Let's collect the suggestions for defense in one place. There have been some excellent ones in other threads 9e.g defensive packages based on offensive personnel is an excellent one).
I have two thoughts to kick this off:
1. A new "key" command: Key on TE. The defensive player would read the TE's block or route and either attack the run or go man-to-man on the TE (or, I suppose, drop into a zone).
2. A more robust "Run Rush" command. I don't mind the offensive line winning the battle, but the whole shoving a DL back into the secondary is just weird. I'd also like to see DL stats (particularly STR and AGL) heavily rewarded: if a DT is stronger than an OG then a DT in run rush should be hard to move.
I certainly agree to a change in the run rush command. There is not a real space eater feature in pmfb.
Along with that run rush fix the DT's and NT's should be given more power to not be moved by the offense. It is way too easy for the offense to move the defense back, and then the back to slip through his offensive line(see other post on not moving through players).
Not that it's just for defense, but I would raise the subject of a Size statistic. To say that the size difference between Gilbert Brown and Mark Gastineau is not important is silly. I think that with a size statistic we'll see the defense be able to control the running game up front without committing their entire defense.
bo
I would like to make some OL and DL suggestions.
1-Give me a reason to draft an OL with the #1 or #2 overall pick. Speed at the skill positions is so deadly that I cannot think of one reason why a coach in the right mind would take an OL. OL are tricky to use if you do not design your pass block command properly than DL run right by him and your OL stands there. Same goes as run blocking, if you miss the assignment the OL will run down the field and not block anyone unless he has the pitchfork command. The better OL need to be smarter. If the design is off and the OL has nothing to do he should automatically just block the nearest player to him. I would also like to see abilities play more into OL/DL matchups. A pass rushing 100-40-20-20-20 DE will push a 500 point OL right into the QB. The 500 point OL should dominate all day long in that macthup. Guys like Tony Boselli and Orlando Pace are late 2nd to early 3rd round draft picks in most PMFB leagues. A 100 speed corner can make up for my lack of play design but a 500 point OL rarely ever will.
2-DL I think if speed was equalled out between positions this would help, but I would also like to see superior DL dominate a weaker OL especially in the running game. A 500 point DE with a run rush command will get dominated by a 200 point OL. In reality I should have to give my OL some help and double teams to effectively take away or neutralize that DE. In the NFL and College the lines are so important to the success of everything teams try to do but in PMFB the OL and DL positions are some of the least important.
3-Any DB or LB lined up on the LOS over an OG or an OC should get dominated regardless of ability. I can understand effective DBs and LBs blitzing off the corner but in reality the worst NFL OG would completely dominate the best NFL DB if that DB lined up on the LOS over him.
I agree with the DBs being too effective on a blitz. Just as in any real league, a DB blitzer can be deadly if an OL doesn't get a hand on him, in reality once that OL makes contact, the DB is done, in PMFB that DB just continues to blow by the OL until he is in the backfield. I guess this goes back to what BO said, there should be a size stat, only the descrepancy in position should be more, a gigantic DT or DE (Washington, Reggie White) would never be pushed back and ran over even the best power RB (Dickerson, Riggins) but in PMFB a great RB usually beats a great DLineman. So IMO, DL should be a lot stronger, LBs are decent, but DBs should be weaker (SS;s just a little bit so).
Many leagues resort to the catch command defense as the m2m command leaves players stupidly succeptable to pump fakes. Shouldn't more intellegent defenders get faked out a lot less? And Zone coverage remains a mystery to a lot of coaches. Could there be a command for zone coverage that just says stay as deep as the deepest man in this area?
Shouldn't the defence be able to key on the offence formation?
It is very annoying when my team capped at 7500 points is handily beating a team that has a 10000+ cap (like the Armored Mech that was packaged with the download) and that team pulls out a HB and FB on the outside on a 5 receiver set. Surely, any sensible defence should "know" what's coming and adjust.