Whatever game mode you play in Madden 21, having a strong defense is the most reliable and fulfilling way to win. Defense is a viable way to score if you play it right, and turnovers can put your offense in the best place to pick up points. They say defense wins championships, so if that's the case, here are the key things you need to know about defense in Madden 21.

Choose A Formation Matching Offensive

When your opponent picks a play, it tells you their personnel. It will show how many HBs, TEs and WRs. You need to pick a defense to match this. If they select a play with 3 WRs and you choose a 3-4 or 4-3 play, that means you are leaving a WR to be picked up by a linebacker. With the difference in speed, this is a great matchup for the offense. Some situations can work, especially if you are adamant it will be a running play.

Understand Coverages

Understand the basic coverage options and what the pros and cons are. The most common are Cover 2 Man, Cover 2 Zone and Cover 3. These are the most used. Man defense has most of your defenders accountable for a particular player on the opposition. It is good for long-yardage situations where you want everyone covered. Zone gives the defenders areas of responsibility to cover. This means that even when catches are made they can be contained quicker as there will always be some defenders near. Most players in Madden like to stick to zone for the majority as it's much more effective, especially Cover 3. It's worth knowing what your defenders are better at, and they have a man cover and a zone cover stat.

User The Linebacker Or Safety

We still recommend using an LB or S across the middle. This allows the AI to handle the pass rush, but they will be more effective when controlling the coverage and playing tighter. It takes a lot of practice, but once you get the hang of it, this skill separates average from good players and gets many turnovers. Use the LT/L2 button to strafe and face the QB but then turning and running and following the WR. If you are playing zone, you can cover a couple of receivers at the same time for parts of the play.

Coverage Adjustments

Press Y/triangle to bring up the coverage adjustment options. These can help to manage the opposition depending on the scenario.

Give cushion–up LS – this moves the coverage deeper and is good if you are expecting a deep bomb.
Press–down LS – this moves the coverage tighter and is good on short-yardage situations where they only need to get a small gain for a first down. Be careful as this can leave fast WR 1-on-1 and lead to big plays.
Show blitz – left LS – this brings the players into aggressive positions. If you have an aggressive play selected, it will amp up the risk/reward, and if you have a normal play selected, it can confuse the opposition into thinking you are blitzing.
Base align-right LS – this hides the play design and so opponents can't tell what coverage you are playing as easily.
Shading coverage – up/down/left/right on RS – this forces your defenders to gamble on a certain side. If a player is using the same play, this can help to mitigate it. A great example is drag routes are very popular.
Double cover – on the play, you want to be the double press A/X, upon the RS, then the icon of the receiver you want them to man cover. If they already have a man assignment, they are now doubled. Be aware this will leave holes in your defense, but if an opponent is spamming someone, it is difficult for them.

Strength on defense can frustrate your opponent into silly mistakes. It's also one of the most tried and tested ways to win in any sport. After all, the saying "defense wins championships" wouldn't exist if there wasn't some truth to it, right? These defense-based tips will help you navigate the game and hopefully lead to turnover and big plays.

For more tips, tricks and FAQs answered, be sure to check out our madden guide. Also, you can buy mut coins here. Not only cheap but 100% safe. These coins will help you to make champions and create memorable moments.