Basic Defensive Strategies In Madden NFL 20

[Executor]

Quote: Originally Posted by 4thQtrStre5S

I love COver 6. That and Cover 1 Robber with shade inside and overtop.

Shouldn't cover 1 robber be shaded outside and overtop, since you already help inside with robber defender? Or am I misunderstanding the concept? Thanks.

[steve115658]

Quote: Originally Posted by Executor

Shouldn't cover 1 robber be shaded outside and overtop, since you already help inside with robber defender? Or am I misunderstanding the concept? Thanks.

Both definitely have their merits but i shade outside when running cover 1 and user the robber but if i am bringing pressure ill shade inside to force the opponent to throw outside the numbers or hold the ball too long.

Another wrinkle I really like is to run a cover 3 zone blitz with my nickel corner and a lb blitzing but then hot route the nickel to man the opponents biggest strong side threat

[4thQtrStre5S]

Quote: Originally Posted by Executor

Shouldn't cover 1 robber be shaded outside and overtop, since you already help inside with robber defender? Or am I misunderstanding the concept? Thanks.

I shade inside so the DB will hold up the receiver on drags and slants. Anything that slows the timing down on passes and gives the pass rush an extra step towards the QB is where I focus my defense.

Generally, yes you would shade outside and force the receiver inside where the help is located.

[steve115658]

Quote: Originally Posted by Executor

Shouldn't cover 1 robber be shaded outside and overtop, since you already help inside with robber defender? Or am I misunderstanding the concept? Thanks.

Both definitely have their merits but i shade outside when running cover 1 and user the robber but if i am bringing pressure ill shade inside to force the opponent to throw outside the numbers or hold the ball too long.

Another wrinkle I really like is to run a cover 3 zone blitz with my nickel corner and a lb blitzing but then hot route the nickel to man the opponents biggest strong side threat

[edgevoice]

Quote: Originally Posted by Executor

Shouldn't cover 1 robber be shaded outside and overtop, since you already help inside with robber defender? Or am I misunderstanding the concept? Thanks.

Most teams running cover 1 robber or hole have their corners shading outside and over-the-top, since as you pointed out, there is a zone defender in the middle to give help. However, in Madden, shading over-the-top is exaggerated. Having said that, I will press and shade over-the-top when I zero blitz.

I almost always shade inside and underneath when I have help with 2 deep safeties. When I have a rat defender zoning inside, I shade outside and underneath. That way, with only 1 deep safety, I won't get toasted on an outside release go route. Gotta do what works for you.

[Aestis]

C1 isn't necessarily a blanket outside shade. WRs near the boundary you'll often see inside leverage to use the sideline and lack of space there against them.

[CM Hooe]

Quote: Originally Posted by AndreSwagassi86

I’ve been mostly running Man Coverage , because I use Denver and I’ve been enjoying it. But when I do play zone I’ve learned playing the sticks in zone keeps AI defenders locked to play art so there isn’t very many instances of complete broken coverage

Just to add some explainer for the mechanic in play here:

Making a "sticks" call in Madden will make underneath defenders abandon their pattern-match rules (which are present in most of the in-game zone coverages now). Instead of match, defenders will instead play spot drop zones as indicated in the play art, getting depth to the first down line to gain.

[Executor]

Quote: Originally Posted by CM Hooe

Just to add some explainer for the mechanic in play here: Making a "sticks" call in Madden will make underneath defenders abandon their pattern-match rules (which are present in most of the in-game zone coverages now). Instead of match, defenders will instead play spot drop zones as indicated in the play art, getting depth to the first down line to gain.

What is actually a pattern-match?