How to Read a Defense in Madden 👨‍🏫

[@KurtBenkert]

To learn more football, I made an Ebook that teaches EVERYTHING you need to know, as if you’re a rookie entering the NFL. www.kurtbenkert.com/real-football

[@vespasian8572]

How do I expand the route options? I don't see corner routes.

[@macedoniommaciel9386]

​@vespasian8572 you need hot route master

[@tjharmon6530]

I know this was 2 months ago, but good shit man. Ya know I looked you up on wiki too see if you was for real. You had a short stint in the NFL which I don't understand your smart you seem to know your shit. You obviously love football cause your a Madden fan. May I ask what happen dude? You played with falcons 49ers , and Packers, those are some top teams.

[@KyngKee]

@KurtBenkert link doesn’t work?

[@a92pritchard]

​@@tjharmon6530Tore his ACL. And white QBs are out. Black QBs are in.

[@Axksis]

Kurt is like the cool uncle that had a cool job when you were a kid and could never understand it, but once you grew up yall sat down and had a drink and he explained it all, Great video Kurt, you da GOAT!

[@KurtBenkert]

#1 comment on my channel hands down

[@brandonjakubowski899]

@@KurtBenkerthow do you beat people that man to man people mix with zone? It gets confusing reading where to throw it

[@grantpack410]

Kurt the coolest KZbinr out there man, you for the people!! Thanks for the help

[@GambiiTx]

@@brandonjakubowski899zig routes stop that

[@alexmadden9542]

@@KurtBenkertcan we get a video like this but on how to make motions as useful as possible? u say motions are good but i’m not always sure how to make the most out of them

[@e2rqey]

Learning to read defenses and coverages is probably the one thing which will increase your enjoyment of watching football more than anything else.

[@idgafmp]

They need to change the camera angle of the TV broadcast so we can see the whole field

[@BrutusJrThe3rd]

@@idgafmpthat would be the fcking best!

[@FreshPrincex4]

​@@idgafmp I believe they did that during TNF for a little while a few Years back

[@e2rqey]

@@idgafmp fr. they give you the angle sometimes in the replays, but I hate how often the default shot ends up cutting off everything beyond the LBs.

[@21BEtheAT]

@@FreshPrincex4 they have a view on prime games that is the all 22 all the time even though last year. It's called "prime vision" or something like that.

[@ragz571]

im decent at madden when it comes to stick skill. but when it comes to reading defense and makin offensive reads i struggle, these vids definitely help, appreciate the knowledge

[@assantayrobinson8015]

I will watch every second of this video, and retain absolutely none of it as soon as the ball is kicked, but that’s not your fault, I’m sure you’re doing an amazing job of explaining it all. I’m still gon get to that line and blind fire like I have for the past 30 years

[@jman90ify]

You’re not alone. Makes sense when I watch it and then I go and stare at a foreign language on my screen. Beyond frustrating

[@AnthonyzCity]

This is why Kurt is one of the best Madden KZbinrs. He actually teaches you how to play and see the game. This is something that is going to help my team out a lot. Appreciate man. 🐐

[@team624811904]

I definitely agree 👍🏾

[@BrutusJrThe3rd]

Madden needs to add you for educational tutorials in the game, like practice mode or training camp in franchise. This is amazing stuff

[@Michael_B82]

Like seriously , I watch football breakdowns from real football to learn to be better at Madden. But other youtubers only focus on Madden glitches and not football fundamentals

[@KannabisAnalyst]

As a lineman, I’ve struggled my entire life, irl and in Madden, to understand the way that defenses work beyond the guy right in front of me. Kurt just taught me in 17 minutes. 100% goat. Thank you dude 🙏

[@braedenhorton]

If you like the Defensive side of the ball and want to stop everything Kurt talked about in this video, run Cover 9 Show 2 and Cover 3 Buzz Seam out of Nickel. These Defenses do a great job of disguising the pre-snap coverage, which confuses many novice Madden players. Anyways, great work, Kurt! Love the content. Keep it coming.

[@NasTheGod215]

Everybody just comes out in base align regardless so pre snap coverage is usually always hidden

[@braedenhorton]

If you notice this, start running the rock! Flip your run to the opposite side; since they are base aligned, they won't be able to adjust properly, giving you great leverage on blocking schemes. @@NasTheGod215

[@chrisjones3752]

I just run cover 2 man. It works well

[@braedenhorton]

@@NasTheGod215 If you base align. I'm running the rock all day. Leverage will always be there if the d-line is base-aligned.

[@braedenhorton]

@@chrisjones3752 Underneath crossing routes all day on that cover 2 man.

[@donalds57]

I love the Flood concept vs cover 3. Easy high/low on the flat defender. Can run it a variety of different ways but it keeps the read the same for the QB

[@KurtBenkert]

Gonna have to add in next video

[@e2rqey]

absolutely. so many variations you can run. as a standard play "Singleback Wing Slot - PA Y-Drag Wheel" is great. I love that TE route. its like a checkdown and a late developing deep ball at different points in your progression. also a big fan of having your TE run a cross route the opposite direction of the flood. The route develops at the perfect time so that its right where you want it to be after you read the flood routes. you can throw your RB on a wheel route as well, which enables you to attack cover 3 up the seam with the wheel route while still having multiple windows over the middle of the field with the flood. I also love dagger to the WR1 with the Slot WR clearing out the safety.(dagger plus that ability to generate extra separation on the last cut of a route is *chefs kiss*). I like to audible my RB on a Texas route as well. overall you get an early and late window to hit the crosser. with the ability to hit the Texas as a checkdown between the two windows for the cross. There's a whole bunch you can do with RB audibles in order to attack pretty much every kind of coverage or hedge your bets so that your plays all have routes which beat man and multiple types of zone.

[@Rez12121]

@@e2rqey Whenever i run pa y drag wheel the de always sheds in 1 second and i cant even throw

[@leansippintexan980]

Really wish match coverage worked properly to stop that concept better.. Played a guy who ran flood out of empty set where he motion his WR to other side and it make my Boundary and Field Corners switch sides of the field.. lame glitch in the code of the game and got exploited all game lol

[@e2rqey]

​@@Rez12121 I usually full sprint immediately on the rollout. You still have the flood routes and the RB checkdown if it gets too hairy. But if you can, try to pull it off throw all the way back across the field to the TE. If you don't sprint you're gonna get wrecked. Also, I will run the abilities that make you immune to defensive pressure when on the run, as well as fearless, without inside or outside deadeye. Instead just getting the accuracy from dots so I can use two more abilities instead of both inside and sideline deadeye. Since it's easy to just built Dots and keep it. Then when you have gunslinger, the bullet throw leading pass perk, no throw penalty from pressure, and the deadeye accuracy from Dots. I'm able to hit it pretty consistently. Although I practiced it a lot and with Myles Garrett lined up on that edge position as well. I figure if I can pull it off against him, I should be able to with anyone.

[@EYEGAWD]

I started playing madden about 4 months ago. I was getting super frustrated and then I found your videos. I'm still not good at reading the defense but I can see my mistakes a lot clearer now.

[@TheBrizardMirandas]

What I learned is that more than anything study the tendencies of your opponent because humans are creatures of habit

[@triptrip8353]

frustrated lol its been so easy to score that last 3 years pick any running play hit A and just keep juking and spinning... just hit A quick hick and throw 50 /50 balls all day magically watch the catch and TD

[@EYEGAWD]

@@triptrip8353 sounds like you been playing madden for a while

[@RedneckBoyzTV]

That boy Kurt in his bag makin moves in madden and d’s 1v1s. 🐐 status

[@KurtBenkert]

🫡

[@RIPJimmyA7X]

I dont even play madden but you have a way of explaining things in a simple way to the common man, ive gotten back into ncaa football 14 because of your vids

[@Apollyon_Rev911]

This is amazing. Thank you!

[@KurtBenkert]

Thanks dude!!

[@sameguygolf]

Defense for Dummies or Reading defense 101. Great video to help some of us to understand what you are saying or what you are thinking. Just another quality video. Job well done!

[@KurtBenkert]

Thanks dude 🤟🏼

[@a92pritchard]

I started playing Madden like a week ago and these videos have me running game in pro difficulty already. Seriously made the game way more fun.

[@mcmuffin2159]

Thank you kurt. This helped me understand cover 3, i always throw picks into coverage against it. i love the way you're so vocal on offense and talk through your thoughts pre-snap. really makes me feel like I'm learning while watching. Good luck on your redemption series! ill be watching the whole way! much love

[@JustinSpam]

Great insight KB, thanks for hooking us up!

[@MATTDALOR1AN]

Watching this video makes me realize football is chess

[@TheCappnKidd]

I've been playing Madden since I was about 7 and barely got good within the last few years. I've been picking my older brother apart with route changes to create openings and my run game. Forever my favorite person to play against.

[@phouleSk8s]

11:10 A,RB,B as your 1,2 and 3 receivers. A got forced into the safety. RB was the target. Had him under the safety by 10 or so yards. If you put that ball just under you’re just inside the ten.

[@tjburgess3039]

Best video you have posted yet (aside from your redemption series), I would love to see more like this. I am sure you can go even more in depth on these coverages. This is the kind of content I LOVE!

[@ItsHale]

Not only is this a good video for madden players, but its a good walk through for young quarter backs that are trying to understand the processes they need to go through to identify defense and break them down.

[@adam33star]

You hit the mark on needing to rewatch to 10x to understand, I had that exact thought a few min in. Impeccable work, sir.

[@masonurycki5456]

This is an awesome video! Finally someone breaking down defensive looks. Thank you for this!

[@meatwashington6537]

Kurt.. I hope the Falcons bring you back to compete for the QB1 job

[@nickharriell4180]

WE NEED MORE READING DEFENSES WHOOPS KURT! IT HIT DIFFERENT

[@KurtBenkert]

Otw

[@jeffbowser5896]

I’ve thrown way less picks in madden since I started watching your videos. Like i understood the differences in coverages and stuff before but I couldn’t see it real time, now I see it. Seeing all the checkdowns vs cover 3 just makes me think of James white in the 28-3 game .

[@bobbyboulders3302]

Just found your channel and I’m a huge football guy and consider myself very knowledgeable. That being said, these videos help take my knowledge of the game and break it down for madden so you’re a legend 😂. Let’s get one to help me run the ball against different defenses next so I can keep that lead 👌

[@SalfordAmmies84]

Thank you for this. Anyone can try and explain something. Then there are people who just explain things on a different level. Thank you. 💯

[@jacobdriskell774]

This was always my favorite part of playing QB was the mind games you end up playing with the Linebackers and the Dime safeties for hidden flat coverages and QB spy’s

[@gsNice31]

This actually confused tf out of me even more than before 😵‍💫

[@xavierlagaly2281]

I’m really enjoying your channel. I found it via Instagram reels. I also love that i have commented that your videos stating that you help teach the reading of defenses, then you drop a deep in depth video a couple days later. You are really helping me destroy my friends in madden. Every single time they ask I say my man Kurt taught me some stuff 😂

[@CharlesLonon]

Wow, Thanks for this video. It's complex but the light came on. I'm going to rewatch it and train myself to see space. Keep going DEEP with QB content! Bring the passion for the position. This will bless the next generation of QB Who are Madden Gamers.

[@PolarBlairTech]

I'd also love to see how to adjust a defense based on what you see on offense. I know you could reverse engineer it from these instructions, but I think both perspectives makes it more clear.

[@TheMonarchOfTetris]

Great video, I feel like understanding how defenses and offenses work with blitzes, coverages, and routes makes watching football more fun. There's so much depth and layers to nfl offenses and defenses, it's fascinating to delve into

[@michaelbittner7992]

Great video Kurt. Of course, to understand offense at a high level, you have to have a high level understanding of how the defense is attacking you. The next video I would like to see is how you see defense from a QB's perspective. Like, how to you typically run your defense on Madden. What adjustments you like, or how people can up their game on defense for those who struggle. Thanks!

[@thadc5937]

This is so sick man! The redemption videos got me into motioning the offense and making hot routes. Now hearing how an NFL Qb reads a defense is so cool to me.

[@peopleschoice5183]

That was QB brilliance. The reads placement of the ball. I’m definitely looking to improve my game play! This should help

[@josephthompson8717]

I think it would be cool to see a series of this in the same style as your redemption series, like “what if I played defense” or something like that

[@matthewborkowski5313]

This is awesome man. There are some similar videos up on KZbin about how to read coverages. I think you see the "big picture" of offense and football better than others do. You're also an awesome teacher, and you're really good at communicating your thoughts. Last night I watched this video, hit practice mode to try out come concepts, and then the next game I threw for like 330 yds with 4 TD's and no turnovers on All-Madden. I also teach guitar, and I might honestly end up taking some inspiration from your teaching style into my lessons.

[@SuperBagMan217]

This video is sooooo good. Not only did it teach me a whole lot, but it made me enjoy the game more. Thanks, Kurt!

[@romanlee8287]

I can see you being a coach one day after your playing career is over. I've never heard a pro speak about the game - mind blown.

[@tylerwilson7538]

Great video Kurt giving the secrets of madden and how to get easy dubs.. one that at @11:10 you could have hit RB for an early throw after he broke for either a touchdown or atleast right at the 5

[@notalex1431]

Great video Kurt I know it helped a lot of ppl that struggle on offense.. The only reason I’m good at madden is because of my knowledge of reading defense from when we would watch film on huddle in HS , it’s the only way I can compete with the meta plays 💀 ,

[@slumpjones]

I’m def gonna give this a few watches. Reading defenses is def my weakness and your breakdown here is helpful.

[@KurtBenkert]

Glad it’s here to help 🤝

[@ffilcnikrud8975]

I learn so much from this channel about football. I only know baseball and soccer very well and I’m pretty ignorant when it comes to all these plays and stuff. Thank you for the great content.

[@mikey3877]

I don't have words for how much I enjoyed this video.

[@KurtBenkert]

🤝

[@xHugoxN7]

Thanks Kurt, i've always been more of a Soccer guy and all of this stuff used to go over my head.

[@bryanwebber12]

Absolutely love the video and the concept. It’s very helpful to understand the “why”!

[@mclovnridez4842]

Kurt will tell a great joke, but never a lie. I’ve watched this about 8 times over the last couple days and every time it sinks in just a little deeper. Slow but steady😂💯

[@KurtBenkert]

Welcome to learning a playbook in the NFL

[@brackenwright]

Kurt. This is a game changer. I have never seen the game like this! Excited to try all this out!

[@KurtBenkert]

🤟🏼🤟🏼

[@RekabProductions]

This might be the most helpful video I’ve seen on this topic. Any chance of a video about how to call the correct defenses?

[@frankpavan4117]

While this is an incredibly thorough and detailed tutorial, I still find it extremely challenging in-game to remain as calm, collected and concise in my decision making. I truly want to get much better at madden, but throwing INTs is such a big problem for me and ultimately leads to me being discouraged and scared to throw....But I thank you for this great work, Kurt. I will try implementing this thought process into my games.

[@sirnunez7923]

Ur gonna get smoked trying this ish

[@Carrillo91]

Kurt is for the people! I love watching your shorts and definitely found this video helpful. Please do make more like this, especially with more vs against other players. Great info, great teacher, and most importantly - very fun!👌

[@juntaodagreat9262]

Bro, thank you for this video. I mean seriously. I get wins but I've never had it explained in depth.

[@KurtBenkert]

🫡🫡🫡

[@e2rqey]

Hot Route Master is absolutely amazing if you can actually read coverages. I will just sit in practice mode and run random plays vs random defenses in order to practice understanding coverages and making adjustments/reads. also I dont know if you meant to or not, but while you touched on using motion to determine zone vs man, you didnt actually explain how zone vs man tells from motion work. (a defensive shift vs single guy tracking the motion man)

[@KurtBenkert]

Good call - motion video otw 🫡

[@jpg7616]

Easiest answer - if the defensive player runs to stay with him, it’s man. Thats his guy to cover. So if he goes to the other side, you go with him. If they stay and just shift a little, he’s not stuck with you, because you left his Zone. If you watch this video, the defender starts with him a bit then passes him off once he is the responsibility of another zone. And Kurt said “ok so they’re in zone” see 12:30 in the vid

[@j.d4342]

Need you to show us how to play defense in madden. Appreciate your vids always kurt

[@jevinwallace1878]

Thank you. Need this for franchise playoffs this week. Won my wildcard game last night. 🙏

[@KurtBenkert]

Lfg keep it rolling

[@wesleycarter1050]

Fuggin amazing dude. I love to see this kind of a qb mine. It helps allot. Super impressive!

[@armydude142dontunderestima9]

appreciate this so much. ive seen so many tutorials on youtube and this is the one that finally clicked for me.

[@KurtBenkert]

Let’s go man

[@phoenix86]

So I don't even play Madden, and yet, I tune in whenever a new vid drops. Just enjoy watching someone who is an expert at their craft.

[@KurtBenkert]

🤙🏼🫡🫡

[@blakekipp3770]

This dudes the man. Thanks for the helpful content. Reading defenses adds another level to madden. Appreciate it. Go niners!!!

[@luis.8038]

Damn right THANK YOU KURT ALWAYS BRO MUCH LOVE 🤘🏻🐐🐐🐐

[@tomservo75]

So cool to have an actual former QB give us this level of insight. I would love to see a video like this with a slightly deeper dive. I think it's obvious to a lot of people that Madden, partly to simplify for pleebs like me, and partially because of developer incompetence, does a poor job of simulating football IQ. I might imagine that experienced football players may struggle with Madden because what you see in terms of AI and player movement, strategy does not mirror what they see on the real field. Something of how plays are designed and call sheets put together in general, I think I"d love to see that.

[@matteogauthier5773]

In 7:34 couldnt you have waited until Toney has crossed considering the rush against the o line isn’t overpowering it. The reason I say is the fact that the inside LB already committed right side and since they are in man the left side slant will take away the man on the left side of the field which clears up the field for the left side for even more yards assuming Toney gets good distance off his man. I probably would have thrown Kelce into a flipped route or something that gets him to the left side for a deep pass. Almost like an underneath route on a double post. Like a route in between Valdés and Toney where Valdés keeps the deep safety in line which clears it for Kelce. I would probably probably put a go route on Valdés or something deeper to give Kelce more space and make sure I have the safety leveraged on Valdés.

[@JulioPera99]

It's incredible how little time it takes him to read them

[@KjoshWaddellBananasAreGood]

My classic go to in the older games (dont play the newer ones cause they removed my favorite parts) is just read the safeties, I usually have at least two deep routes so if one safety drops in robber than one of the deep ones should be a makeable throw. great video. All about spacing and leverage!

[@raiderman28]

pretty awesome how you explain it and go through your reads.

[@gideonengelhard3919]

I know you’ve done some videos on using an NFL play call sheet in Madden, but what if you tried using the most Meta madden offensive and defensive pro play setups? Would be interesting to see your analysis on what MCS players do and why it works / wouldn’t work in real life compared to madden.

[@merlaux2720]

Yeah, should do more tactical, understanding of the game type of content, very awesome tbh

[@TARRS1]

Bro, this is the most helpful video on reading defense I've seen. Thank you! It makes sense now!

[@KurtBenkert]

Lfg man

[@kendizz3019]

Hey u broke that down pretty good! That’s one of my problems is reading the defense like I’m supposed to. My pocket presence is not all that good either it’s been alittle struggle with that too but yeah thanks for bringing it more to the light for me👊🏿🤟🏾✌🏽

[@Mainsterr]

Ive been playing Madden for a few years and eventually I taught myself to see the field the way you are seeing it. If I wanted to share a KZbin tutorial for a beginner starting out, I would definitely share this video. You did an excellent job explaining defenses. What offensive playbook do you use? I abuse that Trey Offset - Inside Zone run all the time, its literally broken

[@increase9896]

This was one of the best videos you have made yet. So interesting to learn this stuff.

[@KurtBenkert]

❤️

[@tomservo75]

You make it look so easy Kurt, but thinking about all those possible coverages and where the open spots are and who to go in what order, and to do it all in 10 seconds, that's another story. Most of this went over my head. Maybe a bit more slowly and a deeper dive?

[@TDogg-yw3ww]

This is great content, Kurt. You’re absolutely killing it man, keep up the good work!

[@josephdeatherage3252]

That was a great help! I’ve played Madden forever and haven’t really had it explained like that. Looking for more vids thanks

[@Calvin1991yadigg]

Great patience. If the defense wants to die a slow death so be it. In madden you’re banking on your opponent to get antsy and impatient on offense , it’s frustrating playing someone who has all the answers if you can’t manufacture pressure

[@sxnthwave]

2 man plus mid in KO on corners and deep in KO on safeties is OP

[@nigerianprince7379]

Real talk, I just played probably the most methodical game at QB in NCAA 14 that I've ever had. A combination of looking for the weak spots in different coverages and a healthy dose of empty sets, I was cruising (for the most part lol). This video was incredibly helpful so cheers. It's starting to stick lol

[@ajgreen765]

This video helped me allot looking at coverage differently

[@b.e.r.nnetwork8251]

Honestly reading defenses isn't necessarily needed while playing Madden. What you need to understand is what beats the programming. There's routes and route combos that beats every defense. Another thing that helps me is pre snap reads. The computer does certain things with its alignment and leverage that you lets you know where the defenders will go once you realize that then you can hot route based off of pre snap reads. You also need to have a backup and secondary route and third route as well. Another thing that helps me is looking at the two safeties. I almost always look at the safeties to tell me if it's a cover 2 or cover three or cover 4, cover 1 pre snap is easy to tell and if it's actually something else the movement of the safeties will tell you quickly what the coverage is. Finally, don't look at as you're playing the defense look at it as you're an offensive mastermind and just looking to see where defenders are moving and you're trying to get them to move elsewhere. Learning how to read defenses is important but learning your opponent and weaknesses of coverages is much more important. Having a strategy and actually knowing how football is supposed to be played helps as well. A lot of people just pick up the controller and have very little knowledge behind football. If you're playing online then 9/10 your opponent is going to sit in cover three, learn how to beat cover three.

[@BlackieMike14]

This is what we needed great work

[@KurtBenkert]

🫡🫡🫡

[@ScottDreyfus]

2:53 you missed Kelce for the Td on his primary route. He was more wide open than the one you threw too!

[@Simoneditz10]

Yeah but that’s also up the seam that’s his point

[@juanbrownn]

28 first quarter points, you've transformed my game thanks man

[@jcalv83]

This is great stuff. Thank you. I’m good at manipulating space running the ball out of I, weak, and strong sets but continue to struggle passing. This is very helpful and I’ll probably watch this 6+ times! 😂

[@anthutchinson]

Love the content, Kurt! Keep killing it

[@devw4967]

I love the idea of this video. Not just oh here is basic cover w and cover 3. I like the explaining and the shading plus the game play. My only thing is running corners on cover 3 without a clear out lol

[@CwoodWolfpack]

Wow! How have I not seen this channel sooner. Love these breakdowns. I have a question. What's the point/benefit of id'ing the mike LB?

[@dmgcrimson1569]

Love the work mate

[@SamuelThadius12]

WE NEED EPISODE 9 KURT!!! GREAT VIDEO BTW. I NEEDED THIS!! 🔥

[@KurtBenkert]

On the way 🫡

[@ajc8923]

Yo I could listen to this dude talk football all day lol

[@virtualpenman]

As someone who isn’t versed on some of the coverage terms like robber, it would be nice to just get a quick overview of the term being used. But this is a great video

[@Endzone4six-]

This video helps alot. Thanks Kurt!

[@KurtBenkert]

🫡

[@mindsetmotivation9124]

Im a defense guy. I usually pickup 2 strong DTs and 2 rush outside LBs. Rush 4 drop 8

[@TFBAtheon]

Could you do a video(s) of the inverse? how to counter different things from a defensive perspective?

[@Presmoney24]

Benkert Bangers can’t be beat

[@sku11kid1]

Great video, maybe you could use instant replay to help with explanations after you play a snap. Idk if it’s available in practice!

[@willietomlinson5724]

Thank you for this video . I will need to watch it 10 times to get it in my head .