

Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll likes to have his rookies develop on the special teams early in their first season before he gradually works them in on either offense or defense as they get more accustomed to the speed of the NFL game.

DK Metcalf emerged right away as an impact piece on Seattle’s offense, and safety Marquise Blair was starting at free safety for a few weeks, but most of the rest of the rookie class has settled into roles on special teams – with an eye on making that jump in the coming weeks.

Next on the list appears to be defensive back Ugo Amadi, a 2019 fourth round pick who has excelled on the special teams this season after impressing throughout training camp and the preseason.

“He’s doing really well,” coach Pete Carroll said on Monday. “He has been a playmaker on special teams throughout. His opportunities will continue to come about because he has been so consistent in everything he is doing. He hasn’t done anything that isn’t good. His effort is great. His playmaking, his decision making, the savvy, the situations that he’s been in; he’s just been really good. So, I’m anxious for him to contribute more. He’s one of those guys that have been with us long enough, it’s time for him to get some more opportunities so we’re looking for that.”

Carroll also confirmed that Amadi is working primarily at the nickel cornerback position, although he’s still an option at safety as well.

Veteran Jamar Taylor has been the team’s starting nickel all season, but he’s had a rough year and that was never more apparent than last Monday against the 49ers, when he was burned repeatedly early in the game.

“He’s been up and down, and he had a couple plays last week that got away,” Carroll said. “He’s in a competitive situation, and he’s got to keep doing well to hold his spot just like everybody else.”

It sounds like Amadi is right on Taylor’s tail for playing time at the nickel spot, and Sunday’s game against the Eagles could be a chance for Amadi to take the job going forward.

“Coming off the break we have a chance to revisit some of that stuff,” Carroll continued. “If it fits with different positions, and guys, and individuals, we’re looking to take advantage of that.”

The 8-2 Seahawks will take on Philadelphia on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. PT.

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