Stopping the WR Crossing Routes

[X I Am Lethal X]

So because speed seems to play such a big part in this seasons game in both franchises I am in all the owners try everything that do to get speed WR and speed Corners. But not everyone can have those speed D corners.

What kind of defenses can help stop people who use there speed WR and run non stop crossing routes?

All I see every game is people going 4 wide so you have to one on one everyone and they run crossing routes all day.

Anyone got advice how to stop that? Cause the speed WR is killing me every game.

[crumpled_heap]

Re: Stopping the WR Crossing Routes

It depends what kind of crossing routes you are talking about.

[Hikkan]

Re: Stopping the WR Crossing Routes

cover 1 is your friend. you user mlb or fs (for speed) and take which ever route you feel would be the weakest (i.e. dwight lowery on andre johnson)

[Hikkan]

Re: Stopping the WR Crossing Routes

also, make sure you match your corners with the number of wideouts in the offensive set. A LB sticking a WR will always result in disaster

[oneamongthefence]

Re: Stopping the WR Crossing Routes

Leave that franchise? Or use a lot of middle of the coverage zones. Or manually drop a linebacker into coverage.

[GiantBlue76]

Re: Stopping the WR Crossing Routes

Robber and hook zones. One thing you can do to try and fool the offense is show blitz then drop the LBs back in coverage.

[obie]

Re: Stopping the WR Crossing Routes

Crossing patterns w/ spd WR will burn you everytime unless you have DB speed... The drag routes are the worst. You can stop it, but for the most part either both or one DB gets pick and leaves someone wide open... if you are in man... Zone coverage feels broken this yr and is hard to really stop anything. I think it may be the planting of the feet or just out run your DB... Madden has always been about spd, but this yr LB with really good awareness will take a good angle or know what is coming when you try to throw to your RB, that is something I really like.

[Juiceman612]

Re: Stopping the WR Crossing Routes

I just played a game online and all the guy did was throw across the middle. All game. I got two picks but for the most part Rodgers against the Vikings apparently can't be stopped. I tried Cover 1, Robbers, etc. The int's were from pressure, not good coverage. Coincidentally, the problem ended up being that I'd have him covered and get the occasional sack or int, but for the most part the d-line couldn't get quick pressure - beside the two ints. Vikings d-line couldn't get pressure... I don't get that. He'd call 3 WR's and one back (usually Grant back there) and I'd call Nickel cover 1 or cover 1 press or robber. Sometimes I'd blitz a 3rd CB and take EJ in the middle to roam. I tried cover 3, I tried all sorts of stuff. So frustrating. Jones and Finley all day because he would just exploit the slow speed of my 3 CB or LB.

Granted, I did get two picks but I couldn't stop the middle cross routes all the way down the field 90% of the time. So, cover 1 works, but it's not very consistent in my experience. And should be when a guy is continuously running the same plays.

I'd even tried running dime and doubled the slot and used the FS to roam. No dice. Back to the drawing board I guess.

[GiantBlue76]

Re: Stopping the WR Crossing Routes

I just played a game online and all the guy did was throw across the middle. All game. I got two picks but for the most part Rodgers against the Vikings apparently can't be stopped. I tried Cover 1, Robbers, etc. The int's were from pressure, not good coverage. Coincidentally, the problem ended up being that I'd have him covered and get the occasional sack or int, but for the most part the d-line couldn't get quick pressure - beside the two ints. Vikings d-line couldn't get pressure... I don't get that. He'd call 3 WR's and one back (usually Grant back there) and I'd call Nickel cover 1 or cover 1 press or robber. Sometimes I'd blitz a 3rd CB and take EJ in the middle to roam. I tried cover 3, I tried all sorts of stuff. So frustrating. Jones and Finley all day because he would just exploit the slow speed of my 3 CB or LB.

Granted, I did get two picks but I couldn't stop the middle cross routes all the way down the field 90% of the time. So, cover 1 works, but it's not very consistent in my experience. And should be when a guy is continuously running the same plays.

I'd even tried running dime and doubled the slot and used the FS to roam. No dice. Back to the drawing board I guess.

One thing you can do is try running quarters. Bring a safety down close to the box and hot route your linebackers in hook zones. You can also blitz with a DB and control the blitzer, but roll the coverage towards the area you are blitzing to cover the weak spot.

[I XL ALWAYS]

Re: Stopping the WR Crossing Routes

If you run a 4-3 you can run a double spy cover 2 from the base. Risky, but if all they are doing is slants its easy picks and if he is still burning you and won't change it up drop you DE's into hooks.

[JacobH0922]

Re: Stopping the WR Crossing Routes

The problem is that the hook zones are too deep. They do basically nothing to stop drag routes. You really need to get pressure on the QB because if he has time for the reciever to drag past the center then it's near impossible for you to defend it. Sometimes you can get lucky using a spy as he plays the right depth to defend that route.
Press the WRs and send a LB or two. If he seems to throw it with the same timing then use your MLB to cover that area.
Drag routes annoy me to no end because you basically have to use your entire D to attempt to defend it. What's worse is a lot of the time when someone mentions that you get the "well they are the hardest routes in real life to defend" guy. Surprisingly he hasn't showed up in this topic,which is a relief.

[phant030]

Re: Stopping the WR Crossing Routes

On 3wr set....use your Nickel Strong Slot pkg, this will allow your best CB to defend their favorite option. You should be able to use press coverage b/c your #1 corner will be good at it and their slot will be poor at beating the press.

I you use robber or cover 1 w/ MLB in zone, idk if spotlight works online, but spotlight the slot WR so the player in the midzone will be more 'aware' of his presence. Or you can always manually play the DB and take it away (use the DB mini game to work on your skills).

[Juiceman612]

Re: Stopping the WR Crossing Routes

The problem is that the hook zones are too deep. They do basically nothing to stop drag routes. You really need to get pressure on the QB because if he has time for the reciever to drag past the center then it's near impossible for you to defend it. Sometimes you can get lucky using a spy as he plays the right depth to defend that route.
Press the WRs and send a LB or two. If he seems to throw it with the same timing then use your MLB to cover that area.
Drag routes annoy me to no end because you basically have to use your entire D to attempt to defend it. What's worse is a lot of the time when someone mentions that you get the "well they are the hardest routes in real life to defend" guy. Surprisingly he hasn't showed up in this topic,which is a relief.

Jacob, that's exactly what I'm struggling with. I can't seem to get enough d-line pressure with my front 4. I can't bring LB's blitzing because then the drag is even more exposed. You're right - I find myself having to use my entire D to stop one guy across the middle. So infuriating.

On 3wr set....use your Nickel Strong Slot pkg, this will allow your best CB to defend their favorite option. You should be able to use press coverage b/c your #1 corner will be good at it and their slot will be poor at beating the press.

I you use robber or cover 1 w/ MLB in zone, idk if spotlight works online, but spotlight the slot WR so the player in the midzone will be more 'aware' of his presence. Or you can always manually play the DB and take it away (use the DB mini game to work on your skills).

These are good ideas. I didn't realize strong slot puts my 1 CB on the slot. I guess I'm not familiar with how to use spotlight. Any insight to that would be awesome. I took a year off from Madden and vaguely remember that option to shadow a WR. Can't remember how to set it up though.

[phant030]

Re: Stopping the WR Crossing Routes

Spotlight the WR by holding R2/RT and pressing the reciever's icon.