Originally posted by Bort
- Zone specialist only works for SS, FS, CB (or maybe it should be 1/2 or 1/4 strength for other positions?)
This misses the point entirely.
Right now, you cannot cover a HB man-to-man on any kind of deep route with a LB--they have a 15% speed/agility advantage from Scat Back if the OC has a brain. LBs do not get shutdown coverage. LBs do not get any kind of speed/agility boost (other than ball hawk, which *does* need a nerf to the speed boost) when they're in man-to-man coverage. Even if they match the HB in the speed/agility arms race, the HB has a built-in advantage from Scat Back. Zone spec's speed/agility bonus simply counters what a receiving HB/FB gets from their VAs.
Nerfing zone spec on linebackers simply means that instead of a 4-3, I'm encouraged to run a 3-1-7 with CBs built like linebackers (and David vs. Goliath out the wazoo) *regardless* of whether I'm running zone or man. (If man, they have SDC and can be placed M2M on a RB; if zone, they have full strength zone spec.) I cannot think that this is the desired effect of nerfing zone spec for non-DB players.
- Zone specialist only works for SS, FS, CB (or maybe it should be 1/2 or 1/4 strength for other positions?)
This misses the point entirely.
Right now, you cannot cover a HB man-to-man on any kind of deep route with a LB--they have a 15% speed/agility advantage from Scat Back if the OC has a brain. LBs do not get shutdown coverage. LBs do not get any kind of speed/agility boost (other than ball hawk, which *does* need a nerf to the speed boost) when they're in man-to-man coverage. Even if they match the HB in the speed/agility arms race, the HB has a built-in advantage from Scat Back. Zone spec's speed/agility bonus simply counters what a receiving HB/FB gets from their VAs.
Nerfing zone spec on linebackers simply means that instead of a 4-3, I'm encouraged to run a 3-1-7 with CBs built like linebackers (and David vs. Goliath out the wazoo) *regardless* of whether I'm running zone or man. (If man, they have SDC and can be placed M2M on a RB; if zone, they have full strength zone spec.) I cannot think that this is the desired effect of nerfing zone spec for non-DB players.