Warrior General Games

I want to build an MLB that can has the speed to chase anything down, sideline to sideline, while not sacrificing up the middle run defense. In theory, he would be able to blitz using the skills he utilizies on the running game, and also put that into coverage when necessary.

Where should I start with this? What should be focused on for Season 1, and where should it go after? This player should be leading the team in tackles, while being both a periodic blitzing threat, and a non-liability in coverage.

I had a great MLB in GLB classic, but all you needed there was speed, tackling and awareness. GLB2 seems more intricate for this role. I need people with experience here to discuss it. There are ZERO linebacker threads in this forum section at the moment.

Discuss.

Much depnds on defensive playcalling. You'll need more block breaking on a 3-4 type defense than one that uses more 4 man front.

In general though, if you build a reasonably fast lb with good pursuit and tackling skills, if you give him closing speed SA to gold, he'll be rangy enough for what you're wanting. Then you can decide on coverage skills or break block skills.

Also. Don't neglect conditioning and toughness.

Honestly consider sacrificing the inside run power. With basic tackling teq you can get most grabs in the middle. You will certaintly get a lot of missed tackles againstpower runners. A DC can compensate by getting certain safties or defensive tackles to play the odds even when your guy misses. When a power runner trucks you the middle should get clotted enough that someone else can stuff him.

That and hopefully a DC sees you quickly pursue through blockers and realizes the 5 yards lost in 3 missed tackles compensates for 30 yards saved in 5 clutch tackles.

Should much speed or quickness be built in the rookie season?

Originally posted by koleck
Should much speed or quickness be built in the rookie season?

Pursuit

Originally posted by koleck
Should much speed or quickness be built in the rookie season?
yes, but alsoOriginally posted by Galactic Empire
Pursuit

Originally posted by koleck
I want to build an MLB that can has the speed to chase anything down, sideline to sideline, while not sacrificing up the middle run defense. In theory, he would be able to blitz using the skills he utilizies on the running game, and also put that into coverage when necessary.

Where should I start with this? What should be focused on for Season 1, and where should it go after? This player should be leading the team in tackles, while being both a periodic blitzing threat, and a non-liability in coverage.

I had a great MLB in GLB classic, but all you needed there was speed, tackling and awareness. GLB2 seems more intricate for this role. I need people with experience here to discuss it. There are ZERO linebacker threads in this forum section at the moment.

Discuss.

I built my LB something similar but you might need to spend a S* slot if you want to be good at everything. It's unlikely for a non-S* LB to be good at all those things you listed and in your defense, you most likely will not even be asked to do all those things as a MLB depending on the playcalls your DC uses.

I'd go with high sprinting/quickness ASAP and then pursuit/tackling skills next and conditioning/toughness/heart and gold Closing speed first. Once sprinting is to a certain level you need conditioning to maintain the speed.

I would also suggest going with a KL build for coverage instead of a deflection LB as the skills overlap for run stopping too and you don't have to put points into intercept/deflection.

A coverage linebacker will naturally play sideline to sideline when schemed to play coverage. A blitzing linebacker will be disruptive in the backfield but will also take himself out of plays. Each get their respective awareness skill which lets your player quickly read if the play is a run instead of pass and drop his assignment (usually a TE or FB) to pursue the ball carrier.

A run stuffing LB is not very useful early on, there aren't any great powerbacks in the first couple leagues and anyone can stop or tackle the ball carrier. It's great if you are shedding blocks as a LB but your DC should be scheming to have enough bodies that it is not necessary. What you really need to do is be pursuing the play at good angles as quickly as possible and actually be able to cover very dominant tight ends in the early leagues.

I would build for coverage and hope to have a good DC. I would really consider closing speed as it will allow you to take great angles that you normally wouldn't be able to make. As for the skills in order of priority for early leagues: Pursuit, Man awareness, conditioning, footwork, quickness, balance, sprinting, toughness, defense consistency, coverage tech, tackle tech, tackle grip, heart, deflecting, vertical.

I would build eventually to max out tackle tech, grip, coverage tech, man awareness, pursuit and deflecting.

You will nave no trouble covering TE's or WR's and you will be a force in the running game without investing in any power.

Originally posted by Galithor
Much depnds on defensive playcalling. You'll need more block breaking on a 3-4 type defense than one that uses more 4 man front.

In general though, if you build a reasonably fast lb with good pursuit and tackling skills, if you give him closing speed SA to gold, he'll be rangy enough for what you're wanting. Then you can decide on coverage skills or break block skills.

Also. Don't neglect conditioning and toughness.

Quoted for truthness.

I run a 3-4 on both my teams exclusively (think I may be the only one?) and you need a very good, run stuffing core. DT's, MLB's and SS/FS's. You're big weakness is up the middle, especially against a team that can run out of the 4WR spread formation. Speed, pursuit, run stopping skills. I run with 6 LBs; 2 blitzers, 2 run stuffers and 2 coverage LBs so I can mix/match depending on who I play (if I remember ). I always field the blitzers, but the mlb's are what change.

It's basically a 5-2, but it gets the OLB's a little back off the ball in place of the DEs on the line.

Originally posted by Aeir
I run a 3-4 on both my teams exclusively (think I may be the only one?)

Chronicbomb does that as well. North Texas is only 3-4, and I think his Vet team is as well.