It is very important to understand that in order for our scheme to be the most successful we are going to want to come out in dime defense. You may be asking why? The reason we do this is because we manage to fully grasp our teams biggest strengths in all areas. We manage to have 6DB’s 3 LB’s and our 2 most athletic DE’s on the field. We certainly have the “beef” to stuff the run but still have the versatility to bring pressure with our speediest defenders. It is really a great balance. I also want to note that we are going to be controlling the DB on the right side of the screen (our 4th CB in the depth chart) on every play. A key to success is being able to make every play look the same. When we do this we can confuse our opponent. Now lets take a look at our depth chart setup:

Depth Chart

DT

1. Best Pass rushing DE (we do this because when we audible to the 1-5-5 this defender will be the ONE down linemen. We want to have our best pass rusher for this situations.

2. Most athletic D-linemen (height is a BIG factor hear as well, when we audible to the 155 this player will be dropping back into coverage. This player may be one of the most important pieces of the puzzle. If your deciding between a defender that is 82 speed and 6’2 or a defender that is 78 speed 6’5 choose the6’5 defender.)

DE

1. Place anyone here (we will use the LB pass rush package from Dime, rendering this player obsolete)

2. Place anyone here (we will use the LB pass rush package from Dime, rendering this player obsolete)

OLB’s

1.Fastest LB’s here (if we have a backup that is 6’5 88 Speed…ie New England Patriots Gary Guyton…we will play him over a someone like Mike Vrabel. Seems crazy but is much more beneficial to have a 6’5 88 speed defender on the field over a smaller, slower defender.)

MLB

1.Fastest/Best tackling linebacker (typically our MLB will be our best tackler. If he has a nice speed rating that’s an added bonus. The better the player we have at this position the better it will suit this dime scheme. You will see later on why I say this. Look for a hybrid player here, someone that encompasses, speed, height, and tackling ability.

CB

1. Best overall CB

2. Height/Speed (if you have a team that is blessed with a lot of either of these we want to use this player in this position. Height first and speed second.)

3. speed/height (if we have a team that is blessed with either we want to use them here. Speed first and height second.)

4. Fastest defensive back. (he will be our manual rusher)

FS

1.Second fastest defensive back, look for height as well (this defender will be our user controller for the 1-5-5. Speed is certainly important here, however if we are deciding between a 90 speed 5’11 defender or a 6’3 88 speed defender, opt out for the height)

SS

1.Height/Hit Power/Speed (this defender main objective is to be tall and have a good hit stick. We want a guy here that can help defend in the run game. He is a our 6th “big” defender when we add him in the mix with our other 5 LB’s/DE’s on the field)

In the Sgibs Defensive E-Book 1-5-5 Now Available! breakdown I chose to use the Raiders to fill out my depth chart breakdown. There are 3 teams that fit this schemes mold PERFECTLY.Those three teams are the Raiders, Cowboys, and the Rams. Now there area handful of other teams that can be used and still have lights out defense. These teams however have speed for days at all positions on the field. Ideally the Raiders are the best team to use. If you can make there offense work I would 100% recommend using them.

Lets highlight a few other teams in which this scheme can work:

•Cardinals- Dominique Rodgers Cromartie is a monster on the manual blitz. They also posses one of the tallest secondary’s. Adrian Wilson is an absolute monster to user with at the FS position in this scheme.

•Jaguars- Rashean Mathis is shutdown along side him we have Reggie Nelson who is a great fit for our FS position. Our manual blitzer off the edge is the best in the business for this scheme. Witherspoon boasts 98speed!

• Chargers- Jammer and Cason defending the outside and Cromartie blitzing off the edge equals pain for the offense. There is a glaring hole in the secondary as there are no real madden studs to put back there. There secondary other then these three is extremely slow and short.

• Patriots- Solid speed, solid defenders, NO HEIGHT. The Patriots won’t be a team your choosing solely for defensive purposes. However, they do posses enough speed to make this scheme work.

With the Dime scheme expect to see ALOT of deflected passes!

*Let me also say that these teams are NOT the only teams that you can run this defensive scheme with. These are just the teams that I recommend using.*

Demarcus Ware is the PERFECT linebacker for this defensive scheme. Size, speed, and versatility all in one package!

DB Blitz

Setup

1. Bump N’ Run

2. Pinch the defensive line. LB + down

3. Playmaker blitz both DE’s and our right DT

4. manually slide both blitzing DB’s in closer to the d-line. I recommend placing them both just outside where a TE would be lined up.

5. Manually control the DB on the right side of the field and use Sgibs Manual Super Rush tactic.

This play will 100% Bring it! The pressure will be coming from all sides. The reason we like to manually blitz both the DT and the DE’s is that this will occupy specific offensive linemen for us. The key is for both tackles to be occupied by our defenders. When we accomplish this we can come off the edge screaming!. This will either force our opponent to step up into the pocket, where more pressure is coming, or to roll to the opposite side,where more pressure is coming as well. Don’t get to comfortable calling this play all game. I will tell you this it can be beat. Typically the way I like to play defense is I will keep calling a play until my opponent PROVES to me thathe can consistently handle the pressure, once he does that I will start mixing it up more and try to confuse him to get my sacks. What you need to look for when calling this defense:

• Snap and lob type passes

• If they can manage to avoid the instant pressure, one on one coverage can be RC on all day.

• Drags

• Slants

• HB/FB routes

• This defensive can be weak against the run. If we see our opponent audibleing to beat us with the run, we want to audible to 1-5-5and use our run defense from this set.

There are a few other alternatives we can use to get better pass coverage when using this blitz. If we place one DT in a yellow zone(consider placing in purple as well) and also one in a purple zone we are going to have AWESOME coverage on the field. Lets take a look at what we are going to be weak against with this defense

• Snap and lop passes, over the middle of the field

• HB/FB routes

• This defensive can be weak against the run. If we see our opponent audibeling to beat us with the run, we want to audible to 1-5-5and use our run defense from this set.

Now we can see that with a few adjustments we are going to knock out a bunch of options for our opponent. We are still able to create major pressure using this adjustment however we do lose a bit of push from up the middle. As I have stressed time and time again. YOU need to be able to make adjustments and be able to read your opponent. If he can’t handle the heat from the first setup then stick to it, if he shows you that he can beat it that’s when we want to look for other options.

If you have any questions, hit us up on the forums for some help!

Related posts:

1. Free Play Friday: Sgibs Under Smoke Blitz
2. Destroying Cover 2 Defense 101!
3. Sgibs Dominant Defensive Play #1

Seeing as how awesome things come in pairs, we are going to provide you with some more fire for your defensive arsenal.

These blitzes can be used in conjunction with each other to really get into the offenses head. If you can learn to disguise your blitzes than you can force the offense into making bad choices under pressure. Here is the second part of free play friday. If you missed the part one check below or click here

Quarters

*Line backer pass rush*

*Place your best pass rushing DE at DT*

*Fastest LB at MLB*

*Fastest CB’s at dime and nickel back ( 3rd and 4th on the depth chart)

*Best CB’s on the outside (1st and 2nd on the depth chart)

*SS hard hitter*

*FS tall and good user ability*

*user the 5th on the depth chart CB*

Under Smoke

Shift line left.

Re blitz the MLB, *RB down*

Re blitz the DT down

Slide the blitzing DB on the left of the screen to the outside hip of the DE

Place the blitzing MLB directly in front of the DT

User the other blitzing DB, and MAKE BIG PLAYS!!!!!!!! (if you bought 1-5-5 guide, use sgibs insanse manual rush tactic for max heat)

When you mix this play in correctly it will mirror the Dime play I discussed earlier. It doesn’t have four down linemen but in the heat of the battle this will look identical to that setup. The major difference is that we are going to be bringing five defenders. If you have played Madden 09 at a high level then you should be aware of the Nickel Strong Man blitz from Nickel Normal. Unfortunately for multiple D playbook users we don’t have the option to use this blitz in our arsenal. This play however is going to give you similar results and even mimics the nickel strong blitz! If your quick on the sticks you can turn this into a zone as well. Quickly adjust your outside DB’s to purple zones and your deep safeties to deep blues and you have a good cover 2 with one of the defenders man’d up on a WR/TE.

This pass rush is great because we are overloading the left by having our MLB and DT occupy the LG and the C. Meanwhile our blitzing RE and CB are going to be attacking the LT. The LT will have to decide which one to pick up and leave the other to come in free off the edge. Our LE is going to be doing a wide outside rush which almost works as a contain because of his rush angle. He will not allow the QB to rush outside the pocked and force the QB to sit inside the pocket. I personally think this is better then the strong man as we get a more consistent rush from the left side of the line.

Implement this into your defense and watch your sack count rise!

Related posts:

1. Free Play Friday: Sgibs 4 Man Rush Blitz
2. Free Play Friday : Indy Scheme Part 2!
3. Free Play Friday: Indy Scheme Part 4

4 Man Pass Rush Nano

Dime

*Line Backer Pass Rush*

*Place best pass rushing DE’s

*Fastest LB at MLB*

*Fastest 2 DB’s at nickel and dime backs (3rd and 4th string on your depth chart)

*Tallest DB’s at your 1st and 2nd string*

* HIT Power at your SS*

*FS place whoever you feel comfortable with usering*

Strong Roll 3

1. Flip the play

2. Shift the d-line left

3. Place the DT on the right of the screen in a yellow zone

4. Bumn N’ Run

5. Place both outside DB’s in purple zones.

6. RE-playmaker your FS and SS into deep blue zones

7. Shade the safeties in

8. Slide both blitzing DB’s in, just outside the hip of the Tackles.

9. Roam with the MLB.

You are bringing only 4 pass rushers with this defense. The rush angles caused by flipping the play and shifting the line left are going to cause MAJOR confusion for the D-line. Take a look at what the DT over the center does to the center. The center almost stands straight up looking confused as what to do. This causes an overload ont he left side as the LT tackle will be forced to pick up or DE and the DT will pick up the LG while the center is left behind in the dust.

You will have absolute BLANKET coverage with this D and have a NASTY nano from it.

*All the playmakers mentioned above can be done in under 7 seconds. I do them every game. So if you cant get them done I recommend going in practice mode and working the kinks out. Ill be posting more blitzes that I have used all season!*

Related posts:

1. Sgibs Dominant Defensive Play #1
2. Free Play Friday : Indy Scheme Part 3
3. Free Play Friday : Indy Scheme Part 2!

Sgibs Nickel 155 Scheme

Cover 2 Stink

Depth Chart

CB

1. Highest rated bump.

2. Second Highest bump

3. Second fastest DB

*The rest of the depth chart can be whatever you choose*

FS

1. Fastest DB

Setup #1

1. Bump N’ Run

2. Put both outside DB’s in purple zones

3. RB (right bumper) up on the right joystick. (this will place all your LB’s in yellow zones)

4. Place your DT on a QB spy

5. Place your MLB on a QB spy

6. Play your farthest OLB on a contain.

7. Blitz your…..Stay Tuned

There is a certain technique that I have been using which has allowed me to THROTTLE my opponents on the defensive side of the ball. Not many, if any, know about this tactic. What we want to do is…

Related posts:

1. Sgibs Money Scheme : The Auto RC!
2. SGibs Pass Balanced Tips – Play 2
3. Sgibs Dominant Defensive Play #1