Relative merits of Over v. Under (etc.) sets on Defense

[davjaffe]

I was wondering if any of the more coaching/strategy-inclined posters on here could give me some insight into why I might want to play a 4-3 over as opposed to a 4-3 under, or a 3-4 solid v. 3-4 normal, etc. I've got a pretty decent grasp on football strategy and tactics, but I'm semi-ashamed to admit that all I've been able to figure out on this front is that a 3-4 Predator converts your OLB to a pass-rushing down lineman.

Cheers! Any and all thoughts will be appreciated.

[jyoung]

You want to use them to shut down the outside running lanes or get a free rusher off the edge when the QB's in a 3 or 4-wide set with no running back in to protect him.

[dfos81]

I use Under/Over when they are in base sets, w/ 1 WR or 2.
I like to play under when they are throwing underneath passes, short crosses, quick hooks, slants etcs. This tends to help the a.i. play underneath.

I play Over when they are trying to go over the top, deeper routes, and I want the coverage over them as opposed to under.

As for Solid, out of 3-4, this is what I like to use against 2 te sets/balanced sets were they have the same amount of elgible WRs/TEs on each side.

Stack is converting an OLB to a DE, w/ his hand in the dirt. Its running a 4-3 w/ 3-4 personnel.

If they go into a 3, 4, or 5 wide set, Of course I'm bringing in the extras dbs.

[dfos81]

Quote: Originally Posted by wEEman33

You want to use them to shut down the outside running lanes or get a free rusher off the edge when the QB's in a 3 or 4-wide set with no running back in to protect him.

I'd love to see a base defense when I bring 3 or 4 wide. Can somebody say slot.

[blocknose]

4-3 over and under all i have figured out is that it puts one of your OLB on the Dline so it is like you have a 5 man Dline one is on the rt one the lt

[jyoung]

Quote: Originally Posted by dfos81

I'd love to see a base defense when I bring 3 or 4 wide. Can somebody say slot.

And when the slot's covered, the QB is forced to either throw it away or take a sack.

You bring a good LB uncovered off the edge and you've got maybe 2 seconds to throw the ball, max.

[KBLover]

Quote: Originally Posted by davjaffe

I was wondering if any of the more coaching/strategy-inclined posters on here could give me some insight into why I might want to play a 4-3 over as opposed to a 4-3 under, or a 3-4 solid v. 3-4 normal, etc. I've got a pretty decent grasp on football strategy and tactics, but I'm semi-ashamed to admit that all I've been able to figure out on this front is that a 3-4 Predator converts your OLB to a pass-rushing down lineman. Cheers! Any and all thoughts will be appreciated.

Over/Under - better against the side the LBs are shifted towards. Also seems pretty good for getting the Strong OLB on the TE a little better, or getting the OLB on the edge from the start for blitz or flats zone coverage purposes.

3-4, from what I can tell:

Solid - Better against outside - but may leave middle open (the space between the Jack and Mike [the two ILBs] might be inviting) as the safeties seem like they are always back in deeper zones or in man coverage.

Predator - pretty much the reverse of Solid - best up the middle. All the zone blitzes and rushes pressure inside the tackles. Weaker against outside defense though, even the zones that have flats coverage (takes longer for the OLBs to get there.

Normal - doesn't favor one area or the other, so what you lose in specialization, you gain in less overt weaknesses. You can do the most disgusing from here, imo. The rushes come from all angles and involve a lot of different combinations of which LBs are coming. You can always shift left or right to give an Over/Under kind of look.

Stack - 4-3 set from the 3-4. Looks like all the LBs "move left" one position. I.e. the LOLB becomes LE, MLB becomes the LOLB. The JLB (MLB2) becomes the MLB) and the LOLB stays as is. The LE then moves to be a DT. I don't use this too much, at least not with Baltimore (since they also have the 46) but putting Ray Lewis on the edge and blitzing him can be effective. His AWR makes him pretty decent in covering the outside flats in zone.

[dfos81]

Quote: Originally Posted by wEEman33

And when the slot's covered, the QB is forced to either throw it away or take a sack. You bring a good LB uncovered off the edge and you've got maybe 2 seconds to throw the ball, max.

Good point,
its almost a nano blitz when he comes free, I would usually have a TE or someone blocking him though. Thats the chess match within the game that makes it fun. I'd like to play some of you on here.