High Elf Defense Strats

[Talafar]

I have been playing lots of matches with my High Elves recently, and have done pretty well. But in recent games, I have begun having difficulty on the defense.
I am fine against "slow" teams which don't have players with MA7, but against Skaven (and even Undead!) I have problems.
The main problem is that once the other team has secured the ball, and built a cage/pocket around it, I cannot really do much about it.
While one Elf has been blessed with a strength increase, and a Dragon warrior has leap, this does not actually help if a vampire star player, strength 4 ghoul with Blodge, or skaven defended by players with guard (and a rat ogre with block) has the ball.
I have tried falling back, and this works fine against slower teams, but when your opponent can score in 1-2 turns if un-threatened, things get a bit more problematic.
Despite these defensive troubles, I have still managed to do well, as scoring is not a massive challenge for elves, but I would like to patch up this weakness in my play. Any advice is much appreciated.

In case you need it, my team roster is:

The Tirellion Aces

Dragon Warrior w/ Block, Dodge, Tackle, Leap, Niggle
Dragon Warrior w/ Block, Dodge, Tackle
Phoenix Warrior w/ Accurate, Safe Throw (the first one died)
Line elf w/ Dodge
Line elf w/ Strength 4, Niggle
Line elf w/ Dirty Player
Line elf w/ Block
Line elf w/ Block and a skill (haven't decided yet, probably dodge)
Line elf w/ Nothing
Line elf w/ Kick
Line elf w/ Block
Lion Warrior w/ Catch, NOS, Dodge
Lion Warrior w/ Catch, Dodge, Shadowing
On Pitch Spellcaster (just hired)

6 Re-rolls
10 FF (I keep rolling ones!)
Apothecary

[everyman]

I find the best defense with fast/agile teams is to keep pressure on the ball before they have time to cage up. I use the Kick skill to place the ball where I want it, and then I'll put 3 or 4 of my players in their backfield. If the kickoff result is BLITZ or PERFECT DEFENSE you'll really be able to put alot of pressure on the ball. Strip Ball is really useful for getting the ball popped out and on the ground. Once it's on the ground don't be afraid to make a somewhat difficult pick up and pass to score. Remember, you're kicking to them so if you make a scoring attempt every turn eventually it'll work or you'll force them to score (giving you the ball). Either way you're in good shape. It doesn't matter if the opponent scores, just so long as you're outscoring them.

[Cervidal]

If it is simply AV 7 teams like Skaven you are having difficulty with, then you need to think more like a Human coach and kick the snot out of his individual players. Barring an opposing Rat Ogre, you overall out-armor and out-strength his team. Stop thinking like an Elf coach and stick it to the rats AV8 style.

If it is speed teams you are having difficulty with, the same principle still applies. The only way to stop a speed team is to attack them constantly. You have to disrupt their passing lanes, you have to surround their cage, and you have to do this while keeping a pair of players in the backfield to knock around opposing players that shake loose. For that, the post above has the necessary information.

[DoubleSkulls]

Standard techniques for stopping a cage are to pin down the back corner players in one turn, while screening the front, so your opponent can't move the cage without leaving players behind.

Do this enough and you ought to open up a gap to have a shot at the ball carrier.

Some team development points:

Feed your S4 line elf TDs - use him to blitz the hole and run him downfield in support of the LWs. The sooner he gets block the better.

Line elf with a 2nd skill - dodge is the best choice.

LWs NoS needs Block soon, Shadowing either needs Block or Side step.

To be honest so long as you avoid casualty monsters (Piling On mummies etc) you ought to be able to fight it out with a lot of teams.

[Skummy]

This is all good advice. Rolling 10's on kickoffs tends to help out, as well.

[Talafar]

This is all good advice. Rolling 10's on kickoffs tends to help out, as well.

I noticed that

[Gorbad]

I see nobody pointed out one of the best skills for defense: Strip Ball.

Main advantage is the quite obvious effect of knocking the ball loose, which is quite nice with your AG4 to snag it from tacklezones. But besides that, it either forces your opponent to score faster, as you can put a lot more pressure on the ballcarrier, or it forces them to keep it in the hands of their guy with sure hands, which makes for predictability, and a target to get off the pitch.

All IMHO ofcourse

[DoubleSkulls]

I see nobody pointed out one of the best skills for defense: Strip Ball.

Its a good point, strip ball is may be worthwhile.

Strip Ball is a funny skill. In leagues where the ball handlers have sure hands its nearly useless. If only a few teams have Sure Hands then it can be devasting.

[everyman]

Strip Ball is good advice IMO. Even if your league is Sure Hands heavy, it forces your opponent to try and keep the ball on the SH players. Anytime you reduce your opponents options you're better off.

[Smeborg]

I think you could do with lots of Sidestep.

Cheers

[Talafar]

I think you could do with lots of Sidestep.

Cheers

I have been considering that actually. I have seen it on a few players before, and it looks like it could be very effective in large amounts.

[boondog]

IMO, Strip Ball is nearly worthless, as most ball-carriers tend to have Sure Hands anyway. Tackle is much more useful. Elves also have the option of using Pass Block quite well. Some players make the mistake of building the cage first and then passing the ball into it. Even if you fumble your Pass Block - Dodge, your player will be lying in the ball carrier's Tackle Zone. Next turn, stand up and Blitz the sucker! Blitzing a hole in the cage and putting as many Tackle Zones on the Ball carrier works equally well.
But then, having two or three Pass Blockers with AG4 on the field can put the lid on any passing attempts. And if they should gain AG increases, it gets really ugly for any opponent relying on the passing game.
As Kicker, think COUNTER. Make sure that you can capitalize on every mistake your opponent makes. Swarm the ball if he fumbles it, then try to pick it up and just chuck it far away into his field. Leave at least one unmarked player within scoring distance of his Endzone, and at least on unmarked player within reach of your end zone's every square.

[Flyin' Fling]

following that logic, dodge is worthless, since most teams will have tacklers in strategic places anyway.

True in some games, not in all.

Having one or two agile fast players with strip ball can really be a godsend on elfen teams. The ball will end up in the hands of someone without sure hands at some point...

'course, having both strip ball and tackle is better

[Talafar]

I would take pass block, but in our league its fairly worthless. The only teams who pass are the skaven, and thats generally to a first turner. The only way passblock could help there, would be if I put a AV7 Lion Warrior on the line...
Eventually someone will get strip ball, but at the moment its not neccessary. When I can get a block on the ball carrier I am fine, its just getting that block.

[Skummy]

Well, strip ball on a team where players can dodge on a 2+ can be a really great thing. If I was a HE player, I'd put it on my Lion Warriors after they get block and dodge. The 8 movement lets you become a free range safety in the backfield, and people can't step on your side of the pitch without careful thought or a cage. It's a pretty significant advantage.