Disguising Bump and Run Coverage
By: Kyle Cooper
Many Madden players like their Cornerbacks to apply bump and run coverage on the receivers after the snap. The reason this type of coverage is so popular is because it slows the progress of the receivers up the field, providing extra time for the defense to apply pressure on the quarterback. Because so many players choose to use bump and run coverage, most people try to get comfortable by consistently practicing different ways to beat it. Still, if you can learn to disguise your bump and run coverage before the snap you can throw off your opponent's timing. Read below to discover some of the options that defenses have to disguise the bump in Madden 11.
In our example, we're using the Carolina Panthers in a Dime Man Cover 2 defense. We want to use bump n' run coverage on this play, so we prepare to make the change before the snap. On the 360 press "Y" + down on the left analog stick and on the PS3 press "Triangle" and down on the left analog stick before the snap. Our Cornerbacks move up closer to the receivers near the line of scrimmage. However, there's one more change that we want to make before we're completely ready for the offense to snap the ball.
The last change we make is resetting the play by pressing "X" + left trigger on the 360 and "Square" plus "L2" on the PS3. By calling for bump and run coverage before the snap and then resetting the play our Cornerbacks don't appear that they are going to bump the receivers anymore because they moved back to their original spots on the field. However, even though we reset the play our Cornerbacks will still apply the bump on the receivers, only this time it will be slightly delayed.
The best way to use the delayed bump and run coverage is to make the changes immediately out of the huddle. If you make the changes before your defenders get set your opponent won't see your Cornerbacks move closer, therefore preventing him from getting a read on whether your defense is bumping or not.
Another way to disguise the bump and run coverage is to use a zone defense. In this example, we've come out in the Dime Cover 3 Zone to try to mix things up. Next, we make the call for bump and run coverage on the outsides once again. Our opponent clearly sees our Cornerbacks move up on the line of scrimmage to show that the bump is coming. However, we know that when our Cornerbacks are playing a deep zone (dark blue) they will not bump the receivers off the line of scrimmage no matter the pre-snap adjustment.
This can lead to confusion as your opponent looks for the bump and run coverage to occur but instead the cornerback gets up field faster than expected. The throwing window may have passed making the throw later than desired. This means your defenders have a greater chance of breaking up the passing play.
Disguising the bump and run coverage can be just as important as disguising your play-calling. Another option you may want to consider is calling for bump and run coverage, and then manually moving each of one your Cornerbacks back to provide an even later bump after the play has begun. However, it's important to remember that if you choose to do this you don't want to move your players back too far or they won't bump the receiver at all.
