What is the best possible secondary you could build around zone defense.

I’m sure some of you are using zone defense schemes and I will have a lot of coins to spend as  prices continue to decline and I’m wondering what is the best possible combination of cbs and safeties I could buy to optimize zone coverage. I was thinking Bland, Ward, Revis, Davis, Gilly, Peppers, Bo. Let me know if you have a better combination.

First order of business is making sure that all outside corners and deep safeties get the Pick Artist/Deep Out Zone KO combo for 1 AP.  I run Porter, Mills, Peppers, and Megatron.

Porter and Mills get the added bonus of being the only cards in the game who can add Flat Zone KO to those two abilities for 1 AP.  I also run Flat Zone KO on Megatron, but at an extra 2 AP, hopefully we get a safety soon who gets the Porter/Mills stack.

For the slot, you probably want a guy who can get Pick Artist/Flat Zone KO for 1 AP.  I like Revis, but Bland and Verrett are also solid.

This is all scheme dependent obviously,  but I have been super happy with what ends up being an 8 AP setup.  Some people like adding Mid Zone KO on their deep safeties. Depending on what you do with your Sub LBs, you might want Mid Zones or more Flat Zones, but I just run 0 AP Pick Artist.

I run big nickel and this is my set up…
 

FS - Peppers (DZKO, Pick Artist) = 1 ap

SS - Bo (DZKO, Pick Artist) = 1 ap

CB1 - Porter (DZKO, FZKO, Pick Artist) = 2

CB2 - Mills (DZKO, FZKO, Pick Artist) = 2

Slot - CarMichael (Mid Zone, DZKO) = 2

Non User LB - Derwin (DZKO, Pick Artist) = 1

this set up allows myself to play match (uses zone kos), cover 2, inverted cover 3.  Allows my scheme to be flexible in all areas of the field.

jwasylenko said:

First order of business is making sure that all outside corners and deep safeties get the Pick Artist/Deep Out Zone KO combo for 1 AP.  I run Porter, Mills, Peppers, and Megatron.

Porter and Mills get the added bonus of being the only cards in the game who can add Flat Zone KO to those two abilities for 1 AP.  I also run Flat Zone KO on Megatron, but at an extra 2 AP, hopefully we get a safety soon who gets the Porter/Mills stack.

For the slot, you probably want a guy who can get Pick Artist/Flat Zone KO for 1 AP.  I like Revis, but Bland and Verrett are also solid.

This is all scheme dependent obviously,  but I have been super happy with what ends up being an 8 AP setup.  Some people like adding Mid Zone KO on their deep safeties. Depending on what you do with your Sub LBs, you might want Mid Zones or more Flat Zones, but I just run 0 AP Pick Artist.

Super helpful reply thank you bro

GGerz said:

I run big nickel and this is my set up…
 

FS - Peppers (DZKO, Pick Artist) = 1 ap

SS - Bo (DZKO, Pick Artist) = 1 ap

CB1 - Porter (DZKO, FZKO, Pick Artist) = 2

CB2 - Mills (DZKO, FZKO, Pick Artist) = 2

Slot - CarMichael (Mid Zone, DZKO) = 2

Non User LB - Derwin (DZKO, Pick Artist) = 1

this set up allows myself to play match (uses zone kos), cover 2, inverted cover 3.  Allows my scheme to be flexible in all areas of the field.

Im assuming you run legends theme team? Is it 40/40? Do you notice peppers and Carmichaels speed, especially considering Carmichael is in the slot? Thanks for the reply though that's super helpful.

maxweaver8 said:

Im assuming you run legends theme team? Is it 40/40? Do you notice peppers and Carmichaels speed, especially considering Carmichael is in the slot? Thanks for the reply though that's super helpful.

yeah, i have 40/40. their height is such a deterrent, that i haven’t really noticed the speed being a problem. I know i’m giving up 1-3 speed but they just play solid, i don’t scream what are you doing lol. 

one of the reason i like Carmichael besides his height is getting Mid zone & deep out discounted. Tip drill is good enough. In my scheme having the ability in ether match or cover two having the ability to get knockouts is very welcomed.

also a tip when playing zone… don’t click on, let the cpu bump the wr. I’ve noticed more knockouts. Also, deep in zone ko only works between the hashes. Anything beyond that is deep out zone territory. This makes deep out zone ko more valuable.

if you want a deep break down let me know for each position

MaxHuncho said:

Super helpful reply thank you bro

No problem. if you want a break down and why, let me know. No problem helping people get a scheme started.

GGerz said:

I run big nickel and this is my set up…
 

FS - Peppers (DZKO, Pick Artist) = 1 ap

SS - Bo (DZKO, Pick Artist) = 1 ap

CB1 - Porter (DZKO, FZKO, Pick Artist) = 2

CB2 - Mills (DZKO, FZKO, Pick Artist) = 2

Slot - CarMichael (Mid Zone, DZKO) = 2

Non User LB - Derwin (DZKO, Pick Artist) = 1

this set up allows myself to play match (uses zone kos), cover 2, inverted cover 3.  Allows my scheme to be flexible in all areas of the field.

This looks like a great setup.

I play 99% zone and have been all year.

I have Peppers at FS and Bo at SS and anytime I’ve tried switching them out with somebody else I get burned like crazy.

The best CB’s I’ve used are Cromartie, Champ Bailey, and Charles Woodson. Carmichael has been really good in the slot and surprisingly Deion is a great slot blitzer. Idk why but he gets more sacks there than anyone else I’ve used.

GGerz said:

I run big nickel and this is my set up…
 

FS - Peppers (DZKO, Pick Artist) = 1 ap

SS - Bo (DZKO, Pick Artist) = 1 ap

CB1 - Porter (DZKO, FZKO, Pick Artist) = 2

CB2 - Mills (DZKO, FZKO, Pick Artist) = 2

Slot - CarMichael (Mid Zone, DZKO) = 2

Non User LB - Derwin (DZKO, Pick Artist) = 1

this set up allows myself to play match (uses zone kos), cover 2, inverted cover 3.  Allows my scheme to be flexible in all areas of the field.

exactly my match setup out of BNOG. Mostly cover 4 quarters/palms, IC3 and cover 6 for me.

FS - Mills (DZKO, MZKO, Pick Artist) = 2 ap

SS - Porter (DZKO, MZKO, Pick Artist) = 2 ap

CB1 - Champ (DZKO,  Pick Artist) = 1 ap

CB2 - Mills (DZKO, FZKO, Pick Artist) = 2 ap

Slot - Reed (FZKO, Pick artist) = 2 ap

  SubLB- Peppers ( Pick Artist) = 0 ap

SubLB- Rod Martin (Lurker, Pick artist)= 1 ap

That gives me 2ap to use on a edge rusher with ET BOGO and then I run 0ap Drally, 0ap secure tackler, and 0ap speedster on the Dline.

GGerz said:

yeah, i have 40/40. their height is such a deterrent, that i haven’t really noticed the speed being a problem. I know i’m giving up 1-3 speed but they just play solid, i don’t scream what are you doing lol. 

one of the reason i like Carmichael besides his height is getting Mid zone & deep out discounted. Tip drill is good enough. In my scheme having the ability in ether match or cover two having the ability to get knockouts is very welcomed.

also a tip when playing zone… don’t click on, let the cpu bump the wr. I’ve noticed more knockouts. Also, deep in zone ko only works between the hashes. Anything beyond that is deep out zone territory. This makes deep out zone ko more valuable.

if you want a deep break down let me know for each position

yeah I never click on unless I'm sure I can get the pick. the KO tackle animation is messed up by spamming Y, so its best to just let your KOs do their job.

I'd have to include Haynes in this conversation. Not a fan of Porter. Gets burned too often.

I run man more often than zone so admittedly though. I also run Legends TT....for me I'd go with Haynes , Champ, Revis, Cro, Carmichael, Dawkins, Troy, Peppers, Bo

GGerz said:

yeah, i have 40/40. their height is such a deterrent, that i haven’t really noticed the speed being a problem. I know i’m giving up 1-3 speed but they just play solid, i don’t scream what are you doing lol. 

one of the reason i like Carmichael besides his height is getting Mid zone & deep out discounted. Tip drill is good enough. In my scheme having the ability in ether match or cover two having the ability to get knockouts is very welcomed.

also a tip when playing zone… don’t click on, let the cpu bump the wr. I’ve noticed more knockouts. Also, deep in zone ko only works between the hashes. Anything beyond that is deep out zone territory. This makes deep out zone ko more valuable.

if you want a deep break down let me know for each position

Thank you bro Im gonna come back to you with any questions once I start reassembling my team.

Martyr1968 said:

I'd have to include Haynes in this conversation. Not a fan of Porter. Gets burned too often.

I run man more often than zone so admittedly though. I also run Legends TT....for me I'd go with Haynes , Champ, Revis, Cro, Carmichael, Dawkins, Troy, Peppers, Bo

Haynes and Cro  are  man corners, they do  not get zone abilities so in a a zone scheme they're not the best option due to ability points.  Inside shade in a dollar scheme can be nice though