Last year we saw an increase in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ use of the nickel package, which subs in another defensive back for a linebacker. This, of course, is a direct reaction to the increasing number of three wide receiver sets that offenses tend to employ. And the rate at which offenses utilize three wideouts is growing.
By this alone, we would assume to see some more nickel packages being used by Keith Butler and company. But with looking at the Steelers’ 2016 schedule, it becomes more apparent that the nickel defense will be trotting out onto the field quite often.