Anyone Using Good Ol Fashion, Base 4-3?

[TXHusker25]

Quote: Originally Posted by Pokes404

One of my favorites is 4-3 Normal: Weak Slant 3 Spy. Make sure your "star" is the one playing center field, then before the snap shift your LBs left or right (which ever way gets the star closer to the middle of the field) and shift your Dline in the opposite direction. It brings good pressure, covers the deep ball well, and you basically have 2 safeties playing the middle and another one over the top. Only problem is you're very vulnerable in the flats. Make sure you get pressure on the QB and pray they didn't call some kind of bubble screen. I don't really do anything special. Just having a guy like that on the field will put a little more speed on the field, but you'll still have good personnel on the field to challenge the run. One thing though, any time I call a Cover 3, or any kind of zone blitz, I use the LB Flip package to make sure that my "star" is the one covering the most distance since he's faster. For instance, if they're on the right hash and I call a Cover 3, I'll go to the LB Flip package so that he's on the left side of the formation (from the offense's perspective). This way, he is the one covering the flats on the far sideline, while my other LB is covering the near sidelines (not nearly as far to run). If they're on the left hash marks, I'll simply leave the package at "normal" so he's on the right side. Basically, I try to blitz my bigger LBs and give them the least amount of ground to cover and I try to use my "star" in coverage and give him the wide-side of the field. But if a team comes out with 4 or 5 WRs, a lot of times I'll still go to either a 3-2-6 Dime, or more likely, a 3-3-5 Nickle because the "star" is in that formation too.

I think that is how I will attack this, a 4-3 look with a Peso/Star backer and then use LB Flip package to make sure he has the wide side of the field in coverage and then make sure he is lined up on the TE or Slot WR if I go man coverage. Then like you said with Nickel 335, he is in the formation and it would give you Dime personnel but out of a more manageable formation.

I'll spend a lot of time with the 4-3 tonight to see what types of things I can do with it. I'd really like to look into a pseudo-Tampa 2 look, with my Peso/Star backer actually lined up at middle linebacker, but unfortunately EA has never been good at making that D work right. I really would like to have a wide defensive line, with my ends working a 7 tech outside the end, my tackles responsible for the B gap and my MLB responsible for either A gap and all 3 backers lined up at the line of scrimmage and then either rushing or dropping. I just cannot consistently get the look I am going for doing that.

[silkysmooth]

Playing in the smashmouth Big Ten, I've been using a base 4-3 and going to a 4-4 in some situations because otherwise I can't stop the run. Brandon Saine gouged me for 270 yards. Illinois had two backs with 10+ carries each and they racked up 150 yards or so on me. Next up is John Clay and #1 Wisconsin. Most of these are just plain Iso/Dive plays right up the gut. Getting dominated between the guards means I can't sit in a 3-4 and hope to stop it. I love it though. Getting the CPU to establish the run and actually have success has both frustrated and excited me.

[Pogo27]

Quote: Originally Posted by silkysmooth

the smashmouth Big Ten

This is the funniest thing I've heard all night.

[sportyguyfl31]

Quote: Originally Posted by Pokes404

One of my favorites is 4-3 Normal: Weak Slant 3 Spy. Make sure your "star" is the one playing center field, then before the snap shift your LBs left or right (which ever way gets the star closer to the middle of the field) and shift your Dline in the opposite direction. It brings good pressure, covers the deep ball well, and you basically have 2 safeties playing the middle and another one over the top. Only problem is you're very vulnerable in the flats. Make sure you get pressure on the QB and pray they didn't call some kind of bubble screen. I don't really do anything special. Just having a guy like that on the field will put a little more speed on the field, but you'll still have good personnel on the field to challenge the run. One thing though, any time I call a Cover 3, or any kind of zone blitz, I use the LB Flip package to make sure that my "star" is the one covering the most distance since he's faster. For instance, if they're on the right hash and I call a Cover 3, I'll go to the LB Flip package so that he's on the left side of the formation (from the offense's perspective). This way, he is the one covering the flats on the far sideline, while my other LB is covering the near sidelines (not nearly as far to run). If they're on the left hash marks, I'll simply leave the package at "normal" so he's on the right side. Basically, I try to blitz my bigger LBs and give them the least amount of ground to cover and I try to use my "star" in coverage and give him the wide-side of the field. But if a team comes out with 4 or 5 WRs, a lot of times I'll still go to either a 3-2-6 Dime, or more likely, a 3-3-5 Nickle because the "star" is in that formation too.

Nice stuff. Ive Run 4-3 for years and years..but Ive always incorporated a Monty Kiffen/Tony Dungy style.

I want speed edge rushers, and a quick, athletic, Warren Sapp type DE.

The hard part is getting that Derrick Brooks style LB who can run vertical with a TE or slot reciever in zone coverage.

I would usually recruit bigger safeties and position switch, and bigger DE's and position switch them to DT, for more athleticism along the front 4.

ITs also hard to find a true, ball hawk, coverage safety, so I would position switch CBs as well.

Ive been doing well out of the 3-3-5, but Im thinking of going back to the 4-3.

[jdefreitas]

Use it and love it. In Madden 10 I was all about the 3-4 with how you could disguise blitzes and run so many more combo man/zone coverage plays and stuff. But in NCAA this year especially since I run with BC I kept the 4-3 base D they started with and am enjoying the benefits of a great rush defense with solid DT's who clog up the middle and amazing linebackers that can get horizontal and shut down the screens, options, and outside runs as well. Once the run is stopped teams become one dimensional and my zone blitzing really cranks up and starts to make the QB just a tad nervous... haha.

Basically I force the PC to pass and run zone in the passing game. Even if it's a team that can read zone well and find weak spots, my pass rush is so quick with the ends (and occassionally a linebacker) that they normally have to force the ball into tight coverage.

[SA1NT401]

I dont bother with online...So i use an actual realistic base D (4-3) and use Nickel when it is actually appropriate.

[Bears_16_and_0]

Quote: Originally Posted by ChicagoSparty

I do this quite frequently. 4-3, play zone behind it, tackle well, force the punt. Watch Iowa; they do this all the time, the thinking being that there's no reason to take out a great tackler in favor of a coverage guy if you're mostly going to play zone anyway.

well ill have to play more 4-3 considering that Im playing as Iowa and im an alum =)

[ChicagoSparty]

Quote: Originally Posted by Bears_16_and_0

well ill have to play more 4-3 considering that Im playing as Iowa and im an alum =)

I would. Iowa's linebackers are straight up sick.