MMOEXP: The Read Option has been a staple of modern Madden 26
The Read Option has been a staple of modern NFL offenses for years, blending traditional power runs with dynamic quarterback play. In Mut 26 coins, this offensive scheme is once again a prominent tool in a player’s arsenal, allowing quarterbacks to become dual-threat weapons capable of both passing and running the ball. However, for those on the other side of the ball, defending the Read Option can be a daunting task. Successfully neutralizing this play requires a solid understanding of its mechanics and an effective game plan.
Before diving into defensive strategies, it’s crucial to understand how the Read Option works. At its core, the Read Option is a play in which the quarterback “reads” a defensive player—usually a defensive end or outside linebacker—to decide whether to hand the ball off to the running back or keep it and run himself. If the defender commits to stopping the running back, the quarterback keeps the ball and runs to the outside. If the defender hesitates or crashes on the quarterback, the ball is handed off to the running back, who will run through the gap created.
The key to stopping the Read Option is forcing the quarterback to make the wrong decision or limiting both options through sound defensive assignments.
In Madden NFL 26, one of the most effective ways to stop the Read Option is by utilizing defensive assignments. Specifically, setting your defenders to target either the quarterback or the running back can take away the offense’s flexibility. To do this, bring up the pre-snap menu (using the right stick on consoles), and assign your defensive end or linebacker to either crash on the running back or contain the quarterback.
Assign the quarterback: If you want to limit the quarterback’s ability to run outside, set one of your defensive ends or outside linebackers to focus on the quarterback. This will force the QB to hand the ball off more often, making him less of a dual-threat on the play.
Assign the running back: Conversely, if your main concern is the running back gashing you up the middle, you can assign a defender to crash inside. This will often result in the quarterback keeping the ball, which can be contained with outside defenders.
The beauty of these assignments is that they allow you to focus on one specific threat without having to guess or manually control a defender to make a play cheap Mut 26 coins.