NCAA FOOTBALL 2007 DEFENSE FAQ ***************************************************************************** This FAQ is Copyrighted 2006 (c) by Brett. Any unauthorized reproduction is strictly prohitibed under all circumstances and is deemed illegal. This guide is for GameFAQS only and must not be published without the permission of the author, me. I also may allow a few other sites to post this FAQ. I will list them in a future update. ***************************************************************************** Hello, my name is Brett and I am currently working on this FAQ for defense in NCAA 2007. I have played the NCAA series since NCAA 99 but I really got into it when they started coming out for the Playstation 2. I try my hardest to focus on defense, which I think is the most important aspect of football. In this FAQ, I hope to make you a better defensive player and hopefully you will be able to beat your friends and the CPU without any problems. IF you have any questions or comments please send me an email to: [email protected] 11/9/06 - This FAQ is still in development. If you would like to contribute or add anything to it feel free to email me and if I post your email I will defintley give you credit. 11/17/06 - I would like to get this FAQ near completiong towards the end of November. If you think of anything else to put on here, please email me and let me know. I will credit you. Thanks! I. QUESTIONS a...Why a Defensive FAQ? b...Ok what Defensive playbook should I use? c...What about offense? d...What team should I use? e...Who should I control on defense? II. DEFENSIVE PLAYBOOKS AND THEIR GRADE ***************************************************************************** Version 0.1 - Began introduction, questions, and grades only for playbooks Version 0.2 - Added 5-2, Nickel, Dime, and Dime 3-2-6. Version 0.3 - Added most of the playbooks' grades and analysis Version 0.4 - Added legal junk. More general notes. Added Goal Line defense. ***************************************************************************** I. QUESTIONS 1. Why a Defensive FAQ? Defense is your best chance at success in college football. Forcing turnovers, getting key three and outs, QB sacks, big hits, and tackling the RB for a big loss can be a turning point in a game and give your offense some life. Basically, if you find yourself getting beat by the CPU (on AA level or higher) or getting beat by your friends, I hope after reading this Defensive FAQ you will gain a new understanding of how to play good defense in NCAA Football 2007. Above and beyond anything else, the key to your defense is your Defensive Line (D-Line). Any time the offense gets a huge gain or a big play, then there was something wrong the D-Line execution. For example; let's say Auburn QB Brandon Cox drops back, and finds Kenny Irons in the flats, and Kenny Irons runs for a 30 yard gain. Now ask yourself, who could have prevented that play from even happening? If the D-Line had gotten penetration and given Brandon Cox pressure, god knows what kind of throw he would have made, or if he would have gotten the throw off at all. The D-Line's responsibility on passing downs is to prevent any play from happening. A sack is nice but getting into the QBs face and forcing a bad throw can be even better. If you can somehow master this with your D-Line along with stopping a running game, your defense will be killer. There is no team who would be able to beat you if you can consistently get pressure with your D-Line. However, that is the tough part since a lot of teams have excellent Offensive Line (O-Line) play. Hopefully, after reading this guide you will realize the importance of defense and you will be much better at it. 2. Ok then What defensive playbook do I pick? Well, that's what I'm hoping to help you out with. You need to find a playbook that suits your style and suits your talent on defense. If you only have 3 good D-Linemen but you have 4 quality Linebackers, then you might want to go with a 3-4 defense. Basically, you want your best players on the field, so choose the right defense which puts your best players on the field. If you can't decide and it seems like each defense is alike, I recommend the 4-3 defense, but that's just me. :) 3. What about offense? Yeah offense is huge in college football too. You can't win if you don't score points. But remember, many times the Defense is responsible for giving life to your offense. That's why I chose to do a Defensive FAQ, because I think it's more important then offense. 4. What team should I use? Well, it depends on the situation. If you want a good defensive team, then I would pick one with a good D-Line. **NOTE: I would like to put a list here of the teams with the best D-Lines. If you would like to help me out I would greatly appreciate it. My email is [email protected]. I will give you credit if I post your email. END NOTE** 5. Who should I control on defense? This is one of the most popular questions I get. In a short answer, control whoever you feel most comfortable controlling. Try out every different defensive position and control the one you feel you can stop the defense easily with. This will differ for everyone. I know people who use their middle LB only. I also know people who use a FS at all times. Who I control on defense strongly depends on the defensive play that I have called. For example; if I have a 4-3 Cover 3 in, I pick the SS and cover the shallow end of the field because it's easier then covering deep. You want to avoid controlling defenders whose main responsibility is the deep portion of the field. This means safties in a cover 2, CB in a Cover 3, etc..Because one on one coverage is very difficult for a user controlled DB. I have an order in which I control my defensive player. My first choice is always the SS. I feel the SS can make the biggest impact for a defense if he is allowed to roam free and have the option to stop the run or commit to pass coverage. My second choice is Outside LB. (Either one) I like them because you have the option to add more pressure to the offense, regardless of what his assignment is. My third and last option is the LE. I like the LE because I find he gets a clearer path the QB on a 3rd down passing play. I rarely use the "Great Jump" feature because it is too easy. Like I said earlier, the defensive playcall you pick strongly impacts which defender to control. Here is a list of play assignments where you should control the defender.. 1. Man coverage on a RB or FB .... If your man is either the RB or FB it is relatively safe to control that defender and do as you please with him on defense. The reason is because the RB and FB are not major passing threats, especially in a running formation. However, I would make an exception during a shotgun formation. 2. A spy .... Anytime your defender is a spy, it is safe to control him. 3. Your coverage assignment is the shallow part of the field... The reason I say shallow part of the field is because it is easier to keep things in front of you then keeping up with a WR behind you. Just remember that your responsibility is your part of the field, don't just go rushing the QB at your own will and leaving your portion of the field wide open. Here is a list of play assignment where you SHOULDN'T control your defender: 1. Man coverage on any WR or TE... Since a TE provides a big target, manually covering him can be a task in itself. Manually covering any WR is hard too, just leave that to the CPU. 2. If the coverage assignment is the deep part of the field.. Coverage is difficult to execute manually. If you select a FS and his coverage assignment is the deep part of the field, it will be much easier to get beat because the CPU always goes for that manual matchup. Case in point: Leave deep and man coverage to the CPU. I would suggest learning and getting comfortable with controlling any part of the defense. Learn to use a S, a LB, and a D-Lineman. This will allow you to open up your defensive playbook and it won't limit your playcalling based on who you feel comfortable controlling. Remember, it doesn't have to be every defensive position. I only have 3 players I control, but it's the playcall where you use that player that matters. Learn to use them. Don't limit yourself to only playing Safety. Remember that the key to a good defense is balanced playcalling, and that includes who you control. Before I start out grading playbooks let me point a few obvious (but maybe not so obvious) points of playing defense. First and foremost, as I stated earlier your entire defense revolves around the play of your D-Line. It is much easier to stop an offense if you have excellent D-Linemen. It is absolutley essential to get pressure on the QB. Now, I'm not saying to do all out blitzes every down, but to blitz a CB or LB or two on occasion to put pressure on him. If you can get pressure with only your D-Line (remember D-Line!) blitzing would not be completley necessary and you can afford to drop 7 back into coverage. To put it simply: If you don't pressure the QB, you won't win. If you pressure him too much, you won't win. The key to good defensive playcalling is balance. Don't blitz on every 3rd and long and don't put in all coverage on every 2nd and 10. Mixing up your defensive plays is the best way to confuse and stop any offense. Use defensive pre-snap audibles whenever you can. ***NOTE: I will update this section with the actual pre-snap audibles in a future update. I do not have access to the game right now END NOTE*** Spy a LB if you feel like the QB may run, blitz a LB if you want to add extra pressure. Pull a DE into coverage to confuse the QB. These additions were new in Madden 2005, but they make their first appearance in NCAA 2007. Get to know them, use them when you want, they can be essential for your defense. Also, please keep your defensive play calling within the realism of the sport. I am not here to condone cheap play. Do not call a 4-4 All Out Blitz on 3rd and long. Do not call a Goal Line defense on 1st and ten. And most important: Please, please, PLEASE, do not take advantage of A.I. flaws in the game. (i.e moving everyone around on defense before the snap, using a safety as a DE and moving him to the outside, etc..) This guide is for people who want to play within the realism of the game. I understand its a video game and yeah, it's fun to do pretty unorthodox things on defense, but please keep them to a minumum. ***************************************************************************** II. DEFENSIVE PLAYBOOKS AND THEIR GRADE In this section I will evaluate and grade each defensive playbook. I will grade them against certain offensive formations. For offensive formations, and this idea was taken out of jeremyw1976's NCAA FOOTBALL2004 FAQ because I couldn't think of a better idea to categorize offensive formations, I will refer to different offensive formations as follows: Tight: 0 or 1 WRs Normal: 2 or 3 WRs Spread: 4 WRs 5 WR Set: 5 WRs 1. 4-3 Vs. Tight Run B Vs. Tight Pass A Vs. Normal Run A Vs. Normal Pass B+ Vs. Spread Run A+ Vs. Spread Pass B- Vs. 5 WR Set B OVERALL Vs. Run A OVERALL Vs. Pass B+ OVERALL A The good about 4-3: A very balanced defense that provides excellent run support and major pass coverage. If you are playing a balanced offense, this is the defense you want. You have the plays to stop short yardage situations and the plays to stop 3rd and long. Being able to stop any type of offense is probably the strong point in the 4-3 defensive playbook. If you are a beginner at NCAA, I would recommend using this playbook, its the easiest to understand and it will give you the best chance at success. The bad about 4-3: Playing a pass heavy team will be trouble. It is difficult to stop a good passing team with this playbook, but not impossible. A good QB will be able to sit back and find an open receiver against 3 LBs in the formation. Its deep coverages aren't too great (I can't tell you how many times I've gotten burned with a cover 3) so refrain from this formation when it's a passing down in a long yardage situation. Tips for using 4-3: 95% of the time you want to use this playbook. If you are playing a run heavy team, a balanced team, pretty much any team that relies on a running game, this playbook is what you need. It counters a team's running ability and also provides very good pass defense. When in doubt, go with the 4-3 playbook. Mix up your formations. Sometimes you'll line a LB on the weak side with no TE and he will have a straight path to the ball carrier whether it's the QB or RB. LBs cover the middle of the field and the slots well and the CBs and Safeties take care of the medium - deep passes. 4-3 can stop any type of offense, which the exception of MAYBE a pass happy team. So make sure you bring pressure with those LBs and mix up your man and zone coverages and with this defense you will be tough to stop! 2. 3-4 Vs. Tight Run C Vs. Tight Pass A Vs. Normal Run B- Vs. Normal Pass B Vs. Spread Run A Vs. Spread Pass A Vs. 5 WR B- OVERALL Vs. Run B OVERALL Vs. Pass B+ OVERALL B+ The good about 3-4: 4 Linebackers gives you more speed than 4-3 and also covers the middle of the field almost flawlessly. When your opponent is using some kind of weird offense that isn't a power offense, the 3-4 is well equipped to stop those unorthodox offenses. Sometimes the 3-4 can be more confusing to the offense than a 4-3. The bad about 3-4: Power-running teams will have a field day against 3-4. Consistently gaining 4-7 yards each carry with ease. Passes along the sidelines and deep passes can be trouble as well since WRs don't match up well with LBs. Tips for using 3-4: If you are playing a spread option offense like West Virginia or Florida is the ideal situation to use 3-4. Even some passing teams would have trouble against 3-4 defenses especially if you take away the middle of the field. Also, a lot of runs are to the outside in those spread formations, so using 3-4 can easily stop those outside runs. With 4 LBs, you have plenty of options with them. Use spy, blitzing or coverage audibles constantly to add another dimension to your defense. There is more speed on the field, but less power (than a 4-3). If you can't stop the power run, then pinch you D-line and blitz your LBs. But watch out for passes when you do that. 3. 4-2-5 Vs. Tight Run C+ Vs. Tight Pass A Vs. Normal Run B Vs. Normal Pass A Vs. Spread Run A+ Vs. Spread Pass B+ Vs. 5 WR B OVERALL Vs. Run B+ OVERALL Vs. Pass B+ OVERALL B+ The good about 4-2-5: With 4 linemen and 5 DBs, the 4-2-5 provides excellent pass coverage and the ability to pressure the QB easily. Unlike the 3-4 and 3-3-5, this can also stop a running game as well. Probably the second best defense in the game. The bad about 4-2-5: With only 2 LBs in, if a RB makes it past the D-line he will most probably get a long gain. Running teams can be hard to stop. With an extra safety on the field it provides an unfavorable matchup against a WR because WR usually wins those matchups. Tips on using 4-2-5: 5 DBs make this defense more of a passing defense. But 4 D-Linemen also add to it the ability to stop the run. Next to the 4-3, this is probably the most balanced defense in the game. If you are sick of running 4-3 give this one a try. It covers the pass a little better but not the run. 4. 3-3-5 Vs. Tight Run D Vs. Tight Pass B+ Vs. Normal Run C Vs. Normal Pass B+ Vs. Spread Run A Vs. Spread Pass A Vs. 5 WR A- OVERALL Vs. Run B- OVERALL Vs. Pass A- OVERALL B The good about 3-3-5: With 5 DBs and 3 LBs there is plenty of speed on the field. Runs to the outside, option plays, even a few draw plays can be trouble for the offense. Pass defense is top notch. Good zone schemes that will confuse any QB and man coverages won't necessarily cause mismatches favoring the offense. The bad about 3-3-5: Runs up the middle will be difficult to stop. All a good team has to do is continue a power running scheme up the middle vs. a 3-3-5 and they will consistently gain yardage and first downs. Passes to RBs in the flats can be trouble along with QB sneaks. Only 3 D-Linemen will not get much pressure on QB if you don't send a blitz. Tips on using 3-3-5:The best time to use 3-3-5 is if you are facing a spread offense that passes a lot like Texas Tech. 3-3-5 is also a good alternative to a 3-4 defense against offenses like West Virginia or Florida. Because you will counter their speed with your own. Never use 3-3-5 against a running team. You need a good secondary for this formation, the faster the better. Blitzing a QB from the shotgun formation can be very effective with all the speed on the field. Man coverage is a good call in this situation especially if your matchup stick favors your defense. Remember this defense is built around speed. You've either got it, or you don't. If you have it, it's worth a try. ***************************************************************************** The following formations are in every playbook: 1. 5-2 The 5-2 defense consists of 5 defensive linemen. 3 DTs and 2 DEs. Along with 2LBs and 4 DBs it forms one of the best run defenses in the game. Vs. Tight Run A Vs. Tight Pass B+ Vs. Normal Run A Vs. Normal Pass B Vs. Spread Run A+ Vs. Spread Pass C Vs. 5 WR B (Although I don't recommend using this against a 5 WR set) OVERALL VS. Pass C+ OVERALL VS. Run A- OVERALL B+ Basically, the 5-2 defense is used to stop the running game. Sure there are a bunch of pass defense formations in it, but its strength is to stop those teams that use power running as their main offensive threat. The good about 5-2: Excellent run defense from any formation. Audibles can make this defense a killer, spreading your D-line will eat up any runs to the outside, pinching them close will stop anything up the middle. Also gets good pressure on the QB during passing downs. The bad about 5-2: Not much pass coverage. Quick outs and slants will be a killer on your defense. Deep passes are worse if your D-line does not penetrate quickly. Runs to the outside can be difficult to stop if you don't spread your D-line. There isn't much help beyond your D-line so if a RB is able to get past your D-line, he will have a long run. Tips on using 5-2: When the offense lines up in tight formations and normal formations. When you are expecting a running play. Short yardage situations and first downs are your best bet to use a 5-2 defense. Don't be afraid to audible your D-line or LBs in this formation. Shifting either one will cause confusion on the offense and you will get a good stop. Or if you are playing a mobile QB make one of your DE a spy and you will still have 4 D-linemen rushing. 2. Nickel The Nickel defense is one of my favorites. It consists of 4 D-linemen, 2 LBs, and 4 DBs. Probably the most effective pass defense in the game. Vs. Tight Run D- Vs. Tight Pass B+ Vs. Normal Run C Vs. Normal Pass B+ Vs. Spread Run B- Vs. Spread Pass A Vs. 5 WR A+ OVERALL Vs. Run C OVERALL Vs. Pass A OVERAL A- Nickel is a good defense to stop all kinds of passes. Short, medium, and long passes can be stopped with the Nickel defense making it the most productive passing defense in the game. With 4 D-linemen leading the way there will be pressure on the QB fairly quickly and with a good secondary, it will be difficult for him to find an open man. The good about Nickel: Excellent pass defense. Its pass coverages are terrific and there are some pretty neat blitz packages along with it. Blitz packages are very confusing for QBs. Every defensive position blitzes in the Nickel formation. (Different plays obviously) Man coverages work very well too. With 2 LBs the running game can be stopped as well. The bad about Nickel: Option plays to the outside from the shotgun formation are killers. If your DE doesn't get to them (Remember what I said about defensive lines) they are running for a big, big gain. Quick runs to the outside are hard to defend in this formation. Watch out for draw plays and sneaks. Tips on using Nickel: Simple, when the offense lines up with 3 or more WRs and you are expecting a pass. Just because you are expecting a pass does not mean he will pass it (especially on 2nd down). So blitzing or leaving a spy in can make this defense very effective. Anytime you are facing a passing down, you can't go wrong with Nickel. Basically, Nickel is great to stop 3rd and long or even 3rd and medium yardage. Anytime you see a 3 WR set (or higher) a Nickel defense will be a good call. But remember to mix up blitzes and coverages because Nickel CAN be effective in stopping the run as well. (Not in Tight or Normal formations however) 3. Dime The Dime defense is probably the most popular to use against shotgun style offenses. I beg to differ personally. The Dime consists of 4 D-linemen, 1 LB, and 6 DBs. Vs. Tight Run F Vs. Tight Pass A- Vs. Normal Run D+ Vs. Normal Pass A Vs. Spread Run B- Vs. Spread Pass A Vs. 5 WR A OVERALL Vs. Run D- OVERALL Vs. Pass A OVERALL B Dime defense is a very popular one. I don't understand why, but a lot of people believe in the dime when facing a passing team. Dime is good for an absolute, 100% passing down. Even then, sometimes a Nickel would be better. The good about Dime: If you know for a fact your opponent is going to pass, then put in the dime. It is difficult to find an open man with 6 DBs and with 4 D-linemen there will be pressure fairly quickly. This is probably the best aspect of the dime defense. Passing can be very difficult for QBs facing a dime D. The bad about Dime: Any type of running play will go for major yards. Up the middle, option run, QB sneak, ISOs, counters, etc.. are all dangerous against the dime defense. Also, passes in flats to the RBs can go for some major yards as well. Short passes underneath coverages can be a pain to stop too. Tips on using Dime: 3rd and long, anything more than 15 yards, are best for Dime coverage. Even if the offense gains a few yards on a RB screen or a draw play, it will be difficult to go more than 15 yards. Also if you have the lead and the offense is trying to move the ball downfield and there is less than a minute left in the game, Dime is a good call because gaining short yardage will not be that big of a deal. Long yardage situations calls for any zone coverage or man coverage. Some people like to blitz out of the Dime because DBs are faster than LBs and D-Linemen. And that's fine and dandy. Basically, use Dime when you can allow to give up the short field 4. Dime 3-2-6 Dime 3-2-6 is new to NCAA Football 2007. It consists of 3 D-Linemen 2 LBs and 6 DBs. Vs. Tight Run F Vs. Tight Pass B+ Vs. Normal Run D- Vs. Normal Pass A Vs. Spread Run C Vs. Spread Pass A Vs. 5 WR A OVERALL Vs. Run D- OVERALL Vs. Pass A OVERALL B+ Dime 3-2-6 is an excellent addition to the defensive playbook. Fortunatley, it is included in every one so you always have the option to use this defense. The good about Dime 3-2-6: Pass coverage is top notch. Any type of pass can be easily countered with the Dime 3-2-6. With 2 LBs, the middle of the field is covered easier and the flats are also taken care of so you don't have to worry about RBs escaping into the flats. Medium range passes are also hard because of the LBs in coverage and the Cover 4 play covers not only the middle part of the field well but the deep part making the Dime 3-2-6 a good all around pass defense. The bad about Dime 3-2-6: Like the Dime defense, the Dime 3-2-6 should only be used when you know for a fact your opponent will pass the ball. Any type of runs will be for a big gain. Option plays to the outside are trouble and so are any type of power running plays. I would only recommend this defense against a spread or 5 WR formation. Why would you use it any other time? :P Only 3 D-Linemen in this formation making it very difficult to get pressure on the QB without blitzing. Tips on using Dime 3-2-6: As I stated earlier, only when the offense lines up in a spread or 5 WR formation AND on a passing down. It doesn't have to be only long yardage situations because the flats and the middle of the field is covered pretty well with this defense. The Dime 3-2-6 can be used more frequently than a regular Dime defense. More of the field is covered so you don't have to worry about short gains underneath coverages as much. Make sure you mix in some good blitz packages to get to the QB. There are only 3 D-Linemen and if you don't blitz, you probably won't get any pressure and the QB will have 7 years to throw. 4. 4-4 The 4-4 is one of my favorite defenses. It has been really improved over the last few years of NCAA and in 07, it's probably at its very best. It has 4 D-Linemen, 4 LBs, and 3 DBs. Vs. Tight Run A Vs. Tight Pass B+ Vs. Normal Run A+ Vs. Normal Pass B- Vs. Spread Run A+ Vs. Spread Pass C- Vs. 5 WR D OVERALL Vs. Run A+ OVERALL Vs. Pass C OVERALL A- The 4-4 can be a very dominating defense if you are able to call the exact right plays at the exact right time. The good about 4-4: Superb at stopping the run. Runs up the middle, ISOs, counters, and options have no chance when facing a 4-4 defense. It has fairly decent pass coverage making it a pretty deceptive defense at times. It's easy to show blitz and then back off once the play starts causing confusion among their offensive line. The bad about 4-4: The 4-4 defense is more of a high-risk high-reward type defense. Sure you may cause a few turnovers or a sack for big loss, but you can easily give up a long run or a deep pass. With only 3 DBs on the field, a WR from any formation can outrun them and you'll give up a deep pass easily. Toss plays can be trouble if your LBs aren't fast enough. Slant routes can be a pain too if you are blitzing your LBs a lot. Tips on using 4-4: There are plenty of instances you can use 4-4. 1st down, 2nd down and less then 5, and any 3rd and short situation. Basically, you want to stop the run with this defense but don't sell out to it. Remember to mix up some coverages along with your blitz packages. Most offenses assume blitz when they see a 4-4 and with the excellent coverages you can easily throw the QB off guard and get a sack or a loss. If you think they might pass I suggest spying a LB which will pretty much take away the short to medium part of the middle of the field. Once you get 4-4 down and make timely calls, you will be tough to stop. 5. Goal Line Goal line should be self-explanatory and should be used for short yardage situations in 3rd down, 4th down, or Goal Line only. However the CPU has an annoying habit of always calling a Play Action pass when they are in a Goal line offense. This play is extremley hard to stop I do not object to controlling a CB and blitzing him from the outside to get to the QB. ***************************************************************************** This FAQ is Copyrighted 2006 (c) by Brett. Any unauthorized reproduction is strictly prohitibed under all circumstances and is deemed illegal. This guide is for GameFAQS only and must not be published without the permission of the author, me. I also may allow a few other sites to post this FAQ. I will list them in a future update. *****************************************************************************