With tons of new defensive schemes and strategies in Madden 23, playing defense has never been more exciting. But things can quickly go south if you aren’t calling the right plays. Whether you’re a complete beginner or a seasoned Madden veteran, these are the best defensive plays to help you force turnovers and dominate games on both sides of the ball.
10. Spinner - Dollar 3-2
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Spinner is an all-out blitz in the Dollar 3-2 formation that consistently gets pressure on the quarterback. With the right defensive adjustments, this play is essentially fool-proof.
It can stop the run out of several offensive packages, such as the gun and gun bunch. Spinner loads up the box and typically sends seven defenders toward the QB. This may leave you vulnerable to a deep pass over the top or a quick slant across the middle.
But if you drop your safety into a deep zone and hover in the middle of the field with your user, the pressure will be too quick for your opponent’s offensive line. This play is all but guaranteed to pick up sacks and snuff the run.
9. 3 Double Buzz - Quarter Normal
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The 3 Double Buzz is an essential play to shut down the pass. Cover 3 defenses are typically vulnerable to deep passes over the middle of the field, between the outside cornerback and the safety over the top.
But if you adjust your two safeties to play man defense on the slot receivers, you can easily take away your opponent’s shot play options. By making this adjustment, the only weakness of this play is the check-down route underneath.
This is precisely what you want in Cover 3. With the vast majority of the field locked down, your opponent will have to buy time with their offensive. Even though 3 Double Buzz sends just three men on the pass rush, it can lead to a ton of sacks forced by a lack of open receivers.
8. DB Fire 2
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This play is designed to get quick pressure on the quarterback while remaining in a Cover 2 setup. It’s one of the most well-balanced plays in Madden 23, as it sends six guys after the QB and drops five in coverage.
But what makes DB Fire 2 so special, is the fact that it sends a defensive back on a blitz. The inside cornerback is seemingly lined up in man coverage against the slot receiver, so it’s designed to confuse your opponent and force mental errors.
Control the middle linebacker with your user and blitz the gap when it's open. If you see an open receiver across the middle, drop back in coverage and shutdown the pass.
7. Under Smoke - Quarter Normal
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Under Smoke is one of the most overpowered blitzes in the entire game. Sending six guys after the quarterback, this play is designed to quickly apply pressure and rush your opponent into making poor decisions.
You can disguise the blitz by coming out in a Cover 2 and calling a quick audible to confuse your opponent. It’s best applied on short-yardage downs to stop the run. With all of the gaps covered, it’s relatively easy to get after the running back and bring him down for a loss of yards.
6. Tampa 2 - Nickel 3-3
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This variant of Cover 2 is aimed at shutting down the pass. While it’s similar to traditional Cover 2 Zone defense, the Tampa 2 sends a defensive back after the quarterback.
It focuses on shutting down routes run across the middle of the field while taking away deep out-routes near the sideline. With the right adjustments, this play will lead to a number of interceptions and pass deflections.
Since the left tackle is forced to block the blitzing cornerback, the defensive line has a mismatch when rushing the passer. This play also does a great job of eliminating check-down options, so the QB will either have to throw the ball away or take a sack.
5. Cover 1 Robber Press - Dollar 3-2
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This play is phenomenal against multiple Shotgun formations. It can sniff out plays called in the gun-tight, gun-tight doubles, and gun-bunch packages.
The Cover 1 Robber Press looks like a blitz, which may cause confusion when you end up rushing just four. Adjust your outside linebacker to play a hard flat zone, in order to provide help against the tight end and the outside receiver.
Take control of the blitzing middle linebacker with your user and make the decision to either get after the QB or drop back for additional coverage in the middle of the field. You’re practically guaranteed to eliminate every single receiving option and force the QB to scramble for positive yardage.
4. Cover 2 Man LB Blitz
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The Cover 2 Man LB Blitz is one of the most meta defensive plays in Madden 23. Aimed at shutting down the pass, all you have to do is shift your linebackers over toward the left and the rest is easy.
Control the blitzing linebacker and line him up slightly outside of the neutral zone. The offensive line struggles to pick up the pass rush, forcing the QB to check the ball down to his running back.
One way to account for the check-down is by switching one of the safeties to man up the RB. By making these adjustments, you will quickly apply pressure on the quarterback, while locking up all of his receiving options.
3. Sam Will Blitz - 4-3 Even 6-1
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This unique blitz is equally dominant at getting after the quarterback and shutting down the run. It’s especially useful against run plays from the Shotgun formation, as it seals the gaps and makes life difficult on the running back.
When combined with a minor defensive adjustment, this play is extremely foolproof. All you have to do is pinch your defensive line and control the middle linebacker to monitor outside runs.
The Sam Will Blitz is lethal against play action, as the pass rush is typically too strong for the RB to pick up. If your opponent continues to use play action against this blitz, you can drop your MLB into coverage and prevent passes across the middle of the field.
2. Cover 4 Quarters - Nickel 2-4
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This play is one of the trickier options on this list, but if executed properly, it’s essentially unstoppable. In Cover 4 Quarters, the outside cornerbacks will shift into man coverage against any wide receiver who runs a route deeper than five yards downfield.
It’s particularly effective against streaks and out-breaking routes. Despite the fact that zone defenses are prone to deep passes in the middle of the field, Cover 4 Quarters acts as a hybrid between man and zone coverage.
The only weakness of this play is that it neglects the check-downs and underneath routes, meaning that the middle of the field is always adequately covered. It also sends a four-man rush, which can often lead to a protection breakdown and a sack on the quarterback. Cover 4 Quarters is one of the best defensive plays to stop the pass, without sacrificing pressure on the QB.
1. SS Blitz 3
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SS Blitz 3 is the most OP defensive play call in Madden 23. Confusing your opponent has never been easier, as this zone coverage scheme is meant to quickly pressure the quarterback before receivers get open downfield.
With a walk-down blitz look from the strong safety, the QB will likely predict an all-out blitz. The best way to implement this play is by coming out of the huddle with a double safety blitz, but quickly calling an audible back to the SS Blitz 3.
This is an attempt to confuse your opponent yet again, as the zone coverage will be disguised as an all-out blitz. After the snap, control the middle linebacker with your user to drop back into coverage. You’ll still be sending five guys after the QB while dropping six defenders into a deep zone. The likelihood of getting a sack or forcing a turnover has never been higher, so try this play out and let the magic happen.
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