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Defending the run

By Lamba
8/12/2019 10:35 am
Hey.

So I'm from Denmark and 'murican eggball just isn't as big here as it is in Trumpland. I've now followed the NFL for roughly 10 years and I feel like I have the grasp on most of offense and I understand basic defense and understand the basic difference between 4-3 and 3-4 base defenses, as well as that there's different (coverage?) packages like dime, nickel and such.

What I don't understand and/or can't translate to this game, is how to defend the run? When I "know" my opponent is running out of specific formations or want my defense to pass key on specific situations, how do I know what a good defense is against a run?

Are blitzes good versus runs?
If I don't know if it's mainly inside or outside, is zone or man better?
Is it always goalline or normal backfield or will some dime/nickel defenses be useful?

I've been, relatively, succesful defending against the run, but I have no clue what causes it.

One of the things that annoys me the most, is the 2RB 3TE toss to the left side. It seems no matter what I do (As I don't have the LB zone flats whatever play), my outside people are either running miles back in their zones or man marking everyone is grouped up in the middle, because, you know, all the offense is in the middle!

So I'm not looking for how I defend against plays that obviously exploit the game engine, but more some knowledge on how you actually choose plays and settings to defend against a wide array of running plays.

Thanks in advance. :-)

Re: Defending the run

By TarquinTheDark
8/12/2019 11:40 am
setherick wrote:
If the opponent doesn't pass from the 23 set, the simple method is to a rule for Normal or Nickel defense (not Goal line) with a 100% run key.

The 113 and 203 Personnel Sets
The first two sets that I look at were kind of covered in the Basic thread. When scouting the 113 and 203, I'm looking for one specific thing: do teams run out of these sets?

If my opponent runs, and especially if he runs the HB Counter, I want to know when he is running out of the set. I will quickly open another tab and look at the last game that my opponent played and keyword search for specific plays. In my experience, most people that run out of these sets typically do so on 1st or 2nd down, and sometimes, 3-Short.

If my opponent does run out of those sets, and I can quickly find the pattern for when he runs, I'm going to create a rule that goes to Normal Defensive Backfield so that I have all of my LBs on the field at once. I'm also probably going to Blitz 1 or 2, but stay in a Neutral key. I'm only going to do this for the downs where my opponent is most likely to run these plays.

Remember that your Base Defense is going to default Nickle against the 113 and 203. So it's better to have the rule here to go back to the normal backfield.

If my opponent doesn't run, Base Defense.

...

Goal line sets - 221, 230, 311
There are two goal line defensive plays you should keep in your playbook and that is all: Attack #3 (or 1 or 2 doesn't really matter which, 3 is my favorite for reasons) and the 3-Deep Man. The 3-Deep Man play is the only Cover 5 GL defensive play.

The first thing you need to do is override the line up and move the LB that plays behind the DT to the LDE2 spot and bring your FS into the LB spot. That puts your three LBs and Safeties on the field at once instead of bringing in a second LDE, which is not going to help you.

The reason for the override has to do with when teams pass. If your opponent strictly runs out of one of the GL sets, you build a rule that will counter with your Attack #3. If they run and pass, then you build a rule that counters with your 3-Deep Man. If they strictly pass, then you have options: counter with the 3-Deep Man defensive play or run a Normal/Nickle defensive backfield against the set.

Bonus pro tip: I've seen a lot more people running the 311 PA Bomb without running any other plays out of the 311. This is silly, and not just because I hate the play, but because it's really easy to counter. Almost every defensive playbook has the Normal Defensive backfield Double WR1. This play is a Man Secondary, Blitz 1 play. Want to know why I have that memorized? Because I've built so many rules to cover just this one play.

Blitz the Run
Most players have known for a long time that the Blitz 2 is the way to go, but I don't know how many of them have figured out the why. Blitzing in MFN right now is essentially run blitzing in that the LBs attack the gaps. When you know your opponent is most likely to run, Blitz 2 with abandon. Your LBs will fill the gap, and hopefully, your DL will hold up the OL.


I will typically put my fastest LB at MLB, 2nd fastest at WLB. I heavily emphasize speed on my SS as well. Since the ends don't get sacks anymore, the RDE (defending weak side runs) has become much more important than the LDE.

Last edited at 8/12/2019 11:45 am

Re: Defending the run

By Lamba
8/12/2019 2:02 pm
Ok that's a lot to take in.

I guess I have something to do in my pre-season. :-)

Thanks Tarquin!

Re: Defending the run

By Mcarovil
8/17/2019 6:36 am
Short version is set a rule in the 2-3-0 formation to call a nickel or dime defense. That way you have your faster Players on the field and spread out. Key run 80% or higher.

Re: Defending the run

By CrazySexyBeast
8/17/2019 5:25 pm
I tend to run a lot of 1/4 and dime vs the 2/3/0. I try my very best to never use a GL d set unless i absolutely have to (...or perhaps when it is that easy to weaponize the att#3).
If someone is only running out of any set, there is no reason not to blitz2 or 2+ every play (either lbs or lb/db mixes).
It is important to note zone DB plays are pretty iffy still, esp 2 deep zone. too many gaps, and the code is just a tick off response wise. 2 deep man sets the zone saftey will always scale back before closing in. LB zone seems pretty solid, lb zone in im still toying with - as i don't have many playbook options there.
I also tend to roll a 1 deep more than a man coverage vs run only sets to cover the runaways (EDIT: plus my playbook has more blitz/coverage packages in 1 man).
Hope this helps, kinda off the cuff, ill see if i can put more thought into it later.
Last edited at 8/17/2019 6:10 pm

Re: Defending the run

By CrazySexyBeast
8/17/2019 5:44 pm
addendum: It is important to note with d rules, every formation tweaked by a slider has a chance to show up against say - the 2/2/1 run set with 1 deep pass play and a couple 3 runs plays. If one includes the GL to get the attack # play, that gl formation can pop up at anytime, on any play, and really nail you by giving your opp a long td.
I tend to still think of sliders as percentages. say I break 20 GL, 30 NORM, 20 N, 20 D and 10 1/4, with man lb set at 70 and B1 set at 30, any play included in the playbook under those formations/conditions will be available for the AI to call.
The last thing i'll add, yes, hammering the same plays over and over increases familiarity. However, if one is not adding and removing certain d plays for the situation/opponent, it will cost you (my favorite is 1 deep man sets that cover zone deep vs the #2 WR when everything runs on the opposite side..). Simple tweak. Flip the deep zone saftey :)
Last edited at 8/17/2019 5:45 pm

Re: Defending the run

By CrazySexyBeast
8/17/2019 5:47 pm
pps: vs the 2/3/0, if the opponent is running that 1 pass play, DO NOT blitz safties. EVER. Never use a saftey blitz when the offense has a single wr sprint deep...;)

Re: Defending the run

By Lamba
8/18/2019 4:03 am
Interesting with the blitzing. I was unsure how blitzing on a play would help vs. the run.

What if it's an outside run? Blitzes are traditionally meant to get to the QB, no?

And regarding DB blitzes; I don't draft for CB's who can blitz, so I haven't included any DB blitzes in my defense at all. Only LB.