Hmm, my biggest issues on defense are probably stopping good tight ends/slot guys, and figuring out what to do against really good running attacks like San Francisco or St Louis. I tried playing more zone to stop the running attacks thinking it would keep my defenders looking in the right direction at least, but my guys either couldn't get off blocks, or the other teams backs went right up the middle for 4-5 yards. The only thing I've found for tight ends is playing manual D and shadowing dudes on the obvious routes.
I see lots of guys playing zone coverage to stop the run. You can't just have 4 guys rush and let everyone sit back in coverage. The safeties will be way out most of the time. Stack the box and send more than your DL. The run blitzes are there to help you stop the run.
With SF, I would suggest blitzing the middle and containing outside yourself. FMT will always cut it outside no matter what and he will get the edge because his tackles are splendiferous. Especially to the right. Don't follow his path. You'll be completely out of position. Follow his cut if you must, but maintain your assignment if possible.
Vernon Davis is fucking retarded. There is no way to stop him besides praying. Double coverage on TE is wonky because they compete against each other instead of working with each other to stop him. They'll both end up trailing him or leaving him completely alone. I suggest cover 1 if you can get to the QB on time because he will usually wait 10 days for the drag to develop and he will have that time. 3-3-5 cover 1 used to eat him alive, but I no longer have it in my book!
Also if we're dropping knowledge, the deep streak down the middle of the field, is that possible to complete or will the safety always beat my receiver if they're 1 on 1? And throwing to the flats, are their ways to identify when a guy is gonna come out of nowhere and pick those? I mean I know I throw a shit ton of bad picks to the flats, but there's a small percent where I feel like a dude makes a super human play on the ball.
Depends on the safety. Most of the time, that pass is not gonna work. If you can wait long enough and chuck it deep after your WR has reached the safety, your WR can outrun the safety. There usually isn't that much time, though. If I see a scrub safety, I'm gonna challenge him all day. If I see a guy like Berry, I'm not even going to try. I did today and it cost me!
You will know if the flats are open almost immediately. If there's a guy over there at all, it's a risky throw. If he's behind the receiver, you can complete it, but you won't get much. If he's running towards the receiver from the middle, you got yourself a throw and some yac.
I tried that the last few games, it didn't help at all!
Here are a few tips that will make things harder for me, but will help y'all out!
Blitzing works against 90% of the league. Do it.
Don't be scared to blitz on third down. People just sit back on third and long. It's the complete opposite of most good defenses.
Rush 3? Sweet, I'll just kick back and let my routes develop. Granted, my WRs are retards, and they might not get open for a while, but I can shift left or right all day to avoid pressure and eventually find someone.
But if I rush the passer, they might get a completion! Yeah, but it'll have to be a quick throw. Can WRs get open 10+ yards down the field in time? And can the QB react to it fast enough? Looking at the QB numbers, I doubt it!
Send guys to help against the run. You maroons bought in to 2 man deep and now it's so fucking easy to run right up the gut. You do realize that your LBs will look at the receivers they are assigned to first before going after the RB, right? You realize that the safeties will drop back into their zones before reacting to the play, right? Stack that fucking box unless you have Patrick Willis.
Vary your play calling, BUT throw in plays that look similar at the start and use more than one play per formation. Plenty of people get fooled because they think they've seen X coverage before and it'll turn out to be Y. Zone blitzes are your friend.
And that's pretty much how to beat me. Hopefully, no one in my division is reading this.
