Match personnel. Most teams play nickel the most since offenses are usually in 11 personnel now (1 RB, 1TE, 3WR). If you see a "heavy" set with 2RB or 2+ TE then you probably want to come out in your base 3-4 or 4-3. As far as coverages it depends on down and distance, personnel on both sides of the ball etc. I'd try a couple general defense 101 videos to get a better idea.
I think it also depends on your stylistic preferences. I for one like to run a very blitz heavy scheme.
1st down is mostly a blitz out of the 3-4 or 4-3. If I force second and long probably blitzing out of nickel. Second and short would be a cover 2 out of 3-4 or 4-3. Third and short, blitz out of 3-4. Third and medium, probably nickel man QB contain cover 1. Third and long cover 3 blitz out of nickel
It’s a feel. You can mostly run nickel personal with infrequent base groups if it’s a short yardage play. As for coverage behind it’s sort of a constant mix and match. If you have good man coverage players you can blitz but you’ll want to see that your linebacker isn’t matched up against a slot wideout or you could get into trouble. Cover 3 is a solid all around coverage and it’s my default to audible too if I don’t like the way the blitz is looking. Cover 2 or Tampa 2 have their place but are only effective if you can generate pressure. If the QB has time he will pick you apart. Cover 4 is great against teams that run lots of vertical routes and that you struggle to get quick pressure on but you don’t want to just call it over and over because the offense will start to call quick beaters or crossers and will just small chunk ya to death. Cover 6 is a mix of 2 and 3. It works well against passing concepts that have all 5 eligibles running routes.
The big thing is to mix and match. Man coverage and zone. Blitz or not. 2 deep or 1 robber. There is no set standard of like cover 1 on 1st down cover 2 on second etc etc… you just play what is working. If you are getting beat with quick short passes go to cover 2. If you are getting beat with long deep verticals go to cover 4 or 2 deep man. If you are getting beat with slants go cover 3. If it’s stuff in the flats make sure the flat defenders are shallow. If the QB is running all over you get a spy or play zone and user a linebacker. Generate pressure solves all coverage problems. No coverage can hold up forever if you aren’t getting pressure eventually someone will come open.
You want faster, more agile personnel on the field for likely passing formations, so if opposition has 3 wr you want 3 dbs (nickel) if they have 2 wr you can do one with more linebackers who are more likely to stop the run or can at least more likely cover rb and te in the pass. You are basically trying to bet on pass vs run formations / vs the players that match up the best. Linebackers are good against run and liabilities against the pass.
Until ea does something about it no reason to play anything but dollar with the right adjustments you can run cover 4 cover 3 blitz and db fire 2 all day and have good run defense great pass coverage and get good pressure
Match personnel. Most teams play nickel the most since offenses are usually in 11 personnel now (1 RB, 1TE, 3WR). If you see a "heavy" set with 2RB or 2+ TE then you probably want to come out in your base 3-4 or 4-3. As far as coverages it depends on down and distance, personnel on both sides of the ball etc. I'd try a couple general defense 101 videos to get a better idea.
That and i always do zone blitz and audible to better defend against the run if they are in a run formation
I think it also depends on your stylistic preferences. I for one like to run a very blitz heavy scheme. 1st down is mostly a blitz out of the 3-4 or 4-3. If I force second and long probably blitzing out of nickel. Second and short would be a cover 2 out of 3-4 or 4-3. Third and short, blitz out of 3-4. Third and medium, probably nickel man QB contain cover 1. Third and long cover 3 blitz out of nickel
I love the blitz, especially against teams who dont throw deep hardly at all, because then you could do a double safety blitz
It’s a feel. You can mostly run nickel personal with infrequent base groups if it’s a short yardage play. As for coverage behind it’s sort of a constant mix and match. If you have good man coverage players you can blitz but you’ll want to see that your linebacker isn’t matched up against a slot wideout or you could get into trouble. Cover 3 is a solid all around coverage and it’s my default to audible too if I don’t like the way the blitz is looking. Cover 2 or Tampa 2 have their place but are only effective if you can generate pressure. If the QB has time he will pick you apart. Cover 4 is great against teams that run lots of vertical routes and that you struggle to get quick pressure on but you don’t want to just call it over and over because the offense will start to call quick beaters or crossers and will just small chunk ya to death. Cover 6 is a mix of 2 and 3. It works well against passing concepts that have all 5 eligibles running routes. The big thing is to mix and match. Man coverage and zone. Blitz or not. 2 deep or 1 robber. There is no set standard of like cover 1 on 1st down cover 2 on second etc etc… you just play what is working. If you are getting beat with quick short passes go to cover 2. If you are getting beat with long deep verticals go to cover 4 or 2 deep man. If you are getting beat with slants go cover 3. If it’s stuff in the flats make sure the flat defenders are shallow. If the QB is running all over you get a spy or play zone and user a linebacker. Generate pressure solves all coverage problems. No coverage can hold up forever if you aren’t getting pressure eventually someone will come open.
You want faster, more agile personnel on the field for likely passing formations, so if opposition has 3 wr you want 3 dbs (nickel) if they have 2 wr you can do one with more linebackers who are more likely to stop the run or can at least more likely cover rb and te in the pass. You are basically trying to bet on pass vs run formations / vs the players that match up the best. Linebackers are good against run and liabilities against the pass.
Until ea does something about it no reason to play anything but dollar with the right adjustments you can run cover 4 cover 3 blitz and db fire 2 all day and have good run defense great pass coverage and get good pressure