Effectiveness of Defense?

[Canon reeves]

I've always taken it as would it be better to score 10 points or block 15? If a team is smart about their driving and their robot can preform, than they can be super effective. There is only one ball per alliance so One defensive robot can stop an entire cycle and alliance! Defense is more useful in this game more so than any other game in FRC history in my opinion. I think a lot of people underestimate the power of a good defensive team! I'm kind of iffy on the goalie bot just because they can be counter defended so easily, but I'm sure they will have some effectiveness. But I believe an aggressive defense bot would be more successful because they can really stop a shoot before they even have the chance to shoot, and if they have an extension they can block shots right up on the shooter. just my opinion, probably wrong in a few places, so I'd love to hear from other people on the subject as well!

[Akolbi]

I believe that the goalie bot idea is one that was put in to appear tantalizing, but i don't think that it would be very effective at all. you are so pigeonholed into your role as a goalie, you're better off being an offensive bot first, and pulling to defense if you need to.

[notmattlythgoe]

I think the key to playing defense this year is going to be disrupting the opponents while you are not doing anything offensively. The trick is not to get so pulled into defense that you lose track of what your team is doing offensively. Field coaches are going to need to be very high level thinkers this year and not get sucked into what their robot is doing.