Where are you looking on the field when you are playing QB?

[takki]

What has always hurt me playing Madden is my godawful QB play. I throw non-stop interceptions and get sacked constantly, despite not being a player who scrambles outside the box like everyone does.

I have no idea what to do against man coverage or on a play where none of my players are wide open and I can't scramble (because I'm using a non-mobile QB and can't get out of the pocket to throw it away. People online have used man coverage non-stop or press blitzed me and I can't do anything. I'll eventually throw an interception at some point during the drive. I can't look at my o-line and down the field at the same time so I get sacked everytime someone sends pressure at me that I didn't predict beforehand.

I have a question to the Madden veterans on here. When you are passing, where are your eyes looking on the screen? Do you just look at the entire field as a whole every play (this is what I do but my eyes only can focus on the center of the field at the expense of not seeing what is happening with the o-line or outside recievers)? Do you check down (look at tight ends, then slots, or whatever)? Do you ever look at your o-line to see if you are being blitzed? Do you focus on the main receiver of the play (the receiver with the red route) and checkdown if they are covered?

[therealsmallville]

Where are you looking on the field when you are playing QB?

I just go through my progressions. Primary receiver and on down the line, and I glance back & forth between them and the pass rush.

Have you tried the skills trainer? I don't know if it will help you specifically on where to look, but it will help you read zones & man coverage. Hope this helps, happy gaming!


Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

[dayornite]

Re: Where are you looking on the field when you are playing QB?

I watch the safeties first. Usually gives me an idea of the coverage then I go through my reads and glance at the rush.

[ggsimmonds]

Re: Where are you looking on the field when you are playing QB?

Each pass I generally follow the same process:

1. Walking to the line I check the position of safeties, then outside corners. This alerts me to the over the top coverage and whether the middle is open (MOFO) or closed (MOFC). It also helps to know if corners are pressing.

2. Then I look at the underneath defenders and the front. Sometimes this step along with 1 will tell me if it is zone or man, more often I need more. This is more of a quick glance to look for flags (e.g. showing blitz)

3. I use the coach stick to check my matchups. If a corner is pressing my Z receiver I check the release figure, check route running, etc.

4. Pull back with coach's cam to get a good view of everything. This is the important step, and it takes practice. You are trying to decipher what defense they are in, trying to figure out everyone's assignments. Note: I haven't played 18 but this is when I would ID the Mike.

4b. Often times I can locate that one defender that spills the entire defense. You know what he is doing, you probably know what everyone else is doing. This is huge and takes a lot of time to learn. A good example is the weakside underneath defender. You want to find him and see what he is doing.

5. Do any hot routes or adjustments. In time you will learn how to use hot routes beyond cheese. Lets say you call z-spot and read zone. I'd consider putting the X receiver on a comeback route. You still got your playside zone buster, but if you are wrong you got a man beater on the backside, and due to the timing (comeback is a slow developing route), you don't have to rush. By the time your playside reads are finished, the comeback is there.

6. More of a ritual than anything else, but just before I snap the ball I take one last look at coach cam, and as I do I sit upright. THen when I release coach cam I lean forward again, the same way a QB does in shotgun. Like I said, ritual lol

After the snap,

1. Read the middle of the field, the two safeties and the LBs. This is hard for some people, but I find it is the best thing. Make sure the safeties are doing what you thought they would, e.g. if they came out in 2 deep alignment but after the snap go into a robber you have to catch that! The LBs very often give you a strong tell of what defense they are in. In general if they turn their hips to you it is man, if they stay faced up it is zone.

2. Read your key defender from 4b. This could be someone you think tells you the defense (weakside LB in a single high safety look, if he breaks for the flats its a good indicator you are looking at cover 3). Or it could be the typical hot read, where you check a guy that could be blitzing.

One and two should be enough to tell you everything you need to know.

I try not to read my receivers. Watching and waiting for your guys to get open is not a good approach. Know the play you called and where everybody is going, read where everybody is going. Look for open spots on the field, not open receivers.

Just before throwing I "peek" at my WRs, and sometimes right after the snap I peek to see if they get jammed or off the line. Other than that my eyes aren't typically on my guys.

[solmon]

Re: Where are you looking on the field when you are playing QB?

Each pass I generally follow the same process:

1. Walking to the line I check the position of safeties, then outside corners. This alerts me to the over the top coverage and whether the middle is open (MOFO) or closed (MOFC). It also helps to know if corners are pressing.

2. Then I look at the underneath defenders and the front. Sometimes this step along with 1 will tell me if it is zone or man, more often I need more. This is more of a quick glance to look for flags (e.g. showing blitz)

3. I use the coach stick to check my matchups. If a corner is pressing my Z receiver I check the release figure, check route running, etc.

4. Pull back with coach's cam to get a good view of everything. This is the important step, and it takes practice. You are trying to decipher what defense they are in, trying to figure out everyone's assignments. Note: I haven't played 18 but this is when I would ID the Mike.

4b. Often times I can locate that one defender that spills the entire defense. You know what he is doing, you probably know what everyone else is doing. This is huge and takes a lot of time to learn. A good example is the weakside underneath defender. You want to find him and see what he is doing.

5. Do any hot routes or adjustments. In time you will learn how to use hot routes beyond cheese. Lets say you call z-spot and read zone. I'd consider putting the X receiver on a comeback route. You still got your playside zone buster, but if you are wrong you got a man beater on the backside, and due to the timing (comeback is a slow developing route), you don't have to rush. By the time your playside reads are finished, the comeback is there.

6. More of a ritual than anything else, but just before I snap the ball I take one last look at coach cam, and as I do I sit upright. THen when I release coach cam I lean forward again, the same way a QB does in shotgun. Like I said, ritual lol

After the snap,

1. Read the middle of the field, the two safeties and the LBs. This is hard for some people, but I find it is the best thing. Make sure the safeties are doing what you thought they would, e.g. if they came out in 2 deep alignment but after the snap go into a robber you have to catch that! The LBs very often give you a strong tell of what defense they are in. In general if they turn their hips to you it is man, if they stay faced up it is zone.

2. Read your key defender from 4b. This could be someone you think tells you the defense (weakside LB in a single high safety look, if he breaks for the flats its a good indicator you are looking at cover 3). Or it could be the typical hot read, where you check a guy that could be blitzing.

One and two should be enough to tell you everything you need to know.

I try not to read my receivers. Watching and waiting for your guys to get open is not a good approach. Know the play you called and where everybody is going, read where everybody is going. Look for open spots on the field, not open receivers.

Just before throwing I "peek" at my WRs, and sometimes right after the snap I peek to see if they get jammed or off the line. Other than that my eyes aren't typically on my guys.

This was awesome!! Thanks.

[ggsimmonds]

Re: Where are you looking on the field when you are playing QB?

This was awesome!! Thanks.

No problem.

Something in the OP I missed and I really need to emphasize here,

"Do you ever look at your o-line to see if you are being blitzed?"

No, just no.
Never look at your oline to see if you are being blitzed.

I'd advise never looking at your line period. Read the defense, presnap and after the snap. You will take some coverage sacks, it happens. If you take too many then the solution is to get rid of the ball quicker, not line watch.

ID'ing the mike makes it even more meaningless to line watch.

[Sheba2011]

Re: Where are you looking on the field when you are playing QB?

I do a few things:

1. Before the snap I read the defense to see what kind of coverage they are in.
2. I look at the coach cam to see if my routes will exploit any weakness in the coverage I see.
3. In my head I adjust the primary receiver based on the coverage.
4. After the snap I scroll through my progressions to see who is open.

I would highly recommend the skills trainer. If you don't know how to read coverages it can be a big help with what to call and who to throw to. It will also help you to become better at watching the actual game of football.

[cheddabob7502]

Re: Where are you looking on the field when you are playing QB?

No problem.

Something in the OP I missed and I really need to emphasize here,

"Do you ever look at your o-line to see if you are being blitzed?"

No, just no.
Never look at your oline to see if you are being blitzed.

I'd advise never looking at your line period. Read the defense, presnap and after the snap. You will take some coverage sacks, it happens. If you take too many then the solution is to get rid of the ball quicker, not line watch.

ID'ing the mike makes it even more meaningless to line watch.

He is correct. Plus just knowing your routes/playbook always helps. So far the AI vs CPU in 18 has been pretty good at mixing up their coverages and its pretty refreshing to be punished for making a wrong read.

I usually like to read the Db's and trained my eyes to look at the safeties after the ball is hiked. Getting familiar of how Defense coverages work and practicing against good defenses with a horrible offense will always benefit you bc you have to learn to anticipate what their plays/blitzes are.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Operation Sports mobile app

[ggsimmonds]

Re: Where are you looking on the field when you are playing QB?

He is correct. Plus just knowing your routes/playbook always helps. So far the AI vs CPU in 18 has been pretty good at mixing up their coverages and its pretty refreshing to be punished for making a wrong read.

I usually like to read the Db's and trained my eyes to look at the safeties after the ball is hiked. Getting familiar of how Defense coverages work and practicing against good defenses with a horrible offense will always benefit you bc you have to learn to anticipate what their plays/blitzes are.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Operation Sports mobile app

I love the disguised coverages that are sprinkled in each playbook. Those will burn you for only making a prensap read then making the pass.

[cheddabob7502]

Re: Where are you looking on the field when you are playing QB?

I love the disguised coverages that are sprinkled in each playbook. Those will burn you for only making a prensap read then making the pass.

Yup my point exactly. Like I said this year I read a cover 4 and then come to find out it was a cover 2, ( I ran a PA with Dallas) threw a pick 6.

So yes the AI is better this time (playing on Sim) around. I recommend playing against a good Defense with a weak Offense. Then jump into skills trainer. It's fun and gets you ready. Hope this information helps.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Operation Sports mobile app

[ggsimmonds]

Re: Where are you looking on the field when you are playing QB?

Yup my point exactly. Like I said this year I read a cover 4 and then come to find out it was a cover 2, ( I ran a PA with Dallas) threw a pick 6.

So yes the AI is better this time (playing on Sim) around. I recommend playing against a good Defense with a weak Offense. Then jump into skills trainer. It's fun and gets you ready. Hope this information helps.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Operation Sports mobile app

I've yet to play 18, but to be perfectly honest I highly doubt the AI is better at play calls. My suspicion is that inside the situation, what exact play is called is still largely random.

That will lead to moments where it appears as if the AI outsmarted you, and a small sample size makes it more likely.

Over a larger sample size it becomes apparent that there is no strategy employed by the AI. It just randomly picks a play from a pool of plays designated for that situation.

[jsteele14]

Re: Where are you looking on the field when you are playing QB?

It depends. For example, if I am running a slant, I am focused on the LBs to see if they vacate the area. If I am throwing something deep, I am focused on the safeties. If I am throwing an out pass, I am focused on the corners to see if they are playing zone and playing underneath the receivers.

Having said all that, I still screw it up a decent amount.

[cheddabob7502]

Re: Where are you looking on the field when you are playing QB?

I've yet to play 18, but to be perfectly honest I highly doubt the AI is better at play calls. My suspicion is that inside the situation, what exact play is called is still largely random.

That will lead to moments where it appears as if the AI outsmarted you, and a small sample size makes it more likely.

Over a larger sample size it becomes apparent that there is no strategy employed by the AI. It just randomly picks a play from a pool of plays designated for that situation.

Playing only on simulation thus far is where I'm coming from. On All-Pro and so far their defense play call has been good so far. The defenses have sent blitzes and zone blitzing as well.

I played mostly online in 17 but now hearing 4min qtrs in H2H ranked match I'm going to stick to vs CPU in 18.

You won't be disappointed. You can feel the difference in the players and playing the CPU just feels better than 17. But since this isn't a review thread I'll get back on track.

Also when playing QB set your feet as well and not back pedaling. Using the right stick to move in the pocket feels better this year. Just takes practice.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Operation Sports mobile app

[jaebonez34]

Re: Where are you looking on the field when you are playing QB?

Each pass I generally follow the same process:

1. Walking to the line I check the position of safeties, then outside corners. This alerts me to the over the top coverage and whether the middle is open (MOFO) or closed (MOFC). It also helps to know if corners are pressing.

2. Then I look at the underneath defenders and the front. Sometimes this step along with 1 will tell me if it is zone or man, more often I need more. This is more of a quick glance to look for flags (e.g. showing blitz)

3. I use the coach stick to check my matchups. If a corner is pressing my Z receiver I check the release figure, check route running, etc.

4. Pull back with coach's cam to get a good view of everything. This is the important step, and it takes practice. You are trying to decipher what defense they are in, trying to figure out everyone's assignments. Note: I haven't played 18 but this is when I would ID the Mike.

4b. Often times I can locate that one defender that spills the entire defense. You know what he is doing, you probably know what everyone else is doing. This is huge and takes a lot of time to learn. A good example is the weakside underneath defender. You want to find him and see what he is doing.

5. Do any hot routes or adjustments. In time you will learn how to use hot routes beyond cheese. Lets say you call z-spot and read zone. I'd consider putting the X receiver on a comeback route. You still got your playside zone buster, but if you are wrong you got a man beater on the backside, and due to the timing (comeback is a slow developing route), you don't have to rush. By the time your playside reads are finished, the comeback is there.

6. More of a ritual than anything else, but just before I snap the ball I take one last look at coach cam, and as I do I sit upright. THen when I release coach cam I lean forward again, the same way a QB does in shotgun. Like I said, ritual lol

After the snap,

1. Read the middle of the field, the two safeties and the LBs. This is hard for some people, but I find it is the best thing. Make sure the safeties are doing what you thought they would, e.g. if they came out in 2 deep alignment but after the snap go into a robber you have to catch that! The LBs very often give you a strong tell of what defense they are in. In general if they turn their hips to you it is man, if they stay faced up it is zone.

2. Read your key defender from 4b. This could be someone you think tells you the defense (weakside LB in a single high safety look, if he breaks for the flats its a good indicator you are looking at cover 3). Or it could be the typical hot read, where you check a guy that could be blitzing.

One and two should be enough to tell you everything you need to know.

I try not to read my receivers. Watching and waiting for your guys to get open is not a good approach. Know the play you called and where everybody is going, read where everybody is going. Look for open spots on the field, not open receivers.

Just before throwing I "peek" at my WRs, and sometimes right after the snap I peek to see if they get jammed or off the line. Other than that my eyes aren't typically on my guys.

I totally agree with everything that was said here. I would like to add that once you get to the line before the snap and you recognize all of this, sometimes doing a hard count (RB/RT) will also let you know what coverage the defense is in or what the safeties are doing. Sometimes when doing so the safety will drop slightly back into coverage but be careful and not to overuse it or one of your oline will jump offsides.

[ForUntoOblivionSoar∞]

Re: Where are you looking on the field when you are playing QB?

Here's what I normally do.

Pre-snap:
1. Look to see if it's an open or closed middle (closed = 1 single high safety, open = no safety in the middle, usually cover two or four shell). If it's open, consider moving a man in motion to see what the defense does, then run him back. Don't throw deep posts into a close middle shell.

2. Look to see if it's off-coverage or press.

3. Look to see if a blitz might be coming and adjust my progression accordingly (look to throw hot).

4. Look to see if there is a "gimmie" play (if the D is in a quarters look, consider running it up the middle; closed middle with off coverage => often a deep out is available, and it's a safe play because you can thrown near the sideline and low).

Post-snap:
Middle is closed:
1. If the safety stays in the middle, I know instantly it's almost certainly either cover 1 or cover 3, or some variant.
2. Look at the linebackers right under to see if it's man or zone underneath.
3. If it's man, timing routes will work usually well. If it's zone, I tend to look for deep ins, crossing routes, and flood or smash concepts.
Middle is open:
1. If the safeties split further, it's probably cover 2. If they go more straight back, probably cover 4. If one of them comes forward, it's a robber coverage and some variant of cover 3 or cover 1. If one goes forward and toward the sideline it's a variant of cover 3 or cover 1.
2. If the middle linebacker hurries backwards, it's Tampa 2. If he runs right or left it's probably man coverage (but note: this may not be true in under/over fronts).
3. If it's cover 2, I look toward the deep middle or to smash concepts (whichever the cb doesn't cover is where I throw- will depend on type of cover 2. Usually the hitch is good for 7 or 8 yards). If it's cover 4, the box under the MLB is usually going to be open, and possibly the flats. Leaking running backs work well. If it's a disguised cover 3 or cover 1, refer to the closed middle section.


That's the gist of what I do. Also depends on specific coverage and play call, but essentially that's my checklist.