Good redzone plays?

[Woody19]

Hi, I have quite a few problems scoring touchdowns when I'm in the red-zone. This is not a problem I have in other situations, though. But when I get close to the goal line my run plays usually get stopped about one yard before the line, or my pass plays either are incomplete or get intercepted every once in a while.
In consequence, about 3 out of 4 times I have to settle for a FG when in the red-zone.
Any general advice, or maybe plays that work especially well in the red-zone? Thanks!

[TheDelta]

Re: Good redzone plays?

Well the obvious money plays for me are outside runs to an open side (like Power O, Stretches or Tosses out of Twins formations, even better out of I-Twins since you got a lead blocker), with a speedy back if they don't committ to the side you're running to it's basically a guaranteed TD but can feel a little cheap.

In general, what works everywhere else still works in the redzone, you just have to be more careful and precise. TEs on streaks or curls can be gold if they don't get jammed and are precise with your passes, a great pass-catcher can come down with the ball basically every time.

I like crossing drag routes too, but of course they often involve the risk of throwing it short of the endzone so they are risky on 3rd & goal. Never got the hang of throwing fades right but I know some people can absolutely kill you throwing fades to outside WRs.

[cpic1]

Re: Good redzone plays?

Hi, I have quite a few problems scoring touchdowns when I'm in the red-zone. This is not a problem I have in other situations, though. But when I get close to the goal line my run plays usually get stopped about one yard before the line, or my pass plays either are incomplete or get intercepted every once in a while.
In consequence, about 3 out of 4 times I have to settle for a FG when in the red-zone.
Any general advice, or maybe plays that work especially well in the red-zone? Thanks!

That's Ram football man. Get in the red zone, run 3 plays, kick a FG :wink:

[Mizzou24]

Goal line fades are good too if u have a receiver with good route and high spc that's tall he can hop up all day and grab em

[Woody19]

Re: Good redzone plays?

Well the obvious money plays for me are outside runs to an open side (like Power O, Stretches or Tosses out of Twins formations, even better out of I-Twins since you got a lead blocker), with a speedy back if they don't committ to the side you're running to it's basically a guaranteed TD but can feel a little cheap.

In general, what works everywhere else still works in the redzone, you just have to be more careful and precise. TEs on streaks or curls can be gold if they don't get jammed and are precise with your passes, a great pass-catcher can come down with the ball basically every time.

I like crossing drag routes too, but of course they often involve the risk of throwing it short of the endzone so they are risky on 3rd & goal. Never got the hang of throwing fades right but I know some people can absolutely kill you throwing fades to outside WRs.

Thanks for the advice. I already tried the outside runs, but Richardson (I'm playing the Browns) seems to be too slow. Thing with the passing plays is that either my TE is blocked too well and I can't target him in the open or the defense blitzes me before I can throw the ball ...

[Woody19]

Re: Good redzone plays?

That's Ram football man. Get in the red zone, run 3 plays, kick a FG :wink:

Yeah, I know. But in this case I'm playing the Browns ...

[TheDelta]

Re: Good redzone plays?

Thanks for the advice. I already tried the outside runs, but Richardson (I'm playing the Browns) seems to be too slow. Thing with the passing plays is that either my TE is blocked too well and I can't target him in the open or the defense blitzes me before I can throw the ball ...

Richardson should be fine, honestly. If you're inside the 5 they usually counter any I-Formation with a GL defense, if you call Power O, Stretch or Toss out of I-Twins that's basically undefendable (and therefore cheap)

[azdawgpound]

Re: Good redzone plays?

i use the browns and dont have no problem using richardson in redzone if im @ the 1 i useally call i-form browns zone wk set my fb to block the lb and its like taking candy ffrom a baby easy td or else i form iso and be agressive run it straight @ them. now if im around say 5 or so i'll call hb sweep from far formation or Y post and throw it to T-RICH out the backfield... or from strong formation in pro hb toss crack.

[pbni508]

Re: Good redzone plays?

If I am on the left hash, I like to use a PA pass that sends a TE/FB into the flat. They usually are fast enough to out run the LB.

Any X-spot play works great especially if they are big and can shield of the defender.

[ggsimmonds]

Re: Good redzone plays?

Depends on whether you are playing online or against the cpu.

Most guys alter their defensive playcalling in the redzone. So what worked at the 40 may not work at the 10.
I don't know how much this happens but in my experience many players prefer man defense but become more likely to call a zone like cover 2 in the redzone. Again though, I don't know if that is a pattern that repeats often or if my experience is just unusual, but I see a lot of cover 2 sink in the redzone.

I will say this: A few posts above a poster mentioned drag routes. Yes. They are great but for different reasons. Send your outside WR on a drag route and have the TE run a in route to the back of the endzone. If the defense is in a cover 2 zone the safeties will be wide. Here is the important part: The drag route route should force the ILB to crash down just enough to open up the back of the endzone. It is not money and that is why I like it. It is what real teams do.
Any combination like that would do. Maybe have your slot WR run a shallow in while the TE goes to the endline.

Against man you have several options. Curl route that breaks right at the endzone can be good if you time it right and lead it. It resembles a back shoulder pass which is very hard to defend. Fade is a safe play, but the timing can be tricky. Checkdowns to your HB are huge; don't forget them. Delayed routes to the flat are killer.

[TheDelta]

Re: Good redzone plays?

Checkdowns to your HB are huge; don't forget them. Delayed routes to the flat are killer.

This so much. Doesn't even have to be delayed, if you have a fast back on a route into the flat, that's basically a guaranteed six against man coverage if your receivers clear that side of the field.

[ggsimmonds]

Re: Good redzone plays?

This so much. Doesn't even have to be delayed, if you have a fast back on a route into the flat, that's basically a guaranteed six against man coverage if your receivers clear that side of the field.

Yeah but I try not to emphasize that too much because then some might overly rely on that one route. Then two things may happen. If it is an exploit it will always work and I frown on exploits. But if it is not an exploit and the person comes to overly rely on that what happens when the defense adjusts?

[TheDelta]

Re: Good redzone plays?

Yeah but I try not to emphasize that too much because then some might overly rely on that one route. Then two things may happen. If it is an exploit it will always work and I frown on exploits. But if it is not an exploit and the person comes to overly rely on that what happens when the defense adjusts?

Well I've already recommended 4 different methods of attacking in the redzone now, having your TE go streak, WRs on a drag, RBs on outside runs into the empty field and RBs on routes into the flat, that gives you a lot of flexibility on offense. And of course with a HB or even FB with high trucking and carrying the dive play remains a valid option to try and punch it in, it doesn't always work of course. That's the real problem with the outside run, once you're inside the 5 and you call a formation with less than 3-4 WRs, the CPU D will always come out in the GL set and a Power/Toss play out of a Twins formation is a sure TD 99% of the time against that, so it's really a bit cheap.

Oh and of course you should never underestimate the power of a mobile QB, too, on passing plays, I try to immediately read where the pressure is coming from and move away, often it can give your receivers time to get open and just as often, you may find a hole where you can just run it in yourself.

[Woody19]

Re: Good redzone plays?

@all: Thanks for the advice!
I tried a few of your ideas yesterday evening and I scored two passing TDs from inside the red zone against the Seahawks
Still have to improve my play calling in the red zone, but this was a good start anyway