Let's Discuss Defense... Not A Rant

[Collegefbfan]

Finally played a couple of games (some freshman, mostly varsity for now). I am giving up quite a bit of yards, but not points. I would like to know some things you guys do on defense... and more stuff.

1. What base defense are you running? Have you tried a few? Why you pick the one you did?
2. Are any of you doing what was done in '14? Fast, big LB at DE as a pass rusher? Big SS at LB? Etc. Not sure if that will even work in this game.
3. I know you can do the coverage shells thing from the play call screen or wait until after you are lined up. When I have done it from the play call screen, I don't really see a difference. I would really like for someone to explain the best way to disguise cover shells. What types of plays do you usually call first and then disguise coverage shells out of?

Many thanks.

[Helios12787]

Re: Let's Discuss Defense... Not A Rant

Finally played a couple of games (some freshman, mostly varsity for now). I am giving up quite a bit of yards, but not points. I would like to know some things you guys do on defense... and more stuff.

1. What base defense are you running? Have you tried a few? Why you pick the one you did?
2. Are any of you doing what was done in '14? Fast, big LB at DE as a pass rusher? Big SS at LB? Etc. Not sure if that will even work in this game.
3. I know you can do the coverage shells thing from the play call screen or wait until after you are lined up. When I have done it from the play call screen, I don't really see a difference. I would really like for someone to explain the best way to disguise cover shells. What types of plays do you usually call first and then disguise coverage shells out of?

Many thanks.

1) 4-3 Base defense. I've tried out a few but 4-3 is what I'm most familiar with so that's what I run (and what the team I use for dynasty uses IRL)

2) You can do it via packages and such (some formations have the SS in the slot for example). You can put them there on the depth chart if u want it to be more of a permanent thing (or change their position in the offseason).

3) I'm still getting used to coverage shells as well. The basics of it is say you call a cover 2 play. You could cover shell it to cover 3 and the defense will line up as if they were playing cover 3. If you aren't seeing a difference you might be calling a cover 2 play and using a cover 2 shell as well, which would be the same look. Bes way to do it is go into practice and call the same play with different shells to see how it looks / aligns

[canes21]

Re: Let's Discuss Defense... Not A Rant

1) 4-2-5 or a nickel variant running mostly cover 3 or 4. If I have corners that can man up well, I mix in more cover 1 and the occasional cover 2 man. Run some cover 2 and cover 6 if they aren't having as much run success and I want to lean more pass defense.


2. Haven't tried this yet.



3. You should be able to see a pretty clear difference with coverage shells. Cover 0 will have everyone up within 5-10 yards of the line of scrimmage. Cover 2 man will have the corners up on the line ready to press and will bring any LB's out to the slot if needed to give off the man look. Cover 2 will be similar to cover 2 man with the CB's 5 yards off the ball instead. Cover 3 rotates a safety into the box with the CB playing off. Cover 4 has the CBs off and the S's around 10-12 yards deep. Cover 6 has the strong side showing cover 4 and the weak side showing cover 2.

[Helios12787]

Re: Let's Discuss Defense... Not A Rant

canes have you had any success running man coverage? Cause I feel like if I call man I'm just getting burned by the press not working or the DB getting "stuck" as the WR runs past them.

[jello1717]

Let's Discuss Defense... Not A Rant

I’ve always been a sucker for linebackers, so I always run a 3-4 in every game. I mix up my play calling a lot, with mostly zones (all flavors) and zone blitzes. I’ll mix in man here in there (maybe 15-20% of my calls are man/man blitzes).

I’ve never used under sized guys at positions as I don’t think video games punish you enough for that 200 lb “DE” or that 190 lb “LB”.

I have way, way more success mixing up coverage shells than I do without using them. I mainly use them when I expect passes, and I use them on almost every 3rd down and the offense can never see my correct coverage on 3rd.

[canes21]

Re: Let's Discuss Defense... Not A Rant

canes have you had any success running man coverage? Cause I feel like if I call man I'm just getting burned by the press not working or the DB getting "stuck" as the WR runs past them.

I hardly run it as is. With cover 2 man I don't get burned by the press as much since the safety help over the top helps there. I don't run cover 1 press anymore because of the issues with press.

[Collegefbfan]

Re: Let's Discuss Defense... Not A Rant

Ok, now some of you tell me about zone play on defense. I have played enough games on '13 and '14. Yes, I know they are different from CFB25. I have never had success with running defensive zones. I mean, even with what looks like the entire field being covered. I have done it with bringing pressure and not bringing pressure. Now, I know we are talking CFB25 now. Any secrets to playing some zone defense?

[Helios12787]

Re: Let's Discuss Defense... Not A Rant

The big secret to playing zones is understanding 2 things:

1) Understanding where your weaknesses will be with each coverage

2) Figuring out how to get pressure while also trying to minimize the exploitation of your weakness. Eventually zone will break down. With multiple receivers coming into your defenders "zone", they will have to pick one or the other. It's at this moment where your Zones are usually diced up by the opposing QB. It's why usering a LB or safety is so good in Madden. Because you can transition between 2 receivers better and you can kinda sit in the middle a little bit better than the CPU can. Making it harder for the QB to pick your zones apart.


Not an easy task this year given press coverage is kinda borked atm (which usually buys you time to get pressure on the QB before your zones fail).

[Therebelyell626]

Re: Let's Discuss Defense... Not A Rant

Honestly, so many teams run hurry up in CFB 25, that I just buckle my seat belt and try and disguise my shells as much as possible and just pray lol. Playing defense definitely can leave you hopeless sometimes.

[Ghost Of The Year]

Re: Let's Discuss Defense... Not A Rant

I just wish there was a bigger disparity between Varsity and All-American level D. I dont call varsity varsity, I call it AA Pt. 2. You can tell the difference between varsity and freshman but between Varsity and AA its tougher for me to distinguish.

[kdutch98]

Re: Let's Discuss Defense... Not A Rant

I just played a game on Heisman default sliders, where I (Michigan) held the Oregon Ducks to 204 yards of total offense, in a 24-11 win.

What I do, is I match up with the personnel that the opponent comes out in, like this....

0-1 WR, I run a 5-2 base, and usually Cover 1, or MLB blitz, as the chances of them running are pretty good.

2 WR, 1 TE, 2 RB, I run a 4-3 base, and mix up Cover 1, cover 2 Man, and Tampa 2.

3 WR, I run nickel cover 2/Tampa 2, and shade coverage either down, or "to the sticks" depending on the down and distance. The only exception to this, is on 3rd and over 10 yards, I will run these coverages out of DIME, rather than nickel.

4 WR or more, I run Dime base, Cover 2 or Cover 4, depending on the down and distance.

I rarely, if ever, run Cover 3, as I don't ever seem to have any success with it.

[jared52]

Re: Let's Discuss Defense... Not A Rant

I try to match up the personnel and down. But mostly it doesn’t matter becuase I know they are going to score or if I stop then my idiot punt rusher is going to hit the punter so I just have to time my scores so I get 2 in a row between the 2nd and 3rd quarters and hope I don’t throw an INT.

[_-King-_]

Re: Let's Discuss Defense... Not A Rant

I've found playing D against users to be easier than CPU on Heisman and maybe even AA. Humans become predictable where the AI can mix it up and execute everything in the playbook to perfection.

[jared52]

Re: Let's Discuss Defense... Not A Rant

I've found playing D against users to be easier than CPU on Heisman and maybe even AA. Humans become predictable where the AI can mix it up and execute everything in the playbook to perfection.

I don’t play online, so I can’t confirm that part but you’re right about perfect execution. That’s why I just gave up expecting to stop any team and hope I can just out score them. When their RBs can run through holes that are narrower than they are without getting tackled and I can’t run through one 3 people wide without the DL perfecting disengaging and grabbing my RB, I know how the deck is stacked so I just live with it. Who cares if BYU’s QB throws for 350 with 88% completions?

[GoDucks1224]

Let's Discuss Defense... Not A Rant

By far I have the most success in 4-2-5 and running nickel a lot. Just had a great defensive battle as Duke against UNC. Won 20-17 with both teams under 300 yards (albeit UNC at 299 hehe).

Defense honestly feels very rewarding to me in this game right now, if you know what to call and use shells, good usering. I’m on AA (10 min quarters) with some slightly tinkered sliders. I did up tackling for user to 60. I lowered interceptions for both to 40. I bumped CPU blocking up for both running and passing. Lowered CPU QB accuracy to 25 (they’re still too accurate), field goal accuracy to 40, power to 42 (CPU absolutely nailing 50+ with 70 overall kickers still so I’ll probably lower this more).

Last game I played Clemson vs FSU and got beat 45-31. But they had less than 400 yards, because I threw a boneheaded pick 6, and had an unfortunate fumble on the first play of the second half on my 25 yard line. My biggest gripe right now is the frequency of roughing the kicker penalties, I had 2 against FSU which turned a couple 3 and outs into 10 points.