3-4 vs. 4-3
 

Just wondering what everyone uses. I am very familiar with running a 4-3, as I would imagine most people are since it's the most basic defense, but I am currently in a position where using a 3-4 makes the most sense. In FOF2k4 terms, what is the major difference? Take a team with a great group of LBs such as Baltimore, New England, or Pittsburgh. As I understand it (in real life), usually teams that run a 3-4 make sure their lineman are good run stuffers, since the pass rush will usually be put on by the LBs. I've run across the opposite, however, in FOF. No matter how much I bump up my LB blitz percentages, it seems that my DEs always have more sacks than my LBs. This is starting to become very frustrating, since my OLBs are very solid overall and have good pass rush attributes. Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions, or if some of you guys have noticed this too?

Should I just avoid using a 3-4 in FOF at all costs?

They had to turn down LB blitzing cause some people were exploiting it to the extreme in multiplayer.

Yeah, that's what I heard/read. Does it basically neuter the 3-4 in the game?

I used the 3/4 in multiplayer and had the #1 rushing defense in our league thru at least week 16(didnt check after finale). I dunno if it was the 3/4 or the fact that i got ahead often and teams had to pass all the time. #32 vs the pass.

Theres a lot more to defense then how many sacks you register.

I like the 3-4, gameplan asisde, because defensive linemen are so expensive. Four linebackers are cheaper than four DL's, all else being equal. In TCY, I'll take whatever my roster gives me, but in FOF, I almost always use the 3-4.

I know this post is reffering to FOF but this is very noticeable in TCY also. I can't get a OLB with a very high pass rush rating to register sacks no matter what scheme i run. I can get the occasional pass rush monster out of the ILB position but never at OLB which is the opposite to what we all know about pass rushing LB's like Joey Porter, Peter Boulware, and others.

I use both. I will often switch from game to game with some of my MP teams, depending on which opponents I play.

I know there's a lot more, but one of the key components (usually) of a good 3-4 is good pass rushing OLB(s). It's not just sacks that I'm not getting when I use the 3-4, it's also hurries. In real life terms, if you're not getting ANY pressure on the QB, it doesn't matter how good your secondary is, they'll still be lit up by a decent QB. I guess that's why this is so frustrating for me.

depends on your personnel. I run a modified 3-4 as some know and my defense rocks :)

Fixed.

:D

Keep dreamin o injured one :D

I usually run the 3-4 because as I believe it gives me more versatility in designing my gameplans.

As long as you're sacking the QB, I can't see why it matters who got the sack.

Is that the vaunted "Double Nickel"?

yup, #1 D so far in IHOF, 20 yds per game better than #2 :D

'

It has also propelled the Mohawks to a stunning 0 wins in the playoffs in their history, while allowing 27 points per game in those playoffs.

I must have missed the playoff sims for this season :rolleyes:

Are you claiming you have not run the "double nickel" in past seasons? I'm just stating historical fact, man.

what is a double nickle? how you set gameplan for that defense?

Glad to see you can read, I said we're the #1 defense right now, 20 yds per game better than #2. I must have missed where i said anything about previous seasons, dope.

jbmagic - it's setup with 1 defensive lineman, 2 OLBs playing DE, 3 LBs playing LB, 1 S playing LB, and a normal secondary

Interesting scheme. I wonder if something unorthodox like this would work in TCY...hmmm. So, just taking a guess, the safety that plays as an LB is lined up as the Weakside LB on the depth chart ?

If you are not permanently switching their positions, aren't you hurting yourself there by playing so many guys out of position, with the hypothesized ratings penalty we all think occurs when doing this? If it's successful, maybe the alignment overcompensates for that loss, I guess.

I remember playing this guy in Madden online who would put a CB at DE and run past my tackle every play.

I though that was bullshit.

This story may or may not be relevant.

I'm guessing you would not like to play Chubby in Madden if you were looking for a straight game.

I know full well that you didn't mention it, which i found suspicious. Why limit the sample size when you have another 2 seasons of data to pull from?