[terry]

It's possible that Chase Thomas sometimes drops down to DE to change our standard 3-4 front into a 4-3. But most of the time, when Thomas becomes a DE, it's because we're in the nickel defense, with a 4-2-5 set. In our nickel, the nose tackle (Stephens) goes out, the two DEs (Gardner and Masifilo) become DTs, the two OLBs (Chase and Murphy/Lueders/Vaughters) become DEs, and an extra DB comes in.

[terry]

It's possible that Chase Thomas sometimes drops down to DE to change our standard 3-4 front into a 4-3. But most of the time, when Thomas becomes a DE, it's because we're in the nickel defense, with a 4-2-5 set. In our nickel, the nose tackle (Stephens) goes out, the two DEs (Gardner and Masifilo) become DTs, the two OLBs (Chase and Murphy/Lueders/Vaughters) become DEs, and an extra DB comes in.