4-4 "G" Write Up

Over at Utopia, I've posted my 4-4 "G" write up. While its not quite complete I do plan on the addition of videos and possibly updating the blitz packages and coverages before I put it into .PDF format.

Reading Offensive Tendencies

In order to play effective defense, you have to read your opponent's tendencies. Some plays that are great against some people are going to be garbage against others.

But in order to determine what will work, you need to figure out your opponent's Tendencies.


Where does your opponent throw the ball when he has time?

Does he hit the seams? If so, you may want to move LB's overtop of the TE (or slot receiver) and maybe even man him up.

Does he go for the corners? If so, you may want to consider more buzz (purple) zones.

Does he use 10-yard curls? Purple zones and outside hook zones will help with this. Be sure to bump as well.

Does he use a deep post to get behind your coverage? Make it a habit to play with your coverage to help throw off his reads to prevent this.


Does your opponent like to roll out? If so, what side does he favor?

This will help you determine where to send pressure from, how to blitz your linemen, etc.


Where does your opponent throw when under pressure?

Will he throw to the shallow middle? If so, use more plays that have 2-3 guys in the middle with hook zones in the default play art.

Will he go to the flats? Corners in flat zones are great for this.


Does he use unbalanced formations often?

If so, make sure you have purple zones on that side. He will likely set up a route combo to that side.


How often does he use screens?

Try to figure out what formations he uses and who the screen goes to. Some people will roll way out to the opposite side. Stop chasing him and read the screen. I see a lot of people run HB Screens out of Shotgun and Singleback sets. If they’re in the Shotgun formations I always manually blitz from the that the HB is on, If I see him stop I’ll recover from my blitzing with the OLB/SS and recover to shut down the screen. As far as WR Screens go, a 2 deep coverage with man coverage under is the way to go.


Can your opponent run out of Shotgun?

This will determine if you can safely move guys out of the box when he's in Shotgun.


Does he use compressed sets?

Remember to move your flats zones out a little if he does. Compressed sets will enable him to throw quick slant-outs if you don't do this. And use buzz zones only to the boundary-side to better control zone holes.


Does your opponent do better against max coverage, or pressure?

Some people are great against the blitz, but are terrible when seeing F@G D. Others rely on having time to throw and will take some sacks. And some people are good against both. Figure out what is more successful and lean more towards that.

(H/T: Michura over at the Madden Boards)

Study Notes

- Option Routes I recently found a video on Youtube by DjWill on Option Routes, If you're anything like me and didn't use them at all the following information will change your whole outlook on the routes. Option routes give your WR a chance to read the coverage and find holes in the defense. Best ran against a zone defense, they were a staple of the Run N' Shoot offense and have branched out to other offense.

I remember reading somewhere that either Tiger Ellison or Mouse Davis came up with the concept while watching some kids playing a game of football in the backyard. And while playing the game you kinda have to treat the route as such.

Most option routes are built with 2 or 3 options. All should be able to defeat Cover 0/1/2/3 and some times Cover 4. Throwing to the option route can be dangerous if you dont know what direction the route is going and when the break will be made. Which is why it's important to have a knowledge of all the options the WR has. It's also imperative to have WRs with high AWR at least in the mid to high 80's. This will give them a better chance to make the correct reads and decision and get in the holes between zones.

(Blogger is kicking my butt and not letting me add the video here so...)
video linkage

- Basic Theory for Pass Defense Rhombic is definitely on it in this post for over on the Utopia boards. Who mathematically breaks down the theory of Pass defense with graphs? RHOMBIC! Great read, definitely worth checking out.

- BROPHY I've been reading some old post from Brophy as of late, And maybe I shouldn't do this, cause it makes me want more from EA development team. But he breaks down Saban's Defense in 3 post and also breaksdown concepts that would definately make you a better play caller on defense such as AFC Automatic Front Check and Formation Matching which have really became a HUGE part of my defensive play calling and has made me change my audible several times as of late.

Definately good reads.

EA Discussion on Gameplay with Russ Kiniry

Recently EA had a chat with Russ Kiniry that I missed. EA really does some wierd things, like have a community function at 4pm. The only people at home at that time are kids and Potheads. Guess we know who their core audience is. Anyways, I found the EA boards and posted my thoughts there, which in turn are posted below. Just some things that erked me with gameplay and with the way the game plays.

Russ,

- what are the chances that we can get Tiered Defensive Playcalling for defense or a Playbook overhaul? we've been playing with these playbooks for a while without any new additions?

- to add more depth to the defensive audibles can a change be implemented to where the adjustments like "Safeties In" makes the Corners play different while in man to man defense? As in keeping outside and inside leverage on receivers to keep them from getting outside?

- seeing how most defenses play Man to Man defense can something be done to make the Man to Man defenses coverage better, the reason nobody plays man defense in this game is because of how horrible its the defenders play it. Key example is Mesh plays, not even the best corner back in the game, no matter how fast or how high his man cover rating is, can stop a receiver on this play. Yes there is supposed to be a rub, but its a bit over done.

- Cover 4 issues. The Cover 4 in the base formations play too much like a "Prevent" style. The Corners drop too deep. they shoud still be in blue zones but only drop as deep as a buzz zone until somebody passes into their zones. In most Cover 4 schemes they (the Cornerbacks) should be the "force" player and be deep enough to contain the outside run. its should basically work like Cover 2 press man.

- Over and Under Formations and the lack of Weak and Strong LB/Safeties. Over fronts and Under fronts arent really realistic. Over and Under fronts should automatically adjust from the huddle if we had Weak and Strong Players instead of LOLB and ROLB (this applies to Defensive ends too). Over fronts should line up to the passing strength (in the case of a balance formations IE 2x2 sets w/ a rb, the side with the bigger threat) Under sets are more man to get the weakside OLB( or weakside safety in the case of 335 or 425) have the TE in man2man coverage, seeing how the 43Under is mostly man coverage anyways. (this may be more playbook related than gameplay though)

- Hook zones over the middle should try to get a collision with receivers running crossing routes to throw them off their route a bit. This doesnt happen, the only person that gets a collision are the defenders.

- The pass commit button and the button to make the crowd cheer are the same, giving away things you’re trying to do on defense.

- Run commit should tell your front 7 to maintain gap control rather than to fold all the way inside or outside and bring your SS up into the box to give run support.

These are just things that are schematically important defensive wise and add to the replay value. A lot of NCAA guys are tired of seeing things that madden had the year before and the new madden with all the cool new bells and whistles. We know a lot more people by Madden than NCAA and your budget isnt like Madden, but the community as a whole is hoping that the change in management is for the best.

Sir, If you've read this i hope you take AT LEAST some of it into some serious consideration. I know you guys work hard on this game and everything cant be put in (and we seriously appreciate it) but seeing how your guys have licenses on the Pro and College football games you can understand why the community are so hard on you guys to create a perfect sim football game. We appreciate being heard.

Thanks you.
(Hopefully, we'll get a chance to talk to Anthony White too)

Now, Hopefully a voice will be heard.

What I'm working on...

I dont want you guys to think that Im letting this blog die. I plan on keeping this going up for a very long time. So I decided to post some things that I've been working on.

- Option Routes, hopefully this will be up this week sometime.

- Switch Concepts and the Progression reads that love them. Just some basic stuff on my absolute favorite passing concept and route combonation other than the Smash.

- Gaining and maintaining gap control, on utopia people are always asking how to stop the run. And my answer is always the the drab and dull "Gap Control". In this post hopefully I'll get a good chance to break it all down.

- Notes on Defense, Self-explanitory

- How Cover 4 should work and how it works in the game, this will probably be a my bitch and whine complaint blog on simple mistakes in the game.

- Notes on passing against a Single high safety defense, a possible point counter-point post with defensive notes

- The "Grab bag" playcalling effect. a Post on play calling and how to avoid just going into formations and calling plays without any rhyme or reason.