Madden NFL 23 Gameplay Tips for Beginners - Electronic Arts (2024)

Learn all the skills and best moves you will need to dominate the gridiron with this Madden NFL 23 beginner’s guide.

Beginners Tips Contents

  • How To Catch The Ball In Madden 23
  • How To Dive In Madden 23
  • How To Qb Slide
  • How To Cover The Ball
  • How To Hot Route
  • How To Audible
  • How To Pass Rush
  • How To Use Ball Carrier Moves
  • How To Pump Fake
  • How To Scramble
  • How To Intercept
  • How To Swat The Ball
  • How To Tackle/ How To Hit Stick
  • How To Qb Contain
  • How To Play Qb On Option
  • How To Adjust Zone Drops

Madden NFL 23 Offensive Beginners' Tips

How To Catch The Ball in Madden 23

Make sure you are catching passes even when facing strong defenses or when making risky plays.

  • Hold Y/Triangle for Aggressive Catch
  • Hold X/Square for RAC Catch (running catch)
  • Hold A/X for Possession Catch (falls to ground to secure catch)
  • Press nothing = auto catch

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How To Dive in Madden 23

Diving in Madden 23 is an important move to master as you can gain extra inches that will make a difference between victory and defeat.

  • Press X/Square on defense for dive tackle
  • Press and hold X/Square to dive as the ball carrier
  • Tap X/Square to ‘give up/slide’ as the ball carrier
  • Diving catch is contextual on Y/Triangle & A/X
  • When the hot route menu appears, select the route you want with a direction flick of the Left Stick (LS) or Right Stick (RS)

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How To QB Slide in Madden 23

QB Sliding in Madden 23 can help you gain yards with your quarterback without the risk of turning the ball over on a fumble.

  • Tap X on XBOX s or Square on PlayStation

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How ToCover the Ball in Madden 23

Covering the ball will decrease the chances of a fumble.

  • Tap RB on XBOX s or R1 on PlayStation

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How To Hot Route

Here’s how to hot route in Madden 23.

  • Before the snap, press Y/Triangle then press the receiver button icon of the receiver you want to hot route.
  • When the hot route menu appears, select the route you want with a direction flick of the Right Stick (RS)

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How To Audible

  • Standard Audible - Before the snap, press X/Square to show your audible menu; the user can use D-Pad Left or Right to scroll to the other audible menus for formations with appropriate personnel, then select the audible you want with the corresponding button press
  • Quick Audible - Before the snap, press X/Square to show your audible menu; then flick the Right Stick in any of the following 4 directions for the corresponding quick audibles:
  • Offense – Up = Quick Pass, Right = Standard Pass, Down = Run, Left = Play Action Pass
  • Defense – Up = Cover 2 Man, Right = Tampa 2, Down = Blitz, Left = Cover 3
  • Playmaker flip allows you to change the direction of your running play by flicking the RS right or left before the snap.

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How To Pass Rush

  • When engaged with a blocker or slightly before getting engaged, flick the right stick in any direction for a pass rush move while choosing the desired direction with LS.
  • You can also simply do a speed rush by holding down R2/RT and spin by rotating the right stick in either direction, starting it at the bottom and rotating either clockwise or counter clockwise.
  • The number of bars shown on the widget above the player’s head is the number of pass rush move attempts you have available on that play.

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How To Use Ball Carrier Moves

  • Acceleration boost = hold down RT/R2
  • Celebration Run/swag = Hold L2
  • Juke = RS Flick left/right
  • Deadleg/Hesi = RS flick down while steering with left stick
  • Hurdle = Y/Triangle
  • Truck = Right Stick up
  • Spin = B/Circle or rotate right stick
  • Stiff Arm = Hold X/Square
  • Cover the Ball = hold RB/R1
  • Change ball hand = tap RB/R1
  • Pitch the Ball = Press LB/L1 or on specific option plays, R2 and R1 are also pitch options
  • Juke, hurdle and spin can combo together by doing the mechanics in rapid succession
  • Truck and spin can combo with each other by doing the mechanics in rapid succession
  • All moves turn into ‘precision’ moves if performed while not holding down accel boost (RT/R2)

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How To Pump Fake

Pump fake is the same as ‘Throw Cancelling’ – quickly double tap the passing icon to cancel the throw before the release.

  • A second press will cancel it and result in a pump-fake
  • One press will start a throw;

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How To Scramble

Scrambling is a great option to elude defenders coming to sack your quarterback or surprise your opponent by turning him into a runner.

  • Hold down R2/RT and aim with LS to scramble with your QB

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Madden NFL 23 Defensive Beginners' Tips

How To Intercept

  • Intercept = Hold Y/Triangle as the defender to Play Ball

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How ToSwat The Ball

  • Swat = Hold X/Square as the defender to swat
  • Hold A/X to play the receiver to try to knock the ball out

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How To Tackle/How To Hit-Stick

Offense wins games but defense wins championships! Learn how to tackle or hit-stick your opponents and dominate the gridiron.

  • Hold A/X for a conservative ‘Breakdown Tackle’
  • Press X/Square for an aggressive dive tackle
  • Flick Right Stick up when in range of ball carrier to hit stick
  • Flick Right Stick down when in range to cut stick (take Ball carrier’s legs out)

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How To QB Contain

  • Press RB/R1 to open Defense menu, then Press RB/R1 again to have your edge rushers do a QB Contain Rush

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How To Play QB On Option

  • At playcall, press R3 (RS Click) to bring up Coaching Adjustments menu, then switch Option Defense to Conservative

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How To Adjust Zone Drops

  • At playcall, press R3 (RS Click) to bring up Coaching Adjustments menu, then change drop depths on Flats, Curl-Flats, and Hooks Zones

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Madden NFL 23 Gameplay Tips for Beginners - Electronic Arts (2024)
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