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Blood Bowl Defensive Setup VI: Asymmetric Defenses
Defensive Setup in Blood Bowl
Part VI: Asymmetric Defenses
by JackassRampant
Up to this point, we’ve discussed primarily symmetrical defenses, except for the crooked arrow in Part IV, and some tweaking around of the line of scrimmage. There is a good reason for this focus on symmetry: as the defender, you don’t know how the offense will set up, so you want to be ready to thwart a run up either side. However, there are many ways to set up an asymmetrical defense that offer the same strength.
Asymmetric defenses are often structured to take advantage of the Kick skill. In most cases, the objective is to orient the action so the offense is inclined to go one way, then kick shallow and in the opposite direction. These defenses can be used by faster teams even without Kick.
With most asymmetric defenses, the objective is to orient the backfield and the line of scrimmage in opposite directions, so the opponent can’t just run riot on the side you didn’t load up on. You’ll see that all of these defenses provide some degree of control in the wide zone on both sides, but leave an opening in case the opponent wants to overcommit.
The Gdaynick
The Gdaynick defense, named after the BB2 coach who popularized it, is built on a screen running from the off-side 5 to the line-side 4. Because it covers one side of the backfield more strongly, it’s dependent on a one-handed line of scrimmage. It’s not as aggressive as the other asymmetric defenses, but it does keep four players clean.
The Offset Screen
Offset screen defenses are better than the Gdaynick for pitch control, as they exert some pressure in the back-side wide zone. Like sideline defenses, offset screen defenses are dependent to some extent on “trash” created by the line of scrimmage.
There are as many kinds of offset screen defense as there are kinds of screen. Really, the crooked arrow could be said to be an offset screen defense in itself.
The Offset Trap Screen
The offset trap screen is dependent upon trap double screens to protect midfield and the side away from the defensive line. Its major advantage is that it can protect several key players, keeping them clean in the face of any blitz. It also has the advantage that any old team can pull it off, though it’s best used in conjunction with the Kick skill. It’s usable at any point in the half, unlike some defenses that demand a longer or shorter clock.
The Offset Line Screen
The offset line screen is more aggressive, and forces the offense to go into contact to blitz any player other than the line-side 5 column. It’s better if your opponent has to respect your blocking ability, and worse if you feel you have to protect key players.
The Mixed Offset Screen
Sometimes you want a little of both, you know? This mixed screen provides the best of all worlds; not only does it protect key safeties and prevent surfs using Frenzy, but it also provides a stout front. It’s best if your 0-column is a big guy or has Stand Firm, and your key hitter should be in the line-side 1, diagonally behind the big.
This article and the parts before it pretty much cover all the conventional defenses. In the next piece, I’ll go over some popular turn 8 or 16 defenses, the type you use to thwart one-turners. Until then, have fun and good luck!
— JR
Back to table of contents
Part VI: Asymmetric Defenses
by JackassRampant
Up to this point, we’ve discussed primarily symmetrical defenses, except for the crooked arrow in Part IV, and some tweaking around of the line of scrimmage. There is a good reason for this focus on symmetry: as the defender, you don’t know how the offense will set up, so you want to be ready to thwart a run up either side. However, there are many ways to set up an asymmetrical defense that offer the same strength.
Asymmetric defenses are often structured to take advantage of the Kick skill. In most cases, the objective is to orient the action so the offense is inclined to go one way, then kick shallow and in the opposite direction. These defenses can be used by faster teams even without Kick.
With most asymmetric defenses, the objective is to orient the backfield and the line of scrimmage in opposite directions, so the opponent can’t just run riot on the side you didn’t load up on. You’ll see that all of these defenses provide some degree of control in the wide zone on both sides, but leave an opening in case the opponent wants to overcommit.
The Gdaynick
The Gdaynick defense, named after the BB2 coach who popularized it, is built on a screen running from the off-side 5 to the line-side 4. Because it covers one side of the backfield more strongly, it’s dependent on a one-handed line of scrimmage. It’s not as aggressive as the other asymmetric defenses, but it does keep four players clean.
The Gdaynick Defense
7 6 5 4|3 2 1 0 1 2 3|4 5 6 7 column
- - - -|- - - - x x x|- - - -
- - - -|- - - - - - -|- - - -
- - x -|- x - - x - -|x - - -
- - - x|- - x x - - x|- - - -The Offset Screen
Offset screen defenses are better than the Gdaynick for pitch control, as they exert some pressure in the back-side wide zone. Like sideline defenses, offset screen defenses are dependent to some extent on “trash” created by the line of scrimmage.
There are as many kinds of offset screen defense as there are kinds of screen. Really, the crooked arrow could be said to be an offset screen defense in itself.
The Offset Trap Screen
The offset trap screen is dependent upon trap double screens to protect midfield and the side away from the defensive line. Its major advantage is that it can protect several key players, keeping them clean in the face of any blitz. It also has the advantage that any old team can pull it off, though it’s best used in conjunction with the Kick skill. It’s usable at any point in the half, unlike some defenses that demand a longer or shorter clock.
The Offset Trap Screen
7 6 5 4|3 2 1 0 1 2 3|4 5 6 7 column
- - - -|- - - - x x x|- - - -
- - - -|- - - - - - -|- - - -
- - x -|- x - - x - -|- x - -
- x - -|x - - x - - -|x - - -The Offset Line Screen
The offset line screen is more aggressive, and forces the offense to go into contact to blitz any player other than the line-side 5 column. It’s better if your opponent has to respect your blocking ability, and worse if you feel you have to protect key players.
The Offset Line Screen
7 6 5 4|3 2 1 0 1 2 3|4 5 6 7 column
- - - -|- - - - x x x|- - - -
- - - -|- - - - - - -|- - - -
- x x -|x x - x x - -|x x - -The Mixed Offset Screen
Sometimes you want a little of both, you know? This mixed screen provides the best of all worlds; not only does it protect key safeties and prevent surfs using Frenzy, but it also provides a stout front. It’s best if your 0-column is a big guy or has Stand Firm, and your key hitter should be in the line-side 1, diagonally behind the big.
The Mixed Offset Screen
7 6 5 4|3 2 1 0 1 2 3|4 5 6 7 column
- - - -|- - - - x x x|- - - -
- - - -|- - - - - - -|- - - -
- - x -|x x - x - - -|x x - -
- x - -|- - - - x - -|- - - -This article and the parts before it pretty much cover all the conventional defenses. In the next piece, I’ll go over some popular turn 8 or 16 defenses, the type you use to thwart one-turners. Until then, have fun and good luck!
— JR
Back to table of contents