What defense to stop deep cross with a scrambling QB?

[SuperBowlNachos]

Have a user CFP game vs a user coming up and he likes to roll right with his elite speed QB and hit the deep crosses on the right sideline. Last time we played I did decent using Contain with a fast LB at RRE. Probably ran Cover 3 Match, but that was at least two patches ago probably. I've got very fast LBers, decent CBs, and very fast safeties. I mainly run 3-3-5, or Even 6-1.

Any tips on a base defense to run? Should I modify the Coach Adjustments to drop any zones? He has never been one to actually take underneath stuff. Since last time I have started to user a LB when before all I played was DE.

[IlluminatusUIUC]

There's no good answer to a deep crosser unless you have a significant advantage at corner, the AI will not properly cut off the route. If you know it's coming, spread the DL and set QB contain with a spy (the LE or the opposite side LB, whichever you think can track this QB), then *you* have to pick up the crosser manually. As soon as he breaks the pocket, click the right stick to make that Spy crash down on him. I prefer spot-drop zones to match in this case, because the match rules will frequently turn into man and clear out the area that the crosser runs through. Having some spot-dropped zones will muddy his reads and give you a chance to run him down with the Spy, but if he evades your rushers then he's gaining probably 10 yards easily.


And anytime you can - Hit stick him. If you can give his QB some wear and tear early, it can take a huge chunk out of his stats.

[canes21]

If you know it is coming, a nice CB blitz is always a welcome surprise for people that love to scramble out.

[Hooe]

I tend to stick with 3-down fronts (ex. Nickel 3-3 Odd, 3-3-5 Mint), a mix of match and spot-drop zones, and changing the fourth rusher baked into most of these plays into a QB Spy. What I won't do is play man coverage with a four-man rush.

You can add the backside safety as a user defender to mirror the QB with at depth when you call Cover 4 Palms against 3x1 (as long as it's not 3x1 Strong). You can similarly add the backside Seam Flat player when you call Cover 3 Match (or equivalent) against 3x1 and 3x1 Strong as long as the RB does not release into a route on your side.

As Canes21 mentioned, a cornerback blitz from the side they tend to scramble to can also be useful. I personally don't like blitzing from the wide side of the field so this would be a situational call for me (the rest of my Virginia roster doesn't have the speed to cover that much grass), but it's definitely a tool to have in the box.

It's my experience that a lot of people who play run-first with the quarterback don't really have developed passing games, so dynamic match coverages in combination with a spy can really slow them down.

Lastly, you can help yourself out by manipulating the offensive line's pass blocking assignments. The users who run the QB frequently almost never mess with pass protection in my experience, so they will always stick with EA's one-size-fits-all pass blocking logic. Knowing that, you can mug a guard with a user defender pre snap to force a 5-0 call or a slide, which at minimum can ensure your DLs into 1-on-1s. If you are willing to blitz linebackers, you can even bait a wrong slide and get some free runs at the quarterback.

[SuperBowlNachos]

Quote: Originally Posted by IlluminatusUIUC

There's no good answer to a deep crosser unless you have a significant advantage at corner, the AI will not properly cut off the route. If you know it's coming, spread the DL and set QB contain with a spy (the LE or the opposite side LB, whichever you think can track this QB), then *you* have to pick up the crosser manually. As soon as he breaks the pocket, click the right stick to make that Spy crash down on him. I prefer spot-drop zones to match in this case, because the match rules will frequently turn into man and clear out the area that the crosser runs through. Having some spot-dropped zones will muddy his reads and give you a chance to run him down with the Spy, but if he evades your rushers then he's gaining probably 10 yards easily. And anytime you can - Hit stick him. If you can give his QB some wear and tear early, it can take a huge chunk out of his stats.

Thanks for the tips!

Is a spot-drop zone just a normal non-match zone?

[SuperBowlNachos]

Quote: Originally Posted by Hooe

I tend to stick with 3-down fronts (ex. Nickel 3-3 Odd, 3-3-5 Mint), a mix of match and spot-drop zones, and changing the fourth rusher baked into most of these plays into a QB Spy. What I won't do is play man coverage with a four-man rush. You can add the backside safety as a user defender to mirror the QB with at depth when you call Cover 4 Palms against 3x1 (as long as it's not 3x1 Strong). You can similarly add the backside Seam Flat player when you call Cover 3 Match (or equivalent) against 3x1 and 3x1 Strong as long as the RB does not release into a route on your side. As Canes21 mentioned, a cornerback blitz from the side they tend to scramble to can also be useful. I personally don't like blitzing from the wide side of the field so this would be a situational call for me (the rest of my Virginia roster doesn't have the speed to cover that much grass), but it's definitely a tool to have in the box. It's my experience that a lot of people who play run-first with the quarterback don't really have developed passing games, so dynamic match coverages in combination with a spy can really slow them down. Lastly, you can help yourself out by manipulating the offensive line's pass blocking assignments. The users who run the QB frequently almost never mess with pass protection in my experience, so they will always stick with EA's one-size-fits-all pass blocking logic. Knowing that, you can mug a guard with a user defender pre snap to force a 5-0 call or a slide, which at minimum can ensure your DLs into 1-on-1s. If you are willing to blitz linebackers, you can even bait a wrong slide and get some free runs at the quarterback.

Whoa thats all great info! He will likely spam one WR and his RB. Not going to make multiple reads. He looks to pass first and that is what I'm worried about vs worrying about the scramble. Should I drop zones in coach adjustments?

I never make OL adjustments either I should really start. He likes to spam the CB blitz though.

[Hooe]

Quote: Originally Posted by SuperBowlNachos

Whoa thats all great info! He will likely spam one WR and his RB. Not going to make multiple reads. He looks to pass first and that is what I'm worried about vs worrying about the scramble. Should I drop zones in coach adjustments? I never make OL adjustments either I should really start. He likes to spam the CB blitz though.

Don’t use zone drop coaching adjustments whatsoever unless you do not intend to use match coverage. Any setting other than default for any zone drop depth option turns off match coverage universally.

If you know he’s going to throw to one receiver in particular, you can call certain coverages to create natural brackets and hound that receiver all over the field. For example, Cover 4 Palms against 3x1 will call Stubbie, which creates a natural bracket coverage against #2 and #3 to the pass strength side (the bracket on #3 requires you not use the backside safety as a freelancing user defender; he has no true assignment in the play so you can do whatever you want with him, but on his own he will help against crossing routes by #3 strong). Meanwhile Cover 6 Willie will keep the bracket on #2 strong but will play man on #1 weak with safety help over the top (and you can easily hot route the safety to man on #1 weak to create a true bracket coverage). Finally the various new Double WR plays in Nickel and Dime sets are available, but against a scrambling QB probably less advised unless it is 3rd / 4th and very long.

[IlluminatusUIUC]

Quote: Originally Posted by SuperBowlNachos

Thanks for the tips! Is a spot-drop zone just a normal non-match zone?

Yes, if it says "Zone" in the upper left of the play call screen its a "Spot drop" zone. The guy will follow a wideout through his zone but once the guy leaves he will drift back to the center of the zone and wait for someone else. I tend to prefer Match, but since it converts to man coverage it's weak against crossers just like man can be. Against a spot zone, the guy will have to throw the pass into specific windows between your dropped coverage, which is a more difficult task than just running and waiting for his guy to outrun yours.


Not a perfect solution, but if you can get him off his preferred play a lot of those players don't have a second punch.