The Blackout Defense System- Volume 21- Nickel and Dime
by Blackout Defense System
Description
In this installation of the BDS, Coach Hickman begins a three-volume breakdown of Special Situations. Played primarily on non-neutral downs, Coach Hickman goes over his match-heavy Nickel personnel package and the Dime groupings he uses to get off the field on 3rd Down. This Volume is going to show you just how creative you can be both with protection manipulation and provide coverage variety to confuse Quarterbacks.
Lessons
The Coach
Brett Hickman is the Assistant Head Coach/ Defensive Coordinator at Anderson University, bringing extensive experience from both the collegiate and high school levels. He began his coaching career at East Carolina University, where he served as a defensive staff assistant during a period that included a conference championship and multiple bowl appearances. He later coached at North Greenville University as a position coach, special teams coordinator, and defensive coordinator, helping guide the program to the National Quarterfinals in 2011. Hickman also spent time at Gardner-Webb University at the FCS level, working with linebackers and special teams while developing multiple all-conference performers.
In 2018, Hickman returned to his alma mater, West Brunswick High School, as head coach, where he led a program turnaround and guided the team to its first 10-win season in more than 20 years. His 2020 team advanced to the State Quarterfinals. In 2019 and 2020 the WBHS defense held opponents to ten or fewer points on eleven occasions including a school record five shutouts.
Hickman joined Anderson University in 2022 on the inaugural football staff led by legendary Head Coach Bobby Lamb. Known for his disciplined, aggressive defensive philosophy, Hickman is the architect of the Blackout Defense and emphasizes player development, accountability, and adaptability within a modern 3–4 system. In just their second year of NCAA Division II competition, the new program finished #19 in the nation in Total Defense.
