Let's use this thread for discussing helpful tactics for stopping plays and looks that we see but struggle with. I believe a robust discussion on helpful tactics will serve two important functions: it will cut down bickering by crippling those money plays/tactics that we see and don't like, and it will raise the general level of league play by forcing us to be more varied in our approaches to the game.
Flats
Cover 3 puts blue zones to those areas and will ensure that a defender will be there on both sides of the field. Should a back catch the pass out there a gain is likely but it's not uncontested. The weak portion of the defense is in the middle in the short game. Taking the MLB is smart because it allows you to control slants and drags and also places you in the position to move quickly to the flat in the event of the quick snap and throw that happens before those blue zones settle in. You can accomplish the same support function by controlling the S in a hook zone, playing inside-out.
Cover 2 Hard Passes to the flats will be contested immediately and forcefully. You will be most vulnerable to streaks from the WR and corner routes. To mitigate this weakness in the coverage, consider spotlighting the receiver farthest from you and the taking the S to the wide side of the field to ensure that if a streak develops you are in an anticipatory position and have a chance to go swat that ball. Get extra depth and width pre-snap to help close distance. If you are certain that the opponent will not throw streaks, consider the OLB to the strong side and play inside-out from the slant to the flat.
Cover Two Variants There are several variations of the cover two in the 34 formations. One calls for a blitz by the RILB with hook zones across the remainder of the LB and CB corps. You may from time to time wish to use this permutation in the following way. Try pressing the corners and they using the blitzing LB to either generate quick heat up the middle to force a pass to the flats where your CBs will be, or to freestyle and cut one of the flats receivers off manually. The weakness will be in a slant or drag to that vacated area, but the presence of other defenders minimizes the chance that such freestyling will result in a massive gain.
You may even consider manning up this blitzing backer on the most dangerous threat while leaving everyone else in his assignment. You can do this as well with the cover two plays that have a MLB in a spy assignment. To minimize the chance of a slant or drag to this small vacated area going for a big play, you may control the other MLB in a 34 or the OLB nearest the vacated area and patrol both zones.
Man Coverage: Control the player assigned to the HB and shadow manually. The FB can be left to a CPU defender for the simple fact that most FB will not break games wide open from catching passes in the flats.
Flats
Cover 3 puts blue zones to those areas and will ensure that a defender will be there on both sides of the field. Should a back catch the pass out there a gain is likely but it's not uncontested. The weak portion of the defense is in the middle in the short game. Taking the MLB is smart because it allows you to control slants and drags and also places you in the position to move quickly to the flat in the event of the quick snap and throw that happens before those blue zones settle in. You can accomplish the same support function by controlling the S in a hook zone, playing inside-out.
Cover 2 Hard Passes to the flats will be contested immediately and forcefully. You will be most vulnerable to streaks from the WR and corner routes. To mitigate this weakness in the coverage, consider spotlighting the receiver farthest from you and the taking the S to the wide side of the field to ensure that if a streak develops you are in an anticipatory position and have a chance to go swat that ball. Get extra depth and width pre-snap to help close distance. If you are certain that the opponent will not throw streaks, consider the OLB to the strong side and play inside-out from the slant to the flat.
Cover Two Variants There are several variations of the cover two in the 34 formations. One calls for a blitz by the RILB with hook zones across the remainder of the LB and CB corps. You may from time to time wish to use this permutation in the following way. Try pressing the corners and they using the blitzing LB to either generate quick heat up the middle to force a pass to the flats where your CBs will be, or to freestyle and cut one of the flats receivers off manually. The weakness will be in a slant or drag to that vacated area, but the presence of other defenders minimizes the chance that such freestyling will result in a massive gain.
You may even consider manning up this blitzing backer on the most dangerous threat while leaving everyone else in his assignment. You can do this as well with the cover two plays that have a MLB in a spy assignment. To minimize the chance of a slant or drag to this small vacated area going for a big play, you may control the other MLB in a 34 or the OLB nearest the vacated area and patrol both zones.
Man Coverage: Control the player assigned to the HB and shadow manually. The FB can be left to a CPU defender for the simple fact that most FB will not break games wide open from catching passes in the flats.
. Willis is pure, unbridled destructive force.
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