Zone Coverage Observation/Problem

[sportyguyfl31]

I notice that zone coverage works best in the middle of the field...but you start having problems, the closer you get to the hashes.

I was puzzled why people where finding so much open space in zones where specific seams should have covered, or at least closed on.


I studied some replays and notice that on the wide side, the depths and angles are all fouled up..the zone defenders dont gain any width on their drops.

Basically, If I call a zone coverage with a wide field, I almost always have a blitz behind, to force a hot throw, and cover the gap with my FS..if they try to force the pass down the seams.

[DJ]

Re: Zone Coverage Observation/Problem

Yeah, the zone coverage really leaves a lot to be desired. I've called Cover 3 on obvious pass situations and somehow the CPU still manages to complete passes over the top of my CB and Safety that are covering one side of the field.

I think what the issue is that the defensive players are giving up too much ground when they change direction (i.e. running forward and then moving to a backpedal). They will either go into a slipping motion or just come to a complete stop for a second before getting back in the play. That gives the CPU WR more than enough time to get open.

[KG]

Re: Zone Coverage Observation/Problem

I think they play to much to the area of the field and don't give enough attention to the receivers coming into their area.

[rhombic21]

Re: Zone Coverage Observation/Problem

The hash mark issues as they relate to the hook zones can be corrected by manually hot routing the player to a hook zone and repositioning him to the area you want him to guard (like putting him over a slot receiver).

The bigger issues with zone coverage are that deep zones do not react properly to threats that enter their area (Safeties in particular are content to sit back and let a receiver make the catch in front of them, and don't move to get in position to break the pass up until after the ball is thrown), and that flat zones do not react properly to vertical threats down the sidelnes. Basically flat zones should react to vertical threats more like purple zones do (run with the receiver for 10-15 yards before passing him off to deep coverage), rather than completely passing the receiver off to deep coverage as soon as he turns upfield at all.

On top of these issues is the fact that the 4 DL dime formation has a pretty bad array of zone coverages, and in particular doesn't have the kinds of coverages that are good in long yardage (cover 4, cover 2 buc, 6 DB versions of Buzz Duo/Cover 3 with Slot DBs in purple, and Cover 1 man to man blitzes).

[Nextel Husker]

Re: Zone Coverage Observation/Problem

The middle of the field is wide open when I play zone. Sometimes I don't even have a defender in the screen!

[KG]

Re: Zone Coverage Observation/Problem

has anyone messed with the Defensive Gameplan settings regarding zone coverage?

[Frank the Tank]

Re: Zone Coverage Observation/Problem

On top of these issues is the fact that the 4 DL dime formation has a pretty bad array of zone coverages, and in particular doesn't have the kinds of coverages that are good in long yardage (cover 4, cover 2 buc, 6 DB versions of Buzz Duo/Cover 3 with Slot DBs in purple, and Cover 1 man to man blitzes).

Agree that the package of coverages available in dime with 4 lineman is crummy. There are like 20 zone blitzes that result in 3 under, 3 deep coverage, how many of those are really necessary? Yet no play where the MLB blitzes with man coverage and a safety deep. There are lots of ways to blitz DBs from this set and still play man behind if you want to, but not in this game. I often just play a 3 man line, play 3 deep zone w/ 5 underneath, forget about pass rush, set my playcalling to conservative coverage, and just give up the 11 yard catch if I can get 3rd and long. Not very imaginative, but the best I've found to prevent 3rd & long conversions.

[Frank the Tank]

Re: Zone Coverage Observation/Problem

The middle of the field is wide open when I play zone. Sometimes I don't even have a defender in the screen!

I could be wrong, but I think your short zone defenders pretty much drop back to cover a zone in a straight line. So they will go pretty much straight behind wherever they line up. Therefor, if they don't start in the middle, they won't really cover the middle.

[sportyguyfl31]

Re: Zone Coverage Observation/Problem

has anyone messed with the Defensive Gameplan settings regarding zone coverage?

I only touch it when I have a short field to defend.

Otherwise defenders just allow the easy completion, in front of them too much.

[sportyguyfl31]

Re: Zone Coverage Observation/Problem

Agree that the package of coverages available in dime with 4 lineman is crummy. There are like 20 zone blitzes that result in 3 under, 3 deep coverage, how many of those are really necessary? Yet no play where the MLB blitzes with man coverage and a safety deep. There are lots of ways to blitz DBs from this set and still play man behind if you want to, but not in this game. I often just play a 3 man line, play 3 deep zone w/ 5 underneath, forget about pass rush, set my playcalling to conservative coverage, and just give up the 11 yard catch if I can get 3rd and long. Not very imaginative, but the best I've found to prevent 3rd & long conversions.

True.. the 4 man dime is horrid.

At least you have a chance at getting a sack from them or some pressure though.


shouldnt man align help solve the problem though? You'd figure that would help leave them uncovered off of the line.

[TXHusker25]

Re: Zone Coverage Observation/Problem

I think they play to much to the area of the field and don't give enough attention to the receivers coming into their area.

This is the problem right here.

The defenders just play the play as it is shown in play art, they drop to the middle of their circle and just sit there. They do not react to what is happening in their zone. In zone, defenders are taught follow who comes into your zone until they leave the zone, they are explicitly told to not cover grass which is what EA defenders do. EA safeties don't get as deep as the deepest and they just stand there as people run their their zone.

I'm not sure how EA could program it differently, but they need to try hard.

[rhombic21]

Re: Zone Coverage Observation/Problem

The major issue with the zones being off on the hashmark is back again. I am not sure if it's worse after the second patch, or if I'm only noticing it now because the dialed down man defense means that I'm playing more zone. For some reason I thought that before the patch you could manually hot route and reposition a player and he would guard the desired area rather than dropping to a nonsensical region on the field, but that does not appear to be the case any longer.

This more or less makes pass defense impossible against people who know how to read coverages.

Test it out for yourself. Call a zone defense when the ball is in the middle of the field. Then move the ball to the hashmark and run the same play again. Notice how the defensive players responsible for the short area over the middle of the field are way out of position, almost immediately after the ball is snapped. The entire area between the offensive tackle and the sideline is basically left unattended, even if you try to change the play and manually position a player directly in the area.

[NDAlum]

Re: Zone Coverage Observation/Problem

Yea this is my biggest gripe with the game. It's not something "sexy" to market but I hope it gets address.

I feel as though you have to get straight up lucky with your zone call and get some pressure.

[thedudedominick]

Re: Zone Coverage Observation/Problem

I have found some luck calling the zone strong plays where there is the middle sideline zone covered and your coverage rolls to the wide side if you set it up that way. Of course it leaves short passes on the short side open, but if you control the weakside linebacker you can see the WRs patterns over there and cover manually.

[sportyguyfl31]

Re: Zone Coverage Observation/Problem

Basically I call zone D, less and less, the farther the ball is from the middle of the field.

I have my coverage set to conservative, and that has helped also.