MS Film Room Episode 3: Beating Cover 3 Defenses

In this week’s Madden School Film Room Stickwork is going over a bunch of different ways to beat cover 3 defenses in Madden 18.

Check it out below.

Playbook: Philadelphia Eagles

Formation: Singleback Deuce Y Flex

Play: PA Smash Mills

Setup:

1. Put the A/X tight end on a streak
2. Drag or in route the X/Square receiver
3. Block the running back
4. Motion the B/O receiver to the left side of the screen

Reads:

1. The first read on this play will be the T/Triangle tight end on the curl route
2. Then look for the main target on the play the B/O receiver deep over the middle
3. If those are not there check it down to the X/Square receiver

Overview: This play is a phenomenal play. The B/O receiver is going to be open against any type of coverage the defense throws at you. Motioning him to the left side makes his route extremely effective.

Playbook: Philadelphia Eagles

Formation: Singleback Wing Tight

Play: HB Stretch

Setup:

1. None Required

Reads:

1. Follow the blockers

Overview: A stretch run play is very effective against Cover 3 style defenses. This is because the outside corners are in deep zones.

Playbook: Philadelphia Eagles

Formation: Gun Bunch

Play: Corner Strike

Setup:

1. Put the A/X receiver on a fade
2. Motion the B/O receiver out to the right

Reads:

1. First reads are the high low route concepts on the right of the screen
2. Then, look for the high low route concepts on the left side of the screen
3. Finally, look deep to the A/X receiver on the fade route

Overview: Against a Cover 3 defense the A/X receiver is going to get behind the coverage for a deep bomb just about every time.

Playbook: Philadelphia Eagles

Formation: Gun Tight Slots

Play: PA Eagle Seam

Setup:

1. Put the B/O receiver on a streak
2. Put the Y/Triangle receiver on a hitch

Reads:

1. The first read is to look for the X/Square receiver on the over route
2. If that is not there look for the Y/Triangle receiver or playmaker him
3. As a check down, you have the tight end on the delay route

Overview: This play is very effective because the X/Square receiver’s route will need to be user covered if the opponent is in Cover 3. Then once the user is out of the play, you can playmaker the Y/Triangle receiver effectively.

Playbook: Philadelphia Eagles

Formation: Gun Trey Y Flex

Play: Flanker Dig

Setup:

1. Drag the B/O receiver
2. Put the running back on an out to the right (optional)

Reads:

1. The first read is the B/O receiver quick on the drag route
2. Then look for the A/X tight end over the middle
3. If that is not there look for the X/Square receiver on the in route
4. Lastly, check it down to the running back

Overview: This play more so attacks the middle of the field on a Cover 3, most of the other plays so far have attacked the sidelines the majority of the time.

Playbook: Philadelphia Eagles

Formation: Gun Trey Y Flex

Play: Inside Zone

Setup:

1. None required

Reads:

1. Follow the blockers

Overview: This run works well against a Cover 3 defense because how the defense is setup we do not need a pulling guard, so the Inside Zone works effectively. You can either bounce it to the outside or cut it up the middle.

Playbook: Philadelphia Eagles

Formation: Gun Trey Y Flex

Play: Level Sails

Setup:

1. Put the B/O receiver on a streak
2. Put the Y/Triangle receiver on a drag route

Reads:

1. First look for the B/O receiver quick on the inside pass lead streak
2. If that is not there look for the Y/Triangle receiver over the middle on the drag
3. Then, find either the Tight end or the running back on the high low concept on the right side
4. Lastly, look for the X/Square receiver on the in route

Overview: This play is very effective against a Cover 3 because it incorporates a little bit of everything into one play. It attacks the middle of the field while also attacking the right side of the field. Then you have your check downs as well.