Baller7345's 3-4 Scheme

[baller7345]

Ok I've pretty much posted every bit of info about the way I play defense except the way I put it all together. This will have plays from the 3-4 Odd and 3-4 Over formation.

3-4 Odd Plays

Blitzes

Sam Mike 3 Seam
1.) Edge rush the line
2.)Reblitz the LILB (allows you to control the MLB which wasn't possible with my previous setups)

This is your go to blitz as long as the LOLB is your best pass rusher. It is quick to setup and doesn't give anything away presnap so it works great in concert with any other play out of the formation. Its weak against runs at the right side but it isn't a blitz used to stop the run. The fire zone coverage behind it can be adjusted as you see fit.

Sam Mike 2 Sting
Same setup as Sam Mike 3 Seam

This is your red zone blitz in this formation. It works similar to Sting Pinch zone out of 3-4 Over except its better suited for a pass heavy player than a run heavy player since it gives you an extra cover guy to mess around with. When you are within the 10 yard line and in a passing situation you can adjust the zones by throwing the Safeties in to hook zones and placing them where you think they'll be the most help and then its optional if you want to put the CB's in curl to flat zones as the press can be useful in the right situaion.

Sam Mike Blast
Same as the other two Sam Mike blitzes.

Your standard cover 1 overload. If you trust the press coverage of your outside corners then go ahead and press them then use the safety in the deep zone to cover anything short and the seams. This play rewards good user skill

FS Zone Blitz
1.)Reblitz the DT

This is your standard safety fire zone blitz but it also allows for some serious head games later in the game. Get them to respect the pressure that is being brought in by the FS and then you can start dropping him into zones or running the Zorro Will Jack 3 blitz that will look identical (if you move the safety in to the proper spot) while dropping the safety into coverage and get pressure off the edge with the ROLB instead.

Zorro Will Jack 3
1.)Place RILB into the B gap and reblitz
2.)Reblitz the RE.
3.)Optional: Move the FS into the same spot he would go if it were a FS Zone blitz.

If you follow the optional step your goal becomes mimic the FS Zone blitz but making them think you've converted into a coverage play since the FS will drop back into coverage. In reality the ROLB will come off the edge hopefully causing panic and a throw into coverage. You can adjust the zones as you see fit.

MLB Storm Blitz
This isn't used for to get pressure against a passer but if you start to see them favoring a FB dive or a run up the middle then this is a good way to get them off of it if your standard run defense isn't working.

Cross Fire
1.)Man up the ROLB on whoever isn't covered (can put him in a zone if you would rather work with that)

This is your standard cover 0 blitz with a twist, quite literally. The Cross by the MLB's gives the play the ability to bring A gap pressure on most downs. If it doesn't get the A gap for some reason you'll get the LOLB off the edge. If they start blocking a back this is a good way to still get pressure since it is bringing 7 by default but be wary if you don't trust man coverage then don't run the 7 man blitz.

Cover 2 Sink Blitz
1)Reblitz the LOLB
2.)Either edge rush the line (ROLB pressure) or crash the line right (LOLB pressure)

On the LOLB pressure play user the RILB and on the ROLB pressure play user the LILB. This is your standard OLB Strike Concept. This is another good red zone play as it can be made to have very few holes in the zones while still getting pressure.

Pinch Cover 0 and SS Blitz
Two cover 0 blitzes. Show blitz, creep guys up into the gaps, etc. Just do whatever it takes to make sure the pressure gets there fast.

Coverage Plays

Cover 3
You can leave it as is or turn play with the zones by turning the flat zones into curl to flat zones. The LOLB can be thrown into any zone if you are comfortable with sending 3 guys and if you want to max coverage then feel free to experiment with different combinations of man and zone coverage.

Cover 2 Sink
The general short over the middle pass defense as well as having the ability to stop a the corner routes everyone is fond off.

Cover 4
Basic Cover 4. I like to show blitz on this play and try to bait them into a quick throw but if they don't throw it quick you have good covrage all over the field especially deep.

Cover 6
Again just the basic Cover 6 play. Use it to give an extra coverage look from the formation.

2 Man Under
This is the perfect play to play combo coverage out of. Use the Man coverage on the outside WR's and put the LB's in the zones of your choice. Can be ran as is but you'll be at their mercy if they come out in 3WR sets unless your OLB's are good in coverage.

Cover 1 Robber
A favorite of mine. Let them read man coverage then jump that slant route with the robber. Can change the blitzing MLB into any zone for added coverage. Another good play to experiment with combo coverage.

Any coverage play can be converted to a max coverage play just be creative.

Run Defense:

Cover 2 Sink
This is your base run defense. Run it as is and you should be able to contain the outside run while cleaning up the mess inside. If you are still having trouble then reblitz the OLB in a hook zone and try again. The direction the line crashes helps a ton.

Cover 3
Place the SS or FS (if flipped) in a the box. This is your best way to stop inside runs outside of the MLB Storm Blitz but it should only be used if you absolutely can't stop it out of the Cover 2 Sink or if they are beginning to pass on the cover 2 sink.

Pinch Cover 0 and SS Blitz
These are your last resort plays. If for some reason you still can't stop the run with the cover 3 or the cover 2 sink then just send the house at them. User the guy covering the RB and take him down.

3-4 Over Plays

Blitzes

Sting Pinch
You can get A gap pressure by running it as is. You can pressre from the other A gap by reblitz the blitzing MLB. Creeping the MLB up inot a gap will get edge pressure from either OLB depending on the gap you place him in.

Sting Pinch Zone
Same as Sting Pinch. This is the best 3-4 red zone defense in the game as long as they are within the 10 yard line. It stops runs and if you turn the CB's zones into curl to flat zones it stops fades, slants, flats, etc. If there is a play to stop it will stop it with the right adjustments while bringing pressure. Makes your opponents think fast causing mistakes.

Cross Fire Chuck
1.) Place the RILB over the DT (LILB A gap pressure)
2.)Place both RILB inbetween the DT and RE and place the LILB inbetween the LE and the LOLB (LOLB Pressure)
3.Place the LILB inbetween the LE and the DT (3 yards off the Line of Scrimmage) (RILB A gap pressure.

Standard Cover 0 blitz but since you can play around with the cross you can bring pressure from several places and from several players.

Coverage Plays

I'm only listing 1 but you can use any of the base coverage plays as you see fit.

Cover 2
This is the best cover 2 the game gives you in my opinion. You can turn it into a Tamp 2 by playing the zones to the side line and dropping one of the MLB's into the deep middle. You can turn it into a corner blitz. It stops the run reasonably well and it covers the sideline great. Experiment with the many permutations you can run with this. It is probably my favorite redzone coverage play.

Run Defense

You can use many of the same tactics that I included in the 3-4 Odd plays but I'm only adding one play.

Sting Pinch Zone
Stops tosses, counters, dives, isos, etc. This is a great run defense because you are throwing the same 6 guys that you'd normally throw at them with a cover 0 blitz but instead of cover 0 you have a cover 2 shell. In the red zone you can make it even more deadly by taking the deep blue zones and turning them into curl to flat zones so now your CB's will play the run as well. One of the best 6 man blitzes in the game.

[darkkmano]

I've implemented many of these plays and my record has improved greatly, thanks!

[Stoozdid]

Wow this is really similar to what I do with the Steelers. Amazing! I actually room the SS Blitz from your previous thread(never thought it worked that good) and Troy is one of the best chase down players ever.

Great job. :)

[baller7345]

Wow this is really similar to what I do with the Steelers. Amazing! I actually room the SS Blitz from your previous thread(never thought it worked that good) and Troy is one of the best chase down players ever.

Great job. :)

See the best thing is that most of my defense is based around the 2-4-5 so I only run this scheme fully when I can't stop the run out of the 2-4-5. My 2-4-5 includes the sugar blitzes in 2 different forms (one is SnA's method and the other requires manual pass rush so you can shed the block). The rest of my 2-4-5 is about blitzing safeties and corners in order to confuse and disrupt the passing game. I may post that some time soon.

[raiders]

Baller I cannot get the sam blitzes to work.

[baller7345]

Baller I cannot get the sam blitzes to work.

Really? Are you reblitzing the ILB that is already blitzing? Those blitzes are the ones that I never have any issue with.

It should look a lot like this with the LILB coming in on a slightly different blitz angle now.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWb55QEt35c]Sam Mike Blast (3-4 Odd) - YouTube[/ame]

[Stoozdid]

Yeah the nickel packages are my favorite. Versatility to a T. Lately I've been having a huge amount of success stopping the run with the 1-5-5 and the natural looks that formation gives are amazing. People prowl around like they don't even know what they're doing lol.

Maybe the Steelers will get depth at CB through the draft... Hopefully.

[patsxxxvi]

[QUOTE=baller7345;194887]Ok I've pretty much posted every bit of info about the way I play defense except the way I put it all together. This will have plays from the 3-4 Odd and 3-4 Over formation.

3-4 Odd Plays

Blitzes

Sam Mike 3 Seam
1.) Edge rush the line
2.)Reblitz the LILB (allows you to control the MLB which wasn't possible with my previous setups)

This is your go to blitz as long as the LOLB is your best pass rusher. It is quick to setup and doesn't give anything away presnap so it works great in concert with any other play out of the formation. Its weak against runs at the right side but it isn't a blitz used to stop the run. The fire zone coverage behind it can be adjusted as you see fit.

Sam Mike 2 Sting
Same setup as Sam Mike 3 Seam

This is your red zone blitz in this formation. It works similar to Sting Pinch zone out of 3-4 Over except its better suited for a pass heavy player than a run heavy player since it gives you an extra cover guy to mess around with. When you are within the 10 yard line and in a passing situation you can adjust the zones by throwing the Safeties in to hook zones and placing them where you think they'll be the most help and then its optional if you want to put the CB's in curl to flat zones as the press can be useful in the right situaion.

Sam Mike Blast
Same as the other two Sam Mike blitzes.

Your standard cover 1 overload. If you trust the press coverage of your outside corners then go ahead and press them then use the safety in the deep zone to cover anything short and the seams. This play rewards good user skill

FS Zone Blitz
1.)Reblitz the DT

This is your standard safety fire zone blitz but it also allows for some serious head games later in the game. Get them to respect the pressure that is being brought in by the FS and then you can start dropping him into zones or running the Zorro Will Jack 3 blitz that will look identical (if you move the safety in to the proper spot) while dropping the safety into coverage and get pressure off the edge with the ROLB instead.

Zorro Will Jack 3
1.)Place RILB into the B gap and reblitz
2.)Reblitz the RE.
3.)Optional: Move the FS into the same spot he would go if it were a FS Zone blitz.

If you follow the optional step your goal becomes mimic the FS Zone blitz but making them think you've converted into a coverage play since the FS will drop back into coverage. In reality the ROLB will come off the edge hopefully causing panic and a throw into coverage. You can adjust the zones as you see fit.

MLB Storm Blitz
This isn't used for to get pressure against a passer but if you start to see them favoring a FB dive or a run up the middle then this is a good way to get them off of it if your standard run defense isn't working.

Cross Fire
1.)Man up the ROLB on whoever isn't covered (can put him in a zone if you would rather work with that)

This is your standard cover 0 blitz with a twist, quite literally. The Cross by the MLB's gives the play the ability to bring A gap pressure on most downs. If it doesn't get the A gap for some reason you'll get the LOLB off the edge. If they start blocking a back this is a good way to still get pressure since it is bringing 7 by default but be wary if you don't trust man coverage then don't run the 7 man blitz.

Cover 2 Sink Blitz
1)Reblitz the LOLB
2.)Either edge rush the line (ROLB pressure) or crash the line right (LOLB pressure)

On the LOLB pressure play user the RILB and on the ROLB pressure play user the LILB. This is your standard OLB Strike Concept. This is another good red zone play as it can be made to have very few holes in the zones while still getting pressure.

[patsxxxvi]

thank man you have helped my game alot this year

[raiders]

I can get it to work against some formations....But not alot of em.