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 - How do you beat Cover 1 Press?
Answer:
Cover 1 Robber Press is a man coverage defense that features one deep safety, while the other safety drops into a “robber” role over the middle of the field. By default, this coverage will press any spread formation, though against compressed sets the defensive player must manually press.
This coverage also uses unique shading rules: receivers aligned outside the numbers are shaded inside, while receivers aligned inside the numbers are shaded outside.
A great way to attack Cover 1 Robber Press is with the Y Shallow Cross concept out of the spread formation. This play gives you multiple options:
- The drag and dig routes both consistently beat man coverage. Simply throw to whichever route the user or the 3-rec hook defender doesn’t cover.
- The fade route is another great option; it beats the press and can get open over the top for a one-play touchdown.
Be sure to check out the video to see how the fade works in-game and how each read develops.
#2 - How do you defend pre-snap motion plays?
Answer:
When defending pre-snap auto motion, there are a few key things to understand.
First, know the difference between how man and zone coverage handle motion. In man coverage, the defender should follow the receiver across the field to maintain proper leverage. In zone coverage, however, you don’t want defenders chasing a receiver pre-snap; that’s where alignment issues often occur.
If you notice your outside corners swapping places when your opponent motions a receiver, check your coaching adjustments. Make sure your cornerback matchups are set to Balanced. Any other setting can create major alignment problems in zone. I recommend keeping it on Balanced for both man and zone; it doesn’t provide much benefit otherwise and can actually hurt you in key situations.
You can also turn defensive motion response off. Just be careful, this prevents your defense from shifting at all, which can sometimes be helpful in keeping everything aligned properly.
#3 - How do you block Pinch Buck 0?
Answer:
Pinch Buck 0 is a staple blitz every year; it brings quick pressure while relying on man coverage across the field to shut down quick throws.
The good news is that it’s actually pretty simple to block this year thanks to the new untarget defender mechanic. Here’s how to do it:
- Untarget the user defender.
- Block your running back.
- Full slide your protection either left or right.
Which side you slide to depends on where your offensive line has the cleanest assignments. Choose the side that makes it easiest for them to pick up the pressure.
You can also block this blitz with a tight end instead of a running back, depending on your formation. Check out the video for a breakdown of both methods and what we want to look for to ensure we slide our line the right way.
#4 - Can you use custom playbooks in online h2h or play a friend?
Answer:
It depends on whether you’re playing Regs or Ultimate Team. In Ultimate Team, custom playbooks are not allowed. However, in Regs, you can use a playbook you’ve created.
To do this, first create and save your custom playbook. Then, when selecting a team in either online head-to-head or play a friend, press Advanced Settings (X on Xbox, Square on PlayStation). From there, scroll to the very beginning of the playbook list, and you’ll see your custom playbooks listed right before the team playbooks.
In the video, I walk through exactly where to find this option so you can use your custom playbook in both online H2H and play-a-friend modes.
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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