FOF2 Junkies: Defensive Success

[Grid Iron]

Defensive Success in FOF2

An analysis of the Nebraska Blizzards’ “Snow Storm” defense

This article was originally posted in my Nebraska Blizzards Dynasty Review in the Dynasty Reports section. Since it does contain some information that may be of general interest to FOF2 players (as few as there might be), I decided to post it here, too.


Overview

I’ll be the first to admit that the Nebraska Blizzards incredible success was due to the use of the “Snow Storm” defense which began in 2021. In nine seasons of using the Snow Storm defense from 2021 to 2029, the Blizzards compiled a 131-32 record (80.4%), never missed the playoffs, clinched eight AFC Championships, and won seven Super Bowls, despite playing under somewhat rigorous house rules.

Implementation

The Snow Storm defense, consisting of four linemen (2 DE, 2 DT), one linebacker, four cornerbacks and two safeties, started as an experiment. After becoming bored with the regular 4-3 and 3-4 schemes in FOF2, and experiencing difficulty in sustaining Super Bowl quality success over a long period of time, I decided to implement an extreme defensive game plan.

I began by creating a defense that would utilize the most talented players on my team as often as possible. Since FOF2 always has a glut of great cornerbacks available in the draft as late at the fifth or sixth round, I decided to run a defense that used the dime formation exclusively. This allowed me to use all of the fantastic players in my secondary, and hide the weakness of my linebacker corps.

The difficulty in using a dime formation all the time was that the AI won’t do it—even if the “dime formation frequency” setting is 100. So, I had to manually call every single play on defense for the Blizzards.

I began every defensive play call by going all out against the pass to increase my chances for an interception. Then, I always chose dime formation to utilize all of my great cornerbacks. Next, I selected bumb and run coverage in an attempt to disrupt receiver routes. Last, I almost never blitzed because I wanted my great interceptors to stay back to pick off the ball rather than come at the quarterback and risk the big play.

I knew I was on to something special after the first game I used it. In a 34-3 victory at Indianapolis in Week 9 of the 2021 season, the Blizzards held the Colts to just 197 total yards (38 rush, 149 rec) and single field goal. The rest, as the say, is history.

In the nine years in which Nebraska used the Snow Storm defense, the team allowed an average of 16.23 points in the regular season.

Moreover, the Blizzards defense regularly led the NFL in several defensive categories. The team finished first in fewest points allowed six times, ranked first or second in fewest passing yards allowed eight times, and led the league in interceptions six times. The team also recorded 239 regular-season interceptions over the nine-year span, an average of 1.7 per game.

Perhaps one of the best examples of how well the Snow Storm Defense worked was the performance of CB Everett Blackwood in 2024, who played in 16 games but was third on the cornerback depth chart. Everett, who was drafted in 2021 by the Blizzards in the fifth round out of Arizona, finished that season with an amazing 10 interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns, and earned All-League First Team honors. His stat line for the season, however, shows that he never “started” a game, as he played behind two other great cornerbacks.

Blackwood’s success truly underscores the fact that, in FOF2 at least, the incredible surplus of talented cornerbacks is severely underutilized in AI defensive playcalling.

Interestingly, I also found that the Snow Storm defense performed very well at the goaline. While I haven’t gone back to conduct a statistical analysis, my anecdotal experience has been that the Snow Storm defense works well under all conditions.

Conclusion

As my experience with the Blizzards has shown me, the Snow Storm defense works well for FOF2. As for other versions of Front Office Football, I don’t know. I haven’t tried it out. Perhaps someone will be inspired after reading this, try it out, and let me know.

In closing, I just want everyone to remember this: if by some chance an NFL team starts using the dime formation on every down and wins the Super Bowl, you heard it here first.

[QuikSand]

Interesting.

In FOF 2001, CB is one of the tougher and most expensive positions at which to acquire players - so maintaining this style in that game woul probably require a very heavy commitment through the draft (and perhaps some serious trading to get the requisite draft picks).

In FOF 4, the positions are a bit more balanced - and with a liberal use of affordable free agents, it might be feasible to put out a defense with four or five solid CBs at a time.


Of course, in any system - it's very tough to argue "my team was good, therefore my system worked," because there are so many ways that human-run teams gain other advantages in talent, roster management, and gameplanning that we are bound to have great success, almost no matter what we do in terms of schemes.

[Grid Iron]

Originally posted by QuikSand
Of course, in any system - it's very tough to argue "my team was good, therefore my system worked," because there are so many ways that human-run teams gain other advantages in talent, roster management, and gameplanning that we are bound to have great success, almost no matter what we do in terms of schemes.

True. However, the one control I had to the "experiment" was that I ran the exact same defensive play every down, no matter what the situation. It was quite weird, because it seemed that no matter how dire the situation was, my secondary always came up with an interception or interception return for a TD to save the game over the course of nine seasons.

In addition, I've simmed out several seasons past 2030 and observed a HUGE drop in the quality of LBs and CBs in the draft. The good ones are all gone by the end of the second round now, sometimes the first. Without three or four "maxed out" CBs, the Blizzards' Snow Storm defensive performance dropped off dramatically--to the point where it was almost ineffective. I finally changed it after three seasons.

I think the key to running this defense is getting CBs with great run defense ratings, so they aren't so vulnerable in the dime formation. I couldn't get high "run defense" CBs as readily after 2030 and opposing teams starting running all over me--regularly racking up 200-300 yards rushing per game. But of course, the point to the Snow Storm was to create a defensive scheme that utilized my best players to their maximum potential for as many plays as possible. It worked when I had four or five top corners, and it didn't when they all left the team. Ultimately, I see the Snow Storm defense as just a way to exploit the limitations of the AI.

But of course, you are right that whenever human input is involved, the human will generally be superior to the AI. Except in those damn 3D shooter games that I suck at.

[Bee]

Originally posted by Grid Iron
In addition, I've simmed out several seasons past 2030 and observed a HUGE drop in the quality of LBs and CBs in the draft.

And you were running FOF2?

[Grid Iron]

Originally posted by Bee
And you were running FOF2?

Yes. Around 2030, there were no more maxed out or almost maxed out CBs and LBs available in rounds 3-7. After the first two rounds, their skills were in the 50-70 range at most. The top ones always got picked in the first two rounds. All that was left in rounds 5-7 was basically junk.

Up until that point, it was always superstars galore in the LB and CB position (mostly CB though) until the late rounds.

The drop off in quality CBs and LBs late was interesting because I had simmed a prior dynasty out to 2040 or so, and I never saw anything like that--still great talent late. But not in the Blizzards dynasty. Don't know why.

[Darkiller]

Thanks for this !

[Grid Iron]

Originally posted by Darkiller
Thanks for this !

No problem. If you try it, let me know how it works out for you!