Air Raid Offense in Dynasty Mode

[RogueHominid]

Hey y’all!

I’m interested to know who out there is using the Air Raid in dynasty mode and to see how effective folks have been with it.

I’d love to hear folks who are basing out of the Raid talk about the playbooks they like best, some of their favorite concepts, ideal player types for the offense from a recruiting standpoint, and other helpful ideas/resources for developing a great Raid scheme!

[OBinKC]

Re: Air Raid Offense in Dynasty Mode

I will eventually run an Air Raid offline dynasty, and I will use the generic Air Raid playbook. It is the most pure form of the Air Raid in this game, and the names of the plays are even what Mike Leach called them.

Mesh is insanely effective in this game, if not OP. Mixing this with Shallow, Y Corner, Y Cross, and all of the other concepts in the right dose, you can score every time.

Obviously you want to prioritize QB and WR in recruiting. I know what I personally would target in a QB (accuracy) and WR (height, route running, catch), but I haven’t played long enough to know what skills make better players in relation to this given game engine.

[Spartan Warrior]

Re: Air Raid Offense in Dynasty Mode

I don't know if any of the teams I've played as are true Air Raid teams but everyone seems to have elements of the Air Raid in their playbooks now.

Mesh has emerged as one of my go-to plays in this game. It works well against either man or zone. Your underneath receiver frequently comes open and has a ton of room to run and it's an easy, short throw.

I like the "Under" play as well where your slot receiver runs a deep out and the outside receiver starts to run a slant and then stops when he passes him. It's another route where the slot receiver essentially sets a pick for the outside guy and it's effective against either man or zone.

The negative is the option routes because it seems like the receiver frequently makes the wrong read and doesn't run the right route. Like they'll have a choice to either run a curl or out, the defender will be sitting flat-footed and there's a ton of room to the outside, and they'll just stop and let themselves be covered.

[RogueHominid]

Re: Air Raid Offense in Dynasty Mode

So I’m running the generic Raid book in the GA State dynasty, and I’m really liking it. It’s small compared to other books, but it’s very well curated, and there’s kind of everything there you need to run the system.

There’s a concept I found in practice that I wanted to share as a great big play concept: 95 Divide. You can find it in Ace and Ace Double Tight, among other places.

That slot receiver gets some REALLY effective clear outs by the receivers on the right, so I know that if the SS does anything other than creep down into a buzz zone, I likely have an explosive play coming up.

If you normally have slot types in that slot WR position who are not super fast, it might be worth manually subbing a really fast guy into the slot position in a couple of formations just for that play.

Also, I really like the H Move series for low red zone situations, which is an area I want to improve in as I get to know the system better.

I’d love for folks to drop some Easter eggs into this thread—plays you love, sequences you love, ways you approach roster building, etc.

[Armor and Sword]

Re: Air Raid Offense in Dynasty Mode

You know we are running the Air Raid with NC State and using their stock playbook.

Love it.

Love running lot's of RPO on the edges with those killer WR screens. They are highly effective and having a burner in the slot makes those plays deadly.

I typically look for deep threats and route runners. But I want one Physical WR for red zone situations. He will be my specialist in my red zone formations for fades or crosses.

I want vertical threats or balanced TE's.

RB's I want elusive backs who can catch the ball. My main 2 RB's will be elusive and one Power Back for goaline and short yardage.

I play pretty exclusively out of the shotgun with NC State. Only going under center for goal line and short yardage.

Love my mesh plays and underneath plays and also love my corner routes with options meshing underneath as my safety valve routes.

The RPO is a huge part of my Air Raid scheme as well as jet sweeps and Jet passes. We will mix in some option plays and speed options are deadly if set up properly. Play Action is viable as well when set up properly.

Pass protection and line adjustments are absolutely necessary, but the RPO allows quick passes under 1.5 seconds.

Also screens are great and work well when used properly.

It's a wonderful scheme.

Oh and QB's......I really do prefer Improvisers. I want that ability to buy time and go off script vs an elite defense and pass rush. Field Generals are good but I want the versatility of a guy who can think on the fly and make plays himself and carry my team if need be in the most critical moments.

[WillieB1214]

Re: Air Raid Offense in Dynasty Mode

As others have said, I'm using a lot of the concepts even with a more balanced overall approach and it works really well. Mesh is a killer concept in this game. RPOs all play amazingly.

Essentially what Armor said lol

[DallasRocks]

Re: Air Raid Offense in Dynasty Mode

Hey y’all!

I’m interested to know who out there is using the Air Raid in dynasty mode and to see how effective folks have been with it.

I’d love to hear folks who are basing out of the Raid talk about the playbooks they like best, some of their favorite concepts, ideal player types for the offense from a recruiting standpoint, and other helpful ideas/resources for developing a great Raid scheme!

Empty 5 set with WR5. I call two plays that almost always work. Bubble, I look for bubble first, if they bite then R1 is always open.

Then same set I call Shallow cross and Square or Triangle are open.

[effingee]

Re: Air Raid Offense in Dynasty Mode

Running it with Colorado State's default playbook. Really like all the RPO and jet sweep actions. Need a scrambling/improvise QB to take advantage of option plays, or you can skip them with a Field General and throw darts.

[RogueHominid]

Re: Air Raid Offense in Dynasty Mode

Great feedback, all!

Armor, NC State’s dynasty watch has been great. I love watching a good WR screen break for yards, and I also really like the RPO alert series.

Effingee, COL State is my favorite team playbook with a Raid influence. It’s got a surprisingly robust run game, and you’re right, the playbook really shines if you have a more mobile QB that can make teams play via those option plays.

Just for fun, since all playbooks have stick in them, check out this great video on stick from Coach McKie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCHJWw7haxA!

[Madden Air Raid]

Re: Air Raid Offense in Dynasty Mode

I use the generic air raid book. Just about every play is good. Rita/Lisa screens are some of the best plays in the game. There are a few plays that are glitched like the swing screen in Early Rip where the backside tackle lets the edge rusher get a free go at the QB that you should avoid. The dropback series are really good and quick game are really good and you get get the ball out before the pass rush gets in most of the time. With the new hot route system and being able to stem routes you can do the tags that weren't included in the default plays.

Recruiting I try to be 2 deep at each skill position at want everyone in that 2 deep touching the ball if I can:
QB- Best accuracy followed by mental abilities such as headstrong or road dog, and then throw power as the 3rd trait to look for.
X (WR1)- Best deep threat. Needs to be able to take the top off the defense. Taller guys who are 6'1"+ preferred as long as you can get them, but don't just stick a guy out there because he's tall if he can't also take the top off.
H (SLWR1)- shifty and elusive, as well as being a good route runner. Wes Welker was the best to do it and is the prototype, but you can get guys who are fast too. This is where you stick your smaller receivers who are something like 5'8" and 170 lbs.
Y (TE1/SLWR2)- Fastest tight end you can get with the best catch in traffic. I only recruit vertical threat TEs for this position because they're the only ones that speed is revealed for. Alternatively you could go with another small quick slot guy that you can rotate in here.
Z (WR2)- Similar to X but doesn't need to be as fast. He should be a better route runner and while at X agility/cod doesn't matter as much Z needs them more for route running and getting upfield quick as a majority of screens are Randy/Rita and lot Larry/Lisa. Guys who are 6'1"+ are preferred but don't stick a tall guy who is bad out there just because.
F (HB1/HB2/3RDB1/3RDB2)- He doesn't have to be a receiving back but he does need to be able to catch the ball and be able to block that 3rd rusher to the man side.
OL- Guys who can pass block and have some weight to them (300+ lbs). At tackle agility or speed seems to impact their ability to recover against edge rushers with fast getoff speeds. If your run outside zone/off tackle you need at least one guy who is good at run block/run block finesse and only run it to his side. If you can get two that's even better. Guards and centers need to both have good pass blocking stats, strength, and run blocking stats. If you run HB base you need at least one guard with good speed and lead block, if you have two you can run it both ways.

Easter eggs are what plays/formations are from each era of Mike Leach's career. Ace Flip he ran at Texas Tech, but it got replaced by Late at Washington State and Mississippi State. The 95 H cross plays he only ran when he had Wes Welker. Green is what he called his 2 back set with Y at Washington State and Mississippi State, while at Texas Tech that was Blue, and Blue Flip moved Z across to be in the slot on the other side. Green Rip with the H wasn't a formation name he used but if you flip the play it would be what he called Blue at Wazzu and Mississippi State. Scissors as it is in the game he ran at Wazzu from 2017 to Mississippi State 2022. 618 post wheel is the only way he ran stick from 3x1 at Wazzu and Mississippi State.

[SgeauxBuffs]

Re: Air Raid Offense in Dynasty Mode

Hey y’all!

I’m interested to know who out there is using the Air Raid in dynasty mode and to see how effective folks have been with it.

I’d love to hear folks who are basing out of the Raid talk about the playbooks they like best, some of their favorite concepts, ideal player types for the offense from a recruiting standpoint, and other helpful ideas/resources for developing a great Raid scheme!

Went 11-2 with Colorado State as OC - Absolutely love their playbook. Plenty of different concepts, but I choose to focus on mesh and HB motion out concepts.

Quite a few of the formations have WR1 in the slot. I also enjoy the run game options despite leaning very heavily on the pass.

Would recommend starting with the team (solid qb, 4 great receivers and and HB) or at least check out their playbook!