recruiting for 3-4 D

[agentskully]

Need help with player types for my 3-4 D. I cannot find the right kind of OLB for my scheme. I have tried converting a pass rush DE to OLB, but there awarness and play in space is horrible. Does anyone have any good tips or suggestions?

[jbrew2411]

The few times I have rolled with a 3-4 this is how I recruited.

DE: pass rushing DT's or guys with good block shed
DT: Run stopper, block shed a must.
OLB: guys with good speed ratings (spd and acc)
MLB: Coverage guys, sometimes bigger SS
CB: Speed and balance in coverage (recruit based on the type coverage you run)
FS: Convert a CB
SS: Convert a FS with speed (will make plays)

Don't worry about weight as it is just a number and has no meaning in the game.

[thesportsguru11]

I've been running a 3-4 exclusively in my dynasty (six seasons now), and my strategy is similar to jbrew.

The guys I've moved from DT to DE (I believe I've moved three thus far), have all been good pass rushing options, so I definitely stand by that analysis.

I also recruit and sign a lot of linebackers (this prevents me having to move guys, plus I tend to play upwards of seven or eight in any given game), and the best ones have been the quicker guys who can rush off the edge. My best middle linebackers I've noticed have had high pursuit/good awareness ratings and can cover in spies and zones. Their man coverage to be lacking from time to time, but you can work around that as needed.

Good luck!

[return.specialist]

I run exclusively 3-4, essentially. I look for high speed and acceleration ratings in OLB's. I also try to have 1 or 2 OLB's that are 6'5"-6'6" to use them as edge rushers when a 4-3 front is more opponent-appropriate. In both OLB's and MLB's I prefer high Play Recognition to higher tackle ratings.

For secondary, and OLB's, I also tend to look for ATH's. That's where I often find the taller guys.

However, i'm unsure I can answer the OP's question. I think it depends on how you are wanting to employ your OLB.

[jello1717]

I'll mainly quote a previous post of mine on this subject.

Here's how I recruit in general. I don't position change anyone as that makes the game too easy IMO. If I can't recruit a DE or LB that I want, then it's my fault and I'm not gonna get a mulligan by simply moving some other player to the position I need. I most certainly would never position change "faster" positions to "bigger" positions (IE. CB -> Safety, safety -> LB). Obviously in real life guys switch positions all the time, but IMO it makes the video game too easy.

I implement weight restrictions, even though I know that weight doesn't have any gameplay affects. This is again to make the game more challenging as I can't recruit that 215 lb DE w/ 85 SPD which makes absolutely no sense in a 3-4. I still don't usually end up with guys heavy enough for a real world 3-4, but that's because the game doesn't have enough recruits like that. '14 does have bigger DL guys than previous versions at least. My current team has guys with these weights (none of whom were position changed):
DE: 272, 257(true FR)
DT: 301
OLB: 254, 248
MLB: 234, 242

DEs (> 240 lbs): I mainly look for BSH and FMV. I want my DEs to get after the QB and they almost always lead my team in sacks (although sometimes a DT will end up leading the team).
DTs (> 280 lbs): BSH, PMV. I prefer PMV for my DTs as I want them shoving the C into the QBs face and '14 has a great animation for that.
LBs: This is the lifeblood of the 3-4 and always my strongest unit. The #1 rating for all LBs is TKL. If you can't tackle, then you don't belong in my linebacking corps.
LOLB (> 220 lbs): This is my pass rushing OLB so I look for BSH/FMV/PMV in addition to normal LB ratings.
ROLB (> 220 lbs): This is my coverage OLB (he's the one that lines up in nickle normal and dollar formations by default) so I look for ZCV. ACC and SPD isn't bad, but it's not a priority.
MLB (> 230 lbs): I already mentioned TKL for all LBs, but for MLBs TKL is the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd thing I look for. ZCV, SPD, ACC, BSH, etc are nice, but TKL is what I REALLY care about here. My DBs get run over often by ball carriers. My DL guys have their tackles broken often. However, 9.5 times out of 10, once my MLB gets his paws on you, you're *** is going down. Being in the middle of my D, they get their paws on ball carriers a LOT.
CB: ZCV, PRS, MCV (I obviously run a lot more zone than I do man). Again, SPD is nice, but it's not a necessity (IE. I've started corners with 87 SPD).
SS: TKL is once again paramount here. Then ZCV, and finally SPD (1 of my 3 SSs has 80 SPD so I clearly don't care much about it).
FS: ZCV, TKL, SPD. Unlike SS and even CB, this is the 1 position where I prefer SPD, but not over ZCV and TKL.

Unlike some (most?) players, I don't really care much about SPD. It's nice to have, but I prefer most other things over SPD. My current #1 defense (scoring and yards) has 4 MLBs w/ 83,82,80,80 SPD, and starts a ROLB (my cover OLB) w/ 79 SPD. My secondary is fast though, with my 91 SPD SS being my slowest guy (although my starting SS next year will have 83 SPD).

[0rangez4u]

Quote: Originally Posted by jello1717

I'll mainly quote a previous post of mine on this subject. Here's how I recruit in general. I don't position change anyone as that makes the game too easy IMO. If I can't recruit a DE or LB that I want, then it's my fault and I'm not gonna get a mulligan by simply moving some other player to the position I need. I most certainly would never position change "faster" positions to "bigger" positions (IE. CB -> Safety, safety -> LB). Obviously in real life guys switch positions all the time, but IMO it makes the video game too easy. I implement weight restrictions, even though I know that weight doesn't have any gameplay affects. This is again to make the game more challenging as I can't recruit that 215 lb DE w/ 85 SPD which makes absolutely no sense in a 3-4. I still don't usually end up with guys heavy enough for a real world 3-4, but that's because the game doesn't have enough recruits like that. '14 does have bigger DL guys than previous versions at least. My current team has guys with these weights (none of whom were position changed): DE: 272, 257(true FR) DT: 301 OLB: 254, 248 MLB: 234, 242 DEs (> 240 lbs): I mainly look for BSH and FMV. I want my DEs to get after the QB and they almost always lead my team in sacks (although sometimes a DT will end up leading the team). DTs (> 280 lbs): BSH, PMV. I prefer PMV for my DTs as I want them shoving the C into the QBs face and '14 has a great animation for that. LBs: This is the lifeblood of the 3-4 and always my strongest unit. The #1 rating for all LBs is TKL. If you can't tackle, then you don't belong in my linebacking corps. LOLB (> 220 lbs): This is my pass rushing OLB so I look for BSH/FMV/PMV in addition to normal LB ratings. ROLB (> 220 lbs): This is my coverage OLB (he's the one that lines up in nickle normal and dollar formations by default) so I look for ZCV. ACC and SPD isn't bad, but it's not a priority. MLB (> 230 lbs): I already mentioned TKL for all LBs, but for MLBs TKL is the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd thing I look for. ZCV, SPD, ACC, BSH, etc are nice, but TKL is what I REALLY care about here. My DBs get run over often by ball carriers. My DL guys have their tackles broken often. However, 9.5 times out of 10, once my MLB gets his paws on you, you're *** is going down. Being in the middle of my D, they get their paws on ball carriers a LOT. CB: ZCV, PRS, MCV (I obviously run a lot more zone than I do man). Again, SPD is nice, but it's not a necessity (IE. I've started corners with 87 SPD). SS: TKL is once again paramount here. Then ZCV, and finally SPD (1 of my 3 SSs has 80 SPD so I clearly don't care much about it). FS: ZCV, TKL, SPD. Unlike SS and even CB, this is the 1 position where I prefer SPD, but not over ZCV and TKL. Unlike some (most?) players, I don't really care much about SPD. It's nice to have, but I prefer most other things over SPD. My current #1 defense (scoring and yards) has 4 MLBs w/ 83,82,80,80 SPD, and starts a ROLB (my cover OLB) w/ 79 SPD. My secondary is fast though, with my 91 SPD SS being my slowest guy (although my starting SS next year will have 83 SPD).

That's why the editor is huge for me. I create tons of players using the editor and change the fact that there aren't many large players. During real football season which is normally when I play 6 or more seasons, I only tinker with the top 50 recruits. I remove all the "ATH" that the game creates and give them actual positions. I even give the game All world Cam newton type players with ratings of 90,etc, you know , those instant impact true freshman that come in right away and make plays...AJ Green, Julio Jones type guys. I also put in about 5 or so DTs that are 330+ and give them a run stopper balance for teams that do run 3-4s, and a lot of hybrid outside linebackers as well. So now, that its the off-season and I don't play as much, by the time August rolls around I will have possibly have created (or edited) about 500 or so recruits. Makes the perfect recruit cycle. I change body types and I make sure I give everyone muscles...make shoulder pads small as possible and tuck in the sleeves to make it look as realistic as possible.

[agentskully]

Thanks for all the inputs.