PML’s 12 Styles of Defense…refer to the cover photo that I wish I could post in this article if I knew how to use wordpress. Here’s the image. https://premiermadden.com/wp-content/uploads/FOUCQtKXsAQemJK-3.jpeg
AFC West:
Matigy – Master of Disguise
Reason: Defense for Matigy is like a boxing match, as he jabs you with a cover 0 the previous play before tricking you into testing 2 man under because you thought you saw cover 0 again. He’s maniacally waiting for you to crack under the mental pressure.
Codes – Bait & Switch
Reason: Codes’s defensive gameplan is to be a chameleon, adapting to your play style. Then out of nowhere, he zigs when you think he’ll zag and his defense is dancing on you.
DK – Meta and a Dream
Reason: While DK has definitely cooled off of this style over his PML career, the 4-3 6-1 pinch defense will always live in infamy. But once again, like the Route Exploiter offense tag, this is not a detriment to his game unlike what the peanut gallery says. DK knows what works, and makes it work.
Kingmike – Picasso
Reason: Mike ran Cover 2 Invert years before it was added into the game. You probably know about Cover 6, maybe Cover 9. But Mike will hit you with a Cover 7 that he creates pre-snap. Yea, it gets that crazy when Mike gets to thinking.
AFC South:
Keuran – Master of Disguise
Reason: Defense has always been a strong suit of Keuran’s, and a lot of it comes from his ability to go deep into his defensive playcalling bag. You have more questions than answers pre-snap. Is it man? A blitz? Match? One high or two high? You’ll always be guessing.
Dlloyd – The Loyalist
Reason: Dlloyd’s offensive mentality has always been “Man The F Up!” For better or for worse. He’ll always believe in his guys to make a play. And there is nothing that could happen during a game that would deter him from his defensive strategy.
Water – Bait & Switch
Reason: A rookie head coach means this could be wrong. From seeing tendencies so far, Water is very quick to go from dropping into coverage to sending the dogs. Blitzing is the answer to a lot of his problems, especially sending his inside backers.
CB – Cat & Mouse
Reason: While CB may not make many pre-snap adjustments, that does not mean it’s vanilla coverages. He goes deep into his defensive bag to pull out every exotic defense he can find to try to get one step ahead of you in the chess match of offense vs defense. But with his style, one step forwards sometimes means two steps back.
AFC North:
KMFO – Make ‘Em Work
Reason: Using the mind of a QB, KMFO tries to get in your head when you’re on offense by taking away what you want. And everyone wants the big play. Well that’s not happening on KMFO’s watch, you better take what may be open and enjoy it.
Curt – Stock Coverage
Reason: Curt doesn’t leave a lot of mystery about what he’s running once his defense takes the field. But you still have to account for his user defender wrecking havoc, and that’s how he makes an otherwise vanilla looking defense create big plays for his squad.
S1lent – Stock Coverage
Reason: A newcomer into PML means this could be totally wrong. I feel pretty confident in this one though, because from what I’ve seen from Silent he is literally running Ask Madden on defense all game.
Arod – Full Send
Reason: Arod is all about sending the dogs. And contrary to other coach’s philosophies, he’ll get more blitz happy in a dime or dollar package than a heavier 4-3 or 3-4.
AFC East:
Dot – Clock Manager Elite
Reason: If Dot needs a stop, you’ll feel him trying to create a stop. And once he has the lead, which is often, passing is a problem for you. Because he’s ready to let his pass rushers cook and his defensive backs eat off of you forcing the issue.
Greeny – Quick Adjustment Specialist
Reason: Feel free to find someone in PML who sets up a double mabel defense quicker than Greeny. There really is no quick hiking this defense, it’ll be set up whether you snap the ball immediately or you take 20 seconds pre-snap.
Deebo – Cat & Mouse
Reason: Deebo is willing to get risky with his defensive playcalling and his user defender. He’s willing to bet all-in on you falling into his trap. Can you catch him slipping for the big play before he forces you off the field?
Beast – Bait & Switch
Reason: Beast is willing to give you the same down lineman look multiple plays in a row, but it’s up to you to figure out if he’s actually going coverage, dialing up a cover 0, or even sending the slot DB for a fun 5 man rush.
Here’s the final tally on defensive styles:
Stock Coverage: Cammy, S1lent, Fallen, Curt
D-Line User: None
Quick Adjustment Specialist: JC, Greeny
Cat & Mouse: Deebo, Miles, CB
Make Em Work: Jefe, KMFO, Burn
The Loyalist: CEO, Que, Lloyd
Bait & Switch: Codes, HD, Beast, Water
Master of Disguise: Hypemike, Matigy, Cook, Keuran
Clock Manager Elite: Dot, Zstar
Full Send: Arod, JT, Drama
Picasso: Nef, Kingmike, Wimmy, Bandit
Meta and a Dream: DK
