This helped. Coverage isn't as lockdown anymore, thanks, I couldn't nail the control of that quite right until your suggestion.
However it isn't perfect. More testing has made me realize the true problem. I'm having trouble creating contested catches. Even playing with an elite like AJ Green, I can't make him jump for the ball, or reach over the DB like he does so much in reality. No corner endzone fades or sideline mossing. I know Madden has limitations and I'm not sure if it ever had much of this, but this would be a feature I would love.