Defending "Elite" Offenses

[NateDogPack12]

What do you do when you're facing an offense with particularly special talent? Something along the lines of a prodigy QB, a SPD 99 tailback and three talented receivers. In the hands of a human player, such offenses can seem invincible. What is the best defensive philosophy when you play a team like this? The inability to generate pass rush with my front four due to the mechanics of the game makes it tougher. Any advice?

[buickbeast]

Re: Defending "Elite" Offenses

The best defense is a time consuming offense. Even if you run no huddle the entire game, run the playclock down under 7 seconds and stick to your gameplan even when your down 14 points, especially in the first half. Don't play the score, play your drive.
When you are on D, set your team to conservative for big hits and don't go for fumbles. Manipulate the ball carrier to run towards your defenders for a gang tackle, do your best to wait and not have to try a solo tackle.
If your playing against another person, control the game by making them play to their weakness. For example, if they like to run a west coast type offensive, play short zones and force them to pass it deep. Run a lot? Dare them to pass. Also, you don't need to get sacks, just make the QB uncomfortable.
I know it's easier said then done. If nothing else, minimize your mistakes. You don't need to beat the other team and yourself.

[jccutiger]

Re: Defending "Elite" Offenses

I always spy with a speedy defensive player on a mobile qb. On top of that, I blitz a lot with my lbs if they're in a passing personnel. The key is getting turnovers. If you can, they will be forced to start airing it out and go for deep balls. That takes time and leads to sacks or more ints.

[jmik58]

Re: Defending "Elite" Offenses

I never believed in changing a defensive style or gameplan based on the ability of specific players (stars or otherwise) on the offensive side. Instead, I always focus on the tendencies of the offense in various situations and combine that with general patterns that apply to almost any offense.

Offenses tend to develop their style around their stars and football is a game of situations where a sound and aware team can overcome a stud player or two.

I recommend gameplanning for situations, personnel groupings, and overall team tendencies over trying to "shut down" a specific player (more relevant to basketball, IMO).

[UKwannabe]

Re: Defending "Elite" Offenses

Blitz blitz blitz blitz.

Force quick decisions.

Again, blitz! It's the best strategy in NCAA and has been for years. The best players have always been the guys that can get pressure and user pick.

The new "ball hawk" feature seems like user picking is gonna be overpowered this year tho

[prototype561]

Re: Defending "Elite" Offenses

Playing against a human, I would use a lot of zone blitzes with a man spy. From my experience people get way more confused against a zone coverage especially when your blitzing from all over the place. Like another person said, you have to force them to make quick decisions, playing a zone forces them to throw more timing routes.

[The_Rick_14]

Re: Defending "Elite" Offenses

My personal philosophy is to contain when they are on their own side of the 50 to force shorter play results and longer drives and then tighten the screws on my own side of the field based on what they've been calling. The whole idea being the more plays people run the higher the chance that they'll make a mistake and I'll get a "free" possession to work with.

I also do my best to confuse the opponents, especially if they are pass heavy. A good mix of zone and man. Last second audibles to disguise coverages. Show blitz when in cover 3. Those sorts of things.

One of my favorites is to come out in cover 3, formation audible to 2 man so my corners walk up, then before the snap reset the play so my corners bail close to the snap.

[NateDogPack12]

A lot of quality insight here. This has turned into a good thread. How is the ballhawk feature any more different than in years past? It's just pressing the B button to control the closest defender when the ball is in the air. How is that any different than previous versions?

In times past, I've used Cover 3 and Man Under, and had success, but nonetheless I will occasionally give up some big plays.

[jello1717]

Re: Defending "Elite" Offenses

How is the ballhawk feature any more different than in years past? It's just pressing the B button to control the closest defender when the ball is in the air. How is that any different than previous versions?

It sounds like some people here think that Ball Hawk is new to '14, but it was introduced in '13 (and I agree that it's overpowered). More than half of my INTs in my '13 OD were user picks and 100% of my user picks were made with Ball Hawk (I used to suck at user picking before '13 to the point that I'd get a few per season total).

Ball Hawk is very different from user picking prior to '13. Then you had to push B to get the closest defender. Then you manually moved your guy into the correct position (which can be tough) or you could just not hit the LS and let the CPU guide him to the correct spot. Then you had to time your jump and push Y at the correct time to intercept the ball. Too late and you don't get it. Too early and you don't get it.

With Ball Hawk, you push B to get the closest defender (like before).Then you just hold down Y, regardless of how far away the ball is. Then, with Y held down, the CPU will automagically move your guy to the correct spot, automagically wait for the proper time to jump, and then automagically jump at the best time to make the pick. To give you an idea of how bad it is, once you see the ball in the air, you can user pick with your eyes closed with a few very simple steps:

1. Wait til ball is in the air (not really a step)
2. Close eyes (not really a step)
3. Tap B
4. Hold Y
5. ????????
6. Profit

It's so bad in '13 (and just as bad in '14 from what I've seen in the demo) that I had to ban myself from using it in my offline dynasty (but I still use the hell out of it in my OD since I know others do too).

[Luck911]

Re: Defending "Elite" Offenses

One word: Alabama

Fight fire with Fire, Will you be able to stop elite offense all the time?No but Bama is like 49ers in Madden this year,They will cause alot of turnovers and defensive scores.The game is starting to get there but you can't out scheme on defense like you can offense,So make sure you have the horses i think Florida,South Carolina ,FSU, LSU and couple of others are good choices in case you don't to go Bama

[JoedicyMichael]

Re: Defending "Elite" Offenses

Injuries... =)

[AustinMG82]

Re: Defending "Elite" Offenses

Not really realistic but when I play against a great scrambling QB I play a base 3-4 and play 2 man under the whole game. Audible the blitzing linebacker to a spy and every skill position player is in "man" coverage. Does it shut them down? No. You'll give up quick outs and slants and if you press then you're susceptible to deep passes. But it minimizes the damage 95% of the time

[nikka]

Re: Defending "Elite" Offenses

a 4-2-5 built on speed... Have LB's with high ACC put them at DE..
Big DE's 270lbs 75+ Strength and high block shed at DT...
Big Safety types at LB... 3 CB's (one starting at FS, coverage)
Attack. Attack. Attack. Spy and mix up your coverages often

I build all of my Defenses on this and recruiting for this type of D can be tedious but once you have all of the players in place, it's amazing. No problem stuffing the run.

[jmik58]

Re: Defending "Elite" Offenses

Regarding the ball hawk feature, I've tried to develop a "house rule" where I only use it when I'm clearly in position to make an INT and "could have" done it under the old controls. Otherwise I force myself to press the "swat" button (L1 on PS3). If you're disciplined enough it helps the sim factor, at least when you play the CPU -- if you can get other HUM opponents to agree to the rule in an online dynasty, then even better.

To add more to the discussion on defending, a few have commented specifically on containing a mobile QB. It's probably no surprise based on the words "Cover 2" under my username, but it is my favorite base defensive coverage for various reasons -- and one being it's ability to defend the edge.

In a perfect world with equal or better players than the opponent, I want to be in man coverage every time there is a pass and in zone coverage every time there is a run. In man, defenders are focused on their assigned receiver while in zone they have their attention towards the backfield and are in an area which gives a better "fit" to stop runs.

With that in mind, Cover 2 puts the two corners in the flats to help with outside runs; including a scrambling QB. It's not sexy and it doesn't usually involve blitzing, but don't underestimate the power of having a speedy defender sitting on the outside at the line of scrimmage in case a QB takes off.

Also, I'm not sure if it's in the game, but "Cover 2 Invert" is a great one to use because it runs the safeties up to the flats at the snap while the corners drop to play deep halves. We all know that most safeties are better tacklers than corners so it's a nice change up from time to time if you have corners that are smaller or are horrible at defending the run.

[The JareBear]

Re: Defending "Elite" Offenses

Not really realistic but when I play against a great scrambling QB I play a base 3-4 and play 2 man under the whole game. Audible the blitzing linebacker to a spy and every skill position player is in "man" coverage. Does it shut them down? No. You'll give up quick outs and slants and if you press then you're susceptible to deep passes. But it minimizes the damage 95% of the time

This is a solid philosophy to follow, especially when the cover 3 from this defense is also pretty potent.

I either user control the SS or MLB, I feel like those two positions allow you plenty of freedom to take certain things out of the picture manually and force them to beat your CPU controlled players in a different area first.