The 3-4 Bear formation is where we are going to spend the majority of our time on defense. The Cover 3 and Cover 2 invert defenses do a great job of slowing down the run and providing coverage throughout the entire field. There is nothing wrong with spending 75% of your time or more in this formation.
Playbook: San Francisco 49ers
Formation: 3-4 Bear
Play: Cover 3
Setup:
- Base Align
- Shift your defensive line whichever way makes sense to stop the run
- Bring your safety down a little and user control him to stop the run.
Overview: This is one of the best defenses in the game. For only rushing 3 guys, it does an incredible job of slowing down the run and it covers the whole field. Just make sure you don’t get beat deep over the middle. There is nothing wrong with calling this play 50% of the game or more. Stay in it until your opponent proves that he can consistently beat it.
Playbook: San Francisco 49ers
Formation: 3-4 Bear
Play: Cover 2 Invert
Setup:
- Base Align
- Shift your defensive line whichever way makes sense to stop the run
- Bring your safety down a little and user control him to stop the run.
Overview: Call this play if your opponent has demonstrated that he can consistently beat your cover 3 defense. It happens very rarely but every now and then someone will be able to beat the cover. When that happens, call the cover 2.
Playbook: San Francisco 49ers
Formation: 3-4 Bear
Play: Pinch Mike 0
Setup:
- Crash your defensive line down
- Shift your defensive line to the left
- Put your ROLB (on the left side of the screen in a zone)
- (Optional – For Advanced Gamers) Instead of putting your ROLB in zone coverage, put him in man to man coverage against whoever the free safety was covering and then put the free safety into a yellow zone and patrol the middle of the field with him.
- (Optional) Base Align
Overview: This play works really well when your opponent isn’t doing a quick pass. It works even better if your opponent is under center instead of in shotgun or pistol. If he is trying to go deep and isn’t blocking extra guys (which he shouldn’t be because he needs all 5 wide receiver options against your cover 3) then you should have no problem getting pressure.
Playbook: San Francisco 49ers
Formation: 3-4 Bear
Play: Pinch Dog 3
Setup:
- Base Align
- Crash your defensive line down
- Shift your defensive line to the left
- Blitz your MLB #2
- Hot route your ROLB (on the left side of the screen) to a light blue or purple zone
Overview: This play is very similar to the Pinch Mike 0 play but this one has zone coverage behind it just to give your opponent a different look. Don’t overuse these blitzes. If you call them too much they stop being as effective. You should be in the 3-4 Bear Cover 3 most of the game. Remember, this play works best against under center but it will work against shotgun and pistol as well.
Playbook: San Francisco 49ers
Formation: 3-4 Bear
Play: Cover 1 Hole
Setup:
- Hot route your ROLB (on the left side of the screen to a zone
- (Optional) Shift your defensive line to the left
Overview: This is a good play to change it up every now and then. You could never need to call this play all game but you might want to throw it in just so your opponent has to think about a max coverage man defense out of this formation. But at most only call it a couple times per game.
How do I crash the d line down, I only know how to crash them middle
Yes that is the same thing.
I think u should say crash middle since that’s what it says on the game, maybe not on Xbox tho so maybe not
The Pinch Mike O doesn’t work for me, the Left tackle doesn’t seem to get confused from the zone, I do the same things u do
Same here. Pinch Mike O doesn’t work at all.
If your opponent slide protects or blocks an extra guy it probably won’t work.
I cant get this to work even in practice mode vs 5 WR set.
Although if I just don’t put that linebacker in a zone i get really good heat. Just less coverage.
im getting it to work against bunch quads im on all pro because thats what is the online default just bought the book. Try picking pass commit bro and see if it helps.
hi im a new unlimited member im looking forward to understanding the game of madden and being unstoppable on the defensive side of the ball
Turned out my right end had 62 speed so the zone didn’t occupy the tackle long enough, note that right ends with very little speed can’t do this blitz
I do the exact you do on the cover 3 and its flats all day for them the cover 2 invert seems bout right its nice but that cover 3 is broke
The flats will be open against the cover 3 for a little. Most people don’t have the discipline to hit the flats every single time over and over.
I cant get any 34 bear to work
What specifically are you having trouble with?
similar issue. i’ve been using this strategy as it was stated it could be used the majority of the game. I’ve had problems with slot recievers running streaks and when I adjust for the streak, I’m beaten on a cross route, generally by streaky guys like perriman and hilton. I’ve switched to cover 2 invert and it seems to be the same issue. also quick tosses when someone has archer in the backfield
OMG! Thank you so much for this ebook! While i won’t improve overnight this has definitely help improve my defense tremendously. Money well spent. If i have any questions about any other formations is it ok to ask you here?
Thank you for your support! And sure you can ask any questions here.
Quick question, in the Pinch Mike 0 defense how do i hot route into the yellow zone? Never been sure how to do that.
The easiest way to do that is to scroll over to that linebacker and then once he is selected, hit A + down on the left stick on XBOX one or X + down on the left stick on PS4. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Thanks so much! I will leave a good review for you on muthead!
I’m also very grateful that you’re so friendly and willing to interact with your community customers instead of taking the money and running. While I’m very good on offense I’m horrible at figuring out defense and you will definitely have my support for the years to come.
We are always here to help. You went the extra mile to support us this year, we’ll do the same for you.
I really like most of the offensive plays in this ebook and they work well but I had buyers remorse as soon as I read( “The coverages in this eBook are much more effective than the blitzes.”) I’m not very good at usering on D so I am struggling on D stoping the run and the pass. I stay mainly in the 3-4bear…..I don’t expect 1 blitz to be the end all but I really needed good heat. I hope the next D guide is better and doesn’t just rely on user skills.
There is plenty of heat to be found in the ebook. The problem is that all your opponent has to do is block an extra guy and he can pick up any blitz you throw at him and then shred your defense. So you have to play coverage most of the game otherwise when you do blitz it won’t be effective.
I do play coverage for most of the game but getting shredded don’t take a long to figure out how to beat the 2 coverages and yes I change some coverages and mix it up. Guess without stick your hurting. Any suggestions? I don’t see how you can stay in this 75% of the game with below average user skills.
Any coverage requires at least decent stick. There isn’t a play that shuts down everything without you having to do anything.
Like this guy I don’t got good stick. The D book has still helped a lot but against elite guys I end up in high scoring games because I can’t stop them a lot of the time. I’m sure several members like me would for a user control tutorial or something to help us develop this skill in correlation with the ebook. Love the material guys, thanks for all the nhelp so far.