The Basics of Reading a Defense in Madden NFL 12

[RaychelSnr]

One of the most important aspects of football in general is being able to read the defense. As a quarterback, it is your responsibility to know the type of defense and recognize the coverage packages it might be employing. This also holds true in Madden and NCAA 12.

The very first thing we should all know is the basic defensive formation you are up against. In most cases it will be the 4-3 or the 3-4. There are some occasions when this will change, such as a 3rd-and-long situation or when you are trying to keep every play in front of you at all costs.

More defensive reading tips after the jump!!

Read More -- The Basics of Reading a Defense in Madden NFL 12

[jmik58]

One of the best ways to improve the experience of playing these games (especially on offense) is to learn the game and how to read defenses pre and post snap. I think it may be better if these "guides" were released in a more specific format because it's never as simple or as basic as a one or two sentence blurb will allow.

I commend you for taking a step to improve the knowledge base of the average gamer out there. While there are a few poins I disagree with you on regarding weaknesses, etc. of each defense and in the keys to reading the coverages, I do like that OS is enhancing the experience by incorporating articles such as this.

While I'm not out to step on toes, I would definitely be willing to contribute to similar articles. I'm no expert but I do have coaching experience and love sharing how knowledge of the real-world game can translate into improved performance when playing the virtual representation.

I like where this is headed and I'd love to help moving forward if there is a need.

[scoonie05]

Re: The Basics of Reading a Defense in Madden NFL 12

Nice!! Keep it coming

[AgustusM]

Cover 1 is not a Zone defense - it is man free. that is man to man across the board with 1 player (typically, but not always) the Free Safety playing the middle to well, be the safety against big plays. Most man to man is cover 1.

Also worth noting that "true" cover 2 is 2 deep zone with 5 zones underneath, but you can also get a 2 Man look which is man across and 2 safeties or "Tampa 2" - which is really cover 3 stat starts out looking like 2 but the Mike back drops to deep middle and gives you 3 deep and 4 underneath.

[ggsimmonds]

A word of caution to the reader should be given in this article though. There are variations of each defense type presented here. For example the author suggests that the flats are successful against a Cover-3 but there is a variation rightly called Cover-3 Flats that could come as a nasty surprise to the novice.

[truintellectplaya]

Meh, I always read the safety it is that simple.

[PVarck31]

Re: The Basics of Reading a Defense in Madden NFL 12

Thanks for reading guys. I know Cover 1 is technically a man coverage. I used it to point out that the safety would be covering a deep zone, and to let people know the deep part of the field would be easier to hit.

I do understand there are a ton of variations to these coverage's. This article was just to show the very basic shells of them without variations taken into account. If we went there, this would read like a NFL playbook. No one has time for that.

[Ryn Vintage1986]

This helps offline, but online it's kind of useless. Not that the writer didn't do well, but there's no read for a nano blitz with waggly linebackers.
In other words, this would be helpful if there was a a videogame out that played like real football.

[truintellectplaya]

This helps offline, but online it's kind of useless. Not that the writer didn't do well, but there's no read for a nano blitz with waggly linebackers.
In other words, this would be helpful if there was a a videogame out that played like real football.

Co-sign this to the fullest.

[ggsimmonds]

Re: The Basics of Reading a Defense in Madden NFL 12

This helps offline, but online it's kind of useless. Not that the writer didn't do well, but there's no read for a nano blitz with waggly linebackers.
In other words, this would be helpful if there was a a videogame out that played like real football.

While what you say is true, EA did add online communities this year for this very reason. Join a community where it is not a contest to see who is better at exploiting the AI.

[TNT713]

Great article for two reasons. First it is focused on making the player aware of his responsibility to read coverages, second it gives them a decent starting point to develop sharper skills.

More than any game on the market, playing Madden requires long term thinking. You can't become adequately prepared to fight the world in a year. It takes several years to better understand the football being played, understand the options, and map them to instinctive muscle memory. Fortunately the CPU will maintain control for practically all of the duties.

Thanks for helping to lay a groundwork for the rookies to build their own system of reads...

Later

[elementz09]

Question: Which safety is on what side? When playing madden or ncaa, looking at the defense is the FS on the left or right?

[deadly738]

Re: The Basics of Reading a Defense in Madden NFL 12

Question: Which safety is on what side? When playing madden or ncaa, looking at the defense is the FS on the left or right?

When facing the Defense from the Offensive Side, the FS is usually to the left.

[Jadakiss88]

It's more basics to reading a defense one easy thing to do after the snap is to watch the safeties and the drop your eyes to the linebackers (it takes time to perfect I know). But it's best to get a playbook learn everything about it and figure out a game plan. The offense can dictate the defense more than some think you just have to be willing to put in the time to understand your playbook, what it allows you to do, your players, what your players strengths are and what your opponent can and can't stop.

[Big FN Deal]

Re: The Basics of Reading a Defense in Madden NFL 12

Nice write-up but is reading the defense necessary in Madden?

I usually watch the safeties when determining if I should go deep on a pass but I think I do this because I try to play realistic. However, if I just wanted to come out throwing deep all game without considering what the defense is doing, I think it would still work.

I would love for reading the defense and anticipating the offense to be a requirement for success in Madden instead of a bonus.