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Re: Special Teams Matter

By TarquinTheDark
10/28/2019 8:28 pm
TarquinTheDark wrote:

Wings - Line up 1-yard deep on both ends of the LOS, outside of the tackles. The primary punt block threat in MFN is at the end of the LOS, not up the middle.
...
Speed, Pass Block, and Acceleration. I typically use RBs or fast FBs here. Sometimes a WR or TE will work. A full-sized lineman will not be fast enough to deal with the outside threat. Not having players with the right skills in the Wing positions ... significantly contributes to almost every blocked punt.

Personal Protector - the last line of defense for the punter. Again, needs to be fast with Pass Block skills.

...

Tackles - ... The Wings typically block the inside threat, unless they have help. So against a team that punt blocks, Tackles provide that help - Pass Blocking and Speed are primary (OTs).


In My Experience - Your Mileage May Vary
Last edited at 10/28/2019 8:32 pm

Re: Special Teams Matter

By slowtospeak
10/28/2019 9:37 pm
setherick wrote:
So is there a way of effectively defending punt blocks? For instance, if I put my best pass, fastest pass blockers on the edge, will that prevent them effectively?

That's the thing I was missing from this post, and I don't care to re-read it.


Nothing is 100% effective. People still get beat sometimes, and sometimes you're just overmatched. If you put your fastest guys on the line, you can make the punt blocker's job a little harder, but he'll still win out occasionally. Try to block the punt rushers one-on-one, because those extra guys are actually important parts of the coverage team. If you dedicate too many of them to blocking the punt rush, the cure could be worse than the disease.

Re: Special Teams Matter

By CrazyRazor
10/28/2019 10:38 pm
slowtospeak wrote:
setherick wrote:
So is there a way of effectively defending punt blocks? For instance, if I put my best pass, fastest pass blockers on the edge, will that prevent them effectively?

That's the thing I was missing from this post, and I don't care to re-read it.


Nothing is 100% effective. People still get beat sometimes, and sometimes you're just overmatched. If you put your fastest guys on the line, you can make the punt blocker's job a little harder, but he'll still win out occasionally. Try to block the punt rushers one-on-one, because those extra guys are actually important parts of the coverage team. If you dedicate too many of them to blocking the punt rush, the cure could be worse than the disease.


I haven't really tried anything specific, yet. I assume your fastest & best pass blockers would be the answer. It is how I've set up my blockers in the leagues I just adjusted. (I have to protect against it, if I'm not gonna do it.) I'm hoping for positive results.

Re: Special Teams Matter

By setherick - League Admin
10/28/2019 11:14 pm
To be clear, I don't mind people doing it as long as we're explaining how to beat it too. There are too many exploits not to also talk about the ways to beat them.

Re: Special Teams Matter

By Smirt211
10/29/2019 6:07 am
A combination of what STS and Crazy Razor has stated. You need to fortify yourself but also allow your gunners to mash the Punt Returner right in his tracks for field position. 2 things: a) pin punt timing on the punter as close to 100 as possible and b) place your two highest rated ST blockers with speed TEs or adept LTs per se and have them line across the 95-95 speed WR. If you do this, get blocked twice and lose a game due to it. Maybe a touchdown scoop up run in and such then you hit the board mad. lol


Re: Special Teams Matter

By Lucky
12/07/2019 8:57 am
CrazyRazor wrote:
Let's put this in perspective......A GM that consistently puts winning teams together; such as myself, GrandadB, Smirt211, CJfred, Infinity on Trial, & the list goes on; doesn't need to use the punt block to win.

I use it in a number of my leagues. 4 that I can think of off the top of my head. One person on this list uses the punt block in every single league that he is in.

This individual is more successful than anyone else in this game with this special teams exploit. It works once or twice a game for this individual.

If someone wants to use this to have a fighting chance against some of the more successful GM's, that is fine by me. Especially if it is in a league that I use the play. If someone uses it simply to rack up Championship wins, that's just despicable.

If it only worked against non-punters or punters with poor timing or poor long snappers, that would be a completely different issue, but this is not the case. It works against solid punters behind solid blockers with solid long snappers. And the only glaring point is the speed of the blockers versus the speed of the rushers.
If you have a slow OL/TE/FB on the line blocking for your punter, you are begging to be blocked.

My rusher in Beta was injured in pre-season & hasn't been available to test this theory. I'm quite certain it isn't a theory.

slowtospeak, I don't know how much time you dedicate to this game. If you want assistance in leveling the playing field with some of us veterans, all you have to do is ask. We're really forthcoming with things when asked. It's all about making this game a better experience for everyone.


Pretty sure this guy just blocked my punt for a TD with a guy coming off the line so fast I had to back it up to watch it again.. then he almost blocked another one a little while later. lol

Re: Special Teams Matter

By Lucky
12/07/2019 9:04 am
slowtospeak wrote:
I think you're sincere about wanting me to be more decent, but you actually need to *show* me the behavior you say you want from me. I have learned from experience to be so ruthless. CR taught me to block punts in the first place, and Grandad seems to do this no matter what.

I learned this behavior from *you.* There are no random victims; instead, there are people learning by example how to play. What people see you *do* is so much more important than what they hear you *say.* The moral lessons are more important than any technical knowledge you might impart.

Right now I think that decency is a crock, and that all of you are hypocrites. My perception is based on experience. If you want to change that perception, you actually need to be better to *me.* You are doing a terrific job of creating more punt blockers. If that's not how you'd like people to play, then you need to start actually being the kinds of players you claim to want.


I mean... ****. GOT EM!!

Re: Special Teams Matter

By Lucky
12/07/2019 9:21 am
I just read through most of this thread and I see a lot of people expression the opinion that this punt block mechanic is bad for the game as it relates to how new players will perceive it.. so much so one guy reset his game plan to not include this mechanic... there are punt blocks in football and I'm pretty sure I can find games were multiple punts were blocked. The point being made is this is bad optics for the game and shouldn't be the normal.

I just asked in a post about always going for 2 points conversions, like the very first td and everyone after that, and made the point I feel its bad optics for the game. The responses were basically its done in real football so players should be allowed to play that way etc. What's the difference here?? Is it that one is harder to stop than the other?

If you clone an MFN team and run them against each other with the exact same GP, with one team always going for 2 and the other not, a million times.. the team going for 2 will win a boat load more games. Then factor in the unusually high success rate of some plays that make up the MFN play matrix and it becomes a huge advantage against opponents who aren't doing the same. So like the punt block it becomes necessary to do, then everyone starts doing it and it becomes a mess.
Last edited at 12/07/2019 9:47 am

Re: Special Teams Matter

By Lamba
12/07/2019 10:54 am
I think the big difference is, that you actually have to REALLY know what you're doing, to effectively block punts, while you can't just do some tweaks and pretty much score every 2pt conversion.

Of course everyone and their mothers are hoping to block punts, kicks and what not.

Re: Special Teams Matter

By Lucky
12/07/2019 11:11 am
Lamba wrote:
I think the big difference is, that you actually have to REALLY know what you're doing, to effectively block punts, while you can't just do some tweaks and pretty much score every 2pt conversion.

Of course everyone and their mothers are hoping to block punts, kicks and what not.



Just to be clear I don't like either one so I'm not defending either. I've only seen one punt blocked but nearly every 2 point attempt I've seen has been successful.. I know there can be factors in play here besides just going for it. If you have a knowledgeable GM, elite skill position players who's running very high percentage "MFN" plays at 2 yards out..they have a massive advantage against players who aren't playing this way. If they go up 8-0 and the other team isn't specifically set up to go for 2 every time, they are probably behind the entire game. If you try to set up the GP to only sort of "counter go for 2" when the opponent does, and include all the times you would normally go for 2.. its basically all the time anyway. This creates that everyone must conform or get beaten scenario.
Last edited at 12/07/2019 11:12 am