Defensive coordinator help

March 9, 2005 5:54 AM

Any ESPN NFL 2k5 players (or football gurus) out there want to offer some advice about selecting defenses?

I just picked this game up recently, and I'm pretty impressed. My problem, which I've always had with football games, is picking defensive plays. I'm quite familiar with football, and feel like I know a bit about defensive theory in general. I know when to go with the nickle or dime package rather than the 4-3 (though I have no idea about the "Bear" package that's in the Dolphins playbook).

But when I go to pick a defensive play, I really have no idea why I should pick one over another. That is, if I'm going with a two-deep zone, is there any particular reason one would work better than another? Does it depend on what opposing player you want to match up with, for example, your best corner?

More generally, are there any other tips anyone can offer, or any defensive schemes that seem particularly effective against particular offensive formations?

posted by schoolgirl report to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (4 answers total)

The bear package is a big front stack-up to sell out against running plays. I think. It's mainly seen in playbooks with 4-3 bias.

If you're dropping safeties into a zone, definitely make sure the faster (free) safety is on the side of the faster wide receiver.

Start with some vanilla defensive plays (basic man cover 2, cover 3, etc) and see how they work against your opponent. Then throw in something more interesting like a zone or nickel-back blitz. Be sure not to overblitz... you don't want to dig yourself out of that hole.

In terms of zone coverages... I'm speaking from a Madden 2005 perspective but there should be a chart showing you the areas of the field covered by a zone. Learn where the opposing QB has success throwing the ball and try to have 2 players in a zone in that area.

Ok, I'm rambling now, I'm going to shut up.
posted by selfnoise at 7:29 AM on March 9, 2005

In general, you need to assess the relative strengths of your players versus the other team. If you have elite cornerbacks, you can afford to play a lot of man-to-man and select blitz packages to harass the quarterback. The drawback to these plays is that if unsuccessful you can give up big plays. Otherwise, zone coverages tend to be a bit safer, although they are easier to exploit for short gains. I've found that in the computer football games, zone defenses also yield comparatively more interceptions (because your players are facing the quarterback when in the zones) unless you have very, very good defensive backs.
posted by norm at 7:58 AM on March 9, 2005

This is much more terse than the previous answers, but I've found that 3-4 usually varied with man and zone works the best for me.
posted by AllesKlar at 8:00 AM on March 9, 2005

I play way too much Madden and have found some useful ways of managing the defense. I think the key is to vary things up: don't stick to man as they can start burning you for deep plays when they adjust, and don't stick to zone because they'll dump the ball quickly for 6-9 yard gains. I don't know how much this would apply to ESPN NFL2k5 because I haven't played it, but it works very well with Madden. One of the great features of the game is that you can use Playmaker and change the assignment of any of your defensive guys, so you can call a zone play and then send one of your linebackers either in on a blitz or out to man cover a WR (because WRs will often cut in or out for short passes when there is zone coverage). It's very useful for creating new and varied defensive schemes.

I am personally in favor of the 34 defesne but enjoy sending the to OLBs out to cover the flats. When they adjust for it and start sending their receivers down the field, I like to revert back to man.

The 46 formation is run-centric. If you run this against a team with weak WR/QB you'd have a good shot at stuffing the run, but if they can throw the ball deep they will burn you.

Let me reiterate: Keep mixing it up. That's the key.

All this makes me wonder when the first real-life coach might be hired at some high school based purely on his video game defensive skills.
posted by xmutex at 8:29 AM on March 9, 2005