For this Madden Plays breakdown, we look at setup from the 3-4 Odd – Cross Fire 3 that does a good job at preventing athletic quarterbacks from taking off out of the pocket. The quarterback we show how like to defend when running the 3-4 Odd – Cross Fire 3 is Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. We show how to match speed for speed to stop him in his tracks.
Play Diagram:
Playbooks Found In:
- 3-4
- Bears
- Broncos
- Dolphins
- Giants
- Jets
- Lions
- Multiple D
- Packers
- Patriots
- Rams
- Steelers
- Texan
Note: based on Madden 21 default playbooks.
Default Assignments:
| Position | Assignment |
| LE | Slant Left |
| NT | Straight |
| RE | Slant Right |
| LOLB | Seam Flat Right |
| LILB | Blitz Right |
| RILB | Blitz Left |
| ROLB | Seam Flat Left |
| LCB | Deep 1/3 Right |
| SS | 3Rec Hook |
| FS | Deep 1/3 Middle |
| RCB | Deep 1/3 Left |
Note: assignments are from the offensive side view of the ball.
Quick Set-Up:
- Pinch Defense
- QB Contain
- Bring the free safety down near the line of scrimmage.
- Hot route free safety to blitz.
- Stay in control of the free safety before the snap.
Coaching Points:
- The design of this setup is to force the quarterback to spring away from the blitzing free safety.
- If the quarterback takes off, he will run into the left end, who is playing QB Contain.
- If the quarterback stays in the pocket, the free safety will get him rather quickly.
- The reason we chose the 3-4 Odd – Cross Fire 3 for this setup is because once the defense is pinched, it puts the two blitzing linebackers closer to the line of scrimmage.
- This changes the way the offensive line blocks, allowing a free release by the blitzing free safety.
- Having fast defensive back subbed in at the free safety position, makes the setup even more effective.
- If you have an elite pass rusher on your roster, consider subbing him at the left end position. This gives this set up another pass rusher from the opposite of the blitzing free safety that may get in once he sheds the blocking offensive linemen.
- Also, will put him in a position to sack the quarterback if the quarterback takes off and runs towards his direction.
- Be sure to run other defenses from the 3-4 Odd that use the same setup to help confuse your opponent.
Video Breakdown:
Final Thoughts:
The 3-4 Odd – Cross Fire 3 setup we show in this breakdown is very simple to set up, but yet effective at preventing the quarterback from taking off out of the pocket. It gets double edge pressure, plus doesn't give the quarterback much time to find an open receiver.
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