NCAA '14 defensive gameplay

I haven't found any sliders that I like yet. As far as defense, it just takes practice. Right now, I play on Heisman, and I can still get user tackles though it's not easy. The new 'dive' tackle makes it difficult to use X and just expect an automatic tackle. You almost have to big hit every time to make sure you take down the ball-carrier.

A lot of the missed tackles are most likely caused by constantly attempting to hit stick. If you just flick the Right analog stick, you will dive at a player. If you hold the right analog stick, your player will "charge up" and then unload on the ball carrier. I try to stay away from hit sticking simply because the new infinity engine allows you to run into the guy and press square to initiate a wrap up tackle. Or if you want to continue to hit stick, if you wait until you are right up on the guy (as in a yard or less away), your chances at a successful hit stick tackle are increased. Also take into account who you are controlling versus who you are attempting to take down. If you are using some 5'11 160 pound corner and attempting to take down a 6'0 205 lb RB, you will have very little success as it is and will need to just slow him down and let the rest of your team swarm to the ball.

If your guy is engaged in a block, utilize the right analog stick. If you look at the game manual online, you will see various moves you perform with the right analog stick (swim, spin, bull rush). Use those to disengage from a block, or at the very least attempt to push the blocker back into the ball carrier.

Pay attention to the routes that the WR is running that you are continually getting beat on. If they are slants, streaks or out/in routes, it's because your secondary or perhaps that corner is pressing him and the WR is beating the press coverage. If you are being beat by comeback routes, it's because your corner is playing too far off (most likely a zone coverage assignment). Also, if the CPU is throwing to the same WR who is continually getting open, you can spotlight the WR to put more attention on him. The flip side to the spotlight is that it COULD leave someone else open.

I don't know what defender you control, but I normally control the MLB or a Safety and will play to my assignment, but if I am the MLB, I watch the middle of the field like a hawk for slant routes, etc. Especially if I am in press coverage. I know what you mean though about the QB always somehow finding the open WR. It's happened more than a few times to myself as well.

I know speed plays a huge part in videogame football, but i've noticed that guys with high awareness ratings and play recognition seem to not fall victim to certain things. So when I recruit, I don't necessarily always go after the high OVR guys. I'll find guys with certain attributes that fit my team and run with that.

I've had great success running a simple Cover 2 Man for the majority of games. I tend to play basic, conservative defense that forces you to go underneath.

I've always found defense on NCAA more difficult to play than offense, so my goal on defense is to

1 - Not give up the big play

2 - Very rarely blitz (and when I do, it's long yardage situations where even if I get burned, I likely won't give up the first down)

3- By playing conservatively and forcing everything underneath and short, I cause the offense to have to run more plays, drop back more times and in my mind, they eventually will make a mistake. A guy can make 6 perfect throws and have 5 good running plays, but on that 12th play, if he throws an INT, those good plays won't matter.

Most people want to be flashy, go for the long ball, make the homerun play. By forcing them to take short yardage passes and runs all game, they eventually get bored and try the long ball or do something uncharacteristic to force something. That's when I capitalize.

I am by no means an expert at this game but this strategy has worked for me thus far.

ETA: I basically employ a defensive style that doesn't try to force mistakes, but rather hold you in check until you get frustrated and botch up a play action, an option play or a deep ball...essentially waiting for YOU to MAKE the mistake for me.

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3-3-5 cover 2 man where the olb is designed to blitz.. instead i switch to him and drop him in coverage.. very good results 75% of the time. for some reason it causes the qb to panic

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Interesting. I never really even though to use much of the 3-3-5 (or 4-2-5 for that matter).

I would imagine the QB panics because 99% of the time, he approaches the line with the expectation of a four man front and an easy read on the defense.

I may have to try that out. Especially on passing downs considering there is zero pressure ever on the QB with the downlineman outside of a broken play or exceptional coverage down field.

I hate going up against a 3-3-5 or 3-4 defense. I don't like seeing so many potential blitzers near the LOS. Defensively, I play Cover 3 alot. Try to take away the middle of the field, and play good zone defense on first and second down. On third down, I bring the blitz. Honestly, I think you HAVE to user a linebacker or safety to throw off the QB's reads in this game.

Yeah that's what I like about Cover 3. It shows a single high safety, and adds an extra defender against the run.

I'd really like to see EA patch zone defense a bit though. I'd like to see defenders 'pattern match' more. Really frustrating seeing defenders do very little when a receiver is in their area. Still, I think you can play good defense in this game.