Had a really good day on this game today - got my head around a few things and made a few changes (will no doubt now get hammered in next game, but hey-ho!).

Also noticed that in each player's profile stats, you can click on the season and it breaks down to each game - wow! Either this game is improving each day, or I just simply didn't see all these things when I first joined and even left the game for a few weeks.

Question:

My main Def coach prefers 4-3 formation according to his card.
When I click on Def Plays, I can filter by DL and LB (?) but there's no option to sort by 4-3 formation.

Any help would be appreciated

jh

Yeah that is how it is. The DB filter is telling you what base coverage assignment is used. Combine that with LBs assignments and there is your defensive play. Clicking on the play is a way to guarantee what formation is used. Your coachs scheme allows for more plays within the formation.

thanks, but how does the DB filter: 1-deep man or 3-deep-zone help me work out whether that will be a 4-3 play?

The defensive coordinator has an influence over defensive player progression. The higher his ability in any given skill will have a better influence.

Perhaps it has changed but i think it is the head coach who dictates what plays can be used. But all types of coaches have 4-3 plays available. Just some have more.

The DB filter is allowing you to roughly see cornerbacks and safeties play assignment . You can play a 1 deep man out of any defensive formation. Same as 3 deep zone. 4-3 is 4 down lineman and 3 line backers.

Specifically playing a 1 deep man could generally require a completely set of skills for cornerbacks and safeties then let's say a 3 deep zone.

Playing a 4-3 in addition to that coverage scheme would depend on the skill of my linebackers and linemen.

Personally I would play more zone with a 3-4 and more man with a 4-3. But perhaps I am conditioned in that way. Also I like a cover two with a 4-6 and a 99 MLB for a cover 3. But by no means do I follow that strictly here.

4-3 has advantages and disadvantages but is a balanced formation. Depending on down and distance, your players, and opponents players/scheme is whether to choose a 1 deep man or 3 deep zone.

The big defensive difference in coaches that you'll see are 3-4 or 4-3 coaches. 4-3, like you have, means that in a base defense, you will have 4 defensive lineman and 3 linebackers out. A 3-4 is the opposite: 3 DLs and 4 LBs. 3-4 and 4-3 formations are typically used when there are two or less WRs on the opponent's side of the ball. As more WRs come out, from 3 to 5, so too does a typical defensive bring out more defensive backs (CB, FS, & SS). Roughly, nickel matches against 3 WRs, dime against 4, and quarter against 5. The AI will automatically match your number of CBs to the opponent's WRs unless 1) Your rules override those decisions, 2) You don't have plays in your active playbook with additional DBs, or 3) You do not have enough DBs in your active roster.

That's great thanks

Correct. There's still a lot to be desired in the gameplanning/playbooks aspect of this game. I have faith this will improve at some point in the future as some other areas of the game already have.