Staying in to block

[Hammer]

I really like this addition to the game. I haven't quite decided the best way to approach it yet, I'm tending to go with players strengths. But how much differerence does it really make having a player stay in to block? Send 'em out or keep 'em in, any thoughts?

[Noop]

In my experience if I am attempting to pass for 12+ yards I have my FB and my RB/TE stay in to provide maybe that extra second to complete the pass. I have tried to do it without someone staying to block and noticed that the blitzing LBs have higher sack totals then the DL.

[cartman]

I really like this addition to the game. I haven't quite decided the best way to approach it yet, I'm tending to go with players strengths. But how much differerence does it really make having a player stay in to block? Send 'em out or keep 'em in, any thoughts?

Ask Steve Young what he thinks about Lawrence Phillips' "stay in to block" abilities...

:D

[JeffW]

On a related note, how do pass blocking and blitz pickup differ for FBs? Is blitz pickup just for rushing LBs and pass blocking for DEs, or what?

[Firefly]

In my experience if I am attempting to pass for 12+ yards I have my FB and my RB/TE stay in to provide maybe that extra second to complete the pass. I have tried to do it without someone staying to block and noticed that the blitzing LBs have higher sack totals then the DL.

But what could possibly be the advantage of sending the FB on a pattern when he's not the 1st or 2nd option? There must be something, or the game wouldn't even have a setting for it.

[Caratacus]

But what could possibly be the advantage of sending the FB on a pattern when he's not the 1st or 2nd option? There must be something, or the game wouldn't even have a setting for it.


The way I see it is that the FB goes out in a pattern and therefore a LB has to cover him, if he stays in to block that LB is then doubling on say the TE or RB or dropping off into zone and perhaps covering underneath your WR.

[vokac]

It may also have to with how many blitzers they are sending as well.

[Nogram]

I did some testing on this, and found that it makes no differnce.

As noted above, I think that the benefits of staying in to block are offset by the receiver not going out to take up covering defenders.

Nogram <--- never keeps anyone in to block.

[Epi_862]

Anyone done any more tests on this? If it really makes no difference if there are extra blockers or not... Well, i gotta say that's a huge disappointment.

[Caratacus]

Having spent two full seasons calling my own plays I've noted that keeping a back or TE in to block helps for longer passes.

Basically if you are passing for 15 yards and over you really want someone in to block, if you are passing shorter it's better to have them run a pattern.

That said if throwing an 11 yard pattern on say a 3rd down I will keep someone in to block if I'm expecting blitzers or my QB has been under a fair bit of pressure.

[jdavidbakr]

I would guess it also has to do with how good your OL is - I assume that if your lineman gets beat and your FB stays in to block you have less of a chance of getting a sack, whereas if your OL gets beat and your FB is in a pattern then you have to rely on your QB's "sense rush" value to avoid the sack. OTOH, if your OL all have 100's for pass blocking, keeping your FB in to block would probably be a waste of his efforts.

[Epi_862]

Why would it be a waste? Even if everyone in your line has 100 pass blocking, there's gotta be variables to it AND what if there's a 4-3 front and a couple of blitzes? I dont think 100 in pass blocking gives OL the ability to take out 2 rushers. Or at least i really hope that isnt the case.

[Yoda]

I donno about no effect.... I've kept my FB in with pretty good success. Just ask Brody Croyle. ;)

[ddrrbb]

I up all the blocking %s against the 3-4 defenses. Most of the teams have a decent WLB and a stud pass rushing SLB. The SLB seems to blitz often and the WLB "blitzes" every play.

I haven't tested it, but there seems to be far fewer sacks and hurries when a good blocking FB and TEs,to a lesser extent, stay in a little more often than suggested against a decent 3-4. It may just be a feeling, but it is something that I religiously check and adjust.

Does anyone who runs a 3-4 have numbers on the average blitz of the SLB? I run a 4-3 and my suggested blitzing is in the 15-30% range (for all of my teams) while I think 3-4 can be much higher on average.

[jdavidbakr]

Why would it be a waste? Even if everyone in your line has 100 pass blocking, there's gotta be variables to it AND what if there's a 4-3 front and a couple of blitzes? I dont think 100 in pass blocking gives OL the ability to take out 2 rushers. Or at least i really hope that isnt the case.

Well, "waste" was a bit of an exaggeration just to make the point that it seems to me that the stronger your OL is in pass protection, the less likely the FB is going to have to pass block. But of course there are countless variables.