Defense in Football is all about reading the play correctly. Plays usually boil down to two types: run or pass. Pass plays might seem more dangerous, with high yard gains, but run plays are equally detrimental.
The small yard gains add up sooner than you think. To stop these, Madden 26 features Run Defense formations, specifically designed to stop run plays. We’ll explain how they work and provide tips to make your Run Defenses more efficient.
What Is A Run Defense?
Operation Sports App
Your ultimate companion for sports gaming. Access in-depth coverage, thoughtful discussion, and a community built around the games—and sports—you love.
Your ultimate sports gaming companion.
First things first, you need to know what a Run Defense is in Madden 26. To put it simply, Run Defenses are formations better at stopping run plays compared to pass plays. If you’re going up against fast offensive linemen like Tyreek Hill or Jameson Williams, you can expect a run play. To counter this, you will choose a Run Defense.
These formations focus on stopping plays as soon as possible after the snap. Ideally, you want to pressure the QB, so his receivers can’t get into position for a pass play, and play man coverage for the receivers. This ties into our first tip of going with 4 linebackers instead of 3.
Choosing The Right Front
Choosing a good frontline is just as important as selecting individual responsibilities. Playing with three down linemen is always a risk, as you’re more prone to getting stretched and giving up yards. While going for a Run Defense, always choose formations with 4 linemen, 5 if you’re confident the opposition is going for a run play.
The 4 down formation allows you to shed off blockers early and get to the RB, TE, or WR as soon as possible. It also helps pressure the QB since they need to make the pass before the free lineman reaches them. A QB with low AWR is bound to fumble the pass, leading to an interception.
You can opt for formations like 4-3 Under/Over, 4-2-5 Nickel, or the 5-2 if you really want to commit. Remember that playing 5 down is a bit risky since the deep field is left exposed. If you don’t stop the run, or they squeeze a pass past you, you’ll be in major trouble.
Reading Plays And Gaining Leverage
We mentioned how reading your opponent is a skill every Madden 26 player must have. You cannot expect to wing a play and stop the play dead in its tracks every time. Once you start reading the opposition’s formation, things get far easier. You now know it’s a run play; it’s time to gain leverage using slants.
Slants basically mean slanting your defensive line to prevent stretches and mitigate blocks. There are two types of slants, inside and outside. Inside slants are used against curl, seam, or post routes. Here, your linemen will move inwards after the break to cover the center.
Next, we’ve got an outside slant. This is used to cover the outside zone, a.k.a the flat, or stretches, where the offense wants to stretch out your defensive line. Your linemen will initially be close to the scrimmage, but as soon as the break happens, they’ll move in a slant direction outwards to prevent deep runs by WRs.
You’ll also need to choose whether to slant on the right or left side. This depends on how well you can read the play. Choose correctly and you’ll stop the run almost instantly. Choose wrong and you’re in for a tough game.
Pressuring The Offense Into A Pass Play
If you manage to pull off the run defenses, you can coerce your opponent into opting for pass plays. As soon as you see a major shift in their formation, know they’re going for a pass play to salvage some yards. Shift formations to zone coverage and send your linemen back to cover deep passes.
Remember that run plays are only useful if they bring consistent yard gains. If they still opt for run plays nearing the end of the down, it’s not a major threat by any means.
Published: Aug 13, 2025 03:20 pm