Pre-Snap DB Shading Adjustments in Man Coverage

[jfsolo]

Re: Pre-Snap DB Shading Adjustments in Man Coverage

One of the problems in 19 was that there was so much animation wonkiness that the it lessened the effectiveness of the shading a lot. With the animations cleaned up for 20 you can actually see various adjustments working as intended.

[RogueHominid]

Re: Pre-Snap DB Shading Adjustments in Man Coverage

Excellent stuff, Edge! Many thanks!

[Aestis]

Re: Pre-Snap DB Shading Adjustments in Man Coverage

For off-man coverage you say shading doesn't help much. I wouldn't expect it to vs many underneath routes, but you specifically saw it not improving coverage against, say, corner routes while in outside leverage, or post routes while shaded inside?

I know shading outside/inside will generally carry verticals downfield correctly, which while not as critical, is useful when trying to go inside leverage vs a boundary WR to squeeze him to the sideline and outside leverage vs an inside WR to funnel him toward a deep center FS. Didn't get to test vs posts/corners being the two primary inside/outside deep routes.

I too noticed bail technique with over-top shade for the first time I can remember--for a team with bad press CBs, this is still pretty useful to know at times, I think! How did inside/underneath work vs slants & drags?

[edgevoice]

Re: Pre-Snap DB Shading Adjustments in Man Coverage

For off-man coverage you say shading doesn't help much. I wouldn't expect it to vs many underneath routes, but you specifically saw it not improving coverage against, say, corner routes while in outside leverage, or post routes while shaded inside?

I know shading outside/inside will generally carry verticals downfield correctly, which while not as critical, is useful when trying to go inside leverage vs a boundary WR to squeeze him to the sideline and outside leverage vs an inside WR to funnel him toward a deep center FS. Didn't get to test vs posts/corners being the two primary inside/outside deep routes.

I too noticed bail technique with over-top shade for the first time I can remember--for a team with bad press CBs, this is still pretty useful to know at times, I think! How did inside/underneath work vs slants & drags?

If I'm calling a blitz, say Nickel Normal Over-Storm-Brave, I will sometimes not press and simply play inside and over-the-top. However, this is risky. If the QB is able to avoid pressure and bide time, the DB may greatly exaggerate his leverage when the WR cuts, which could lead to giving up big plays if the leverage played opposes that of the route.

While it certainly isn't foolproof, pressing your DB, while playing inside and underneath leverage, at least gives him a fighting chance against routes run inside. Again, ratings do matter. DB press and WR release play big factors based off my observations.

On a side note, I came a cross a well-known YouTuber whose game is to find so-called "Money Plays" that cannot be stopped. He had a video up showing how a stacked formation could confuse the CPU DB's in man coverage, leaving one of the WR's wide open. I recreated what he had showed, but applied the proper leverage and was able to lock that down tight.

[Jimbo12308]

Re: Pre-Snap DB Shading Adjustments in Man Coverage

Am I the only one that feels like I’d want to shade underneath and inside on every single play, regardless of coverage? I get killed on underneath stuff and in breaking routes, no matter what I call, especially due to the yards after catch that comes from completions in the middle of the field. I’d happily give up some sideline throws if I could limit the over the middle stuff.

[Aestis]

Re: Pre-Snap DB Shading Adjustments in Man Coverage

If I'm calling a blitz, say Nickel Normal Over-Storm-Brave, I will sometimes not press and simply play inside and over-the-top. However, this is risky. If the QB is able to avoid pressure and bide time, the DB may greatly exaggerate his leverage when the WR cuts, which could lead to giving up big plays if the leverage played opposes that of the route.

Which is realistic... IRL a CB can't use outside leverage and be in good position vs a post. That's where knowing where your help is matters. A CB lined up in outside leverage vs a slot WR may get burned vs a skinny post, but you should have a FS sitting there waiting.

So just to be extra clear, you did feel off-man shading helped vs the appropriate routes (predominantly posts & corners)? But to your point they (correctly) come with risk so you're just saying it's not as universal as your inside/underneath suggestion.

My CBs suck at press and aren't especially fast so I tend to gravitate away from press.

[edgevoice]

Re: Pre-Snap DB Shading Adjustments in Man Coverage

Which is realistic... IRL a CB can't use outside leverage and be in good position vs a post. That's where knowing where your help is matters. A CB lined up in outside leverage vs a slot WR may get burned vs a skinny post, but you should have a FS sitting there waiting.

So just to be extra clear, you did feel off-man shading helped vs the appropriate routes (predominantly posts & corners)? But to your point they (correctly) come with risk so you're just saying it's not as universal as your inside/underneath suggestion.

My CBs suck at press and aren't especially fast so I tend to gravitate away from press.

Yes, it does help somewhat in off coverage, but again, I find the leverage to then be a bit over-exaggerated if the receiver runs a route opposed from the leverage you have called. One of my corners does not have a good press rating at all, but he handles himself fairly well when in press. Since my original post, which was based off of All Pro default play skill, I've significantly defeated my user sliders and still find the coverage playing fairly well.

Best thing I could suggest is to hit practice mode and just try all the leverages for yourself. You may find different leverage combinations that work better for you and your specific team. Good luck.

[edgevoice]

Re: Pre-Snap DB Shading Adjustments in Man Coverage

Am I the only one that feels like I’d want to shade underneath and inside on every single play, regardless of coverage? I get killed on underneath stuff and in breaking routes, no matter what I call, especially due to the yards after catch that comes from completions in the middle of the field. I’d happily give up some sideline throws if I could limit the over the middle stuff.

I hear you here Jimbo. The issue you may have is that, without safety help over both halves of the field, those quick outside release routes could hurt you.

Of course, desperate times sometimes call for desperate measures. I will occasionally bring a zero blitz and shade inside/underneath. I've been both successful and burned badly as a result. Risk vs. reward. I believe it's best to know where your help is, as a general rule, and proceed accordingly.

[xCoachDx]

Re: Pre-Snap DB Shading Adjustments in Man Coverage

FWIW, shading seems to do very little imo.

This is something I posted earlier. This is an “Inside shade” by the DB.

The WR ran a simple slant and the DB let him run right across his face before trailing 2 yards behind him.


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[Jr.]

Re: Pre-Snap DB Shading Adjustments in Man Coverage

FWIW, shading seems to do very little imo.

This is something I posted earlier. This is an “Inside shade” by the DB.

The WR ran a simple slant and the DB let him run right across his face before trailing 2 yards behind him.


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Did you try shading underneath as well?

I've noticed improvement in the coverage of slants when doing that. They'll still get beat if the QB holds the ball and the WR keeps crossing the field, but they get a better jump if the QB throws it on time.


This thread has been a god-send. My pass coverage has greatly improved and has opened up the playbook on defense for me. I feel a lot more comfortable blitzing now that I have an idea of how to cover the holes with my DBs that are generated by the blitz. Thank you so much for sharing this info.

[edgevoice]

Re: Pre-Snap DB Shading Adjustments in Man Coverage

FWIW, shading seems to do very little imo.

This is something I posted earlier. This is an “Inside shade” by the DB.

The WR ran a simple slant and the DB let him run right across his face before trailing 2 yards behind him.


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If you had read thru my findings, I pointed out that off coverage shading, as you've shown here, is over-exaggerated. You already have a much-needed post discussing off-man and zone coverage issues.

The main purpose of this post is to try help folks understand how to use press man coverages and leverages as effectively as possible. Saying that leverages don't work in any circumstance is flat out untrue and misleading information.

I suggest you go back and read my initial post, or at least just the first sentence, thoroughly. Test them for yourself. I hope it helps you out. Peace.

[edgevoice]

Re: Pre-Snap DB Shading Adjustments in Man Coverage

Did you try shading underneath as well?

I've noticed improvement in the coverage of slants when doing that. They'll still get beat if the QB holds the ball and the WR keeps crossing the field, but they get a better jump if the QB throws it on time.


This thread has been a god-send. My pass coverage has greatly improved and has opened up the playbook on defense for me. I feel a lot more comfortable blitzing now that I have an idea of how to cover the holes with my DBs that are generated by the blitz. Thank you so much for sharing this info.

I appreciate your comments and I am glad it helped you out.

In the picture illustrated, the DB is obviously playing off-man. The main crux of my post was to show how leverages can be effective in man press and blitz situations.

I do not advocate calling a base man coverage which has your DB's in off coverage. Coach already has a thread going on showing problems with those plays, so there is no need to further address that here.

The only time I play off-man coverage is in certain situations, such as 3rd & long, when I am sending heat and playing inside and over leverage. In that instance, I will happily give up a quick slant and force the offense off the field. Against a burner receiver, I would not play off at all, nor would I play off backed up near the endzone.... Peace.