Zone Read plays

[thf24]

Can anyone get these to work with any shred of consistency? They only work for me if the running back is the correct read and I make it. My quarterback gets blown up every single time whether the keep is the right read or not. EA's claim that the new locomotion system makes the DE unable to stop and tackle the quarterback if he initially bites on the running back is... simply 100% untrue. If the DE goes for the running back and I keep the ball, the DE just turns 180 degrees on a dime and tackles me. And even if I manage to break the tackle, there are already at least two defenders in the backfield. I know this is probably partially due to the flawed blocking assignment system in shotgun formations (except the DE still being immune to the laws of physics); I'm just wondering if anyone has figured out any adjustments like those found to make other broken shotgun running plays more effective.

[Marcus A Rowe]

Re: Zone Read plays

I bet the CPU is run-blitzing from the backside. the DE will bite on the fake, but the linebacker or corner, or both will be coming from the backside and smash you. CPU tends to do that and your ****ed either way.

QB keep = crushed by a blitzing linebacker or 2.
QB handoff = back gets crushed by blitzing linebacker or 2.

Those DE's will get you though, they'll act like they're biting and then as soon as you keep it, that same DE crushes you.

It's a waiting game and I use the pass and sweep, off-tackle plays out of the shotgun to set it up. Granted I may only get a few ypc, but when I run the zone-read I can usually get a good amount of yards or bust a big run. I don't run it as much now because my starting QB isn't quick or fast enough to get outside and up-field.

Right now I run my QB out of shotgun heavy, and the 5 wide QB jet sweep. <---I get slaughtered on that play..***n with caution.

[BlastX21]

Re: Zone Read plays

Psychic playcalling and the fact that the DE is the only defender who ever bites on the fake (while everyone else knows exactly where the ball is) make the zone read very difficult for a lot of people. The only shotgun runs that work in my experience are halfback dives. You can find 4 of them in Oregon, Auburn, and Mississippi State playbooks and 3 in a few others. Some speed options work too. But not zone read.

[M1ndHe1st]

Re: Zone Read plays

call a pass play then audible to zone read and it should work

[jello1717]

Re: Zone Read plays

Can anyone get these to work with any shred of consistency? They only work for me if the running back is the correct read and I make it. My quarterback gets blown up every single time whether the keep is the right read or not. EA's claim that the new locomotion system makes the DE unable to stop and tackle the quarterback if he initially bites on the running back is... simply 100% untrue. If the DE goes for the running back and I keep the ball, the DE just turns 180 degrees on a dime and tackles me. And even if I manage to break the tackle, there are already at least two defenders in the backfield. I know this is probably partially due to the flawed blocking assignment system in shotgun formations (except the DE still being immune to the laws of physics); I'm just wondering if anyone has figured out any adjustments like those found to make other broken shotgun running plays more effective.

With Michigan and Denard Robinson and now Devin Gardner, I'm able to run the read quite well. I usually gain yards with it and i prefer it when the read guy crashes on the HB as most of my 20+ yarders are when the QB keeps it.

The play does get blown up from time to time, but it's almost never the read guy blowing the play up if I make the correct read. It could be the DT getting off of his block or some unblocked blitzing LB, but I've never seen the read guy crash on the HB, do a 180 and then tackle my keeping QB. Sometimes the read guy won't commit to one or the other and can then tackle whoever has the ball, but this is rare. He usually makes a firm decision to go after the HB or stand straight up , and then I've never seen him go 100% after the back and then switch and catch my QB. Of course my QBs have low-mid 90s SPD and mid 90s ACC which helps tremendously, but even my recruited QBs with high 80s SPD and ACC don't get caught by the read guy.

Here are the highlights from my last OD game with Michigan. They're all 26+ yard keepers by my QB. The 1st and last are speed options while the 2nd and 3rd are read options. In the 2nd one you can see the read guy do one of the "halfway" decisions and my QB has to break the tackle. On the 3rd, he crashes on the HB and my QB is gone.

Psychic playcalling and the fact that the DE is the only defender who ever bites on the fake (while everyone else knows exactly where the ball is) make the zone read very difficult for a lot of people. The only shotgun runs that work in my experience are halfback dives. You can find 4 of them in Oregon, Auburn, and Mississippi State playbooks and 3 in a few others. Some speed options work too. But not zone read.

Miss. St's pb actually has 5 dives it in (the most of any I've seen).

[maddog1020]

Re: Zone Read plays

I can run the zone read out of the pistol effectively if I make the right reads and have the offense to run it

[NE_Passat'n]

Re: Zone Read plays

when the defense has a 3 man front, is the read still the de or is the read the olb at that point?

[jello1717]

Re: Zone Read plays

when the defense has a 3 man front, is the read still the de or is the read the olb at that point?

It depends on their alignment and your alignment. The read guy is the one that's not blocked in the play art on the field.

[rudyjuly2]

Re: Zone Read plays

I've never seen the read guy crash on the HB, do a 180 and then tackle my keeping QB. Sometimes the read guy won't commit to one or the other and can then tackle whoever has the ball, but this is rare. He usually makes a firm decision to go after the HB or stand straight up , and then I've never seen him go 100% after the back and then switch and catch my QB.

I've never seen this either although I'm just trying to learn the offense. I'm getting better at running it but I still need work. I had one game where Denard got 127 yards for me in a Play Now game. I was happy with that.

I spent about 45 minutes in practice just running various option plays trying to get my reads down and it really is helpful and necessary. I've also spent a bunch of time on exhibition games trying to get better. I don't think the average gamer can just take Michigan or Oregon and run that offense right away. It's a definite learning curve.

[SeaOfRed75]

Re: Zone Read plays

It is not run correctly. EA is afraid (most likely rightfully so) of having this play blocked correctly ,and probably more importantly, played by the defense correctly.

The interior D-line, LBs, and Safeties allmost never react to the zone run part of the play right, and magically play that and the QB read portion of the play at the same time.

And dont even get me started on how wide open the PA pass off of this play SHOULD be if the defense wasnt magically cheating and know what play you called.

[Pokes404]

Re: Zone Read plays

Most of the time, the zone read works correctly (in that if I make the right read the unblocked defender is not the one who makes the play); however, I have had a few instances where the unblocked defender bit on the RB, got stuck on my tackle who was blocking the interior lineman, and because of this was in perfect position to take down the QB as I tried to break outside. I made the right read but due to a "glitch" I get thrown down for a loss. There's no way to read this glitch either. After you've made the read to keep the ball, you've got about 0.005 seconds to realize that the defender is stuck and give it to the RB instead. It's impossible. This doesn't happen very often, but it drives me crazy when it happens.

[WMWolverine]

Re: Zone Read plays

This play gets blown up most every time I've tried using it. I'm lucky if I can get a 3 yd gain when making the correct read. More times than not, this play nets me somewhere between -2 to 1 yard gains...

The rest of my ground game is excellent, HB dives/draws/sprints/counters/off tackles, options, QB power consistently gets me 6+ ypc.

[SeaOfRed75]

Re: Zone Read plays

This play gets blown up most every time I've tried using it. I'm lucky if I can get a 3 yd gain when making the correct read. More times than not, this play nets me somewhere between -2 to 1 yard gains...

The rest of my ground game is excellent, HB dives/draws/sprints/counters/off tackles, options, QB power consistently gets me 6+ ypc.

Same here.

This play is nerfed by EA because it has way too much potential to be a cheese factory.

So because of that guys like Denard Robinson and Taylor Martinez cant do half of what they normally could. And Im not saying I want 80 yard runs against good defenses. That shouldnt happen much at all. But the DTs, LBs, and Safeties blowing up your QB in the backfield shouldnt either.

[7unholyconfessions7]

Re: Zone Read plays

The important thing is to remember to count the number of defenders in the box. In this game if the defense has anymore than 6 in the box than you need to audible to something like a bubble screen or other pass. Make the defense have to spread out to cover each of you receivers. This way, your O-line can get good blocks on 6 or less in the box because they can double team at the point of attack and still get to the second level.

[dan_457]

Re: Zone Read plays

I run the Read option all the time, and succeed. As a matter of fact it's the most common play I run. I'm playing on Heisman as well, so Physic D is rampant, but you just have to be quick once you make your decision or else you'll get destroyed running it. The last game i played i was gashing the other team for around 10 yards each run left and right, and broke an 80 yard run for a TD with my QB.

Basically your going to get hit in the backfield running the read option, a lot. Even when you make the right read the D-line will still often times shed their blocks as soon as you take off, and nail you in the backfield, or for a short gain. But that doesn't mean the plays are broken, they're just tough to use, but if used right can be deadly.