Best run defense

[StizzyOG]

What are some tips to slow down online players with jukebox?

[stinkubus]

Re: Best run defense

Have a guy with secure tackler (good) or tackle supreme (better). Strafing up doesn't work as well this year and conservative tackles are terrible. You more or less need to get your avatars to collide to induce a tackle and that's tough against someone with juke box.

[4thQtrStre5S]

Re: Best run defense

I went to a 4-3 and use 3 DTs and 1 rushing End. My 3 Lbs are all Run Stoppers. I feel the LBs with Run stop attribute fair rather well when blitzing. I feel the big bodies, of having 3 DTs allows my pass rush to get in effectively.

I got the idea from a number of past NFL team who switch base formations, but most recently the Carolina panthers going to a more 3-4 base has reminded me to innovate my own team as they are essentially using former DTs as 3-4 DEs.

[stinkubus]

Re: Best run defense

Size and STR are a big deal this year. Weight threshold goes all the way up to 350. I'd rather have a guy with 90 STR and 80 BSH than vice versa.

[Shogunreaper]

Re: Best run defense

Size and STR are a big deal this year. Weight threshold goes all the way up to 350. I'd rather have a guy with 90 STR and 80 BSH than vice versa.

does weight effect speed?

[4thQtrStre5S]

Re: Best run defense

Size and STR are a big deal this year. Weight threshold goes all the way up to 350. I'd rather have a guy with 90 STR and 80 BSH than vice versa.

I am with you 100%

[stinkubus]

Re: Best run defense

does weight effect speed?

No, but it goes directly into the calculation which determines whether or not a DL sheds in the run game. There is a strictly increasing positive modifier that maxes out at 350.

Strength differentials are also huge and can completely overwhelm advantages in blocking vs. shedding. If you pick up one of those low 80s STR OL that EA loves to litter their draft classes with expect him to get whipped often when he goes against someone in the high 80s or 90s regardless of their BSH or rush moves.

[burth179]

Re: Best run defense

I went to a 4-3 and use 3 DTs and 1 rushing End. My 3 Lbs are all Run Stoppers. I feel the LBs with Run stop attribute fair rather well when blitzing. I feel the big bodies, of having 3 DTs allows my pass rush to get in effectively.

I got the idea from a number of past NFL team who switch base formations, but most recently the Carolina panthers going to a more 3-4 base has reminded me to innovate my own team as they are essentially using former DTs as 3-4 DEs.

I like to do this as well. You can also use 3-4 Predator or 3-4 Over Ed if you want to stay in a "3-4" but give 4-3 looks.

[Fullhearts]

Re: Best run defense

Are there any particular formations that work particularly well against the run? 3-4 bear? 4-4? 46? Or is it all about personnel this year?

[stinkubus]

Re: Best run defense

You need both the right personnel and the right front. The closest thing to all purpose run D is 3-4 Odd, but without the right players on the DL, especially at NT, it all falls apart. If any one of those three can easily be handled by a double team your defense is exploitable. If they can get handled by a lone OL you're going to have a very bad game.

Each of the other fronts have their uses against particular run concepts, but if you have a weak player at the point of attack you'll have to resort to trying to create penetration to get stops. I try to avoid this at all costs because if you don't get your stop then there's a good chance the offense is going to get a big play out of it.

[PGaither84]

Re: Best run defense

I don't play Madden 20, but football is still football. Solid gap control is essential.


Growing up playing Madden and learning football, here are the things that I did to become a better player, and still do to this day to keep my skills sharp:


1. Study real football. Gap control and run fits matter. Master them.
2. Go into the lab and practice.
3. Set user tackling to a low value and work on swarming to the ball.
4. Go against various fronts and use various blocking schemes. Power, trap, counter, zone.
5. Get good at at least two positions. I worked really hard at becoming a good Will LB in the 4-3 and the Jack in the 3-4, seeing how they are often the same position. Learn how to pursue and fill well. I also worked on being the Weak Safety in a cover 3 scheme for the same reason.


I remember a Madden 11 tournament where I was in the finals and losing 10-0 at half time. My defense would meet the runner in the backfield or at the LoS every time and would watch them get stiff-armed, trucked, or otherwise beat. Everybody was clowning and saying the game was over. I simply replied at half time that my opponent was great at breaking tackles but his run scheme was trash and when my guys finally tackle, he will have negative yards. In the second half it came true and he did not have a positive gain on the ground that entire half as I came back and won 14-13.


People from OS who used to play me on xbox live back in the day would compliment me on my run defense, when all I did was apply one-gap concepts and executed.


Here are two great excerpts from Monte Kiffin teaching run defense. Not only that, but he teaches you how to stop the run with only 7 in the box and showing MoFO pre-snap:


*NOTE: This can be used with the 4-3 or the 3-4. You should be able to easily visualize where he NT and DE of a 3-4 would be and how a DE would be replaced by the OLB of a 3-4. Despite using a 3-4, you can still apply one-gap logic to fill.

[RogueHominid]

Re: Best run defense

I have a really basic run defense question: how do you check run fits this year?