I have DON on 3/4 of my D-linemen and it doesn’t do diddly squat - how can I maximize my line?

People talk about DON like it’s a cheat code and I never get good sheds. What can I do to make them better? 

Pre-snap adjustments? User them instead? Only call blitz plays? Or should they just be good on their own. 

I have Zadarius up to 98

Madubuike up to 96

Cam Jordan at 96 on the other edge 

(92 deforest Buckner DT2 colts TT)

They don’t do A darn thing. 

I set all my AP up so in nickel 3-3 over cover 3 match (or any cover 3 really, that just seems to be the one im using a lot - maybe I shouldn’t? Idk. I don’t really get defense as much as I should tbh) so I have a zone knockout everywhere and lurk/pick artist in most spots as well - I just dont get good defensive plays. Very annoying.

Pass commit when you know they're passing, as that helps with the rush...

Get more speed at those positions, Madubuike and Cam Jordan don't have the best speed, so they're basically DT's...

You also have to take into account that everybody and their momma has Pass Pro's on their o-line (With some also running All Day), which negates the insta-wins from DoN.. So, then your players fall back on Ratings vs Ratings.

Blitz

JustCallMeAries said:

Pass commit when you know they're passing, as that helps with the rush...

Get more speed at those positions, Madubuike and Cam Jordan don't have the best speed, so they're basically DT's...

You also have to take into account that everybody and their momma has Pass Pro's on their o-line (With some also running All Day), which negates the insta-wins from DoN.. So, then your players fall back on Ratings vs Ratings.

Cam is 90 speed not horrible - I had Hutch but he wasn’t going it for me either, maybe I just suck lol idk

Madubuike is a DT but 79, not the woooorst

WoodyWoody said:

Cam is 90 speed not horrible - I had Hutch but he wasn’t going it for me either, maybe I just suck lol idk

Madubuike is a DT but 79, not the woooorst

90 speed isn't that fast at this point of the game, especially on the edge trying to catch mobile QB's. 

I'd move him inside, and bring an OLB down to the edge, if you have a speedy one.

WoodyWoody said:

People talk about DON like it’s a cheat code and I never get good sheds. What can I do to make them better? 

Pre-snap adjustments? User them instead? Only call blitz plays? Or should they just be good on their own. 

I have Zadarius up to 98

Madubuike up to 96

Cam Jordan at 96 on the other edge 

(92 deforest Buckner DT2 colts TT)

They don’t do A darn thing. 

I set all my AP up so in nickel 3-3 over cover 3 match (or any cover 3 really, that just seems to be the one im using a lot - maybe I shouldn’t? Idk. I don’t really get defense as much as I should tbh) so I have a zone knockout everywhere and lurk/pick artist in most spots as well - I just dont get good defensive plays. Very annoying.

If you are using QB Contains they will dramatically lessen the effectiveness of your actual pass rush, however they WILL actually (somewhat) contain the quarterback, finally... after the latest series of patches.  In terms of what you can do to force more consistent pressure, well... since you're already using the extremely popular Nickel 3-3 (Odd? i'm a bit confused by "3-3 Over" isn't it either Nickel 3-3 or Nickel Over, perhaps i'm just confused or inexperienced with other playbooks?), but either way, you should be able to use that to structure some type of "overload" blitz, where you simply outnumber the blockers.  It's crucial that you take your USER and hover over the O-line, typically around the Center, or perhaps a Guard.  You don't always need to engage with them, but that certainly cannot hurt, especially when sending the overload blitz package.

Mid Blitz, from Double Mug is extremely popular, but the Cover 0 Man stuff is inconsistent, at best.  Any remotely decent player will just get the ball out quick and neutralize your coverage over top.  Cover 3 is liable to get bombed deep, but not a bad formation to start from/with, especially if you run some type of Cover 2 shell to help disguise when you are actually sending the blitz, versus dropping into coverage.  The ultimate goal should be to get your opponent to keep their RB (or TE) in to help block your blitz, at that point you've basically won the encounter.  When using this Nickel 3-3 Odd to overload the right of screen, you simply spread D-line, then show blitz on LBs only, control the left of screen SUBLB, blitz the right of screen (SUBLB2) and set up your coverage over top.  In a perfect world, you'd have a LB on the D-line, so you can put them into a Vert Hook or Hard Flat or some type of zone coverage to help out.  You don't need to rush 5 to get pressure, especially not when overloading.  You'll be sending three pass rushers from one side of the screen and they'll only have two blockers (assuming you draw the attention of the center, or briefly engage with a guard).

Here's a decent video that will do a FAR better job of trying to describe how the Comp guys run similar types of defense: https://youtu.be/0ETp1aXM8f8 -- stunts are your friend.  If your DT is fast enough, you can use the Left Exit 2 Man type stunt to force him to loop around left of screen, which will result in a quick pressure, even from three down linemen (such as Dollar) type sets.

I switch between nickel and 4-3 based on situation. The 5-2 goalline to stop the qb sneak. Adam Butler has run stop/inside/outside sheds with blitz x factor. Absolute game wrecker. Nnamdi is my qb spy. Nothing on free Will anderson but he's a boosted 96. My stack on Zadarius is free enforcer, crusher, and demoralizer and I love it.