Creating pressure is essential for Madden success. The 2 Man Under from the Nickel 2-4-5 formation is a great play to use if you want to get after your opponent's quarterback quickly. The pressure from this blitz is designed to come from your defensive end. Fortunately, when using the 2-4-5 formation you can use a package to place your linebackers in at the defensive end positions if you need more speed there. Watch below as Sports Gamer breaks it down.
Quick Setup
Step 1 - Pinch the linebackers (XBOX - Black button + down / PS2 L1 + down).
Step 2 - Playmaker the left inside linebacker to blitz (XBOX - right analog stick down / PS2 - right analog stick down) and manually move him next to the strong defensive tackle.
Step 3 - (Optional) Call bump n' run and manually move the other linebacker closer to the line of scrimmage to disguise the blitz.
Figure 1 - The defensive assignments for the 2 Man Under are solid. This play provides you with two deep safeties, as well as man to man coverage on every receivers on the field.
Figure 2 - We have taken the three steps mentioned above and are defense is set to bring the heat. We've playmakered the linebacker that we like to blitz because he is the reason that the pressure is created up front. Take a look at Figure 3 to see exactly where we place him.
Figure 3 - Both linebackers are set up exactly the same, preventing your opponent from knowing where the pressure is going to come from. However, we know that the linebacker is going to help us create an overload on the left side of the offensive line (right side of the picture).
Figure 4 - As the play begins to unfold you can see that the right side of the offensive line is hit with the overload. The quarterback is already almost out of time in the pocket before the play has even developed.
Figure 5 - The right guard and the right tackle are forced to engage with two defenders, allowing our defensive end to continue around the outside of the line untouched.
Figure 6 - Just as the quarterback sets his feet our defender closes in for the sack.
Figure 7 - The defensive end easily records the sack as the offense was simply unprepared for the pressure.
Final Conclusion
The Nickel 2-4-5 2 Man Under is a great play to use to bring some serious pressure on your opponent. One thing you will want to remember is to make sure that your pressure is deisgned to come from the opposite side of the tight end to avoid having your defensive end's pass rush being picked up. This means that you may need to flip the play occassionally to create the overload on the weakest part of the offensive line. Also, it is important to know that when you blitz the inside linebacker you will be leaving a receiver open on the field. One option you may want to consider is changing one of deep safeties from zone coverage to man to man coverage on the open receiver. Now head on into practice mode to work out all the kinks.
