Getting Better on Defense - Chalk Talk

by LBzrule57 | 4 years ago | 0 Comments

Getting better on defense starts off the field, not on it.  Now of course, there are just some issues with some coverages in the game that you'll need to be aware of, but the overall gist here is that a lot of success on defense in real life and in Madden happens before you hit the field, not while you are on it.  I will say this to anyone especially those guys who keep finding themselves EVERY DAMN MADDEN at the bottom of the division, you tear up a team, and you are ready to quit after two seasons.  To me that's the apex and where the fun is.  But by season 4 we've betten the horse to death.  But I digress on that.  Here are some keys to help just about anyone, but especially the guys that are always finding themselves bottom-feeding.

1.  You should primarily be concerned with the teams in your division because you need to be your most competitive here.

2.  You should archive your games (some of you guys still don't do this) especially the division games and you need to revisit them ASAP.  And here are some things you need to look at and think about conceptually.

a.  What concepts do they run?  What's their best run play?  What passing concepts do they run?  As you look at the stream you should be able to identify at least three different runs and four to five passing concepts.  For example, Read Option, 01 Trap, Inside Zone.  Identifying this information can now give you the opportunity to decide how you will defend plays.  What front will give you the best opportunity to defend these runs. 

YOU CANNOT defend any offense without information on it.  I understand that watching streams is entertaining but you also need to be gathering information if you want to be competitive.  Until you do this, some of you will never make it out of your division and never win it unless you just get lucky.

b.  This second point is related to the first, namely, you need to take stock of their formations.  While your focus is on defending plays and not formations, formations can make certain plays more effective because of alignment.  In other words, you can get beat because of the alignment.  I've had this happen, you have had this happen.

c.  Identifying Personnel and Formations.  Some of this stuff should just be common sense, but I dunno, I feel like I need to post it for some.  This can help your defensive call.  For example, IF you see Wildcat, or the Taysom Hill package, you need to immediately go conservative on Option Defense AND you need to get aggressive on defense.  This is not a time to be sitting back in 2 deep zone and getting gashed because you don't have enough defenders in the run fit.

d.  What are the team tendencies?  After you have identified the formations, key runs and passes you need to track tendencies.  As you watch streams, when did they call these plays?  Are some formations and plays situationally?  That is, do they only run this in the redzone?  Inside the 5?

e.  Can we cover all of their weapons?  The answer to this will determine your level of aggression.  If you cannot cover their weapons you might need to play bend but don't break until you can get aggressive.  Make the offense earn every yard and be determined not to give up 30 + yards at a time.

I could say more, but there are some things I will keep to myself.  BUT, this stuff doesn't really take that long to do.  Get your asses to work and most of all, get better.