NFL Steelers studying five-back schemes

The nickel package could be an integral part of the Pittsburgh defense.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The Steelers beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in each of the last two seasons, but Pittsburgh's coaches are still willing to learn from the Super Bowl winners.
At coaching sessions the last three weeks, the Steelers have experimented with the same five defensive-back package as the one that took the Bucs to the championship last season.
Pittsburgh defensive coordinator Tim Lewis believes the nickel will become an integral package for the Steelers in 2003.
"When you watched the Super Bowl and you watched the games Tampa played in all year, it didn't matter really what they saw. They were able to play nickel versus any set," Lewis said. "Versus regular people, two-tight end sets, three-tight end sets, they used their nickel and they were very successful with it."
Lewis said the nickel package could be a versatile set for the Steelers, too.
"You have to be able to stop the run and the pass and so we added a nickel back on the field, an extra cornerback, and we feel pretty good about matching up against three-wide sets," he said. "At the same time, if they keep a tight end on the field, we've got some bigger guys out there who can stop the run."
Hampton's potential
One of those big guys could be nose tackle Casey Hampton, who, by the end of last season, showed the potential to collapse pass pockets in a manner similar to that of the Bucs' Warren Sapp.
The Steelers have relied on a dime package -- with six defensive backs -- on passing downs ever since Bill Cowher became coach in 1992.
But the dime hasn't allowed room for playmaking linebacker Kendrell Bell, who fits more naturally as one of two linebackers in a nickel package.
In the Steelers' nickel set, Bell would be joined in the middle of the field by inside linebacker James Farrior.
"James has very good coverage ability," Lewis said. "As a matter of fact, before we got him he did that for the Jets. He was an inside 'backer that ran the middle of the field and covered people. So we have no questions that he's a good cover guy."
Like the Buccaneers have done, the Steelers will utilize size in the middle and speed off the edge.
If Joey Porter and Jason Gildon are able to pressure quarterbacks the way Simeon Rice and Greg Spires did for Tampa Bay in the last Super Bowl, nickel back Deshea Townsend could reap the benefits.