Best Formation for the Eagle

[d_neum80]

Yes, yet another thread about the Eagle lol :rolleyes: . BUT, I actually do have the Virtual Playbook and am looking for your guys opinion on this. What do you think is the best formation to run this front out of? 4-3, 5-2, or 4-4? I'm reading over the section right now and am having a tough time decide which of these to use as my base formation, which is why I'm here. Which of these formations have you guys had the most success using this with?

[GoHuskies]

Okay, I'm gonna try and not spill too much, but if I do, maybe a mod can clean it up.

I personally use the 4-3. If they are running the ball a little bit more than passing, this is a great formation. If you use most any of the blitzes, 6-8 gaps will be filled, making it impossible to run. Obviously, playing it safe and calling Cover 2 or something like that, you still have a solid run defense, and a safe pass defense. The weakness of this formation would be post over the middle.

The 3-4 works, but just like the guide said, it is more complicated. When I do run this, I usally blitz every time. It is really the only way to stop the run in the backfield. Anything else from the 3-4 is almost a guaranteed 3-8 yards. This defensive sets weakness is inside run, and deep ball.

For the 4-2-5 and 5-2 and such, I don't use the Eagle set. It just doesn't seem to add up. Maybe other people have success with it but I certainly don't. 4-2-5 is extremely weak against the inside run, and 5-2 is at the mercy of a toss play, so it's weakness are much more obvious. If your playing some scrub or a player that runs up the middle everytime, or cuts outside with the run, or never reads a defense, then these might work. I'd advise playing mostly the 4-3 and 3-4.

Oh, almost forgot the Nickel. Now this I run a TON. It normally isn't to stop the run however, but it works very well against it. Follow some of the examples it gives you and you'll find that it puts good pressure on the QB, and is very efffective against the pass.

Overall the Eagle Set-up is solid, especially against people who don't read defenses. Even if you really don't want the PB I suggest you buy it just to read up on this.

Hope this helps bro.

[d_neum80]

Yeah, I labbed it a bit and it seems to me that the 4-3 gives you the most options. The 4-4 was killed by Ace Normal just like it said. Didn't really like the 5-2 that much, didn't really care for the play selection or how it worked. 3-4 I'm a little hesitant to use, I don't really like 3 man lines to stop the run. So, after some labbing I think the 4-3 is the most solid of any of the formations.

[Fluff E Bunny]

I dont have the playbook (too cheap to spend the money), but I have done a little reading about gap control defense on the web. I did find one particular writeup using a 4-4, but of course that was with real players and not in the video game. Still, good fundamental information.

Anyway, I've been expirimenting with some of the gap control ideas, as well as some multiple formation looks and substitutions. In particular, I've been using the 5-2 with 3-4 personel. This is a luxury I have because I'm using FSU which has outstanding LB's. I move the two DE's into the DT spots, with just the NT in, and have the two OLBs in the DE spot. Its....interesting. You're limited because the 5-2 doesnt have a lot of plays, so I have to use a lot of coverage and line audibles.

I also have fun turning one defense into another with shifts. Like turning 4-4 into a 5-3 look. It can cause some confusion.