DE's in the 3-4 Defense

[JetsIn06]

I absolutely love this game, but there has been one thing that has been bugging me. In a 3-4 Defense, the DE's need to be big to take up space on the line. The problem is that in FOF, you have to be under 300 pounds in order to switch a player to the DE position. I'm not trying to bash the game or anything but I think that if the game is ever patched again, or in the next version, this should be changed. Just my two cents.

[beargrowlz]

Speaking of weight, I tried to bulk Vince Wilfork up over 400 lbs just for kicks. The game stopped me at 387.

[stevew]

I would hope eventually in future versions that there would be one gap/two gap type setups and specializations for players. Like a 3/4 OLB could have the same sort of hellish pass rush effect as a 4/3 DE.

[M GO BLUE!!!]

I would hope eventually in future versions that there would be one gap/two gap type setups and specializations for players. Like a 3/4 OLB could have the same sort of hellish pass rush effect as a 4/3 DE.

I hope that in future versions the style of offense/defense is dictated by the coordinators. Also the head coach should have degrees of how he delegates to the coordinators. Maybe a DC is a strict 3-4 guy, maybe strict 4-3, maybe he can adapt and shift between the two based on the players he has.

Then we would have other things to look at for coaches... Do they mesh? What if I really want to run a 4-3, but there are no good 4-3 coordinators?

There could even be occasional freaks... He likes the 5-2??? The wishbone??? :D

[TimL]

I thought in a 3-4 defense, your defensive line consists of a Nose Tackle and 2 Defensive Tackles. This is in contrast to a 4-3 where the line consists of 2 Defensive Tackles and 2 Defensive Ends.

[TimL]

I would hope eventually in future versions that there would be one gap/two gap type setups and specializations for players. Like a 3/4 OLB could have the same sort of hellish pass rush effect as a 4/3 DE.

Eh, didn't work so well for Kevin Greene. Part of the problem is that the OLB is playing in space, whereas the 4-3 DE is playing on the line right in front (or just outside of) the offensive tackle. There could be a hybrid setup, where you could shift between a 3-4 and a 4-3 if you have a 'tweener' type of LB, but it might be tough to code up.

[beargrowlz]

I thought in a 3-4 defense, your defensive line consists of a Nose Tackle and 2 Defensive Tackles. This is in contrast to a 4-3 where the line consists of 2 Defensive Tackles and 2 Defensive Ends.


Correct. But in FOF2k7, the WLB automatically becomes part of the pass rush in a 3-4 setup.


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[IMetTrentGreen]

I thought in a 3-4 defense, your defensive line consists of a Nose Tackle and 2 Defensive Tackles. This is in contrast to a 4-3 where the line consists of 2 Defensive Tackles and 2 Defensive Ends.

it's semantics, but the main 3-4 philosophy is to get your three down linemen to occupy the 5 ol to allow the lb's to cause havok and make plays. so really the 'ends' have similar responsibilities as a dt in the 3-4.

[TimL]

Correct. But in FOF2k7, the WLB automatically becomes part of the pass rush in a 3-4 setup.
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it's semantics, but the main 3-4 philosophy is to get your three down linemen to occupy the 5 ol to allow the lb's to cause havok and make plays. so really the 'ends' have similar responsibilities as a dt in the 3-4.

Right. The point I was trying to make was that the original poster was asking about a DE in the 3-4 setup, where I don't think there are DEs. So there shoudln't be a problem. So your 300+ guy should be playing tackle, not end. No need to change his position.

[JetsIn06]

Right. The point I was trying to make was that the original poster was asking about a DE in the 3-4 setup, where I don't think there are DEs. So there shoudln't be a problem. So your 300+ guy should be playing tackle, not end. No need to change his position.

In the depth chart screen, it says Left End, and Right End. I know that it really is just semantics when it comes to real-life football. My concern is with the position experience players get. If I place my DT at DE on the depth chart, will he gain experience at that position in the same way that he would if I clicked the "switch position" button and then selected DE?

[TimL]

In the depth chart screen, it says Left End, and Right End. I know that it really is just semantics when it comes to real-life football. My concern is with the position experience players get. If I place my DT at DE on the depth chart, will he gain experience at that position in the same way that he would if I clicked the "switch position" button and then selected DE?

Hmmm, interesting. Maybe I need to pay more attention to the depth chart screens. Good question then.

[Warhammer]

Actually in RL football a 3-4 has DEs just like in a 4-3. However, the DEs in a 4-3 tend to be better pass rushers than in the 3-4, while the DEs in the 3-4 are run stoppers.

[TimL]

Actually in RL football a 3-4 has DEs just like in a 4-3. However, the DEs in a 4-3 tend to be better pass rushers than in the 3-4, while the DEs in the 3-4 are run stoppers.

All right, just never mind my comments. I had always called 3-4 linemen tackles since they typically line up on the offensive tackles, where the 4-3 linemen were ends since they line up across the tight ends. No worries though.

[Warhammer]

No problem. The defensive line never made sense to me. Why is the DT who lines up over the center a tackle?

[TimL]

No problem. The defensive line never made sense to me. Why is the DT who lines up over the center a tackle?

We always called him a Nose Tackle. At least that made sense.

Anyways, I was a DB. I never really got into the whole defensive line thing. You can ask me about high school coverages though :)

[Synovia]

No problem. The defensive line never made sense to me. Why is the DT who lines up over the center a tackle?

Because originally, football lineups were different. Recieving wasnt really a focus of the game, and there was a defensive center, and defensive guards. The defensive center moved back, and became your middle linebacker, and hte guards became your outside linebackers.

Your defensive ends, who were lined up across from your split endtight end moved in, as did the defensive tackles. Your defensive flankers moved back and became corners. Positions moved as the game evolved.

[fantastic flying froggies]

Because originally, football lineups were different. Recieving wasnt really a focus of the game, and there was a defensive center, and defensive guards. The defensive center moved back, and became your middle linebacker, and hte guards became your outside linebackers.

Your defensive ends, who were lined up across from your split endtight end moved in, as did the defensive tackles. Your defensive flankers moved back and became corners. Positions moved as the game evolved.

I didn't know any of this, it was quite interesting.

[Warhammer]

Agreed.

[Synovia]

I messed up a couple finer details.

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/2005/06/16/ramblings/strategy-minicamps/2665/

for more info. All the strategy minicamp articles are fantastic.

[Icy]

I messed up a couple finer details.

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/2005/06/16/ramblings/strategy-minicamps/2665/

for more info. All the strategy minicamp articles are fantastic.

Great article.