Wanted to share what I changed in my defense that has made a world of a difference. I typically play zone defense year to year. This year, even with higher rated players, i was getting cooked constantly. I switched to man defense and made sure to hit the 90 threshold MCV on my top 3 corner backs and play the Ravens Defense, using primarily various Nickel formations (though some dime and an occasional quarter). How i do that more cheaply is under the CB section below
It's still good to thrown in zone defense to vary it up but i'm probably a 70/30 split. I especially prefer zones in the red zone. I blitz maybe once every 5 or 6 plays. Make sure you're using your blitz formations to run zones and m2m cover 2 / cover 1 to keep them guessing. I never press. If you can afford Joey Porter, Crom, and Ramsey, go for it. Its going to be a Pain to deal with. I do not have that kind of coin. Cover 2 man out of standard Nickel, spying a tackle and shading whatever direction i think they're going that i cant cover is the play i'm running about 40% of the time. it can get beat but it's usually slow with the safety help and with the 90 MCV you end up getting picks.
One thing I've noticed is that a slow interior lineman is somehow completely acceptable QB spy. I'm using a Rookie Premier Breese with 74 spd as my main spy and he consistently runs down RG3
CB:
Using the +1 MCV coach and ballhaw/man2man strat items you can get Adoree Jackson (100k), Jalen Ramsey (Free but need the first token from level up pass), and JC Jackson (usually can find for 220 or 230 if you look on PS5). Having 3 90+ CBs hitting thresholds, when most the receivers cant hit them seems to make all the difference right now
Safeties:
Up top use Ed Reed and Eric Berry. I like having 90 Zone on them but sometimes will use them in man, so Sean Taylor wont work for me unless usering him. Reed is obviously pricey. I wanted the 90 threshold but there are budget guys you can use with slightly below
For MLBs
Brown (Rookie Premier) Just get someone that is ok
User: Joey Blount. You can make him for very around 110k and he's been a great budgetish user. I bring him up because with 87 MCV he's actually trustable for you to user the other SLB when in MCV
Line: Two big Tackles as the RDT, pick two pass rushers. I've been trying LT, though Bruce Smith worked better in pure rushing, LT's ability is pretty cool. Kearse is a good choice too or the new parsons. You want at least one good edge rusher. I have free reggie while as the other rushing end though he could be interior too
Main Blitz packages: If you blitz consider the following out of Nickel 2-4 Dbl Mug. If you think they're going to run, choose another formation
LB Blitz 3 : Change whoever is in the middle zone to a blitz so you have 6 blitzing with middle showing no coverage. I usually will shade underneath here to cover the quick dump offs. Stay in the middle the MLB /Safety you user, try to briefly engage a linemen then cover the middle. Sometimes you'll get instant pressure, but almost always get some pressure.
Mid Blitz 0: User a MLB and take him to whatever side the rb is on, run toward the line like you're going to blitz to try to pull a linementhen cover the MLB. The RB is usually their main out here and if you cover him you get the pressure often.
I am not going to act like this is incredibly cheap. I bought the Deluxe edition and made some coins early flipping legends. I also had a nice starting base of 15 or so Rookie premieres to fill holes. I also put the vast majority of my coin into my defense and roll with BND offense.
Anyhow I hope this helps someone. I'm interested in other people's approaches that doesnt entail buying all the best players in the game and spinner / zero blitzing every other play
