Originally posted by misled
wow that's clever. Never heard that line before. He wanted to get sacks... not tackles. You can only get sacks on passing plays (in this game anyways) so noticing a pass play is a pass play as soon as possible will mean a higher chance of getting a sack. I can show you how a DE plays a pass play and a run play differently if you want... especially if the run is a strongside rush. These are from the last game played since I'm too lazy to look up other plays that better exemplify this:
Here's a strongside rush:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=523470&pbp_id=17750279
Here's a pass rush:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=523470&pbp_id=17751694
As you can see noticing the difference between these two plays early on can be the difference from attacking the QB to in this case hurry the throw or do nothing because you hesitate and back off in case of a rush. And my DE exclusively plays weakside DE.
Well, maybe you wouldn't hear that comment as often if you'd go deeper into a discussion and hear others opinions and stop giving advice with such certainty. Sorry, but it comes across as a little arrogant and immature. That's one of the reasons Underdogs gets so much shit on these forums. I also apologize for the play on words in your screen name. Feel free to pull the same card on me since my screen name is a bit ironic as well. I get that whenever I state my opinion. Anyway, I'm not arguing that you don't get off the line faster focusing on pass rush. Yes, sometimes it gets you sacks, but I'm saying it's not always the best way.
One other thing, I'm not saying you'll get sacks on running plays. I don't know where you're getting that from, but forget it - it has no place in this discussion. We're talking about getting sacks. So let's just kill that strawman argument right here and talk about getting to the QB on pass plays.
My stance is simple. I'm saying you can get sacks on passing plays with your tactics set to balanced and run focus. I'm also saying that sometimes getting off the line slower is more beneficial in certain matchups than using pass focus. It helps you against the run AND against the pass in those games. I don't pretend to know everything about how the O-line/D-line interaction works, but from my experience playing this game and watching a lot of replays at the higher level, I can tell you solely focusing on the pass isn't always the best way to go. Hear me out why I think that.
First, Bort has already said that he thinks the Oline's blocking angle's/vector/radius (whatever you want to call it) is probably too big. He is guessing that's why DEs might not be as effective as they used to be. He changed something after seasons 6 and DEs have been bitching ever since about not getting sacks. So, OTs have a big advantage in the space required to get around them.
Second, I think one of the reasons a lot of speed/agility guys are struggling to get sacks is probably because they use pass focus solely with a quick build. Don't get me wrong, if you're not a fast DE, run focus isn't going to even the playing field against the guard because you're too slow to get around him without contact anyway. But as a speed DE, if your fast and strong enough to get one stun, the extra tick or two delay in getting off the line on run focus, as opposed to pass focus, doesn't seem to matter as much. Sometimes it actually helps because the guard drops back, in effect giving you more room to avoid his blocking (let's call it) range. What I think is very material in getting QB sacks is the 3-7 ticks that you waste getting held by the O-line when you jump into their blocking range. That's what I try to avoid every game. If I think I can do it with speed, then I go pass. But if I expect to have to break a lot of blocks, I'd rather avoid the penalty to reading run plays, or both types of plays.
An example of my DE avoiding an OT entirely while on run focus.
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=526903&pbp_id=10128315 In addition to the blocking range/holding advantage, the strength buff last season made it even harder for DEs. Most DEs don't have enough strength to get free from those blocks often enough to get sacks, which is one of the reasons the Stun effect was added - to help out the DEs who did have decent strength but still couldn't get around that huge blocking range the o-line has.
Basically, if you are trying to tell me that my DT/DE would have had more sacks this season if I had him set to pass focus all season, I'm going to difffer with you on that. In the old sim, yes - agility, speed, and first step were enough to get you around OTs and Guards really easy. DE's had all the advantage back then. However, in the current sim strength with the ability to stay on your feet, break blocks, and stun is very important to pass rushing.
I've tried pass focus, balance, and run a lot over the past 3 pre-seasons, scrimmages, and a few games. They all have their benefits in certain situations. But, saying pass focus is the sure fire best way to get sacks just doesn't match up with my players performance. Pass focus might be the overwhelming favorite way to get sacks next season when Bort changes things again and boosts FS, but if he doesn't do anything with the Oline's ability to grab a D-lineman from a mile away and hold blocks through strength only (very little blocking), then I'm still gonna use balanced and run focus mostly.
I hope that clears up my position on it. I'm not saying pass focus isn't a good way to get sacks sometimes. I just don't think it is the best way all the time like you believe. If nothing changes over next couple seasons I think you'll notice your DE start to have a much harder time gettings sacks, just like most DEs as they get higher level. It's not your build really, it's the Oline's advantage that needs changing for the most part. My suggestion is, if you're having trouble with your speed/agility DE, play with your tactics and observe how they interact with the Oline.
