Blitzing Strategies?

[TOhasBO]

OK I give up. I've played over 1000 games, I've played 17 seasons in my current league, and I've tried everything possible that I know, and I cannot ever do an effective blitz (not counting goaline and 5-2) I don't expect a blitz work everytime, not even alot, just once in awhile would be cool with me. I know blitzing works because people do it to me all the time. I know for a fact there is a trick to blitzing effectively.

I created a Steeler team, 5 ability Golds- Harrison, Polamalu Silver- Farrior, Bronze- Woodley. This team should be able to get some sacks, right? Well Farrior lead my team with 3, and most of them were in goal line situations. I blitzed often, and EVERYTIME it was picked up. I kept trying cause I wanted to figure something out,and nothing worked. I tried just the base D(no hot blitz) every dline rush (mix, razor right left, etc) zone blitzes, I tried every hot blitz option, tried all the blitzes out of bear so I could blitz both golds, tried manual blitzing, I'VE TRIED EVERY WAY POSSIBLE AND NOTHING WORKS.

So obviously I'm missing something, and it's frustrating because I wanna use more defensive teams. I wanna be able to mix up my D, instead of just playing coverage everytime. For me to make a great defensive team is pointless, because my D doesnt make plays. Again I know for a fact blitzing works because every season I get sacked 40+ times. I watch replays and many times the blitzing LB comes through the line untouched. Any help would be appreciated, for example a play call,the dline rush, and what if any hot blitz adjustments you make. Please be specific, and explain in detail. I'm not a noob, I understand this game. Oh I don't want any cheese blitzes though. Thanks for your help.

[badasp83]

Make sure you make yer own playbook up already (if you haven't already).
I use different line stunts at different times & try to mix up my blitzes.
I use thew 3-4 , 3-3 nickle & 3-2 dime.
Here's my 08 Steelers team (only 3 ability caps):
G: OLB-Harrison: Closing Speed/Bull Rush/Ball Strip
G: SS-Polamalu: Spd Bnr/Big Hit/Ball Hawk
S: QB-Roethlisberger: Scrambler/Rocket Arm
S: WR-Ward: Soft Hands/Clutch
S: OLB-Woodley: Closing Speed/Loose Ball Magnet
B: TE-Miller: Soft Hands /WR-Holmes: Deep Threat /HB-Parker: Spd Bnr
B: DT-Hampton: Run Cvg/ DE-Smith: Pass Rush/ FS-Clark: Footsteps
I've gotten good pressure with Woodley & Harrison.
Sometimes the line will pick up the LBs only to free up Hampton er Smith.
Couple ones that seem to work well of late. Have the D-line shift left or rite with both OLB's blitzing.
Also the one in 3-4 where the OLB & SS are blitzing. :thumbsup:

[nyknicks33]

Razor Stunts: Your DT, and DE attempt to open a crease for a blitzer to run through.

Its like a OL trying to open a lane for a HB, but in reverse. You want to send your blitzer into that gap.

Mix and twist stunts, you want to blitz to the outside.

Fan and contain stunts. I like to actually blitz right up the middle on these stunts. Why? because if I can send my guy right into the guard, that leaves my legend DT isolated on the C. If he beats him, great, if not, I also have the chance of beating the G, or having a DE beat the Tackle.

All In stunts: Designed for collapsing the pocket. Blast right up the middle , and overwhelm the interior of the line with numbers.

Like most things in this game its a catch 22. If you do these things manually, you have a better chance of success, as you can follow the bright yellow arrow and blitz properly , as opposed to the AI, which doesnt always do this. The trade off is that you are trusting your AI coverage.

If you cover, you can account for the hole that the blitz leaves, but you are taking a roll of the dice as to whether or not your blitzers will run the play as designed.

I would suggest mixing it up and doing a bit of both.

[Kdrontle]

You have to manually blitz to get any consistent form of success except for those rare anomaly games where your players shuck every block and sack the QB nearly every play.

NYKIA was right on about the stunts. I even run the 7 man blitz when my opponent is in a 2 back formation and control the guy who I KNOW will come free and pick up the near instant sack. If you don't manually control the blitzer they do so many things to fail it makes it very bad from a cost-benefit ratio. You've seen it, BAD angles, strafing during the throwing animation... running INTO OL. It's really a raw deal.

If you know who the free man is supposed to be, I'd control him. For an overall good pass rush, if you can control the rush OLB in a 3-4 you can be a playmaker against the pass and run. This can mislead your opponent because he won't know it's a blitz every time you control that guy. I have that problem... once I snag a sack or 2 they have all their attention focused on who I control and where I go... it's really annoying. I think I'm going to try changing players after the snap quickly to a pass rusher... that may work better.

[BoiseCowboys]

TO, blitzing doesn't work in this game. Most sacks come from the DL. The only blitz that works consistantly for me is 4-3 fan your D-lineman, all blitz (Blitzing your 3 LBs), but that leaves a lot of holes in the secondary and is very vulnerable to the swing pass. All you need on defense is a OLB and two safeties, maybe a Dlineman. Who cares about defense if they can't stop your offense? :)

[nyknicks33]

You have to manually blitz to get any consistent form of success except for those rare anomaly games where your players shuck every block and sack the QB nearly every play.

NYKIA was right on about the stunts. I even run the 7 man blitz when my opponent is in a 2 back formation and control the guy who I KNOW will come free and pick up the near instant sack. If you don't manually control the blitzer they do so many things to fail it makes it very bad from a cost-benefit ratio. You've seen it, BAD angles, strafing during the throwing animation... running INTO OL. It's really a raw deal.

If you know who the free man is supposed to be, I'd control him. For an overall good pass rush, if you can control the rush OLB in a 3-4 you can be a playmaker against the pass and run. This can mislead your opponent because he won't know it's a blitz every time you control that guy. I have that problem... once I snag a sack or 2 they have all their attention focused on who I control and where I go... it's really annoying. I think I'm going to try changing players after the snap quickly to a pass rusher... that may work better.

I'm bagging full time safety control because of this :(.

It's a shame, because I've had a lot of fun doing it, but I simply do not like what my front 7 is doing out there. They arent reacting well, consistantly enough.

[Valdarez]

Blitzing does work, thought not every time, which seems to be everyone's expectation. The key to blitzing is calling the right D-Line play in conjunction with a Blitz that sends a LB into the Gap that your D-Line is opening. Remember, a good blitz must send more players than they have to block. So if they have 5 on the line, and 2 back to block, then you need to send 8 to guarantee an overload. Your chances of getting a blitz go down with relation to the # of blockers your opponent has blocking. The Star ability of your DLine and your LBs will also contribute to the blitzing success of your team.

http://www.2kfootballstrategy.com/modules.php?name=2k8Football&pageId=Tips_Of_The_Week#Tip_2

[Numbski]

If you want high-percentage blitz success, then you need to be picky about when you blitz, and be okay with pressure and not getting there. This is what I've resigned myself to, and it works out well.

Number one, you need to define for yourself what a blitzing down is, and stick to it. For me, it's typically greater than 10 yards on second or third down. I will mix it up once in a while, but generally speaking if it's third and 13, the blitz is coming.

Secondly, how much are you willing to risk in exchange for that pressure? For me, I want to guarantee that I bring at least one more than my opponent can block, so given my imaginary scenario above, I may very well come out in a bear formation, which gives me 4 down linemen, then pick a blitz that brings two right off the strong side edge. That's 6, but that's blockable. I have a few blitzes out of that package that I'll modify to put a safety over deep middle, and two corners set to bump. I'll then manually bring one linebacker and hot blitz the other. That brings 8 on the blitz - 4 on the line, 2 up the gut, and 2 off the strong-side edge. It leaves me vulnerable to quick slot, screens/swings, and rollouts to the weak side. It does however more or less guarantee to get pressure on anything more than a 1 step drop, which is what I want. I don't mind the pass getting completed, I just want it shut down short of the first down. A sack is gravy. Make sure you have some defensive audibles lined up in case they hurry-up off that play though. Don't want to be caught with your pants down coming out gunning for the QB too hard. ;)

[Kdrontle]

Blitzing does work, thought not every time, which seems to be everyone's expectation. The key to blitzing is calling the right D-Line play in conjunction with a Blitz that sends a LB into the Gap that your D-Line is opening. Remember, a good blitz must send more players than they have to block. So if they have 5 on the line, and 2 back to block, then you need to send 8 to guarantee an overload. Your chances of getting a blitz go down with relation to the # of blockers your opponent has blocking. The Star ability of your DLine and your LBs will also contribute to the blitzing success of your team.

http://www.2kfootballstrategy.com/modules.php?name=2k8Football&pageId=Tips_Of_The_Week#Tip_2

A good blitz is a relative term to me. I believe anything more than 5 is a blitz. The blitz you are describing is of course the overload "all out" type blitz. There are other blitzes that may only send 5, but with good confusion, load parameters and line calls can create good pressure.

It comes down to talent. If you have really athletic pass rushing players in your front 7, you can blitz 5 guys and force the inside shoulder advantage on blockers. From there your talent can shed the block/get to the pocket quickly. I've gotten a fair amount of sacks this way too. Overload blitzes work with anything, especially important for pass rush talent lacking in the front 7. If you have the talent you can get those advantageous positions on OL and from there use moves to get to the QB very quickly, if not faster than the weaker talent coming free.

Sometimes I blitz to ensure 1 on 1 matchups for my gold sack master in the front 7, not to overload. Sometimes you can get in free on blitzes that send the same or less amount of blocking that they have. That's where twists, razors and other techniques really shine. I know of a blitz with a razor stunt that sends 5 and if I manually do it I get in free about 90% of the time.

A good tip for the 7 man blitz out of 3-4 is to use a base or fan stunt on the DL. Your rush OLB will come free if your DE takes the tackle.

If you look at the zone blitzes in the game, they all only send 4 I believe. They rely on confusing the OL to get by them. That's the purpose of twists and other movement from your blitzers. If you are attempting just overload blitzes, have everyone run straight because any wasted steps are pointless!

My big issue with many of the blitzes is how it feels like most deep routes can get completed with legend WR's despite even an overload blitz. They can drop, stop and throw before I can even get close to being there. I've played many people where I can't even get a whiff at their QB because the throws come out so fast! What I usually do at this point is fake blitzes and send only 3 guys. If he is throwing the ball immediately, there's no point in sending pass rushers. Any strategies for this?

[Numbski]

Don't blitz? :)

That's why I almost never blitz unless it's greater than 10 yards to go. Too easy to complete the deep ball. Make them wait not just on the route, but the distance.

[merv-illest]

Hmm, I love to blitz you TO cuz you love to throw...but it's high risk high reward because you read defenses so well. The thing I've noticed about this game is that generics do not blitz well, while stars are pretty affective. The key is confusing the Oline by showing blitz with your LBs and sending 2 or 1, this is especially affective in 3 - 4, what tends to happen is either the LBs will get through clean or the Olinemen will let one of the Dlinemen get in due to worrying about the LB coming in. Sometimes you don't even have to send the LBs just show blitz and they get confused. Blitzing safeties works too, like last night when we played I think I got sack or some quick pressure from Dawkins, I forget which one...but yeah blitzing works you just gotta find what works with the squad you have on the field.

[hibachiii]

Ask Leeroy. His 3-2 Nano blitz works 90% of the time...

[Kdrontle]

Hmm, I love to blitz you TO cuz you love to throw...but it's high risk high reward because you read defenses so well. The thing I've noticed about this game is that generics do not blitz well, while stars are pretty affective. The key is confusing the Oline by showing blitz with your LBs and sending 2 or 1, this is especially affective in 3 - 4, what tends to happen is either the LBs will get through clean or the Olinemen will let one of the Dlinemen get in due to worrying about the LB coming in. Sometimes you don't even have to send the LBs just show blitz and they get confused. Blitzing safeties works too, like last night when we played I think I got sack or some quick pressure from Dawkins, I forget which one...but yeah blitzing works you just gotta find what works with the squad you have on the field.

Interesting point. I never show blitz because I fear the run will kill me. Maybe I need to incorporate this in to downs where I KNOW a pass is coming. Show blitz and blitz or fake it. Good call.

[gumbo31]

I think the biggest problem defensively in this game is the lack of pressure on QBs. No blitz works all the time-- which it shouldn't, but Zone blitzes are garbage, the players too often take weird angles, and bear and 4-4 don't generate pressure the way they should.

[FLAxWLESS]

People forget that blitzing doesn't just mean sacking the QB. Blitzing works in this game, especially if you manually blitz, but the key is that you are bringing pressure to the QB.

A successful blitz is a blitz that results in a sack or forces the QB to make a rash decision/poor throw. If you ever see the QB throw an INT or an errant pass almost 75% of the time the QB was facing pressure. If you face a bronze QB you can force so many errant passes just by blitzing although you never ever touch the QB.

So when you're looking at a successful blitz don't just look for sacks... INC and INT are a direct result of blitzing.

[merv-illest]

People forget that blitzing doesn't just mean sacking the QB. Blitzing works in this game, especially if you manually blitz, but the key is that you are bringing pressure to the QB.

A successful blitz is a blitz that results in a sack or forces the QB to make a rash decision/poor throw. If you ever see the QB throw an INT or an errant pass almost 75% of the time the QB was facing pressure. If you face a bronze QB you can force so many errant passes just by blitzing although you never ever touch the QB.

So when you're looking at a successful blitz don't just look for sacks... INC and INT are a direct result of blitzing.

Yes, pressure = success, also when you show blitz it makes your opponent think to get rid of it quickly...this is when you manually control an LB, anticipate where they're going to go with it and pick it off.

[nflhitman]

I will give you guys all a secret on how to get your LB's and Secondary personal to blitz effectively.

Ok here it comes........

Are you ready for it???????

Instead of sending them on a hot blitz or a delayed blitz you need to assign the LB you want to blitz to spy the QB. If you set your LB to spy the QB they will attack the QB no matter where he goes and will come through the line untouched if you don't have RB's back there to protect.

Try it out!!!

[Kdrontle]

I will give you guys all a secret on how to get your LB's and Secondary personal to blitz effectively.

Ok here it comes........

Are you ready for it???????

Instead of sending them on a hot blitz or a delayed blitz you need to assign the LB you want to blitz to spy the QB. If you set your LB to spy the QB they will attack the QB no matter where he goes and will come through the line untouched if you don't have RB's back there to protect.

Try it out!!!

Regarding Flawless' post: YES! You are exactly right! That's what I was kind of alluding to when talking about sending 5 and getting inside shoulders on guys. You PRESSURE QB's well that way, even if the sack doesn't happen.

Regarding Hitman: Thanks for the idea! I'll give it a shot. I did notice getting a fair amount of sacks, especially out of gold LB's using QB spy, especially when the goal wasn't a sack!

[Numbski]

The whole "spy the qb thing" for a pass rush I've found only really works on deep plays. I'll take them where I can get them though. ;)

[kjell1979]

Can you QB spy on the fly? Or is this something you can only setup in the matchups screen?

[Numbski]

You spy the QB just like you would assign double coverage. The QB is always "A".

[guava9]

Thank you, x-boxers. This guy dominates the Gridiron League and all of you just made him that much better. I really appreciate it. :thumbsup:

[Numbski]

Hey, don't mention it. Maybe I should go rent a PS3 and pop up on PSN with my 3-2 defense. ;)

[Ebineezer]

Thank you, x-boxers. This guy dominates the Gridiron League and all of you just made him that much better. I really appreciate it. :thumbsup:

Yeah Guav I was thinking the same thing. T.O. has like 5 championships in our league, without knowing how to blitz. I can only imagine the results this feedback will generate. Sheeeeeesh.........:eek:

[TOhasBO]

I will give you guys all a secret on how to get your LB's and Secondary personal to blitz effectively.

Ok here it comes........

Are you ready for it???????

Instead of sending them on a hot blitz or a delayed blitz you need to assign the LB you want to blitz to spy the QB. If you set your LB to spy the QB they will attack the QB no matter where he goes and will come through the line untouched if you don't have RB's back there to protect.

Try it out!!!

THIS IS THE SECRET I'VE BEEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT FOR 1 1/2 years, thank you. Everyone mentioned things, but I don't think you guys understand I've tried it all. Every single stunt, every blitz package. I know blitzing doesnt work all the time, but people do it effectively against me. So I know it works sometimes. There no defense I worry about accept have no time to throw. and I'm willing to bet this piece of info is what they know about, and what they do. I knew there was a trick to blitzing outside of picking the right play. I've never ever tried the qb spy, tomorrow I'm gonna test it out.

[zhaoyun707]

Yeah Guav I was thinking the same thing. T.O. has like 5 championships in our league, without knowing how to blitz. I can only imagine the results this feedback will generate. Sheeeeeesh.........:eek:
No more talk of darkness,
Forget these wide-eyed fears.
I'm here, nothing can harm you - my words will warm and calm you.

[TOhasBO]

Yeah Guav I was thinking the same thing. T.O. has like 5 championships in our league, without knowing how to blitz. I can only imagine the results this feedback will generate. Sheeeeeesh.........:eek:

This is the info that you no, that you would not tell me. I've asked you and asked you how you continuously get sacks with your linebackers and you've always pleaded the 5th. I'm thinking Brand figured this out also, because lately his lb's are crushing me also. Did you 2 share this info amongst each other? The whole league knows how to do this but me, huh? I sat in practice mode for 2 hours with that steeler team trying everything possible (but spying the qb) and you knew all along what I was searching for. LOL It's all good buddy, if everything you've just read is true, watch out. You will soon know what it feels like to get sacked 7 times a game, and throw 5 picks in a games because you're under heat. I'm disappointed in you son, you've let dad down.

[zhaoyun707]

This is the info that you no, that you would not tell me. I've asked you and asked you how you continuously get sacks with your linebackers and you've always pleaded the 5th. I'm thinking Brand figured this out also, because lately his lb's are crushing me also. Did you 2 share this info amongst each other? The whole league knows how to do this but me, huh? I sat in practice mode for 2 hours with that steeler team trying everything possible (but spying the qb) and you knew all along what I was searching for. LOL It's all good buddy, if everything you've just read is true, watch out. You will soon know what it feels like to get sacked 7 times a game, and throw 5 picks in a games because you're under heat. I'm disappointed in you son, you've let dad down.

Let me be your freedom,
let daylight dry your tears.
I'm here with you, beside you,
to guard you and to guide you...

[BrandH]

This is the info that you no, that you would not tell me. I've asked you and asked you how you continuously get sacks with your linebackers and you've always pleaded the 5th. I'm thinking Brand figured this out also, because lately his lb's are crushing me also. Did you 2 share this info amongst each other? The whole league knows how to do this but me, huh? I sat in practice mode for 2 hours with that steeler team trying everything possible (but spying the qb) and you knew all along what I was searching for. LOL It's all good buddy, if everything you've just read is true, watch out. You will soon know what it feels like to get sacked 7 times a game, and throw 5 picks in a games because you're under heat. I'm disappointed in you son, you've let dad down.

I can honestly say I have never QB spyed except for calling Hail Mary defense. The reason I get pressure on you is that I just hot blitz extra guys and I have also had leadership on my front 7 lately. Why lay back and burn?

[BrandH]

Also I wont get sacked 7 times in a game unless someone creates a monster pass rusher. I will only send out 2 receivers if it is that bad.

(You're my bro and everything, but please don't call youself dad again. There is already 1 D-Bag on this forum that does it) :)

[guava9]

The day I get sacked 7 times is the day I go 4 or 5 wide 85% of the time and I don't have any offensive linemen and I don't leave any RBs in to block.

[kjell1979]

You spy the QB just like you would assign double coverage. The QB is always "A".

Hmm, so when I click one of the bumpers that enters the DB/LB adjustments, then pick a player, and press "A", it assigns the player to a short zone.

[dbgameover]

thx for the tips i can know use an effective 3-4 at least a little

[TOhasBO]

The day I get sacked 7 times is the day I go 4 or 5 wide 85% of the time and I don't have any offensive linemen and I don't leave any RBs in to block.

I get sacked in i form also.I get sacked in every formation, the main reason is because I hold the ball to long, and I like to go deep. And I always keeps backs in to block, they just don't block. Offensive tackles are pointless in this game, with this current season I have a silver tackle, and he don't do squat. I could use a guard though since he can pull. Regardless the main reasons I get sacked so much are, I pass to much (allowing my opponents to run the mix front, this front is most effective for a pass rush) and I hold the ball to long. Plus most of the time I looking down field, not at the rush. Running 4 and 5 wide does have something to do with it, but that's the way I like to play. Running the ball is easy and boring.

[BigM12]

I've never known this before.

[kjell1979]

Hmm, so when I click one of the bumpers that enters the DB/LB adjustments, then pick a player, and press "A", it assigns the player to a short zone.

I tried in practice mode all last night and no matter what I did, if you assign a defensive player (LB/DB) to hot-cover the "A" receiver it puts that person in a short zone instead. I'm confused.

[Kdrontle]

I get sacked in i form also.I get sacked in every formation, the main reason is because I hold the ball to long, and I like to go deep. And I always keeps backs in to block, they just don't block. Offensive tackles are pointless in this game, with this current season I have a silver tackle, and he don't do squat. I could use a guard though since he can pull. Regardless the main reasons I get sacked so much are, I pass to much (allowing my opponents to run the mix front, this front is most effective for a pass rush) and I hold the ball to long. Plus most of the time I looking down field, not at the rush. Running 4 and 5 wide does have something to do with it, but that's the way I like to play. Running the ball is easy and boring.

The key to not getting sacked is assuming pressure will get there on deep passes. This means you will be watching your OL and shuffling within the pocket/scrambling/QB evading before making a throw. At least that's my attitude towards throwing long developing routes with limited talent. You have to watch your QB and WR at the same time, with more focus on the QB/OL.

I tried in practice mode all last night and no matter what I did, if you assign a defensive player (LB/DB) to hot-cover the "A" receiver it puts that person in a short zone instead. I'm confused.

That "short zone" IS a QB spy when the A button is used. Watch that player on a deep route, he will blitz the QB after about a 1 or 2 count.

[Numbski]

That's exactly right. That "short zone" is how the game denotes a QB spy.

[BigM12]

That's exactly right. That "short zone" is how the game denotes a QB spy.

What he said. The short zone is the way the game shows a QB Spy.

[TOhasBO]

I've been trying this and it hasn't worked> I don't really have the team for this though,so I will continue to try with a better front 7. I wish my guy wouldn't pause 2 seconds before rushing the qb.

[BigM12]

I've been trying this and it hasn't worked> I don't really have the team for this though,so I will continue to try with a better front 7. I wish my guy wouldn't pause 2 seconds before rushing the qb.

You're just cursed.

[nflhitman]

I've been trying this and it hasn't worked> I don't really have the team for this though,so I will continue to try with a better front 7. I wish my guy wouldn't pause 2 seconds before rushing the qb.

They always pause before blitzing. It should work with even generic QB's.