Dynasty Central

CFB 27 · Build your team

Build a 3-4 with more than one way to get pressure

Find the front, SAM/WILL and MIKE traits your CFB 27 3-4 needs. Build a recruiting plan around the jobs your defensive calls actually ask players to do.

A 3-4 gives you choices about where pressure comes from. Those choices only help when the players left behind can do their jobs. Start with the front, then check the linebacker roles before you fall in love with another blitz.

Purdue's selected defender has a Hook Curl assignment displayed by the game before a Texas A&M snap.
Somebody still has to cover behind pressure. Inspect the actual assignment before choosing who you want to rush.Dynasty Central gameplay capture · EA SPORTS College Football 27

Try the recruiting checklist

Pick the book. Know who to recruit.

Start with three jobs your roster needs to handle. Switch books to see what changes before you spend your recruiting hours.

Build toward 3-4

Build around a mix of calls and the 3-4 personnel menu.

  1. DT1Interior anchor

    A three-man front asks its interior anchor to hold up against the run. Check the actual NT depth assignment in game.

    Key attributes
    StrengthBlock sheddingTackle
    Optimal Archetype:
    Pure Power · Gap Specialist

  2. SAM 1 / WILL 1Outside linebackers

    Develop players who can pressure from the edge and handle coverage assignments.

    Key attributes
    Power movesSpeedZone coverage
    Optimal Archetype:
    Lurker · Thumper

  3. CB1 / CB2 / CB3Coverage corners

    Prioritize a mix of calls; nickel packages also make the third corner worth checking.

    Key attributes
    Man coverageZone coverageSpeed
    Optimal Archetype:
    Boundary · Zone

Archetypes are scouting starting points. Check the player's actual ratings and your in-game depth chart; a label alone doesn't make a player the best fit.

4 plays to get a feel for the book

Try these commonly called plays from 3-4. Check the offensive look, know your assignment, and see where you need help. The bars show yards allowed in our CPU games.

Cover 3 Sky

Nickel · 3-3 Odd

Original game play diagram: Cover 3 Sky, Nickel · 3-3 Odd
Original game card · Cover 3 Sky

Before the snap: Find the offense's trips side and your curl-flat defenders. Three deep zones still need help against seams and throws underneath.

After the snap
  1. Protect your seam. If you user an underneath defender, watch the inside receiver release upfield before chasing a short route.
  2. Rally to the throw. Keep the ball in front and close after the pass. Chasing the flat too early opens the curl or crossing window behind you.

5.8 yd avg allowed

15,722 recorded attempts · CPU Dynasty simulations

Yards allowed on each attempt

Tap a bar for the count. Taller bars mean more attempts.

Held opponents to no gain or a loss on 29% of attempts. Allowed 10+ yards on 26%.

Recorded yardage distribution
Yards allowedAttempts
Loss960
03669
1–45275
5–91786
10–192828
20+1204

Cover 3 Match

3-4 · Tite

Original game play diagram: Cover 3 Match, 3-4 · Tite
Original game card · Cover 3 Match

Before the snap: Check the edge responsibilities in this Tite front, then locate the inside receivers. The match defenders must account for their releases.

After the snap
  1. Stay with the release. Expect an underneath match defender to carry a vertical receiver. If you user that defender, don't abandon him just to sit in the painted zone.
  2. Fit the run. Confirm the handoff before leaving coverage and fill your assigned gap. Don't chase an inside fake and give away the edge.

5.3 yd avg allowed

13,872 recorded attempts · CPU Dynasty simulations

Yards allowed on each attempt

Tap a bar for the count. Taller bars mean more attempts.

Held opponents to no gain or a loss on 28% of attempts. Allowed 10+ yards on 22%.

Recorded yardage distribution
Yards allowedAttempts
Loss821
03075
1–45253
5–91697
10–192146
20+880

Cover 3 Match

Nickel · 3-3 Odd

Original game play diagram: Cover 3 Match, Nickel · 3-3 Odd
Original game card · Cover 3 Match

Before the snap: Locate the slot receivers and your match defenders. Check for trips or a stacked release that can make the assignments harder to follow.

After the snap
  1. Watch the slot. Be ready for a vertical carry instead of a stationary zone drop. Keep your assigned receiver accounted for when usering underneath.
  2. Don't chase the bait. Let the underneath help handle a short throw until the ball comes out. Crossing routes can pull you away from the space you need to protect.

5.7 yd avg allowed

13,617 recorded attempts · CPU Dynasty simulations

Yards allowed on each attempt

Tap a bar for the count. Taller bars mean more attempts.

Held opponents to no gain or a loss on 29% of attempts. Allowed 10+ yards on 25%.

Recorded yardage distribution
Yards allowedAttempts
Loss806
03202
1–44631
5–91532
10–192447
20+999

Cover 4 Palms

Nickel · 3-3 Odd

Original game play diagram: Cover 4 Palms, Nickel · 3-3 Odd
Original game card · Cover 4 Palms

Before the snap: Find each inside receiver and the corner-safety pair outside him. Quick outs and vertical releases are the combinations to watch.

After the snap
  1. Read the inside release. An out-breaking route can trigger a coverage exchange. Keep the outside vertical accounted for instead of sending both defenders at the short throw.
  2. Keep your help. If you user a safety, don't jump a short route before confirming who has the deeper receiver. Match rules and formation adjustments matter.

6.1 yd avg allowed

13,392 recorded attempts · CPU Dynasty simulations

Yards allowed on each attempt

Tap a bar for the count. Taller bars mean more attempts.

Held opponents to no gain or a loss on 29% of attempts. Allowed 10+ yards on 25%.

Recorded yardage distribution
Yards allowedAttempts
Loss833
03106
1–44639
5–91436
10–192272
20+1106

Now put your own players on the board.

See which players fit 3-4, where you need depth, and which attributes to scout next. Import your dynasty roster to turn the checklist into a plan for your team.

See how your roster fits

Start with a free selected-style report. Plus adds ongoing comparisons and deeper play research.

Build the front before you free up the rush

Check the strength and block-shedding traits of the defenders who have to hold up inside. If they lose immediately, the players behind them spend the rep recovering instead of making the call work.

EDGE, SAM, WILL and MIKE are different labels for different roster jobs. Read the selected book's priorities and confirm who's in the formation. Don't assume the fastest linebacker belongs at every pressure spot.

The player dropping back matters too

When you send a linebacker, somebody else has to handle the space. Check coverage traits for the players your favorite calls leave in coverage, then compare the rush traits of the player you're sending.

Keep one base coverage and one pressure you can explain. If the pressure gets home sometimes but gives up a huge gain the next time, the distribution below makes that tradeoff easier to spot than the average alone.

Know what your pressure gives up

  1. Open the original play diagram and count the rushers before looking at the average.
  2. Name the quick throw or run lane you need to watch with your user.
  3. Keep the call if you understand the tradeoff, then recruit for the role that is struggling.

Still deciding on your style? Check the 3-3-5 defense recruiting plan.