I thought I was getting it but...

[flavaham]

I recently got a tip that a good way to call your D was to look at the personell of the offense and put the same amount of CB's as WR's. (Nickel if offense has 3 WR's in, Dime for 4, etc...) It worked okay for a minute. I've recently read a bit more about the different coverages and now I'm back to being really bad. Here's a few questions I could use help with:

1. How do you anticipate what the other player will call? I see everywhere guys posting stuff like "I like to use 4-3 normal bla-bla-bla against I-form Twin TE bla-bla-bla" but the problem is that I don't know when my opponent is going to call that play!! I get how to use the defensive play in question but how do you know when?

2. My last game I got slaughtered by the run. I play franchise on All-Pro and Tatum Bell had 168 yards and 3 TD's. How do I contain him?

3. How do you tell when it's play action and not a run?

4. Should I controll a guy with a zone, a guy in man or a blitzer?

Bottom line here is that I can defend most plays if I'm absolutely sure of them. I actually had two picks in about ten seconds last game. They were both at the very end of the first half durring obvious passing downs. Beyond that I couldn't stop a thing! What am I doing soooooo wrong?

Thanks!
-g

[uscweezee]

I recently got a tip that a good way to call your D was to look at the personell of the offense and put the same amount of CB's as WR's. (Nickel if offense has 3 WR's in, Dime for 4, etc...) It worked okay for a minute. I've recently read a bit more about the different coverages and now I'm back to being really bad. Here's a few questions I could use help with:

1. How do you anticipate what the other player will call? I see everywhere guys posting stuff like "I like to use 4-3 normal bla-bla-bla against I-form Twin TE bla-bla-bla" but the problem is that I don't know when my opponent is going to call that play!! I get how to use the defensive play in question but how do you know when?

2. My last game I got slaughtered by the run. I play franchise on All-Pro and Tatum Bell had 168 yards and 3 TD's. How do I contain him?

3. How do you tell when it's play action and not a run?

4. Should I controll a guy with a zone, a guy in man or a blitzer?

Bottom line here is that I can defend most plays if I'm absolutely sure of them. I actually had two picks in about ten seconds last game. They were both at the very end of the first half durring obvious passing downs. Beyond that I couldn't stop a thing! What am I doing soooooo wrong?

Thanks!
-g

1. After seeing the offensive package, I usually go with down/distance and field position as to which D I will call early in the game. After that, it's all about tendencies. I pay attention to what my opponent does in certain situations then base my D-calls on that. Some people give away their intentions (run or pass) by what formations they run. The hardest guys to stop are the ones that use the same formation but run different plays (run, pass, or play action) that are effective. Always keep a good run and pass D-audible in hand to make up for a bad call in the huddle.

2. LOL. I had trouble stopping Kevin Jones recently. See my post asking how to slow down the pound. I need help with that too!

3. Not that it's a telltale sign 100% of the time, but I always focus on the center. If he fires up the field, well its obvious its a run. He sits back on a pass play. Play action and draw plays are a little harder to decipher, but I still focus on the center. I just might be a second slower reacting.

4. That's really up to you. You gotta keep the O guessing. Mix up your coverages and blitz schemes. Don't sit back and wait on the O, make them play to you. Pressure bursts pipes and if you keep pressure on your opponent, you're bound to get consistent stops (and a few turnovers) on D.

[flavaham]

Thanks man. I just played another game and did okay against the pass but I still got lit up by McGahee. Also, the offense that I was trying to use wasn't effective so that played into the hands of them being able to pound on me. Play action was frustrating so I'll try looking at the center more. They ran some kind of play action screen pass that burned me three times!

I guess it's just baby steps. As I've said, I've been able to stop the pass, so I just need to work on the run stop, and on offense I've got a scheme that worked well against one team but not the next. I'll need to practice at least one more offensive scheme so that I can adjust if the one I try first fails.

Thanks again!
-g

[ZestyChicken]

Don't be afraid to use 4-3 under (or 3-4 under) when you're not sure what they're going to call. It's a decent defense against the run and you shouldn't get burned by play action - especially if you control the safety.

Love the idea of watching the center. I'm going to try that.

[49ersruleyea]

This is where I'm struggling with my defense right now too. If I notice that he's in a formation with 3 WRs, I'll usually pick a nickel or dime formation and think pass. However, he could do an inside run and maybe pick up 3-5 yards. Its just so hard this year to let your AI go one on one with a reciever since deep passes, play action, or post corner routes are easy this year especially if you know how to do bullet passes. So I'm at a catch 22. Do I blitz and contain his run and give up a big pass play up the field or do I not blitz anyone and protect the pass and let him pound up the field? I usually let him pound up the field and hope during the drive my line can step it up for a loss at least one time and so I know he'll most likely pass or while driving up the field his RB will tire out and fumble with a hitstick.

[flavaham]

I'm still getting burned on play action. I find it hard to spy the center every down. I'm usually trying to make at least one shift before the play so it's easy for that to go unnoticed.
One strategy I've found that worked against a friend of mine is to go with a dime 4 deep D. I crash the line and blitz at least two LB's (Usually both OLB's and put MLB in a hook zone) and drop to deep coverage. With four guys deep there is usually someone still covering if there is play action. It usually stops the outside run and I'm in position to stop a pass almost anywhere on the field if it's not play action. It is weak up the middle though and I usually depend on my line to make a stop there.

[entity361]

just use pass commit! you have a second to do it after the hike but my line never falls for the pa play! sack everytime and if not an incomplete pass for the quickness the qb has to get off the ball. i usually take the pa out of the opponents arsenal everytime.

[smallman01313]

Don't be afraid to use 4-3 under (or 3-4 under) when you're not sure what they're going to call. It's a decent defense against the run and you shouldn't get burned by play action - especially if you control the safety.

Love the idea of watching the center. I'm going to try that.
what's the difference between 3-4 under and 3-4 normla or solid

[Michura]

what's the difference between 3-4 under and 3-4 normla or solid

The 3-4 Solid IMO is the best against the run. The two DE's are overtop the two guards and the NT over the center. This prevents any linemen from getting to the ILB to run block. This also opens up the a gaps for ILB to make a play on inside runs, especially if there is no leading fullback.

[smallman01313]

i mean he said use 4-3 under or 3-4 under alot of people have been using 3-4 under lately i'm trying to find out whats good bout it