Welcome back to Ask Huddle, where we answer your Madden questions and break down the why behind the game. Each week, we take topics straight from the community and turn them into clear explanations to help you improve and win more games.
If you have a question you want covered in a future episode, drop it in the comments. You can watch the full video on YouTube from Huddle by hitting play above or clicking here.
#1 - Can you bomb Cover 2 over the top?
Answer:
Yes, you can bomb Cover 2 over the top, and it is something we teach through a variety of concepts at Huddle.
The concept we are focusing on today is one of the simplest and most effective options in the game, and it is available in almost every playbook. Start by finding a Verticals concept from a Trips formation where the inside receiver is running a seam route that bends toward the middle of the field.
From there, put your tight end on a corner route. This stresses the deep half safety and opens up the middle of the field even more.
To complete the setup, block your running back for extra protection. This gives you enough time to let the route develop and throw the inside seam over the top of the mid read defender for a clean, easy touchdown.
This is a great example of how understanding coverage rules leads to explosive plays against Cover 2.
#2 - How do you defend jump balls down the field?
Answer:
Defending jump balls down the field is mostly about decision-making at the catch point. The biggest mistake players make is going for the interception every time the opportunity appears.
When you are in a one-on-one situation down the field and the ball is in the air, using the swat mechanic is almost always the smarter choice. Swatting the ball allows your defender to cover a much larger area than going for an interception, which requires more precise timing and positioning.
While it can be a hard habit to break, choosing to swat instead of intercept will significantly reduce the number of jump-ball completions you give up. Over time, this approach will save you a lot of frustration on defense and help limit explosive plays.
#3 - How do you stop RPO Read Flat Wheel in Gun Deuce Close?
Answer:
The first step to stopping RPO Read Flat Wheel out of Gun Deuce Close is recognizing when it is coming. Fortunately, there is a clear in-game tell that makes this much easier. When an offense is running an RPO Read, the running back’s icon will be A. If the icon is anything else, you know it is not an RPO.
Any time my opponent comes out in this formation, the first thing I do is check the running back’s icon. If it is A, I know the RPO is coming.
Once confirmed, put your outside corner on the running back side into a hard flat, then user the safety over the top. Your primary responsibility as the user is to take away the post route from the B receiver.
The goal against this play is simple: eliminate the quick wheel and the post. This adjustment allows the corner to handle the wheel while your user removes the post, effectively shutting down the core reads of the concept and forcing your opponent to look elsewhere.
#4 - How do you like to stop Bunch X Nasty?
Answer:
There is no true one-size-fits-all defense that will shut down every possible setup an opponent can run from Bunch X Nasty (or any formation). Because of that, one of the most important things you can do early in a game is identify your opponent’s tendencies.
Pay close attention to what they like to call in key situations such as third and fourth down, as well as in the red zone. Make a mental note of those plays and concepts, then use that information later in the game to anticipate and get ahead of their go-to calls.
In this breakdown, we focus on an easy way to shut down one of the most popular plays from Bunch X Nasty, Smash Return. The best part about defending this play is that it does not require heavy or complicated adjustments. Cover 4 Palms stock does an excellent job against it.
The main coaching point is to user the safety to the bunch side and take away the deep crosser. If left to the CPU, that route can sometimes gain inside leverage. Outside of that, the coverage rules handle the rest. The 3 rec takes the drag, the quarter flat picks up the return route, and the backside corner and safety bracket the vertical route to the solo receiver.
Be sure to watch the video to see this coverage work in real time.
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!
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