Defensive Rally/PR Points Testing

I have recently seen some posts/comments about Defensive Rally. I decided the best way to determine what information is accurate would be to thoroughly test it myself.

Here are my findings:

• When Defensive Rally activates it will restore one pass rush point to all players that are lined up as a DE/DT in the formation. (In the playbooks this position will be shown as a SQUARE shape on the D-line)
• It makes ZERO difference if it’s a DE/DT/OLB. It only matters where they are lined up in the formation for that play.
• Having multiple players on the field with Defensive Rally equipped on 3rd/4th down will result in multiple pass rush points restored for each player lined up at DE/DT. (one pass rush point restored per Defensive Rally equipped)

Examples for reference:

• If you have Jeffery Simmons at DT with Defensive Rally in Dime 14 ONLY Jeffery Simmons will receive ONE restored pass rush point on 3rd/4th down.
• If you have Jeffery Simmons at DT with Defensive Rally in 52 Normal ALL FIVE players lined up at DE/DT will receive ONE restored pass rush point on 3rd/4th down.
• If you have Jeffery Simmons and Richard Seymour at DT, Matthew Judon at RE, and Mario Williams at LE ALL FOUR with Defensive Rally in Nickel Over ALL FOUR will receive FOUR restored pass rush points on 3rd/4th down.

Side notes I learned from testing:

• A pass rush point is restored to each pass rusher after the first play on each defensive drive.
• At least one pass rush point is restored to each pass rusher after calling a timeout or a two minute warning.

About my testing:

Testing was done by usering several different  players on the D-line in several different formations. I was constantly using the Bull Rush Move to drain the pass rush points of the player I was usering so that I could monitor the changes when Defensive Rally activated on 3rd/4th down. 

Formations Tested:

Ravens Playbook-44 Split, Nickel 24, 33 Cub, Dime 14, Dime 23, Dime 23 Will

49ers Playbook-43 Even 61, 52 Normal, Nickel Over, Nickel Wide, Dollar 32

*All tests were done on PS4. This is the only console I have to test on, so I can’t guarantee the results will be the same on other consoles.

Great job! 👍👍

does having 2 points added from 2x defensive rallies do anything for win percentages against players with EP/SP?  That would be my only other question.

sensicough said:

Great job! 👍👍

does having 2 points added from 2x defensive rallies do anything for win percentages against players with EP/SP?  That would be my only other question.

That’s a great question, unfortunately I would have to do some more testing and the results from testing that would be much more subjective. 

After changing my setup I will have max pass rush points on every 3rd/4th down. I should be able to give some feedback later in the week on the effectiveness against EP/SP.

SlowAndSteady said:

That’s a great question, unfortunately I would have to do some more testing and the results from testing that would be much more subjective. 

After changing my setup I will have max pass rush points on every 3rd/4th down. I should be able to give some feedback later in the week on the effectiveness against EP/SP.

That’d be great.  And yeah I get the “subjectivity” aspect.  If it works you may have found a monster formula.

So calling a TO before a big 3/4 down is smart.

Ahawkalypse said:

So calling a TO before a big 3/4 down is smart.

That’s more situational really. You have to take it game by game based on your opponent. Some of these guys get the ball out so quick it’s hard to get there with the pass rush and you may need the timeout later.

Really interesting, nice job

Hold up. You’re telling me DR will activate for my edge rushers if I’m in base or nickel but if I switch to dime or dollar it suddenly won’t work on them? Wack

Nicetip said:

Hold up. You’re telling me DR will activate for my edge rushers if I’m in base or nickel but if I switch to dime or dollar it suddenly won’t work on them? Wack

It depends on the playbook. You have to look in the formations and see if the guys on the line are Squares or Circles. If they’re Squares it will work, if they’re Circles it will not work.

Dime 14 means 1 DE/DT, 4 LB’s so only the 1 DE/DT will get the pass rush point.

Dime 326 mean 3 DE/DT, 2 LB’s so all 3 guys on the D-Line will get the pass rush point.

SlowAndSteady said:

It depends on the playbook. You have to look in the formations and see if the guys on the line are Squares or Circles. If they’re Squares it will work, if they’re Circles it will not work.

Dime 14 means 1 DE/DT, 4 LB’s so only the 1 DE/DT will get the pass rush point.

Dime 326 mean 3 DE/DT, 2 LB’s so all 3 guys on the D-Line will get the pass rush point.

Interesting. Gonna have to check this out late tonight. Thanks for taking your time to test this!

Nicetip said:

Interesting. Gonna have to check this out late tonight. Thanks for taking your time to test this!

You’re welcome, hope it helps!

BennBurito said:

Really interesting, nice job

Thanks man

Really appreciate the research my man, great job!  Interesting to learn that the circles don’t work. I’ll have to switch Defensive playbooks to fully maximize my 0 AP DR. Thanks a ton

SebSeb88 said:

Really appreciate the research my man, great job!  Interesting to learn that the circles don’t work. I’ll have to switch Defensive playbooks to fully maximize my 0 AP DR. Thanks a ton

For sure man! I‘m going to be switching playbooks as well now. I was running Ravens and with all of the odd formations I was never maximizing Defensive Rally like I thought I was. 🤦‍♂️