ID the Mike and OL Awareness

[knich]

Quote: Originally Posted by adembroski

He isn't always the middle of the defense, it's more complicated than that. The simplest way to think of it is that he's the potential rusher that the C/G must account for (which depends on whether the center and guard are covered). Backs in solid protection will always read inside to outside then scan. So, in Madden terms only (NFL has far more protection schemes than Madden, which really only has variations of one), you need to figure out who the biggest threat that is not accounted for by a back in protection or a hot route (the "Q" backer, meaning the QB is responsible for him). Let's say, for instance, you're in 11 personnel, Ace Doubles Right. You're facing Under (4-3 and 3-4 are personnel groupings, an Under is an Under regardless, but I'll use 4-3 terms for clarity). You're in six-man solid (solid just means the back isn't going to chip and release or anything like that, he's staying in the blocking scheme) and the playside is strong, with your TE running a hot flat and your back protecting weak. Imagine the WILL walks out over the slot receiver. You check the weakside safety, and he stays deep, indicating he's not on the slot. So now you know the WILL isn't coming because he's covering the slot (if he was coming, the FS would cheat up). Now MATT moves over into the weak B gap, and the SAM fills the strong B gap, imitating a stereotypical 42 nickle front. You now have a choice, depending on the personnel. You can designate the MATT as MIKE and SAM becomes "Q" (which means the QB is responsible for this rusher). Post snap, you'll see if "Q" is coming and throw hot if he is (the TE running flat). Or you could designate SAM as the MIKE and trust your back to pick up MATT if he comes. Typically, you designate the better pass rusher as MIKE when given a choice. But now, the SS walks down into the box. This takes away your choice, because you're back to an Under front with the safety occupying the SAM's old position. Now the hot route accounts for the SS, the back must take on the MATT, and SAM becomes your MIKE. Again, the best way to think of it is that he's the guy the offensive line needs to account for because backs and hot routes don't.

Wow..pretty interesting stuff but seems very complicated. We started with MIKE and now we have WILL, SAM, and MATT oh and Q too...lol.

[tyler28]

Quote: Originally Posted by knich

Wow..pretty interesting stuff but seems very complicated. We started with MIKE and now we have WILL, SAM, and MATT oh and Q too...lol.

Mike is middle line backer, will is weak side and sam is strong side lb. The mike you want to id would be the mlb set to your te side of the ball or strong side of your offense. To put it in easier terms.

Sent from my SM-G935P using Operation Sports mobile app

[adembroski]

Quote: Originally Posted by knich

Wow..pretty interesting stuff but seems very complicated. We started with MIKE and now we have WILL, SAM, and MATT oh and Q too...lol.

Actually, those are all meant to simplify:P

WILL is the weakside linebacker. Usually the ROLB when the offense is lined up strong right.

MATT is a Middle Linebacker, and it always means middle linebacker, unlike MIKE which can be different guys.

SAM is the strongside linebacker. Usually the LOLB in game.

"Q" is just a designation the offense gives a defender, kind of like MIKE. He's the guy the quarterback is responsible for accounting for with his hot route. It's not called out because the only guys who need to know it are the QB and his hot receiver, both of which should know how to recognize him (MIKE is called out because the linemen are in a down stance and can't see everything).

You'll see a lot of other terminology as you navigate these forums. A dog is a blitzing linebacker (as the phrase "blitz" technically means a defensive back rusher), play passes and action passes are actually two different things, hot route doesn't mean a route changed at the line, but a built in route meant to account for a potential rusher.

[prey2god]

I wanted sim football, but it seems like EA just wants use to figure out this part of the sim football. I could understand it being very difficult for those that never played organized football. No tutorial on this whatsoever.

[knich]

Quote: Originally Posted by tyler28

Mike is middle line backer, will is weak side and sam is strong side lb. The mike you want to id would be the mlb set to your te side of the ball or strong side of your offense. To put it in easier terms. Sent from my SM-G935P using Operation Sports mobile app

Quote: Originally Posted by adembroski

Actually, those are all meant to simplify:P WILL is the weakside linebacker. Usually the ROLB when the offense is lined up strong right. MATT is a Middle Linebacker, and it always means middle linebacker, unlike MIKE which can be different guys. SAM is the strongside linebacker. Usually the LOLB in game. "Q" is just a designation the offense gives a defender, kind of like MIKE. He's the guy the quarterback is responsible for accounting for with his hot route. It's not called out because the only guys who need to know it are the QB and his hot receiver, both of which should know how to recognize him (MIKE is called out because the linemen are in a down stance and can't see everything). You'll see a lot of other terminology as you navigate these forums. A dog is a blitzing linebacker (as the phrase "blitz" technically means a defensive back rusher), play passes and action passes are actually two different things, hot route doesn't mean a route changed at the line, but a built in route meant to account for a potential rusher.

Can we designate the MIKE in the game? I know we can ID him. Thanks guys..great stuff.

Quote: Originally Posted by prey2god

I wanted sim football, but it seems like EA just wants use to figure out this part of the sim football. I could understand it being very difficult for those that never played organized football. No tutorial on this whatsoever.

Madden is still catered to the casual fan who just wants to start game and go. It throws a bone to the hardcore players whom it assumes know the strategy behind the game. It is us in between who have to resort to great posters in the community like the guys above. I'm fine with that. That said, NHL is doing a lot more this year to help casual gamer learn the strategy.

[Find_the_Door]

Quote: Originally Posted by tyler28

Mike is middle line backer, will is weak side and sam is strong side lb. The mike you want to id would be the mlb set to your te side of the ball or strong side of your offense. To put it in easier terms. Sent from my SM-G935P using Operation Sports mobile app

2nd man inside from your strong side of the formation is who you should designated as the Mike. Doesn't matter if that's a corner in Nickel or Safety.

[Senator Palmer]

Quote: Originally Posted by Find_the_Door

2nd man inside from your strong side of the formation is who you should designated as the Mike. Doesn't matter if that's a corner in Nickel or Safety.

If they are in nickel, where do you start counting? Just as a visual, if you're in Trips left, for example, do you count the nickel back on the left first, or do you start the count inside the box with the linebacker?

[Find_the_Door]

Quote: Originally Posted by Senator Palmer

If they are in nickel, where do you start counting? Just as a visual, if you're in Trips left, for example, do you count the nickel back on the left first, or do you start the count inside the box with the linebacker?

Yes you'd count the Nickel Back in the scenario, but you'd count from the strong side. So if the defense is misaligned and you're in a 21 set with the TE on the right and the Nickel Back is on the left side you'd be selecting the inside backer closest to the Nickel Back.