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 spend your AP on offense and defense?
Answer:
For those newer to MUT, AP stands for Ability Points, which determine the number of abilities you can equip on each side of the ball.
In Ultimate Team, you’re given:
- 15 AP on offense
- 17 AP on defense
- 3 AP on special teams
How you spend your AP can vary slightly depending on your playstyle, but there are clear positions you should prioritize first if you want the most consistent results.
Best AP Spend on Offense
On offense, your AP should be focused primarily on your quarterback and offensive line.
Quarterback (QB)
Your QB touches the ball every play, so this is the most important position to invest AP into. The exact ability can vary based on how you play, but the most commonly used options are:
- Gunslinger
- QB Playmaker
- Master Tactician
Offensive Line
After your QB, your offensive line should be your next priority. Strong pass protection makes everything else on offense work.
Recommended abilities include:
- Secure Protector (best ability for your lineman)
- Pass Protector (typically a cheaper option over Secure Protector)
- Identifier (you only need one Identifier on the entire line)
Best AP Spend on Defense
On defense, your AP should be split between pass rushers and your secondary.
Defensive Line / Pass Rush
Your pass rush is what forces bad decisions, quick throws, and mistakes.
- Double or Nothing is the most effective ability for defensive linemen
- It primarily boosts your pass rush but can also activate against the run as well.
This ability gives you the best return on AP when trying to create pressure without sending heavy blitzes.
Secondary
The best options are:
- Zone KOs
- Pick Artist
If you’re running zone coverage, Mid Zone KO is the most valuable in my opinion because of how often the ball is thrown into that area of the field. Deep Zone KO can also be very effective on your deep zones.
Best AP Spend on Special Teams
For special teams, spend all 3 AP on your kicker. Do not waste AP on your punter.
Two solid kicker options are:
- Zen Kicker – slows down the kick meter on kicks 45 yards or longer
- Clutch Kicker – helps prevent issues when getting iced
Pick the one that fits your comfort level, but the key takeaway is simple: all special teams AP goes to the kicker.
We also update our ability tier list throughout the year to help you understand what the best abilities in the game are!
#2 - Do double moves work against Cover 1?
Answer:
Double moves used to be one of the most effective ways to beat man coverage, especially Cover 1. While they aren’t as dominant as they once were, they can still be effective when used correctly.
The biggest key to making double moves work this year is abilities.
Best Abilities for Double Moves
To win on double moves, your receiver needs the right ability based on where they’re lined up.
Slot Receivers
If your receiver is aligned in the slot, prioritize:
- Short In Elite
- Route Technician
- Slot-O-Matic
Outside Receivers
For receivers lined up outside, the best options are:
- Short Out Elite
- Route Technician
These abilities help your receiver create separation at the break point, which is crucial for double moves to be effective.
How Abilities Affect Double Moves This Year
One important change this year is how abilities activate. Instead of triggering every play, many abilities now work on more of a 50/50 basis.
The good news is that Madden gives us a visual indicator before we throw the ball.
- If the star under your receiver lights up at the break, the ability is activating
- When you see that star, you have a green light to throw the double move
- If the star does not light up, do not force the throw
Instead, check the ball down to another man-beating route you built into the play.
#3 - What is Cover 3 Buzz Mable?
Answer:
To understand Cover 3 Buzz Mable, we need to break the name into two parts: Buzz and Mable.
What Does “Buzz” Mean?
In Madden, Cover 3 comes in a few different variations, most commonly:
- Cover 3 Sky
- Cover 3 Buzz
- Cover 3 Cloud
The key to understanding these calls is the first letter of the word, which tells us who is responsible for the backside flat.
The backside flat changes based on the call:
- Buzz - Backer plays the backside flat
- Sky - Safety plays the backside flat
- Cloud - Corner plays the backside flat
That’s all “Buzz” is telling us, that the linebacker to the backside is responsible for the flat.
What Does “Mable” Mean?
The second part of the call, Mable, tells us how the coverage behaves.
When you see Mable in Madden, it means:
- The coverage is a match version of Cover 3
You’ll also see plays called Cover 3 Buzz without “Mable” at the end.
Those calls are:
- Spot-drop zone versions of Cover 3
So the difference is simple:
- Cover 3 Buzz - traditional zone coverage
- Cover 3 Buzz Mable - match coverage rules applied
Because of that, it’s important to understand the general match rules within a Cover 3 scheme so you don’t get caught out of position.
Make sure to watch the video to see how these rules work in-game and how Cover 3 Buzz Mable reacts to different route combinations.
#4 - Is it better to run man or zone? How to adjust your secondary?
Answer:
There isn’t a true one-size-fits-all answer to whether man or zone is better. It really depends on the skill level of your opponent.
Against lower to intermediate players, man coverage can be very effective and easier to run consistently. Many players at that level struggle to attack man, which allows you to get stops without having to overcomplicate things.
As you start facing higher-level players, zone coverage becomes more important. Better players understand how to beat man coverage and will consistently attack it if you sit in it every play. That doesn’t mean you should completely abandon man coverage, but it works best when mixed in rather than spammed.
Best approach:
- Lower-level opponents - Man coverage works more often
- Higher-level opponents - Zone coverage should be your base
- All levels - Mix in man so you’re not predictable
How to Make Secondary Adjustments
What adjustments you make will always depend on the routes and concepts your opponent is running, but there are a few key ways to actually make those adjustments in-game.
Individual Player Adjustments
You can click onto a defender and press:
- A (Xbox) or X (PlayStation)
This brings up that player’s individual coverage adjustment menu.
Quick Secondary Adjustments (Faster Method)
For a faster option:
- Press Y twice (Xbox) or Triangle twice (PlayStation) before the snap
- Icons will appear above your secondary
- Select the defender you want to adjust to open the same coverage menu
This method uses a few extra button presses but is much quicker since you don’t need to manually click onto each player.
Global Secondary Adjustments
You can also adjust your secondary as a whole by:
- Pressing or backing off the entire defense
- Changing coverage shells
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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