Every year, Madden tries to make its gameplay more and more immersive.
One of the biggest strides in recent years has been the ability to adjust your
plays on both offense and defense whilst in pre snap.
They have been a part of Madden as early as 2015, but with each year they get more complex and become more important to the game. Whether you’re a franchise player or a MUT grinder, you will need to know what they do to achieve your best play.
Pre snap adjustments are one of the key elements that elevate players from the casual to successful. Some players do hundreds of adjustments before each and every snap, this is a continual learning process through every game.
Below we have explored all the Defensive Adjustments you can make. When you are in the game, have selected a play, you will see your
players at the line of scrimmage. Pressing the Right Stick (RS) in will bring
up the following option;
Audible – RS in then X/Square
After you have chosen a play, you may wish to
change your mind or see something in the offense you want to prevent. Maybe you
they have sent a receiver in motion, or you realise you have picked something
incorrectly but don’t want to use a timeout.
The X/Square button will open up some options to
change the play to a small selection of other plays. This usually includes
at least 1 blitz, 1 standard man cover, 1 standard zone cover and 1 deep pass preventing
defense.
You can cycle through different sub formations
using right and left on the D-pad but these will be limited. Once you get the
hang of this, you can actually pre-set what you want these to be.
Position Adjustments – RS in then the relative positional button
Remember, these adjustments change a whole group of
players, but you can’t be a great player without taking the time to learn the
below. Be
particularly careful with the guessing plays – which we have spoken about before.
Defensive Keys (All Defenders) – LB/L1
Guess Pass - Press RS Up. This overrides any
play recognition stats looking for a run – all players will play the pass. High
risk, high reward.
Guess Run to Side - Press RS Left/Right
(depending on guess). This overrides any play recognition stats looking
for a pass or run down the middle – all players will play the run on the side
you guess. Very high risk, very high reward.
Guess Run up Middle - Press RS Down. This overrides any
play recognition stats looking for a pass or run to the outside – all players
will play crash the middle of the OL line. Very very high risk, very very high
reward.
Option QB - Press A/X. or Option RB - Press X/Square. This sets up a defense to prevent
option runs and predicts in advance which player to focus on in the eventuality.
QB Contain - Press RB/R1. This
sends the outside rushers further wide; it reduces their chances of getting a
sack but increases the prevention of a QB scrambling out for rushing yards. A
must against the likes of Lamar Jackson.
Secondary – Y/Triangle
Give Cushion - Press LS Up. This moves the
secondary (Cornerbacks and Safeties) further away from the line of scrimmage.
It allows for gains underneath but makes deep passes harder.
Show Blitz - Press LS Left. This makes the secondary
move to the line of scrimmage as is if they are blitzing. The key word is “show”.
This isnt an actual blitz play.
Base Align - Press LS Right. This moves the
players to a base position for the defense, which ignores what the offense has
done. It can be used to confuse the opposition.
Press - Press LS Down. This makes the secondary
move closer to the receivers before the snap. This makes shorter passes harder,
but opens them up over the top if they have a very quick WR.
Individual - Press A/X. This
allows you to do all of the above but towards a specific receiver. You can guess
a side to shade – which means to guess where the ball will be thrown to.
Quick Adjust - Press Y/Triangle. This is a quick way of doing an individual adjustment. There are as many as
this list to choose from.
Overtop - Press RS Up. This is similar to
the Give Cushion option but rather than move, the secondary just predicts that’s
where the ball will go and plays to that effect.
Outside - Press RS Right. This makes the
secondary plan for an outside pass.
Inside - Press RS Left/. This makes the
secondary plan for an inside pass.
Underneath - Press RS Down. This makes the
secondary plan for a short pass like a slant or drag route.
Sticks - Press LB/L1. This
makes the secondary give some cushion but protect the first down marker. They
will allow things shorter than 10 yards but then hold their coverage there.
Man Align - Press RB/R1. This
is the opposite of base align, even in Zone the secondary will stand opposite
their man. Sometimes good for hiding zone coverage.
READ MORE: Best bargain MUT players to target on Madden 20
Defensive Line – Left D Pad
Spread - Press LS Up. This
makes the defensive line spread out, thus making them better at rushing the passer
wide, but can leave them open for a run up the middle.
Shift Line Left/Right - Press LS Left/Right
(depending on choice). This moves the DL either way, if guessing this can
counter the equivalent shift on OL.
Pinch - Press LS Down. This makes the DL tighter for a run up the middle. But a run or pass to the
outside can cause problems.
Quick Adjust - Press Left Dpad. This is a quick way
to individual adjustments for the DL.
Slant Outside - Press RS Up. This
makes the DL aim their rush around the outsides of the OL.
Slant Left/Right - Press RS Left/Right
(depending on choice). This makes the DL aim their rush to the side of the
OL you choose.
Slant Inside - Press RS Down. This makes the DL aim their through the middle of the OL.
Linebackers – Right D Pad
Spread - Press LS Up. This
makes the defensive line spread out, thus making them better at rushing the passer
wide, but can leave them open for a run up the middle.
Shift Line Left/Right - Press LS Left/Right
(depending on choice). This moves the DL either way, if guessing this can
counter the equivalent shift on OL.
Pinch - Press LS Down. This makes the LB tighter for a run up the middle. But a run or pass to the
outside can cause problems.
Quick Adjust - Press Left Dpad. This is a quick way
to individual adjustments for the LB.
Zone All - Press RS Up. All
LBs change to being in Zone defense.
LOLB/ROLB Blitz - Press RS Left/Right
(depending on choice). Depending on choice, an OLB will become a blitzer
Blitz All - Press RS Down. All LBs will blitz the QB. Another high risk, high reward play.
READ MORE: Best Playbooks in Madden 20
Individual Adjustment – RS in then A/X
When you want to make an individual adjustment, you need to be selecting
that player when pressing these buttons. Depending on your players position it
will give different options that will be very similar to those above.
One of the most key is Man Coverage (RS up and select the receiver
you want to cover), and this will allow you to double team if the
opposition is heavily relying on one player.
Also, for those that run the QB a lot, QB Spy (RS left) is a huge
advantage. Once the play is running, press in RS again and that player will
start his pursuit. Remember to wait until the QB is out the pocket and not
protected.
Explore new topics and discover content that's right for you!
Madden