How do you attack the 4-3?

[Tupac23X]

If someone is sitting in a 4-3, primarily zone, what is the best way to attack it? Thanks alot.

[Fluff E Bunny]

If someone is sitting in a 4-3, primarily zone, what is the best way to attack it? Thanks alot.

I finished labbing the I Form Slot and will post the results tonight hopefully. But I will suggest trying this formation out, especially given the situation you're seeing.

First, the FB Blast play in this formation is deadly wether you're facing 4-3 or 3-4 (and its practically unfair if you're facing 4-2-5, nickle or dime).

Let me just say that my created team is a solid B- squad with some of the slowest players imaginable, but damned if my FB just doesn't eat up the yards with this play. Run hot to the weak side and motion the slot or WR over if you want. I'd say I average 5 yards per carry with this play alone.

Now, here's the key: Mix in the triple option counter reverse play from the same set (this is actually a case where the reverse triple works better than the normal triple). You still get the FB dive ability in case the line shifts or spreads, but you also get a relaly fine outside run option capability. The receivers really, really do a great job of clearing out the DB's on this. I'd say I was also averaging at least 5 yards per play with this.

The other thing versus 4-3 with I Form Slot is that you want to take advantage of the LB-Slot mismatch. If you see that the LB is sitting in his default spot (ie on the inside shoulder of the DE), you have LOADS of space for the slot to catch and complete the quick slant play. Again, you'll average around 5 yards with that.

Once you get the D committed to stopping the short stuff (and they will), go deep, and also consider PA.


If I Form Slot isn't your style and you want more power, try Ace Big Twins. I found a great play in there where the outside TE runs kind of a narow angle. You can leave him unmotioned and hit it with some success, but what I found was that by motioning him to the outside, he could get a lot more separation. And, if the defender covering him on that side gave him space (5-7 yards), you can quick hit him for a short gain (or a big gain if the defender whiffs...which can happen with TE's).

What I did in combination with that was run the HB Dive play, and make sure to alwyas motion that TE out wide. He'll still block, and still give you a good blocking mismatch on the double TE side.

I played vs a ranked Maryland team last night and marched down the field on them with pretty much just those two plays from that formation. Hadn't had much success against them until that point.

[XxRENO6xX]

What up?
The first thing you have to do is figure out what kind of blitzing is going on.
-If you're being blitzed by more then one backer to one side, I would suggest throwing quick slants,screens, or any kind of route that takes advantage of the area the backers are leaving.
-If you're being blitzed by backers from each side you can do the same as above. The only difference is that that this means they're in a cover 2 as well. .....P.A. fades along the near sideline work great against cover2 if you're looking for a long ball. Make sure you have a little protection(pro set, ace, etc....
-Running the ball has to do with taking advantage of what the defense is giving you. If they are overloaded to one side, Hot route your run play to the other(I think you press R2, Triangle, then press the direction you want to run to).
It can be tough to run into a blitz.

let me know if you have any other questions.
L8,

[Air Raid]

If they stay balanced...speed options off the edge work well....or dive plays up the middle.....I also like to get WRs and HBs matched up against LBs for speed mismatches in the passing game.....and if you are good at the either of the 5-Wide formations (being able to make the quick read) you can get an advantage in the passing game against the LBs :)

..If they over load one side or the other then pound the ball the other way :) ....

...If you have a fast HB use SG Spread and motion him out to a WR spot and send him on the fly, you are almost gaurunteed a match up against a LB or safety and if you are faster and get behind the zone it's 6 :)

[getting awn]

If they stay balanced...speed options off the edge work well....or dive plays up the middle.....I also like to get WRs and HBs matched up against LBs for speed mismatches in the passing game.....and if you are good at the either of the 5-Wide formations (being able to make the quick read) you can get an advantage in the passing game against the LBs :)

..If they over load one side or the other then pound the ball the other way :) ....

...If you have a fast HB use SG Spread and motion him out to a WR spot and send him on the fly, you are almost gaurunteed a match up against a LB or safety and if you are faster and get behind the zone it's 6 :)
That's me all day. I run out of the spread. Until they try to stop it. Overload, run the opposite way. Call the safeties up, go over the top with the Rb, or WR... Keep em frustrated all day is my style... :rolleyes:

[Tupac23X]

I'm looking at all of these strategies and have started using them against people who use the 4-3. What brought this up was that I played one guy on Live, he was ranked in the Top 100. All he played was the 4-3, and nothing seemed to work, especially when I fell behind and had to basically abandon the run. I couldn't do anything with this guy, and though I'm just now really learning "schemes," I've always held my own by what I like to think of as shrewd playcalling and exploiting matchups. Not against this guy. He straight shut me down.

Thanks for the help everybody.