How to defend opponent abusing sideline passing?

I'm at my wits' end here.  How does one go about defending, or trying to adjust and counter an opponent who can reliably throw to the sideline?  No matter how many times this happens, i'll knock it out nearly each and every single time, yet the game still counts this stuff as a completion... because EA.  Same with end-zone throws, these can also be abused.

I understand how to defend regular sideline / corner routes, through mable (or double-mable) style defense, i'm comfortable making my adjustments and happy with the heavy box dollar i'm currently running, but if a defense exists that can stop this type stuff, well, i'm certainly not aware of what that might be.  I believe this to be exploiting poor in-game mechanics and unsure if a direct counter exists, but i'd love to hear how YOU or anyone in the community are dealing with this madness.

Hell, at this point i welcome any amount of Bo Angry Runs (or YAC `Em Up) and RPO cheese, this is an absolute nightmare.  I feel liek my only approach will be to learn to do the same, but I'll probably just retire before i spend my days throwing the same sideline passes over and over and over to march up and down the field.  I want to play simulation fatball -- i guess i'm the asshole for still sitting here liek a dumbass thinking, or hoping that's possible in the modern era.  FML.

first off, make sure you’re throwing at the sideline too lol. 
 

second, I find the ball is harder to fit if you can make sure they don’t roll out. 0 yard curl flat that you send using the right stick (clicking it in) kills the roll out

in terms of defending it outside of that angle, you can man up the receiver if they consistently use the same receiver for those balls, secondarily a Mable coverage can be helpful, although I think you said you already tried that. 
 

throwing at the sidelines is pretty simulation…for my team. I’m a Steelers fan and word on the street is Russ is allergic to the middle of the field. So take solace in knowing it’s okay to work around knockouts by throwing at the outside hash marks, my qb certainly does it. 
 

overall, throwing sideline balls because they’re easier to complete is hard to defend against because it’s hard to defend against in real life, there’s never gonna be some magic cure to it unfortunately. my strategy in this situation is make sure there’s heat, so they can’t get the ball off if they hesitate, make sure the roll out is defended, ideally with a 0 yard curl flat, cover the sideline route with a hard flat SHADED OUTSIDE - should have mentioned this earlier but shading outside in zone can help. Finally, if they’re really killing me with the same route I’ll man it up, maybe even switch to a cover 2 so you have more underneath defenders available to man up

i wrote a damn novel here, but I figured peatrick would be okay with it, he writes some long posts too 🙃

elmango30 said:

first off, make sure you’re throwing at the sideline too lol. 
 

second, I find the ball is harder to fit if you can make sure they don’t roll out. 0 yard curl flat that you send using the right stick (clicking it in) kills the roll out

in terms of defending it outside of that angle, you can man up the receiver if they consistently use the same receiver for those balls, secondarily a Mable coverage can be helpful, although I think you said you already tried that. 
 

throwing at the sidelines is pretty simulation…for my team. I’m a Steelers fan and word on the street is Russ is allergic to the middle of the field. So take solace in knowing it’s okay to work around knockouts by throwing at the outside hash marks, my qb certainly does it. 
 

overall, throwing sideline balls because they’re easier to complete is hard to defend against because it’s hard to defend against in real life, there’s never gonna be some magic cure to it unfortunately. my strategy in this situation is make sure there’s heat, so they can’t get the ball off if they hesitate, make sure the roll out is defended, ideally with a 0 yard curl flat, cover the sideline route with a hard flat SHADED OUTSIDE - should have mentioned this earlier but shading outside in zone can help. Finally, if they’re really killing me with the same route I’ll man it up, maybe even switch to a cover 2 so you have more underneath defenders available to man up

i wrote a damn novel here, but I figured peatrick would be okay with it, he writes some long posts too 🙃

Thank you for feedback, and yes, guilty as charged -- i'm a big fan of the verbose MUTgg novellas.  Cannot seem to help myself, EA apparently gives me a lot of feelings I just need to get out there, heh.

I'm basically doing most everything you suggested above.  I tried everything from FS Zone Blitz, to DB Fire 2, as well as straight up three pass rushers out of Cover 4 Quarters... all coming via heavy box Dollar.  I had my Cover 2 set up on the side of the field and specifically manned up the blitzing slot Corner on Harold Carmichael, as he was the one most often catching the sideline throws.  I'd knock the ball out, but still... completion, completion.  I was shading down/underneath and outside hoping it would help, but no dice.  I couldn't send more than five blitzers while also ensuring the coverage was solid.  Dude was somewhat able to pick up the blitz, at least enough to get a lucky 1 in 4 sideline throw to keep himself marching down the field.  When he started converting 3rd and 26 with these buggy ass sideline routes, well... i'm not sure what else to do.  He'd basically just drop back REALLY deep in the pocket, hoping to buy himself an extra split second to get the ball out.  Rolling out is another nightmare, but at least that feels liek a part of the game.

Dropped passes counting as completions is beyond frustrating.  Apparently there is no feasible way to defend this stuff, aargh.  I guess it's long past time for me to retire.

peatrick said:

Thank you for feedback, and yes, guilty as charged -- i'm a big fan of the verbose MUTgg novellas.  Cannot seem to help myself, EA apparently gives me a lot of feelings I just need to get out there, heh.

I'm basically doing most everything you suggested above.  I tried everything from FS Zone Blitz, to DB Fire 2, as well as straight up three pass rushers out of Cover 4 Quarters... all coming via heavy box Dollar.  I had my Cover 2 set up on the side of the field and specifically manned up the blitzing slot Corner on Harold Carmichael, as he was the one most often catching the sideline throws.  I'd knock the ball out, but still... completion, completion.  I was shading down/underneath and outside hoping it would help, but no dice.  I couldn't send more than five blitzers while also ensuring the coverage was solid.  Dude was somewhat able to pick up the blitz, at least enough to get a lucky 1 in 4 sideline throw to keep himself marching down the field.  When he started converting 3rd and 26 with these buggy ass sideline routes, well... i'm not sure what else to do.  He'd basically just drop back REALLY deep in the pocket, hoping to buy himself an extra split second to get the ball out.  Rolling out is another nightmare, but at least that feels liek a part of the game.

Dropped passes counting as completions is beyond frustrating.  Apparently there is no feasible way to defend this stuff, aargh.  I guess it's long past time for me to retire.

Oh I like the way you write, I’m guilty of it too, although I’ve been accused of defending ea too often (mostly I’m of the opinion that I just very rarely have strong negative feelings, in general, outside of ones that just stay in my brain, and just lambasting EA seems counterproductive to my mental health, at the very least) 

I have some more luck with a show blitz, KO equipped 6-1. Chiefs playbook has both formations. Cover 4 is usually my go to, as outside quarters play everywhere. 
 

As for considering retiring, if you wanna do it, do it. maybe consider switching to regs so there’s less pressure to stay up to date on everything

peatrick said:

I'm at my wits' end here.  How does one go about defending, or trying to adjust and counter an opponent who can reliably throw to the sideline?  No matter how many times this happens, i'll knock it out nearly each and every single time, yet the game still counts this stuff as a completion... because EA.  Same with end-zone throws, these can also be abused.

I understand how to defend regular sideline / corner routes, through mable (or double-mable) style defense, i'm comfortable making my adjustments and happy with the heavy box dollar i'm currently running, but if a defense exists that can stop this type stuff, well, i'm certainly not aware of what that might be.  I believe this to be exploiting poor in-game mechanics and unsure if a direct counter exists, but i'd love to hear how YOU or anyone in the community are dealing with this madness.

Hell, at this point i welcome any amount of Bo Angry Runs (or YAC `Em Up) and RPO cheese, this is an absolute nightmare.  I feel liek my only approach will be to learn to do the same, but I'll probably just retire before i spend my days throwing the same sideline passes over and over and over to march up and down the field.  I want to play simulation fatball -- i guess i'm the asshole for still sitting here liek a dumbass thinking, or hoping that's possible in the modern era.  FML.

What are your zone drops set too?

mberezoski said:

What are your zone drops set too?

I typically start out with 20 yard Flats & 5 Yard Curl Flats, often leaving the Hooks at Default (or ~15 yards), then adjust accordingly (which can vary from 20-30, allowing my opponent to dictate what this ultimately becomes with their tendencies), but broadly speaking, i'm often using these 20-25 yard ranges as starting point.  In the past i had always been using 30 yard Flats, without much adjustment... this has been a moderate improvement.

Both from Cover 2 (DB Fire 2, with that Manned up Slot corner -- either Peanut or Sauce, depending on side of the field) & Cover 4... both Base aligned, to ensure my outside corners are playing the sidelines as best as possible.  Once in a blue moon, say against Spread formations, i'll come out in "Default" alignment, rather than Base, but somewhat rare.

peatrick said:

I typically start out with 20 yard Flats & 5 Yard Curl Flats, often leaving the Hooks at Default (or ~15 yards), then adjust accordingly (which can vary from 20-30, allowing my opponent to dictate what this ultimately becomes with their tendencies), but broadly speaking, i'm often using these 20-25 yard ranges as starting point.  In the past i had always been using 30 yard Flats, without much adjustment... this has been a moderate improvement.

Both from Cover 2 (DB Fire 2, with that Manned up Slot corner -- either Peanut or Sauce, depending on side of the field) & Cover 4... both Base aligned, to ensure my outside corners are playing the sidelines as best as possible.  Once in a blue moon, say against Spread formations, i'll come out in "Default" alignment, rather than Base, but somewhat rare.

I typically start with 30 yard flats to assist with preventing the deep corner routes, and the may adjust if my opponent is throwing shallower crossers/corner routes.  

Now from a basic defensive standpoint, I would recommend that you go back to basics. I will use a classic football matchup from the 1990 season as a point of refence. The 1990 Giants defeated the great 49's west coast offense on their way to a super bowl, and Belichek said they did it with one principle in mind which is to disrupt their Timing of their offensive scheme. Whenever I have difficulty against a play or scheme, I come back to this principle and ask myself "how can I disrupt my opponents timing?". 

One way I have disrupted the timing and been able to counter sideline throwers, is by either pressing or contacting 5 yards or less within the line of scrimmage.

Another thing you are going to have to do if your opponent is abusing the sidelines, is put shallow curl flats and press them to take away anything quick, and then you are going to have to send develop some effective blitzes that involve sending six defenders. The quick rush will prevent the play from developing and more importantly, disrupt the timing of the offense. If you have 3-4 blitzes from different directions and can rotate them effectively, your opponent will be guessing when setting their protection. 

Assuming you are running the dollar out of the chiefs playbook, I would recommend experimenting with the 4-3-even-6-1. It is a great formation, as you can rotate your blitzes very effectively with out comprising sideline coverage. 

One blitz that as worked for me effectively at preventing sideline passes is running essentially a tampa two style play, but I press my CB's blitz my lb's and user the RE. I have a ROLB subbed in here at this position who has LA and Mid zone ko. This gives me the capability begin the play at the line of scrimmage and throw off the timing of routes over the middle while giving my blitz two seconds to get home.