Running the Football in APF - CreatineKasey's Blog

CreatineKasey's Blog

Running the Football in APF

Posted on June 17, 2009 at 07:14 PM.

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Taken from a post I wrote:

As far as running goes - watch the DL stunts and avoid running to where their momentum is going. See them fan? cut inside. See them pinch? bounce it. It all starts on the DL.

- Try to use moves as much as you can. Fumbling is rare in this game and using moves often will make you better at timing them and it is the key to getting the most yardage out of runs.

- Don't only use the best move your RB has. Doesn't apply everywhere- but if your RB has only battering ram, don't be afraid to use a stiff arm or stutter. I'm a believer of using the right move for the right situation, not the runners best move all the time. I can tell you from experience of trying to use Dalton Hilliard's spin move all the time instead of using a shoulder charge, stiff arm, or juke when appropriate. Use the move for the situation and put your RB in the situation to use his best skills, don't just spam his best skill and expect success.

- Sub your RB's that don't have stamina or workhorse. I wouldn't run a RB without some stamina boost more than 3 times in a row unless it is a dire situation (and maybe he has clutch). Oftentimes you can have a good Rb take 1 play off and be fresh for a long series instead of burning him right away and having the series sputter out.

- Don't have a trend. Don't run ISO out of the same formation and only ISO. Use different runs from different directions. Being a step ahead of line calls really helps make a running game where there isn't one sometimes.

- Pass to open the run. It is easier to run on MAN defenses than zone defenses in my opinion. If you can force someone into 2 man then run power-o on them - it is easy yards. Basically plays that have pulling linemen really excel against MAN defense from what I've seen. I try to stick to ISOs, Tosses, and stretches against a zone heavy defense. Of course nothing is absolute, but just a rule of thumb.

- Stick to the run. Don't bail out on running the ball because your OL missed some bad blocks. It happens. Usually giving up on the run game in APF isn't a good idea. Gearing against only the pass is pretty easy... it allows your opponent to run fancy coverages that don't respect your formations and run pass rush focused line stunts such as twists and mix. It also opens up crazy blitzes because he doesn't have to respect you running away from the blitz.

- Take what is given to you. See your opponent come out in a 2 bump on 3rd and 3? Maybe audible to a dive and power for your yards that way. Have a playaction set up on 1st down and your opponent comes out in a nickle defense? Maybe audible to a more physical run play and save that playaction for a different time.

- I think charged moves work the very best when the charge just peaks out right before the move is executed. It sounds hard, and it can be. It can time out pretty well, though. If your charge peaks out right before you juke a safety I think you'll experience better success than if you were charge for 5 steps and then try to juke. Again this isn't absolute but just something that I think happens.

- Shifting your weight to get your opponent offbalance THEN throwing a move onto them usually yields better results than not shifting your weight. RB's with cutback really excel at this. For example, when I used Marcus Allen and I broke free to the outside I'd oftentimes shift my weight more towards the center of the field before shoulder charging the safety. I had far more success doing that than just running straight upfield and trying to charge. Getting the defensive player off balance seems really key in the success of a move.

- Also, when a defender is engaged to a blocker it isn't a bad idea to use a move and ensure you get past an attempted reach tackle. Stiff Arms and Shoulder Charges are great for this.

Just some ideas off the top of my head. I'm not the best runner but I do try to think when I'm playing.

Comments

# 1 elgreazy1 @ Jun 17

The biggest bit of advice on top of everything you've stated is to be patient and follow blocks. Most of us have the mindset to charge out of the backfield trying to get upfield -- especially with faster RBs. Avoid tapping the turbo button from the plays onset & instead begin to hold for a charge if you can't keep your finger off the button; this will also help in making sure the RB can cut & maneuver because his speed isn't completely up. Another way to slow oneself down in order to allow blocks to form is to simply press Up or Down on the Right Analog, this will make your RB stutter step, thus giving you that extra second to let blocks develop.