A brand new yr means a brand new Madden. With Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes on the entrance cowl, pocket passers and on-the-run QBs will lastly settle the dispute of who’s the perfect within the NFL. Each new Madden tightens a number of bolts, modifications the UI, and provides new components to the sport that returning gamers is probably not accustomed to.
Here are some ideas and methods for Madden 22 that’ll take your recreation to the following degree.

Shake off the rust
If it’s been a number of years because you’ve performed a Madden recreation, it’s greatest to move into the coaching menu and run some refresher drills. If you’ve by no means performed Madden or watched a soccer recreation on TV, the coach teaches you the fundamentals of every place and the way to use them.
However, the talents coach menu is hidden, so right here’s the way to discover it.
Press the Exhibition tab.
Scroll all the way down to Skills Trainer.
Select your staff and talent degree.
Select the talent you wish to be taught/enhance.
The greatest abilities to observe and hone are RPOs, Attacking Coverages, and Pre Play. Understanding how these work will imply the distinction between landing and turnover.
Understanding and recognizing coverages
Understanding coverages within the passing recreation is crucial to driving downfield and scoring touchdowns. The bane of any Madden participant is a pricey interception, particularly when shortened quarters make picks and fumbles practically inconceivable to recuperate from. Let’s go over the fundamental coverages you’ll come up in opposition to in Madden 22.
How to beat Cover 2
In Cover 2, two deep safeties break up the sphere in half, every protecting their aspect. You’ll acknowledge it by the 2 deep safeties and the CBs taking part in about 5 yards off the receiver. While these tells aren’t all the time a useless giveaway, you’ll be able to belief them extra instances than not. Cover 2’s weak spot is the center of the sphere. However, you will need to control the middle LB and see the place he drops in protection. If he drops again, you’ll be able to hit drag routes beneath him. If he steps ahead, you’ll be able to hit deep in-routes excessive.
The deep sidelines must also be fairly open in case you can maintain one of many safeties in the course of the sphere. Do this by placing a TE on a go route off the road of scrimmage after which hitting a deep nook path to the suitable or left sideline, relying on the place the TE and WR had been lined up.
Cover 2 additionally places DBs in a shallow flat zone, taking away the checkdown throw or not less than stopping you from gaining yards. Verticals work nicely in opposition to these flat zones, as your WR will run previous the CB, discovering a gap within the protection earlier than passing by the deep zone. However, in case you mistake this for Cover 3, you’ll seemingly throw a decide.
How to beat Cover 3
You’ll acknowledge Cover 3 by a single deep security and the CBs taking part in 7 to 8 yards off the WRs. In Cover 3, DBs are accountable for three deep zones, making it more durable to throw the deep ball in case you’ve solely acquired two gamers operating up the sphere. Run verticals to ship 4 receivers into the three zones. Ideally, you’re seeing who the center zone defender goes for after which throwing to the open receiver. The sidelines get dangerous when throwing into Cover 3.
How to beat Man Coverage
DBs are assigned to a specific receiver in Man Coverage, trailing them as they run their route. You can acknowledge Man Coverage pre- and post-snap by how the CBs line up. You can assume it’s Man Coverage in the event that they’re on the road proper in entrance of the receiver. After the play, if the DBs flip their again to the QB, you’ll additionally know they’re in Man protection. In Zone, defenders face the QB and often backpedal into their zones.
Beat Man Coverage with crossing routes, drag routes, ins, outs, and zigs to both “buck” the defender off your receiver or outrun them. Double strikes additionally work in opposition to man protection for a similar motive.
When it involves throwing deep in opposition to man protection, you’ll encounter a Cover 2 scheme, just like the picture above, or a Cover 1 scheme with a single deep security protecting the again of the sphere. Remember, if the defender is you, they’re in zone. Check to see the place the Safeties are wanting earlier than uncorking a deep go downfield. Your speedy WR might have gotten separation, however that doesn’t imply he isn’t operating right into a entice.
Go by your reads
The “Hot Route” receiver on any play is distinguished by the pink colour on the play artwork. However, that doesn’t imply they’re open. Don’t pressure throws to the recent receiver, particularly in the event that they’re operating right into a coated zone or coated in tight man-to-man protection. Instead, decide one other route you want on the play and see in the event that they’re open.
Check-down throws are brief tosses to RBs or TEs out of the backfield. They are often ready within the flat or simply forward of the road of scrimmage. You’ll want to interrupt a deal with for these to be gainful, however checkdowns are often a secure guess to realize a number of yards on the play. However, watch out to not throw right into a coated flat, particularly if the protection is in Cover 2. If they’re blanketed in Man Coverage, you’re higher off throwing the ball away by clicking R3 or scrambling with the QB.
Running QBs are all of the rave in right this moment’s NFL. If your first two reads aren’t there, otherwise you see a gap to run together with your QB, do it. Make positive to expire of bounds or slide to keep away from harm or a pricey fumble.
You will miss a number of passes, and you’ll throw an interception every now and then. Remember to breathe and chill out between dangerous performs. Don’t try to get all of it again on one play, particularly with Madden 22‘s momentum mechanic.
When and the way to blitz in Madden 22
If you get within the behavior of blitzing an excessive amount of, a smart opponent will torch you within the fast passing recreation, finally burning you deep for a landing. Knowing when to blitz and the way totally different blitzes work will make your protection as deadly as your offense.
The most essential factor to concentrate to is the offensive personnel on the sphere. You’ll see what number of RBs, TEs, and WRs are popping out on the play and may gauge what sort of play it’ll be. For instance, if the offense comes out in a two or three TE set, you’ll be able to assume they plan on operating the ball with all that added blocking energy. This can be a great time to blitz.
Otherwise, dial up the blitz on first down and third and lengthy. Your opponent will most certainly open up with a run on first down, so blitzing plugs the holes and forces a second and lengthy. On third and lengthy (10-plus yards), the QB wants time for his receivers to get open, so you may have extra time to strain and sack him. Less than 10 yards makes the third-down blitz riskier than it must be.
Who you blitz with is equally essential. Just since you’re sending an enormous LB doesn’t imply they’ll get to the QB in time to make the sack. Mix up your blitz packages with DBs for his or her pure pace. If you discover the opposing QB likes to scramble proper, ship that CB at him.
Franchise mode in Madden 22
Franchise mode acquired an entire overhaul in Madden 22. You can take management of your favourite NFL staff as a participant, coach, or proprietor, and play by season after season as you develop, change, and improve.
Franchise Mode is damaged into 3 ways to play this yr: Player, Coach, and Owner. Let’s speak about some great benefits of every, with some useful ideas to enhance your recreation on and off the sphere.
Franchise: The participant
You can create a brand new participant at any place or select an energetic participant within the NFL from the beginning. Choosing the participant department will put you in your favourite staff whether or not you create a brand new participant or not. However, you’ll solely management that specific participant off the sphere. You’ll take part in coaching drills to construct their abilities however received’t have full administration controls.
When making a participant, you’ll begin as a rookie and select how massive the hype is round you. For the simplest expertise, choose Top Pick for respectable overalls (lows 80s) and extra freedom. The solely draw back is the expectation that you just’ll carry out nicely. Of course, in case you’re a good Madden participant, you ought to be simply high-quality. You’ll have already chosen which staff you wish to play for, so don’t fear about getting caught on a nasty staff.
For an actual problem, choose the undrafted route to construct your created participant from the bottom up. You’ll start with a mid-60s general and should show your self within the league.
Franchise: The coach
As the coach, you’ll have full management of participant personnel. You can rent and fireplace coaches (apart from your self) and set weekly methods primarily based in your opponent’s strengths and weaknesses. You can set offensive and defensive schemes primarily based in your personnel and allocate Staff Points to spice up your staff additional.
For instance, the Vertical Zone Run scheme works with the New England Patriots within the picture above. However, you’ll wish to purchase a extra Agile offensive line for it to work. Do so by buying and selling with different groups.
Franchise: The proprietor
As the proprietor, you may have 100% management over the staff. Hire and fireplace employees, play all the recreation, and set concession costs at your house stadium. You’ll should handle your cash, re-sign gamers, and take note of what the followers need out of the staff. Answer media questions to provide your self weekly buffs, and don’t be afraid to be cocky. If you are expecting a win after which get the win, your staff receives a buff to Fan Happiness. Lose, and also you’ll be hit with a penalty.
When it involves stadium pricing, take note of what the followers need. Happy followers purchase extra gear when it’s cheaper, particularly at residence video games. Increase costs whereas on the highway, and preserve issues inexpensive at residence.
The proprietor department provides you essentially the most in-depth expertise in Madden 22. You don’t even should play a single recreation if the back-office work is extra fascinating to you. Sim every week, set costs, and take note of the media. Tabbing over to News will provide you with the within scoop on gamers trying to be traded.
Madden 22: Ultimate Team
MUT has blown up through the years. Some followers would moderately have a stand-alone live-service recreation targeted 100% on MUT. However, you’ll have to start out from the underside once more this yr, so listed here are some normal tricks to get you began. We’ll go extra in-depth with a full Ultimate Team information in one other article.
Use the offline challenges to earn cash and respectable gamers. You received’t be getting a 99 general elite Patrick Mahomes out of this, however you’ll earn sufficient to construct a 75 general staff to take on-line in Head to Head seasons.
The greatest challenges are the Superstar challenges for a number of causes. For starters, they’ll earn you many thousand cash as you full them. Completing a problem set rewards you with an 80 to 84 general Superstar Player.
Other than rewards, these challenges make for excellent observe. They’ll put you in several conditions and provide you with a foremost objective and bonus objective to fulfill. For instance, one could be “score a touchdown on this drive” with a bonus objective of “score a touchdown in five plays.” If you fail, you’ll be able to simply restart the problem. Set the A.I. to three-star issue for essentially the most observe. You’re solely capturing your self within the foot whenever you observe in opposition to Rookie defenses.
Understanding X-Factors
The greatest gamers within the league include X-Factors, which may result in game-changing performs. For instance, Tom Brady’s X Factor skill referred to as Pro Reads highlights the primary open goal and ignores strain. Build up TB12’s X-Factor by finishing passes for 5-plus yards. However, taking sacks will lower your X-Factor beneficial properties.
Each X-Factor Superstar has particular talents and distinctive technique of reaching them. To discover and be taught concerning the totally different X-Factors within the recreation:
Select Roster and Playbooks from the principle menu.
Press View Superstar X-Factors.
Find the participant you’re searching for and choose them.
Read their totally different talents and X-Factor circumstances.
Superstar gamers even have passive talents apart from their X-Factor. From the participant display, the primary skill is all the time their X-Factor. Everything else is passive. For instance, one among Brady’s passives is Conductor, which lets him make scorching routes and line changes twice as quick.
Understanding momentum
New to Madden 22 is a tug-of-war-style momentum meter on the high of the mid-game display. You’ve heard all about Home Field Advantage in Madden 22, however momentum is the way you’ll enhance upon it. Build momentum by controlling the sport. Score touchdowns, sack the QB, and pressure turnovers to swing the sport in your favor. When the momentum meter is full in your aspect, it’ll both have constructive results in your staff or unfavourable results on the opposite staff. These are referred to as M-Factors.
For instance, with momentum in your aspect, your gamers may need infinite stamina. Or, your opponent’s QB may have bother seeing non-checkdown receivers. (Instead of the receiver icon, it’ll seem as a pink exclamation level.)
The M-Factors use the identical icon for a number of buffs/debuffs. However, they’ll pop up in bins within the bottom-left and bottom-right of your display, conveniently protecting up your audible listing and project keys. Whether or not that is an oversight, we’re undecided. Perhaps it’s simply one other technique to hone in on the realism of taking part in on enemy turf when the sport isn’t going your approach.

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