4-3 or 3-4 Defense?

[reyes the roof]

Quote: Originally Posted by FSanchez12

I’ve been playing a 3-4 for as long as I can remember. Tried switching to 4-3 and it felt like Mandarin Chinese. Went back and have stuck with the 3-4 since. I blame the Steelers.

I’m the same way with the 4-3. I tried running a 3-4 with the bears last year and had the worst defense in the league. I switched to a 4-3 without even changing personnel, just switched some positions and we instantly turned in to the 85 Bears. My play calling didn’t change either, I was running the same coverages

[mossme89]

Adding to this, how does 4-3 differ from Tampa 2? Tampa 2 is 4-3, yes?

[stinkubus]

The Tampa 2 playbook in Madden gives you 4-3 for your "base" formations, so in that sense I guess it is.

Either can be used to good effect, both have good plays available. It's more a matter of preference and personnel than anything else.

The specialist positions also muddy the waters even further. For most of the year I was using the NYG defensive book which is a 3-4 base, but it also gives you Nickel Normal which is traditionally only found in 4-3 books. The specialist depth chart slots let me get my pass rushers and run stuffers where they belong so now I can use it without having to jump through hoops at the play call screen.

Nickel is also good enough to play all or almost all game, so for players like me the 3-4/4-3 dichotomy is moot because I might not even call one of those formations for a game or more.

It would be pretty cool if EA did a "Nickel" specialty D book that gave them some unique formations or something for an upcoming game. There's definitely teams who buck the trend, but the NFL is a basically an 11 personnel vs nickel league at this point.

[4thQtrStre5S]

EA/Tib has a lot of work to do in bringing defense up to what we see on Sunday. For starters, I should be able to disguise every pre-snap defense and crowd the LOS to confuse the offense as to who is blitzing and who is dropping. This should be as simple as a pre-snap instruction.

[ggsimmonds]

I'm personally a 4-3 under guy, but Madden is not great at replicating this because it doesn't have SAM/WILL distinctions. Hopefully next year we get that.

I haven't used a 3-4 in a few years, but in the past my beef with it has been the NT play. It just didn't feel right.

Quote: Originally Posted by 4thQtrStre5S

EA/Tib has a lot of work to do in bringing defense up to what we see on Sunday. For starters, I should be able to disguise every pre-snap defense and crowd the LOS to confuse the offense as to who is blitzing and who is dropping. This should be as simple as a pre-snap instruction.

God yes.
I have so many fantasies about something like a build a scheme feature that would also be utilized by the AI.

Forget offensive plays, give us create a blitz.

"Attacking 4-3" is not a defensive scheme lol

[phillies6f]

Would be my absolute dream to be able to draw up creative blitzes like that.

[StefJoeHalt]

Quote: Originally Posted by ggsimmonds

I'm personally a 4-3 under guy, but Madden is not great at replicating this because it doesn't have SAM/WILL distinctions. Hopefully next year we get that. I haven't used a 3-4 in a few years, but in the past my beef with it has been the NT play. It just didn't feel right. God yes. I have so many fantasies about something like a build a scheme feature that would also be utilized by the AI. Forget offensive plays, give us create a blitz. "Attacking 4-3" is not a defensive scheme lol

Ggsimmonds, 34 Pred allows for the best 43 under..ROLB is you LEO and will always line up weak side, and LOLB will always Line up as strong side LB..issue is the 3tech and 5tech don’t flip

Edit:
Oh and the Mike and Will don’t flip..but it’s better then guessing what formation strength the CPU will roll out.


Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

[ajra21]

Quote: Originally Posted by drj32

the problem is there is a real lack of pass rushing linebackers, which is why I switched from 34 to 43. It's much easier to find past rushers at defensive end than at outside linebacker

I've never found a difference at pass rush.

But, I do find that the CPU gets more sacks from 43 - generally. That said, I found 34 DE were getting stacks of sacks in M17 and before.

Quote: Originally Posted by Jagsfan24

I do agree with you about this, plus I found playing the run defense easy also in the 43...though the 34 is easy for that also

I find running against a CPU 34 more difficult. When they pinch the three down lineman together one of them either gets through or one of the middle LB gets past and stops the RB.