VALHALLA

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Hybrid Send 5+ Defense

"Inspired by, but not a replica of, the Brian Flores (DC) / Minnesota Vikings defense."

+ Multipe fronts : 3-4 (Over, Under, Over ED) & 4-3 (6-1 Even) + Leans on more 4-3 base personnel, even in the 3-4 (Over ED)

+ Primarily based out of a Nickel, living out of mugged looks (Single, DBL, Load DBL)) + Keeps a consistently busy front, with standup rushers (2-4, 3-3) coupled with Mugged LBs + High % of Showing 5 & 6 man fronts at the line of scrimmage, across all scenarios

+ Very high drop/bail % for defenders at the L.O.S. + High blitz & send pressure rate

+ Utilizes lots of Trap coverages like Palms, Inverted 2, and 2 Trap. + Light usage of Sim Pressures, but a higher usage of Fire Zones to sustain 5+ blitz identity

+ Involves lots of pre-baked Stunt & Loop blitzes for more chaotic looks (Cover 1 & Cover 3) + Utilizes slot corners a lot in the pass rush (Cover 2 & Cover 3) + Higher than average usage of Double CB & Double Safety blitzes (Cover 0) + Leans on DBs to be super versatile & solid tacklers, more than just coverage guys + Needs LBs to be athletic enough to drop back quickly from L.O.S in mug looks + Leans on LBs to also be capable of engaging blocks in both the run game and pass rush

Scouting Report

Mugged

Fronts

Trap

Coverages

Constant

Pressures

FORMATIONS / SETS

4-3

6-1 EVEN*

TITE LEO

3-4

EVEN OVER*

OVER ED (4-3)*

TITE 5 TECH

UNDER

2-5

OVER WIDE (4-3)

3-3-5

ODD GHOST 4-2-5 EVEN

NICKEL

2-4

2-4 SINGLE MUG*

2-4 DOUBLE MUG*

2-4 LOAD MUG 2-4 LOAD DBL MUG*

3-3 ODD*

WIDE

DIME

2-3 ODD 3-2 ODD

3-2 RUSH*

3-2 SINGLE MUG*

LOAD WEAK* DOLLAR SUGAR 3-2*

PREVENT

3 DEEP

GOAL LINE

5-3

6-2

IDEAL ARCHETYPES

POSITION	ARCHETYPE(S)	ROLE
LEDGE	Power Rusher / Speed Rusher	LEDGE / RRE
REDGE	Speed Rusher / Power Rusher	REDGE / RLE
DT	Gap Specialist* / Power Rusher	NT* / DT1/ DT2
SAM	Signal Caller / Thumper	SAM / 3-4 EDGE / RLE*
MIKE	Signal Caller / Lurker	MIKE / SUBLB
WILL	Signal Caller / Lurker	WILL / SUBLB
CB	Field / Boundary / Zone	LCB / RCB / SLCB
FS	Hybrid / Coverage Specialist	FS / SLCB*
SS	Hybrid / Coverage Specialist	SS / SLCB*

Notes :

DT : Being such a hybrid yet aggressive defense, I want to account for the various DL groupings that will appear in the gameplan. So I want a pure NT to be represented, but the other interior spots should be supplemental to the pass rush & aggressive theme.
EDGE : The scheme primarily bounces between Sub-Personnel but does use some traditional fronts here or there (6-1 Even), so that is why I specify for Power Rusher for the strongside EDGE. To provide some balance to the line, without being a pass rushing liability, capable of also playing Rush End.
SAM : Most multiple-front & subpersonnel schemes I make will have this position earmarked to be a pass-rushing specialist. But in this scheme, there is a bit of 3-4, as well as 4-3, calling for a needed balance at LB. Capable of playing an off-ball role in 4-3, and an edge in 3-4. So developing Signal Callers here is the call, but lean more towards size & run stopping here, and leave the better cover guys for WILL.
MIKE : Personal opinion, but I feel like the goal for every MIKE should be a Signal Caller. As they can handle coverage just fine, but also have run stopping abilities & pass rush capabilities with room to grow for cheap.
WILL : Lurkers are great, but with the added athleticism to Signal Callers this year, I like their overall balance, though Lurkers with great tackling are a 1A/1B scenario. The WILL in this scheme plays SUBLB, off-ball in the 4-3, and inside with the MIKE in 3-4. He's not just a coverage guy, as his number gets called as a looping blitzer quite often.
CB : I have Field & Boundary corners listed, for their overall versatility & access to abilities. Typically, Field is great for SLCB with their quickness, but this scheme plays a lot more zone than any of my other playbooks, so the badges/abilities will come in handy here at CB. I hold Boundary in high regard as outside CBs in most schemes, but here I think they're a great fit at SLCB, with their Quick Jump ability and such high blitz rate % out of that nickel spot. Zone is another choice for the outside due to their size, athleticism, & tackling, but need some time to develop & balance out their coverage skill disparity to be able handle the man coverage responsibilities asked of them in the more exotic blitz packages, so I have them third for their badges.
S : I have Hybrid & Coverage Specialist safeties being fairly interchangable in this scheme., but list Hybrid as the better option when considering cost. But the main key is versatility, so either way you can't go wrong. In general, Coverage Specialist/Hybrid/Boundary archetypes are all pretty similar as incoming skillsets, and can be developed in similar fashions, aside from their access to certain abilities being the difference maker. Nonetheless, you'll want these guys to be super versatile players. Capable of playing in man/zone, securing the edge in space as tacklers, as well as pursuing the QB as blitzers on top of it all.

DEPTH CHART SETUP

POSITION	STARTER
REDG	Best Pass Rushing EDGE
LEDG	Next Best Overall EDGE
DT1	#1 DT or Best Pass Rushing DT
DT2	#2 DT or Next Best Pass Rushing DT
DT3	#3 DT or Best Run Stopping DT (NT)
SAM	#1 SAM or Better Run Stopping Linebacker
MIKE	#1 MIKE or Most Balanced Linebacker
WILL	#1 WILL or Better Coverage Linebacker
CB1 (LCB)	#1 CB, plays left side of the field (Most often matched up vs. #1 WR)
CB2 (RCB)	#2 CB, plays right side of the field (Most often matched up vs. #2 WR)
FS1	#1 FS or Best Zone Coverage Safety
FS2	#2 FS or Next Best Coverage Safety (plays only in Dollar)
SS1	#1 SS or Best Man Coverage Safety (plays % in slot)
SS2	Next Best Hybrid/Coverage Safety (plays slot in Dollar)
RRE	Better Balanced Pass Rusher of the EDGE players (LEDG) or SAM if developing
RLE	Best Pure Pass Rusher of the EDGE players (REDG) or SAM if developing
RDT1	Best Pass Rushing DT (N/A in CFB27)
RDT2	Best Run Stopping DE (N/A in CFB27)
NT	#1 NT or Biggest/Strongest/Highest-tiered Grip Breaker
SUBLB1	Best Coverage / Most Athletic Linebacker (WILL, typically)
SUBLB2	Better Balanced / Overall Linebacker (MIKE, typically)
SLCB1	Highest rated non-starter CB or FS/SS if rated higher
SLCB2	Next Highest rated non-starter CB or FS/SS if deep at safety position

NOTES :	Typically in these 3-4/Multiple based playbooks, I like to designate the SAM as a "Jack" (MONSOON) and use them as a pass rushing specialist, or as a Run Stopping 3-4 OLB (TALON), but not this one. Needing to rotate between 3-4 & 4-3 base looks, but prioritizing 4-3 personnel, I wanted 3 true off-ball backers, with similar skillsets but varying in strengths. So here in this scheme, the SAM is designated to play SAM & be formation subbed in at 3-4 (Under/Over/Even) as OLBs. The MIKE & WILL remain pretty consistent with other schemes, being the MIKE having good balance & the WILL leaning more towards coverage. The only difference being the WILL prioritizing Signal Caller over Lurker, due to a higher usage as a run defender and pass rusher in this scheme, but maintaining their role as the best coverage linebacker within that archetype. As they will also be accountable for playing the hybrid LB/S spot in 3-3-5 Odd Ghost. If you don't have a solid CB3 or CB4 that you like for SLCB, I highly advise using a backup safety. They already have designed snaps in that spot in certain Dime & Dollar looks, and should already be highly versatile and capable of that play, so why not use them in Nickel too.