3-4 Question

[NiteMaestro]

Curious... How much does the WLB blitz/rush?
Is it every down? 50%? It's tough to really gameplan if you don't even know how much he'll be doing things like that...

[gstelmack]

Every down. It's either on the screen or in the help file.

[NiteMaestro]

Good to know...
So he's never in coverage? (Basically a lineman)

[Ben E Lou]

The WLB is treated like a DE in the 3-4.

When using the 34 defense, the weak-side outside linebacker is considered a rusher by default (as he generally lines up next to the weak-wide end and is often opposite a tackle), so you can not ask him to blitz.
Every so often, it appears that the DE is responsible for pass coverage (they get a small number of catches allowed and passes defended each season.) My strong suspicion is that the WLB is used in the same way.

[NiteMaestro]

Hm... I see.
So as far as a 3-4 WLB, may as well get a monster PR LB, and not worry about the coverage bits... Or could one assume that the guy gets enough looks that he could be a factor in coverage enough to make a difference...?

I would think the former, but I would hope the latter.

[QuikSand]

Former. Not the latter. Put a guy with coverage skills there and he still just rushes the passer. no reason to think that helps the team in amy meaningful way.

FWIW, the WLB is no longer a blitz-only player in the dime setup, and for many teams comes off the field in those situations, so that can blunt the use of this guy if you use that formation a lot.

[NiteMaestro]

I see.

So in a 3-4 (just for clarity)


SILB = Main LB. Run stuff and reasonable coverage. Stays on the field as much as possible. Place 'STUD' here :P

WILB = Run stuffer. Nothing else needed. Watch usage of Nickel and Dime to maximize his skill set. (he leaves the field in those situations) May be a good slot for a creeper to develop until serviceable.

SLB = Overall solid, but important to have coverage because he's on the field in the Nickel and Dime. Better to have a great coverage man than a run stuffer. PR is important, but not crucial. (over 90 combined PRT+PRS ideal)

WLB = PR only. Coverage skills negligible (unless used as SLB in Dime). Run stop helps, but never seen it's impact (personally, though it may play a big role).

Did I get it right?

[Dandelion]

I play a 3-4 with the SLB also blitzing about 95% of the time.. on run plays it seems to me that both SLB and WLB do get a good handfull of tackles.. so I usually try to get guys with high run def, PR technic and PR strength for those positions.. but your approach seems reasonable to me

[MIJB#19]

Also note that you can always choose to use your WLB as your SLB (or SILB) in the dime setting. of course, then you're stuck with the overall blitzing numbers to determine whether your WLB will blitz or not.

[cyril]

I see.

So in a 3-4 (just for clarity)


SILB = Main LB. Run stuff and reasonable coverage. Stays on the field as much as possible. Place 'STUD' here :P

WILB = Run stuffer. Nothing else needed. Watch usage of Nickel and Dime to maximize his skill set. (he leaves the field in those situations) May be a good slot for a creeper to develop until serviceable.

SLB = Overall solid, but important to have coverage because he's on the field in the Nickel and Dime. Better to have a great coverage man than a run stuffer. PR is important, but not crucial. (over 90 combined PRT+PRS ideal)

WLB = PR only. Coverage skills negligible (unless used as SLB in Dime). Run stop helps, but never seen it's impact (personally, though it may play a big role).

Did I get it right?

I might be wrong, but I thought by default it's the WILB, not SILB, who stays on the field in nickel and dime?

PS. after checking the formation, you are indeed right, I was incorrect - oh how I messed up my own positions.

[Firefly]

You guys are mistaken; the SLB comes out in the dime in the 3-4, not the WLB, BUT the WLB no longer blitzes by default.

[NiteMaestro]

So... He's WLB, but the traditional 3-4 WLB?
Or WLB by name, SLB by function?
Or none of the above?

(And does that mean someone blitzes in the dime)

[QuikSand]

You guys are mistaken; the SLB comes out in the dime in the 3-4, not the WLB, BUT the WLB no longer blitzes by default.

My apologies, you're correct, I mis-remembered. I think the main confusion here (at least for me) is that while there's a WLB listed in-game in the dime, it's clear that that player slotted there is not a full-time blitzer, even if your base defense is a 3-4.

The in-game "Recommendations" scree tends to put a SLB into that WLB slot anyway (especially assuming you have a split of skills that makes sense)...and candidly, that actually makes more sense, overall. Whether these labels of "strong side" and "weak side" actually have their true football meanings in the FOF world, I don't think any of us can say... but if you have a full-skill SLB and a pass-rusher WLB, then it's really the former who belongs on the field in the dime anyway, regardless of label or "side."

Sorry if that was misleading, earlier.