Commanders Post at The Warpath - View Single Post

joecrisp · 12-21-2004, 04:05 PM

It's definitely tough to find the right coverages. I usually play a Cover-1 Man defense with some kind of blitz package, and I usually control the safety that's playing the one-deep zone. I tend to blitz a lot, so I like to put my corners in bump-and-run coverage. I've found that as long as I have a fast safety with good range, I'm able to foil most of the deep attempts. But the key is, if you're going to play bump-and-run, it's imperative that you blitz effectively. Like Gregg Williams, you have to bring pressure from different angles, and you have to avoid blitzing from the same spot too frequently, as the opponent will pick up on the tendency and burn you for it. If you play bump-and-run regularly, and you're not generating constant blitz pressure, a good opponent (CPU or human) will pick you apart, since the receivers will usually break away from the defender after the first 3 seconds.

If I encounter a situation where the blitz-and-bump strategy isn't working, I'll usually start throwing in some zone blitzes, and that will usually provide enough of a wrinkle that the CPU or human opponent will throw an INT. Since they read blitz, they anticipate the defenders being in a particular spot, based on the tendencies they think they've uncovered. Of course, the zone blitz throws that all out of whack-- they hurry a throw to a receiver they expect would be open in a man-blitz situation, but instead, there's a D-lineman or linebacker that's dropped into a zone waiting there to pick off the pass.

It took me a long time to figure out which coverages work in particular situations and which ones don't. You have to know the strengths and weaknesses of your personnel, as well as those of your opponent. Smaller and/or slower personnel are best suited for looser coverages, whereas bigger, faster players can hang with the receivers in tighter, bump-and-run man coverages. Having big, fast corners and safeties obviously gives you a huge advantage if you love to blitz.

Anyway, if I'm using the Redskins, I'll usually run a Cover-1 man blitz, bump-and-run, and use Taylor to neutralize the deep stuff.

12-21-2004, 04:05 PM	#2
joecrisp The Starter Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Charlottesville, VA Age: 49 Posts: 1,501	It's definitely tough to find the right coverages. I usually play a Cover-1 Man defense with some kind of blitz package, and I usually control the safety that's playing the one-deep zone. I tend to blitz a lot, so I like to put my corners in bump-and-run coverage. I've found that as long as I have a fast safety with good range, I'm able to foil most of the deep attempts. But the key is, if you're going to play bump-and-run, it's imperative that you blitz effectively. Like Gregg Williams, you have to bring pressure from different angles, and you have to avoid blitzing from the same spot too frequently, as the opponent will pick up on the tendency and burn you for it. If you play bump-and-run regularly, and you're not generating constant blitz pressure, a good opponent (CPU or human) will pick you apart, since the receivers will usually break away from the defender after the first 3 seconds. If I encounter a situation where the blitz-and-bump strategy isn't working, I'll usually start throwing in some zone blitzes, and that will usually provide enough of a wrinkle that the CPU or human opponent will throw an INT. Since they read blitz, they anticipate the defenders being in a particular spot, based on the tendencies they think they've uncovered. Of course, the zone blitz throws that all out of whack-- they hurry a throw to a receiver they expect would be open in a man-blitz situation, but instead, there's a D-lineman or linebacker that's dropped into a zone waiting there to pick off the pass. It took me a long time to figure out which coverages work in particular situations and which ones don't. You have to know the strengths and weaknesses of your personnel, as well as those of your opponent. Smaller and/or slower personnel are best suited for looser coverages, whereas bigger, faster players can hang with the receivers in tighter, bump-and-run man coverages. Having big, fast corners and safeties obviously gives you a huge advantage if you love to blitz. Anyway, if I'm using the Redskins, I'll usually run a Cover-1 man blitz, bump-and-run, and use Taylor to neutralize the deep stuff.