Welcome back to another episode of Ask Huddle. Today, we’re breaking down a problem every Madden player runs into at some point: How do you consistently stop corner routes?
We’re going to walk through four simple adjustments you can use out of virtually any defense in the game, giving you reliable answers no matter what playbook you run or what formation you’re facing.
As always, if you have a question you want featured in a future episode, drop it in the comments below.
#1 - Mable Coverage
Using Mable Coverage is one of the most reliable ways to take away corner routes, because it naturally layers defenders on the sideline and shuts down common flood concepts.
Start by going into your Coaching Adjustments and setting your zone drops. The exact depths depend on the type of corner route you’re trying to stop, but a good rule of thumb is to set your flats between 20-30 yards and your curl flats between 0-10 yards, depending on how aggressive you want to play.
From there, simply call a Cover 2 shell and put your slot corner in a curl flat. This creates the Mable structure, giving you a low and high defender on the sideline. When your opponent runs a flood concept, the corner route gets completely erased, and the read becomes much harder for the offense.
#2 - Custom Zone Stems
Another great way to create a Mable-style coverage, without touching your zone drops, is by using the new custom zone stem feature. Start in a Cover 2 shell and use a custom stem to set your outside corner to whatever depth you want him playing at. (If you’re unsure how to do this, be sure to check the video for a walkthrough.)
Once your outside corner is stemmed to the proper depth, simply put your slot cornerback in a hard flat underneath. This recreates the same high-low structure from Tip 1, but with the advantage of not having to constantly adjust your zone drops throughout the game.
#3 - Cover 4 Palms
Another strong way to stop corner routes, especially against Bunch-style formations, is by using Cover 4 Palms (or similar match coverages like Cover 6 or Quarters). Palms plays a “box check” to the bunch side, which naturally handles flood concepts and corner routes because each defender has a specific responsibility.
In this defense, the quarter flat defender takes the first outside route, while the outside corner matches the second outside route. Inside, the 3 Rec player handles the first inside break, and the safety takes the second inside break. These rules allow the coverage to pass off routes seamlessly while maintaining perfect leverage on the sideline.
The end result is a match coverage shell that eliminates the corner route before it ever becomes a threat.
#4 - Cover 3 Match
Cover 3 Match is an excellent answer for slowing down corner routes from 2x2 spread formations. The seam flat defenders naturally maintain outside leverage, allowing them to clamp down on any route breaking toward the sideline, including corner routes.
One of the biggest advantages of this call is its simplicity: you rarely need to make any adjustments. The stock rules in Cover 3 Match already position your defenders to handle these concepts, making it a low-effort, high-impact solution for teams that rely on corner routes out of these formations.
Thanks again for tuning in this week, and as always, if you have a question you'd like answered, make sure to leave it in the comments below!
Comments