Increasing QB Pressure & Sacks

[Roy38]

I think the majority of us can agree that getting QB pressure and sacks has been difficult with '09. I've been doing some tinkering with sliders, player talent level, etc. and haven't noticed much of a difference regardless of what I change. However, I may have stumbled onto a breakthrough the last couple of nights. It definitely needs more testing, but I've seen a significant increase in both...

In the sixth season of my TCU dynasty (I'm playing 7 minute quarters and using rascom's/mudtiger's sliders), I've been rolling along like everyone else getting the majority of my sacks from my controlled LE. I'll get the occasional screen sack, coverage sack, or PA rollout sack from my other players, but usually my LE generates most of the pressure. A few nights ago, I started utilizing the "show blitz" defensive call (I believe it is under the "coverage" audible) when I was blitzing. The trick is to time the "show blitz" just before the QB snaps the ball. It's mush easier when the QB is in shotgun because the QB will generally lift his leg just prior to the snap. The result is your defense is already moving forward when the QB snaps the ball. In the two games using this technique, I've had 13 and 9 sacks against the CPU. In the 13 sack performance, my controlled LE got 1 sack and my team got the remaining 12. In the 9 sack performance, my controlled LE got 4 sacks and my team got the remaining 5. I also noticed more success on man blitzes than zone blitzes. Do some testing and let me know what you find out.

Will definitely try that tomorrow!

[footballfanatic1]

I did this a couple times as well with USF last night and got great pressure. My team finished the game with 12 sacks.

[NoleFan]

Intriguing...

[bigrice25]

ima give this a try

[Roy38]

I played Nebraska in the Big XII Championship game last night and came away with 5 sacks. Two came from my controlled LE and the other three were from my teammates (with 1 being a screen sack). I still felt the pressure was there, but Nebraska did a good job of implementing a quick passing game along with their consistent rushing attack (maybe they heard the news). They never had many 2nd or 3rd-and-longs because they kept within the chains taking what I was leaving open. I didn't blitz nearly as much since they ran the ball so much and kept getting consistent 2 - 6 yard carries. I'm definitely feeling man blitzing is better because players stay in their gap assignment better. Zone blitzing moves the players too far from their assigned blitz gap.

[Solidice]

I've been using the 4-2-5 for years now in NCAA games. i always found it best balance against the pass and run.

i also have started a TCU dynasty recently, and except the game against OU, i have held everyone under 10 points. my offense hasn't been explosive though. i beat Stanford 15-0. yup 5 FGs. lol smoked SMU, lost big to OU due to late turnovers by me. 41-17. it was 17-17 halfway in the 3rd. but a pick 6, and fumble returned for TD, put OU up big.