Playbooks

Franchise Playsheet

Not So EZ RZ

PlaysheetDefense

3Formations

3Sets

33Plays

Overview

Not So EZ RZ is a compact, pass-first situational playsheet built around two sub packages. Nickel and Quarter each carry 12 plays (36% apiece), and the Base 4-3 set rounds it out with 9 plays (27%). That means 72% of the sheet puts five or more defensive backs on the field. At 33 plays across 3 formations and 3 sets, it is larger than 52% of the game's 30 defensive franchise playsheets, yet still lean enough to learn fully. Every formation maps to one set, so there is no redundant filler to scroll past on the play call screen.

The coverage menu is broad for a sheet this size. It covers Cover 1, Cover 1 Hole, Cover 1 Robber, Press Man, Cover 2, Tampa 2, Cover 3, Cover 4 and Quarters, plus line stunts such as 1 Dt LB Loop for manufacturing pressure without sending extra rushers. Calls like Cover 1 Sting WK and 3 Double Buzz show the split personality of the sheet: aggressive man pressure on one snap, spot-dropping zone with buzz defenders on the next. The Big Quarter 3-1-7 look is the standout. It gives you a seven-DB shell for obvious passing downs that many franchise sheets simply do not offer.

Pick Not So EZ RZ if you face spread and pass-heavy opponents and want to disguise man and zone from the same sub-package personnel. You give up exotic fronts and short-yardage depth. In return you get a sheet whose weight sits exactly where modern Madden offenses attack: 11 personnel, empty sets and third-and-long.

Scheme Fit

Not So EZ RZ wants a roster deep at cornerback and safety, including a slot corner with high man coverage and a rangy safety who can play robber or buzz roles, since most snaps come with five to seven defensive backs on the field. Up front, it rewards quick-twitch defensive tackles and a fast Mike linebacker who can execute stunts and cover the middle alone in the 3-1-7 look. It fits a coverage-first user who plays against pass-heavy opponents and would rather disguise man and zone than rely on exotic blitzes or heavy run fronts.

Playsheet bonuses

IUnlocks the playsheet
II+3Man Coverage, Pressall CB
III+5Zone Coverage, Play RecLB
IV+7Tacklingdefenders

Every play in this playsheet (33 plays)

4-3 Over9 plays

Nickel 3-3 Load Dbl Mug12 plays

Quarter Normal12 plays

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Strengths

72% of the sheet lives in Nickel 4-2-5 and Big Quarter 3-1-7, so you can match spread and empty personnel without dropping into a thin set with only a handful of calls.
The Big Quarter 3-1-7 set gives you seven defensive backs on passing downs, letting you shade coverage, user a safety over the middle and still play Quarters or Cover 4 without a linebacker stuck in space against a slot receiver.
Man and zone concepts are spread across the same formations (Cover 1 Hole, Cover 1 Robber and Press Man alongside Cover 2, Tampa 2, Cover 3 and Quarters), so pre-snap looks disguise well and opponents cannot read coverage off the formation alone.
Line stunts like 1 Dt LB Loop generate interior pressure from four-man rushes, keeping seven or more defenders in coverage instead of forcing you into blitzes that open hot routes.
Three formations with one set each makes the audible package easy to build and memorize, so you spend your pre-snap time on shading, coverage adjustments and user alignment instead of hunting through menus.

Weaknesses

Only 9 plays (27%) come from the Base 4-3, which leaves thin answers against 12 and 21 personnel and power run schemes that force you out of your sub packages.
There is no goal line or short-yardage formation, so on third-and-1 and inside the five you are stuck choosing between an undersized 4-3 menu and light Nickel fronts that heavy sets can lean on.
The Big Quarter 3-1-7 set fields just one linebacker, so smart opponents will audible to draws, inside zone and QB runs as soon as they see Quarter personnel on third and medium.
With one set per formation, there are no alternate alignments within a formation to break tendencies, so a patient opponent can key personnel groupings and narrow down your likely calls.
Pressure is mostly stunt-driven rather than true exotic blitz packages, so offenses that get the ball out quickly against four-man rushes can pick apart the zone looks without facing overload heat.

Usage Tips

Make Nickel your default first and second down set against 11 personnel. Pair a Cover 1 Hole or Cover 1 Sting WK call with a Cover 3 or Quarters audible so you can flip between man and zone from the same presnap look.

On third-and-6 or longer, sub into the Quarter set and lean on calls like 3 Double Buzz or Cover 4. User the robber or deep middle safety and let the seven DBs take away crossers and sail concepts.

Save the 4-3 set for first-and-10 against 12 or 21 personnel and for short yardage. Use line stunts like 1 Dt LB Loop to penetrate gaps rather than trying to win head up with a light front.

Build your audible package with one man call, one Cover 2 or Tampa 2 call, and one Cover 3 or Quarters call from each formation. That way you can check out of a bad matchup without breaking personnel and tipping your hand.

When an opponent starts running against Quarter on third and medium, drop back to Nickel for those downs and play Cover 1 Robber. That puts an extra defender near the box while still keeping man coverage on the outside.