LET'S TALK DEFENSE PART 2

[Collegefbfan]

First and foremost, this is not a thread to say "the defense is broken" or "defense sucks in this game" and all that. Now, that we have had the game out for 5-6 months, crazy hours of gameplay, a number of patches/updates, some are more familiar with the "workings of the game". I have become way better on reading some coverages, and my offense is pretty legit.

As far as defense goes, I could be better, a lot better. But it hasn't all been bad. Please provide any advice in relation to these defensive things I have been curious about (some others might also be in the same boat).

1) Does anyone ever use Cover 6 or Cover 9? If so, when?
2) Does anyone slant line defensive line left or right? If so, when?
3) What are good plays to have in your defensive audibles especially when
the offense is running hurry up?
4) What are some of the dumb things to do when disguising coverage shells?

Any help appreciated.

[falcor1234]

I usually slant my dline when they have a TE on one side and all the WRs are on the other side. Theres a very good chance the cpu runs it on the TE side
Audibles that i have for each situation i have a zone, man, cover two man, blitz and a cover one
I use coverage shells for alignment. If they are running on me I’ll drop a safety in the box with cover3 shell. If it’s late in a game and I know they’ll be passing I’ll switch to cover2or 4 shell


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[pietasterp]

Always happy to hop into a good defensive conversation.

It's funny because I have recently all but stopped doing anything at all pre-snap, whereas when the game came out, I was fiddling with so many things pre-snap (and still tearing my hair out in frustration). It seems the game has been tuned over the last few months and while I'm less frustrated overall with the defense than prior, I have basically simplified my strategy to playing Cover 3 Match, Cover 4 Quarters/Palms, double-mug blitzing, and that's honestly about it.

The problem for me is that I don't have a clear sense of what the assignments are or what's supposed to happen with almost any other defensive 'plays' or sets. The ones I mentioned above are the only ones where I know what's supposed to happen (more or less, anyway). The play art on defense remains useless, and unless someone on the ol' tubes of you happens to break down a particular play in detail, I really don't want to lab a single defensive play for an hour in practice mode trying to figure out how guys cover vs 3x1 or 2x2 or bunch or whatever formations. I mean, I do have a day job....

I should mention I play exclusively offline against the CPU on All American. I know defense is an entirely different beast if you play online.

[DonkeyJote]

Quote: Originally Posted by Collegefbfan

1) Does anyone ever use Cover 6 or Cover 9? If so, when? 2) Does anyone slant line defensive line left or right? If so, when? 3) What are good plays to have in your defensive audibles especially when the offense is running hurry up? 4) What are some of the dumb things to do when disguising coverage shells? Any help appreciated.

1) Pretty rarely. Like make once a game, if that.

2) I rarely slant, but I will shift my line.

3) I run match as my base. My audibles will almost always have a man coverage (either Cover 1 or Cover 2 Man), a blitz, a match Coverage for 2x2/Doubles (for me, normally Cover 3 Match, Cover 3 Buzz Match, or Cover 4 Quarters), and a match Coverage for 3x1/trips (typically Cover 4 Palms or Cover 3 Buzz Maple).

4) I don't know if it's "dumb" but I almost always am running either a Cover 4, Cover 6, or Cover 2 shell. I've been doing Cover 2 shell out of the playcall screen lately because the pre snap Cover 2 shell still isn't working. Cover 4 if I'm expecting inside run, Cover 2 if I'm expecting pass, and Cover 6 is the balance. Though I might try doing more 2 Man shells; I'm noticing the CPU doesn't run nearly enough against me, and I'm wondering if that's because I'm giving them looks to take the pass in RPOs.

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[Collegefbfan]

Quote: Originally Posted by DonkeyJote

1) Pretty rarely. Like make once a game, if that. 2) I rarely slant, but I will shift my line. 3) I run match as my base. My audibles will almost always have a man coverage (either Cover 1 or Cover 2 Man), a blitz, a match Coverage for 2x2/Doubles (for me, normally Cover 3 Match, Cover 3 Buzz Match, or Cover 4 Quarters), and a match Coverage for 3x1/trips (typically Cover 4 Palms or Cover 3 Buzz Maple). 4) I don't know if it's "dumb" but I almost always am running either a Cover 4, Cover 6, or Cover 2 shell. I've been doing Cover 2 shell out of the playcall screen lately because the pre snap Cover 2 shell still isn't working. Cover 4 if I'm expecting inside run, Cover 2 if I'm expecting pass, and Cover 6 is the balance. Though I might try doing more 2 Man shells; I'm noticing the CPU doesn't run nearly enough against me, and I'm wondering if that's because I'm giving them looks to take the pass in RPOs. Sent from my Pixel 6 using Tapatalk

I did not know this. Some people had a belief that if you do it from the playcall screen, the CPU AI knows you did it in the background. I always do it preplay. I might have learned something here.

[Collegefbfan]

I will say I hardly ever see the CPU offense run a 3 WR bunch set and, I see 4 WR's rarely. And hardly ever 1 WR on one side and 3 WR's on the other side.

The CPI offense almost always comes out in 3 WR's, 2 on one side and 1 WR on the other. I find myself calling Nickel against this. Do other defenses work against this?

[DonkeyJote]

Quote: Originally Posted by Collegefbfan

I will say I hardly ever see the CPU offense run a 3 WR bunch set and, I see 4 WR's rarely. And hardly ever 1 WR on one side and 3 WR's on the other side. The CPI offense almost always comes out in 3 WR's, 2 on one side and 1 WR on the other. I find myself calling Nickel against this. Do other defenses work against this?

When I say 2x2 or 3x1, that includes Tight Ends. If you have 2 WR on the same side as a Tight End, that's still Trips, and Trips rules (including me switching my coverage) apply.

4 WR sets aren't super common, but some teams will run it more than others; really depends on the opponent's playbook.

As far as coverage shells, I'm a big believer in using them. If you don't, I do believe that the CPU QB is more likely to pick you apart.

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[Collegefbfan]

Quote: Originally Posted by DonkeyJote

When I say 2x2 or 3x1, that includes Tight Ends. If you have 2 WR on the same side as a Tight End, that's still Trips, and Trips rules (including me switching my coverage) apply. 4 WR sets aren't super common, but some teams will run it more than others; really depends on the opponent's playbook. As far as coverage shells, I'm a big believer in using them. If you don't, I do believe that the CPU QB is more likely to pick you apart. Sent from my Pixel 6 using Tapatalk

Sure thing in relation to the TE position.