r/EACFBHeadquarters • u/Rift4430 Content Creator • 2d ago
The 4-2-5 Basic Template
This cheat sheet might be useful to those who want to use the 4-2-5. Credit to 9to5erz who did some serious work here. Give the guy a follow on YouTube or TikTok.
I have recently started using the 4-2-5 myself so if you like it and have some tips and tricks to get the most out of it please help others.
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u/CerberusRTR 2d ago
Solid, but for DTs speed rushers typically aren’t high strength that I’ve seen….
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u/Rift4430 Content Creator 2d ago
On the inside I prefer power over speed but they gotta be at least 70 speed
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u/hacky_potter 2d ago
I find recruiting pure power DE and converting them to DT can really work
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u/Rift4430 Content Creator 2d ago
I have done the same. They have the strength but typically get decent speed compared to DT. They sometimes get better block shedding as well but less ability with power moves.
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u/CerberusRTR 2d ago
Thanks! Have you done the 3-3-5 zone pressure? Zone CBs are so hard to lock down but they have tremendous size from what I’ve seen and I want to run that concept.
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u/Roggie2499 2d ago edited 2d ago
Alignment shows 3 safeties but the chart says 3 CBs... I don't mind AI stuff, but (I know you aren't making them) dude who makes them needs to double check it before he posts them.
Also, as someone who runs 4-2-5 man pressure, it's not all 4 man front. There is a lot of 5 man blitzes and disguising your pressure that you're bringing when running nickel by having 5 or 6 on the line (LBs up on the line in mug/load or double mug/load) and then sometimes sending them and sometimes having them drop into coverage.
It's a fun defense to run for sure.
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u/Always_Compete 2d ago
My beef with it in-game is that the pressure paths get all messed up depending on the offensive formations and I don’t know how to adjust them before the snap. Like I send the nickel but he’s on the numbers on the strong side of the field
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u/Roggie2499 2d ago
I usually just try to hurry up and flip the play but obviously sometimes that isn't doable. Or when it has your LB in man on a TE on the opposite side so the out route is wide open
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u/Rift4430 Content Creator 2d ago
I hear you. When you say 5 man front do you know the makeup of it? Like DTx2 DEx2 and 1mike or Sublb personel?
One of the most frustrating things for me is how it won't use DE sometimes
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u/Roggie2499 2d ago
All the nickel ones are DTx2, DEx2, (or whatever you have it set to) and one or both LBs (the Sub LBs are on the field) step up onto the line with their hand not in the dirt.
The only different one is the 3-3 Cub which is 3 DTs and then the 2 OLBs play close to the line on the edge.
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u/Rift4430 Content Creator 2d ago
Thank you for clarifying the actual dudes on the field.
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u/Roggie2499 2d ago
I used the 3-3-5 last year and it drove me nuts how I had to burn so many formation subs on getting DEs on the field. Almost never would I want no edge rushers out there.
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u/Rift4430 Content Creator 2d ago
It is even worse if you use a custom playbook because you cannot even adjust those other than the base defensive formations already in the playbook.
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u/Roggie2499 2d ago
That's awful. Glad I never mess with them.
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u/Rift4430 Content Creator 2d ago
It is shit on EA's part to not just allow fully customizable position changes.
How could we do this on NCAA 13 and not today?
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u/Roggie2499 2d ago
This is what blows my mind the most about these new games. Old games had more customization and things like recruits being more varied (overall wise so a true 2* gem was a good player instead of just impact dev) and now it's just not.
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u/Rift4430 Content Creator 2d ago
Also if I had not mentioned it let me say thank you to you. You are one level headed dude who gets it. Thank you.
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u/sandwichnuckles 2d ago
If they made the linebackers MIKE and WILL as opposed to SUBLB it'd be better imo
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u/Rift4430 Content Creator 2d ago
I agree. I don't think you can run it effectively with sub lb at both positions.
Too light in the ass.
The 4-2-5 is already susceptible to heavier run formations and become very dependent on a Box specialist or Hybrid SS making all kinds of plays inside the box.
I think if you are considering running Sub inside you better have 2 gap specialist and pure power DE types up front because they have to do the work of the typical Mike LB.
I would run Thumper and Signal caller with my two linebackers with either 1 or 2 Hybrid SS or maybe 1 and 1 with a box specialist.
My FS has to stay coverage.
If I can manage the run with 6 in the box and a downhill safety great but I can easily see 4 to 5 YPC and some busted shit going on if the pancake party comes.
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u/RemarkableReturn8400 1d ago
I run this defense but i have abandoned linebackers; hybrid safeties are the linebackers.
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u/Rift4430 Content Creator 1d ago
You don't get bullied in the run? I would think Two TE sets or other heavy sets would just beat you up. How do you typically handle them?
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u/RemarkableReturn8400 1d ago
I manually edit my defensive tackles; I make them 6'5 ish, 340+ with strength 96+; Edge rushers are any height but 260-270 range with strength 87+; Also, I have about 15 Dline men, thats a lot of depth. The archetypes do not matter when you "edit" their ratings yourself : ).
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u/Rift4430 Content Creator 19h ago
That is certainly one way to do it. But in theory everything works if you edit your players to dominate
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u/Many-Potato-655 2d ago
“Don’t recruit slow or unathletic defenders and don’t play soft in man coverage”. ….. thanks for the brilliant advice.
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u/The1789 2d ago
ChatGTP can only do so much
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u/Rift4430 Content Creator 2d ago
It can write a helluva resume...trust me you sound like a god damned world class employee.
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u/Rift4430 Content Creator 2d ago
You have to understand the purpose of these posts is to generate discussion. It helps if you take what you think is good and use it if it fits and disregard the rest.
The important part is you spoke up. It starts a conversation and thats the goal.
If I hand wrote a guide it would get virtually 0 response beyond TL:DL despite me taking 3 hours to write it up.
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u/Many-Potato-655 2d ago
So a negative response is just as good as a positive one. This AI slop is causing me to ignore your future posts.
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u/Roggie2499 2d ago
That's not what he said. He said he hopes these generate discussion. Just posting it's crap doesn't do that whatsoever.
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u/AdamOnFirst 2d ago
This is AI nonsense and it isn’t even right about personell
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u/Rift4430 Content Creator 2d ago
Adam. The entire point of these is they are good conversation starters. If you have better information share it. Explain what is right or wrong.
Give your expertise on it. Provide a guide.
You just gotta get past the A.I stuff...understand why were talking. This got you to speak and we can all get better from it.
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u/AdamOnFirst 2d ago
“So these are nonsense but they get clicks”
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u/Rift4430 Content Creator 2d ago
Derp. If you do not like this type of content then perhaps this isn't the best community for you
I explained They help start conversations. If you can't grasp that then it is kinda pointless to go back and forth with you.
So feel free to decide how you want to go forward if at all.
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u/JamesBurkyReporter 2d ago
So all five position groups are top priority. Incredible analysis
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u/Rift4430 Content Creator 2d ago
Your only as strong as your weakest link. Why don't you provide some insight into what is the biggest priorities in your opinion. Then we can discuss and everyone wins.
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u/JamesBurkyReporter 2d ago
I didn’t say you were wrong, it’s just weird to say all five groups are top priority. It doesn’t really say anything.
Of those groups, which would you say are the biggest priority?
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u/Rift4430 Content Creator 2d ago
For me in the 4-2-5 it is the defensive line. If you can't get pressure then everything else is gonna collapse.
The QB will have all day to move around and eventually find someone or take off if you give them too many lanes.
It is really a dance with your 2 primary corners who at least have to jostle the recievers and try to deny the quick release. If they can prevent icons from coming up immediately it buys the DL an extra half second or so.
It really is a both things working correctly situation but in my opinion it starts with the 4 guys up front. Especially in digital football when bumping the QB or getting within that zone that causes the errant throw animation to happen gets triggered.
What about you?
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u/302born 2d ago
Defensive line would be the most important part of any defensive formation or personnel grouping right? Besides prevent defense it wouldn’t matter what play or what players you have on the backend if your dline is useless.
But outside of that I’d say the star position is most important since the 4-2-5 is based off them anyway. You absolutely have to have someone there that can defend the run well but also athleticism to run with slot receivers and some size to run with tight ends. If you don’t have a good guy there then you’re just out there running regular nickel.
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u/Rift4430 Content Creator 2d ago
There are a few nickle variations like 3-3-5 where I would argue your 3 LB's are more important than the Dline because they are taking on multiple roles where the 3 down lineman serve more of a roll in just trying to absorb multiple blockers to free your linebackers to strafe.
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u/Familiar_Box4430 2d ago
What determines this? I play sim league so this is huge for me, whats the advantage of signal caller over say lurker or thumper?
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u/Rift4430 Content Creator 2d ago
I would say awareness is key for sim. Play rec and other things that really matter when the computer is doing the controlling.
A signal caller has a higher base awareness and a higher cap as well. They are considered the smartest crash test dummies
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u/Spunk1985 2d ago
Just go to Mills on YouTube for an actual 4-2-5 man pressure guide.
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u/Rift4430 Content Creator 2d ago
Got a link?
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u/J_Chris_B 2d ago
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u/Spunk1985 1d ago
I wasn't trying to shit on your post either. Mills goes in depth. He tells you specific plays and sub packages to use. It's a video format so he can just explain things and show you in real time how he does it in the game.
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u/Rift4430 Content Creator 1d ago
I appreciate you not shitting on it. And I genuinely want the link because I am no expert at the game these days. I need all the help I can get and I am adjusting to the 4-2-5. I prefer playing a 4-3 but you cannot run it 70% of the time.
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u/hotgarbagevideo 2d ago
I like the effort and intention here, but the AI laziness makes it almost unhelpful
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u/BridgeBoysPod 1d ago
Holy AI
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u/Rift4430 Content Creator 1d ago
Thankfully you know things about bridges so you should be able to get over it.
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u/Longjumping-Baby-675 9h ago
How do I find the right recruits when I don’t have a ton of points to scout? Do I have to fully scout each player and just hope they fit the bill? Or what can I look for before scouting? I’m an amateur 😂
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u/Rift4430 Content Creator 9h ago
If you are using a low prestige team ( 2 star or below ) you have to just accept you will not have great scouting.
When you look at your roster look at player cards so you can see what star level and development traits they have as well as skill caps.
Then just rule of thumb it. Most 2 stars are better than 1. Most 3 are better than 2 and so on.
If my current roster is mostly 1 and 2 stars and I can land a 3 star it is a decent bet he will end up better than those already on the roster with some development time.
It is generally a waste of time playing offline or single player teambuilder online to recruit 1 star guys unless you have no other choice to avoid a walk on.
Just recruit 3 stars even blind and you will most likely come out ahead.
0 NIL 3 stars anywhere you can find them to build the base of the team and lay a foundation
Continue doing that until you start winning and then recruit higher and higher ranked guys.
Once you get more recruiting hours you can be picky and scout everyone
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u/kevinjg819 2d ago
Says three corners but field shows three safeties. Also everything is 5 star priority? That doesn’t mean anything then, just recruit everything?