3-4 Personnel Importantance

[jesse_8711]

so i wanting to get you guys opinion on 3-4 personnel in madden; im going to be drafting a fantasy franchise team and i was wondering does it really matter if i get d-linemen who are real stout and strong or just a D-lineman like Justin Tuck; in other words does personnel really matter in the game?

[ymd]

No. The game doesn't recognize a true 3-4 DT like Vince Wilfork to freaken a 4-3 DT in Hareem Brock. Or a 3-4 DE like Richard Seymour to a 4-3 DE like Freeney. Mainly because they can't get the most important part of football in there, blocking and double-team blocking!
So no, put whoever you want in there.

[Favre4]

I think defensive tackles and ends in a 3-4 are very important. I had Kevin Williams, Cullen Jenkins, and Aaron Kampman in a franchise and dominated the run. In another I had Vernon Gholston, Tony Daniels, and Elvis Dumervil(none of which should be lineman in the 3-4) and got absolutely manhandled by mediocre teams in the run. An automatic 3 yards at least.

[jesse_8711]

well yea that makes sense it's just really hard to utilize your star players like Ngata, Vince Wilfork, or Merriman when the front seven of the 3-4 isnt programmed as should be; has anyone found ways around this?

[Dianwei32]

The 3-4 is fundamentally broken, you will have much more success with a 4-3. I played 4 years with a 3-4 defense as the Cowboys and the highest player in terms of sacks every year was Jay Ratliff (the NT, you know, the one that's supposed to be double/triple-teamed all the time). Over the course of the 4 years D. Ware had around 10 sacks (so much for a 98 OVR pass rushing OLB, and I blitzed him 90% of the time along with the 3 down linemen).

I started a new Franchise as the Chargers and switched over to a 4-3, with Merriman at RE. In the first year he had 18.5 sacks (got injured in week 14 and was out for 3 weeks), and he had 16.0 sacks the following year. The rest of my DL got pressure too (mainly Larry English at LE with 6 sacks his rookie year and 7 the following year, Castillo had a few sacks too). This was the first franchise where I A) had a defender anywhere near the top in terms of sacks and B) wasn't last in the league in sacks by a large margin (still in the bottom 10, but not last).

[kcarr]

The only way I have ever had great success rushing the passer in the 3-4 is to put 4-3 DEs at the DE spot in the 3-4 and rushing with them. I know it is terrible but that is the only way I have had success.

[KBLover]

For me, 3-4 is about the LBs more than the DL.

I strive for six active and intelligent LBs (for depth purposes). Obviously, they won't all be excellent all-around, but they need to be fast and solid tacklers. The first four of those - I try for two good MLBs to be the ILB and then the fastest guys for the OLBs. That gives me physical guys on the inside against the run/TE/FB over the middle, while good speed on the outside for quick blitzing or getting outside on outside runs/short outside passes.

I use the OLBs as blitzers and to play some coverage on the times I call CB blitzes.

The DL - well, as long as they are decent (especially the DE) then I'm cool with it. Again, I like a fast defense so I like Freeny type DEs, but anyone solid should work out. It sucks a true NT can't be achieved, but with the 3-4 you can send pressure from many angles to help out (again, why I want those fast, active LBs).

Then again, I put a lot of responsibility on my LBs. They are my flat defenders, slant defenders, blitzers, man coverage, and run stoppers (either in 4-3, 3-4, 4-6, 3-3-5, Dollar, whatever) so I make it a priority to get the best LBs I can.

[roll2tide]

DE-Speed kills. They protect the edges and make plays in the backfield on rollouts and wide runs.

DT-Big and Beefy. High STR rating is key. This guy should be a straight ahead bulldozer.

OLB-Speed kills again. These are your primary blitzers and front 7 playmakers.

MLB-Strength over speed and the higher the AWR the better. Your "inside the hashmarks" run stoppers and they protect the short middle vs the pass.

CB-I choose Strength and Awareness over speed here because they will play so much zone. Smart and able to muscle big WRs.

SS/FS-Speed to protect the deep ball and close on outside runs that break through the front 7.

I play in 3 online franchises and run a 3-4 in all 3(Texans/Titans/Ravens) and am among the league leaders in defensive stats in all 3. You can win and even dominate with this years 3-4 even though you might need to be creative with your playcalling and adjustments.

[Sausage]

Quote: Originally Posted by roll2tide

DE-Speed kills. They protect the edges and make plays in the backfield on rollouts and wide runs. DT-Big and Beefy. High STR rating is key. This guy should be a straight ahead bulldozer. OLB-Speed kills again. These are your primary blitzers and front 7 playmakers. MLB-Strength over speed and the higher the AWR the better. Your "inside the hashmarks" run stoppers and they protect the short middle vs the pass. CB-I choose Strength and Awareness over speed here because they will play so much zone. Smart and able to muscle big WRs. SS/FS-Speed to protect the deep ball and close on outside runs that break through the front 7. I play in 3 online franchises and run a 3-4 in all 3(Texans/Titans/Ravens) and am among the league leaders in defensive stats in all 3. You can win and even dominate with this years 3-4 even though you might need to be creative with your playcalling and adjustments.

I run a Browns chise' and I have really learned how to run it well, but still working on being creative with my playcalling. Some games I'm on though.

[CreatineKasey]

Your best athletes: OLB's. Think Pittsburgh.. strong, fast. They excel in the rush and are just good enough in coverage. In fact - every linebacker (and preferably at least some of your DB's) should have at least average pass rush skills. In general you'll be sending at least one extra player along with your DL to rush the QB.

I think the 3-4 playbook is actually easier to work with in terms of blitzes that confuse and still get heat. There's a bunch of 5 and 6 man zone blitzes that just bring mad head.

Having an athletic SS allows you to flood the box with ease to help against the inside push.

Your DL is quite important on this game. Guys with high block shed ratings will serve you best here. If you go after pass rusher types - you won't see enough passing situations against a good opponent to even hone their skills because the guy will be running down your throat all game.

That's another rating to strive for in this system - block shedding for your LB's. It's inevitable - your LB's will be taking on OL often.

Just at couple of thoughts.