man or zone?
 

When playing D, how many out there come out playing man to man and then go zone or do you play it just one way like playing man to man to the end? $cch$

I like to mix it up. I do send at least five defenders to the QB on every play. I play a nickle Zone on obviuose passing plays. If i play zone too much my nephews like to run draws (a passing formation run) or quick screens to the outside. OUCH!

Good Question.....
 

ftbll$ ftbll$

The best way to play it is to mix it up between Man-to-man and Zone defenses.

You can play it a lot of ways (zones) but the main thing for me is not to give up the big play.

if you can keep stuff in front of you, the better it is for the defense.

i like the over and under zones where the CB plays a "drift" coverage and uses the sideline as an extra defenderwhile the FS plays the undernenth coverage by running towards the sidelines.

it is still important to get the quick pressure on the QB to force the pass into traffic where INTS happen.

Trust me, I get my share of them using this type of zone coverage.thmbsp$ thmbsp$

K-Lo is wise beyond his years Andre!

Question???
 

How do you guys setup to play zone (i.e. stationary, spinning bases or putting them on backwards)?:confused:

Man or Zone
 

We have a rule that the defense can play man to man unless there is 15 yards or more for a first down, then the defense must play zone. You can play man or zone on any play, but with 15 yards or more, you must play zone--except inside the opp. 20 yard line.

I find myself playing man most of the time....and trying to get a very fast pass rush to keep me from getting burned for big plays. I have the pass rush coming from all sorts of outside positions to keep folks from running outside on me too. I do my best to keep one or two players back as a safety net....to react if things go badly at first and a receiver/runner does break free! All this requires an absolutely solid run stuffing middle though....I typically count on 3 linemen to plug the middle with one or two linebackers in support. The rest of the linebackers are loopers and speed rushers....I will also gamble and blitz a safety or corner at times...I try to take an angle there that puts me between the QB and receiver. I hate to say it.....but putting lots of your defenders on the line (unlike a typical NFL set) seems to work best in electric football....However, to do that you have to have some very good "athletes"...you know, great tweaked bases! My next big projects are to generate a pass rusher for the middle....probably on a boat style base....and to create bump and run corners.

The thing about putting all your defenders on the line you can get burned. Never like that play :confused:

No, not all of them. It does not take long to find out that setting up a pretty, balanced, nice looking NFL style defense does not work, it took about three plays with some dudes from Los Angeles against me to see that. Keep a few players back. A good defense in MF does not look like TV or a Madden game a lot of times.

i disagree with the fact that you CAN setup a nice looking NFL style defense and be effective!!

I try to build my teams to be able to accomplish this both on defense and on offense.....

it comes down to the "athletes" on the field to make those plays......thmbsp$ thmbsp$

I don't advocate putting everyone on the line.....don't get me wrong.....but I often have as many as 9 up on the line. I don't think it looks right....but it does work. I have played against some pretty experienced players and if you try to set up in a 4-3 or 3-4 NFL defense, you will simply be dominated.

When I was in the NYEFL I played man to man all the time from a 4-3 formation and was good at stopping most people, I guess to each his own.:)

Andre, what were the reasons behind you successfully stopping most people? (Strong bases on line, good loopers, shut down corners, etc.) I'm still learning and want to know what works for most coaches.

you need all of that, but one thing I usually stress to new coaches - decide what you want to do in terms of schemes, then build you team with that in mind.

Next you must KNOW your players...after have all the best a tweak can offer, you still need to know (1) how does that player run? (2) how fast; (3) can he play another position??

answering those questions will make more questions, but at least you are working towards the finish line.

Thanks for the input. How do you gear your defense to stop power running teams? I noticed the league in my area (GLEFL) is a power league and the couple of games I saw had coaches pretty much lining their guys up on the line of scrimmage.

Hi detroitchild,

Now I am not an expert but for starters you might want to find someone who is good at tweaking bases for strength. If nothing else you at least want to try and not get blwon off of the line of scrimmage. You also might want to find some loopers who can come off the corner. Finally I don't know the rules of your league but occasionally you may want to put some of your defenders in the gaps if that is allowed. I am sure there are others with more experience who can help but hope this .02 cents is helpful.

Coach J

All the things Coach_J said is all good. detroitchild try making a D team for speed, speed VS power= fast to the ball stoppes the play before it starts

You may want to play the numbers game. What I mean by that is play a combo between man and zone. If your opponent is playing a twins formation where he has 2 receivers split out to the same side, try playing 3 over their 2.

Put your corner playing man on the number 1 receiver (outside one) along with a decent outside linebacker/strong safety over the number 2 receiver (the inside one).

Then play a cover 2 shell over the top with your free safeties. Thus the 3 over 2. If a receiver gets past one of your defenders, you have a free safety for support over the top.

You can play your safeties with inside leverage if you are playing someone who likes to slip in a run now and then. It helps to have good linebackers to free up your safeties for pass coverage.

Having a safety over the top can also free up one of your man to man cover guys to slip in a corner or outside linebacker blitz.

Good Luck.

Why do you "force" defense to play zone?

Because we play with....
 

self-passing rules. We don't turn the board off during any play, and we don't allow the defense to pivot players. If the defense were allowed to play man solely, then receivers would have a free release down the field creating too many big plays--we want to keep the realism of the game. Actually the defense only has to zone one side of the field--you can still bump and run the other side.

do you have any video showing your style of play?