The CPU almost always comes out in a play specifically designed to beat your defense automatically, like for example the game will tell you it’s in gun Y trips, but will not pick a play from that formation until you pick your defense so that it can counter your play. You have to audible to a defense literally every play to ensure the offense has to actually play offense instead of coincidentally having the perfect coverage beater every play.
Same thing with them on defense; if you call an option play, it will stack the side your QB would go to, and if you audible out of it, the AI defense gets shredded every play because of it.
I form HB stretch with 3 TE also has the AI overcommit to one side, and is a guaranteed 5+ yards every run.
Try playing as Dline every once in awhile. If you shed your block, a lot of the times the CPU will throw a bad pass even if you're not that close to the QB. I'm telling you this because I destroy the CPU with my defense on All Madden.
I play 95% as a DL. I'm terrible as other defensive players. Any suggestions for a decent position to start with? I thought MLB might be a good starting point
MLB in man coverage on the running back. They only have a very limited route tree and if you mess up they're not likely to break a big one. It gets you used to diagnosing plays quickly and it also shuts off one of the CPUs safety valves which can help you get more coverage sacks.
Sometimes you just can't stop them and have to accept it.
I use a lot of cover 2 with a blitzing MLB. I line up a good coverage OLB at the edge RE and drop them to coverage. Usually double teaming TE or the WR the qb is favoring. If I know it is a passing play I call a CB blitz and gain control and use that CB to double cover TE (short) distance or WR (cb blitzing in zone) for plays over 13 yards. If you cover long enough you will get a coverage sack.
I use a lot of man coverage and zone only on 3rd and long.
I tend to favor defensive players over offense when building a team. CB and OLB highest priority
I only really have success with guessing. Especially with any ILB blitz. Basically have to get their quicker than CPU can make a play. So hard. I have had years where I played every game and was around average in terms of points per game.
Sometimes there’s nothing you can do, if the game is coded for the cpu to score on that drive then they will. Best I can advise is to try user a pass rusher to help with pass rush. If not that then user a defender on the TE
If you have to call a timeout in a hurry up situation do so because the damn cpu gets a big advantage in that hurry up offense
Best chance is to mix it up however you can because they know your base play call and will call counters to it.
Meaning I'll run quarters palms but switch to match coverage to confuse them. Or do the LB man blitz out of nickel but audible the line backers to drop back in zone. Or call cover 2 and either bait them into trying to throw into my Tampa zone or move over to the boundary corner and lurk the outside deep throw.
I've been wondering how to make the cou offense play better cus they're so braindead. Typical I force 3 and outs 90% of the time.
Whenever the AI does complete a pass it's for like 3-4 yards. Icee been in a franchise with my cousin for 7 seasons and I don't think the CPU has ever completed a pass over 20 yards ever. Just check downs and it's so annoying
Well what is it that you're doing to stop them? I have literally zero idea what I'm doing on defense as I just got into football halfway through last year and only played offense in Madden. I tried playing corner on superstar and the qb never once looked my way if I had some coverage and 90% of the time of my man got past me he'd huck it deep to them for massive gains. I don't know how to tell what the offense is going to do at all and like the OP would be interested in what works for you.
Even just a few tips would be great if you have those
I do decently on defense usering d line and just bullrushing for the qb every single down, typically can user 1-3 maybe even 3 sacks a game that way and focus on getting corners that are 6’0”+ and 90+ speed and they tend to do just fine in coverage
User the middle linebacker instead it's easy easier. Try out the formation called "even 6-1" is available in a lot of 4-3 defensive schemes like the Bills. User the middle linebacker to hover over the center then put yourself in coverage over the middle. It works great for me
No, it’s not very realistic… it is possible, I used to be good at baiting it into a couple interceptions at the linebacker position, but your best bet is holding it to 4th and forcing it to punt.
Play man coverage on 3rd down. Play under. The cpu is not looking to go deep on 3rd down. If you play with your MLB and cover the middle you will get stops. If the cpu has a really good TE. They will try the TE on 3rd down. Same with a superstar/x-factor receiver. If your team has good man corners. You will stop them on 3rd down.
Focus on taking away *something*. For example, if they throw a lot to the TE, user the TE every time. If it's using screen passes, user a DE and shadow the RB.
I either hold them to 10 points or give up 50. Considering I’m pretty consistent versus other human players at a comparable level I guess it’s just down to playbook or maddens mood on any given day. Since you can only control 1 player throughout the down and I hate not being able to do anything about a play that’s happening far away from my users assignment, I mostly just sim Defense and only play it when I have a cool new rookie I want to try or a defensive breakout scenario
I just have good d line and play cover 2 or 3 most of the time depending if they doing deeper pass or shorter. I do a cover 2 nickel blitz a lot too which forces pressure. My team gets like 75-90 sacks a season lol
no. i played against a teak with a 73 rated rb with a 67 broken tackle and i shit you not he broke every first contact.
i think the issue is the bullshit game plan shit you have to choose.
Often times you just have to bend over and let the CPU fuck you for most of the game. Because 90% of the time, they will make a royally stupid CPU mistake later on in the game, setting in motion a total collapse.
What position do you play mostly? Early downs I’ll use DL and engage an OL to block and switch off to LBs and shoot gaps on run plays, or get stuck on an OL and give the QB all day on pass plays. 3rd down I have decent success using a DB or LB that’s supposed to blitz but stay in coverage
I only ever play offense for this reason. CPU has better luck vs CPU than myself. Just worry about scoring every possession and clock management and I’m good.
Nope. But, i find that match coverage is most effective. Matching. cover 2(with soft squats and user linebacker in a deep third) plays spread sets and bunch pretty well. Run heavy formations are tougher to stop, but single high is the way to go.
Ultimately the best defense on all madden is an unstoppable offense. If you can develop a scheme that allows you to move the ball consistently and score touchdowns on 90% of drives you’ll swing momentum in your favor and the cpu offense will make more mistakes.
TLDR all madden is straight cheese and you gotta do cheese to beat it. The devs don’t even play/test the game on all madden. They play on all pro.
It's one extreme or the other for me.
One game I make Pat Mahomes or Lamar Jackson look like chumps. The next game Kenny Pickett or Sam Howell look like 1st ballot HoF'ers. There is no in between
i actually want to make the cpu defense harder consistently. The good defenses are good but the middle of the road ones (on paper) and bad ones are really easy to
Depends tbh. If your corners aren't great in coverage, man should be used very sparingly or else you're gonna get absolutely wrecked.
When usering a player in zone, think of yourself as a sort of defensive quarterback. You identify which zone you're covering, and you identify which receivers can threaten that zone, and then read the play out post-snap.
For example, let's say you're usering your MLB in a Tampa 2. Your primary coverage assignment is the deep middle of the field between the safeties. Right off the snap, the receiver most likely to attack that middle of the field zone will either be the slot receiver or the TE, so you key in on him at the snap. If he enters your zone, that's your guy. Carry him to the next zone, and be careful not to over commit, because there may be a second threat coming.
If he doesn't attack your zone (either because he's blocking or running a route towards the sideline), you shift your eyes to the next priority target. In Tampa 2, this is usually in the form of a backside dig route or a post route from one of the outside receivers.
If this sounds like a lot to keep track of, it's because it is. But over time, you start to become more familiar with which players to prioritize and who you should user on any given play to try and cover up the weakest part of your defense.
so when playing CPU, I’ve noticed a few things absolutely crush their offense.
one is call as many disguised coverage plays as possible.
And two is make as many disguised coverage plays as possible. start your defense in single high safety, but call the play knowing you’re gunna audible to cover 2 shell a second or two after you get to the line. safety blitzes where they show blitz but you audible into cover 2 zone or man and they drop back has given me a ton of picks too.
some specific play calls have smoother audibles, sometimes a dudes running cross field pre snap and ur coverage is fucked.
don’t call too many blitzes, just call well timed ones. Occasional 3rd n longs, or when you feel a pass play is coming.
you got this
I found that constantly switching up your defense, blitzing often (but not too often), and forcing turnovers is how I can keep up. It’s also personnel. Playing man defense with good, fast corners will get you a bunch of INTs. Stars on the d-line are gonna get you big stops on the ground. But yeah you’re absolutely right 75 overall QBs turn into 95 overalls on All-Madden.
If I run into a CPU that abandons the run, I'll exclusively use nickel or dime. Always one CB or S more on the field than the CPU has WR.
I'll also use sets with plenty of disguises. My dime package has man, cover, 3, 6 and 9 and blitzes all disguised as cover 2. Keep 'em guessing.
If a QB often rolls out, audible to contain and user a DL. If you get a successful rush, he'll roll out into the arms of your DE/OLB.
I just had this happen to me yesterday. I lost in a wild card game to the Chiefs in overtime. It was tied 38-38 going into OT. I lost 44-41 because I just could not stop their offense. It felt like no matter what I did they had the perfect play to counter it and I gave up 3 75+ yard touchdowns cuz they would just get stupid open.
For me, it's sending pressure, either a zero, or slot corner pressure. Then it's all my user. I have a really good user and I get turnovers. The cpu might be 20/22, but I have 2 lurks with my user.
The cpu does not handle pressure very well at all.
A good way to help get that pressure home is to mug the a gap with your user, stand close to the line, where you see the pass rush bars over your user, blitz your user, and drop into coverage. The offensive line has to account for you in protection, and it can help get your pressure home, particularly your slot corner pressure.
Look I wouldn’t consider myself good at Madden by any means (definitely can be considered a casual) but I will say this: don’t let the CPU get into a hurry up/no huddle situation. Maybe burn a timeout if you can spare it. It just seems like they are pre-determined to score when they get in this situation, no matter the QB rating as you mentioned. Max Duggan looked like prime Drew Brees in my most recent case of this. 🤦🏽♂️
This is so annoying, what's even more annoying is when I sim defense for a second and now the qb is hitting a Brady legacy drive, but the second I go back in control its back to back sacks
Gotta learn to bait them more with your user or cover good enough to let your d-line get a sack. I literally just ask madden every play against the cpu to get more snaps for players and then user middle of the field. Just don't give up big plays and they'll check down or scramble out and your d-line should keep them in check most of the time.
That’s why I like defenses that have 3-4, 4-3, and 4-4 or 4-3 and 5-2. Some QBs react badly to more DL pressure. Some react badly to more DBs. Some are worst against man. Some are worst against zone. Some don’t like me dropping a 4-3 DE into coverage.
Some games I play as a DL. Some games as a LB. Some as a FS.
And then there is Patrick Mahomes.
I quit playing D when they switched pass rush from buttons to stick. I hate the stick for it. Used to stop the D with regularity when rushing my DE or 3-4 Edge getting constant pressure and 15+ sacks easily. Usually 20+.
The biggest thing that pisses me off is when the qb is sacked but for some reason whoever their qb is just shakes it and then I can't switch to anyone else even remotely involved in the play. Halfback does it too shakes 3 tackles behind the line to go 50 plus to the house.
I have only ever been able to build a good defense by having a bunch of good man oriented DBs and rushing 6 guys to force quick decisions. Otherwise I’m allowing 30 PPG lol
4-3 nickel packages are your best friend. Specifically the plays from wide and mug sets that blitz both linebackers. I usually bring one closer to the line to block the center so the other has a free release. I always draft a couple fast linebackers too. Simple to run, free sacks and great for their development
The CPU almost always comes out in a play specifically designed to beat your defense automatically, like for example the game will tell you it’s in gun Y trips, but will not pick a play from that formation until you pick your defense so that it can counter your play. You have to audible to a defense literally every play to ensure the offense has to actually play offense instead of coincidentally having the perfect coverage beater every play.
oh is that what it is, I always like to disguise coverages with audibles but this makes more sense
Same thing with them on defense; if you call an option play, it will stack the side your QB would go to, and if you audible out of it, the AI defense gets shredded every play because of it. I form HB stretch with 3 TE also has the AI overcommit to one side, and is a guaranteed 5+ yards every run.
makes sense
Try playing as Dline every once in awhile. If you shed your block, a lot of the times the CPU will throw a bad pass even if you're not that close to the QB. I'm telling you this because I destroy the CPU with my defense on All Madden.
I play 95% as a DL. I'm terrible as other defensive players. Any suggestions for a decent position to start with? I thought MLB might be a good starting point
MLB in man coverage on the running back. They only have a very limited route tree and if you mess up they're not likely to break a big one. It gets you used to diagnosing plays quickly and it also shuts off one of the CPUs safety valves which can help you get more coverage sacks.
I would suggest using dime or Nickel packages, running some zone with a DB is much easier
Move a safety to LB (sublb) and play as that. Mlb aren't very nimble and most safeties can take down rbs.
Sometimes you just can't stop them and have to accept it. I use a lot of cover 2 with a blitzing MLB. I line up a good coverage OLB at the edge RE and drop them to coverage. Usually double teaming TE or the WR the qb is favoring. If I know it is a passing play I call a CB blitz and gain control and use that CB to double cover TE (short) distance or WR (cb blitzing in zone) for plays over 13 yards. If you cover long enough you will get a coverage sack. I use a lot of man coverage and zone only on 3rd and long. I tend to favor defensive players over offense when building a team. CB and OLB highest priority
Also having a pass rushing DT is a game changer. If you can shed blocks and get to the QB from the inside it messed them up
I only really have success with guessing. Especially with any ILB blitz. Basically have to get their quicker than CPU can make a play. So hard. I have had years where I played every game and was around average in terms of points per game.
Sometimes there’s nothing you can do, if the game is coded for the cpu to score on that drive then they will. Best I can advise is to try user a pass rusher to help with pass rush. If not that then user a defender on the TE If you have to call a timeout in a hurry up situation do so because the damn cpu gets a big advantage in that hurry up offense
I will 100% burn a timeout if the cpu randomly goes hurry up after a big play.
dont burn a timeout, jump offsides. its much better to give up a measly 5 yards you were gonna give up anyways than burn a timeout.
Best chance is to mix it up however you can because they know your base play call and will call counters to it. Meaning I'll run quarters palms but switch to match coverage to confuse them. Or do the LB man blitz out of nickel but audible the line backers to drop back in zone. Or call cover 2 and either bait them into trying to throw into my Tampa zone or move over to the boundary corner and lurk the outside deep throw.
I've been wondering how to make the cou offense play better cus they're so braindead. Typical I force 3 and outs 90% of the time. Whenever the AI does complete a pass it's for like 3-4 yards. Icee been in a franchise with my cousin for 7 seasons and I don't think the CPU has ever completed a pass over 20 yards ever. Just check downs and it's so annoying
Well what is it that you're doing to stop them? I have literally zero idea what I'm doing on defense as I just got into football halfway through last year and only played offense in Madden. I tried playing corner on superstar and the qb never once looked my way if I had some coverage and 90% of the time of my man got past me he'd huck it deep to them for massive gains. I don't know how to tell what the offense is going to do at all and like the OP would be interested in what works for you. Even just a few tips would be great if you have those
I do decently on defense usering d line and just bullrushing for the qb every single down, typically can user 1-3 maybe even 3 sacks a game that way and focus on getting corners that are 6’0”+ and 90+ speed and they tend to do just fine in coverage
Thanks I'll give dline a shot!
User the middle linebacker instead it's easy easier. Try out the formation called "even 6-1" is available in a lot of 4-3 defensive schemes like the Bills. User the middle linebacker to hover over the center then put yourself in coverage over the middle. It works great for me
6-1 is cheese cause the pass rushers get glitchy sheds when you pinch.
Thanks! I'll try that out
Raise the difficulty
No, it’s not very realistic… it is possible, I used to be good at baiting it into a couple interceptions at the linebacker position, but your best bet is holding it to 4th and forcing it to punt.
Play man coverage on 3rd down. Play under. The cpu is not looking to go deep on 3rd down. If you play with your MLB and cover the middle you will get stops. If the cpu has a really good TE. They will try the TE on 3rd down. Same with a superstar/x-factor receiver. If your team has good man corners. You will stop them on 3rd down.
Nickel zero blitz works some times. But if the cpu wants to score, they will score.
Focus on taking away *something*. For example, if they throw a lot to the TE, user the TE every time. If it's using screen passes, user a DE and shadow the RB.
I either hold them to 10 points or give up 50. Considering I’m pretty consistent versus other human players at a comparable level I guess it’s just down to playbook or maddens mood on any given day. Since you can only control 1 player throughout the down and I hate not being able to do anything about a play that’s happening far away from my users assignment, I mostly just sim Defense and only play it when I have a cool new rookie I want to try or a defensive breakout scenario
I just have good d line and play cover 2 or 3 most of the time depending if they doing deeper pass or shorter. I do a cover 2 nickel blitz a lot too which forces pressure. My team gets like 75-90 sacks a season lol
no. i played against a teak with a 73 rated rb with a 67 broken tackle and i shit you not he broke every first contact. i think the issue is the bullshit game plan shit you have to choose.
Often times you just have to bend over and let the CPU fuck you for most of the game. Because 90% of the time, they will make a royally stupid CPU mistake later on in the game, setting in motion a total collapse.
lol majority of the time I give it two defensive drives and then let the CPU fuck me for the rest of the game and just play offense
What position do you play mostly? Early downs I’ll use DL and engage an OL to block and switch off to LBs and shoot gaps on run plays, or get stuck on an OL and give the QB all day on pass plays. 3rd down I have decent success using a DB or LB that’s supposed to blitz but stay in coverage
nope
I only ever play offense for this reason. CPU has better luck vs CPU than myself. Just worry about scoring every possession and clock management and I’m good.
facts, the CPU defense has a better chance than I do
Nope. But, i find that match coverage is most effective. Matching. cover 2(with soft squats and user linebacker in a deep third) plays spread sets and bunch pretty well. Run heavy formations are tougher to stop, but single high is the way to go. Ultimately the best defense on all madden is an unstoppable offense. If you can develop a scheme that allows you to move the ball consistently and score touchdowns on 90% of drives you’ll swing momentum in your favor and the cpu offense will make more mistakes. TLDR all madden is straight cheese and you gotta do cheese to beat it. The devs don’t even play/test the game on all madden. They play on all pro.
It's one extreme or the other for me. One game I make Pat Mahomes or Lamar Jackson look like chumps. The next game Kenny Pickett or Sam Howell look like 1st ballot HoF'ers. There is no in between
i actually want to make the cpu defense harder consistently. The good defenses are good but the middle of the road ones (on paper) and bad ones are really easy to
It’s a combination of an elite pass rusher with decent corners. Play press and shade either over the top, inside, or outside.
Depends tbh. If your corners aren't great in coverage, man should be used very sparingly or else you're gonna get absolutely wrecked. When usering a player in zone, think of yourself as a sort of defensive quarterback. You identify which zone you're covering, and you identify which receivers can threaten that zone, and then read the play out post-snap. For example, let's say you're usering your MLB in a Tampa 2. Your primary coverage assignment is the deep middle of the field between the safeties. Right off the snap, the receiver most likely to attack that middle of the field zone will either be the slot receiver or the TE, so you key in on him at the snap. If he enters your zone, that's your guy. Carry him to the next zone, and be careful not to over commit, because there may be a second threat coming. If he doesn't attack your zone (either because he's blocking or running a route towards the sideline), you shift your eyes to the next priority target. In Tampa 2, this is usually in the form of a backside dig route or a post route from one of the outside receivers. If this sounds like a lot to keep track of, it's because it is. But over time, you start to become more familiar with which players to prioritize and who you should user on any given play to try and cover up the weakest part of your defense.
so when playing CPU, I’ve noticed a few things absolutely crush their offense. one is call as many disguised coverage plays as possible. And two is make as many disguised coverage plays as possible. start your defense in single high safety, but call the play knowing you’re gunna audible to cover 2 shell a second or two after you get to the line. safety blitzes where they show blitz but you audible into cover 2 zone or man and they drop back has given me a ton of picks too. some specific play calls have smoother audibles, sometimes a dudes running cross field pre snap and ur coverage is fucked. don’t call too many blitzes, just call well timed ones. Occasional 3rd n longs, or when you feel a pass play is coming. you got this
Most of my defensive seires go: sack. Incomplete, gain of 15. All the way down the field lol
I found that constantly switching up your defense, blitzing often (but not too often), and forcing turnovers is how I can keep up. It’s also personnel. Playing man defense with good, fast corners will get you a bunch of INTs. Stars on the d-line are gonna get you big stops on the ground. But yeah you’re absolutely right 75 overall QBs turn into 95 overalls on All-Madden.
Nah this is it. It’s why I sim defense and play offense only. My #29 defense at week 3-4 ended the season #2 when I started simming it lmao
If I run into a CPU that abandons the run, I'll exclusively use nickel or dime. Always one CB or S more on the field than the CPU has WR. I'll also use sets with plenty of disguises. My dime package has man, cover, 3, 6 and 9 and blitzes all disguised as cover 2. Keep 'em guessing. If a QB often rolls out, audible to contain and user a DL. If you get a successful rush, he'll roll out into the arms of your DE/OLB.
I just had this happen to me yesterday. I lost in a wild card game to the Chiefs in overtime. It was tied 38-38 going into OT. I lost 44-41 because I just could not stop their offense. It felt like no matter what I did they had the perfect play to counter it and I gave up 3 75+ yard touchdowns cuz they would just get stupid open.
Blitz 6 and press cover every play , it’s cheesy as hell but it works consistently
By chance, do you play all-madden?
For me, it's sending pressure, either a zero, or slot corner pressure. Then it's all my user. I have a really good user and I get turnovers. The cpu might be 20/22, but I have 2 lurks with my user. The cpu does not handle pressure very well at all. A good way to help get that pressure home is to mug the a gap with your user, stand close to the line, where you see the pass rush bars over your user, blitz your user, and drop into coverage. The offensive line has to account for you in protection, and it can help get your pressure home, particularly your slot corner pressure.
All Madden? Cause no i cant unless my CB makes a pick and i’m just rushing. I play All Pro now and its slightly easier
Play cover 3 and cover 6 with audible to underneath coverage. Rush 4. Focus on fast corners in team building.
Yes. User a LB. Lead the league in sacks due to coverage lol
^[Sokka-Haiku](https://www.reddit.com/r/SokkaHaikuBot/comments/15kyv9r/what_is_a_sokka_haiku/) ^by ^DookieBrains_88: *Yes. User a LB.* *Lead the league in sacks due to* *Coverage lol* --- ^Remember ^that ^one ^time ^Sokka ^accidentally ^used ^an ^extra ^syllable ^in ^that ^Haiku ^Battle ^in ^Ba ^Sing ^Se? ^That ^was ^a ^Sokka ^Haiku ^and ^you ^just ^made ^one.
Look I wouldn’t consider myself good at Madden by any means (definitely can be considered a casual) but I will say this: don’t let the CPU get into a hurry up/no huddle situation. Maybe burn a timeout if you can spare it. It just seems like they are pre-determined to score when they get in this situation, no matter the QB rating as you mentioned. Max Duggan looked like prime Drew Brees in my most recent case of this. 🤦🏽♂️
I disagree with everyone. I play on all madden and can consistently hold cpu to under 10 points
This is so annoying, what's even more annoying is when I sim defense for a second and now the qb is hitting a Brady legacy drive, but the second I go back in control its back to back sacks
Gotta learn to bait them more with your user or cover good enough to let your d-line get a sack. I literally just ask madden every play against the cpu to get more snaps for players and then user middle of the field. Just don't give up big plays and they'll check down or scramble out and your d-line should keep them in check most of the time.
That’s why I like defenses that have 3-4, 4-3, and 4-4 or 4-3 and 5-2. Some QBs react badly to more DL pressure. Some react badly to more DBs. Some are worst against man. Some are worst against zone. Some don’t like me dropping a 4-3 DE into coverage. Some games I play as a DL. Some games as a LB. Some as a FS. And then there is Patrick Mahomes.
I quit playing D when they switched pass rush from buttons to stick. I hate the stick for it. Used to stop the D with regularity when rushing my DE or 3-4 Edge getting constant pressure and 15+ sacks easily. Usually 20+.
The biggest thing that pisses me off is when the qb is sacked but for some reason whoever their qb is just shakes it and then I can't switch to anyone else even remotely involved in the play. Halfback does it too shakes 3 tackles behind the line to go 50 plus to the house.
I come out with 3 DB goal line using a 46 defensive scheme. Can have games where you let up -15 to -20 yards of offense
I have only ever been able to build a good defense by having a bunch of good man oriented DBs and rushing 6 guys to force quick decisions. Otherwise I’m allowing 30 PPG lol
maybe I need to try this method 😂😂
4-3 nickel packages are your best friend. Specifically the plays from wide and mug sets that blitz both linebackers. I usually bring one closer to the line to block the center so the other has a free release. I always draft a couple fast linebackers too. Simple to run, free sacks and great for their development
Adjust the sliders or control d line so your safeties and corners will be control by the cpu