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2017-01-29 18:58:25
13 votes, rating 4.1
13 votes, rating 4.1
The Jackass Opening: Pinning Down the 303 Line
In a recent forum thread, I posted about how to use one Frenzy player to surf a defender off a 303 defensive line (one where the defenders are placed two squares apart, one in the middle of the line and one on each wide zone). But what if you don't have a Frenzy player, or don't care to expose him?
On offense, your job is threefold:
1) Make a good screen that prevents defenders from getting past scrimmage (or forces them to go way around the backside of the play, at a minimum).
2) Knock down as many defenders as possible (usually meaning the D-line and one extra hit from the blitz).
3) Secure the ball.
To that effect, here's one offense you might consider, when faced with what I call the "303 Boat" defense.
The boat (AKA "rule of five") defense uses a screen of three players in the backfield, in the L3, 0, and R3 columns, to protect five players in a row behind them, in the L2, L1, 0, R1, and R2 columns. The "303" part refers to the line, which is spread out in a similar pattern.
So here's how to set up to thwart it. A-K are your players, N-Z are enemy players.
This is a 7-player line. A, C, E, and G will be making the first hits, so you want to use Block players there if possible (alternately, say if you run Undead, you might put ST5 players in at C or E).
You have a few options with the remaining 4 players. You could put two more on the outside of the line to thwart Blitz! results, or you could make a 303 screen behind the line if you're concerned about Leapers. Obviously, somebody needs to be back to get the ball, and you might want to keep a man free in the 0 column not far behind scrimmage, either to blitz with, or to run up an assist. If B, C, E, or F has Guard, it's even better.
First, A blocks X, pushing laterally (aim for pows, of course). Follow on a pow, or if you push and B needs an assist, but not if B can get 2d on a secondary block. Then do the same thing with G blocking Z.
Then either C or E blocks Y. Which one depends on the way the situation lies. Push laterally, so you pin down the defenders.
Then if necessary, make the secondary block with B and/or F. You can do this earlier in the turn (before C/E) if they have Block; B and F's blocks can be very revealing.
So, now, the pitch should look something like this, with lowercase characters indicating downed defenders:
or maybe like this
or this
or something similar.
At best, the defensive line is knocked down and locked in place, and you still have the manpower to blitz and screen off the pitch. (In fact, your blockers are part of that screen, positioned neatly in the L3, 0, and R3 columns after following up). If that doesn't work, you get a second bite at each defender, increasing your knockdown odds considerably. If you get a push on the second block, just push 'em away and don't follow. Feel free to sigh as you do so.
Won't win you the game on turn 1, unless you roll a bunch of Casualties. But it will give you maximum advantage against one of the more common defensive lines.
WDYT? Anyone got a better play they wanna put up? Keep in mind this only uses 7 players, so you have plenty of manpower that's not depicted.
On offense, your job is threefold:
1) Make a good screen that prevents defenders from getting past scrimmage (or forces them to go way around the backside of the play, at a minimum).
2) Knock down as many defenders as possible (usually meaning the D-line and one extra hit from the blitz).
3) Secure the ball.
To that effect, here's one offense you might consider, when faced with what I call the "303 Boat" defense.
The boat (AKA "rule of five") defense uses a screen of three players in the backfield, in the L3, 0, and R3 columns, to protect five players in a row behind them, in the L2, L1, 0, R1, and R2 columns. The "303" part refers to the line, which is spread out in a similar pattern.
The 303 Boat Defense
- - - -|X - - X - - X|- - - -
- - - -|- - - - - - -|- - - -
- - - -|- - - - - - -|- - - -
- - - -|X - - X - - X|- - - -
- - - -|- X X X X X -|- - - -So here's how to set up to thwart it. A-K are your players, N-Z are enemy players.
- - - -|- - - - - - -|- - - -
- - - A|B - C D E - F|G - - -
- - - -|X - - Y - - Z|- - - -
- - - -|- - - - - - -|- - - -
- - - -|- - - - - - -|- - - -
- - - -|U - - V - - W|- - - -
- - - -|- N N N N N -|- - - -This is a 7-player line. A, C, E, and G will be making the first hits, so you want to use Block players there if possible (alternately, say if you run Undead, you might put ST5 players in at C or E).
You have a few options with the remaining 4 players. You could put two more on the outside of the line to thwart Blitz! results, or you could make a 303 screen behind the line if you're concerned about Leapers. Obviously, somebody needs to be back to get the ball, and you might want to keep a man free in the 0 column not far behind scrimmage, either to blitz with, or to run up an assist. If B, C, E, or F has Guard, it's even better.
First, A blocks X, pushing laterally (aim for pows, of course). Follow on a pow, or if you push and B needs an assist, but not if B can get 2d on a secondary block. Then do the same thing with G blocking Z.
Then either C or E blocks Y. Which one depends on the way the situation lies. Push laterally, so you pin down the defenders.
Then if necessary, make the secondary block with B and/or F. You can do this earlier in the turn (before C/E) if they have Block; B and F's blocks can be very revealing.
So, now, the pitch should look something like this, with lowercase characters indicating downed defenders:
- - - -|B - - D E - F|- - - -
- - - -|A x - C y z G|- - - -
- - - -|- - - - - - -|- - - -or maybe like this
- - - -|- - - D E - -|- - - -
- - - -|A B - C y F G|- - - -
- - - -|- x - - - z -|- - - -or this
- - - -|B - - D - - -|- - - -
- - - -|A x - C E F G|- - - -
- - - -|- - - - y z -|- - - -or something similar.
At best, the defensive line is knocked down and locked in place, and you still have the manpower to blitz and screen off the pitch. (In fact, your blockers are part of that screen, positioned neatly in the L3, 0, and R3 columns after following up). If that doesn't work, you get a second bite at each defender, increasing your knockdown odds considerably. If you get a push on the second block, just push 'em away and don't follow. Feel free to sigh as you do so.
Won't win you the game on turn 1, unless you roll a bunch of Casualties. But it will give you maximum advantage against one of the more common defensive lines.
WDYT? Anyone got a better play they wanna put up? Keep in mind this only uses 7 players, so you have plenty of manpower that's not depicted.
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