goal line defense to stop the run?
I run the Bengals defensive playbook, which has 46 normal. I run the cover 3 match and contain the ends. It also has a speed package for passing plays. That defense has worked well for both the pass (3WR sets or less) and the run (in a normal package).
Don't blitz. Its likely to kill your pursuit angles and allow stretch/toss to get the edge. Run a 4-4 if your playbook allows it. If not run a 46 normal. Play C3 and press your CBs. Shade under and outside. Spread your linebackers and user your middle saftey down in like a 3rd MLB. Now you have an 9 man box with edge protection and enough coverage to force the Q to hold on to the ball a bit. You still need to user the middle and try to lurk the WR's coming across the middle. By no means is it perfect but it can be very difficult to run against and risky to throw.
I do this in short yardage with success, but I think the trick is to use it rarely. You're betting your opponent is not going to make a good decision on the audible. It gets some sacks too.
I guess the real test for this defense will be this weekend when I try it on the meat of my WL schedule but at the very least I hope it forces some of these run heavy guys to maybe try something they are not used to doing. Even if I lose some games because of this I'll take it if it means breaking up the monotony of run heavy games
Quote from nicksr84 >> What were u running to stop the run before? I'm afraid to come out in goal line lol
Mostly 3-4 or 4-4 plays where I try to move my LBs and D-line to wherever it seems like they want to go. Basically the same kind of things many other people use and it sometimes works but I'm still searching for answers like everyone else. Quote from 55studwell >>
I've had the opposite experience with goal line defense, does not play the run as well as it should for me, too many times the other team breaks long runs, but with what you say, might give it another shot with spreading the line
Love this post OP. Cats out of the bag now...
I ran strictly goal line defense for 90% of my H2H career for the last 3 years but late last year I evolved to a nickel cheeser. This year, goal line D isn’t nearly as effective so I have to use other formations but I still use goal line on critical plays to throw my opponent off.
As OP mentioned, the trick with using goal line is to swap out your slow safeties for your all star CB’s and play aggressive while predicting the play. I almost would rather go up against a passing play than a running play when in goal line. Especially with Von Miller coming in hot off the edge untouched to grab a quick sack. Basically gives you 2 seconds to throw the ball and usually I’ll user the HB-assigned linebacker and figure your play out before you do.
this is a kamikaze style of play. You won’t win every game but you will figure out if your oppenent immediately and that’s why I often come out in goal line on the opening play just to get a feel for the skill level.
If you roll the dice and go goal line more power to you-there’s so many one play TD’s that can happen
What were u running to stop the run before? I'm afraid to come out in goal line lol
Has anyone tried this to stop the run on one of those players that almost exclusively runs? I thought of it when I had only a few WL games left so I tried it then plus a few HR games and seasons games today to see how it works out. Based on what I see so far I like it better vs 1 WR formations but I also ran it vs 2 WR obvious run formations.
I mainly tried the 5-4-2 sam blitz which is basically 5 DL plus your 2 OLBs on the line, your 2 MLBs a few yards off the ball, and your 2 safeties playing CB. The 2 MLBs and one OLB are in man coverage on the TEs and RBs and the safeties are lined up in press man coverage on the WRs if there are 2 and if there is only 1 WR then the other safety just covers the extra TE.
My safeties are PU Dawkins and Tillman which left me too weak in coverage so I subbed in Denzel Ward for Dawkins who is great in MCV and speed so I thought he would be a good fit for what I needed.It also seemed like leaving the corners in press man with no help over the top was asking for trouble so I used the back off adjustment (or whatever it's called) to make it harder to just run a streak. My user was the MLB covering either the FB or HB, and I set the CB matchup by speed adjustment so Ward could be covering the most dangerous WR.