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NCAA Football Defensive Strategy: Safety

04:01 PM - July 2, 2008 by RaychelSnr

With NCAA Football 09 right around the corner, you have probably noticed we are starting to release some football strategy articles to prepare you for NCAA Football 09. Today is no different as our very own Noah Weber takes a look at playing the safety position in NCAA Football.

Quote:


	"Against the pass, playing safety allows you to be in a position to disrupt the greatest number of passes, and offers the opportunity to make impact plays on the defensive side of the ball. If you seize your opportunities, safety is a position of glory -- but it is also a position of great responsibility. One mistake could spell a very long and embarrassing touchdown for your opponent. Here are a few tips to help you run as the safety in NCAA and Madden."

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Member Comments

# 1 hawkytom @ 07/02/08 04:20 PM

Very good write up for somebody considering playing as a safety position!

I personally like to use MLB sometimes over the safety, but it depends on my mood and your tips of Safety usage are definetely a good reminder! GJ

# 2 N51_rob @ 07/02/08 04:32 PM

I've been playing the safey since NCAA '04. You are pretty spot on here. I'm so comfortable playing that position it is the only one that I will play. It is second nature to me. I remember on year I had 24 interceptions in a season. That is an astranomical number I know, but in '04 I was that good. It also lets me line people up to use the hit-stick more effectivly. I have gotten real good at comming up in run support and laying the lumber, and killing WR across the middle. Great Article on one of the best postitions to play while on D.

# 3 piggypablo7 @ 07/02/08 05:52 PM

I think I will consider making the jump to start playing as a safety. It seems like it would be really fun once I got good at controlling that position. Does anybody ever try to play as the Corner?

# 4 N51_rob @ 07/02/08 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piggypablo7


	I think I will consider making the jump to start playing as a safety. It seems like it would be really fun once I got good at controlling that position. Does anybody ever try to play as the Corner?

That would be like suicide IMO. It is so hard to move with the WR's and keep good position. Even when I play safety I hate having to cover the slot WR or the TE off the line. I can't imagine being a corner from start to finish. No thanks! Not to mention you start the play off the screen.

# 5 callmetaternuts @ 07/02/08 06:13 PM

I would agree, very good info here. I play 95% of the D plays as the FS, works pretty well (plus it allows the pass rush and LB to play as the ratings suggest)

# 6 atlplayboy23 @ 07/02/08 06:15 PM

After reading this article im going to start playing as safety wish me luck.

# 7 BoomerSooner11 @ 07/02/08 06:22 PM

Nice, I'll have to try it out.

# 8 jfsolo @ 07/02/08 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N51_rob


	I've been playing the safey since NCAA '04. You are pretty spot on here. I'm so comfortable playing that position it is the only one that I will play. It is second nature to me. I remember on year I had 24 interceptions in a season. That is an astranomical number I know, but in '04 I was that good. It also lets me line people up to use the hit-stick more effectivly. I have gotten real good at comming up in run support and laying the lumber, and killing WR across the middle. Great Article on one of the best postitions to play while on D.

This is not to attack you personally, but that number of picks indicates severe flaws in the gameplay mechanics/A.I. of the game. Because of these flaws I have always felt that safety was an "overpowered" position in EA football games, especially against the CPU. It isn't as bad in two player games, but it still can be too easy to make plays.

The article talks about knowing your assignment, but I've seen so many people freelancing while playing safety, but still be able to recover and make plays that they ratings of the player they are controlling says they shouldn't make.

Its very similar with linebackers too. Players don't get punished for having no discipline what so ever. I hope that begins to change starting this year.

# 9 dkrause1971 @ 07/02/08 06:37 PM

Do you guys that play with the safties recommend one over the other? FS or SS. Or do you take the worse or better safety if the ratings are imbalanced? I always tended to get LB or DL but going to look at safety more now.

# 10 Freezer Boy @ 07/02/08 06:48 PM

Good article,I guess I might give it a shot to.

# 11 N51_rob @ 07/02/08 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfsolo


	This is not to attack you personally, but that number of picks indicates severe flaws in the gameplay mechanics/A.I. of the game. Because of these flaws I have always felt that safety was an "overpowered" position in EA football games, especially against the CPU. It isn't as bad in two player games, but it still can be too easy to make plays. The article talks about knowing your assignment, but I've seen so many people freelancing while playing safety, but still be able to recover and make plays that they ratings of the player they are controlling says they shouldn't make. Its very similar with linebackers too. Players don't get punished for having no discipline what so ever. I hope that begins to change starting this year.

It's a fair statement. I also agree that 24 is an insane number. But for the most part I was just playing within the defense. That was until I was in the high teens then I kinda went for it. The problem and I think that you will agree is that in 04 the cpu would prematurely abandon the running game so there were more chances for me to make plays in the secondary.

dkrause, I use the FS. I don't know why but when ever I use the SS it feels backwards to me.

# 12 VWarrior @ 07/02/08 08:19 PM

Interesting info. I have to say that I have never been one to manually control a secondary player from the line of scrimmage. I've always started as a lineman or MLB, but I am considering doing a bit more manual secondary control this year. I don't think i'll dare touch a CB off on the line of scrimmage, but I am considering more safety play in zone coverage.

# 13 gloria.16_07 @ 07/03/08 01:39 AM

I have exclusively learned how to control the FS position. Besides the spike in INT's, run support is much better, even if it's a draw with a solid tackle it should only be a five yard gain max, given your LB's and linemen are well blocked. It seems the easiest for a FS is to have double coverage, and just roam, like a much better Rodney Harrison, Bob Sanders, or Ed Reed. And CB is definitely the hardest, until you can see yourself off the line.

# 14 texbuk84 @ 07/03/08 05:12 AM

i am a safety hallic and i play this position most of the time. dont fall for the play action because coverage deep is your first assignment. make sure you dont miss a open field tackle becuase if you do then its off to the races. make sure you take proper angles to the ball and use the hit stick only when the oportunity is in plain view, mistakingly using this at the wrong time could cost your team in the clutch moments. SAFTEY 102

# 15 southernbelle @ 07/03/08 06:06 AM

i have to say how impressed and enjoyable these editorials have been! great!

# 16 piggypablo7 @ 07/03/08 02:13 PM

played my first game controlling the FS and had 1 pick, it's definitely sweet....definitely fun trying to predict where the QB is going to throw within your zone

# 17 texbuk84 @ 07/03/08 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piggypablo7


	played my first game controlling the FS and had 1 pick, it's definitely sweet....definitely fun trying to predict where the QB is going to throw within your zone

but the best part is running up and laying the wood to a wide reciever across the middle or a running back out of the back field. the excitement is amazing.

# 18 skipwondah33 @ 07/04/08 07:53 PM

It is easier to play the safety position this year, rather then in 08. You didn't have time to make plays in the passing game. Glad they fixed that this year

# 19 Moojenowski @ 07/04/08 09:34 PM

I played with the D-Line up until 07, then switched to the SS and it's been awesome. My friends never understood why I played with the line, but I was really good at forcing pressure and stopping the run. Once I switched to SS I was even more controlling on defense. I use FSU mostly and Myron Rolle is a stud, so it works out nicely.

# 20 4solo @ 07/04/08 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piggypablo7


	I think I will consider making the jump to start playing as a safety. It seems like it would be really fun once I got good at controlling that position. Does anybody ever try to play as the Corner?

Played using corner once while playing a co-op 4player dynasty with K-state on 06 0r 07 ps2 and it was pretty sweet. It is the most difficult position to play but its the most rewarding to shut down a top reciever. The key is to use the straife button so that u can back pedal a stay square to the reciever and when the reciever make a cut u can use the sprint button to keep up. Oh yea if u never played a 4player co-op game or dynasty try it b/c it seems that ur going to over match the Cpu but every one really has to be on the same page for u to even be effective.

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