College Football 25: Beginner Tips For Playing Defense

Make no mistake about College Football 25: defense is harder to play than it ever has been in a football video game. This includes the previous NCAA entries and the entire Madden series. It is difficult to master the art of playing defense in EA's newest title, and it is going to take players some time to get the hang of it. From knowing which kind of plays work best in each situation to when one needs to take control over a player, learning the ins and outs of the defensive side of the ball will take some time, especially on the higher difficulties.

The fact of the matter is that players will struggle on defense when they first start in the game, and that's okay. If they keep working at it and keep learning, they will eventually come to know what they are doing. To help players on that road to mastering the art of defense, this list offers advice on how to improve when starting the game.

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By Shane Black

5 Don't Be Too Aggressive

Patience Is Key

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In terms of watching the sport, an aggressive defense is far more fun than a conservative one. This applies to playing on defense as well. No one wants to sit on their heels and wait for the right opportunity to come to them. However, that is exactly what players need to do in College Football 25 when they are trying to stop the other team from marching down the field.

Too often, blitzing the QB will result in a big pass or a touchdown for an opponent. The game is not afraid to take advantage of people risking it all for the sack. Play smart and let the other team get those two- to three-yard plays. When they are backed up, then consider sending everyone to the line to overwhelm them and cause the QB to panic.

4 Let The NPCs Do Their Thing

Trust The Teammates

A College Football 25 defender sacking the quarterback

Speaking of aggressiveness, most players' first instinct will probably be to switch to the nearest player when trying to tackle an RB or WR. However, this can result in the player missing a tackle completely or steering the person in the wrong direction. Given that people are changing players while they are in motion, they can easily mess it up and have them go off in the wrong direction.

This is why, when players are first starting out, they should let the NPCs take care of the tackles. They know what they're doing and are far more effective at taking a player down than one may think. Just let them play and there will be way more success at stopping the big plays from happening.

3 Play On The Line

Let The NPCs Cover Receivers

The line is where players are best placed when first playing defense. While they have the option to play a Safety or CB to cover the opponent, this is difficult for beginners. Gamers would have to know how to track the player, keep their eyes on the QB, and not let their man get open.

Rushing on the line will be easier, as all a player has to do is try and beat the offensive line. They can use the R2 boost and the right stick to try and outmaneuver them, and let themselves become free to take the QB down. Plus, the NPCs can cover just fine, and can come up with an interception often enough.

2 Follow The Coach's Suggestions

Learn How To Play Before Calling The Play

The play selection screen from College Football 25

With every play, on both offense and defense, the game will give players a batch of plays that the coach recommends. While more experienced players don't need to follow these as much, beginners will want to pay close attention to what they are being asked to do.

When starting out, using these set plays is great for getting used to how to play defense when the ball is snapped. Gamers can get the hang of what it feels like to control a player, and then they can move on to calling the plays later on. But at the beginning, just listen to the coach.

1 Don't Always Go For The Big Hit

Tackling Is More Important Than Making A Statement

College Football 25 - Character catching pass

There will be situations where it's just a player and another NPC with the ball. The field is wide open, and the player has to make the tackle. Football fans have seen this event play out live plenty of times: the defenseman goes for the big hit, only to whiff it and let the ball carrier run by for a big gain. That can happen to anyone if they're not careful, so just try to tackle them.

Run the player at the ball carrier, and the game will automatically go into a tackling animation. Let this play out, and don't worry about blasting the other player or going for the ball. Take them down and learn how to tackle them. After that, then players can start introducing different elements to make the defense terrifying.

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