Details on the new Coaching Adjustments for Madden NFL 18

A feature from the late NCAA Football series is making its way to Madden this year with some expansion to its capabilities. Coaching Adjustments offer the ability to influence the player tendencies and match-up cornerbacks to specific wide receivers. 

The Coaching Adjustments option is located on the front page of the play call screen.  This is for both offense and defense. Once the user selects the Coaching Adjustment option, they’ll be taken to the next page, which contains the list of Coaching Adjustments available for the side of the ball they’re playing.

By default, each adjustment is set to Balanced.  This means standard gameplay conditions apply based on the mode the user is in. Here’s the complete list of Coaching Adjustments, as well as the descriptions on what they do.

Offensive Adjustments

Ball Carrier
♦Conservative
Pro: Ball carrier protects the ball, decreased fumble chances
Con: Decreased ability to break tackles

♦Aggressive
Pro: Higher chance of triggering auto break tackles
Con: Increased fumble chances

Blocking
♦Conservative
Pro: Decreased chances of holding penalty
Con: Hold blocks less for run and pass

♦Aggressive
Hold blocks longer for run and pass
Increased chances of holding penalty

Deep Pass Catching
♦Conservative
Pro: Receivers will attempt a RAC catch, increases run after catch chances
Con: Increased interception chance

♦Aggressive
Pro: Receivers will attempt an Aggressive catch
Con: Decreases run after catch chance

Intermediate Pass Catching
♦Conservative
Pro: Receivers will attempt a Possession catch
Con: Decreased run after catch chance

♦Aggressive
Pro: Receivers will attempt a RAC or Aggressive catch
Con: Increased chances of ball being knocked out

Defensive Adjustments

Auto Flip Defense
♦On – The CPU will flip your defensive play to best match the offensive formation
♦Off – Disables auto flip defensive play call

Ball in Air Defense
♦Play Ball — AI will play the ball in two-man catch situations
Pro: Increased chance of an interception
Con: Increased chance of WR catching ball and increased chance of a broken tackle

♦Play Receiver – AI will play the receiver in two-man catch situations
Pro: Decreased chance of a broken tackle
Con: No chance of an interception

♦Swat Ball –AI will attempt a swat in two-man catch situations
Pro: Increased chance of knocking out ball
Con: No chance of an interception

Option
♦Conservative
Pro: Focused on QB on the option
Con: Dive and Pitch left open on the option

♦Aggressive
Pro: Focused on the Dive and Pitch on the option
Con: QB left open on the option

Pass Rush
♦Conservative
Pro: Outside rushers play QB Contain and AI defensive line will look to swat passes
Con: No Jump Snap bonus and more time in pocket for QB

♦Aggressive
Pro: AI pass rushers will attempt to jump the snap
Con: Higher chance of off sides penalty versus hard count
New Addition: Pass Rushers also see an increase in fatigue

Strip Ball
♦Conservative
Pro: Lowers break tackle chances
Con: AI will not attempt to strip

♦Aggressive
Pro: Higher chance for AI to attempt a strip for a higher fumble chance
Con: Higher chance of a broken tackle and face mask penalty

Tackling
♦Conservative
Pro: AI defenders tackle conservatively
Con: Increases chances of allowing yards after contact

♦Aggressive
Pro: AI defenders attempt Hit Stick tackles for higher fumble chance
Con: Higher chances of missed tackles

Cornerback Matchups

Cornerback Matchups is a Coaching Adjustment that allows the player to set what criteria they want to use to determine which wide receivers their CBs matchup against.  Cornerback Matchups work for both man and zone defenses. To maximize the effectiveness of this feature, users ideally want to make sure the number of CBs on the field is equal to or greater than the number of WRs.

♦By Overall: Highest-rated cornerback will matchup vs. highest rated receiver
♦By Speed: Fastest cornerback will matchup vs. fastest receiver
♦By Height: Tallest cornerback will matchup vs. tallest receiver
♦By Route Running: Highest-rated man coverage CB vs. highest rated route run WR
♦By Depth Chart: Matchup based on CB’s depth chart position vs. WR overall rating

AI Usage and Game Styles

Coaching Adjustments are available with all Game Styles and all play modes except for Practice. Therefore, when a Coaching Adjustment is set, the assumption is that the user is willing to accept the inherent risks and rewards of that Coaching Adjustment. Penalties and other various outcomes can occur as a result of a Coaching Adjustment in any game mode.

An added element is that the AI in the Simulation game style will use Coaching Adjustments. When the AI uses a Coaching Adjustment, and if that adjustment had an impact on the play result, a drop-down banner will appear under the in-game scoreboard HUD displaying the adjustment that triggered.

♦Ball Carrier Conservative: When ahead late, running ball in effort to keep clock moving
♦Cornerback Matchups: By OVR rating, when CB on team 90+ and offense has WR 90+
♦Pass Rush Aggressive: In certain passing situations.
♦Strip Ball Aggressive: When trailing late in close game and offense running clock
♦Strip Ball Conservative: During late-game, two-minute situations, when ahead
♦Tackling Aggressive: In some short yardage situations, also close games late when trailing
♦Tackling Conservative: During late-game, two-minute situations, when ahead