NCAA Football Defensive Strategy: Safety

[RaychelSnr]

With NCAA Football 09 right around the corner, you have probably noticed we are starting to release some football strategy articles to prepare you for NCAA Football 09. Today is no different as our very own Noah Weber takes a look at playing the safety position in NCAA Football.

"Against the pass, playing safety allows you to be in a position to disrupt the greatest number of passes, and offers the opportunity to make impact plays on the defensive side of the ball. If you seize your opportunities, safety is a position of glory -- but it is also a position of great responsibility. One mistake could spell a very long and embarrassing touchdown for your opponent. Here are a few tips to help you run as the safety in NCAA and Madden."

[hawkytom]

Very good write up for somebody considering playing as a safety position! I personally like to use MLB sometimes over the safety, but it depends on my mood and your tips of Safety usage are definetely a good reminder! GJ

[N51_rob]

I've been playing the safey since NCAA '04. You are pretty spot on here. I'm so comfortable playing that position it is the only one that I will play. It is second nature to me. I remember on year I had 24 interceptions in a season. That is an astranomical number I know, but in '04 I was that good. It also lets me line people up to use the hit-stick more effectivly. I have gotten real good at comming up in run support and laying the lumber, and killing WR across the middle. Great Article on one of the best postitions to play while on D.

[piggypablo7]

I think I will consider making the jump to start playing as a safety. It seems like it would be really fun once I got good at controlling that position. Does anybody ever try to play as the Corner?

[N51_rob]

Re: NCAA Football Defensive Strategy: Safety

I think I will consider making the jump to start playing as a safety. It seems like it would be really fun once I got good at controlling that position. Does anybody ever try to play as the Corner?

That would be like suicide IMO. It is so hard to move with the WR's and keep good position. Even when I play safety I hate having to cover the slot WR or the TE off the line. I can't imagine being a corner from start to finish. No thanks! Not to mention you start the play off the screen.

[callmetaternuts]

Re: NCAA Football Defensive Strategy: Safety

I would agree, very good info here. I play 95% of the D plays as the FS, works pretty well (plus it allows the pass rush and LB to play as the ratings suggest)

[atlplayboy23]

Re: NCAA Football Defensive Strategy: Safety

After reading this article im going to start playing as safety wish me luck.

[BoomerSooner11]

Re: NCAA Football Defensive Strategy: Safety

Nice, I'll have to try it out.

[jfsolo]

Re: NCAA Football Defensive Strategy: Safety

I've been playing the safey since NCAA '04. You are pretty spot on here. I'm so comfortable playing that position it is the only one that I will play. It is second nature to me. I remember on year I had 24 interceptions in a season. That is an astranomical number I know, but in '04 I was that good. It also lets me line people up to use the hit-stick more effectivly. I have gotten real good at comming up in run support and laying the lumber, and killing WR across the middle. Great Article on one of the best postitions to play while on D.

This is not to attack you personally, but that number of picks indicates severe flaws in the gameplay mechanics/A.I. of the game. Because of these flaws I have always felt that safety was an "overpowered" position in EA football games, especially against the CPU. It isn't as bad in two player games, but it still can be too easy to make plays.

The article talks about knowing your assignment, but I've seen so many people freelancing while playing safety, but still be able to recover and make plays that they ratings of the player they are controlling says they shouldn't make.

Its very similar with linebackers too. Players don't get punished for having no discipline what so ever. I hope that begins to change starting this year.

[dkrause1971]

Re: NCAA Football Defensive Strategy: Safety

Do you guys that play with the safties recommend one over the other? FS or SS. Or do you take the worse or better safety if the ratings are imbalanced? I always tended to get LB or DL but going to look at safety more now.

[Freezer Boy]

Good article,I guess I might give it a shot to.

[N51_rob]

This is not to attack you personally, but that number of picks indicates severe flaws in the gameplay mechanics/A.I. of the game. Because of these flaws I have always felt that safety was an "overpowered" position in EA football games, especially against the CPU. It isn't as bad in two player games, but it still can be too easy to make plays.

The article talks about knowing your assignment, but I've seen so many people freelancing while playing safety, but still be able to recover and make plays that they ratings of the player they are controlling says they shouldn't make.

Its very similar with linebackers too. Players don't get punished for having no discipline what so ever. I hope that begins to change starting this year.

It's a fair statement. I also agree that 24 is an insane number. But for the most part I was just playing within the defense. That was until I was in the high teens then I kinda went for it. The problem and I think that you will agree is that in 04 the cpu would prematurely abandon the running game so there were more chances for me to make plays in the secondary.

dkrause, I use the FS. I don't know why but when ever I use the SS it feels backwards to me.

[Smokez4DAyz]

I don't recognize me 'not' using safeties, but I've always been a front seven guy, I do notice many users online use the safety. I'll try to use them more.

[Sting]

Re: NCAA Football Defensive Strategy: Safety

I stopped using the safety after the '04 version. It's just waaaaaaay too easy for me personally to make plays from the FS position. I can control the entire field on EA's games, and it shouldn't be that way. But then again, I AM PHENOMENAL.

I use the CB or a DE now to make it more challenging and more fun. The CB position is the most challenging and most rewarding for me personally because I would rather play in the secondary than anywhere on the front 7.

[VWarrior]

Re: NCAA Football Defensive Strategy: Safety

Interesting info. I have to say that I have never been one to manually control a secondary player from the line of scrimmage. I've always started as a lineman or MLB, but I am considering doing a bit more manual secondary control this year. I don't think i'll dare touch a CB off on the line of scrimmage, but I am considering more safety play in zone coverage.