Success Passing The Ball

[Gosens6]

Is anyone having success passing the ball? Especially against a good defense?

It seems like it takes my receivers years to get open, and even when they do get a bit of separation, a defender is instantly there to either swat the ball or intercept it.

Coupled with the fact that defenders seemingly shed blocks at will on half of the passing plays and end up right in my QBs face, are you having major success throwing the ball? If so, how are you doing it?

[Pogo27]

Re: Success Passing The Ball

Most of the reads the QB makes on a pass play are pre-snap and at the snap.

During the QBs first drop back step you should be looking at the coverage. During the second step, you need to glance at your line. You need to look for blitzers or DL that are going to make it through and quickly make a decision on how you need to move in the pocket (or out of the pocket) to get yourself some time.

When the blitz penetration is coming from between the tackles, you can be in trouble if you scramble the wrong way. When the penetration is coming from around the edges, you just need to take a few steps forward into the pocket. And if need be, make a run for it straight forward.

When I'm not playing but just watching other users play, I notice that MOST people I watch are terrible at using the pocket with their QB. Most people just hold down and keep backing up. This actually makes it easier for the defense to get pressure (even if it's harder for them to get the actual sack).

If you're a passing offense, prioritize pass-blocking tackles. They'll keep the DL pushed around outside to the edges, allowing you to step FORWARD into the pocket. You have more time, sacks are for less yardage when they happen, and your throws are a lot, lot, lot better because you're either standing still or moving pretty much exactly in the direction you're throwing the ball.

You're also significantly less likely to see the ball swatted at the line.


And anyway... make sure you're very familiar with the pass plays and know the read order for the play. Which receiver is 1st most likely to be open? 2nd most? 3rd most? Etc. The more comfortable you are with the read order, the quicker you are finding the open receiver.

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: Success Passing The Ball

I am pretty good at passing. Just learn how to lead the WR and you will be fine.

[Gosens6]

Re: Success Passing The Ball

Great tips, iv'e noticed that since iv'e been taking a lot of sacks I get very ansy in the pocket and hate just standing around waiting to get hit, which, in turn leads me to throwing up passes anywhere just to not take a sack.

That could be leading to the high number of INT's I and a lot of other people are seeing. I have no problem running the ball, but passing this year seems so realistic, a few tips for some of us might go a long way in helping us improve.

[Pogo27]

Re: Success Passing The Ball

Don't be afraid to run. Even if you don't have a scrambling quarterback, 4 or 5 positive yards are better than a sack, incompletion, or interception.

And when scrambling horizontally, don't be afraid of throwing the ball away. Incompletions are better than sacks or interceptions.


And when in the pocket, don't be afraid to take a sack. Remember, I advised stepping forward into the pocket. You're already less likely to be sacked when you're doing this properly, but at least now when you do get sacked, you're only losing 2-5 yards instead of 7-12 yards.


And I can't emphasize enough the importance of scrambling, even with pocket passer QBs. If you're killing them on the ground because all your guys are covered so you just take a 5 yard run, they'll start leaving a LB in a QB spy often.

LB in a QB spy is a killer if you're a scrambling quarterback, because you need a blocker to take care of him if you're going to do much with your feet. But if a pocket passer can force a LB into spy, that means either one less blitzer or one less in coverage. When a pocket passer forces the defense to use a QB spy, the offense is now playing 11 on 10.

[JSHT21]

Re: Success Passing The Ball

Not sure how you know who will get opened first, second, etc.

I know the game shows you the preferred route, highlighted in orange.

I always just check down, is that doing the same thing?

[ThePandaWaffle]

Re: Success Passing The Ball

i am having success online with short passes from 1-15 yards anywhere farther is harder with the improved defenses

[Broncos86]

Re: Success Passing The Ball

My first couple games, I'd start out 0 - 5 passing. Then I'd get a rhythm and get going. I'm adjusting to the new defense, for certain. My brain immediately says "LB will stay still" and then I throw it and the LB doesn't behave like my brain expects.

[Pogo27]

Re: Success Passing The Ball

Not sure how you know who will get opened first, second, etc.

I know the game shows you the preferred route, highlighted in orange.

I always just check down, is that doing the same thing?

Kind of.

Knowing who is most likely to be open comes mostly from experience. I've been playing NCAA Football for a long time now. Most of the plays from when I started playing are still around today. Knowing who is most likely to be open is a combination of familiarity with the play and reading the defense.

First, is it man or zone? Cover 1, 2, 3, 4, or 6?

For man coverage, completing passes is a lot about timing generally. If your receiver has a cut in his route, you want to get him the ball just as he's making that cut. When he makes his cut, that's when he gets maximum separation from the DB. The ball should be on its way as he's planting his plant foot for the cut. As he makes his cut, he turns and expects the ball to be there, catching it with his first step in the new direction.

For man coverage, you're most likely to see Cover 1, 2, or 3. For cover 1, you want to be looking outside the hashes to your Split End (SE) and Flanker (FL) (these are the farthest out receivers, Split End being on the line, Flanker being off). For cover 2, you're looking for the post routes. For cover 3, you're generally looking for underneath stuff or seam routes.


My offenses are always run-heavy by nature. I'm always about controlling the clock. That means most of my passes are play-action. One of my favorite passing plays for 4-5 years running now has always be PA Scissors. It's available in most of the I-Form, Strong I, and Weak I sets, but I generally run with it out of I-Form Normal and Strong I Normal (TE and FL on the right side, SE on left side).

The SE has different routes depending on the formation, but it's usually a Comeback, In, or Deep In.

The FB has a flare or something I think?

But the key to this pass play is the TE/FL. The FL has a Post route and the TE has a post corner route.


So...

Against Cover 1, I have my TE on the post corner.
Against Cover 2, I have my FL on the post.
Against Cover 3, I have my SE on the comeback, in, or deep in.
Against Cover 4, I still have my SE on the comeback, in, or deep in.
Against Cover 6, it depends on which half of the field is 4 and which half is 6. If the TE side is 4, then the pass is to the SE on the comeback, in, or deep in. If the TE side is 2, then I can get the pass to the FL on his post as long as I get him before he crosses the middle of the field.

Another key to this play however is the fact that the TE and FL's routes cross. Often times, with the right timing, one DB or the other gets caught up in traffic, leaving my player wide open. And through all of this, I always have my FB in case the blitz is too heavy and I need an out, or in case there is too much coverage downfield (of course I can also always run myself).

And finally, it's a play action. Any time I call the play, I want to pass to the FL. He's my fastest player and most likely to take it for 6. When I see cover 2, I'm always confident I can hit my FL for a good 15-20 yards. However... when I see Cover 1 or Cover 3, there's always potential for more. I'm keeping my eye on that safety in the center. When he bids on the play action, I'm hitting my Flanker, and he's going to get a big gain because I've put the the safety out of position.




This is a lot of detail for one play, but it's just an example of how familiar I am with my passing plays. PA Scissors is easily the play I know best, but I have a high level of familiarity with all the passing plays I call. Once you can get this comfortable with your plays, you already know where the receiver is based on how much time has passed...you don't have to guess. You can therefore read the play quicker and take time to check your pocket pressure.

Stick to a small selection of passing plays (same play but different formation is all right) and learn to get a high level of familiarity with those plays. Slowly add to your repertoire.


Oh yeah, and one more tip. Use the pump fake. It helps against zone defenses.

[87Birdman]

Re: Success Passing The Ball

One thing that really helped me get better at the passing game was playing as a Safety or LB in zone. Because you can see as your in your drop how receivers are getting open and where at in the zone or man. Playing and learning to read it from the Defenceive side of the ball made me learn to read opposing D's while I was throwing the ball. So maybe that might help out.

[DorianDonP]

Re: Success Passing The Ball

My only issue has been with Super linebackers making incredible one handed interceptions and swats. Makes me less confident in throwing anything within the numbers.

[Pogo27]

Re: Success Passing The Ball

Just gotta find the lane.

[sikolec]

Re: Success Passing The Ball

These tips are absolutely fantastic. I also found myself having trouble passing this year (AA difficulty), where in year's past I've had general ease. I'm thinking perhaps it was due to being a bit rusty, but after seeing these tips...I need to step my game up. Don't forget custom playbook, it allows you to cut down your playbook to a handful of plays (the plays you learn more about, etc.)

[Flightwhite24]

I feel the passing is perfect and competitve. I'm afraid people might complain and want it toned down with a Tuner Set aimed at making passing user friendly.

Sent from my PG06100 using Tapatalk

[Pogo27]

Re: Success Passing The Ball

These tips are absolutely fantastic. I also found myself having trouble passing this year (AA difficulty), where in year's past I've had general ease. I'm thinking perhaps it was due to being a bit rusty, but after seeing these tips...I need to step my game up. Don't forget custom playbook, it allows you to cut down your playbook to a handful of plays (the plays you learn more about, etc.)

Yea, it probably wouldn't hurt to really get your hands on the custom play book and cut it down really small. Not a playbook you'll use in your actual dynasty, just a practice playbook.

As I said with my favorite play, PA Scissors, it's available in most of the I-Form, Strong I, and Weak I formations. These are not the only formations, however. I'm pretty sure there are some Ace forms and I think the Split Back form has this play.

The point is, you can add the same passing play 7-10 times in your play book through different formations. Do this with a handful of passing plays, maybe 5 passing plays added 5-10 times through different formations for a playbook with a total of 25-50 different passing plays through all the different formation combinations, but it's really only 5 different plays.

This will help you learn the routes, which is one of the most important aspects of a passing play.