Defensive 101

[foxman]

Any Defensive specialist out there? I was hoping to find a very basic, summary of what D's are ideal for which foundations and plays if possible.


ie..

Two Back Sets: use Nickle 3-3-5
I form: 4-3 or 3-4


Stretch Plays: use 3-4 Under




something like this. Anyone whip this up for us?

[BOOBOOSD]

1WR - 4-3, 3-4, 46-Normal, 46-Bear
2WRs - 4-3, 3-4, 46-Normal, 46-Bear
3WRs - Nickel-Normal/SlotStrong/3-3-5/2-4-5/1-5-5/1-5-5-Prowl
4WRs - Dime-Normal/Flat/3-2-6
5WRs - Quarters-Normal/3Deep

This is very basic interms of trying to eliminate mis-matches of speed with man to man coverage especially and just matching up with the same number of CBs as there's WRs. For example, If you notice your opponent is coming out with 3WRs and you want to use man to man coverage on all the receivers such as with the play 2Deep Man Under, use a Nickel set to bring out an extra CB(the Nickelback) to match up with that 3rd WR, simple as that, etc...

However, just beaware of substitutions your opponent may make, for example, your opponent might sub in TEs/backs at the SlotWR spots of 3-5WR formations, but the Madden legend thing will still display that there's 3,4, or 5 total WRs even though there might be two TEs subbed in. So keep your eyes on the field as well because instead of coming out in a Dime to match up to what the legend says for example, 4WRs, you might only need to come out in your traditional base D set such as the 4-3,3-4,46-Normal/Bear because your opponent might have 2 TEs subbed in at the SlotWR spots, it'll be a mis-match for you vs. the run to send out a Dime personnel in that situation because those TEs are stronger than your 3rd & 4th CBs, you would want LBs matched up on those TEs instead if the run was a threat.

This is just the very basics, like I said it can help eliminate mis-matches if your going man to man especially. Do understand though that you don't neccessarily have to match up with the number of CBs to his number of WRs. For example, if your intention is to use Zone Coverage, you don't necessarily have to run a Zone Coverage play from a Nickel set if your opponent comes out in a 3WR set. Zone is just zone the defenders just cover areas of the field based on whatever their assignment is, it's not man to man, so the only thing that matters vs. the deep ball with Zone is the deep shell of the 2 outside cornerbacks and safeties. For the most part those 4 Defenders are responsible for deep ball containment (this where the terms Cover2, 3 & 4 come from, it's the number of Defenders playing deep in zone and their played by any of those 4 Defenders in various combinations). Whatever happens in the interior of the defense can be played by only LBs or a combination of both LBs and CBs and even the D-linemen. For example, your opponent comes out in a Singleback-4Wide set and you know for a fact his intention is to try to spread you out with man to man coverage, that way he can run on you easier, what you can do then is come out in a Zone Coverage play out of any of the base D's or Nickel sets and freeze the Defense (Triangle+R2), now you have more Defenders focused around the middle of the defense and it makes running a lot more difficult and basically your forcing him to pass. That's a case where you don't have to come out in a Dime Zone play to match his 4WRs because Dime would be too spread out and Weak in that case. Remember, Awareness plays a bigger factor in zone coverage, so lets say you have a very elite OLB, you may want him in there rather than your basic Nickelback or Dimeback.

As far as stopping certain plays, that's a bit more based on your play selection rather than defensive formation. Though formation package does help especially if you need the strength to stop the run or the speed to stop a certain reciever or two, it can help aide in that, though I do believe play choice is the more important and should be your number one priority when trying to stop certain plays. Like you said, the stretch play, any blitz in the direction of where the stretch run is going to, can help, it could be from an OLB or even from a CB in a Nickel or Dime set, attack str8 into the backfield. That's a case of trying to "scheme." That's why some defensive gurus out there don't neccesarily use a 4-3, 3-4, 46-Normal to stop I-Form sets for example, they infact might be using a Nickel or even a Dime set because they build their schemes around those sets and they might have CBs blitzing off the edges to help stop certain outside runs and or to force the run inside to where their elite DTs/MLB can make a play or to kill playaction. Also if your opponent is constantly passing out of 2WR/2RB/1TE sets and your intention is to play man to man, there might be no point in coming out in a base D, in that case you could come out in a Nickel/Dime or Quarter even to eliminate certain mis-matches, for example he could be passing all the time to his HB in the flats because his HB keeps beating out one of your LBs, that's a case where you might want a CB manned up on him instead, same can be said about a TE. That's of course if the run is not a threat, if he does run of course, you would have less strength to stop the run.

So there's really no rule to follow by other than what I said at the very top, but that can just help eliminate speed mis-matches when going man to man on WRs. Formation choices and play choices,... It could depend on your style of defense, your personnel, and your opponent's tendencies. I personally like to stick to using base D's (I'm a 3-4 guy) and Nickel sets with more Zone blitzes especially, but that's just my style, I think it helps dictate to the offense more rather than me constantly matching up personnel with the offense or shifting and aligning with what the offense does, they have to watch me because I pose a big threat to them interms of potential pressure with the blitz, this is where you can play more of a mind game with them, test their patience and see their ability to adjust to your blitzes and coverages. I prefer my defense to be more crowded around the middle of the field rather than spread out because I feel that causes more confusion vs. the pass because you won't know who's blitzing or dropping back and helps slow down the run, especially if my opponent trys to spread me out. I try to slow down the run and force the pass and I love to blitz and I don't like blitzing as much from Dime or Quarter sets, unless I run man. So it can be all up to your style. Maybe you like playing more vanilla or bend but don't break, maybe you like blitzing a lot on virtually every down like I do, whatever your style is and if it fits your personnel, build around it.

[1978barrett]

Hey thanks B this some good info for a noob like me!:D

[BDawk1234]

If you have fast LB's, and you KNOW your opponent is passing , this is a great play

Nickel 3-3-5, Cover 3. If you are feeling you wont get beat deep, bump and run. Controll the MLB (he is in the yellow zone). Roam around with him. Now, it wont get too much pressure. If they are in an EMPTY back set (or you dont think the HB/FB) is much of a threat, send the two people that are in a flat on a blitz. IMO this is my most effective play. Control your MLB and you'll be set.

The ROLB (the one on the left if you are looking at it) is in a purple zone. Unless he is fast and good in coverage, I suggest getting on the Nickel corner (the one of the side of the ROLB) and moving him until he is in the purple zone. Or make the ROLB play a flat and make the CB play the purple zone. Either works.

[foxman]

Thanks BooBooSD. great post to get you thinking.
The key point you made is , you don't have to match up speed when playing zone....! zone is Zone.

Your right...I don't do that enough. I should try staying in a base 3-4 or 4-3 and zone a 4wr set. Better Blitzes.

Thanks again.

[BOOBOOSD]

Thanks BooBooSD. great post to get you thinking.
The key point you made is , you don't have to match up speed when playing zone....! zone is Zone.

Your right...I don't do that enough. I should try staying in a base 3-4 or 4-3 and zone a 4wr set. Better Blitzes.

Thanks again.


Yup, that's the point I was trying to make. Not only are the blitzes better, but you got more control over the linebackers as well with your controller and you can freeze the Defense to really help you stop the run better. The only thing that the speed of having all DBs in there can help is if your opponent makes a catch somewhere downfield and your forced to chase that reciever down. The DB would obviously run there quicker than the LB. However, if you get consistant heat on a spread set, you should be able to force the quicker pass, therefore you shouldn't have to be in those situations to chase a reciever down, you should be able to still keep everything in front of you.

[kts1230]

If you have fast LB's, and you KNOW your opponent is passing , this is a great play

Nickel 3-3-5, Cover 3. If you are feeling you wont get beat deep, bump and run. Controll the MLB (he is in the yellow zone). Roam around with him. Now, it wont get too much pressure. If they are in an EMPTY back set (or you dont think the HB/FB) is much of a threat, send the two people that are in a flat on a blitz. IMO this is my most effective play. Control your MLB and you'll be set.

The ROLB (the one on the left if you are looking at it) is in a purple zone. Unless he is fast and good in coverage, I suggest getting on the Nickel corner (the one of the side of the ROLB) and moving him until he is in the purple zone. Or make the ROLB play a flat and make the CB play the purple zone. Either works.

some other adjustments to this play are to make the defensive ends in blue yellow or purple zone. there will still be the same heat cuz odds are the dline wouldnt force much pressure. the corners coming from way outside still bring heat.

also, you could make the two outside corners in deep zone and your de's in blue and you dt in yellow. no pressure but the coverage could make make your opponent force throws. if they have mobile qb keep an eye on him

[htownnsm]

this thread is very help. thanx to those who posted i feel like i can improve from this info.

[nvr2ez021]

Damn booboo thats whatsup!! I thought i knew alot about football and playin madden, i stay killin everyone around he block and when we are in iraq we have fat tourneys and i stay runnin madden BUT THEN i got back home and started playin online and its a whole different world....thanks for your input seriously..i wish more cats would break it down like that for me and others not as in depth...thanks again pimpin