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 - Does Inside Stuff Work On Edge Rushers? Does No Outsiders Work On Interior Guys?
Answer:
The short answer is yes—both abilities can technically work outside their usual positions—but there are important considerations.
Inside Stuff will activate on inside runs regardless of where the defender is aligned, and No Outsiders will trigger on outside runs. However, using Inside Stuff on edge rushers is generally not recommended, because their wider alignment often causes them to take themselves out of the play rather than helping stop the run.
On the flip side, No Outsiders can be very effective on interior defensive linemen, particularly those aligned in the B-gap. In that spot, they’re often in a great position to disrupt outside zone or stretch runs.
#2 - How Do You Read The Defense Pre-Snap?
Answer:
This is a complex topic and something we cover in much more detail in our full breakdowns, but here are a few key tips to help you read the defense pre-snap:
Start by looking at the safeties.
- If there are two safeties deep, it usually indicates Cover 2, Cover 4, or a variation like Cover 6 or Cover 9.
- If there’s one safety deep, that typically suggests Cover 1 (man coverage) or Cover 3 (zone).
Next, check the alignment of the outside corners:
- If they’re about 5 yards off the receiver, it’s often Cover 2.
- If they’re 8 yards off, it could be Cover 3 or Cover 4. You can then go back to the safety alignment to tell which it is—Cover 3 will have one deep safety, while Cover 4 will have two.
These pre-snap cues won’t tell you everything, but they’ll give you a strong starting point for diagnosing your opponent’s coverage.
#3 - How Do You Like To Beat Cover 2 Man?
Answer:
Cover 2 Man can be one of the tougher man coverages to deal with, especially because of the natural trail technique it uses. In this defense, man defenders are shaded underneath by default, meaning they play slightly behind the receiver and rely on the safeties over the top to help.
To beat this, you can take advantage of both route selection and formation alignment. One of our favorite ways to attack it is out of the Gun Tight Open formation. In particular, using specific wheel routes from the outside receivers can expose the gap between the trailing corner and the deep safety. This creates a soft spot along the sideline that gives you a high-percentage throw for big yardage.
We break down the full concept and show exactly how it works in-game in the video—be sure to check it out!
#4 - How Do You Beat Cover 3 Match In Gun Bunch X Nasty?
Answer:
When it comes to beating any coverage in the game, you always want multiple answers — something that attacks underneath, something for the intermediate level, and something that can score over the top.
In this video, we’re showing you two great ways to beat Cover 3 Match:
- A flood concept that works against any version of Cover 3
- A one-play touchdown bomb specifically designed to beat Cover 3 Match from Bunch X Nasty
Let’s start with the flood. You’ll want to align your Bunch to the short side of the field. From there, set up a simple flood concept:
- Outside receiver on a streak
- Slot receiver on a corner route
- Inside Bunch player on a flat route
This concept stretches the zones and forces the flat defender to choose. If he drops to the corner, hit the flat. If he jumps the flat, hit the corner.
To round it out, you can put your solo backside receiver on a drag or in route to keep defenders honest and give you a quick check-down option as well.
And don’t miss the video — we go over a one-play touchdown setup from Bunch X Nasty that will make your opponent get out of Cover 3 Match immediately.
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.
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