Madden 25 Beginner Tips! Get You Started On The Right Foot

I will review some essential tips for getting started in Madden NFL 25 with you.

Clock Management

Managing the clock is so important for locking down wins late in the game, which is why everyone should at least know the basics. To help the clock run down, click the right stick on your controller and, under Tempo Adjustment, set it to “Chew Clock.” This will cause the play clock to run down to around 10 seconds, shaving off time quickly to help you secure that victory.

Coin Toss

By going into your settings and then down to Coin Toss, make sure your setting for Coin Toss 1st choice is always set to Kick, you’re always better off receiving the ball after the half and trying throughout the first half to get back-to-back possessions because of that. And for when you don’t win the Coin Toss, for your 2nd choice, choose to go against the win so you’re going with the wind and are able to hit further field goals in the 2nd half.

Strategic Hit Stick

You want to be selective about where you use the hit stick. For a Derrick Henry-type back, aim for their legs by flicking the right stick down. For a smaller back, you’re better off going high, so aim up on the right stick to deliver a big hit.

Option Plays

Now let’s talk about Option plays and the main ones you will encounter

When running a regular read option which will say Read Option, Lead Option something that doesn’t say RPO in it, but still has option are these types and if you hold RT or R2 on your controller, your able to see what defender you will be reading on the play by the R above their head

And to execute them, new this year in both games the controls have been changed so its now an automatic handoff to the running back so you don’t have to do anything, the real challenge is you now have to hit X on PlayStation and A on XBOX to keep it with the quarterback. So if you see the R defender start to chase the running back tap the button, if they freeze you don’t have to do anything

RPO Alerts give you a run play with some type of route or screen happening on the backside to give defenders multiple things to focus on and hopefully be late on what you do choose

RPO Peeks aim to attack linebackers in the 2^nd level with run plays tied to routes  going down the field in the linebackers area forcing them to make a decision. You can bring up RT or R2 on your controller to see the P above the defenders head that you will focus on looking at here, so he’s the defender you want to stare at to decide whether to hand the ball off or pass it to the receiver going into his zone because he crashed too far down to defend the run

And RPO Read’s are the hardest because they combine the ability to run with the quarterback into the play. So you will be able to throw to a receiver, hand the ball off and if the read defender crashed keep it and run. These definitely take the most practice

Speed Up RPO’s

Now speaking of RPOS’s when you’re running them you can execute them a lot faster by making sure the bubble screen throw is always opposite of your quarterbacks throwing hand so he’s able to throw it a smidge faster when the opportunity is there

Take Advantage of Previous Play

In Madden 25, your able to see what your opponent’s last called play was and please take advantage of it, because a lot of users whether they got a stop or not will run right back to the same play and at that point you might as well gear up something special to beat it

Kicking Game

In the game settings under “Kicking,” you can choose the type of meter you want to use and how to execute it. You have two options: the College Football 25 meter and the Classic Madden Meter. The College Football 25 Meter is a two-part meter where you lock in accuracy on the horizontal plane and power on the vertical and the Classic Madden Meter is the traditional swinging meter where you stop the power at the top and the accuracy at the bottom. I’ve grown so accustomed to the College Football 25 style that I can’t help but favor it. You can also choose how to execute each meter. The Tap and Tap method require you to press the button twice—once for accuracy and once for power. The Tap and Hold method locks in accuracy with a single tap, and then you release the button at your desired power level. Personally, I prefer Tap and Hold as I’ve found more success with it.

Playmaker Controls

When you’re rolling out of the pocket and nobody’s open, it’s time to put the Playmaker feature to use, as this can bail you out of tough situations. Simply flick the right stick in the desired direction of your closest receiver, and they will adjust their route on the spot, often leading to big plays.

Catching Types

In Madden 25, depending on where your receiver is and where the defender is coming from, will require you to use one of the 4 different types of catches in the game starting with

The Run After Catch, which you activate by Holding Square (PlayStation) or X (Xbox) to perform this catch. It’s ideal when your receiver has open space ahead of them, allowing them to gain extra yards after catching the ball.

Next is the Possession Catch, which you pull out by Holding X (PlayStation) or A (Xbox) to secure the ball and avoid big hits from defenders. This catch prioritizes maintaining possession over gaining extra yards, making it useful in traffic or when your near the sideline.

Next is the Aggressive Catch, and to perform this you Hold Triangle (PlayStation) or Y (Xbox) for this catch. Your player will leap to catch the ball, making it ideal for high-traffic areas that you need to sail the ball over of, this type of catch can be a go to for the bigger receivers who can snatch the ball out of the air.

And lastly, we got new to Madden 25, the Manual Spec Catch, which you can do by Pressing L1 (PlayStation) or LB (Xbox) to attempt a spectacular catch animation. This new feature allows for wild grabs, though the game will humble you and drop something easy because you decided to catch it with your pinky

Avoiding Deep Drop backs

When dropping back to pass, try to stay within the structure of the play and avoid dropping back an additional 10-15 yards. Doing so negatively impacts your accuracy, makes the pass take longer to reach its target, and can quickly get you in trouble if a pass rusher breaks free from your lineman’s grasp. Practice stepping up in the pocket or not touching anything at all while passing to eliminate this tendency.

User Control on Defense

If you’re a defensive line user, you should stop doing that immediately. You’re giving your opponent an advantage if they’re using their linebacker, which they probably are. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes because nobody is perfect, and often, you’re just guessing out there. The amount of havoc you create playing linebacker by NOT being computer controlled cannot be matched

Simplify Your Reads

If you’re not the best at passing, I would suggest starting out with having routes like corner routes for example in your passing plays so you have something going towards the sidelines as its easier for you to read where the defenders are since their only coming from one direction.

Kicking

When attempting kicks from a certain distance or extra points, you don’t need to go full power. Stopping the meter about midway could be enough to make the kick and help you avoid a max power attempt, which might increase the risk of shanking it.

More Than One Read

Every time you snap the ball, you always want to have at least 2 receivers your looking at to see if they’re open. This helps you not focus on just one guy and ignore any and everything the defense is doing to avoid locking into a potential bad decision

Quarterback Sliding

When running with your quarterback, don’t forget to slide by hitting Square or X on your controller if you have the room to do so. You want to avoid unnecessary fumbles, and it’s important to slide before the defender gets too close. Otherwise, you might get caught in a tackle animation, so be aware

Custom Audibles

If you’re in an unfamiliar playbook, you can help yourself a bit by changing your custom audibles on fly in your play call screen, by hitting L2/LT on your controller and cycling through your preset plays and changing them to your select options. This way you have somewhat of a scheme cooking while the game is going on.

Throwing the Ball Away

Also, when you’re running toward the sidelines, don’t be afraid to live to see another down and avoid throwing a jump ball into three defenders, which is something Brett Favre might do. Simply throw the ball away by clicking the right stick on your controller. Doing so can save you from a potentially costly mistake.

Ball Placement

A powerful mechanic when passing is the pass lead feature. You can use it by aiming the left stick in different directions relative to the receiver you’re throwing to, which helps keep the ball away from incoming defenders. A well-placed ball can turn a potential interception into a contested catch for the offense.

Protecting the Ball

To lessen the chance of a fumble in a key spot, you can use two methods. First, click the right stick to access your coach adjustments and scroll down to the Ball Carrier settings. From there, set it to Conservative to dramatically reduce your chances of fumbling. Additionally, holding the R1 or RB button on your controller while running will help maintain possession.