Defensive plays

[SteffenS]

Almost all defensive plays I've seen on different sites, has a setup on LOS like:
----I-x-x-x-I----

Contrary to this almost everyone in my league set up like this:
----I--xxx--I----

and most of the time with the classic 3-4-4:

----I--xxx--I----
----I-------I----
--x-I-x---x-I-x--
--x-I-x---x-I-x--

Now in which situation/plays who you actually use the first mentioned? Against all agility teams I would use the classic 3-4-4, since it makes it very difficult to actually blitz a path, that the offence can move via, without dodgeing.
Actually I have a hard time figuring out, which situations its wise to not place the linemen on LOS next to each other for mutual support?

[datalorex]

I did it once yesterday (elves vs elves) like this...

x--x--x

I did it to lure my oppeonent to concentrate more players on the line. Against a

xxx

line, it generally takes 4 or 5 players to on the line to get 2D blocks, but against a

x--x--x

line, it takes 6 players. Concentrating that many players to take down 3 players keeps the offense from getting a quick strike, which is what I was going for. Diferent looks often confuses opponents, so it's good to try them occassionally.

[lauth81]

I did it once yesterday (elves vs elves) like this...

x--x--x

I did it to lure my oppeonent to concentrate more players on the line. Against a

xxx

line, it generally takes 4 or 5 players to on the line to get 2D blocks, but against a

x--x--x

line, it takes 6 players. Concentrating that many players to take down 3 players keeps the offense from getting a quick strike, which is what I was going for. Diferent looks often confuses opponents, so it's good to try them occassionally.

but still only 3 players have to make a block, so the difference isn´t that big.

[stashman]

I did it once yesterday (elves vs elves) like this...

x--x--x

I did it to lure my oppeonent to concentrate more players on the line. Against a

xxx

line, it generally takes 4 or 5 players to on the line to get 2D blocks, but against a

x--x--x

line, it takes 6 players. Concentrating that many players to take down 3 players keeps the offense from getting a quick strike, which is what I was going for. Diferent looks often confuses opponents, so it's good to try them occassionally.

but still only 3 players have to make a block, so the difference isn´t that big.

Hope for Perfect Defence and you have the opponent in one spot.

[mattgslater]

Funny. I'm actually writing an article on this exact topic (three-man fronts) for Triple-Pow! right now. It'll likely appear in the December issue. Without giving any of it away, I personally like to use two different three-man lines: three guys bunched in the center, and three players spread out so as to leave two squares between:

Code: Select all

-  - - -|- - O O O - -|- - - -
or 
- - - -|O - - O - - O|- - - -

Either way, I really like putting linebackers one back when they're needed. I don't fear quick snaps except against much stronger teams, as they're uncommon and frequently the oponent isn't ready for them either.

Code: Select all

My Pro Elves do this against Agility teams.  The players marked S have Side Step, or you're ceding the sideline.  The C players are catchers, who are faster but have to be protected.
- - - -|- - O O O - -|- - - -
- S - -|O O - - - O O|- - S -
- - C -|- - - - -- - -|- C - -

If I'm playing against a a bashy team and think a Quick Snap will kill them, I might do this instead.
- - - -|- - O O O - -|- - - -
- - - -|- - - - - - -|- - - -
- S - -|O O - - - O O|- - S -
- - C -|- - - - - - -|- C - -

or 
- - - -|- - O O O - -|- - - -
- - - -|- - - - - - -|- - - -
- S - -|O O - - - O O|- - S -
- - - -|- C - - - C -|- - - -

This is fun with unskilled Dwarfs.
- - - -|O - - O - - O|- - - -
- - O -|- O - O - O -|- O - -
- O - -|- - - O - - -|- - O -

or, against a Wood Elf team,
- - - -|O - - O - - O|- - - -
- - - -|O - - O - - -O- - - -
- O - -|- - - - - - -|- - O -
- - - -|O - - O - - O|- - - -

The next one forces Leapers to move to the outside.  If you somehow have a Kicker but not a Guard (which should never happen), this forces your opponent to give you a nice spot for a shallow kick on the weakside.
- - - -|O - - O - - O|- - - -
- - - -|- O - - - O -|- - - -
- - O -|- - - O - - -|- O - -
- - - -|O - - O - - O|- - - -

With one or more Guard players and a Kicker,
- - - -|- - O G O - -|- - - -
- - - -|O G - - - G O|- - - -
- - O -|- - - O - - -|- O - -
- - - -|- - - O - - -|- - - -

With Orcs, I like doing this against ST3 teams: The B players are BOBs.
- - - -|- - B O B - -|- - - -
- O - -|B - - - - - B|- - O -
- O - -|O - - - - - O|- - O -

[Wosret]

First on i use most of the time with my khemri.
Because is viable with khemry as u got 3 S5 players who can pull it off without getting hurt to much.

[stormmaster1]

- - - -|- - B O B - -|- - - -
- O - -|B - - - - - B|- - O -
- O - -|O - - - - - O|- - O -


I tend to use similar setups to this. The key with all set ups is that there will be a weakness. Somewhere in the line the removal of a single player will result in a gap for the opposition to run through. Positioning so that these positions are covered by players least likely to get knocked down/out of position, i.e. high ST block dodge sidestep players.

Having players spread on the LOS does mean that your opponent gets more blocks in the event of pushbacks, but if you're an orc or dwarf coach then sucking them into a LOS battle is no bad thing. More opposition in the middle and less in the backfield is a good way to be.

[datalorex]

First on i use most of the time with my khemri.
Because is viable with khemry as u got 3 S5 players who can pull it off without getting hurt to much.

Admitted, I've never played Khemri (but might in the next league), I would spread out the mummies. Otherwise, it would be too easy to stay away from them. And BTW, you can get 4 mummies, not 3.

[stormmaster1]

- - - -|- - S S S - -|- - - -
- M - -|M - - - - - M|- - M -
- S - -|- - S - S - -|- - S -

Something like that for Khemri. Again the only way through is through the mummies really. Probably set the skellies up deeper, but Mummies across the pitch.

[TuernRedvenom]

- - - -|- - S S S - -|- - - -
- M - -|M - - - - - M|- - M -
- S - -|- - S - S - -|- - S -

Something like that for Khemri. Again the only way through is through the mummies really. Probably set the skellies up deeper, but Mummies across the pitch.

vs agility teams I always preferred:
-- - - |- - S S S - -|- - - -
- - - -|- - - - - - - |- - - -
- S - -|M - - - - - M|- - S -
- B - -|M - - - - - M|- - B -

This leaves an obvious gap through the centre, and if they take the bait then it becomes real easy for you to encircle them because your slowest players are in the centre, where the play should be happening, and then pound the snot out of em.

[Pipey]

Similar to my defence vs. ag team with orcs:

- - - - |- - L L L - -|- - - -
- Z - -|BB - - - BB|- - Z -
- Z - -|- - - - - - - |- - Z -

(Z = blitzer, B = BOB)

I use a high line to force the issue (no sense fearing the QS or playing cautiously against a super mobile offence) and leaving the centre the most vulnerable so whole team can cover a breakthrough. If you leave the flanks vulnerable, then only half a slow team can cover.

Also it's not necessarily easy to get through the densely packed centre as prone linorcs may become an obstacle.

[Joemanji]

I've found myself using this almost exclusively with all my teams:

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---- ------- ----
....|..XXX..|....
....|.......|....
..X.|.X...X.|.X..
.X..|A.....B|..X.
....|.......|....

For the reason that is protects players A & B. I've found if people want to run potential receivers through they almost always can, so often their blitz action will just target a weak or valuable player on my team. This keeps them safe to wreck havoc on my turn.

Btw, I have found clumping your LoS players together to be more effective. It makes it harder for an opponent to set up secondary blocks if the first fails. When you space your players out the secondary blocks can be found easily. Also, often you only need one player to stay on his feet to clog up the middle. If you space the LoS then pushbacks will usually be enough to make a gap.

I really should look into some more exciting setups, I know. But they never seem to work as well for me.

[TuernRedvenom]

Similar to my defence vs. ag team with orcs:

- - - - |- - L L L - -|- - - -
- Z - -|BB - - - BB|- - Z -
- Z - -|- - - - - - - |- - Z -

(Z = blitzer, B = BOB)

I use a high line to force the issue (no sense fearing the QS or playing cautiously against a super mobile offence) and leaving the centre the most vulnerable so whole team can cover a breakthrough. If you leave the flanks vulnerable, then only half a slow team can cover.

Also it's not necessarily easy to get through the densely packed centre as prone linorcs may become an obstacle.

QS still is a problem IMO as a regular block can then knock down a blitzer on a flank and the blitz the second one opening up the whole flank. Also I dont want my front three to clog up the middle so they cannot break through, because I want them to break through, but only through the centre...
Your setup seems better at preventing a breakthrough while mine is better at containing it.
Very interesting though...

[Pipey]

QS only a 1 in 9 chance now on the KO table ( 9 less likely than 8 ). Better to play an agressive defence vs. WE, skaven etc. so if you don't turn them over they at least will be forced to score early and set up a long and punishing return drive.

[stormmaster1]

I've found myself using this almost exclusively with all my teams:

Code: Select all

---- ------- ----
....|..XXX..|....
....|.......|....
..X.|.X...X.|.X..
.X..|A.....B|..X.
....|.......|....

For the reason that is protects players A & B. I've found if people want to run potential receivers through they almost always can, so often their blitz action will just target a weak or valuable player on my team. This keeps them safe to wreck havoc on my turn.

Btw, I have found clumping your LoS players together to be more effective. It makes it harder for an opponent to set up secondary blocks if the first fails. When you space your players out the secondary blocks can be found easily. Also, often you only need one player to stay on his feet to clog up the middle. If you space the LoS then pushbacks will usually be enough to make a gap.

I really should look into some more exciting setups, I know. But they never seem to work as well for me.

the clumping up on the LOS is more effective, undoubtedly. the only reason for spreading them out is to try and draw opposition into a bashing game, or to tie up more players in the centre: less recievers threatening the endzone.