Welcome back to another episode of Ask Huddle! Each week, we break down your Madden questions to help you understand the game on a deeper level. If you have questions you'd like us to answer in a future episode, drop them in the comments below. Our goal is always to help you win more games.
To watch the full video on YouTube from Huddle, click play above or here.
#1 - What's the best way to run the Y Cross concept?
Answer:
If you know me, you know I’ve really fallen in love with the Air Raid offense over the past few years — I’ve run it a ton in both Madden and CFB this year. While you can use the Air Raid playbook itself, I actually prefer the Washington Commanders playbook in Madden because it has some unique routes and RPO options you won’t find in the standard Air Raid. In College Football, USC’s playbook is a great alternative for similar concepts.
When it comes to Y Cross, the key is understanding your progressions and reading the open grass. The only adjustment I typically make is with the slot receiver on the left side of the screen, and that depends on what defense my opponent is in. (We cover a few of these adjustments in the video.)
Your primary read is the slot receiver, followed by the Crossing route, then finally the Post-Curl, which is a critical route for making Y Cross effective in both Madden and CFB. The spacing on this play is excellent, and once you get the timing down, Y Cross can be a staple in any offense, especially an Air Raid system.
#2 - Do you need Edge Threat Elite if you have Colossus?
Answer:
The short answer is no, you don’t need Edge Threat Elite if you already have Colossus or Unstoppable Force. Those abilities alone give you the best chance to win pass rush matchups.
However, Edge Threat Elite can help in one key area: under pressure throws. Since Colossus and Unstoppable Force win so often against blockers, you’ll find yourself near the QB more frequently. Adding Edge Threat Elite means you’ll trigger more under pressure penalties, leading to more inaccurate throws and stops.
That said, if you’re primarily looking for the pressure effect, you could use the Under Pressure ability instead of Edge Threat Elite, especially if it’s cheaper in AP.
#3 - What does shading do in Zone Coverage?
Answer:
Shading in zone coverage influences how your underneath defenders react to specific routes, but its impact depends on the route combinations your opponent is running.
The simplest way to think about shading is this: when you shade, your underneath defenders will prioritize breaking toward the side of the zone "bubble" that you shaded. For example, if you shade outside, your defenders will first look to jump outside to defend routes in that area of the field.
This can help you take away certain routes with the CPU, freeing you up to user something else.
Just remember—shading isn’t a magic solution. It’s a tool that works best when you understand your opponent’s tendencies. We break it all down in the video, so be sure to check it out!
#4 - Which ability is better: Reinforcement or Dual Threat?
Answer:
Great question! First, it’s important to note that there’s no one-size-fits-all answer—it depends on the player you’re trying to improve and their role in your defense. Let’s break it down so you can decide what works best for your scheme.
Both Reinforcement and Dual Threat provide a coverage benefit, helping knock the ball out of receivers’ hands. They essentially stack all of the KO abilities (except for the break-on-ball boost), so either one can help in pass defense.
The key difference lies in the additional boost each provides:
- Reinforcement also helps shed run blocks, making it a great fit for off-ball linebackers who need to defend the run and the pass.
- Dual Threat, on the other hand, improves your ability to beat pass blocks. It’s best suited for edge rushers who are primarily rushing the QB but might occasionally drop into coverage.
So in short:
- If you want run-stopping + coverage help → go with Reinforcement.
- If you want pass-rush + coverage help → go with Dual Threat.
Thanks for tuning in again this week! If you have a question you'd like us to answer in a future episode, make sure to drop it in the comments section below.
You can also join the "Ask Huddle" discord channel through the MutGG discord on Tuesday evenings at 9:00 PM EST for our Live Q&A session!
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