Full breakdown on the best Run Defense & Run Stopping Abilities

​

Abilities:

• Secure Tackler (Great for bringing down Runners on the First Tackle)
• Enforcer Supreme + Extra Pop (Good for countering Tank!)

​

Run Defense Set Up (2:19 Timestamp):

• 43 6-1 Formation (Chiefs or Vikings PB)
• Auto Flip: Off | Base Align: On
• Any Play

1. Pinch Defensive Line
2. Contain
3. Show Blitz (Optional)

1. Utilize Seam Streaks and Quick Snapping
2. 5 Out Blitz protection: Double Team LEFT OF SCREEN DE
3. When blocking your HB, ID The Mike on the Defensive Tackle. Click here for a full Blitz Protection Guide
4. Mix up sending 5 out/blocking HB to keep the opponent guessing. 
5. Watch Video For Breakdown!

​

1. Come out in any 3 WR Set (Ex. Bunch, Trips TE)
2. Motion Over WR/HB/TE to create 4 WR strong set
3. Watch Video For Demonstration and How To Bomb Match!

We're breaking down the 3 Routes that you need in EVERY Offense, and why.

​

Watch the video for a full breakdown!

​

Speed Outs: These bad boys are great at avoiding Switch Sticks, and Attacking the Deep Sideline. 

Can only be covered by Cloud Flats (and great vs Backed Up Man Coverage).

​

Seam Streaks: One of the best "Hot" reads in the game. Look for this Quick in the Middle of the field if their user isn't in the area. 

This forces them to play Underneath and aggressive with their safeties.

​

Return Routes: One of the best Man and Zone beaters in the game (and also great against all Blitzes)!

Can look for it quick, or let it cross the middle!

• Chiefs PB
• Nickel 3-3-5 Stack
• Call Cover 4 or Cover 2

1. Pinch LBs
2. Blitz 1 LB
3. Hover in the Gap with your User on the side of that Blitzing LB

• Please watch the video for a full breakdown! This has become one of my favorite Blitzes!
• Advanced Loop Blitz shown at 2:17

Full breakdown of the best Abilities right now in Madden 25

Offense:

• Gunslinger: Faster Release, get ball out faster. Must have  
• Conductor: Faster Hot routes, easier to Quick Snap 
• Gift wrapped: Catch contested/diving balls 
• Hot Route Master: access to more route combos/plays 
• Playmaker: Good bailout for broken plays and stresses User/Switch Stick 

Defense:

• Mid Zone KO: Better reaction and knockouts to almost all routes, makes throwing seam streaks a lot harder 
• Pick artist: Catch more contested picks 
• Deep In Zone KO: Good on FS/SS for deeper routes that Mid Zone won’t cover 
• Deep Out Zone KO: Good on Outside CBs for Deep Routes that Mid Zone won’t cover 
• Flat Zone KO: Good on Slot DBs for playing Hard Flats and routes out of the backfield

Method 1:

1. After QB puts foot down, instantly stem down any route once
2. Watch video for breakdown

​

Method 2:

1. Pick Play in formation next to formation you want to run
2. After QB puts foot down, Hot route B/O on a streak
3. Instantly audible over to formation you want to run
4. Watch video for breakdown

For Loop:

1. Option 1: Call any Playaction play and reblock HB.
2. Option 2: Block HB and ID right slot cb

​

For B Gap (Engage Blitz):

IF ENGAGING ON RB SIDE: 

1. Block HB 
2. ID Blitzer

​

IF ENGAGING OPP OF RB: 

1. Block HB
2. Half Slide Towards RB

​

• This is all being done from the Patriots Playbook, but concepts can apply across a ton of PBs!

Screenshot Moments:

• Trips Route Combo: 1:04 (Can be done from any Trips set)
• Y Trips Route Combo: 5:35 (Specific to this play)
• Tight Route Combo: 7:33 (Can be done from any Tight Formation)

Coaching Adjustments:

• Base Align: On
• Auto Flip: Off
• Hook Curls: 5 Yards

Set Up:

1. Choose any play (Ideally from 61 Formation)
2. Cloud Flat Outside Corners
3. Inside Quarter Both Safties
4. Vert Hook both OLB
5. Mid Read/Man Up User
6. Look to switch stick onto hooks post snap

Note: You can save on some adjustments simply by coming out in Cover 4, or Tampa 2!

​

• Route Combo 1: Double Clearouts, Post/Drag (0:00)
• This combo forces them to NOT Switch Stick onto their Deep Zones, or 1 Play Touchdown

1. Two streaks on the field (Ideally attacking different areas underneath where our Post will run)
2. Drag Route 
3. Post Route

• Flat / Zig (6:04)
• This Route Combo stretches the field horizontally underneath. Forces them to commit defenders to middle and underneath.

1. Flat Route
2. Zig Route (need good spacing between the 2)

• Clearout + Deep Out (10:24)
• This is the best way to attack the deep sidelines without much fear of being Switch Sticked

1. Slot Streak Route
2. Custom Stemmed Up Speed Out (10-15 Yards Deep)

• In this one, we're breaking down 2 GREAT blitzes that work together from the Dime 3-2 Formation (Chiefs PB)
• Blitz #2 starts at 2:10

1. Turn OFF Auto Flip 
2. Turn Base Align ON
3. Come out in play Double Safety Go
4. Pick Either Cover 4 Drop, Cover 4 Quarters
5. Watch Video For setups/disguising blitz

• Double Passes are very, very annoying right now in Madden 25, here's how to stop em:
• Auto Flip On, Default Alignment
• Call Cover 1
• Presnap, you want to Pass Commit
• Shade Coverage Overtop (Optional)

• This formation is often called "Dollar" and can be found in the 49ers Defensive Playbook
• Practice mode is weird for all Blitzes in Madden & CFB. See 1:40 and 2:15 for clean examples

1. Turn Off Auto Flip
2. Turn Alignment To Base
3. Come out in Cover 4 Quarters Flipped
4. Crash Defensive Line Outside
5. Hover over the LG with your User and Engage
6. Watch video for demonstration

• It's important to remember, every route has a CHANCE at beating Man Coverage, just some routes are better than others
• Return Routes, Zigs, Speed Outs, Slants, Drags, & HB Wheels are all great routes to beat Man Coverage
• It is important you watch the video for a full breakdown

• Watch the video for Live Examples of how to block every META Blitz
• To block Loop Blitzes use Play Action then Block or Hot Route the HB
• Against a DT Loop (like from 61), Double Team the DT who is Looping
• Against an Overload Blitz (like from 34 Odd), block the TE then ID the Outside Corner opposite of the TE
• Against DBL Mug, block the TE

1. Turn OFF Auto Flip
2. Pick “Pinch Buck 0”
3. Hover over RG with Right LB
4. Watch the video for a send 3 option!

• This is one of the most popular RPOs in Madden 25, here's how to stop it!

1. Auto Flip: Off
2. Alignment: Base
3. Choose a Nickel/Dime Formation
4. Move Trips Side Safety Outside of Slot CB
5. Hard Flat Slot Corner

• Please watch the video for a full breakdown

1. Call a "Cover 6" play
2. User the TE

• Make sure we don't Shade our Coverage, and our Zone Drops are on Default
• Watch the video for a full breakdown

• Auto Flip: Off
• Playcall: Mike Blitz 0 (Slot Corner is on the Right)

1. Zone Out OLBs
2. Drag MLB as shown in Video
3. See video for full breakdown

• Vikings Defensive Playbook, Dime 1-4
• Playcall: Cross 3 Fire

1. Pinch Defensive Line
2. See video coverages adjustments

• Hold Left Bumper to activate a "High Ball
• This is best used when there's a Defender underneath your WR, and you are Bullet Passing
• See the video for a full breakdown

1.  Base Align On, Auto Flip On
2.  Move 1 or Both OLBs out
3.  Contain
4. Can run Cover 3 Hard Flats, Cover 6 Show 2, or Cover 9 Show 2

• Call 5-2, Fire Zone 2, with Base Align On

1. Spread Defensive Line
2. Blitz All LBs
3. User Safety & Hook Curl other Safety

• See video for Full Guide on Bombing any Zone Coverage
• Be sure to TEST all Bombs in Practice Mode before games