FB handoff in triple-option play (I-Form Big)

[jc87350]

I never really had much problem against the FB handoff (with a HB subbed in, of course) part of the triple-option play until I played this guy called Project023. It was a guaranteed three yards against me. I've played people who tried I-Form Big offense on me before but none were as patient as this guy. Normally, when you start stopping them for 3 or 4 yards per play, they switch to something else. But this guy stuck with triple option and tosses the ENTIRE game. He went 4 for 4 on 4th-down conversions (4th and 3 and shorter). He averaged 3.7 yards per play in the game, his time of possession around 12 and a half minutes, and I lost the game 21-14. I tried:

5-2 formation (Cover 2)
Goal Line formation (2 Deep, a couple of man blitzes)


In all the plays, I crashed the line and manually controlled one of the safeties to cover the pitch man (he would also pitch very late).

Anyone have some ideas on stuffing the FB handoff part consistently? This was a very frustrating game because he just kept chipping away. He only had two plays that went for more than 10 yards (a 14 yd and an 11 yd play, both when I got foolish, tried some man blitzes, and the defense promptly got 'sucked' in and let the QB or run wild).

By the way, I was Arkansas and he was Virginia Tech.

[whitepony99]

this is the kind of crap we all fight on a daily basis. i usually run some tpe of goalline cover 2 scheme and run commit until they burn you with the pass. my attitude is you're not going to stuff the ball down my throat the entire game. if they continue to run the ball and never pass then this will work pretty well also you probably want to pinch and crash every once and a while depending where hes running

[Tennj-train]

strangly enough, this is actually how triple option is supposed to be played. The premise is that you gain 3 yards a down, and you have to be willing to go for it on 4th down. As for stopping it, if a guy is patient and consistent, (even if he wasn't cheesy with the late pitch) it would be tough to stop, ESPECIALLY with the AI issues.[down] Come on '09, please have this crap fixed[glare]

[Dirt]

strangly enough, this is actually how triple option is supposed to be played. The premise is that you gain 3 yards a down, and you have to be willing to go for it on 4th down. As for stopping it, if a guy is patient and consistent, (even if he wasn't cheesy with the late pitch) it would be tough to stop, ESPECIALLY with the AI issues.[down] Come on '09, please have this crap fixed[glare]

I'm no guru, but did you try "Engage Eight" or goaline blitz A,B, or C?

[jc87350]

this is the kind of crap we all fight on a daily basis. i usually run some tpe of goalline cover 2 scheme and run commit until they burn you with the pass. my attitude is you're not going to stuff the ball down my throat the entire game. if they continue to run the ball and never pass then this will work pretty well also you probably want to pinch and crash every once and a while depending where hes running

Oh, I forgot to add I've also been run-committing. But I try not to do too much of it since he can just fake the handoff and run with the QB. When this happens, my defense gets 'sucked in' trying to tackle the FB. He got me good a couple of times when I run committed too much and gained some good 5 - 8 yards on the ground.

I also tried pinching the line and it worked a couple of times against the FB handoff. But then he'll just go with the fake and run with the QB. Sometimes cut upfield early, like between the guard and the tackle. Boom, 4 yards right there.

I've been trying out various stuff in practice mode but the exact stuff that I've used (goal-line, 2 deep, line crashed) but been beaten with over and over again actually WORKS against the heisman CPU. Not sure what he's doing differently.

[rhen74]

Have you tried pinching then looping the line and Blitzing or spying both LBs in 5-2 Cover 2. Pass commit to keep the CB in his zone. Just throwing out ideas. I've exerimented with both spying and blitzing my LBs with some success.
Also make sure you've got your fastest LBs on the field regardless of overall rating.

[jc87350]

I'm no guru, but did you try "Engage Eight" or goaline blitz A,B, or C?

Heavy blitzes usually fare poorly against the I-Form Big offense (triple-option, HB toss), if the person knows exactly what he is doing. But due to frustration in that game, I actually tried some of those Goal Line man blitzes. Stopped him once for, like, a 2 yard gain. But then got burned with tosses when my blitzers ran past the HB. It's not fun when you're all alone controlling the safety trying to tackle that HB that should've been brought down near the line of scrimmage.

By the way, has anyone ever noticed as the drive gets longer and longer, the more and more you see that ball-carrier animation of 'falling forward' or 'dragging tacklers' to get an extra yard or two? Towards the end of his 20-play, 5:54 minute drive, it seems he got more of these types of ball-carrier animations. Another frustrating thing, since a 1 yard gain becomes a 3 yard gain.

[Ska King]

try slanting your dline to the side he'll be running to. 5-2 has a play called "hero slant". when you control the guy trying to tackle the qb, hold off and try to mess up the pitch.

oh yeah, and there is one other way to stop a properly run triple option offense. PRAY!!

[jc87350]

Have you tried pinching then looping the line and Blitzing or spying both LBs in 5-2 Cover 2. Pass commit to keep the CB in his zone. Just throwing out ideas. I've exerimented with both spying and blitzing my LBs with some success.
Also make sure you've got your fastest LBs on the field regardless of overall rating.

I haven't thought of a pinched and looped line. I'll definitely try that now. Hope it works :)

I actually also tried spying and/or blitzing LB's with pass commit. Spying is too vulnerable to the FB handoff part of the triple-option. It's an easy 3 yards right there. Blitzing LB's is too vulnerable to the fake and even if there is no fake, the FB can somehow manage to eke out 3 yards. Pass committing is even worse against the FB handoff. The players who are not blitzing tend to stick to their zones too long. I needed something that can stuff that FB handoff instantly before the speedy HB turned FB gets momentum and gets 3 yards.

[jc87350]

try slanting your dline to the side he'll be running to. 5-2 has a play called "hero slant". when you control the guy trying to tackle the qb, hold off and try to mess up the pitch.

oh yeah, and there is one other way to stop a properly run triple option offense. PRAY!!

I have no problems with the pitch part of the option. I manually control the safety, move him forward 5 yards or so and have him always cover the pitch man. Most of the time, my defense is there to cover the QB. I actually prefer people to pitch now rather than than using the FB handoff part. When they pitch, there is a chance of a loss of yardage or even a fumble. Lesser of two evils, I suppose.[down]

Haha there were a couple of times late in the fourth when the guy went for it on 4th and short and I literally prayed.

[Dr Sacked]

hell i don't know either. What works some days won't work the next for crap.

I run the 3-3-5, always have, so that makes it worse to stop.

I usally try cover 3 zone first and shift DL and or LBs to the option side (if it is obvious) and/or spread the secondary wide.
If that doesn't work i'll try a contain zone with the NT as spy.
If that doesn't work I'll try a cover 2 zone with the MLB spied, then move to the cover 2 with the 2 OLBS blitzing up the middle. This works pretty well but leaves holes everywhere else.
If that doesn't work, i try storm red blitz.
If that doesn't work i try dime or quaters and use the show blitz function in for the secondary.
The i'll try the man blitzes with all the LBs spread and coming.
I'll try the 3-4 with some of the LBs blitzing.

I don't usually pinch the line, and i don't use run committ, and i don't use the 5-2 at all.

All the stuff has worked well at time and failed other times.

If you fumble the ball or get a clipping penatly early on, then you know EA hates you, nothing will work and his OL will be awesome and his backs will break tackles then your QB will throw way off target and your DBS and WR and TEs will get a case of the drops. You will get pissed and lash out and make life misereable for everyone else in your house.

[Dr Sacked]

seriously, how can it be fun to run the same play over and over again with the same results. These hardcore TO guys should stick to tic-tac-toe.

[Dregnus]

seriously, how can it be fun to run the same play over and over again with the same results. These hardcore TO guys should stick to tic-tac-toe.

It is HARD to do in the flexbone. Mainly because the O-Line can get blown up on every play.

But against the computer, its quite fun when you can the actual offense running. Its mean for a 75% run, 25% pass (or 70-30) ratio, and the ability to run the triple option effectively gets the safeties down into run support.

My favorite play is WR corner. The X runs a corner route, and the A-back runs a post. The safety has to commit to one or the other, leaving the other route in some sort of single coverage, usually.

Then again, I haven't played an online game with it but I'm pretty sure I would not be able to defeat anyone.

[Dr Sacked]

It is HARD to do in the flexbone. Mainly because the O-Line can get blown up on every play.

But against the computer, its quite fun when you can the actual offense running. Its mean for a 75% run, 25% pass (or 70-30) ratio, and the ability to run the triple option effectively gets the safeties down into run support.

My favorite play is WR corner. The X runs a corner route, and the A-back runs a post. The safety has to commit to one or the other, leaving the other route in some sort of single coverage, usually.

Then again, I haven't played an online game with it but I'm pretty sure I would not be able to defeat anyone.


I agree it is harder in the flexbone. There is a WR corner with a HB drag play that i like in the flexbone.

I am talking about the guys that run the exact same play or 3 plays over and over out of goalline or I form Big. If you run the flexbone or wishbone and run an actual offense out of it, I am OK with it. It should be based on reads and misdirection. The abuse comes in when it is repetative predictive nothing you can do about it because of faulty AI.

If you become predictable, and we have equally matched teams, i should have a pretty good shot of shutting you down.

[jc87350]

If you fumble the ball or get a clipping penatly early on, then you know EA hates you, nothing will work and his OL will be awesome and his backs will break tackles then your QB will throw way off target and your DBS and WR and TEs will get a case of the drops. You will get pissed and lash out and make life misereable for everyone else in your house.

Ahaha spot on![laugh]

[Dr Sacked]

Ahaha spot on![laugh]

I play with Maryland, has B+ offense and B+ defense. My QB likes to throw inaccurate passes especially at the beginning of the game before he gets confidence. As soon as i give up a pick, the other team has momentum (i hate that it is in the game) and then the borefest begins.

Because, lately i have only played guys that run up the middle online. They'll come out in a goalline, or other power formation with a HB as a FB, and just run right off the center over an over again.

I try to put all of my team right in the middle and they all get blocked or actually run away from the ball carrier! Tried run and pass commit, tried zone and man, tried dropping back and blitzing. If i hit the guy in the backfield it was usually broken tackle and a larger than normal gain.

I play the 3-3-5, so i also try the 3-4 and the 5-2, nothing works at this point. I need a 5-5-5 to stop it.

Serioulsy the momentum thing should not be iN the game. Momentum is just a feeling of confidence when you are playing very well--IT IS NOT THE CAUSE OF PLAYING WELL!!!!

[wheats_7]

i hate these people that do this!!

But the best thing i have against it is a 3-3-5 defense which works surprisingly well. I try middle blitz with a pinched line crashing wide side. This works sometimes. i also try storm red with a pinched line crashing in. i am always the deep safety in these plays. these plays sometimes give up bigger yards but who cases if he will get there slowly anyway. What i found is these plays can get negative or no yards sometimes. If you can get him in a 2 and 12 and then a 3 and 9 you are set because he has no other true offense. Another good chance is sweep straight past the qb to the rb, sometimes you get a loss of yards or a fumble. The way to beat them is be very aggresive because who cares if he busts one( he will score eventually if you sit back). THe only other thing you can do is hope. A negative play or a lucky penalty on him will make it very hard for him to get a first down.

[Dr Sacked]

i hate these people that do this!!

But the best thing i have against it is a 3-3-5 defense which works surprisingly well. I try middle blitz with a pinched line crashing wide side. This works sometimes. i also try storm red with a pinched line crashing in. i am always the deep safety in these plays. these plays sometimes give up bigger yards but who cases if he will get there slowly anyway. What i found is these plays can get negative or no yards sometimes. If you can get him in a 2 and 12 and then a 3 and 9 you are set because he has no other true offense. Another good chance is sweep straight past the qb to the rb, sometimes you get a loss of yards or a fumble. The way to beat them is be very aggresive because who cares if he busts one( he will score eventually if you sit back). THe only other thing you can do is hope. A negative play or a lucky penalty on him will make it very hard for him to get a first down.

Storm Red used to work for me, but lately it hasn't and it is vulnerable to passes in the flats. Usually I would play the MLB, but i will try the FS like you did. Also are you run or pass committing? Do you ever use different formation substituions like "heavy" or whatever?

[gobucks33]

when i play against someone that runs the option i use a 4-3 defense and use the cover 2 zone or cover 2 tampa. i pinch my d-line and spread my lbs and i am the mlb to cause i can control the whole field that way.

[PMC02]

Have you tried pinching then looping the line and Blitzing or spying both LBs in 5-2 Cover 2. Pass commit to keep the CB in his zone. Just throwing out ideas. I've exerimented with both spying and blitzing my LBs with some success.
Also make sure you've got your fastest LBs on the field regardless of overall rating.

ok in about 6 weeks(online dynasty time) i will probably get raped by florida even though im using GA bulldogs i have not been able to stop floridas O-line or there running game the person i am facing chips away all day on the run game doesnt run option a alot and he uses the run balance playbook if i stop the run he will start to pass if i shut down the pass he will start on runs then switch to pas and burn my ass with harvin his total rush yards after 4-5 weeks is 325 spilt between 4 guys the reason for that is because he averages 50 yards a return on kicks and punts now i have no idea what playbook to use against him and audibles if anyone is willing to help me post on this and/or contact me on xbox live my tag is PMC02...what he belives in is establishing the run and stopping the run and he runs basically 3 formations out of bal run and has his audibles set up perfectly so please can anyone help me get ready for this game

[Dr Sacked]

ok in about 6 weeks(online dynasty time) i will probably get raped by florida even though im using GA bulldogs i have not been able to stop floridas O-line or there running game the person i am facing chips away all day on the run game doesnt run option a alot and he uses the run balance playbook if i stop the run he will start to pass if i shut down the pass he will start on runs then switch to pas and burn my ass with harvin his total rush yards after 4-5 weeks is 325 spilt between 4 guys the reason for that is because he averages 50 yards a return on kicks and punts now i have no idea what playbook to use against him and audibles if anyone is willing to help me post on this and/or contact me on xbox live my tag is PMC02...what he belives in is establishing the run and stopping the run and he runs basically 3 formations out of bal run and has his audibles set up perfectly so please can anyone help me get ready for this game

I have switched to 09 since this posted started. Online, you get more audibles BUT you get what comes with your playbook. From what i can tell you cannot reset them during online games. online dynasty? you prolly can--i don't know.