Passing Offense
1. Deep shot offenses that target double me, deep in elite or deep out elite on streaks or deep posts shouldnt use PLE bc it negates the best possible animations.
2. Carry extra HBs - I have one with short in elite and one with secure protector. Both get snaps and have notable impact and prevent my running backs from getting tired. I never have fumble issues in late game scenarios.
3. If you ever need to choose between pieces of the godstack, fearless and gunslinger are the universal necessities. Fearless is absolutely broken and works on the run as well as outside of the pocket and gunslingers job goes without saying.
4. Height in WRs is overrated, weight and strength often help them get open and beat press. I find that the opposite is true with TEs, which is why Justin fields plays so well for me.
5. Run 5 secure protectors. They eliminate DON, ETE, NO and inside stuff and make an impact at chipping away unstoppable force. Always double team unstoppable force.
6. If you run lots of play action (like I do) and get sacked on user gap shoots, ID the Mike and/or cancel play action.
Running Offense
1. Runningback duos are mandatory. I use a power/speed combo of Earl Campbell and Barry Sanders. No fumbles, lots of breakaway runs.
2. Fast offensive linemen make an incredible difference. Nasty streak 0 ap is a useful tool on them as well.
3. As mentioned earlier, secure protector should be on all offensive linemen to negate inside stuff. Double team if one player gets repeated quicksheds.
4. Stick to a few formations. As boring as it gets, it is an effective disguise. I have 4 main run plays and 4 main pass plays, all out of the same formation.
5. A very underrated and underutilized ball carrier move is the jurdle, which is very good at changing direction in open field. Turns big plays into TDs, I use it usually once per game. Effective on kickoffs.
Pass Defense
1. Put as many DBs on the field as possible. Big safeties are better than linebackers because who wants to waste an ap on lurker?
2. Acro is almost always better than pick artist. I have acro on 7 DBs, 5 of which also use pick artist. When you have acro, the only benefit of pick art is tipped ball INTs, which can be frustrating, but diving swats/INTs and BS knockouts are much more beneficial.
3. I run a zone defense and I cannot live without 3 corners that all get 2 free abilities. This allows me to have 2 ap on my 3 corners total and still get knockouts, INTs and great play.
4. If you dont get good pressure, try dropping a a DL into spy. Prevents QB runs and also creates a zone that eliminates short drags or short ins. To beat that on offense, shuffle towards the spy and away from the route that you are throwing to.
5. If an opponent is strictly passing, put MLBs at DE and drop them into 5 yd hard flats and set curl flats to 25 yds to eliminate corners and crossers. Adjust zone depths in coaching adjustments. I use cover 4 or cover 3 sky.
6. Understand and research the benefits of press and shade. Very good situational tools.
7. For X factors, I use UC on my two outside corners, which locks up every coverage beater after activation. Best part is that they activate every game. The third is a toss up and personal preference, but I usually use an unstoppable force somewhere on my DL.
Run defense
1. 99 Fred Warner. Enforcer/crusher for 0 ap makes him incredibly valuable in goal line defense. Can make goal line stands simply by taking the RB1 out for a play.
2. Shift DL and LB towards run strength before every play. Easy ways to identify run strength include TE or FB, alignment of HB (in gun) or hash alignment.
3. Bigger slot corners for better tackling. Height and weight are very important to tackling efficiency.
4. Inside stuff is still the best run beater, even with the SP meta. No outsiders is also very effective and blows up toss.
5. When playing one of those damn goal line abusers, user a high safety and wait for the linebackers to fill the blocks.
6. My favorite run defense is 3-4 odd cover 3 sky. Put 3 DT at DL and 2 DE at OLB. Use 3 inside stuff and 2 NO. If you really wanna get complicated, blitz the other OLB and put the MLB on a curl flat, then bring the single high safety into the box and kick out the MLB to prevent play action passes.
7. Carry lots of backup DT for goal line, the heavier the better. DON, NO, GLS or inside stuff all work.
8. Pay for good backups to use on special teams. I still have 96 Tedy Bruschi w 0 ap secure tackler for kickoff, just an example. Best abilities for those players are secure tackler/tackle supreme, crusher or enforcer.