So I did something that I very rarely do anymore, and I actually watched some of the games. In one of my leagues, I played a team that ran the goal line defenses almost exclusive against most formations. The results weren’t pretty: Box Score: Milwaukee at Los Angeles Rams - Football Fans League | MyFootballNow

But what it did do was give me a lot of insight in why streaming the Goal Line Defenses work, and more importantly, how to beat them.

Why Streaming GL Works: Hot Reads
The most important thing about streaming the Goal Line defense is that it triggers the hot read quickly.

But, Seth, haven’t you always said in your beginners guides to be careful not to blitz too many times and trigger a hot read? Yes, yes I have.

In 4.6, though, triggering a hot read can mean instant drive stopping for an offense here’s a quick break down why using our two favorite passing plays the 212 FL Hitch and the 203 WR Out.

These two plays I specifically start with because both of them are max protect with both the RB and FB pass blocking. As soon as your QB starts to hot read the goal line defense, the QB immediately jabs the ball at one of these two backs. Since they are in pass block, the result is a negative play or an interception almost all the time.

What about a play like the 113 HB Flare you ask? Well, it has the same problem even though the RB is running a route. In 4.5 or 4.6 - I honestly don’t remember which at this point - code was added for the RB to abandon a route and come up to pass block. That means if the RB reads the blitz and comes to pick it up before the QB goes to the hot read, you’re stuck in the same situation.

How to Break It
If your opponent runs the GL against all formations, like my opponent did, the easiest way to break it is to load up on the Gun 5 and 014 short passing plays. These plays have no players in the backfield so the hot read is always in the field of play. (If I had actually realized that my opponent ran the GL against the Gun 5, I would have run Gun 5 exclusively all day and let the hot read cancel out the overuse penalty for offense.)

If your opponent runs the GL against the other formations except the passing plays, then you need to look for plays where two things happen. The RB runs a route (important) and a WR runs a hitch (more important). What happens in this case is that the WR will complete the route before the RB can move to pass block and get hot read.

Here’s a short list:

Singleback Slot Strong TE Slot Curls

Singleback Slot Strong Skinny Posts

Singleback Normal Hitch Corner

Singleback Normal SE Quick Hit

You can also try to stick with the 203 WR Out and hope the QB reads the slant as the hot read before burying the ball in the middle of the pocket to one of the RBs.

https://ffl.myfootballnow.com/box/120