Eagles users beware!

[DirtyBird87]

For my defense to be effective I have to keep changing my looks, because I'm blitzing 70% of the time, if I don't change my looks the pressure will just get picked up after a time or two of executing it, and by staying in the same defense and showing the same looks you leave yourself more susceptible to your opponent figuring out what you're going to do because your options are limited compared to someone's defense that one snap comes out in nickel, next snap 4-3, next snap Sub so forth. Of course I'm going to stay in a particular defense more than I might otherwise if I like how it's matching up, but as a general rule a heavy blitzing defense like mine is best suited to constant changes, whether big or subtle, to consistently get pressure.

[cgm15]

You might prefer to run 4-3 all game and keep it simple on defense but I'd have to ask what are your defensive stats and do you consider yourself a defensive team? I ask because running 4-3 all game seems like a really bad idea to me personally, unless they are only running 2 wide sets all game then I could see this as plausible. But a smart player will bust out the 4-5 wide on your 4-3 and you're asking to be burned. Mismatches all over the field at that point.

My defensive stats? As in PPG? I basically never play ranked games tbh. I'm 14-0 on the year and most of those games were against awful players so whatever number I could give you wouldn't even be very accurate. I can say I held SnA to 13 points recently and he often uses 3, 4, or 5 WR. Mismatches are controlled because I play zone or a man/zone combo almost every down and my LBs cover really well. If I run man it is a Cover 0 where LBs aren't responsible for anyone except the HB. I can't explain it all in one paragraph obviously but it works for me.

Let's be honest...asking the #3 and/or #4 CBs on most teams to cover man to man against teams loaded at WR creates just as bad of mismatches as staying in base personnel. Provided I adjust to the alignment of a spread formation if that's what my opponent is using, there's no reason I can't run 4-3 effectively all game.

For my defense to be effective I have to keep changing my looks, because I'm blitzing 70% of the time, if I don't change my looks the pressure will just get picked up after a time or two of executing it, and by staying in the same defense and showing the same looks you leave yourself more susceptible to your opponent figuring out what you're going to do because your options are limited compared to someone's defense that one snap comes out in nickel, next snap 4-3, next snap Sub so forth. Of course I'm going to stay in a particular defense more than I might otherwise if I like how it's matching up, but as a general rule a heavy blitzing defense like mine is best suited to constant changes, whether big or subtle, to consistently get pressure.

That's great if it's working for you, I'll respect your style...but what you're not acknowledging is the fact I can send left side edge heat, right side edge heat, left side inside heat, right side inside heat, and double edge heat that all looks exactly the same. The offense isn't going to be able to adjust and pick it up because they have no clues at all as to who is actually coming. You're right, my options are limited... but what more do I need? If it always looks the same...that's when things get confusing for the offense. I feel like in this situation less is actually more. Having a simple set of blitzes that I can set up in my sleep due to that game-to-game consistency allows me to adjust coverage optimally and get a good pre-snap feel for what I need to do with my user defender.

[baller7345]

You might prefer to run 4-3 all game and keep it simple on defense but I'd have to ask what are your defensive stats and do you consider yourself a defensive team? I ask because running 4-3 all game seems like a really bad idea to me personally, unless they are only running 2 wide sets all game then I could see this as plausible. But a smart player will bust out the 4-5 wide on your 4-3 and you're asking to be burned. Mismatches all over the field at that point.

I'm going to try and keep this as nice as possible. You are currently still only a level 4, in online terms you haven't left the station yet when it comes play playing the "serious" competition. When you start running into guys who play a lot like tourney players at least in terms of tactics (level 9 and up...a few below that) you'd begin to really see what cgm is referring to when he states that you don't have to mix it up to have a really good defense. For that matter look at Football Fan who pretty much everybody on this site can agree has a goo defense and he runs at least 80% 3-4 from what I can tell.

Go look at some videos on GG-Rematch and you'll see again that even the best players run 2-5 different defensive plays and adjust around them. While I very much dislike playing that way even I can't say that running a million different looks is a good idea if you can't scheme around each an every one of those looks. One game I may run my Cover 3 Bluff 2-4-5 Scheme 70% of the time and next time I may run the sugar version. Even with all the schemes I've worked on once you hit a certain point its find what works an drill it into them. Which is another reason I gave up on ranked games because I do like to throw a bunch of looks at people out of various formations but playing with the higher ranked players (in most cases) restricts the type of game you can play if you want to win. I mean running a ton of different looks can work but eventually when you change your look and the offense comes right back out in the same thing you just shut own (trust me it does happen) and then you give up the 30 yard completion you begin to see that stay put until they prove they can beat you is a better strategy.

[DirtyBird87]

IMO level and skill points mean little. All this game is, my play calling and execution versus yours. Personally I don't care what level my opponent is I go into the game believing I'm the better play caller and have the better defense so that my edge. Skill level really means very little.

[baller7345]

IMO level and skill points mean little. All this game is, my play calling and execution versus yours. Personally I don't care what level my opponent is I go into the game believing I'm the better play caller and have the better defense so that my edge. Skill level really means very little.

The thing is that unless you are actually going on forums an playing guys that on are there you won't get a decent opponent until you hit level 7. There are some exceptions but random ranked games typically have you playing guys within a hundred points of your skill level and there are very few players at this point who are stuck at level 2-5 that are there because they are just starting or are just sandbagging their true skills.

Playcalling gets less important as you get higher up as well. Some of the best tournament players have 2-5 play offenses and the play the defense picks means very little to them. Truth runs that screen with streaks play a ton and while it has been awhile Warhawk (i think) runs bunch every single down. They aren't going to be phased by a bunch of different looks because they simply don't care. They know the offense they run beats just about everything and they'll make you see how helpless actual football knowledge is at madden.

I know I got a little off topic on this but that is a problem I've always had when it comes to typing, I just start going and let it take me where ever it leads too.

[DirtyBird87]

This game comes down to my play calling versus yours, I watched plenty of "top" players play online (due to me having a madden addiction and way too much free time atm) and Ive studied the tendencies of a few of these guys and honestly I could beat them as long as I don't throw picks. I'll take my defense and all of its diversity over theirs ANY day. Just sayin I don't think ranked skill level determines how good you are at the game, it's more how good your playbook is and whether or not you know how to stop what your opponents trying to do or not. Skill level certainly means you have experience which will surely help, but it doesn't mean much more than that, ultimately this game is all about anticipation. I feel that I do this exceptionally well.

[DirtyBird87]

I get what your saying about make the offense prove they can beat your look if it's troubling them. I'm all for that if it's working exceptionally well, stick with it. Still wouldn't run it all game I just have sooo many blitzes it's super fun to show my opponent so many different looks, eventually they should make a bad read or feel the heat.

[baller7345]

I get what your saying about make the offense prove they can beat your look if it's troubling them. I'm all for that if it's working exceptionally well, stick with it. Still wouldn't run it all game I just have sooo many blitzes it's super fun to show my opponent so many different looks, eventually they should make a bad read or feel the heat.

See what I don't get is with the amount of games you've played and the fact that your defensive numbers in your sig aren't a lie (I checked) why do you lose all the games that you do. I mean I'm sitting a level 8 though 43 games and you hold people to about .5 less points per game than I do, I'd think that you be much higher with the amount of games you've played. That leads me to believe their is a major hole in your offense though I haven't checked the numbers. Not trying to pick a fight but it is a little bit mysterious why you can hold guys to 16 points a game but you aren't over level 4 with the amount of games you've played. Yes I know this is completely irrelevant to the other posts.

[DirtyBird87]

Lol I take no offense. I can explain this, my passing game has been hot and cold quite inconsistent for me bad play at qb is always what gets me beat. My run game is very good I'm Avg over 100 rush yards per game. But my passing game is still lacking...don't get me wrong I'm still pretty good and sometimes look great, but this has always been my weakness. If my passing game was on the same level as my defense, no doubt I would have a higher skill level, but I keep trying to improve at passing I know this is the part of my game that needs work.

[DirtyBird87]

Also my style of play results in me playing some very tight games many times, most of my losses have been by one score or less.