Caviat: I'm still the newest to NFL around here I think!!

I've just been looking at the defense starting positions (Normal, Nickel, Dime, Quarter) - as far as I can see:

Normal: 4-3-4 Used against run plays mainly????????
Nickel: 4-2-5 Drops an LB into secondary to protect more agst pass plays??????
Dime: 4-1-6 Drops another LB into secondary to really protect agst pass plays??????
Quarter: 3-4-4 not sure!?!?!

Anybody's clear explanation of these would be much appreciated as I think I've neglected this area for too long and is the reason my defense just rolls the dice and chooses randomly what they'll do as the HC clearly has no idea!! :O

U have the coverage part right but not the position.

For nickel, u replace a lb (or a dt depending on ur base formation and stuff) and put in a defensive back (typically a number 3 corner). Used when the offense brings out 3 wrs or on passing downs so the cb can catch up with the wr in the slot

Dime is the same thing except u take out both olbs and put in two DBs to replace them. So u have only one mlb and 6 DBs in coverage. Good for those empty sets and and 4 wr packages or on third and long and such. Tough to pass on this but will be weak against the ru. (Only one lb)

Quarter is usually like 5 wr spreads or hail Mary defense or basically just full out pass defense. Usually u have 3 dline and 1 lb and 7 DBs but variations can exist. Point being u have a lot of DBs ready to cover.

Hope that helps?

Thanks mate
A lot to get my head around but I think I'm getting it. I'll take stock properly of it over the weekend :)

The numbers correlate to the personnel groupings. The first number is d-line, the second is LBers, the third is DBs (defensive backs, i.e. CBs+SS+FS).

So in a 3-4-4 for example you would have 3 defensive lineman with their hands in the dirt, 4 LBers, and 4 DBs (2 CBs, 2 safeties). Of course, in a 3-4 alignment one of your LBs will typically always be acting as a de facto d-lineman by blitzing.

Generally speaking, in the NFL you would alter this to match how many WRs the offense is showing. If they come out in a 4 WR set, you'll want 4 CBs to cover them, so you'd match them with a 4-1-6 (dime).

In MFN, many people would typically favor nickel or dime sets even against sets with fewer WRs because LB play was so bad. With the new engine however this should hopefully see a dramatic improvement.

i like base :P