I understand everybody has some defensive struggles in this game… we all do, I’ve been running the same defense since Madden 20 with mostly success. I believe this is the most consistent and versatile defense, and that’s a hill I’m willing to die on. With the addition of shell coverages I believe it becomes stronger, and is better than other coverages due to the increased amount of motion this year. Here goes it
Nickel Over or 2-4-5
Cover 3 Sky (90%)
Tampa 2 (If they come out in empty or have double slot receivers)
This defense heavily relies on adjustments pre snap. One of the best hacks I have found is to shade my secondary underneath AND ask them to play the sticks. This typically causes them to play about 5 yards of depth but they cover both flats and most corner routes. The other adjustments include pass committing, as it gives a boost to the pass rush get off, as well as containing speedier QBs. You will get burnt a couple times and then you adjust accordingly, often if someone is running the same play I’ll man up a corner or LB on a receiver I can’t guard and user the rest of the play. That’s my main advice for cover 3
As for Tampa 2, use this sparingly if your opponent attacks the seams and not much of the outside as they will audible to a corner route if they see two high safeties (recommend shell coverage 3 to bait) I typically user the strong side slot corner in the vert hook and let my mid read handle itself, if you get burnt deep on posts then manually switch the mid read to a deep third pre snap. Tampa 2 will get torn up by run plays and scramblers so be aware.
Run defense…. What is consistently inconsistent…. my 3 tips for this are adjusting and shifting the line to match your opponents play if you can anticipate it, show blitz on DBs to bait pass audibles and get more bodies near the line, and make great use of your right stick and attacking lineman. Simply moving the stick towards the ball carrier when engaging with a lineman will occasionally grant a block shed, and pressing down on the right stick after the play starts tell the rest of the defense to push the line. On QB scrambles, you can push the right stick to get a DB it drop out of coverage to rush.
I realize this is a long and lengthy post… and for many is probably relatively basic but I figured I’d try and help those that I can, if I ever get the time, I’ll add the controller mappings for the adjustments. Hope this helps and Happy Thanksgiving!!!!
