by ZootMurph » Mon Sep 09, 2019 11:00 pm
If you are playing a 43, are you having all 3 linebackers blitz? What about a 34? In any case, all the linebackers aren't doing a specific thing in most plays. If they are, it is MOST LIKELY going to be some kind of coverage. The idea isn't to blitz or not to blitz, it's what their first step is going to be... pass or run basically. Are the looking for a run? If so, their first step is likely to be forward. If pass, their first step is likely to be backward. If mixed, they will take a second to read the play. If the specific play calls for linebacker X to blitz, well, he'll blitz. That's not needed on the Team Strategy, that's on a play by play basis, with a GENERAL leaning involved.
Understanding how everything works together will help you understand the specifics of different parts of the game. Rush the Passer or Blitz are not needed in general settings, but are set in specific plays. The general Team Strategy - Game Plan screen basically tells your defense what it's primary purpose is, but that can be countered by the specific play call. For example, if you are a defense looking to stop the run first, you would probably have run focus, Defensive line as run support, and linebackers as run support. But, if it's 3rd and 20, your play will, hopefully, be a play where you have your defensive line trying to rush the passer and not looking for a running play, etc.
So, again, to be clear, the Team Strategy - Game Plan is a very basic idea of what you want your defense to be focusing on. The plays you choose and blitzing percentage you choose will override those settings within the plays. If don't choose a specific gameplan, then the game will try to pick out plays based on your Team Strategy and blitzing percentage, adjusting depending on things like down and distance, score, time left...