How To Get Better At Read Option Defense - Madden 23 Tip (2024)

Madden 23 || Defensive Tips

I scream at the TV just like you when playing a brainless moron spamming read options.

“RUN AN OFFENSE THAT TAKES THE SLIGHTEST BRAIN POWER.”

We all have been there. Luckily, EA added “coaching adjustments” a couple of years ago with an “option defense” section.

How To Defend ANY Read Option:

1. Set option defense to conservative
2. Pick any play – Cover 4 is best because the safeties in inside quarters react to the run unlike a safety in a deep halve or inside third.

Warning: If you hate holding brainless morons to minimal yards running, do not use this tactic. As it has been proven to be effective and repels 98% of zero brain usage.

As a Reddit user said, “The reason for this is because when running the read option, the QB is what kills you. Letting the RB take the handoff isn’t much of an issue besides them picking up a few yards.”

In other words, the defense becomes solely focused on the halfback on read options. In turn, the quarterback has a wide open lane to the outside. That is why setting option defense to conservatives is so important vs. read option users.

Your Urgent Next Step

Your coaching adjustments will be your best friend on defense. Option defense is great vs. read option but what about zone drops, cornerback matchups, ball in air defense, and the rest of the coaching adjustments?

Does anything even matter besides zone drops? What the hell do zone drops even do?

This post introduced you to coaching adjustments but I highly recommend diving in to our complete guide for coaching adjustments: https://themaddenacademy.com/2022/01/learning-this-feature-will-make-you-better-on-defense-overnight