Containing a mobile quarterback not named Michael Vick is actually pretty easy in Madden. Typically, qb spys and/or contain assignments are enough to keep most quarterbacks in the pocket. However, keeping Michael Vick in the pocket is easier said than done. SportsGamer demonstrates one defensive strategy that can be used to put a stranglehold on your opponent's quarterback in the backfield.
Keys to containment:
1. When sending pressure, make sure to attack the quarterback from his throwing arm most of the time. Attacking the quarterback from the strong side will force him to roll away from the pressure in the opposite direction. It will be very difficult at this point for the quarterback to stop and plant his feet to make the throw when running away.
2. When using qb spys or contain assignments make sure that your defender has enough speed and acceleration to make the play on the quarterback. If you are using a player that is too slow, then the quarterback will always be able to buy time to either make a throw, or scramble past you for extra yardage.
What to Avoid...
Many Madden players believe that placing the defensive ends in qb contain assignments will prevent the quarterback from escaping the pocket. Unfortunately it's not that simple, especially when facing Michael Vick. The St. Louis Rams have come out in the Nickel Normal 2 Man Under. If you'll look at the defensive ends you can see that we have placed both of them in qb contains to try to stop our opponent from scrambling.
As soon as Vick drops back to pass both of our defensive ends rush around the outside as they prepare to stop the quarterback when he runs. This is a great example of why just simply placing defensive ends in qb contain routes doesn't always work. Our opponent knows that all he has to do is slightly roll to his left and the defenders will commit.
Sure enough, the right defensive end rushes in and get blocked by the left tackle. Vick didn't even roll completely out of the pocket, but the defender still closed to try to make the tackle. The mistake by the right defensive end allows Vick to easily spring free into the open field.
The Right Way to Slow Vick Down...
In this next example we have called the Nickel Normal Nickelback Blitz. The defensive assignments supplied in this play are already more beneficial to us because we have a speedy nickelback rushing Vick from the side of the field that he prefers to roll to. Now that we've got pressure coming from the left we need to make sure that Vick can't easily roll away from it to the opposite side of the field. If you'll look down at the defensive line you can see that we have made two more changes. The first change that we made was assigning our strong defensive tackle to perform a qb spy. Next, we assigned left defensive end Leonard Little to perform a qb contain on the backside of the field. What we are trying to do with this play is funnel Vick right into our left defensive end on the backside. However, if Vick manages to escape the outside pressure coming from the left, then hopefully our qb spy will be in a good enough position to make a play as a last resort. Obviously, we'd prefer to place a faster player in the qb spy assignment, but we don't want to take any coverage away downfield.
As Vick drops back once again you ca see the pressure beginning to form on the outsides of the offensive line. Meanwhile, our strong defensive tackle begins sliding back over the middle of the field to watch Vick. Vick recognizes the pressure coming from his left and he quickly looks for a way out.
Vick turns around and begins sprinting to the opposite side of the field. Fortunately, on this side of the field Leonard Little awaits to make a play. Once you are able to get the quarterback to run in the opposite direction of his throwing hand you are in complete control of the play. Vick is taken down hard as the play never had a chance to full develop.
If you can learn to funnel your opponent's quarterback to one side of the field on every play, then you are essentially taking away half of the field for the offense to work with. Furthermore, players who like to roll out won't be able to create those great passing angles that they are able to get when outside the pocket. The real to containing a mobile quarterback is to force your opponent into a lot of third or fourth and long situations. Then, once they are in these types of situations you won't have to worry about a six or seven yard scramble because it won't be enough to move the chains.
