If you want to dominate your opponents on the defensive side of the ball, you need to know How to Blitz in Madden.
Blitzing concepts have been part of real football since the golden age of the NFL. Defensive coordinators use these same concepts while adding new ones to give quarterbacks different looks. Some defensive coordinators use a zone blitz scheme, others use a man coverage blitz scheme, and others use both. They all have one common goal: to get after the quarterback. In Madden, you are the team's defensive coordinator. Knowing the nuts and bolts of How to Blitz in Madden and when to blitz will improve your defense dramatically.
Blitzing is the act of sending more defenders than the offense can block, creating pressure on the quarterback and forcing him to make quick and inaccurate throws. However, blitzing also leaves your secondary vulnerable to big plays, so you need to be smart and selective about when and how you blitz.
Five Objectives of Blitzing the Quarterback:
The ultimate goal of blitzing is to sack the quarterback, but that's not the only measure of success. Blitzing can also create pressure that forces the quarterback to throw faster than he wants to, leading to inaccurate passes and possible interceptions.
Even if the quarterback can make a good read, evade the pressure, and deliver the ball, he will likely settle for short throws that don't move the chains. These are the five objectives of a blitzing defense.
- Sack the quarterback.
- Force the quarterback to make bad throws.
- Create turnovers by intercepting passes or causing fumbles.
- Limit the quarterback's options to short passes.
- Control the pace of the game.
Five Cons of Utilizing the Blitz
As much as we like to tell you that blitzing will work every time, the reality is it won't. Below are Five Cons of Utilizing the Blitz.
- Unless the defense is using a zone blitz, it requires man-to-man coverage. This often leaves defensive backs in one-on-one coverage without safety help.
- This increases the chance for the offense to score on a big play if the offensive line and backs can pick up the blitz, giving the quarterback time to scan the field and find an open receiver.
- Athletic quarterbacks who can escape the pocket can also break containment and scramble for large gains.
- Defenders may tire more quickly if they are continually sent on a blitz.”
Tips for Effective Blitzing:
Here are some effective Madden tips to help with How to Blitz in Madden.
- Madden NFL 06 was the first game to include random blitz assignments, and those assignments have been kept in the games since.A defender assigned to blitz a particular gap may not always do what the play diagram shows. This was done to counter nanos (instant heat). When setting up a defense in practice mode, keep in mind that your blitz may not work twice in a row because defenders will randomly blitz different gaps.
- For best results, put your fastest defensive personnel on the field when blitzing the quarterback. The more speed the defender has, the quicker he will get to the quarterback. First, set up blitz packages in practice mode. Once you feel comfortable, try them in a real game situation. A blitz that works in practice mode may not always work the same way in regular game mode. That's why we suggest running them in a real game situation to be sure they work.
- You don't want to play a human online and call a blitz you thought worked, then suddenly it doesn't and you get burned for a big play. The best way to learn to set up blitz packages is to put one controller on your team and the other controller on the other. Once on the field, set up the defense and then run the play to see if it works. If it does work, then you know you can comfortably run it against a human opponent online or offline.
- Learn to manually blitz a defender if he is playing zone or man coverage. You can generate even more heat on the quarterback than a default blitz defense. Once you find a blitz setup that works, be sure to run it against multiple formations to see if it is effective or not.
- If your opponent smells blitz, he can use the slide protection feature to counter your blitz setup. That's why it's important to set up blitz packages against the four slide protection adjustments. Repetition is imperative when learning how to set up blitz packages. Some take time to set up.
- We cannot stress how important it is to use instant replay to see how pass protection works against the blitz.
- Don't blitz it too often or your opponent will catch on and adjust their protection or call quick passes.
- Watch out for runs to the outside or screens to the running back or receiver. You might want to audible to a different play if you anticipate these.
- Be ready to switch your user defender if the offense throws to the middle of the field or to your side. You can also drop back into coverage if you see that the blitz is picked up.
- Fake blitz with a defender who drops back into zone coverage by moving him up near the line of scrimmage. Once the ball is snapped, drop him back into coverage. This tip will create confusion for the offensive linemen.
- Have fun sacking the quarterback and forcing turnovers!
Final Thoughts:
We hope this Madden Guides post has helped you learn How to Blitz in Madden. If you have any questions or feedback, please leave a comment below. Thanks for reading and happy gaming!
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