Zone coverage vs Man Coverage

[SocratesJC1]

I'd like to try and build a defense that uses primarily (or nearly entirely) Zone defense. Does anyone have a good understanding of which defenses are Man and which are Zone?

The help file gives some clues. It mentions that LBs require more zone in Tampa2. I've also read enough that seems to indicate Cover 2 as being primarily man (with only the Safety's playing zone). Is Cover 3 and 4 the only actual zone defense?

It would be great to hear more on this if anyone has some insight or ideas.

[wustin]

Any defensive formation with the word Buzz in it a linebacker drops back and plays contain defense.

Buzz = (line)backers
Cloud = corners
Sky = safeties

for reference

[MattG]

Buzz is a S coming up against the run.

Cover 3/4 are all zone. In reality Cover 2, Tampa 2, and Press 2 should all be all zone but I'm not sure how this game sees it. In the file for Press 2 it says LBs have to be aware of people entering their zone...it's almost a "Man Under". Cover 2 man under is M2M with 2 deep but LBs are also man, so I'm not sure how FOF sees it.

[yabanci]

Why don't you just read the game logs? They tell you the coverage of every player on any pass down.

Basically,

man-to-man, everybody plays bump and run
cover 1, corners and SS play man to man, FS deep zone, linebackers in short zones
cover 2, corners play man to man, safeties in deep zone, linebackers in short zones
press 1, same as cover 1/2 except they play bump and run instead of man
tampa-2, same as cover 2
cover-3, sky - everybody in zone
cover-3, cloud - everybody in zone except 1 cornerback
cover-4, everybody in zone


Obviously there's a bug that says the RDE plays short zone when it should say he's rushing the passer.

[QuikSand]

Originally Posted by wustin

Any defensive formation with the word Buzz in it a linebacker drops back and plays contain defense.

Buzz = (line)backers
Cloud = corners
Sky = safeties

for reference

I don't think this is helpful.

[rush_27]

Originally Posted by yabanci

Why don't you just read the game logs? They tell you the coverage of every player on any pass down.

Basically,

man-to-man, everybody plays bump and run
cover 1, corners and SS play man to man, FS deep zone, linebackers in short zones
cover 2, corners play man to man, safeties in deep zone, linebackers in short zones
press 1, same as cover 1/2 except they play bump and run instead of man
tampa-2, same as cover 2
cover-3, sky - everybody in zone
cover-3, cloud - everybody in zone except 1 cornerback
cover-4, everybody in zone


Obviously there's a bug that says the RDE plays short zone when it should say he's rushing the passer.

In a Tampa 2, doesn't a Linebacker play in a deep zone?

[WilleB]

Originally Posted by rush_27

In a Tampa 2, doesn't a Linebacker play in a deep zone?

In a true Tampa 2 , Sam walks up, (if it's pass)plays curl to flat, like the Will, but he lines in an under look with the Mike. The Mike has deep middle zone which requires speed and agility.

[WilleB]

This is the stuff I'd like to align or have the options on defense, but maybe Jim doesn't have all of that setup. Hopefully he adds more to the defensive side of the ball for us defensive guys. I like a good 10-7 ball game sometimes that doesn't require turnovers to happen. In the end, it comes down to defense. Always has, always will.

[MattG]

Originally Posted by yabanci

Why don't you just read the game logs? They tell you the coverage of every player on any pass down.

Basically,

man-to-man, everybody plays bump and run
cover 1, corners and SS play man to man, FS deep zone, linebackers in short zones
cover 2, corners play man to man, safeties in deep zone, linebackers in short zones
press 1, same as cover 1/2 except they play bump and run instead of man
tampa-2, same as cover 2
cover-3, sky - everybody in zone
cover-3, cloud - everybody in zone except 1 cornerback
cover-4, everybody in zone


Obviously there's a bug that says the RDE plays short zone when it should say he's rushing the passer.

It's good to know the game has every coverage wrong except for M2M, Cover 3 Sky and Cover 4.

[chinaski]

Im more confused now after reading this thread :/

[wustin]

Cover 3 Sky the SS is supposed to play contain defense while the other defensive backs play deep zone.

[MattG]

Originally Posted by wustin

Cover 3 Sky the SS is supposed to play contain defense while the other defensive backs play deep zone.

He plays the flat.

Cover 3 (S)ky - Safety plays the flat
Cover 3 (C)loud - Corner plays the flat

It's the same coverage with 3 deep but the slight variation to throw off the QB.

[yabanci]

Originally Posted by rush_27

In a Tampa 2, doesn't a Linebacker play in a deep zone?

Definitely not, the MLB lines up in his usual position and drops back to cover the seam. He ends up covering a deep(er) middle zone, but he does not line up in a deep zone like the safeties. Big difference.

[yabanci]

Originally Posted by WilleB

In a true Tampa 2 , Sam walks up, (if it's pass)plays curl to flat, like the Will, but he lines in an under look with the Mike. The Mike has deep middle zone which requires speed and agility.

You're talking real football, not FOF. FOF doesn't have little men walking up to the line, lining up in under looks, standing here or there on the field, etc. Linebackers have zone ratings (among others) that are used to determine the outcome of plays where the linebacker is in zone coverage. Speed and agility is irrelevant. In FOF, the SLB and WLB play short zones, whether you want to call them curl to flat or whatever, they are short zones for purposes of the game.

[yabanci]

Originally Posted by MattG

It's good to know the game has every coverage wrong except for M2M, Cover 3 Sky and Cover 4.

Explain.

[yabanci]

Originally Posted by MattG

He plays the flat.

Cover 3 (S)ky - Safety plays the flat
Cover 3 (C)loud - Corner plays the flat

It's the same coverage with 3 deep but the slight variation to throw off the QB.

Which is the way it works in FOF., not sure why you're saying it's all wrong in FOF. In Cover-3 Sky in FOF, the FS and two CBs play deep zones and the SS is closer to the line and plays a short zone, which would include playing the flat.

In Cover-3 Cloud in FOF, the two safeties and one CB play deep zones while CB plays man to man, presumably bc he would cover the flat but also cover the WR on an 9 route or whatever.

Not sure what the complaint is.

[MattG]

Originally Posted by yabanci

Explain.

man-to-man, everybody plays bump and run
cover 1, corners and SS play man to man, FS deep zone, linebackers in short zones
cover 2, corners play man to man, safeties in deep zone, linebackers in short zones
press 1, same as cover 1/2 except they play bump and run instead of man
tampa-2, same as cover 2
cover-3, sky - everybody in zone
cover-3, cloud - everybody in zone except 1 cornerback
cover-4, everybody in zone

M2M - Correct
Cover 1 - LB's aren't playing short zones. They are playing man. Either covering the backs or a TE. One LB might be in a short zone.
Cover 2 - CB's play flats, not M2M
Tampa 2 - CB's play flats, not M2M
Cover 3 Sky - Correct
Cover 3 Cloud - CB is sitting in the flat...S's and other CB in deep 3 behind them. There's no reason for that CB to follow a WR on a 9 when you have 2 S's behind you. He's jumping the flat.
Cover 4 - Correct

[yabanci]

Originally Posted by MattG

M2M - Correct
Cover 1 - LB's aren't playing short zones. They are playing man. Either covering the backs or a TE. One LB might be in a short zone.
Cover 2 - CB's play flats, not M2M
Tampa 2 - CB's play flats, not M2M
Cover 3 Sky - Correct
Cover 3 Cloud - CB is sitting in the flat...S's and other CB in deep 3 behind them. There's no reason for that CB to follow a WR on a 9 when you have 2 S's behind you. He's jumping the flat.
Cover 4 - Correct

Not sure where you get this, madden maybe?

[yabanci]

Go ahead and send it to Jim, explain how he doesn't know anything about defense, school him on it.

[wustin]

NFL 101: Introducing the Basics of Cover 3 | Bleacher Report

There are also breakdowns for cover 1 and 2 linked in the article.

[MattG]

Originally Posted by yabanci

Go ahead and send it to Jim, explain how he doesn't know anything about defense, school him on it.

I did.

Just trying to help out from years around the game. Your responses, especially your Madden one, just show how much of a homer you are. Sorry you couldn't come up with anything actually helpful.

[yabanci]

Originally Posted by MattG

I did.

Just trying to help out from years around the game. Your responses, especially your Madden one, just show how much of a homer you are. Sorry you couldn't come up with anything actually helpful.

Jim's been making the premier football simulation for nearly 20 years. If you say he doesn't know football, the burden is on *you* -- not anyone else -- to show he's wrong based on something other than "I've been around the game for years."

Cover-2 man, for example, is one of the most common defenses in today's NFL. Cover-2 actually can be played with zone, off man, press man, or a combination; it refers to positioning of the safeties more than anything else. Anyone can search the internet and see this. Your claim that Cover-2 man doesn't exist is flat out wrong and confuses people.

Cover 2 Man Defense explained - YouTube

NFL 101: Breaking Down the Basics of 2-Man Coverage | Bleacher Report

FOF has to be played the way it is, not the way someone thinks it should be based on "years around the game." That doesn't help anybody. That's why if someone asks who plays man and who plays zone, I say look at the game logs. It's not my opinion or the way I think it should be, it's the way Jim has implemented the coverage in FOF. He's used Cover-2 man for nearly 15 years, since at least FOF2004. Personally, I could care less whether he has the corners play man or zone. As long as I know, I can adjust my strategy accordingly.

My intent isn't to argue with you. But when you say Jim has it all wrong when in fact you have it all wrong, it's perfectly reasonable ask you to explain what you're talking about and what you are basing it on. It's not my job to prove you wrong.