If you’ve never played football, it’s not a shame that you don’t really understand how the head coach/coordinators are so efficient at directing personnel during the course of the game.
You might feel like it would be a lot to do to scale the sidelines telling people when to sub-in while also trying to get plays into your QB as fast as possible.
Also, you never saw an NFL coach giving anyone a “get in there” pat on the shoulder or anything like that.
In NFL, it can get very complicated, and I’m sure there are several people whose jobs during a game consist entirely of watching and communicating who is and should be on the field for either team at any given moment in time.
So, how does it work? How do substitutions work, and how do NFL players actually know when to sub?
Sit tight, we got you.
How Do NFL Players Know When to Sub?
Offensive players need to be pretty much ready at all times when their team has the ball. Defensive players need to be pretty much ready when the other team has the ball.
Special teams just have to be aware of fourth-down situations and such.
On both sides of the ball, you have the base starters. For example, on defense, the base could be a 3-4 package where the same 11 players go out there.
If the coach or coordinator calls for a nickel, dime, 4-3, 3-4, or such, the players must run out and sub out the appropriate player.
For example, if it switched from nickel to dime, a defensive back would have to run out and take out a LB.
During this time, there may be rotations happening as well. Defensive linemen, WRs, and TEs rotate the most.
It is normally the position coach’s job to make the call and keep players fresh.
In the NFL, the coaches and scouts upstairs make the call on which playmakers they want in the game.
Two Types of Substitutions
There are two different “kinds” of substitutions.
1. There are “packages,” which were explained above.
For defense: nickel, dime, short yardage, and any other things they could come up with. The offense would be 2-wide, double tight ends, single back, etc.
Each player knows what package he is supposed to be in on. These are handled by various coaches.
On offense, whoever is calling plays will communicate what package he needs. Those guys who aren’t in yet run out and replace whoever needs to come out.
So, before he starts to communicate the play, he will call out (just as an example) the “Rabbithole” package, which could mean 3 WRs, 1 TE, and a Single Back.
While this is happening, then the Play caller is reading off the play to the QB through the Headset, so he can call it in the huddle once everyone is in there.
Same thing on Defense, but they will react more to what the offense is doing.
For example, the coach sees 4 WRs coming into the game, the defensive coach calls for “Dime,” and the extra DBs run onto the field, and the LBs know they aren’t on dime runoff.
2. There are subs that are just player for player.
Player-for-player subs can be done for anything, injuries, performance, or just needing a break. The coaches will tell a player to replace another.
It could just be for a play or series, or he could replace him and then take over all his roles in other packages.
For example, Player A is an LB, who plays in Base, Short Yardage, and Nickel, but comes out on Dime. He gets replaced by player B, so now player B is in on all of those packages.
Also, some players will pull themselves out because they need a breather, or tweaked something, or anything else.
You see RBs or WR’s all the time. After a long run or catch will waive to the sideline. The sub will then just run in and take his place.
Some players are in on certain downs(especially RBs). You can have your 1st and 2nd down backs and your 3rd down backs.
Also, if a player gets injured, his replacement now covers all of the injured player’s assignments, and another player has to cover the replacement.
Difference Between Subs on Defense and Offense
On defense, players sub depending on the package. On offense, players sub depending on skills.
1. First, defense. A good example is premier pass rushers.
While it’s nice to have someone like Justin Houston or Tamba Hali that can actually fall back into coverage, some people cannot.
So on obvious rushing downs, like a 3 and 1 or another short yardage situation, you pull the pass rushers out and put in a bigger package to crowd the line to prevent the run. If a team runs a lot, you might only put your pass rusher in on obvious passing downs, like 3 and 10.
2. Regarding offense, you might have a bunch of different receivers and tight ends. Some of your tight ends are better blockers than others. Some are better receivers.
You might sub in one TE when it’s a long passing play or running play as an extra blocker.
Maybe you have a running back with good hands that you bring in for passing plays and another back who is a bruiser that you use for short-yardage plays.
How Often Do NFL Players Sub on Defense?
Pretty frequently, depending on the personnel package that the offense has on the field.
If the offense has two tight ends, a fullback, and a running back, they’re probably going to run, so you have fewer cornerbacks on the field.
If they have four wide receivers and a runningback, they’re most likely going to throw it, so you take out a few linebackers or defensive linemen and add in some more pass-defending cornerbacks.
This is the so-called ‘nickel’ or a ‘dime’ package we mentioned before.
Just to expand on this, because it blew my mind the first time I heard why it was called that:
You usually have four defensive backs in the field (2 Cornerbacks, one free safety, and one strong safety). When they throw in another one (because they think it’s going to be a pass play), it’s called a nickel because it’s the 5th defensive back on the field.
Sometimes, they throw in yet ANOTHER defensive back, as in, another nickel… and what is the value of two nickels? A DIME!
What Are the Most Common Subs on Offense and Defense?
Offense
If you want to throw deep or need to run a no-huddle offense, you bring in an extra receiver or two because you probably won’t be running the ball much.
On 4th and goal at the 1, you bring in your fullback and one or two extra TEs to add some more bodies to the line of scrimmage.
You can bring in a bigger TE to create a mismatch over the middle on 3rd and 5. Bring an extra blocker (FB/TE) in if the defense runs a nickel package without subbing out to take advantage of the empty box.
Many teams will switch out WRs just because some are better at running certain routes or are better blockers, etc. It all depends on the current situation for the play you want to run.
Defense
As for defense, most subs are down as a reaction to the personnel the offense has out.
By far, the most common sub you see on D is taking out a linebacker or a DT to bring in an extra DB to help against the pass.
You will also see teams lose the safety and add in an LB or DT on obvious run scenarios (4th and goal on the 1, for instance) unless the offense brings out 2 or 3 WRs.
And then the ones I addressed before where you might have a lineman who is better against the pass than the starter, or you might have quicker linebackers to bring in on 3rd and long.
But mostly, the defensive substitutions are based on whatever personnel the offense has out there; you counter WRs with more DBs and heavy offensive formations with more LBs or linemen.
It is also more common for defensive players to get subbed out just to have a play or two off to catch their breath.
Are There Any Requirements When it Comes to Substitutions?
Five offensive linemen are a legal requirement, while you’re allowed any combination of 5 receivers/RBs/tight ends, AKA “skill” players (6 if they choose to substitute the QB, which is really rare).
Offensive linemen also get tired slower than skill players because they do less running per play and don’t get tackled.
There are no such requirements for the defense, so they substitute a lot to keep players fresh (defensive players tire faster) and to match the offense’s personnel (speed vs. power).