What is the meta now?

Had not played since New Years and now I come back, and on offense I literally cannot complete anything deep because everyone has DeepZone KOs everywhere, and prolly some mid KOs in the mix in the middle, and also can't run at all bc most teams have 3 DLs with already active Exfactors when the game starts and two guys with inside stuff, secure tackler, and usually no outsiders as well.  EA also noticeable nerfed all read options and read screens...  so seems like only thing to try is dink and dunk but most teams are running with fast 6'4" guys as their users, taking everything in the middle and flats away.  So what does that leave?  What are the must-have abilities on offense now?  Aything to counter this?

These exfactors, abilities, and OOP players have really ruined this game.

Winning games and scoring points

hom3y said:

Had not played since New Years and now I come back, and on offense I literally cannot complete anything deep because everyone has DeepZone KOs everywhere, and prolly some mid KOs in the mix in the middle, and also can't run at all bc most teams have 3 DLs with already active Exfactors when the game starts and two guys with inside stuff, secure tackler, and usually no outsiders as well.  EA also noticeable nerfed all read options and read screens...  so seems like only thing to try is dink and dunk but most teams are running with fast 6'4" guys as their users, taking everything in the middle and flats away.  So what does that leave?  What are the must-have abilities on offense now?  Aything to counter this?

These exfactors, abilities, and OOP players have really ruined this game.

Set feet lead on the Qb, and Angry runs on the Rb. 

 Linchpin, identifier, secure protecter and if you can afford it Threat detector on the oline. 

Also learn a different offense formation then Bunch or trips and you will have great success as that is all most people know how to stop.

hom3y said:

Had not played since New Years and now I come back, and on offense I literally cannot complete anything deep because everyone has DeepZone KOs everywhere, and prolly some mid KOs in the mix in the middle, and also can't run at all bc most teams have 3 DLs with already active Exfactors when the game starts and two guys with inside stuff, secure tackler, and usually no outsiders as well.  EA also noticeable nerfed all read options and read screens...  so seems like only thing to try is dink and dunk but most teams are running with fast 6'4" guys as their users, taking everything in the middle and flats away.  So what does that leave?  What are the must-have abilities on offense now?  Aything to counter this?

These exfactors, abilities, and OOP players have really ruined this game.

Honestly, the game has become a ridiculous cheese fest.  The meta is probably RPO-cheese, typically with an Angry Runs X-factor running back, while paired with 1 (or more) Vanguard abilities on your TE or perhaps OOP FB, which will absolutely pancake multiple defenders, often as many as 2-3 per play (per Vanguard ability).  And it's possible to have three of these Vanguards running on offense at any given time.

Passing meta has become the roll-out game (using either Roaming Deadeye, or perfect "blue" passing), often from under center formations, where you can instantly gain control of your QB, allowing you to escape the pocket, thereby avoiding the X-factor pass rush and allowing for deep bombs to the sideline downfield.  YMMV, but that's the most difficult for me to defend at the moment.

Zone KOs on defense, all around (both Deep + Mid) as you pointed out is the way to go, often from Dollar formations, to get as much speed on the field as possible.

No cap, i started saying recently that offense is surprisingly more difficult than defense at the moment, hence why so many people are turning to toting the rock, and the RPOs can be difficult to defend.  Overcommit to the Angry Runs back and you'll get burned down the sideline from a quick pass and juke, often for big gains.