Belgian Amiga Club - ADF Collection/BS1 part 31.zip/BS1 part 31/Professional Football Simulation v3.0 (1990)(MicroSearch)(Disk 2 of 2)[cr CLS][aka Head Coach].7z/Professional Football Simulation v3.0 (1990)(MicroSearch)(Disk 2 of 2)[cr CLS][aka Head Coach].adf/Defense.doc

Text File | 1990-11-16 | 22KB | 518 lines

                 Section 6

            Calling the Defense

As  described  in  Section  5,  Calling  the  Offense, placing your team in
detailed  mode  allows  you to make offensive and defensive play calls in a
manner consistent with professional football.  A defensive call consists of
these parts:

          Formation           Required
          Formation Shifts    Optional
          Coverage            Optional
          Stunts              Optional
          Special Assignments Optional
          Blitzes             Optional
          Individual Man      Optional
            Coverages

Only  the  defensive  formation  is  required.  However, if nothing else is
called,  the players won't do anything.  To make a defensive call, you must
enter  a  formation.   You may also enter a series of blocks, each of which
specifies some aspect of the defense to be used.

The following paragraphs describe each of the defensive blocks.

Formation

The  defensive  formation  consists  of  two digits followed by an optional
shift  character.   The  first  digit  specifies  the  number  of defensive
linemen,  and  the  second  digit specifies the number of linebackers.  The
number  of  defensive  linemen  must  be  either  3  or  4.   The number of
linebackers  must  be  either  2,  3,  or 4.  These are the legal defensive
formations:

          32          33          34
          42          43          44

Because there are eleven players on a team, the defensive formations specify from three to six players other than linemen or linebackers.  The players that are not either linemen or linebackers are divided between:

          Corner Backs
          Safeties
          Backs

There  are  always  two  corner  backs.   The  number of safeties and backs
depends upon the formation.  The defensive positions are named as follows:

          Linemen:     Right End      --  RE
                       Left  End      --  LE
                       Right Tackle   --  RT
                       Left  Tackle   --  LT
                       Nose  Tackle   --  NT

         Linebackers:  Weak Outside   --  WO
                       Strong Outside --  SO
                       Weak Inside    --  WI
                       Strong Inside  --  SI
                       Middle Inside  --  MI

          Cornerbacks: Right Corner   --  RC
                       Left  Corner   --  LC

          Deep Backs:  Strong Safety  --  SS
                       Weak   Safety  --  WS
                       Strong Back    --  SB
                       Weak   Back    --  WB
                       Middle Back    --  MB

Right  and left refer to the defense's right and left.  Figures 6-1 through
6-6 show the alignment of the six basic defensive formations.

The normal defensive alignment of linemen and linebackers generally follows
that  shown  in Figures 6-1 through 6-6.  The alignment of the corner backs
is  on  the  widest  offensive receiver to each side.  The alignment of the
remaining deep backs (safeties and backs) is evenly distributed between the
corner backs.

The  normal  defensive  alignment for the linebackers and deep backs can be
affected  by  the  type  of  coverage  that is called.  If zone coverage is
called,  the  alignment is not changed from the normal defensive alignment.
However,  if  man coverage is called, the defenders may shift to align with
the  receivers  they  are  assigned  to  cover.   If  the  normal defensive
alignment  positions  the  defender  close enough to cover the receiver, no
shift  is  performed.  However, if the distance to the man to be covered is
excessive, the alignment of the defender is shifted closer to the receiver.

Before  describing  the  optional  shift  character,  the definition of the
offensive  strength must be reexamined.  As described in Section 5, Calling
the  Offense, the offensive play call includes a strength -- right or left.
However,  the  offensive  play  call may specify receivers shifted from the
normal offensive strength position.

As  far  as  the  defense  is concerned, the offensive strength is the side
which  contains  the  most receivers.  This is not necessarily the strength
that  was  specified  when  the  formation  was called.  When the defensive
alignment is being determined, Head Coach evaluates the number of receivers
to  the  right  and  left  of the offensive formation and sets the strength
accordingly.

After  specifying  the  basic  alignment  (34, 43, etc.) you may specify an
optional  shift  character.   The  shift character specifies a shift of the
defensive linemen in one direction, with a corresponding compensating shift
of the linebackers in the opposite direction.  The shift characters are:

          O -- Over,   toward offensive strong side
          S -- Strong, toward offensive strong side
          U -- Under,  toward offensive  weak  side
          W -- Weak,   toward offensive  weak  side
          L -- Left,   toward defensive  left  side
          R -- Right,  toward defensive right  side

For  example, a "43O" (43 with "O" or Over shift) means a 43 alignment with
the  linemen  shifted  to  the  offensive  strong  side,  and the linebacks
compensating to the weak side.  Figure 6-7 shows a "43O" applied to an "OL"
offensive formation.

Figure  6-8  illustrates  the  offensive  formation  of ORHBWL (Open Right,
HalfBack  Wing  Left),  defensive  formation of 34R.  The "R" instructs the
linemen  to  shift to the defense's Right and the linebackers to compensate
by a shift Left.

The O, U, L, or R can be applied to any defensive formation.

Following  the  basic  alignment and the optional shift, you may specify a
"G"  to have the defensive linemen play in the "gaps" between the offensive
linemen.   The linemen will choose a gap, either further inside or outside.
You cannot control which gaps will be played.  For example:

          34G  -- 34 alignment with linemen in gaps
          43SG -- 43 alignment, shifted to strong
                  side, with linemen in gaps

Pass Coverage

After  you  specify  the defensive formation, there is a series of optional
assignments called blocks, each preceded by a period.  The first block that
you  must  call  is  the  pass  coverage block.  This ensures that you have
specified an assignment for all defensive players.

As  explained  in  Section  4,  The  Playbook, there are two basic types of
coverage:   man  (or  man-for-man)  and  zone.   The  block  specifying man
coverage  begins  with  ".M", and the block specifying zone coverage begins
with  ".Z".   Many coverages are combination defenses that include both man
and zone coverages.

When  a  defender  has  been assigned a zone, the zone is usually a circle,
with  possible extensions, either deep or toward the sideline.  The size of
the  circle  and the width of the extensions depend upon the ability of the
defender.   The  better  the  defender,  the  bigger  the  area that can be
covered.  With extensions, the defender is responsible for receivers within
the circle, as well as a rectangle that extends to the sideline or down the
field deep.

The  zone  is centered about a point known as the zone drop.  When the ball
is snapped, the defender moves to the zone drop to establish the zone.

Head Coach provides four types of zones:

          Pick Zone    -- Area to cover is a circle around
                          the defender.
          Side Zone    -- Area to cover is a circle extended
                          to the sideline.
          Deep Zone    -- Area to cover is a circle extended
                          down the field.
          Corner Zone  -- Area to cover is the outside corner
                          of the field.

These zone types are shown in Figure 6-9.

Man Coverages

A  man  coverage  specifies  one  defender  for  each  offensive  receiver.
Normally  the  cornerbacks  (CB) cover the receivers that are the widest to
each  side,  leaving  three  receivers.   You  may  choose how to cover the
remaining   three   receivers.    These  choices  allow  for  desirable  or
undesirable matchups, or present different coverages to the offense.

Head Coach provides four man coverages that can be used for each of the six
basic   defensive  alignments.   The  basic  difference  between  the  four
coverages  is which defenders cover the interior receivers.  The four types
of man coverages are:

          O -- Outside LB cover interior two receivers.
          I -- Inside defenders cover interior two receivers.
          L -- All receivers are covered by linebackers.
          B -- All receivers are covered by backs.

All  defenses  have more than five pass defenders.  With the five offensive
receivers  covered,  some defenders still need an assignment.  The standard
O,  I,  L, and B coverages assign zones to those pass defenders that do not
have a receiver to cover man-for-man.  Because some defenders do not have a
specific  receiver  to  cover,  special  assignments  can  be made to those
defenders,  removing  the  zone.  For example, a defender in a man coverage
defense  that is assigned a zone may be reassigned to blitz without leaving
a  receiver  uncovered.   A  zone  man  within  a  man coverage also may be
instructed  to  double cover a receiver ( be assigned to a receiver covered
by another player).

To  determine  which  defenders  will  be covering which receivers with the
multiple  offensive  formations  possible,  Appendix  C,  Defense, presents
charts for all combinations of defense and pass coverage.  For each defense
and  pass  coverage,  the  pass  defenders  are  shown assigned to the pass
receivers  as  the  receivers  line up in an offensive "OR" formation.  The
assignments  are made to provide effective coverage, regardless of the type
of offensive formation used.

Figure  6-10  shows  two of the man coverages from Appendix C.  As shown in
Figure  6-10, the coverages are really specified by assigning a defender to
a receiver based upon the receiver's relative position on the field.  "#1L"
means to cover the receiver that is the first receiver in from the sideline
on the defense's Left.  "#3S" means to cover the third receiver in from the
sideline  on  the Strong side.  "#2W" means to cover the second receiver in
from the sideline on the Weak side.

For example, you have called the following defense:

          43.MO

This   calls   a  "43"  basic  defensive  alignment  (four  linemen,  three
linebackers)  with Man Outside coverage (".MO").  If the offense has called
a  "1L"  formation,  the  resulting  coverage is shown in Figure 6-11.  The
coverages are determined as follows:

   Player  Figure 6-10                 Figure 6-11
     RC       #1R       FL (1st receiver in on defense's right)
     WS    Deep Zone    Deep Zone
     SS       #2S       TE (2nd receiver in on strong side)
     LC       #1L       SE (1st receiver in on defense's left)
     WO       #2W       HB (2nd receiver in on weak side)
     MI    Pick Zone    Pick Zone
     SO       #3S       FB (3rd receiver in on strong side)

You  can  now  specify  24  different  combinations  of  formations and man
coverages, each with specific assignments of receiver coverages.

Zone Coverages

There  are  four  zone  coverages that may be specified for each of the six
basic  defensive  alignments.   Each  of the four is identified by how many
deep  and  corner zones are used.  A "5 deep" zone, for example, means five
defenders  are playing deep (deep zones or corner zones), and the remaining
pass  defenders are playing short zones.  Head Coach provides the following
four zone coverage blocks:

          .Z5 -- 5 deep zones
          .Z4 -- 4 deep zones
          .Z3 -- 3 deep zones
          .Z2 -- 2 deep zones

The number of short zones used depends on the number of defenders available
for  pass  coverage, which depends on the basic defensive alignment called.
In  a  43 defense, there are three linebackers and four deep backs for pass
coverage,  a  total  of seven pass defenders.  In a "43.Z5" defensive call,
the 5 means five deep zones, leaving two short zones.  A "32.Z3" uses three
deep zones and five short zones, because there are 8 pass defenders.

In  a  zone  coverage  block,  all  pass  defenders  have  a zone to cover.
Reassigning  a  pass  defender  to  something  else with a subsequent block
results in an undefended zone.

Appendix  C,  Defense,  diagrams  all  zone coverages.  There are four zone
coverages  for  each of the six basic defensive alignments, resulting in 24
zone coverages.

Shift Block

The  shift  block  allows  you  to  specify shifts of formation position of
defensive  players.   In  a  long yardage situation, for example, you might
want  to shift all pass defenders back 5 yards.  This would shift all zones
5  yards deeper and thus make man coverages more effective against the deep
pass.  The shift block begins:

          .S

The  ".S"  indicates  a  shift  block.   Next,  you must call the player or
players to be shifted.  One of these must follow the ".S":

          LB              -- Shift linebackers.
          CB              -- Shift cornerbacks.
          DB              -- Shift deep backs.
          AL              -- Shift all: linebackers,
                             cornerbacks, and deep
                             backs.
          player position -- Shift the player specified
                                (ex: RE or  MI).
          jersey number   -- Shift the player whose
                             jersey number is specified.

Following  the  ".S"  and  the  specification  of  player  or players to be
shifted, you must specify the shift itself.  The shift may be either:

          L -- Left
          R -- Right
          S -- Strong (toward offensive strong side)
          W -- Weak (toward offensive weak side)
          U -- Up   (toward line of scrimmage)
          B -- Back (away from line of scrimmage)
          Yards from the line of scrimmage

If  a direction (L, R, S, W, U, or B) is specified, the amount of the shift
in  yards  must be specified.  To place the defender or defenders a certain
distance from the line of scrimmage, specify the distance in yards.

For example:

          43.Z5.SALB5

This  calls a basic defensive alignment of "43", 5 deep zone pass coverage,
with all pass defenders shifted Back 5 yards.  This causes the pass defense
zones to be 5 yards deeper than normal, providing extra pass defense deep.

Next:

          34.MO.SCB0

This  specifies  a "34" defense, Man Outside coverage, with the cornerbacks
shifting up to the line of scrimmage.

You can use more than one shift block in a defensive call:

          34.MI.SWOU1.SSOW1

This  takes a basic 34 with Man Inside coverage and moves WO Up 1 yard, and
moves SO one yard to the Weak side.

A final example:

          43.MB.S2410

This  calls  a  "43", Man Back coverage, with player number 24 10 yards off
the  line of scrimmage.  If a player to be shifted has a jersey number less
than ten (a single digit), the digit must be preceded by a "0" as follows:

          33.Z5.S06B5

This calls a 33 defense, Zone 5 coverage, with defender number 6 shifting Back 5 yards.

Assign Block

With  the  assign  block,  you  can  make  special assignments to defensive
linemen and linebackers.  The assign block begins with:

          .A

The  ".A" is followed by one or more one-letter assignment specifiers.  The
assignment specifiers are:

          I -- Linemen stunt inside
          O -- Linemen stunt outside
          P -- Linemen pass rush
          G -- Guard keying
          F -- Linebacker force

Linemen stunt inside

The  "I"  assignment  instructs  the linemen to charge to the inside of the
formation  when  the  ball  is  snapped.   This  is called when the defense
anticipates  a  run  inside,  typically  the  0,  1,  2, 3, or 4 hole.  For
example:

          43.MO.AI

This  calls  a "43" defense, Man Outside pass coverage, assigning an inside
charge to the linemen.  See Figure 6-12.

Linemen stunt outside

The  "O"  assignment  instructs the linemen to charge to the outside of the
formation  when  the  ball  is  snapped.   This  is called when the defense
anticipates a run outside, typically the 5, 6, 7, or 8 hole.  For example:

          34.MB.AO

This  calls  a  "34"  defense, Man Back pass coverage, assigning an outside
charge to the linemen.  See Figure 6-13.

Linemen pass rush

The  "P"  assignment  is used when the defense expects the offense to pass.
In  the  lineman pass rush assignment, the defensive linemen charge the QB.
The "P" assignment is very effective in reducing the chance of completing a
pass, but if the offense has called a run, the effectiveness of the defense
against the run is greatly reduced.  Figure 6-14 shows the following call:

          33.Z5.AP

Guard keying

To  improve  the  offense's  rushing performance, the offense can choose to
have  linemen  that  are  not  at the point of attack pull and block at the
point  of  attack.   The  blocking assignments used by the offense for this
type  of  trap  blocking  are:   T, P, N, F, and O blocking (see Section 5,
Calling  the  Offense).  If an offense traps a lot, the defense may specify
the  "G"  or  guard  keying  assignments.   The  guard  keying  assigns two
defensive  linemen  to key the two offensive guards.  When a guard pulls to
block  at the point of attack, a defensive linemen will follow the guard to
the hole.

This  "G" assignment is an effective defense for an offense that does a lot
of  trapping  in  their  running  offense.   The  offense  has  a  blocking
assignment  specifically  designed to combat the defense that does a lot of
guard keying -- the "G" block (see Section 5, Calling the Offense).

For example:

          43.MI.AG

This  calls  for  a  "43"  defense,  with  Man Inside pass coverage and the
defensive tackles keying on the offensive guards.  See Figure 6-15.

Linebacker force

The  final  assignment  is  the "F" or linebacker force.  In the linebacker
force, the linebackers ignore the pass and step up to the line of scrimmage
at the snap of the ball.  This helps stop an offensive run.  For example:

          44.MB.AF

This  calls  for a "44" defense, with Man Back coverage and all linebackers
force.   Beware  -- this leaves the offensive HB and FB unassigned as shown
in Figure 6-16, but it puts eight players on the line of scrimmage.

Blitz

A  blitz  occurs when defenders that do not usually penetrate the offensive
line or backfield attempt to do so.  The defenders assigned to blitz try to
put  additional  pressure  on the ball carrier or passer, at the expense of
fewer  defenders  to protect against a pass.  Blitzing is usually done in a
man pass coverage to ensure all receivers are covered.

Blitzes  are  very  effective  in passing situations to put pressure on the
passer.   Against  runs,  luck is involved.  If the blitzing players are on
the  side  of  the  point  of attack, the run is very effectively defended.
However, if the offense runs away from a blitz, the offense usually has the
advantage.

To specify defenders to blitz, enter the blitz block as follows:

          .B

The ".B" is followed by one or more players that will blitz.  For example:

          34.MB.B WO WI 55

This calls for a "34" basic defensive alignment with Man Back pass coverage
and that WO, WI, and player number 55 blitz the QB.  See Figure 6-17.

In designing a blitz, you must first decide which basic defensive alignment
to  use.   As  previously  stated,  blitzing  is  normally  called from man
coverage.   In Figure 6-17, a "34.MB" covers all receivers and assigns zone
coverages  for  WO, WI, and SO.  Therefore, WO, WI, and SO could be blitzed
and still have all receivers covered.

Blitzes  can be called from zone coverages as well.  Because zone coverages
do not overlap zones to a great extent, the blitzing player leaves a "hole"
in the zone where no coverage is assigned.  For example:

          34.Z3.BSI

This  calls a "34" basic defensive alignment, with three-deep Zone coverage
and SI blitzing.  The "34.Z3" SI assignment is a pick zone in the middle of
the  field.  However, because of the blitz a "hole" in the zone coverage is
created in the middle of the field.  See Figure 6-18.

To  call  a  "safety  blitz",  which  is a blitz involving a deep back, the
recommended  approach is to call a man coverage that has the deep backs not
assigned to particular receivers:

          43.ML.BWS SS

This  calls  a  "43"  basic  defensive  alignment, with Man Linebacker pass
coverage,  and  a  blitz by SS and WS.  In this "43", SS and WS do not have
specific  receivers  to cover, only corner zones.  Therefore, SS and WS can
be blitzed and still have pass coverage on all receivers.  See Figure 6-19.

Special Man Covers

Sometimes  the  defensive  coach  needs  to  assign  a  defender to cover a
particular  receiver  man-for-man  that a standard defense and man coverage
does  not  provide.  The most common need to specifically assign a defender
to  a  receiver  occurs  when  double coverage is desired.  Double coverage
means having two defenders cover a receiver man-for-man.

To use double coverages, call a basic defensive alignment and pass coverage
that  leaves  some  pass  defenders  free for additional assignments.  Then
specify the Cover block:

          .C

The  ".C"  is  followed  by  one  or more cover assignments consisting of a
defender and the receiver to cover.  For example:

          33.MO.CWS SE

This  calls a "33" basic defensive alignment with Man Outside coverage, and
WS  covers  SE man-for-man.  This call has placed two defenders, RC and WS,
on the SE, thereby double covering SE.  See Figure 6-20.

Another example:

          33.MI.CSOFL MBTE WOSE

This calls a "33", Man Inside coverage, with double coverages on FL (LC and
SO), TE (SS and MB), and SE (RC and WO).  See Figure 6-21.

Combining blocks

More  than  one  block  can be specified for the defensive calls.  Consider
this final example:

          43U.MO.SWS3.AG.CMITE.BWS

This  specifies  "43U"  ("43" with Under shift, or shift to weak side), Man
Outside  coverage,  WS to shift to 3 yards off the line of scrimmage, guard
keying,  MI to cover TE man-for-man (creating double coverage on TE), and a
WS blitz.  See Figure 6-22.