How do you play great defense?

[football5680]

I have been playing my dynasty and it doesn't matter how good my defense is i am giving up a bunch of points. I can shut down the run super easy but in the passing game i give up way too much. i am like 90th in the nation in pass defense but #1 in run defense. Can you give me what playbook is the best or plays that are the best to shut down any type of pass, and what should i set the gameplan to. i set it to aggressive because that has been working better than normal or conservative.

[Joshua1207]

Re: How do you play great defense?

The 4-2-5 and Multiple D are good playbooks.

[Roggie]

Re: How do you play great defense?

I have a very good defense and I NEVER put anything to aggressive.

[Dan@ISU]

Re: How do you play great defense?

Run the 4-2-5 in my dynasty. Set D-Line to Aggressive and Big Hit and Strip Ball to Conservative.

Seems to work pretty well.

[UnderRatedCoast]

Re: How do you play great defense?

The big thing that keeps my defense with good ratings is to make sure you always have safety help over the top. Seems like you can play a perfect game defensively, but just have one play where you got greedy and blitzed too many guys, then your DB has his tackle broken and there's no one stopping the WR from high stepping into the end zone on an 85 yard pass play. Those big ones will kill. So I'll play a lot of zone with man over the top (4-3 playbook), then more zone inside the red zone to prevent guys from catching the ball on the 5 and running it in. Also if you change your Zone strategy to aggressive once you get closer to the endzone, you won't have so many receivers standing on the goalline with no defenders in front of them. Make sure you switch it back later though, or you're getting burnt deep. If I'm playing a game where a QB is lighting me up over the middle, I'll use a lot of 3-3 nickel defense where the two OLBs play curl zone, with one safety deep and everyone else in man. It cuts down on the dinks and dunks over the middle to the TE and RB. If you're getting beat deeper, I'll play the same set, but with two safeties over the top, with the MLB in curl zone and everyone else in man. I also always control the LBs on the underneath stuff. It allows me to also spy the QB and make sure they don't scramble. I always set my DL to aggressive, and my pass defense to go for the pick. If I have a good team, I'll set my tackling to go for the big hit, but if you are using a bad team you need to go for the sure tackle to make sure your DBs don't have their tackles broken by that WR when he's the only one between the man and the end zone. I never set to go for the strip because it always seems to result in a facemask penalty. But you'll usually have to adjust your overall strategy based on the team you're playing. Some QBs will panic on the blitz, so if you just blitz two guys and bump and run the WRs, he'll throw the ball while your DBs are still engaged with the WRs. Some QBs with higher AWR love when you blitz and will always get the ball to the open receiver. Just got to make small adjustments until you get it right. Every game will be different. Oh yeah, and the one thing I've been doing since the first time they started telling you what package the offense is playing with is to match your CBs with the number of receivers. If they have 3 WRs, make sure you have at least 3 CBs on the field. If they have two WRs, you can change it up and play with just two CBs, If they have 4 WRs, go into dime. Match their speed with yours, and that's the best way to neutralize what they are doing.

[psumason]

Re: How do you play great defense?

The big thing that keeps my defense with good ratings is to make sure you always have safety help over the top. Seems like you can play a perfect game defensively, but just have one play where you got greedy and blitzed too many guys, then your DB has his tackle broken and there's no one stopping the WR from high stepping into the end zone on an 85 yard pass play. Those big ones will kill. So I'll play a lot of zone with man over the top (4-3 playbook), then more zone inside the red zone to prevent guys from catching the ball on the 5 and running it in. Also if you change your Zone strategy to aggressive once you get closer to the endzone, you won't have so many receivers standing on the goalline with no defenders in front of them. Make sure you switch it back later though, or you're getting burnt deep. If I'm playing a game where a QB is lighting me up over the middle, I'll use a lot of 3-3 nickel defense where the two OLBs play curl zone, with one safety deep and everyone else in man. It cuts down on the dinks and dunks over the middle to the TE and RB. If you're getting beat deeper, I'll play the same set, but with two safeties over the top, with the MLB in curl zone and everyone else in man. I also always control the LBs on the underneath stuff. It allows me to also spy the QB and make sure they don't scramble. I always set my DL to aggressive, and my pass defense to go for the pick. If I have a good team, I'll set my tackling to go for the big hit, but if you are using a bad team you need to go for the sure tackle to make sure your DBs don't have their tackles broken by that WR when he's the only one between the man and the end zone. I never set to go for the strip because it always seems to result in a facemask penalty. But you'll usually have to adjust your overall strategy based on the team you're playing. Some QBs will panic on the blitz, so if you just blitz two guys and bump and run the WRs, he'll throw the ball while your DBs are still engaged with the WRs. Some QBs with higher AWR love when you blitz and will always get the ball to the open receiver. Just got to make small adjustments until you get it right. Every game will be different. Oh yeah, and the one thing I've been doing since the first time they started telling you what package the offense is playing with is to match your CBs with the number of receivers. If they have 3 WRs, make sure you have at least 3 CBs on the field. If they have two WRs, you can change it up and play with just two CBs, If they have 4 WRs, go into dime. Match their speed with yours, and that's the best way to neutralize what they are doing.

I think I just realized that something from your post and reading another thread. I play online dynasties and I have a blast but sometimes the wait can be tedious while some guys travel for work and such so I've now thought of a way to scout the opposing teams (more the CPU vs Human) but should work. Your sentence about the awareness is something that I've never ever looked at. I actually have never gone in and looked at an opposing team's attributes at all, but now I think I'm going to look at them and try to figure out when a QB has an awareness at such and such I should blitz him more often vs sitting back and playing pass protection. To me some QB's get rid of the ball rather quickly (higher awareness) compared to others that will dance in the pocket and take the sack. If I can find that balance and prepare for the upcoming game by doing so it will add that much more fun to the overall gameplay.

[InspectahDeck]

Re: How do you play great defense?

I like to run the 4-3 myself. How far into your dynasty are you? What type of ratings does your secondary have for coverage man/zone and press. You could be playing to much man or zone when your players are better at the opposite. Trying to press all the time and your players are poor at press. What types of pass plays normally beat your coverage? Is it as simple as you picking a poor coverage for the down/play. I like to mix up my coverages all the time. I only recruit players who have over a B on man/zone coverages and let it slide to a C+ on one if they have great press coverage skills. I refuse to go lower than a 4.44 on any of my CB's being recruited. I like having my FS and SS over the top a good bit of the time. If your in a 2nd or 3rd and long for the offense and they got 4 or 5 wide I would zone on them and use the MLB or DE. That way you won't have guys breaking free of CB's and you can still stop a run play easily if your on the MLB.

I always like to use my DE on every third down against the CPU when it's a pass play. You get pressure on the QB and cause quicker throws into your zone coverage. Which player do you use for most of your snaps on defense? If it's the FS or SS maybe you should think about switching to a LB or DL. I always use big hits and aggressive DL. Most of all turnovers are your friend! Especially fumbles off of big hits. You know your normally going to get 1-3 INT's most games but if you can force 1-2 fumbles and recover them it goes a long way.

[UnderRatedCoast]

Re: How do you play great defense?

I think I just realized that something from your post and reading another thread. I play online dynasties and I have a blast but sometimes the wait can be tedious while some guys travel for work and such so I've now thought of a way to scout the opposing teams (more the CPU vs Human) but should work. Your sentence about the awareness is something that I've never ever looked at. I actually have never gone in and looked at an opposing team's attributes at all, but now I think I'm going to look at them and try to figure out when a QB has an awareness at such and such I should blitz him more often vs sitting back and playing pass protection. To me some QB's get rid of the ball rather quickly (higher awareness) compared to others that will dance in the pocket and take the sack. If I can find that balance and prepare for the upcoming game by doing so it will add that much more fun to the overall gameplay.

Hmmm, that's actually a really good idea.

[knaw46]

Re: How do you play great defense?

Sometimes being over aggressive is the best thing to do. An example is often on third and long, I go into either nickel, or the 1-5-5, and bring six people after the qb. I put everyone in one on one coverage, no safety help, with bump n run coverage. Why? Because I'm going to get to the qb so quick none of his receivers will make it over 10 yards. I only play online, never against the CPU, so this is humans adjusting to this. When I first started doing it, I peppered it in to just mix it in. Now I seriously run something like that 1 out of 5 times. If you are under center passing, you're gonna be sacked. If you're running, you're not going to get much. And to be honest, I rarely, rarely get burned for it. Every once in a while, sure. I know someone reading this is probably thinking "i would go deep on you every time" or "slants would kill that" but you'd be surprised. With the new qb animations when they get hit, often balls are up in the air for picks. If you mix it in right, people won't be able to key in on it. In the third quarter when people pick it up, I fake man align/bump when i'm really in a zone. love getting picks off that too.

I've got a pretty good online record, and I can tell you that people that sit back in cover 3's and heavy coverage get demolished. Bring a good mix of zone and man blitzes, and you'll do good.

One more tip, great 3rd and long play. Pick 3-2-6, cover 3 press. Press the coverage, pass commit. Then, change to the corner on the weak side of the field that is covering the flat. Bring him to the line, and go straight for the qb. You're only bringing a 4 man rush, plus you're bringing a fast corner off the edge at a qb. That corners assignment is useless in 3rd and long because rarely do people throw it in the flats to beat you on 3rd and long. Great coverage + easy pressure.

[jello1717]

Re: How do you play great defense?

I think I just realized that something from your post and reading another thread. I play online dynasties and I have a blast but sometimes the wait can be tedious while some guys travel for work and such so I've now thought of a way to scout the opposing teams (more the CPU vs Human) but should work. Your sentence about the awareness is something that I've never ever looked at. I actually have never gone in and looked at an opposing team's attributes at all, but now I think I'm going to look at them and try to figure out when a QB has an awareness at such and such I should blitz him more often vs sitting back and playing pass protection. To me some QB's get rid of the ball rather quickly (higher awareness) compared to others that will dance in the pocket and take the sack. If I can find that balance and prepare for the upcoming game by doing so it will add that much more fun to the overall gameplay.

This is off topic, but anywho...

I don't scout teams for that particular reason, but I always scout teams (user or CPU) before I play them. I'll check out the depth chart 1st to look for mobile QBs, fast runners/receivers, fast corners that I can't streak past, slow corners that my guys can run past, poor DL/LBs that I should run at, etc. I'll also check their game stats (especially for user games) to try to get a feel for their tendencies.

[psumason]

Re: How do you play great defense?

I'm ready for the next advance so that I can take a look at #1 Cal. I'm ranked #22 so this is a huge game with big time Pac10 implications. If I win I stand a great chance at winning the Pac10 championship.

That being said, I've always enjoyed the game but this will bring about a new twist so to speak for me to get into the game. Something that has been missing in games past. Great thread though I got it off target a little bit.


I tend to play 3-4 depending on what the CPU or Human is doing. I get tired of hearing online about "you always play nickle and dime or even quarters" when the other guy is always coming out in 3, 4, and 5 wide formations. Does he expect me to play a 5-2 or something? Just kills me. Against the computer I love to play the 3-4 on first down (as long as they don't come out with 4 wide or more) and user control the left MLB. 3rd and 10+ I'll play quarters cover 3 deep and user the MLB. With good stick skills you can stop most posts and slants from the slot receivers. Curls can at times be problems because of positioning, just have to notice it real quick.

[apineda]

Re: How do you play great defense?

BLITZ BLITZ BLITZ!

You have to send them from everywhere and anywhere. Mix it up, but never only send three or four rushing the QB. You have to put pressure on the other guy or CPU. There is a difference between the two. Always prepare for the pass and stack the box, trust me. I am one of the best players in this game and I am revealing some of my tricks. I am not a cheeser either. Here are three other things needed to be successful. (Use DIME and DIME 3-2-6 blitzes!)

Aggressive on INTS
Aggresive on Big Hits
Deep coverage zones! Most important thing to help you but you must put everyone up near the line, your guys will get back there on deep throws TRUST!

Use these simple rules and you just became a whole lot better on D...let me know how it goes guys.

[Raddy]

Re: How do you play great defense?

I agree with apineda, blitz the hell out of them.

I usually play as Georgia Tech so my run defense is pretty good and my pass defense is so-so, C- level. So I set all the options to aggressive (except for "Strip Ball" because facemask penalties suck). I'm too impatient to sift through the formations so I'll usually just go through the "Ask Corso" plays and find something with good zone coverage and lots of blitzing. This strategy has worked pretty well against other players, but it takes some adjusting to get it right against the CPU because the computer is much more adept at using short passes and hot routes to counter the blitz.

Most of my defensive strategy is playing the pass because, honestly, that's most players' offensive strategy. It usually takes several screw-ups for a run to go for huge yardage, but only one screw-up for a pass to burn you. If it's on off-balance formation (an I-formation with one tight-end, for example), I'll usually crash the D-line to the strong side to pick up the run but keep everything else normal.

If it's a shotgun formation, I select "Play the Pass" strategy. If it's 4-wide with a running back next to the QB, I'll key the RB to watch for the screen. With constant blitzing on fast QBs, you run the risk of giving up yards to the scramble, so if you're getting burned by that, select a defensive lineman and give him a "QB Spy" hot route. This will usually limit the QB to no more than two yards or on the run.

I almost never select "Play the Run" strategy. Playing the run on a pass yields far worse results than playing the pass on a run play. The only time I'll do it is in short yardage, and then only coupled with a huge blitz to sack the QB on a short pass or TFL on a run up the middle.

Another thing I see burning a lot of guys is setting a linebacker or someone in the secondary to manual control. I don't know about guys, but it's tough for me to do zone coverage manually and still keep it effective. I always play as a defensive lineman; it makes getting a sack more likely and also makes you more effective at picking up the run.

The biggest key to good defense is to adapt. This can be done with the defensive strategies...if they're breaking a lot of tackles, set "Big Hits" to normal or "Strip Ball" to conservative. If you're getting beat deep, set "Zone Coverage" to normal or conservative. Just make small adjustments till it works. And for God's sake BLITZ!

[knaw46]

Re: How do you play great defense?

BLITZ BLITZ BLITZ!

You have to send them from everywhere and anywhere. Mix it up, but never only send three or four rushing the QB. You have to put pressure on the other guy or CPU. There is a difference between the two. Always prepare for the pass and stack the box, trust me. I am one of the best players in this game and I am revealing some of my tricks. I am not a cheeser either. Here are three other things needed to be successful. (Use DIME and DIME 3-2-6 blitzes!)

Aggressive on INTS
Aggresive on Big Hits
Deep coverage zones! Most important thing to help you but you must put everyone up near the line, your guys will get back there on deep throws TRUST!

Use these simple rules and you just became a whole lot better on D...let me know how it goes guys.

Haha, hilarious. I was just sharing some stuff man. It wouldn't work as well if not for the lame duck throw. I only set three things on agressive, everything else but option on normal or conservative depending.

I come out in 3-4/4-3 in many instances, especially if there are only two wideouts. Soooooo, wrong on me being in 3-2-6 all the time.

And here is the funny thing about calling someone a cheeser about bringing people up to the line. Do you ever watch college football? Teams with tons of speed bring their safeties up all the time. Teams with shutdown corners leave them on an ISLAND. Watch some of the top defenses in real life. They bring heat, and they bring it a lot.

I just had some good third down stuff and thought i'd share. I don't see how blitzing a lot is cheese either. Many times i'm blitzing in dime or nickel....if i'm bringing more then you have blocking....somebody is open.

Anyways, good luck man to the original poster. And good try on being a dick.

[apineda]

Re: How do you play great defense?

Haha, hilarious. I was just sharing some stuff man. It wouldn't work as well if not for the lame duck throw. I only set three things on agressive, everything else but option on normal or conservative depending.

I come out in 3-4/4-3 in many instances, especially if there are only two wideouts. Soooooo, wrong on me being in 3-2-6 all the time.

And here is the funny thing about calling someone a cheeser about bringing people up to the line. Do you ever watch college football? Teams with tons of speed bring their safeties up all the time. Teams with shutdown corners leave them on an ISLAND. Watch some of the top defenses in real life. They bring heat, and they bring it a lot.

I just had some good third down stuff and thought i'd share. I don't see how blitzing a lot is cheese either. Many times i'm blitzing in dime or nickel....if i'm bringing more then you have blocking....somebody is open.

Anyways, good luck man to the original poster. And good try on being a dick.

I AM TOTALLY CONFUSED? Are you calling me a dick? I was just trying to help so what are you talking about? I didn't call anyone a cheeser?!?! I think you may need to go back to fifth grade and lean how to interpret a message. Seriously...