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Madden 18 Offense and Defense Tips

Madden 18 includes a story mode for the first time in the history of the franchise, dubbed the 'Longshot' mode. This mode takes after the Telltale Games formula, as you take on the role of a young prospect and guide him from the classroom all the way to the NFL Draft, with the aim of being drafted at the highest position possible.

Aside from giving you all the Madden 18 Longshot tips you need to get the best end result possible, we'll also be giving you a wealth of general tips and tricks in order to get you winning every Madden 18 game you play. Read on for tips on how to return a Kickoff in Madden 18, and how to kick a perfect Field Goal.

Madden 18 Offense Tips

With the offense in Madden 18, it’s as much about being able to read the defense, as it is calling the right plays. In the Madden 18 Offense tips below, we’ll give you all the info you need in order to dominate on the offensive side of the ball.

    • As soon as you call a play, look at the position of the defenders on the field. If they’re up close to your receivers, the coverage is probably man, but if they’ve backed off, then it’s more likely to be zone.
    • Do any of the defenders move before the snap? If two defenders move at the same time ie on comes forward to the line and another fills their place, then the player that moves forward to the line is getting ready to blitz.
    • As a general rule, only use the 'aggressive blocking' option for your offensive line if you absolutely need to, as offensive holding calls are far more likely when using this.
    • If you aren’t confident in the play you’ve called, you can audible (switch) to another play in the same formation, by pressing X/Square.
    • To change the route of a single receiver, press Y/Triangle, press their corresponding button, then change their route with the D-pad, analogue sticks, shoulder and trigger buttons.
    • Don’t force the ball! It’s better to take a sack in Madden 18 than it is to throw a pick, and give possession over to your opponent.
    • When you’re controlling either a running back or receiver with the ball, hold the right shoulder button to protect the ball if you know you’ll be tackled. This helps prevent your player fumbling.
    • Alternatively, press B/O with the ball carrier and use the right stick to spin to either side, taking you out of the grasp of oncoming defenders.
    • Take note of the button prompts after you’ve thrown the ball. The game will advise you to make a possession catch with X/Square, or an aggressive catch if you’re fighting for the ball with Y/Triangle.

Madden 18 Defense Tips

On the defensive side of the ball in Madden 18, it’s all about reacting to your opponent’s moves. You can call the best play possible, but it won’t mean anything if you don’t adjust according to your opponent. The Madden 18 Defense tips below will give you the edge.

    • Look at how the offense lines up in relation to your defense. Do you have enough players in coverage to match up to every receiver and tight end?
    • If not, or if you need to modify anything, press Y/Triangle, and then the corresponding button over the head of a defender to change their assignment.
    • Alternatively, you can switch plays just like on the offense, using the X/Square button to bring up a list of plays you can change to.
    • You can choose one player to take control of while playing defense, and you’ll be able to move around freely while doing this. Stick to your assignment though, or the entire play could end in disaster if a receiver goes completely uncovered.
    • You can change the type of pass rush you want, for example you can opt for an 'aggressive pass rush' before the snap, and all blitzing personnel will gain increased stats relating to pass rush.
    • Once the ball is throw to a receiver, press B/O to switch to the defender nearest to them. If you plan on intercepting the ball, hold Y/Triangle before a catch is made, but if you need to tackle the player with the ball instead, then press X/Square.
    • If your defender gets blocked by an opponent, and the player with the ball is running nearby to you, you can extend an arm and attempt to grab them as they pass. Press the left shoulder button if the ball carrier is running to the right, and vice versa for the left side, to grab the ball carrier.

Madden 18 Player Ratings Guide

In this section of our guide hub, we'll be running down the best Madden 18 players at every position on the field, in order to give you an idea of the overall best team in the game, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of each team. For example, if you want an offense that focusses more on the pass, then you'll probably want to go with either New England or Green Bay, but if you want a team that favors the running back, then it might be a good idea to go with Seattle or Dallas.