Defensive strategies.

[Gagnon39]

I didn't see a post like this when I searched but if one already exists please just point me in the right direction. I've been playing Madden 25 since I got it on release day and while I'm enjoying it there are moments of sheer frustration for me as well. However, I'm willing to admit that part of my frustration is probably not because of the game itself but rather poor play calling and/or poor defensive play by me. I'd like to use this thread to discuss defensive strategies and tips and get some good advice from some of you Madden vets.

The main issue I have on a regular basis is trying to stop short, 5-10 yard passes over the middle on slant routes. I almost always play as a linebacker (I'm the Bears and I usually use Lance Briggs). I play my position, whether it's zone or man, as best I can but often times I still give up passes over the middle.

When I do switch to a lineman to try and put pressure on the quarterback often times slant routes are wide open and there seems to be little I can do to stop them.

What's the best defensive scheme to stop slant routes? I run a 4-3 with the Bears and while I do go cover-2 fairly often I usually try to drop my linebackers into zones to prevent passes over the middle.

[Mdnghtmgcn1]

Re: Defensive strategies.

I like to drop the DT2 back into a hook zone as long as the three other linemen are rushing the pass. Obviously this only seems to work if the QB waits until the WR reaches the middle of the field before the ball is thrown and the DT2 is somewhat athletic with decent awareness. This seems to work well on any play when you notice your opponent keeps targeting a WR or TE right across the middle...it makes the QB hold the ball that much longer. If it's late in the game and your opponent is looking for big chunks of yardage, instead of sending that DT2 into a hook zone, I'll put him in a deep blue zone so he helps in coverage where it's obviously needed most.

[mp5o]

Re: Defensive strategies.

I like to drop the DT2 back into a hook zone as long as the three other linemen are rushing the pass. Obviously this only seems to work if the QB waits until the WR reaches the middle of the field before the ball is thrown and the DT2 is somewhat athletic with decent awareness. This seems to work well on any play when you notice your opponent keeps targeting a WR or TE right across the middle...it makes the QB hold the ball that much longer. If it's late in the game and your opponent is looking for big chunks of yardage, instead of sending that DT2 into a hook zone, I'll put him in a deep blue zone so he helps in coverage where it's obviously needed most.

Did I read this right? You have your defensive tackle drop back 15 yards from the LOS?

[The JareBear]

Re: Defensive strategies.

Defensive hot routes are pretty much your only hope. This game is a step in the right direction but there are still some pretty "nearly unstoppable 'strategies'" offensively that just are almost impossible to deal with with default plays

I dont like doing crazy stuff like putting DTs into zones on a regular basis but moving flat zones into hooks or purples, that kinda stuff, showing blitz on cover 4,

[Gagnon39]

Re: Defensive strategies.

Just about the only way I've found to successfully stop the pass is by using quarters defense. I actually get a decent amount of coverage sacks when I do this.

[Gagnon39]

Re: Defensive strategies.

Another strategy I'd love to get help with is blocking punts and field goals. Has anyone found any particular method that has garnered any success? Should we just try and bust through the middle with a linebacker and jump and knock it down or rush from the outside with speed? I have not come remotely close to blocking one yet.

[4thQtrStre5S]

Re: Defensive strategies.

I like zone defenses, and M25 NG has made zone play much better...Very basically, when I have a question on how to do something on offense or defense I first search YouTube; generally I just type in something like, "Madden 25 how to stop slants." and usually find information....

I'll pass along something I picked up from Zfarls & Sgibs, who are avid players and promoters of madden information. Using the 2 Man Under defense, doesn't matter 4-3, 3-4. nickle, dime; put 2 defenders into QB spy, this by their calculations will defend the slant successfully about 60% of the time; or you can put 2 defenders into QB spy and 2 defenders into purple zones(one on each side of the field of course); this technique is said to defend about 80% of slant plays successfully. (I do not run these plays currently so I am not sure which defenders to put into QB spies, but I would try 2 outside defenders at the LB level...)

Something I like to do is play Cover 2, from any formation, and manually move the 3 players in Yellow zones (hook zones). I move the 2 outside players further outside so that they are centered between the hash marks and the sideline, and then move the middle player, dead center between the hash marks...

Moving the outside hook zone players further outside helps most effectively, for me, in stopping outside runs as your outside defenders are in a better position to avoid being blocked at the edges of the line. Inside runs are not as effective, generally, as outside runs, IMO, and therefore selling out to stop the outside is not as big a sacrifice; having some defenders set more outside at the pre-snap makes it easy to have them in position to defend outside passes.

[4thQtrStre5S]

Re: Defensive strategies.

Also, when trying to come up with ways to defend plays in practice mode the base common plays to use are 2 Man Under, Cover 2, Cover 3 and Cover 4...This also goes for picking a defense for practicing against with offensive plays..

Start out small and build up..Pick one type of coverage or two and then come up with variations from those; get it to you liking and then add another. Try adding purple zones, blitzes and mixing M2M and zone...

What happens when you learn to build a bunch of variations from one base play is, you can hide better what you are doing so the offense doesn't get tipped off. (of course this is more for playing against a live person, but is also good practice against the CPU.)

One of the things I like to do is come out in a Cover 0 type defense, which includes all or the majority of blitz plays, and then select the "LB adjust" option, (Right Button/R1) and selecting "All Zone" for my LB's and then select (Y/triangle) and use (left stick) to "base align" the defense.(you need to do the base align twice). After selecting "base align" twice in a row, the LB's new zones will be evenly dispersed across the field, giving a good horizontal coverage..What I end up with is M2M coverage mixed with zone...A little something to mix it up and avoid selling out to zones or M2M.

People on offense do like to mix in pass routes that involves zone and m2m beating routes, so running a defense that has a mix of zones and M2M should add a little extra ability, in theory. It is still a video game with logic flaws.

[dghustla]

Re: Defensive strategies.

Did I read this right? You have your defensive tackle drop back 15 yards from the LOS?

One of My biggest grip is this right here. There is a guy in one of my CFM league who uses this "technique" where basically the DT is used as a Nickle CB. I don't mind the DT dropping into a hook zone or a DE dropping into a flat or buzz zone. you see that alot in real life. But dropping your DT in deep blue or man coverage is str8 up cheese. The worst part is that when the DT is in pass coverage he mirrors the RB/TE like a DB. Which shows how ratings don't matter once the player enters a Coverage Script Scenario.

This is cheese on so many level, any DT running 15 yards down field will come out the very next play. Let alone based on the average DT speed in the nFL they would never be able to make a play that far down field in time. How could that player not trip as he runs across the formation and the other lineman?

But what makes this an exploit is because if you wanted more cover guys on the field you should be running a nickle, dime, 3-2-6 or 3-4. but running pure coverage from those formations could make you suspect against the run.

When i come across users doing that, i simply audible my play and it resets their defense.

-------------------
to the OPs topic. Stopping the slants is tough. I wish I knew how to throw them as effective as some of these other players because i get killed at times. I just try to flood the area. run cover 2 stink. Stop another safety down.

If i am playing a user who is only attacking one area of the field. I will call 2 man under. And audible my safeties to a hook zone or buzz zone. This will look like stock 2 man under at the snap but the safeties should fill right in the area with the slant usually gets open.

[Mdnghtmgcn1]

Re: Defensive strategies.

I only drop that DT back when my opponent is in obvious passing situations, and the majority of the time it is only into a hook zone which isn't a 15 yard drop back. The only time I will ever drop a DT back into a deep blue zone is if my opponent is desperate for big chunks of yardage and have a tendency to target the mid to deep range middle of the field. If you don't like it, simply adjust to it. Honestly people do a lot worse, much more unrealistic things in this game...if what I do in a video game ruins another gamer's day or causes them to write a large paragraph about how much "cheesing" it is, I feel bad for them.

[The JareBear]

Re: Defensive strategies.

What is the best way to stop HB screen? I swear, against a user or CPU it doesnt matter, unless I read screen and manually play it perfectly in order to stop it (If I am a step late I get blocked and it doesnst matter) my CPU controlled players will never, ever react to screen until the HB already has caught the ball and is moving upfield. It doesnt matter what play I call. Its so money that, like I said, I have to look for it every single play with my user LB which can leave me wide open to be exploited on deep or crossing routes since I am only looking at the HB for the first 2 seconds of each play. Just seems unrealistically effective. Is there something I can hot route my second DT to that will stop screen each time? I hate sacrificing pass rush or run lane stuffing but I cannot stand playing really well on defense only to be burned by a play that requires no strategy or skill to run.

[EarvGotti]

Re: Defensive strategies.

I love playing defense, its a chess match. A few weeks ago i was ranked in the top 100 on the ps4(#66), but not anymore since i havent played Madden in weeks.

First of all to stop screens its best to put your DE in a QB contain. Make sure you do it on the side the screen is going to. Take mental notes and recognize which formations they throw the screen from. One guy tried screens against me and i put cameron wake in a contain and BAM he snatched the pass for a pick six, game over.

I will say this, defense is ALL about adjustments. Throughout the game you should always be taking mental notes and adjust adjust adjust. You shouldnt stay in stock defenses all game unless your opponent is a noob.

I've noticed the biggest challenge most ppl have is that they dont know what stops what. Thats the most important part. You have to get in the lab and learn how to stop certain things before you can have success in real games. Knowledge is power.

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[EarvGotti]

Re: Defensive strategies.

Also to piggyback off of my last post, dont think these guys in the top 100 are some super skilled madden players. I've beat many of them and surprisingly won quite easily and i just started playing Madden in Madden 12 so im no vet.

These guys do one of two things:
1) they glitch their way to wins by ip booting etc
2) they abuse one tactic because many ppl dont know how to stop it. If you can learn what stops what, then half the battle is already won.

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[The JareBear]

Re: Defensive strategies.

Wait, a purple zone will stop slants?

[EarvGotti]

Re: Defensive strategies.

Purples can stop slants depending on where they are positioned. For ex you can run a 4-3 stack and purple the two outside LBs.

But the better way to stop slants is to shade your corners inside. This gives them inside position on the route....and you can just user the LB to watch slants by the TE.

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