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D-FENCE

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  • 07-03-2012 4:17pm
    #1
    Registered Users Posts: 7,751 ✭✭✭


    images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTmo-FW2nYVH9WEynHuqG9LvQH6yzybgqts45o9AbwZdGQDGB5-
    This is an area to discuss all things defensive, I will kick it off with a really good overview of the formations which was provided to me by Berty.

    First line under each formation is Description, 2nd line are the advantages, 3rd line the disadvantages

    Goal Line
    Run prevent in short yardage situations, specifically third or fourth and short or on the goal line
    Packed defense to prevent the short run. There are a lot of tacklers near the line of scrimmage.
    Audible to another defense if the offense changes formation.So many defenders near the line can be disastrous if a running back breaks through.

    4-3 Normal
    Four Defensive Linemen, three Linebackers, four defensive backs.
    A balanced run and pass defense. Good against inside runs and short to medium passing.
    Avoid using against four or more receiver sets (even three is risky). Blitzing Linebackers can leave slants and outside runs open.

    4-3 Over, Under
    Moves an outer linebacker to the line for five Defensive Linemen, two Linebackers, and four defensive backs (Over and Under refers to different sides of the line).
    Increased pass rush possibilities. Protect against inside and outside runs.
    Vulnerable to the passing game and fewer Linebackers in the middle could mean fewer tacklers if the back breaks the line.

    3-4 Normal
    Three Defensive Linemen, four Linebackers, and four defensive backs.
    A balanced run and pass defense. Defends outside runs and flat passes.
    Softer pass rush, though more blitz variation with extra Linebackers. Vulnerable to multiple receiver sets.

    3-4 Over, UnderThree Defensive Linemen, four Linebackers, and four defensive backs. An outside linebacker tightens up the edge of the line (Over and Under refers to different sides of the line).
    Increased pass rush with linebacker at the line.
    Fewer Linebackers defending the short passes. Vulnerable to multiple receiver sets.

    3-4 Solid
    Three Defensive Linemen, four Linebackers, and four defensive backs. Both outside Linebackers crowd the line.
    Increased pass rush opportunities and disguised blitzing. Stuff the run with increased penetration.
    Vulnerable to quick passes if outside Linebackers blitz. Avoid against multiple receiver sets.

    3-4 Even
    Three Defensive Linemen, four Linebackers, and four defensive backs. Outside Linebackers crowd the line and middle Linebackers tighten up.
    Balanced run stoppage for inside and outside runs.
    Tighter formation could be vulnerable to the pass.

    3-4 Stack
    Three Defensive Linemen, four Linebackers, and four defensive backs. Resembles a 4-3 in alignment.
    A 4-3 look for your excellent Linebackers. Variation in pass rushing for fast outside Linebackers.
    Avoid using against heavy passing situations.

    46 Normal
    Four Defensive Linemen, three Linebackers, four defensive backs but shifts one safety up to the linebacker position leaving one safety deep.
    Similar to 4-3 but safety provides extra run stopping support. Pressuring defense.
    Vulnerable to deep passes with just one safety back. Avoid using against heavy passing situations and multiple receiver sets.

    46 Bear
    Six Defensive Linemen (some are Linebackers on the line), one linebacker, three defensive backs with one safety playing in a linebacker spot leaving one deep safety.
    Combines the 46 Normal and 4-3 Over defenses. Increased pressure along the line for stronger run defense and pressure. Weak pass defense.
    Avoid using against multiple receiver sets.

    Nickel Normal
    Four Defensive Linemen, two Linebackers, five defensive backs.
    An additional defensive back helps protect against the pass. Be sure the "nickel back" is lined up against the slot receiver.
    Optimum against 3 WR sets. Losing a linebacker means losing a good tackler. Use packages to ensure best corners are against best receivers. Your nickel back isn’t as skilled as your starters, usually.

    Nickel Strong
    Same as nickel but shifts the safety toward the strong side.
    Increased safety help on the strong side. Helps provide additional coverage on a stacked formation (where more receivers and/or tight ends are on one side).
    Similar to the standard nickel. Also the safety shifted over could leave the other side open, especially if there are backs on pass patterns.

    Nickel 1-5-5, 1-5-5 Prowl
    One Defensive Lineman, five Linebackers, five defensive backs.
    Crowded line of scrimmage with basically one MLB (prowl with two). Five Linebackers help defend against a run and five defensive backs help defend the pass. Allows for some blitzing variation.
    Can be a weak run defense if your Linebackers focus on coverage.

    Nickel 2-4-5
    Two Defensive Linemen, four Linebackers, five defensive backs.
    Added Linebackers help defend against an unexpected run. In the 3-4 playbook because of the team’s typical linebacker skill.
    Need to increase pass rush with linebacker pressure.

    Nickel 3-3-5
    Three Defensive Linemen, three Linebackers and five defensive backs.
    An added linebacker to defend the run or short passing.
    Need to increase pass rush with linebacker pressure.

    Dime Normal
    Four Defensive Linemen, one linebacker, six defensive backs.
    Six defensive backs to counter the passing game. Use against four or more wide receiver sets.
    Weak against an unexpected run.

    Dime Flat
    Same as dime but closes Safeties in and backs off corners.
    Defenders are tighter and closer to the line to protect against run or short passing. Good for end zone defense.
    Weaker against deep passing.

    Quarters Normal
    Three Defensive Linemen, one linebacker, seven defensive backs.
    Seven defensive backs as a pass prevent defense.
    Easy to run against.

    Quarters 3 Deep
    Same as quarters but shifts a defensive back into a deep safety position for three deep Safeties.
    Three deep Safeties to protect against the deep ball. Use in long yardage situations.
    Easy to run against.

    Quarters Combo
    Combination of Quarters normal and 3 deep.
    Protects against the deep ball with three deep Safeties.
    Easy to run against.

    Dollar Normal
    Eight defensive backs.
    Eight players focused on stopping the pass. Use in certain passing situations (long yardage) or even in the red zone to crowd the end zone.
    You have a lot of bad tacklers on the field if your opponent runs the ball!

    Summary
    0 , 1 or 2 WRs - 3-4 or 4-3 formation
    3 WRs - Nickel formation
    4 WRs - Dime formation
    5 WRs - Dollar formation


Comments

  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 21,658 Mod ✭✭✭✭helimachoptor


    Actually meant to add this in last night, a good place for defensive tips!


  • Moderators, Computer Games Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 16,130 Mod ✭✭✭✭adrian522


    Similar to OFfense, set your defensive audibles, you can have 5 palys to audible to to react to an offensive formation or maybe an offensive audible.

    These are crucial when the offense starts running the No-Huddle.

    Don't bother with Cover 2, Cover 3 as these are covered in the "default audibles"

    Basically I use the follwoing

    1. Run Blitz
    2. Pass rush Blitz
    3. Man Coverage play
    4. Zone coverage Play
    5. Antoher Blitz here !!

    Another tip is to use the defensive assist, basically hold down A and let the CPU take control of the selected player, which can be very handy when the offense os going Deep.

    Also I think you need to familarise yourself with the pre-play controls, such as takiing a player out of his assignment and having him blitz, go into Zone, go to man, QB spy etc, You can also have one CB go to press coverage and not affect the rest of your defense which is sometimes useful too,

    Finally the defensive assignments from the puase menu can be handy (e.g assign your best CB to the offense's best WR so that the offense will not be able to create mis matches as easily.


  • Registered Users Posts: 986 ✭✭✭etloveslsd


    Does defensive assist only effect the highlighted player? I thought it focused the team on the ball carrier?


  • Moderators, Computer Games Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 16,130 Mod ✭✭✭✭adrian522


    Just the highlighted player I think.

    If you spotlight a receiver in zone then the entire defence will pay attention to him


  • Registered Users Posts: 9,599 ✭✭✭matthew8


    I have a MLB that's purely a pass coverer really. How could I move him to safety? Is that possible? And how do you make it so that certain players come in in certain situations like berty does with Charone Sanders?


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  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 21,658 Mod ✭✭✭✭helimachoptor


    Move him on the Depth chart to SS/FS but he's overall will drop.
    Bringing him in for specific plays i'm not sure on


  • Registered Users Posts: 9,599 ✭✭✭matthew8


    Move him on the Depth chart to SS/FS but he's overall will drop.
    Bringing him in for specific plays i'm not sure on

    The depth chart won't allow LBs to play safety.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,224 ✭✭✭✭SantryRed


    Matthew,

    Choose your play by formation. Then with the RB button you can sub a player in/out.


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 21,658 Mod ✭✭✭✭helimachoptor


    matthew8 wrote: »
    The depth chart won't allow LBs to play safety.

    Really? Damn


  • Registered Users Posts: 10,786 ✭✭✭✭Pudsy33


    Move him on the Depth chart to SS/FS but he's overall will drop.
    Bringing him in for specific plays i'm not sure on

    When you are selecting a formation the lb button, i think, allows you to quickly sub in a player to that formation. I think thats the best way to do it :)


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  • Registered Users Posts: 9,599 ✭✭✭matthew8


    I'm currently trying to play better defense. Right now I'm just sticking to playing d-line. Can anyone tell me how to properly execute a power move? Right now Merriman (I practise with him using the Bills at RE), despite being 20 points better at power move, can use the finesse move superbly but is flattened whenever I try to execute a power move (I've tried it out on the worst LT in the league, Levi Brown, and one of the best, Andrew Whitworth). Can anyone help?


  • Registered Users Posts: 10,786 ✭✭✭✭Pudsy33


    matthew8 wrote: »
    I'm currently trying to play better defense. Right now I'm just sticking to playing d-line. Can anyone tell me how to properly execute a power move? Right now Merriman (I practise with him using the Bills at RE), despite being 20 points better at power move, can use the finesse move superbly but is flattened whenever I try to execute a power move (I've tried it out on the worst LT in the league, Levi Brown, and one of the best, Andrew Whitworth). Can anyone help?

    I think its all down to timing. I always get flattened using Lemar Woodley because I press the stick too soon.


  • Registered Users Posts: 9,599 ✭✭✭matthew8


    So basically it's very hard to perform a power move. Does anyone know if the players you don't control do a better job?


  • Moderators, Computer Games Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 16,130 Mod ✭✭✭✭adrian522


    Anyone know how the sub and dime defenses differ?


  • Registered Users Posts: 9,599 ✭✭✭matthew8


    adrian522 wrote: »
    Anyone know how the sub and dime defenses differ?

    From what I gather on a quick google search the sub can have more than 5 DBs.


  • Moderators, Computer Games Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 16,130 Mod ✭✭✭✭adrian522


    matthew8 wrote: »
    From what I gather on a quick google search the sub can have more than 5 DBs.

    I thought it was

    Base - 4 DB's
    Nickel 5 DB's
    Dime 6 DB's

    It may be to do with subbing linemen for linebackers or similar...not 100% sure, I'll take a closer look when on madden again.

    It's in the Rams playbook anyway, 49ers too.


  • Registered Users Posts: 9,599 ✭✭✭matthew8


    adrian522 wrote: »
    I thought it was

    Base - 4 DB's
    Nickel 5 DB's
    Dime 6 DB's

    It may be to do with subbing linemen for linebackers or similar...not 100% sure, I'll take a closer look when on madden again.

    It's in the Rams playbook anyway, 49ers too.

    I'd say it's 5 defensive backs or more while constantly bringing on fresh corners. That would make sense, because the Patriots use it a lot and they rotate their awful corners around quite a bit.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,224 ✭✭✭✭SantryRed


    Sub has the team come out as if it was a nickel formation so you of your CBs will be lined up in a LB position.


  • Registered Users Posts: 9,599 ✭✭✭matthew8


    Ugh. I can't figure out this 3-4. The Madden 3-4 is the dumbest thing I've ever seen. It's basically a 5-2, and both of your OLBs are completely neutralised because they have no run up and by the time they drop back in coverage the pass is already complete. Is there anything I can press to make the OLBs back off?


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 21,658 Mod ✭✭✭✭helimachoptor


    Manually drop them back


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  • Registered Users Posts: 9,599 ✭✭✭matthew8


    Manually drop them back

    Yeah I've been doing this and it's just such a pain. There's typically lots of other adjustments that need to be made too.


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 21,658 Mod ✭✭✭✭helimachoptor


    Agreed, and if you don't do it properly your coverage ends up being awful


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