If you’re a type of Madden gamers who refuses to waste their time in pay-to-win modes like Ultimate Team, Madden 23’s Face of the Franchise may be the single-player avenue you’re searching for.
While single-player took a again seat to MUT in recent times, Face of the Franchise presents a extra private solution to play Madden 23. And although it doesn’t come with out points and glitches, Madden gamers can relax and loosen up on this less-stressful NFL expertise.
But what are one of the best positions in Madden 23 Face of the Franchise? How do you improve your participant, and are the choices you make actually that essential to the general expertise? We’ll reply all these questions and extra as we dive headfirst into Face of the Franchise mode in Madden 23.

How does Face of the Franchise work?

Madden 23 lastly ditched the music and dance they’d been placing out for a number of years. You’re not a “college prospect” seeking to make it within the league. You don’t should wade via the boring (and horribly written) minimize scenes for 3 hours earlier than you lastly hit the sector (with a group you didn’t wish to be on).
Instead, you’re a five-year vet searching for their breakout season. You can select any group within the league and might play one in every of 5 positions: QB, WR, RB, LB, or CB. Best of all, you’ll be able to have 5 totally different save recordsdata for every place, every leveling up individually as you play. For instance, you’ll be able to have a 90 OVR QB, an 86 OVR RB, and a 74 OVR CB with the identical created character.
You can even change your construct between agile, balanced, and bruiser at any time. Each comes with its personal base stats and playstyle. For instance, agile gamers are sooner than bruisers however are extra prone to fumbles.
You’ll stage up by incomes improve factors to spend money on your specific expertise. But how do you get improve factors in Madden 23?
How to improve your participant

Playing video games and finishing weekly actions earns you Cred (blue) and Rep (pink). Cred helps you to purchase stuff within the Yard. Meanwhile, Rep is your XP and crucial factor you’ll be able to earn in Face of the Franchise. The extra Rep you earn, the sooner you’ll stage up.
The aim is to achieve stage 30, which places you within the 99 Club after you allocate all of your improve factors. But maintain your horses; that received’t occur in 1 season. We’re virtually to the playoffs on our RB’s first season, and we’re barely scratching an 82 OVR.
On the sector, you’ll solely management your participant. So, for those who’re an RB, you’ll solely run your routes and take handoffs. You received’t play protection, and also you’ll by no means throw the ball. You can all the time choose the performs you run, so you might simply name operating performs for your self all sport (however that’s not going to work very effectively).
Before every sport
You’ll have just a few issues to do earlier than each sport. You might need to speak to your agent, Sosa, or your offensive/defensive coordinator. The most essential belongings you’ll should do are set your weekly targets and aspect actions. But what are one of the best actions and targets to set?
Set real looking targets

While it feels like company jargon, setting real looking weekly targets is one of the best factor you are able to do for your self. Some targets are out of your management, particularly on protection, whereas others are far-fetched. You’ll all the time have three choices: simple, medium, and exhausting. Each aim earns you extra Rep based mostly on the issue.
In the picture above, our simple aim, “Rush for 50 Yards,” is fairly attainable. The medium aim, “Rush for 2 Touchdowns,” is definitely doable. But our third aim, “Get 10 yards per carry,” is borderline not possible. One awful run may derail our dashing common, leaving loads of Rep on the desk. We’re selecting the “two touchdowns” weekly aim on this scenario.
You’ll additionally get targets periodically earlier than every drive. The similar precept applies. Pick targets inside your management which can be fairly attainable. Don’t simply take the simple one.
Fill your week (stamina doesn’t matter)

You’ll additionally choose each day actions earlier than every sport. One day will all the time be devoted to observe, whereas the opposite days can earn you stat boosts for the following sport(s), like +3 power or +2 velocity. Some actions earn you Cred, however for those who don’t care concerning the Yard, keep away from these in favor of stat-boosting actions.
Only choose the Cred-building actions after they should do with Brand Awareness. That’s the way you get the Nike contract. Unfortunately, that Nike contract doesn’t actually do something in your character’s OVR or on-field efficiency.
You have the choice to go nothing, which supplies you +1 stamina for the following sport. But we discovered there’s no purpose to not replenish your schedule. Most actions provide you with a stamina increase anyway, particularly those earlier than sport day. We additionally by no means discovered stamina to be a difficulty. Our RB performs each snap, operating routes and taking handoffs. He by no means will get drained, even after a busy week.
Regarding observe, it’s value taking part in the drills at first to get a really feel for the sport. The digicam angles are barely totally different, and also you received’t get sufficient preseason drives to get used to it. You can simply maintain repeating the drills till you are feeling comfy. Then, simply simulate observe each week. Trying to get gold isn’t definitely worth the time sink for an additional 75 Rep (you’ll all the time earn 25 from a bronze medal).
Best Face of the Franchise positions in Madden 23
So, the query stays: What Face of the Franchise place must you play in Madden 23? We’ve ranked every obtainable place from our favourite to least favourite and detailed the professionals and cons of every.
Running Back
So far, we’ve had probably the most enjoyable taking part in RB in Face of the Franchise mode. If you select a group with a strong QB, you need to be effectively in your solution to the 99 Club. The gameplay can also be extra enjoyable as an RB. You can run routes within the passing sport and pound the rock within the operating sport.
Screen passes are exhausting to run whereas controlling the RB, so we keep away from them. Most of the time, Patrick Mahomes throws it in the direction of the sidelines and away from our blocking defenders.
You’ll even be an every-down again, that means you play first, second, and third down (whereas most groups have a third-down receiving again like JD McKissic or James White pre-retirement).
You can all the time name for the ball within the passing sport by urgent the X button (A on Xbox) whereas operating your route. If the QB hasn’t determined but, they’ll all the time throw you the ball for those who name for it (even when it’s a horrible thought).
Quarterback
While most gamers will begin because the QB, you’ll find out how handcuffed you might be in Madden 23. The digicam is hard to get used to, particularly the one which places you behind the QB’s hip. You can pull the digicam again by tapping down on the D-pad, however it’s nonetheless not simple to learn the sector in comparison with commonplace gameplay.
But taking part in QB provides you probably the most management over each sport. Since you’ll mechanically begin wherever you play (The Bucs will bench Brady in your 74 OVR QB), choose a group you want or a group with a playbook you get pleasure from operating. You can’t change the playbook when you select a group, so maintain that in thoughts.
For instance, we select the 49ers as a result of we like their playbook, not as a result of they made us one of the best supply. We’ll contact extra on that in a while.
The solely factor you’ll be able to’t do is movement receivers pre-snap. Motion is a big a part of taking part in Madden 23, because it places receivers in new positions based mostly on the protection. For some purpose, Face of the Franchise doesn’t allow you to movement receivers because the QB.
You can movement your self pre-snap when taking part in RB or WR. So, clearly, the mechanics exist on this sport mode. Hopefully, EA fixes this, because it’s borderline detrimental to taking part in QB in Face of the Franchise.
Wide Receiver
Offense is clearly the higher alternative in Face of the Franchise mode. We had WR ranked decrease till we realized that your play artwork doesn’t actually matter. You can realistically run wherever you need on a play after which name for the ball while you’re open. Be cautious, although. If the QB throws to you on their very own, they’ll throw based mostly on the designed route, not your improvised one.
Make positive you choose a group with a superb QB, just like the Chiefs, Bills, or Bucs, to profit from your WR profession. You can even sizzling route your self (and different receivers) on each play, even when taking part in RB. However, the button icons received’t present up, so that you’ll should know the receiver’s title when sizzling routing them.
It’s additionally a bit of inconsistent while you’ll auto-catch a cross and while you’ll should RAC, aggressive, or possession catch. We imagine you’ll auto-catch when the CPU throws you the ball with out you calling for it. But, for those who name for it, be able to press X, Square, or Triangle to catch the ball.
Defense
While it sounds cool on paper, protection wasn’t enjoyable in Face of the Franchise mode. Of the 2, we loved taking part in LB greater than CB, however solely by a bit of. You’re extra concerned as an LB, as you’ll play the run and canopy intermediate routes within the passing sport.
CB was our least favourite expertise. It’s virtually not possible to inform when the offense runs the ball till the announcers say one thing. We additionally felt the CPU was doing a lot of the work within the passing sport. The few occasions a ball did come our method, our Safety was there to interrupt it up.
Be cautious about unlawful block within the again penalties
This is a fast tip however an essential one. When you’re out operating within the open subject, and a teammate will get the ball, ensure you don’t by accident push a defender from behind. This triggers an unlawful block within the again penalty and can value you 10 yards from the spot of the foul.
We discovered this most annoying when taking part in WR and operating mid-field mesh ideas. All the gamers scrambled collectively, and we took our eyes off our character to see the place the ball went. Then, we by accident pushed somebody from behind, and out got here the yellow flag.
Pick your favourite group

The sport tells you all about wage, scheme match, Cred, and Rep positive aspects, however none of that basically issues. Just choose your favourite NFL group or a group whose playbook you want as QB, and roll with that. You’ll all the time be the starter, so don’t fear about making the group or inserting excessive on the depth chart.
Money additionally doesn’t matter. It’s not like you should buy cool stuff in your condominium. The solely “monetary” factor that issues is Rep factors since that’s the way you stage up your participant.
Change your digicam angle
The default digicam in Face of the Franchise is horrible. As a QB, you’ll be able to solely see half of the sector. As a receiver or RB, you haven’t any thought while you’re getting the ball thrown your method. It’s not so unhealthy on protection, however we favor taking part in behind our defender for a extra immersive expertise.
To change the digicam, faucet down on the D-Pad as soon as for a extra conventional offensive digicam. On protection, faucet up on the D-Pad to zoom behind your participant. You can’t use the normal digicam (like Franchise or MUT) on both aspect of the ball.
There aren’t any penalties
Face of the Franchise doesn’t really feel like there are any penalties to your play or decision-making. Even for those who throw seven picks in a sport, you’ll nonetheless end the sport and begin subsequent week. Your offensive coordinator will let you know the way you’re “Lighting it up out there,” and Sosa, your agent, may have some sick new deal for you.
Sadly, this takes any sense of “winning” out of Face of the Franchise mode. The sport doesn’t reward you for a lot. For instance, our RB set the single-season TD and yardage document in week 15, and all we obtained was a fast “congratulations” message from the in-game ranking adjuster. No additional Rep, no additional improve factors. Nothing.

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