Option...who to read question

[MrPolo7]

So I have a question, I love running the spread option in this years game, but for Zone Reads and triple options against a 3-4 front, do you read the end still or the OLB?

[Romain El 82]

The OLB in a 3-4 is the one you read, iirc.

[MrPolo7]

Sweet thanks

[Slaticus]

I hate running against the 3-4

[bgeno]

In real life, you read OLB. In this game, you read DE. I am 100% sure.

[jjkwik]

^^^yes. you always read the DE no matter what the formation. 34, 43, 335, always the DE

[MrPolo7]

Quote: Originally Posted by bgeno

In real life, you read OLB. In this game, you read DE. I am 100% sure.

Quote: Originally Posted by jjkwik

^^^yes. you always read the DE no matter what the formation. 34, 43, 335, always the DE

Oh okay..so always the last guy with his hand on the ground

[PowerofRed25]

3 man fronts are brutal to run the read option against, in real life and in the game. In real life, it is hard because the defense can shift/realign the combination of outside backer and defensive end and make the initial read hard. It is also easier to overload a side and you can match athleticism to athleticism.

The 3-4 gives defenses the flexibility of a ton of scrape options on defense, having an end or outside backer crash on the RB no matter what, and assigning the outside backer or middle backer to scrape over the top and take the QB. That makes the read much tougher for the QB. The counter on offense to this is to make it a triple option, allowing the QB to read both the crasher and the scrape LB. The defensive counter to this is line and backer combo stunts, anything from a jam stunt (tackle over end) to a pirate stunt (backside tackle over playside tackle and end). The offense counters this with midline options, traps, draws and counters. This goes on and on and is why the gun spread rushing attack is such an intriguing offense and very hard to stop when coached well.

Now in the game, none of this exists. The defense isn't developed enough and the read option game isn't developed at all. Running read option vs. the 3-4 in the game is incredibly difficult because you never know who your offensive line will block and who they will let run free. Some times, they block the DE and leave the OLB as the "read", other times they don't block the DE and you're stuck with both the DE and the OLB in your face. Then of course on top of all of this, you have the once in a while situation where the CPU read defender won't commit to anything and he'll just run square at the QB, somehow defending both the give and keep at the same time.

It really kind of sucks not being able to put together a strategy for running the spread rushing attack in the game, maybe one day they will develop it a little. Years and years and years down the line.