I am new to the game of football. Like some other sports, I only started watching them on TV to learn because I liked playing online games. I am 25, and don't have downsyndrome, but cannot seem to grasp defense as much as I need to to take me to the next step. Currently, I am about .500 online after about 80 games, which I only play people within my close rank status (1100 or so currently). I average maybe 1 defensive stop per game. Pathetic! Enough preface, this is what I know (or do)

Offense player selects //////////// I counter with:
0-1 running back Bear/44 (both leaving me burned 50%) or 4-3
2 running backs 4-3 if I think they run, 3-4 if I think they pass
3 WR Nickel
4-5 WR Dime


I know football isn't preset in this manner, this is only my rough guideline, however I feel my defensive selection leaves too much up to chance. Why? Because even when I pick something seemingly unrisky I get burned on the ground or in the air.

In baseball/MLB2k7, when I need a sure defensive stop, I usually know exactly what to pitch my opponent based on what I've seen so far, and it just comes as common sense. I however lack the mental capability of going in for the kill defensively in football games. I didn't grow up watching football, yet I've been playing these games for almost 5 years now. Please please please somehow get my ball rolling in the right direction to gaining confidence in stopping an opponent. Even new people are nose and nose with me points wise until the end. There must be defensive fundamentals that have eluded me. Thank you for your time.

One of the things you could do is add more Pros on the defensive side of the ball. You may have to look at what the other person has on offense. If they have three pros in WR and no really great running backs switch to a pass defense. I personally never use Bear because the risk/reward is too great for me. I am not a great tackler.

You could take the Tampa Bay/Colts route and switch to a cover 2 defense. It limits their ability to burn you deep, and it forces them to be patient on offense. Also you may want to take a look at the 2k forums. There are some nice threads that break down what defense to use and when. I think if you do a search for football 101 you'll find some.

A few things:

IMHO, the offense is overpowered in this game. A quality offensive player can have an impact on nearly every play. A quality defender usually will not.

^ That said, you can build a team thats good on defense and reliable on offense. Let me give you a sample team:

Gold Players

Rod Woodson, CB (excellent all around talent, even returns kicks for ya)
Mike Ditka, TE (a god among men in this game)

Silver:
Lem Barney, CB (another staple of my teams)
Jack Youngblood, DT
Too Tall Jones, DE
(theres another guy, Free Safety, used to play with Oakland? forget his name but he's a good choice too)

Bronze:

Steve Bartkowski, QB (very reliable for a bronze player)
Christian Okoye, RB (overpowered for a bronze and a monster to stop)
Dexter Manley, DE (will put pressure on the QB)
Dan Saleamua OR William Perry, DT
..... a WR that fits your needs.....

I wouldn't spend more than a bronze on a LB, and if I do, I get Scott (?), middle linebacker with the signal stealer ability. Beyond that linebackers are too underpowered in this game IMO.

Set your DL and LBs to run support, corners and safeties to pass coverage. Don't CPU blitz, again IMO its rarely effective. Mix up defensive zone and man coverages. Control the MLB which gives you the best reaction attempt to control the run or pass.

Don't run the same play two times in a row. Always mix up the DL movement schemes, because the CPU controlled O-line will adjust...arguably too well.

If you have four "stars" on your D-line, well by all means use the 4-3 for midfield plays, the 4-4 when you're in the redzone and nickel/dime when you KNOW they're gonna pass. If you just wanna go with three stars, use the 3-4, 3-3 nickel or 3-2 dime defenses.

Once you stop (or at least contain) the run, they'll have to pass under duress; right where you have Woodson and/or Barney waiting.

Don't be shy about practicing a ball control offense, either. If defense is a problem, keep their offense off the field. :D They less your opponent has the ball, the less opportunities for them to score obviously.


finally, add me to your friends list:
Shaolin68

Dont neglect the safety position..Corners are good to but to be effective on defense against players online you want good safeties and good linebackers...Corners help really well but not with the way people run the ball.

My name on Xbox live is: Kramer Richards. Unfortunetly I don't have a mic, it's packed away somewhere from moving. Due to my lack of inclination on D, most of my stars are defensive players. It's hard to keep my D off the field when I can't stop anyone. I played someone last night that hardly ever went to 3rd down. He found an open man on every fking play.

I generally play my best lineman or a blitzing secondary member on defense. I find if I try to play any of the coverages I often find myself getting out of position. Who do you control generally when you're playing defense?