Anyway to assign lineman to block linebackers?

[AbsoluteFury]

In my dynasty, one user loves blitzing his middle linebacker and I'm amazed at how often my line just ignores it, primarily on running plays. The middle linebacker is almost always set as the Mike. Can't shift line on run plays. For example, on an off tackle run I've seen my right guard double team the nose tackle (he runs 3-3-5) and my tackle blocks the end and the middle linebacker shoots right between the guard and tackle unblocked. I want to assign my guard to the middle linebacker. Is there anyway to do this?

[DonkeyJote]

Can't change blocking assignments on run plays. ID'ing the Mike doesn't do anything on a run play, it's only doing anything on pass plays. If you see he's blitzing up the middle, audible out of your inside run play. Run outside or check to a pass, pick up the blitz, and take advantage of the fact that he's got one fewer player in coverage.

[Hooe]

You will want to spend some time learning about run blocking schemes.

Depending on the front your opponent is basing his defense from, you can call Inside Zone or Inside Zone Split to get one of the two players in the center-guard double-team climbing to the second level. Against odd fronts (nose tackle directly across from the center), you won't get any double team and the guards should just shoot up to the second level immediately.

0 1 Trap will use a puller from the weak side to "trap" the play-side defensive tackle, allowing the play-side guard to shoot up to the second level immediately. This works best against a defensive front where there is a 3-technique DT covering the outside shoulder of your play-side guard on the strong side of your formation (ex. 4-3 Over, Nickel Over). Trap is commonly available in Shotgun formations.

Duo is "Power without a puller". All of your blockers on the line of scrimmage will all either combo block or single block and shoot up to the second level. It's an assertive call in short-yardage situations when you just want to put your foot down and gain two yards.

The selection of under-center two-back plays in CFB 25 is pretty limited, but if I recall correctly: the play 95 Mike (found in I-Form Pro and I-Form Tight in CFB 25) will have the fullback very explicitly target the Mike linebacker in the blocking scheme. In this case, the "Mike" is the second level defender on the run concept side who is horizontally closest to the ball at the snap; you cannot change who the fullback targets with ID The Mike in this case (ID The Mike doesn't affect run plays, period).

My gut instinct is that neither Off-Tackle nor Stretch are good run concept choices against a defense which is aggressively shooting gaps. Your OLs are too busy moving horizontally to get to their landmarks to attack defenders aggressively moving downhill.

[Hooe]

One more note: you can view your run blockers' blocking assignments at any time before the snap using L2 / LT + Right Stick left.

Something which can be useful is going into practice mode, calling different run blocking schemes, looking at different run play calls pre-snap using the above mechanic, and just observing how the blocking rules change as you change play calls, offensive and defensive formations, and even using motions at the line of scrimmage to alter the blocking scheme.

[UtahUtes32]

Quote: Originally Posted by AbsoluteFury

In my dynasty, one user loves blitzing his middle linebacker and I'm amazed at how often my line just ignores it, primarily on running plays. The middle linebacker is almost always set as the Mike. Can't shift line on run plays. For example, on an off tackle run I've seen my right guard double team the nose tackle (he runs 3-3-5) and my tackle blocks the end and the middle linebacker shoots right between the guard and tackle unblocked. I want to assign my guard to the middle linebacker. Is there anyway to do this?

Known cheese tactic, most likely. They do a hot route then hold their left stick down and get a running start at the snap to shoot a gap.