Defending ultra-wide offensive sets?

[IlluminatusUIUC]

I've been running into some players online really using the ultra-wide formations to great effect (especially Tennessee). The formations put guys way way out wide, in some cases lining up within a yard or two of each sideline. The zone coverages in this game don't seem to account for guys that far out, but utilizing man coverages leaves you with like a 5 man box and extremely vulnerable to the run. Any suggestions? Best I've been been able to do is use a coverage shell to force my guys to line up kind of in no man's land between the OL and the wideout group, which can give a little bit of run support, but the straight streaks up the sideline are murder. Any ideas?

[LocDawg5050]

Bro...i wish I had an answer but if u don't mind...i have to give kudos to ur opponent for playing Xs and Os. I love the strategy of softing up the run box by using a formation variant. Sounds like some user skill will come in play to counter his strategy. Which bullet can you survive the best? being ran on or passed on?. A FS or SS user to contain the deep ball with a slight of hand motion towards the LOS to let him know ur watching the run. Pinch ur DL and crash them inside to plug up the center. He will have to bounce outside, which by now you can send the troops in to help on run. if I'm not mistaken... i thought there was a defense feature by clicking on a stick.... makes defenders abandon assignments to attack the run. Good luck homie.

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[Orange Krush]

I like to man blitz. His receivers can run out routes so you shade inside and/or over the top. Manually move the DBs inside and then blitz him. Out-man him in the run game and force a quick pass.

[Madden Air Raid]

I play a lot more single high and odd fronts against those style of offenses. Giving up free yards via the run is a bigger concern than the pass. You have to keep in mind yes the WRs are way out there, but that also means any throw short or intermediate out wide is going to hang in the air for a long time, so most throws in that area will be inbreaking or to the boundary. Irl I know teams will try some 3 high looks and bring a safety down into the box late to try and bait runs but I haven't tried that in game.

[49UNCFan]

Mid blitz them lol


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[PowerofRed25]

I run a great deal of the Wide formations in my offense, especially online. The best thing you can do, defensively, is blitz. Or at least blitz until the person you're playing proves they're willing to run speed option or screens.

There are two groups of people using Wide formations online. The first group are the ones looking to throw deep concepts, the second is the group looking to run. The throw deep people aren't committed enough to the run to stick with it and you can force them to make mistakes through the air with pressure. The second group is people like me, that use the wide formations almost exclusively to run the ball (I usually do it off of tempo). My opponent blitzing is the thing that gets me out of those formations faster than anything else.

You may get beat on a deep ball depending on matchups, but you'll win more reps than you lose by bringing pressure. Just be ready to have an answer to speed option and screens.