Quote:
Originally Posted by Aidan S.
Well, this isn't an example from Ultimate Ascent, but it shows how effective defense can shut down the best teams in FRC:
In 2011, 1114 had one of the most effective scoring machines in the world. 1114 is also known for not only having incredible robots perennially, but also for having some of the best drivers in FIRST, every season. They are usually an unstoppable force on the field, but here in the semi-finals of the Galileo Division that year, team 469 was able to play incredibly effective defense and shut down one best tube scorers in all of FIRST.
Watch this video from 1:10 onwards: http://vimeo.com/24048339
As 1114 goes is returning from their feeder slot with a white tube, 469 decided to stick to their side, enforcing the best positional defense I have ever seen. 469 was the top scorer on that alliance, but elected to play defense as part of our strategy. This is how effective the defense was: after 1:10, 1114 was not able to cross the field to their rack. 469 did not let them out of their sights. Both team had outstanding drivers, but 469 was able to play defense not where 1114 was at that second, but cover where they were going to be, essentially corralling and trapping the robot on the far side of the field. The defense played by 469 is what won the match and the series.
The best drivers in FRC can be shut down by the best defense. I can see this type of defense being very effective against cycling robots this year at champs, given the huge open mid-field territory, where defensive robots can screen cyclers on their way to their shooting spot. I would not be surprised if mid-field positional defense is the deciding factor in more than one elimination match at champs this year. |
That is some prime defense footage. Thank you for that.
Defense will be important at high levels, no doubt. On Einstein, though, the type of defense that will be most valuable is the fast, maneuverable defense similar to what 16 performed on Einstein last year. If you choose to play defense against the top-notch cyclers that will no doubt end up on Einstein, you have to be fast enough to keep up with those bots and actually be effective in preventing them from scoring. It can't be the 10 second "I'm going to bother you" defense, it has to keep up with the cyclers all over the field or make effective use of the pyramid-wall zones.
The golden bot, as usual, will be the ones that can cycle consistently and quickly, but are also pushy. These bots will be able to push opposing bots to play defense WHILE they are cycling. Personally that type of defense-offense combination from cyclers are what I think will win Einstein.
FCS... Not sure if we'll see any end up on Einstein.