After research from some top Madden Youtubers, here is what I found out about zone coverage....

Simple and to the the point things I've come across that are new this year (makes zero sense for EA to change this stuff. More coding for them and unnecessary...and honestly feels like every year we have to learn a library of new things to make the game play right)

1. Curl-Flats don't listen to zone drops  ubeer 10 yards unless you shade up before play has started. Example: if you want a zone drop to play at 0 or 5, you must shade up for them to play at that depth.

2.  Quarter-Flats play their zone drops as told in the pre-play coaching settings.

3. You cannot press a cloud flat even if zone drops are set to the 30 yards as they're too slow to drop back. Although this was known from previous Maddens. Instead. If you want to press a blue-flat zone a zone drop set, use a Hard Flat as they will run and get back. Yes, even when set to 30 yards. 

More coverage issues:

1.  If you have your settings on base-aligned and press your corners, the "back-off CB feature" does not work.

2. Inability to Base Align or Unbase-Align, or Man-Align in quick adjustments pre-play. 

I'll add more as I go. Wow. What did they do to this game?

Shoutout to Huddle GG and Zan Madden. Not sure how you guys figure this stuff out. What a mess.

I've been saying this all along in M25 as I continue to try to transition from the old gen version of the game (with superior game play but a dying auction house and limited shelf life) to the current gen version of the game (with inferior gameplay... but superior graphics and new features).  

EA continues to evolve the game to support offense in favor of defense.  I am firmly convinced that they are doing this to make the game more accessible to new players and casuals but in doing so they removed a lot of the skill gap on defense.  Usering is much more challenging (unless you can master the new switch stick mechanic)... and they have removed essential tools like you have mentioned above.

It is what it is.  For those denying this... just watch top streamers who play this game for a living.  I watch Dubby... Mayz... KMac... and Gutfoxx a lot and all of them struggle on defense.  How many games do we have to see that end with both players scoring over 40 or even 50 points... where the outcome simply depends on one player making a mistake or getting the short end of a diceroll?

Ducati0307 said:

I've been saying this all along in M25 as I continue to try to transition from the old gen version of the game (with superior game play but a dying auction house and limited shelf life) to the current gen version of the game (with inferior gameplay... but superior graphics and new features).  

EA continues to evolve the game to support offense in favor of defense.  I am firmly convinced that they are doing this to make the game more accessible to new players and casuals but in doing so they removed a lot of the skill gap on defense.  Usering is much more challenging (unless you can master the new switch stick mechanic)... and they have removed essential tools like you have mentioned above.

It is what it is.  For those denying this... just watch top streamers who play this game for a living.  I watch Dubby... Mayz... KMac... and Gutfoxx a lot and all of them struggle on defense.  How many games do we have to see that end with both players scoring over 40 or even 50 points... where the outcome simply depends on one player making a mistake or getting the short end of a diceroll?

So would you perfer KOs all over the field like last madden where you couldn't even complete a pass.

Dante88 said:

So would you perfer KOs all over the field like last madden where you couldn't even complete a pass.

Not a legit comparison since that’s the opposite end of the spectrum. 
 

Maybe EA could actually balance things for once, instead of skewing things to the extremes.

domblaze said:

Not a legit comparison since that’s the opposite end of the spectrum. 
 

Maybe EA could actually balance things for once, instead of skewing things to the extremes.

And I been playing madden since MUT 14 and not once has that ever happened

Dante88 said:

And I been playing madden since MUT 14 and not once has that ever happened

Same, it’s annoying. Think the worst part is when the community reaches a breaking point with it and EA flips the switch to the other extreme, then pats themselves on the back saying, “See, we listened!”

I find it interesting and kind of ironic how Tampa 2 and basically any cover 2 at this point (maybe not hard flats) will play against four verts basically better than any cover 3 or even cover 4 match will, at least in terms of stock coverage...the cloud flats will match up if they go deep etc, actually plays those situations pretty smart.. the deep middle of Tampa 2 is potentially vulnerable if the QB has enough time but we got switch stick to get there, or can send the MLB to a middle third to prevent it, or user the MLB etc...

Dante88 said:

So would you perfer KOs all over the field like last madden where you couldn't even complete a pass.

I think the game should be balanced appropriately... and my preference would be that there is a skill gap that new / casual players have to accept and deal with.  Little Timmy shouldn't be able to get the game for Christmas and by New Year's be putting up 40 points on experienced opponents.

I know EA's mindset... so we will never get there.  Their approach seems to be... "By the time that everyone has eight psychic DBs on the field with knockouts everywhere... the offense will just be running the ball every play with glowing HBs and eight Vanguards. Then they'll have to go out and buy defenders who all have Run Stopper and Tackle Supreme instead of Knockouts".  

EA wants players to always be chasing the most OP abilities (almost always on expensive LTDs)... and turning those over frequently.  It's part of the hamster wheel we've all signed up for in playing this silly game.

Thanks for the tip this helps a lot.

hulksmashr2 said:

Thanks for the tip this helps a lot.

No problem. 

Here are the videos

Huddle GG https://youtu.be/rgucjGTL2eA?si=xPxgQI0Q5FjKX5bi

Zan (Zan Madden)

https://youtu.be/ridYafk8q1Q?si=UhOkPLFeoK2GWSE-

Dante88 said:

So would you perfer KOs all over the field like last madden where you couldn't even complete a pass.

I mean...if I put a cloud in a certain zone drop I think he should play it. 

I have two clips from today where my CB was in a deeper cloud zone drop and glitches completely out. 

Ill upload them shortly. Crazy. Opponent was bagged but CB glitched out.

Almost lost this game because my CB glitched out.  I have him set much deeper Left side of screen. He actually drops back and then decifes to glitch and leave his zone. Look at my other outside CB. He plays correctly. Wild.  https://www.xbox.com/play/media/qrKLHXdt5f

Here is another, watch the right side of screen:

https://www.xbox.com/play/media/3tzbDGKwtm

Both are cloud-flats. 2nd one was set to 30 yards. 1st one was set to 25 yards. 

New to me. I just want my defenders to drop where I tell them. Crazy.

Guess ill start inverting coverage.  CB plays deep half, safety plays curl-flat, slot and LB are in Hards?

KOs don't just cause Knockouts, but help with defenders reactions as well (in the coding of the ability)

90 Zone, seems to be a thing this year again. I have noticed massive improvement with my players hitting that threshold.

well said for all of us sir

Defense is brutally hard this year because man coverage honestly gets cooked too. EA is incapable of balancing things out and either makes offense impossible or impossible to stop.