I’ve noticed other posts regarding playbook strategy, but let’s assume you take over a cpu team from scratch and only have a handful of players that actually have 80 or 85 speed ratings or better. Assuming the other skills are adequate to switch positions, where would you play the fastest and slowest players?

I have seen mention of cb1 not being speed critical, but FS and CB2 need the best wheels you can find.

Also read posts that mention LBs needing 80 speed, is that across the board, or just inside or outside backers? I also happen to have a coaches playbook that defaults to 3-4, so does that change things compared to a 4-3?

On offense, I’ve seen mention that wr doesn’t always need top end speed, but RB does. How about TE and fb? Obviously it’s great if everyone is fast, but there’s no way everyone is if you havent stockpiled or been building that way for multiple seasons, so how would you rank the priority of where it is the most critical, or more importantly, where can you get away with someone who isn’t lightning fast?

Fastest DB at SS over the WR2

Fastest + best B&R DB at CB2

Fastest LB at WLB

Fastest DL at LDE

Fastest DT at DT2

You can get away with a slow CB1 as long as he's a monster in coverage - seriously really slow (IoT got away with a 43 SP starter). SLB can be a wash depending on your defense.

DTs can be ridiculously slow as long as they are strong since their main goal is to push the OL back and break the pass block contain for the DEs.

Considering my base def is a 3-4...I don’t actually have a dt2 outside substitution packages. I also guess both DE would be more like LDE and one (or both) of the outside LB would be the rush RDE skill set. Also a 2nd MLB is on the field that I would imagine needs to be a rangy type to replace the typical WLB?

Also thought the FS was more critical to stopping the coverage glitches on the backside slant on fl hitch type plays...not the SS. Tho I suppose the strong side guy is necessary to catch the rb on the flare, but that would also be against a nickel or dime formation primarily since it is out of the 3 wr set.

As for offense is speed more critical to a TE or FB? And if you had a slow wr, which side should he play on (or slot)?

My experiences have shown that a +75 spd, +70 acc MLB is more than adequate.
I also use dbs with such spd/acc and +70 zone/m2m as safeties with much success.
I've found I can use a cb with +80 brc and m2m, with 73+ spd and 65+ acc as the db 3 or 4 in dime or as a safety in the 46 - particularly the 2 deep 46.
Just experiment. As much as speed kills, dont be afraid to use common sense ;)

That stated, if compromising spd, prioritize acc and the other key attributes.
TEs can be surprisingly slow in both spd and acc if 90+ in the other key attributes (catch,rte,bra,cour)

Blah blah blah i'm winding down into blathering territory :)
Be fearless.

Sorry to ask a really noob question but I thought the SS usually covers the TE??
I thought CBs cover WRs normally.

And why DT2 being fast? Not DT1? Whit DT2 at all??

Cheers

The SS should come up to cover the TE, but in MFN the safeties are reversed. Most of the time the SS is in Single High coverage, which is good because they play over the WR2. The plays where the FS is in Single High they are away from where the play will actually be against the 212 and 203.

The DT2 in MFN is largely useless since few effective running plays go to the strong side (I assume it's too hard to code a strong side counter trap). So if you make sure that your DT2 has SP, AC, and Pass Rush, they can help break the OL contain on passing plays.

The DT1 on most plays is over the LG, which is where 90% of the runs are going to go. You want this guy to have good AC, ST, and Rush Def to push the LG back into the play.

I see DTs the other way around. But 43 under and some other plays have the Dt2 in the 3 technique