D-Line Coaches

[tylermajor23]

My Defensive Line coaches can never seem to get more than 600 coach skill points after a game, and its hard to get them better.

does anyone know what i could do to help my D-Line coach to get more coach skill points from gameday?

[Mike3207]

Re: D-Line Coaches

My Defensive Line coaches can never seem to get more than 600 coach skill points after a game, and its hard to get them better.

does anyone know what i could do to help my D-Line coach to get more coach skill points from gameday?

All position coaches get more points when the players on their side of the ball have a good game. You'll need a good game from your DEs and DTs for your DLC to get more points. You get more points when you play or supersim than when you sim, though.

[tylermajor23]

Re: D-Line Coaches

i play all my games and i normally average 2 sacks a game, and still not much improvement in my DL coach

[ebongreen]

Re: D-Line Coaches

Getting two sacks a game isn't that much if you have a good defensive line, especially if you're using default sliders. Aaron Kampman averages better than a sack per game on defaults all by himself - then again, I blitz a fair bit.

What's your defensive scheme - 3-4 zone blitz, Tampa-2...?

[tylermajor23]

Re: D-Line Coaches

i use a 4-3 scheme. i want to get my pressure from my front four, but i know i have to blitz OLB's to make that happen unfortuantely, but its the only way i get sacks. i want more from my d-line. which is why i want my DLine coach better. he has a lot of potential, Tim Splangler

[ebongreen]

Re: D-Line Coaches

Do you want advice on getting your DL more sacks?

[tylermajor23]

Re: D-Line Coaches

sure, but i know:

to shift my defensive line
blitz the LOLB
get the speed and block shedding special skills for HC, DC, and DL coaches
press with my cornerbacks
and i like to make sure that my LE and DT1 to have 87+ Acceleration, 85+ FVM, and 85+ Block Shedding

if you have more tips please let me know

[ebongreen]

Re: D-Line Coaches

Generally, you need to know how your playbook works, and how to maximize the pressure packages you have to get your DL sacks instead of your 'backers. What you've mentioned is good, but how you use it makes all the difference.

For example, take the 4-3 blitz play Free Fire. Shifting the DL to the right (offense's left) will usually free up your RE with a free run to the QB, with at worst a pass-blocking RB in his way. Shifting to the left may free up the LE. Knowing how each shift works to free up whom is pretty important.

Another great option are some of the zone blitz plays, particularly the ones that allow the DL to slant either individually or as a group. Weak Slant 3 is one of those, where the weak-side DE drops into coverage as the other three all slant his way. Especially with quick DTs, that will get a a guy in the QB's face in a hurry.

Even though in a 3-4 you plan to have most of the pressure from your linebackers, there are plays in that system that frequently free up linemen. Gap Press is one where, if you have pass-rushing ends and tackles, the little shimmy-shake built in to the play for your linemen will have them past lesser guards and centers quickly.

Another important attribute - for you - is calling a variety of plays. Calling the same blitz too many times, or calling blitzes period too many times, virtually guarantees you getting burned by the AI. Play man and zone; blitz and cover; press and off. You can generate coverage sacks in this game by rushing just three or four, so have a sense of when to back off.

[tylermajor23]

Re: D-Line Coaches

thanks. that what i was looking for. i've been trying to work on my playcalling but sometimes when i look at plays, they don't seem effective. i don't always know how to utilize those plays to generate a stop or pressure to be useful.

example: its 2nd and 14, i call a nickel LB blitz (up the middle), and the QB throws it before my LBs can even get to the LOS. stuff like that makes me not even want to call those plays

[ebongreen]

Re: D-Line Coaches

Another thing to watch is, believe it or not, the scouting report on the teams you play. Game-planning isn't just a practice thing and Adam Schefter's talking head.

When I look at the scouting report, I mostly ignore the down-&-distance plays specified. What I find useful are:

• The percentage of run/pass on down-and-distance. Are you playing the pass-happy Cowboys or the run-first Steelers?
• The percentage each play gets called, regardless of down. Plays that you see 3% or better you're gonna see a lot, because they're probably mastered and they're favorites of the opposing playbook.
• Though this won't help with pressure per se, look at their favorite run plays. Do they run Colts/Texans/Broncos-style zone runs, which (honestly) are a pain in the neck to defeat, or are they power-pulling team like the Giants? Do they run a lot of counters? Each of these has defensive counter-plays. Learn which ones work against what sort of play, and plan to call them.
• Look at the pass patterns of the favorite plays. Are they primarily designed to defeat zone (route combinations to defeat Tampa-2, for example) or man (comebacks, double-moves)? Cue your play-calling accordingly.
• Look at the number of backs that block on their pass plays. Do they use backs in pass-pro or are they sent out as receivers? If the backs block, tend to cover or zone-blitz. If they receive, tend to man-blitz.
• Look for play-action passes. How common are they? Which ones do they run? Remember the AI linebackers play run-first, and man-blitzing against PA is a virtual guarantee you're gonna get burned. Have a good sense what plays will work against their favorite play-action calls.

This is the sort of thing that makes this game so much fun for me. It's as deep as you want to make it.

[tylermajor23]

Re: D-Line Coaches

sweet. yeah i never paid much attention to the scouting report before.

i didn't realize this game was that deep.see these are the reasons why i love this game more and more every day. it never gets old

[LordTC]

Man Blitzing

A good option for Man Blitzes or Man/Zone Blitzes is to ensure you use predominantly pass support guys in Man Coverage to avoid getting burned on PA.

I generally have FS/SS/3CB's in Man Coverage on a 6 man blitz, or FS/4CB's with no SS on the field.

One Man-Zone blitz I like is putting the FS and SS in middle of the field (non-deep zones), with CB's on the main recieving threats. You can show blitz from this and it works reasonably. Play action they can often complete a pass to the center of the field if the FS and SS bite, and they have a target being the 4th or 5th reciever, but a lot of the play action routes don't send the 4th or 5th guys forwards, they often stay in the shallows or run flats, in which case someone can usually get there (even if the AI takes ridiculously awful angles in this game).


User-Created plays can help you with this. Again it depends a lot on if you play or super-sim.