All week long ZFarls and I have been debating on what’s a better style of defense, pressure or coverage? We broke it down on TWIM 73 this week and discussed the benefits of both styles of defense.
Here are our thoughts…
Pressure
- Pressure can rattle aggressive opponents.
- It tests your opponent’s protection scheme.
- Can the offense handle the heat in the kitchen?
- When in doubt send it.
- Pressure bursts pipes.
- It has the potential to give up the big play.
- It’s vulnerable to quick passes.
- Lightning-quick setups are necessary.
Coverage
- Does your opponent have patience?
- Can your opponent check down to HB Draws?
- Will your opponent force the ball into coverage?
- Coverage, Coverage, Coverage, PRESSURE, Coverage…
- Bend but don’t break.
- Elite players always find ways to pressure the QB.
- A coverage defense is always going to give up points.
- It allows you to get a feel for your opponent’s game plan.
The jury is still out on this one. Where do you fall on this Great Debate? What style of defense do you prefer? Let us know by commenting below!
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Definitely a fan of going coverage early on, and every so often showing a blitz just so my opponent knows its there. The biggest thing I want to avoid is giving up the big play. Big plays don’t allow you to get a good idea on what offense he is running, and force you to be on offense a lot, and give up your scheme too early.
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First drive i will come out in something passive, just to see what my opponent runs/observe their scheme. Then I send the pressure, all game, until I have a comfortable 2 TE lead then coverage D rest of game. This year’s game there is no reliable defense against a good player. Therefore, I’d rather bring the pressure and force a bad play than sit back and get scored on anyway. Give me my user int ability and one stop is all I need to win.
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bobcat777 Reply:
September 22nd, 2012 at 1:18 am
you mean 2 TD lead…
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I like the slow vise-grip kind of d. Coverage, Coverage and then intense heat once I have learned their favorite schemes.
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sgibs Reply:
October 9th, 2012 at 5:03 pm
thats how I have been playing defense this year
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Has to be a steady mix of the two. If you drop back in coverage, anyone with a mobile quarterback or someone that once he/she realizes its coverage can sit back and move the receivers until he finds that favorable down field pass. Its coverage until you learn their tendencies, then pressure.
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or send one early to get him thinking blitz and go to coverage for the too quick pass and a pick…
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sgibs Reply:
October 9th, 2012 at 5:02 pm
i like that a lot – show heavy pressure early – then drop coverage the rest of the game from the same set
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Neither one matters when the opponent knows what you’re sitting in. A good offensive madden player recognizes both coverage and pressure but a great defensive madden player will disguise what he’s doing at ALL times.
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sgibs Reply:
October 9th, 2012 at 5:02 pm
thats the goal 100% on both sides.
confuse your opponent
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Mostly coverage with the occasional pressure just to switch it up, but that’s kind of how my team is built (Chicago).
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I change it up based on situation, much like NFL teams do. I’ll bring some heat on 3rd and long, where the quick pass still doesn’t usually get them a first down. Also, I blitz to stop the run at times too.
1 key thing is playing with teams that can bring adequate pressure with just four guys. In my Connected Career online that I did at work, we took the 12 lowest rated teams, drew 2 out of a hat, and you picked which of the 2 you wanted to use. I ended up with the Redskins (Colts was my other choice, in case you were wondering) and on passing downs, I use the sub package. Orakpo, being a sackmaster, has 7 sacks through 3 games, all out of this formation, and all against the computer. Not a pass heavy user, but the more balanced computer. I played a live player opponent in the preseason, and had 6 sacks. Very little blitzing.
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I run with the Seahawks, and while the receivers leave a little something to be desired, the defense is pretty stellar. I tend to run press/man coverage for most of the game. If for no other reason, it disrupts the receivers right at the line, and takes away all the short routes. This buys me sacks because people will hold on to the ball a little longer. If they use a mobile qb, I will call blitzes every play, then switch one of the blitzers (Wagner) to a spy. Read option, and qb scrambles are a non issue. Almost every play is cover one or two. In the second half I’ll start dropping my DE’s back in coverage. By this point my opponent has realized I leave the middle of the field wide open the entire game. Cue Bruce Irvine sneaky double coverage on the TE, and I can get some second half picks. Also a great defense is never giving your opponent the ball. Not constant onside kicks either, but controlling the clock and the ball with a solid balanced offense. I won a game online the other day 34-6, and I held the ball for over 22 minutes. Probably my proudest Madden moment.
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