- WR Release Moves
New foot fire and hop step release moves are chainable so you can get defenders off balance to beat that press coverage.
Just holding LT/L2 will start a footfire with your receiver so you can set up the opposing defender with your next move. The footfire setup move can be interrupted at any time by transitioning to a hop release or moving the left stick to break into space.
Flick the right stick (RS) in five different directions (90° left, 45° left, forward/up on the RS, 45° right and 90° right) allows the receiver to hop from his initial stance. These moves are also chainable so players could flick 90° to the left and follow that up with a flick 45° to the right to try to get the defender off center.
Press success factors in press vs release ratings, defender strength vs receiver strength, and defender position at the time of a press. This year, you’ll have a reason to throw release moves at a defender in press coverage. The more off center the defender is, the better chance of an offensive win.
- WR Cut Moves and Fakes
Get total control of new cut moves to fake out defenders in man coverage. A defender in man coverage now has reaction windows that will detect if the defender reacted to the cut in time. If the reaction is late, defenders will stumble, reach out and visually show that they have been faked out.
The new cut mechanic requires you to pull both triggers when moving the left stick. Pull RT/R2 to sprint on the route so just adding LT/L2 when a cut is wanted plays a WR specific cut animation when the left stick is moved.
Moving the cut mechanics off the right stick allowed us to add some fakes and stutter steps. Now you can trick overly aggressive defenders with a fake, making it easier for them to get open after a cut.
While running routes, flicking the right stick left, right or down plays a fake cut or stutter step in those directions.
- DB Press and WR Counter
Defensive backs still have the ability to press and steer a receiver left or right, jam the receiver, or stay up top on a receiver like in previous years, but in Madden NFL 23, the CB mechanics are more dynamic and reactionary instead of a paper-rock-scissors concept. Because of branching technology, defenders can start a press in one direction, but see that the receiver is moving the other way, and can quickly branch within a ratings-based timing window to counter.
These mechanics are done by holding A on Xbox Series X|S, or X on PlayStation 5, and moving the left stick in the direction you want to force the receiver. EA finely tuned the delta between a defensive back’s press-rating when working against the receiver’s release-rating so that 1-on-1 match-ups play more true to life to the players’ skills. Attempting to jam with a low rated receiver with a high rated defensive back will result in the receiver being stonewalled more often than not.
Previously, the counter mechanic against the press focused more on hard-countering the defender, but now we’ve upgraded the counter-press mechanic to be more free-flowing and reactive. You’ll be able to use RT/R2 and the left stick to attempt to counter any press moves by a defensive back. Receivers with a higher release rating will have much more success in beating the press.
- Defensive Evade
Evade moves give defenders another tool that helps them get around blockers in the open field. Creating parity with ball carriers, defenders can flick the right stick left or right to side-step or avoid oncoming blockers or blocking interactions that are in the pursuit path to the ball carrier. If you hold RT/R2 and flick the right stick left or right, you’ll cover more ground in your sidestep. This mechanic gives you the control to anticipate an incoming blocker and avoid him altogether, if timed right, rather than waiting to get engaged and then having to shed the block to attempt a tackle.