CFB 25: Defeat Zone Defense With Gun Bunch TE Formation

Game: College Football 25
Time: 2024-07-19
Views: 1155

For College Football 25 players, the Gun Bunch TE formation in the Alabama Playbook is a game changer that helps us beat zone defenses with ease. The Gun Bunch TE formation creates a variety of possibilities for the offense to beat defenses such as Cover 3, Cover 2 and Zone Beater, Setup 4.

Advantages of the Gun Bunch TE Formation

Versatile Passing Options: Clustered receivers provide multiple passing targets for the quarterback.

Pressure on the Defense: Defenses have difficulty covering all receivers at the same time.

Flexible Run-Pass Options: Easily converts to a running offense.

Adaptable: Adapts to different defensive strategies.

Now that we've learned the advantages of the Gun Bunch TE formation, we're going to explain in detail how to beat zone defenses using this formation.

Read More: College Football 25: Release Date and How to Get Early Access to the Game

How to Beat Zone Defenses - Cover 3 Beater

Gun Bunch TE Formation - Cover 3 Beater

Play: PA Verticals (Cover 3 Beater)

Setup:

- Make sure you are on the left hash mark        
- Hot route your B/circle receiver to a slant route        
- Hot route your X/square receiver to a streak route        
- Custom stem your Y/triangle receiver 1 click down on the left stick to shorten his post route slightly        
- (Optional) Hot route your tight end or running back to any shallow route

Reads: Your primary read on this play is the Y/triangle receiver deep on the post route. Lead pass up and to the sideline.

Overview: This is a shot play that attacks any cover 3 defense deep.

How to Execute?

The primary target for this play is the Y/Triangle receiver running a deep post route. Here's the step-by-step process to maximize the play's effectiveness:

1. Position and Hot Routes:

- Align on the left hash mark for optimal spacing.

- Set the B/Circle receiver on a slant and the X/Square receiver on a streak. This combination manipulates the defense, creating an open window for the deep pass.

- Shorten the Y/Triangle receiver's route slightly to ensure timely separation.

2. Cancel Play Action: To avoid any delays, cancel the play action immediately after the snap. (Immediately after your quarterback receives the snap, tap the right trigger or R2 to cancel play action.)

3. Read the Defense: Watch the deep third defender on the right side. If executed correctly, the defender will stay shallow, creating a massive gap for your Y/Triangle receiver.

4. Lead Pass: Aim up and towards the sideline for the Y/Triangle receiver. This pass should result in a significant gain, often leading to a touchdown.

Why This Play Works?

The PA Verticals setup in the Gun Bunch TE formation is designed to exploit the weaknesses in a Cover 3 defense. Here's the breakdown:

Deep Third Manipulation: By placing the B/Circle receiver on a slant and the X/Square receiver on a streak, the deep third defenders are forced into difficult decisions. The streak route holds the safety in the middle, while the slant occupies the shallow defenders.

Custom Stem Route: Shortening the Y/Triangle receiver’s post route ensures that he breaks free right when the deep third defender is out of position.

Lead Pass Precision: Timing and precision are crucial. The lead pass up and towards the sideline allows the receiver to catch the ball in stride, often with plenty of space to run.

Optional Adjustments

To further enhance this play, consider these optional adjustments based on your gameplay style:

Running Back Route: Set your running back on a Texas route to add another layer of complexity for the defense.

Tight End Route: Utilize a drag or trail route for your tight end to create additional crossing routes, distracting the linebackers and shallow defenders.

How to Beat Zone Defenses - Cover 2 Beater

Gun Bunch TE Formation - Cover 2 Beater

Play: PA Verticals (Cover 2 Beater)

Setup:

- Make sure you are on the left hash mark 

- Hot route your B/circle receiver to a slant route

- Custom stem your Y/triangle receiver 1 click up on the left stick to lengthen his post route slightly 

- (Optional) Hot route your tight end or running back to any shallow route 

Reads:

- Your first read against any cover 2 defense is the Y/triangle receiver splitting the safeties deep. Lead pass up. 

- If he is covered, you can look to your X/square receiver on his wheel/fade route. Lead pass to the sideline after he gets beyond the cornerback in the light blue zone. 

Overview: This play attacks cover 2 defenses using two different routes so even if your opponent manually covers one, you should still have the other.

Cover 2 Gameplay Details

Cover 2 defenses can come in various forms such as Tampa 2, Cover 2 Drop, Cover 2 Hard Flat, and Cover 2 Invert. Despite their differences, the core principle remains the same: two safeties divide the deep part of the field, while cornerbacks and linebackers cover the underneath zones. Your goal is to manipulate these zones and create openings for big plays.

Exploiting the Cover 2 Zones

1. Manipulating Deep Blue Zones: 

- The slant route by your B receiver will draw the attention of the deep blue zone defenders, pulling them towards the sideline. 

- The wheel route on the other side of the field will also push defenders to the sideline, creating a large gap in the middle.

2. Targeting the Open Receiver: 

- Your Y (Triangle) slot receiver should get wide open deep. Lead pass up to him, ideally using a fast receiver to maximize yardage. 

- Practice lead passing to ensure you hit the open window effectively.

Dealing with Adjustments

1. Opponent Adjustments: 

- If your opponent adjusts by putting an extra middle linebacker in a deep zone (essentially creating a Cover 3 look), you can still exploit this by targeting the X (Square) receiver. 

- Lead pass away from the safety to hit the X receiver once he passes the cornerback.

2. Custom Stem Adjustments: 

- Use the custom stem feature to make the X receiver’s route more to the sideline, making it easier to throw into the open window. 

- Adjust the route with about 10 clicks up on the left stick for optimal results.

Beat Zone Defenses - Zone Beater

When facing opponents who often use zone defenses, it's crucial to have a play that can adapt to different defensive setups. By combining elements from plays designed to beat Cover 2 and Cover 3, we can create a universal setup that works against both.

Beat Zone Defenses - Zone Beater

Play: PA Verticals (Zone Beater)

Setup:

- Make sure you are on the left hash mark    
- Hot route your B/circle receiver to a slant route    
- Hot route your X/square receiver to a streak route    
- Custom stem your Y/triangle receiver 1 click up on the left stick to lengthen his post route slightly    
- (Optional) Hot route your tight end or running back to any shallow route

Reads:

Your Y/triangle receiver should get open deep against both cover 3 and cover 2 defenses.

Overview: This is an excellent shot play when you think your opponent is in a zone defense but don’t know exactly which one. These plays work best when you have 50+ yards of field in front of you.

Executing the Play

If facing Cover 3, the streak route will hold the safety, and the wire (triangle) receiver will get open deep. Lead pass it to the right of the safety and above the cornerback for an easy completion.

If facing Cover 2, the slant route will pull the deep half cornerback towards the sideline. The wire (triangle) receiver will find the gap between the safeties. Lead pass up and slightly to the left to hit the receiver in the open space.

Beat Zone Defenses - PA Verticals (Setup 4)

This setup focuses on the PA Verticals play from the Gun Bunch TE formation. It's designed to exploit zone defenses by using a combination of wheel routes to manipulate defenders and create open passing lanes.

Beat Zone Defenses - Setup 4

Playbook: Alabama

Formation: Gun Bunch TE

Play: PA Verticals (Setup 4)

Setup:

Make sure you are on the right hash mark

Hot route your B/circle receiver to a wheel route and optionally motion him out to the left  
Reads:

Read which defender is in a flat zone (if your opponent is in zone defense) and then throw either the B/circle receiver’s wheel route or the X/square receiver’s fade route.

Overview: This is a nice wrinkle to add into PA Verticals since we usually are targeting the Y/triangle receiver on the post route. It gives our opponent additional wide receivers to have to worry about.

Key Points for Setup 4

1. Formation and Initial Setup:

- Stay on the right hash mark, though it's not crucial.  
- Designed to beat any zone defense.  
- Main route adjustments:  
- Put the B (or Circle) receiver on a wheel route by pressing down on the D-pad.

2. Wheel Route Mechanics:

- The B (or Circle) receiver on the wheel route will manipulate zone defenders.  
- Against Cover 3, you can hit the seam with this receiver.  
- The wheel route helps manipulate the safety, opening up deep passes to the Y (or Triangle) receiver.

3. Motion and Route Adjustments:

- Motion the B (or Circle) receiver to the left after setting him on a wheel route.  
- Optionally adjust the X (or Square) receiver to a custom stem route for better spacing.  
- The goal is to use the wheel routes to pull flat defenders out of position, creating openings for other routes.

4. Reading the Defense:

- Identify who is responsible for the flat (light blue zone, purple zone, or deep coverage).  
- The B (or Circle) receiver's wheel route pulls flat defenders, creating an opening for the X (or Square) receiver.  
- Against Cover 3 or Cover 4, the seam route or deeper routes become viable options.

5. Zone Defense Exploits:

- In a Cover 3, the deep zone defender and inside defenders (purple or light blue) cannot cover the wheel route quickly enough.  
- Lead pass to the sideline to exploit the delay in the flat defender's response.

6. Alternative Routes and Checkdowns:

- Utilize the tight end on a corner route and the running back on a table, swing, or flat route.  
- These provide quick checkdown options if the primary reads are covered.  
- Adjust routes to create additional openings, making it difficult for defenders to cover all options.

7. Execution Against Various Defenses:

- Cover 3: B (or Circle) receiver on the wheel, X (or Square) receiver finds gaps.  
- Cover 4: Similar to Cover 3, but with deeper zone manipulation.  
- Cover 2: Adjust for light blue zone coverage, focus on the X (or Square) receiver in the middle.

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