Is there a way to be good at defense without so many quick adjustments?

[iverson3]

Every guide I’ve seen they do 3+ quick adjustments every single play. Just seems like too much. I wanna be able to play solid defense in my online dynasty but I am struggling to. Anyone have any suggestions on that and also a 4-2-5 base coverage?

[thedudedominick]

Re: Is there a way to be good at defense without so many quick adjustments?

In my experience, I have learned that there's usually a minimum 2 adjustments that need to be made. It's totally possible to run a decent defense just by calling plays and letting them happen, but you will end up with a handful of weaknesses based on formations, alignments, and other things like that. If you can learn those weaknesses and control the defender that can make up for them, you can overcome it.

I basically just adjust my D line though and shift and slant them. I will back my DBs off if they come out to press in man coverage. I've been doing well though with just those adjustments. In the red zone I'll have my DBs cover underneath as well.

[studbucket]

Re: Is there a way to be good at defense without so many quick adjustments?

Yes, though the quick adjustments help.

When choosing your play, ensure you set a coverage shell that's different than what you are running. Example: cover 3 shell, cover 2 play call. That's done at the play call screen, so you don't need a ton of adjustments.

Control the LB and cover the middle of the field instead of a down lineman.

Both of those help and don't require you to make a bunch of pre-snap changes.

[jello1717]

Re: Is there a way to be good at defense without so many quick adjustments?

Yes, though the quick adjustments help.

When choosing your play, ensure you set a coverage shell that's different than what you are running. Example: cover 3 shell, cover 2 play call. That's done at the play call screen, so you don't need a ton of adjustments.

Control the LB and cover the middle of the field instead of a down lineman.

Both of those help and don't require you to make a bunch of pre-snap changes.

My teams play very solid D and this is basically all I do.

I use different coverage shells than my actual play if I suspect there might be a pass. If I suspect a run I use the default shell.

On 3rd and long I’ll play the pass.

If my corners press (only happens for me in dime quarters fo some inexplicable reason) I’ll back them off.

That’s all the adjustments that I make at the LOS, which for most plays is 0 adjustments, and is at most 2.

[Hooe]

Re: Is there a way to be good at defense without so many quick adjustments?

I'm admittedly not sure what guides you are looking at, but I would be wary about doing adjustments without understanding why you are making each adjustment. I would steer away from learning "setups" and steer towards learning the coverages the game lets you call, why one might call each coverage, the strengths and weaknesses of each coverage. Only after you learn all of those things would I consider diving into what adjustments you can make to that coverage to make it do different things.

For example: probably the most assignment-sound stock defenses in the game are Cover 3 Match and Cover 3 Buzz Match. You can play those without calling a single hot route and know that your players will confidently play their assignments without bugging out or unexpectedly converting to spot-drop. Importantly, you can call 3 Match / 3 Buzz Match knowing you are assignment-sound on the backend against Four Verticals; this is the first thing you should check when considering a coverage against a particular formation. Finally, you can call 3 Match / 3 Buzz Match knowing the defense without any hot routes has built-in checks against unbalanced passing sets such as Trips TE, Y-Trips, 4x1, 3x1 Strong, and Empty (I admittedly am not sure about Bunch).

It is important to remember that being assignment-sound does not mean you will never get beat. For example, if you go up against 3x1 Four Verticals (ex. Gun Trey Open Offset - Four Verticals), if your backside Hook Curl defender can't get on his horse and carry the over route by #3 from the pass strength side, that over route is going to cook you. You'll also be vulnerable to comeback routes by the boundary receivers, who are isolated against cornerbacks playing over-top man-to-man.

[iverson3]

Re: Is there a way to be good at defense without so many quick adjustments?

I'm admittedly not sure what guides you are looking at, but I would be wary about doing adjustments without understanding why you are making each adjustment. I would steer away from learning "setups" and steer towards learning the coverages the game lets you call, why one might call each coverage, the strengths and weaknesses of each coverage. Only after you learn all of those things would I consider diving into what adjustments you can make to that coverage to make it do different things.

For example: probably the most assignment-sound stock defenses in the game are Cover 3 Match and Cover 3 Buzz Match. You can play those without calling a single hot route and know that your players will confidently play their assignments without bugging out or unexpectedly converting to spot-drop. Importantly, you can call 3 Match / 3 Buzz Match knowing you are assignment-sound on the backend against Four Verticals; this is the first thing you should check when considering a coverage against a particular formation. Finally, you can call 3 Match / 3 Buzz Match knowing the defense without any hot routes has built-in checks against unbalanced passing sets such as Trips TE, Y-Trips, 4x1, 3x1 Strong, and Empty (I admittedly am not sure about Bunch).

It is important to remember that being assignment-sound does not mean you will never get beat. For example, if you go up against 3x1 Four Verticals (ex. Gun Trey Open Offset - Four Verticals), if your backside Hook Curl defender can't get on his horse and carry the over route by #3 from the pass strength side, that over route is going to cook you. You'll also be vulnerable to comeback routes by the boundary receivers, who are isolated against cornerbacks playing over-top man-to-man.

Just wanted to say I appreciate the lengthy response and am excited to read all do this

[studbucket]

Re: Is there a way to be good at defense without so many quick adjustments?

Just wanted to say I appreciate the lengthy response and am excited to read all do this

There's a lot more from Hooe and others in this thread if you want to take the time to peruse it: https://forums.operationsports.com/f...-not-rant.html

[Feros Ferio 7]

Re: Is there a way to be good at defense without so many quick adjustments?

I'm admittedly not sure what guides you are looking at, but I would be wary about doing adjustments without understanding why you are making each adjustment. I would steer away from learning "setups" and steer towards learning the coverages the game lets you call, why one might call each coverage, the strengths and weaknesses of each coverage. Only after you learn all of those things would I consider diving into what adjustments you can make to that coverage to make it do different things.

For example: probably the most assignment-sound stock defenses in the game are Cover 3 Match and Cover 3 Buzz Match. You can play those without calling a single hot route and know that your players will confidently play their assignments without bugging out or unexpectedly converting to spot-drop. Importantly, you can call 3 Match / 3 Buzz Match knowing you are assignment-sound on the backend against Four Verticals; this is the first thing you should check when considering a coverage against a particular formation. Finally, you can call 3 Match / 3 Buzz Match knowing the defense without any hot routes has built-in checks against unbalanced passing sets such as Trips TE, Y-Trips, 4x1, 3x1 Strong, and Empty (I admittedly am not sure about Bunch).

It is important to remember that being assignment-sound does not mean you will never get beat. For example, if you go up against 3x1 Four Verticals (ex. Gun Trey Open Offset - Four Verticals), if your backside Hook Curl defender can't get on his horse and carry the over route by #3 from the pass strength side, that over route is going to cook you. You'll also be vulnerable to comeback routes by the boundary receivers, who are isolated against cornerbacks playing over-top man-to-man.

Understanding what the coverages do is massive and you've got to have that base. Also figuring out how pressure and run fits play into what you're calling as well. Pressure isn't just blitzing but can you generate pressure without blitzing? Do those same players react well to a run? Where is the most likely place if it is a run for the run to go?

The quick adjustments allow you to try to set certain parameters to help the defense to be lined up.

In a real life game defenders are given the play, let's say cover 3 with a 4 man rush, so each player knows his assignment and the base of how he should line up. Once the offense breaks the huddle and gets set the defense then adjusts it's positioning to the formation which may change what each defenders assignment is. So the entire defense has the play call but then ahs to adjust everything together from the time the offense lines up to the time they snap the ball based on the formation and then what the coaches have gone through with them based on those looks. It happens every play every game.

So the quick adjustments allow you to get your defenders to make these adjustments that occur.

Another big thing in general is understanding what you're trying to stop the offense from doing. I played a game yesterday and I didn't have the corners to match up with the WR I was facing. But the WR were also too much to ever be in single coverage deep with a safety either. I was over matched by a lot. Most people would play zone to paper over that deficiency but I had to basically play cover 2 man to protect from the deep pass. So this left me susceptible to crossers, run plays and then QB keepers. So I hemorrhaged yards and points. But I needed a few mistakes from their offense and my offense to be near perfect to win and I got 3 defensive turnovers with 1 being a TD and won by 3.

It wasn't pretty. But I was giving up the underneath to not give up the big play then I'd adjust my coverages closer to the endzone as the deep ball wasn't a threat. I couldn't beat my opponent so I had to force him to run a ton of plays to hopefully get a mistake in my direction.

Understanding where you can give something up and how you can start covering up problem areas in your defense.


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[Ghost Of The Year]

Re: Is there a way to be good at defense without so many quick adjustments?

I wanted to help the CPU defense out too so I went the slider route. I rarely make any adjustments. I can't not play with anything other than fifteen minute quarters against the CPU but my score were looking more like basketball scores, so sliders helped reduce both offenses immensely and as a nice side benefit, it's not a must to make multiple multiple adjustments. Nothing wrong with EA designing it that way, but I'm not looking for anything but immediate gratification from video game football. It's in my baseball video gaming that I require a chess match. My football (and basketball) video gaming is more about simple fun. It is nice to know if at some point I want a more complex experience, that option is there. But yeah, sliders.

[taylsz]

Re: Is there a way to be good at defense without so many quick adjustments?

Just wanted to say thanks to Hooe and many others for their amazing advice on these boards - when I moved up to Heisman I was terrible at D, but utilising the concepts and ideas posted here and in the link on the first page really really helped. I've now shut down several teams(admittedly with a good OVR Y6 dynasty team), but when I got that first shut out it was very rewarding.

[iverson3]

Re: Is there a way to be good at defense without so many quick adjustments?

In my experience, I have learned that there's usually a minimum 2 adjustments that need to be made. It's totally possible to run a decent defense just by calling plays and letting them happen, but you will end up with a handful of weaknesses based on formations, alignments, and other things like that. If you can learn those weaknesses and control the defender that can make up for them, you can overcome it.

I basically just adjust my D line though and shift and slant them. I will back my DBs off if they come out to press in man coverage. I've been doing well though with just those adjustments. In the red zone I'll have my DBs cover underneath as well.

Say it’s shotgun running back on left of QB. Do you shift your line to the right and slant them to the right?

[thedudedominick]

Re: Is there a way to be good at defense without so many quick adjustments?

Say it’s shotgun running back on left of QB. Do you shift your line to the right and slant them to the right?

I usually pinch my line and control the linebacker on the side of the runningback. (I run a 3-3-5) and rely on myself reading the blocking to cross over the formation to prevent the outside runs.

[iverson3]

Re: Is there a way to be good at defense without so many quick adjustments?

I usually pinch my line and control the linebacker on the side of the runningback. (I run a 3-3-5) and rely on myself reading the blocking to cross over the formation to prevent the outside runs.

When do you find yourself in a situation to slant them?

[Collegefbfan]

Re: Is there a way to be good at defense without so many quick adjustments?

I will preface by saying a lot of the guides and YouTube videos are based on set ups. I feel this is more for online play, just to glitch others out. I read a lot of folks become so ticked about the lack of reality play online dynasty.

I also agree with a lot that has been said here about two or three at most adjustments. I have gone into practice mode with two controllers and tried a lot of "cool" adjustments out. In the game, especially against the CPU, there is no time to make these "cool" adjustments.

I also have some of the same questions as Iverson3. I feel that I never slant my line. Not sure when to do it.

I have read in many places including here to slide the defensive line the opposite direction the HB is on. I guess in case he is in to block.

Now, I hope I can explain this thought process in a decent manner. I am talking about on TV screen look. Let's say the CPU offense comes out with a HB on the right side of the screen. I move my defensive line to the left. I control the LB on the right side of screen because that is what side the CPU RB is on. The CPU runs a HB Stretch play that is now going to the left side. Isn't my LB that I am controlling on the right side somewhat out of position because the play is going to the left? Is this going to hopefully stop the RB since my defensive line is slid to the right?

[DLev4552]

Re: Is there a way to be good at defense without so many quick adjustments?

I will preface by saying a lot of the guides and YouTube videos are based on set ups. I feel this is more for online play, just to glitch others out. I read a lot of folks become so ticked about the lack of reality play online dynasty.

I also agree with a lot that has been said here about two or three at most adjustments. I have gone into practice mode with two controllers and tried a lot of "cool" adjustments out. In the game, especially against the CPU, there is no time to make these "cool" adjustments.

I also have some of the same questions as Iverson3. I feel that I never slant my line. Not sure when to do it.

I have read in many places including here to slide the defensive line the opposite direction the HB is on. I guess in case he is in to block.

Now, I hope I can explain this thought process in a decent manner. I am talking about on TV screen look. Let's say the CPU offense comes out with a HB on the right side of the screen. I move my defensive line to the left. I control the LB on the right side of screen because that is what side the CPU RB is on. The CPU runs a HB Stretch play that is now going to the left side. Isn't my LB that I am controlling on the right side somewhat out of position because the play is going to the left? Is this going to hopefully stop the RB since my defensive line is slid to the right?

If the RB is aligned right of QB in Shotgun, the reason people move and/or slant the DL to the left (seemingly away from the RB) is because 90% of shotgun running plays are designed to go that way, either between the tackles or outside-left. The RB has to cross the QB's face.

On those plays, you (usering LB on RB-side) are going to scrape down the line with the RB on a running play. Your shifted/slanted DL's goal is to force the RB to cut back inside to you and not let him get the edge, where you make the play.

The only runs going outside-right when RB is lined up right of the QB are speed options, read options, counters, and jet sweeps. On an outside right run, its now your job to turn it back inside or make the play. But you are there on top of it react.

On a pass, you cover the RB out of the backfield on a route, or drop into your zone.