We're still a 43. If the SAM/Nickel flips alignment according to formation strength, it's a 43. The 425 features a S$ and a W$ who align according to ball placement. The S$ plays to the field; the W$ plays to the boundary. They are locked into those positions regardless of formation or motion. All of this is done because the 425 is a sectional defense with split field coverage and two formation strengths--a run strength and a passing strength.
Everyone needs to stop using the term 425 in this context. We sound uninformed. The only thing 425 about this situation is body type: We're playing with two linebackers, three safeties, and a two corners. "Nickel," "42 Nickel" or something to that effect would work better in this context. Really, we are playing a true 43 with Nickel Personnel. The fact that the nickel is a safety or a corner is irrelevant. He's a DB. Nickels can be classified as their own position. Not all Corners have the skillset to play Nickel; not all Safeties have the skillset to play Nickel; and some Linebackers DO have the skillset to play Nickel.
This is not a true 4-3. It is basically a 4-2-5. Last year at miss st diaz took a safety who was similar size to grace and put him at "sam". This isnt exactly the same defense he used to run at texas. Its more of a hybrid defense. Grace was not being used as a traditional sam in the scheme. They were using him like a rover in the 4-2-5. That's what jaquan will be doing, basically being a rover.
Call it Nickel, call it a hybrid, call it whatever, but don't call it a 425. The 425 is a system, not a package. Teams base out of a 425. If you watch Diaz's defenses, they function like a 43. The only thing hybrid about his system is choice in personnel. You're wrong about how they were using Grace. If you watched the spring game, you would have seen Grace playing in a 50 stack alignment with a 9tech covering him up--that
screams traditional 43. If Grace was playing as an overhang with a 6tech/7tech taking C gap, then you would have an argument.
I challenge you to do some research on how defenses operate. Check out how they classify positions, how they align, how they determine strength. When you have a true Mike, and you SAM/Nickel and WILL are flip flopping according to strength, then you're playing a 43. It doesn't matter if your SAM/NICKEL is 190 lbs. Again, I need to emphasize that the 425 is a BASE SYSTEM with unique positions and unique operation concepts. It is not a package.