The last couple of days online has revealed that press coverage on the backend with blitzes up front are going to be a popular defensive strategy in NCAA 12. In this X’s and O’s Football football video game tips session I want to look at a play out of the Ace: Bunch Base, namely Deep Post that will allow us to not panic and move the ball at a consistent rate against press coverage. I want to point out that there are two plays in this formation titled Deep Post. If you use this formation, you will want both of them (I showcase the other one in the second offensive write up for this week as we look at quick passing against zone). This will be a four part write up, so grab your controller and put on your coaching cap.
The base routes for the first version of Ace: Bunch Base, Deep Post are as follows.
Flanker: Quick Dig/In Route
TE: Dig Route (10-12 yards)
FB: Fade Hitch
SE: Post route (15-20 yards)
Before moving on with the play, I want to mention a couple of personnel swaps and one route adjustment that I like to make. First, I like going with the 3WR personnel swap for this formation. This places the TE in the FB spot. This is great for the offense as most tight ends are going to have better foot speed, acceleration, catching and route running than full backs. Secondly I like to assign the outside wide receiver a drag route. In the Adjustment 1 write up, it will become more evident why I like the drag. For now, however, I like to get that wide receiver to move the outside defender inside to create traffic.
Against 4-3, 3-4, 4-4 and any of the base defenses, the middle linebacker will be assigned to the tight end. Thus, one reason for having the flanker on the drag is to create traffic for the middle linebacker.
On the snap the OLB will collision the WR lined up a top the bunch. The CB will collision the flanker. But the TE will get a free release. Notice here the MLB is already trailing the tight end and is well out of position.
Let’s look at it from another perspective. The CB is walked up on the line and ready to press the flanker. Now what one could do here is rather than assign the flanker a drag, one might assign the receiver the top of the bunch a drag. Either way we are creating traffic for the Middle Linebacker.
This is going to be a quick pass. As the TE releases outside I let the QB take two steps in his drop and go ahead and fire the pass. It will take a little timing to get it down and to know your individual quarterback’s release point.
The receivers that were jammed now become blockers. Secondly the traffic created by the press forces the middle linebacker to go around. I am already up the field five yards with the tight end before the middle linebacker can get to my offensive player.
I am not going to get too far, but the point is to force the defense to begin to account for something if they want to keep pressing the wide receivers. Now on this play, the defense was in 2 man under with press coverage. Online what you will find is a great deal of cover 1 or cover 0 in which the safety that came down to make this tackle on the tight end will not be there.
Notes:
What this first version of the deep post does is forces the defense to account for something if they continue to press. However, adjustments will need to be made. What I noticed some players do is move to Nickel and dime defenses and go with cover 1 or cover 0. In the adjustments write up for this play I will highlight what I like to do when the defense makes its adjustment.
