Slowing down the run?

[dtrain053]

Ok so my league team (SFL Firebirds)has been alittle suspect against the run and I was wondering what kind of formations might help. I think the problem is in the generic setup. The team is supposed to be Run Stop Line and Run Stop LB's. I was tinkering with it before the league started and made the LB's are balanced which is terrible when I have faced two marqe (SPELL) guys in Cambell, and Simpson. I held the Qb's in check in my first two games (Under 200 yrds and Under 50% Cmp) but come forth quater my front seven can't stop the run. I need help guys this is my first league and I don't plan on losing every week because of a poor generic setup. Thanks.

MY LINEUP

G: Brown
G: Sanders (Small Sets) (Some 3/4 Wide Sets at WR)
S: Dawson
S: Lloyd (Playing Middle)
S: Butler (Goaline OLB)
B: Robinson
B: Mcdaniel
B: Moore
B: Harper
B: Metslazarrs
B: Okoye (Big Sets) (Some Three wide Sets at HB)

[ElGreazy78]

It looks like you might need to get at least one D-lineman. I think people really don't take into consideration how effective they can be. Sure they may not make many tackles, but they do clog up holes and slow down the offensive line from getting to their 2nd level blocking assignment.

Also, I'd avoid putting Lloyd at MLB because he is great at containing everything on the edge and flows to the ball when it is on the opposite side of his position.

[badasp83]

I made a team of 6 created players (the same 5 I've been using for years -and added one I've been creating for CAP teams here). I have a DT and DE both with Closing Speed (bronze)-(2 DEs would work). They are surprisingly good. I tested them out on the Legends. They had 2 sacks apiece by end of game. I kept them to 9 yards rushing! BTW here's what the team looks like:
ILB-(Speed Burner,Run Cvg,Strength Bonus)HB-(Speed Burner,Finesse&Power,Workhorse)
CB-Barney/CB-(Speed Burner,BallHawk)/OLB-(ClosingSpeed,BallHawk)
DT/DE/WR-Sanders/TE-Metz/QB-Krieg/WR-R.Moore

[dtrain053]

Problem is that outside of moving Lloyd back to OLB (which I prefer not to do) I can't add anybody to the roster because the team is in a league. So I'm looking for tips for formations and play calls for run stuffing.
I'm a fan of Goaline with Both Outside LB's blitzing but don't want to upset anyone with both crashing in the middle. I do it to take away the run in 3 or 4th and short but if I use it outside of that people might think I'm exploiting a glitch. So for other situations what are some good playcalls to help sure up my run defense?

[ElGreazy78]

Well if that's the case, I think the best bet is to run short/close zones and have Lloyd spy the RB but this will make you succeptable to the long ball unless you manually assign your secondary to deeper zones.

Normally the MLB is best for stuffing the hole to allow other players to come help but in your case you're kind of screwed because you're stuck with what you have. If teams gamers are taking exception to your aggressive blitzing schemes then screw 'em; better players will counter it with draws, screens, or deep passes but if they don't, that's not your problem.

Do you have a 4-4 defensive formation in your playbook? That is generally the bread and butter way to stop the run and considering you have a pretty good secondary (Legend wise) you should be able to not get gashed on too many deep passes.

[Get Crazy]

Ok so my league team (SFL Firebirds)has been alittle suspect against the run and I was wondering what kind of formations might help. I think the problem is in the generic setup. The team is supposed to be Run Stop Line and Run Stop LB's. I was tinkering with it before the league started and made the LB's are balanced which is terrible when I have faced two marqe (SPELL) guys in Cambell, and Simpson. I held the Qb's in check in my first two games (Under 200 yrds and Under 50% Cmp) but come forth quater my front seven can't stop the run. I need help guys this is my first league and I don't plan on losing every week because of a poor generic setup. Thanks.

I was one of them, I believe that you played man with blitzes a lot...if you're having problems with the run, play zone...and a lot of it. Man defenses will get killed my the run b/c if that 1 guy doesn't make the tackle, then its off to the races

[cws3e]

I was one of them, I believe that you played man with blitzes a lot...if you're having problems with the run, play zone...and a lot of it. Man defenses will get killed my the run b/c if that 1 guy doesn't make the tackle, then its off to the races



Exactly what I was going to say play lots of zone. Move your guy back to OLB and if you are worried about runs up the middle move a safety in for run support.

[stl1fanman]

Go with 4-4 or 4-6 short zones with D-Line pinced or all in for stopping the inside run.

For the outside run. If your opponnent is on say the right hash mark do a razer left with your D-Line and blitz the ROLB or free safety. If he's on the left hash mark do a razer right and blitz the strong safety.

Or try blitzing a CB too.

This works for me. But eventually your opponent will adjust and you'll have to disguise what your doing.

When your opponent adjust to your defense and then you have to adjust and disguise what your doing. I just think its beautiful

[dtrain053]

Wyza, you are a bit mistaken, I'd say I run about 80-85% zone. I mix up the coverages and fronts to disguise the man and zone coverages. It's tough to tell because I move my defenders around into spots were they look like man coverage but it's zone. If players aren't carefull they end up trowing right into coverage.

However at the end of the game I was desperate to stop Cambell so I was running 4-3 All Linebacker Blitz and Shadowing Cambell with all three LB's which you quickly picked up on. I had never tried it but nothing else was working so I figured I'd at least try it. You just outplayed me and it was a fair game, so my hats off to you sir. I just need to figure out the run with this team, (and I will) and I'll hopefully get a win the next time we face off.

[ElGreazy78]

Yes, blitzing CB's (especially because you have Brown) will really help as well. Also, if you play an under zone with the CB's (where CB's cover the flats) you will greatly help eliminate a lot of the runs to the outside, just be careful because this could potentially leave you open for something deep downfield.

[dtrain053]

My bad I only played Cambell, not Simpson yet. The other guy I played used Otis Anderson, and he ran for 100 yards. Cambell ran for 160. Funny thing they both had Montana and threw 8-15 151 1 Int, and 8-18 168 2TD. Thanks for the tips about the run guys. I appreciate it all.

[ElGreazy78]

Trust me, man, you'll get better the more you play and learn to adapt to situations.

[Get Crazy]

However at the end of the game I was desperate to stop Cambell so I was running 4-3 All Linebacker Blitz and Shadowing Cambell with all three LB's which you quickly picked up on.

That's where you messed up...if you didn't notice, I didn't run earl much til like the 3rd mainlybc I got tired of seeing screen passes. I usually try to pass more than I run b/c I stink at it and the only way to get used to it is to practice, but once I got you out of zone and into man defenses, I knew it was time for earl to run wild...plus it was late in the game and that's where he plays best