GigaNation
10-02-2002, 12:15 PM
Pre-Reading the defensive coverage before the snap
Being able to read the defense before the snap can greatly improve your QB rating and
increase your chances of winning more games. There are several tip offs in Madden 2003
that will allow you to read what your opponent is calling. Knowing what each key is will
allow you to know who to throw to before you even snap the ball. In this section of the
Virtual Playbook for Madden 2003, we are going to look at several ways you can pre-read
the defensive coverages and what to look for to make you an offensive scoring machine.
Is the defense playing man or zone?
That's the first question that should come to mind when you come out of the huddle after
calling a pass play. Is the defense playing man or zone? In Madden 2003 it is not always
is easy to tell, but there are a few keys that will let you know if it is man or zone coverage
The most common way is to send a receiver in motion. Obviously if the defender follows
the receiver in motion, then it's man coverage. However by doing that, you are letting
your opponent know that you are checking to see what coverage he is in. Your opponent
may decide to audible to a zone to counter and conceal his defensive coverage.
There is another way to tell and it won't give away your advantage if your opponent is
running Dime or Quarter. Simply use the coach cam that allows you to view the routes
you are running. If you're playing online you can do this and your opponent will not see
what routes your running. If you're playing at home with a buddy this won't work, since
you will be giving away the offensive play you have just called. What you want to do is
look at the LCB or RCB to see if the line runs through the defenders legs or on the inside
of the defenders leg. If the line runs through the defender legs it is man lock coverage,
but if it runs inside the defender's legs it is zone coverage.
In the previous sentence we mention the phrase "man lock" coverage. There is a
difference between man and man lock. The difference is if the defense is in just man, the
defender will not follow the receiver if he is sent in motion. If he follows the receiver sent
in motion then this is what is called man lock. The defender is locked in man coverage on
the receiver.
This only applies to the LCB and RCB who are covering the FL and SE. For example say
the defense comes out in Dime Man Lock and you either send the FL in motion and the
LCB follows him or you use the coach cam to see if the defense is in man or zone. You
notice the defense is in man because of the way the LCB is playing the FL. Next time you
call Singleback Normal and the defense again has a Dime defense, but this time the
defense is in Dime Over 2. You use the coach cam to see if the defense is in man or zone.
You decide that the defense is playing a zone, which would seem the right guess, but
when you send the SL in motion, the DB1 follows the SL. Now you are thinking maybe he
is in man because of the DB1 following the SL.
In Madden 2003 if the DB1 or DB2 is covering the SL1 or SL2 in man coverage, he will
always follow him regardless of whether the RCB or LCB are playing man or zone
coverage. Just because DB1 followed the SL, it doesn't mean the rest of the defense is in
man coverage. Don't get fooled by this and make a mistake reading the coverages.
Another example we like to talk about is if the defense calls Dime Under 2 Man. This is a
man defense, but it looks like a zone because the cornerbacks are playing man lock
coverage. If you were to send the FL in motion, the LCB would not follow him. This
indicate its zone coverage, when in reality it's just man coverage, not man lock coverage.
This probably sounds somewhat confusing to you, but if you go into practice mode and
look at it in more detail it will make more sense
Remember this only works if the defense is in Dime or Quarters. If the defense is
in 4-3, 3-4, 46 or Nickelthis doesn't work the same. Below we show a table of all the
defenses that are in the Dime and Quarters formations. We show which one' use man
lock, man, zone or a man/zone combination. We also show a few picks demonstrationg a
line running through man lock and aline running on the inside foot of a defender showing
zone.
What if the Defense is in the Nickel Defense, how can you pre-read the
coverages?
This one is pretty easy to answer, just look at where the NB lines up. If you play on the
default camera angle then you will not see the NB on the screen if he is in man coverage.
If he is in zone coverage you will see him on the screen.
If you play in the Madden classic camera angle you will see him if he is man coverage, but
his left shoulder will be just inside the TV screen view area. If he is playing zone, he will
line up a little further inside.
This hold true if you have called a Singleback set or Shotgun Formation. If you call for 3
WR sets with both backs in the backfield such as I-Form 3 WR , Pro Form 3 WR, Weak 3
WR or Strong Form 3 WR, the NB will line up across from the SL receiver if it's man
coverage. If it's zone he will line up on the opposite side. Unless of course your opponent
is a smart player on defense and flips the play.
This will put the NB right across from the SL even though he is in zone coverage. Below is
a table of all the Nickel defenses detailing whether the NB is playing man, zone or is
blitzing.We also show some pictures of what the NB will look like if he is playing man or
zone coverage.
How can tell if the Defense is blitzing or not?
This one can be hard to tell with the linebackers. Sometimes they show blitz, then drop
back in zone coverage. If you see a linebacker showing blitz, just make sure you keep a
eye on him after the snap to see what he does. If you see a FS or SS creeping up to line
without a human moving manually him, then it means blitz. There aren't any defenses
that we know of where the FS or SS will move up to the line of scrimmage without
blitzing. The same can be said about the other defensive backs as well. If the are showing
blitz without a human controlling them, it means they are blitzing.
How can I tell if the Defense is doubling up on my receivers?
This one is easy one to tell. If the CPU or a human uses the coverage audible, the
defender or defenders will move closer to the man they are covering. For instance if the
defense calls Dime Double Man wide, both safeties will move closer to the SE and FL. If
the defense calls 4-3 Double X (SE), the FS will move closer to the X (SE) receiver.
What is the Coverage Audible? How can I tell if my opponent is using it?
We briefly talked about it in the paragraph above. The definition given by the Madden
2003 manual is this: Shifts the linebackers and safeties into better position to cover their
assigned man.
Well that definition is mostly true, but there are times when the defense shifts a
linebacker or defensive back into a better position, but it doesn't mean the defender is
covering a man on defense. For instance go into practice mode and try these following
examples. Call the 46 Safe and call the coverage audible. The SLB will shift to the outside,
but he is not in man coverage. Here is another one, go into Dime and call Cover 2 Pinch,
watch DB2 adjust his position. Call Dime Cover 2 against I-Form Normal, watch both DB1
and DB2 adjust their position even though they are not in man coverage. So definition
given by the manual is not exactly accurate. The definition should be as follows: "Shifts
the linebackers and safeties into better position to cover their assigned man or shifts them
in a different position to cover their assigned zone area."
There are other keys to look for, but these tips that we have talked about above should
get you started in being able to read the defensive coverages before the snap. The best
thing to do is go into practice mode and spend some time looking at what each defensive
formation does and what defenders will do if the defense uses the coverage audible. If
you're able to tell what each defense is going to do before the snap, your offense will be
almost unstoppable.
Being able to read the defense before the snap can greatly improve your QB rating and
increase your chances of winning more games. There are several tip offs in Madden 2003
that will allow you to read what your opponent is calling. Knowing what each key is will
allow you to know who to throw to before you even snap the ball. In this section of the
Virtual Playbook for Madden 2003, we are going to look at several ways you can pre-read
the defensive coverages and what to look for to make you an offensive scoring machine.
Is the defense playing man or zone?
That's the first question that should come to mind when you come out of the huddle after
calling a pass play. Is the defense playing man or zone? In Madden 2003 it is not always
is easy to tell, but there are a few keys that will let you know if it is man or zone coverage
The most common way is to send a receiver in motion. Obviously if the defender follows
the receiver in motion, then it's man coverage. However by doing that, you are letting
your opponent know that you are checking to see what coverage he is in. Your opponent
may decide to audible to a zone to counter and conceal his defensive coverage.
There is another way to tell and it won't give away your advantage if your opponent is
running Dime or Quarter. Simply use the coach cam that allows you to view the routes
you are running. If you're playing online you can do this and your opponent will not see
what routes your running. If you're playing at home with a buddy this won't work, since
you will be giving away the offensive play you have just called. What you want to do is
look at the LCB or RCB to see if the line runs through the defenders legs or on the inside
of the defenders leg. If the line runs through the defender legs it is man lock coverage,
but if it runs inside the defender's legs it is zone coverage.
In the previous sentence we mention the phrase "man lock" coverage. There is a
difference between man and man lock. The difference is if the defense is in just man, the
defender will not follow the receiver if he is sent in motion. If he follows the receiver sent
in motion then this is what is called man lock. The defender is locked in man coverage on
the receiver.
This only applies to the LCB and RCB who are covering the FL and SE. For example say
the defense comes out in Dime Man Lock and you either send the FL in motion and the
LCB follows him or you use the coach cam to see if the defense is in man or zone. You
notice the defense is in man because of the way the LCB is playing the FL. Next time you
call Singleback Normal and the defense again has a Dime defense, but this time the
defense is in Dime Over 2. You use the coach cam to see if the defense is in man or zone.
You decide that the defense is playing a zone, which would seem the right guess, but
when you send the SL in motion, the DB1 follows the SL. Now you are thinking maybe he
is in man because of the DB1 following the SL.
In Madden 2003 if the DB1 or DB2 is covering the SL1 or SL2 in man coverage, he will
always follow him regardless of whether the RCB or LCB are playing man or zone
coverage. Just because DB1 followed the SL, it doesn't mean the rest of the defense is in
man coverage. Don't get fooled by this and make a mistake reading the coverages.
Another example we like to talk about is if the defense calls Dime Under 2 Man. This is a
man defense, but it looks like a zone because the cornerbacks are playing man lock
coverage. If you were to send the FL in motion, the LCB would not follow him. This
indicate its zone coverage, when in reality it's just man coverage, not man lock coverage.
This probably sounds somewhat confusing to you, but if you go into practice mode and
look at it in more detail it will make more sense
Remember this only works if the defense is in Dime or Quarters. If the defense is
in 4-3, 3-4, 46 or Nickelthis doesn't work the same. Below we show a table of all the
defenses that are in the Dime and Quarters formations. We show which one' use man
lock, man, zone or a man/zone combination. We also show a few picks demonstrationg a
line running through man lock and aline running on the inside foot of a defender showing
zone.
What if the Defense is in the Nickel Defense, how can you pre-read the
coverages?
This one is pretty easy to answer, just look at where the NB lines up. If you play on the
default camera angle then you will not see the NB on the screen if he is in man coverage.
If he is in zone coverage you will see him on the screen.
If you play in the Madden classic camera angle you will see him if he is man coverage, but
his left shoulder will be just inside the TV screen view area. If he is playing zone, he will
line up a little further inside.
This hold true if you have called a Singleback set or Shotgun Formation. If you call for 3
WR sets with both backs in the backfield such as I-Form 3 WR , Pro Form 3 WR, Weak 3
WR or Strong Form 3 WR, the NB will line up across from the SL receiver if it's man
coverage. If it's zone he will line up on the opposite side. Unless of course your opponent
is a smart player on defense and flips the play.
This will put the NB right across from the SL even though he is in zone coverage. Below is
a table of all the Nickel defenses detailing whether the NB is playing man, zone or is
blitzing.We also show some pictures of what the NB will look like if he is playing man or
zone coverage.
How can tell if the Defense is blitzing or not?
This one can be hard to tell with the linebackers. Sometimes they show blitz, then drop
back in zone coverage. If you see a linebacker showing blitz, just make sure you keep a
eye on him after the snap to see what he does. If you see a FS or SS creeping up to line
without a human moving manually him, then it means blitz. There aren't any defenses
that we know of where the FS or SS will move up to the line of scrimmage without
blitzing. The same can be said about the other defensive backs as well. If the are showing
blitz without a human controlling them, it means they are blitzing.
How can I tell if the Defense is doubling up on my receivers?
This one is easy one to tell. If the CPU or a human uses the coverage audible, the
defender or defenders will move closer to the man they are covering. For instance if the
defense calls Dime Double Man wide, both safeties will move closer to the SE and FL. If
the defense calls 4-3 Double X (SE), the FS will move closer to the X (SE) receiver.
What is the Coverage Audible? How can I tell if my opponent is using it?
We briefly talked about it in the paragraph above. The definition given by the Madden
2003 manual is this: Shifts the linebackers and safeties into better position to cover their
assigned man.
Well that definition is mostly true, but there are times when the defense shifts a
linebacker or defensive back into a better position, but it doesn't mean the defender is
covering a man on defense. For instance go into practice mode and try these following
examples. Call the 46 Safe and call the coverage audible. The SLB will shift to the outside,
but he is not in man coverage. Here is another one, go into Dime and call Cover 2 Pinch,
watch DB2 adjust his position. Call Dime Cover 2 against I-Form Normal, watch both DB1
and DB2 adjust their position even though they are not in man coverage. So definition
given by the manual is not exactly accurate. The definition should be as follows: "Shifts
the linebackers and safeties into better position to cover their assigned man or shifts them
in a different position to cover their assigned zone area."
There are other keys to look for, but these tips that we have talked about above should
get you started in being able to read the defensive coverages before the snap. The best
thing to do is go into practice mode and spend some time looking at what each defensive
formation does and what defenders will do if the defense uses the coverage audible. If
you're able to tell what each defense is going to do before the snap, your offense will be
almost unstoppable.