FOF2k4: Corners

[Karim]

Can a corner be effective without any man-to-man skills but are excellent in bump and run, zone and play diagnosis?

I moved up in a draft to get what I thought would be a stud corner and he turned out exactly like above. He's now sucking up $2.7 million of cap. I started him in his second year and his PDQ was almost 20 but I relegated him to the dime corner in the current year simply because I've got other options.

I'm assuming my DC is playing mostly zone because I only have one CB who's got any man-coverage skills but he's not particularly good at anything else.

I have a winning record but I'm currently the 5th worst pass defence in the league. It's a problem I can't rectify.

[Ben E Lou]

That's where you've *got* to set your game plan yourself (or only go after all-around corners). There are too many DB's who are average or better in one or two types of coverage, but awful in the other(s). Personally, I pick a type of defensive coverage, and then draft/sign guys who are good at it.

[QuikSand]

Ding ding, we have a winner already!

But doesn't the AI pick a gameplan that is suited to the talent you have on you're team? or am I hoping for too much?

[Ben E Lou]

Originally Posted by PSUColonel1

But doesn't the AI pick a gameplan that is suited to the talent you have on you're team? or am I hoping for too much?

To some degree, yes. I haven't studied this in detail, so others can feel free to correct me, but I think I have somewhat of a handle on how this works. The AI seems to set gameplans within a relatively narrow (compared to a human) range of possibilities. Just throwing out some numbers for example, but maybe it will use zone defenses a minimum of 40% of the time, and a maximum of 60% of the time. This is probably fine if you're signing all-around solid players. However, if you've got six DB's who all stink at zone defense, if you let the AI set the game plan, you'd still be in zone 40% of the time, whereas a human would probably rachet zone coverage down MUCH lower than that. I just threw the 40% and 60% numbers out there, as I haven't studied it much. I'd greatly prefer to set my own gameplans anyway to make sure I'm playing to my strengths, and to my opponent's weaknesses.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by SkyDog

(or only go after all-around corners).

Well, you just covered my strategy for the past 50-60 seasons.

[Vegas Vic]

Originally Posted by SkyDog

Personally, I pick a type of defensive coverage, and then draft/sign guys who are good at it.

I've been following ol' SkyDog's dynasties for the past few years, and I know that he loves to jack up the "bump and run" settings. I've got a few surprises for him when we meet in the IHOF.

[wig]

I'm with SkyDog. I pick a defense and stock my corners to fit it.

The challenge is overcoming the weakness of the defense you choose. As SkyDog can probably attest to, running nothing but Bump-n-Run on the outside can lead to a lot of long pass TD against your defense.

Right now I run a Man defense. I get chewed up with short passes and runs.

Live by the sword, die by the sword.

[Ben E Lou]

Originally Posted by Vegas Vic

I've been following ol' SkyDog's dynasties for the past few years, and I know that he loves to jack up the "bump and run" settings. I've got a few surprises for him when we meet in the IHOF.

Watch out. I've made a few, "interesting" changes in my defensive philosophy.

[Ben E Lou]

Originally Posted by wig

The challenge is overcoming the weakness of the defense you choose. As SkyDog can probably attest to, running nothing but Bump-n-Run on the outside can lead to a lot of long pass TD against your defense.

Hence my decision to change the way I do things.

(And yes, I can attest...)

[wig]

I think everyone starts their defensive gameplanning with the comment "hey, my corners have awesome bump and run defense. I'll just run that all the time...."

then we learn.

[Karim]

Thanks. This will change my strategy in FA and drafting. Since I have no interest in gameplanning, I'll start looking to go after all-round corners even if they aren't maxed out.