In Madden 25, success on Mut 25 coins the field isn’t just about picking the right plays—it’s about disguising your defense and optimizing your offense. Two of the most powerful tools available this year are Coverage Shells (on defense) and Custom Stems (on offense). Mastering these mechanics can give you a major edge, allowing you to confuse your opponent’s QB and fine-tune receiver routes to perfection.

Coverage Shells: Disguise Your Defensive Scheme
A Coverage Shell allows you to change how your defense looks before the snap without altering the actual play call. This means you can make it appear like you’re in man coverage when you’re running Cover 2 or make your defense look aggressive when you’re dropping into deep zones.

How to Use Coverage Shells
Before selecting a defensive play, check if your formation allows Coverage Shell adjustments.
At the bottom of the play selection menu, look for “Coverage Shell” (it will default to “Standard”).
Flick the right stick left or right to change how your defense is aligned.
Example:

You’re calling Cover 2 Zone, but you want your defense to look like it’s in Cover 0 Man to trick the QB into throwing a bad pass.
Change the Coverage Shell to a man-aligned look.
At the snap, the defense will shift into the real Cover 2, potentially baiting the QB into a bad read.

Why Coverage Shells Matter
Confuses the opposing QB – They think they see one defense but get something else. BBaitinterceptions – A disguised defense can trick the offense into throwing into coverage. Prevents easy reads.Many Madden players read coverage pre-snap to determine where to throw. Coverage Shells make that much harder.

Pro Tip: If your opponent keeps targeting a specific receiver, use a disguised coverage shell to set up an interception.

Custom Stems: Fine-Tune Your Receiver’s Routes
On offense, Custom Stems lets you adjust the depth of receiver routes before the snap. This gives you precise control over where your receivers break in their routes, allowing you to target soft spots in the defense.

How to Use Custom Stems
Before the snap, press Triangle (PS) / Y (Xbox) to bring up the Hot Route menu. Select the receiver you want to adjust. Hold L1 (PS) / LB (Xbox) and use the left stick (or D-pad) to increase or decrease the route depth. Up on the stick = Extend the route (e.g., turn a 10-yard curl into a 15-yard curl). Down on the stick = Shorten the route (e.g., turn a 10-yard curl into a 5-yard curl).
Release L1/LB to lock in the new route.

Example: You call a 10-yard out route, but the defense is playing deep zone coverage. Using Custom Stems, you shorten it to a 5-yard out, taking advantage of the coverage gap. The result? A quick and easy completion instead of a covered route.

Why Custom Stems Matter

Beats specific coverages – Adjust routes to exploit gaps in zone defenses. Precision on key downs – Shorten a route on 3rd-and-short to guarantee a conversion. Creates mismatches – Change a deep route into a shorter option to avoid safety help.

Pro Tip: Against man coverage, shorten comeback routes or slants to make it harder for defenders to react.

Mastering These Tools for a Competitive Edge
By combining Coverage Shells on defense and Custom Stems on offense, you can completely control the game’s flow. These tools allow you to disguise your intentions, bait mistakes, and maximize efficiency in key situations.

Quick Recap:
Coverage Shells – Trick the QB into making bad reads. Custom Stems – Adjust receiver routes for better timing and separation. Both together – Confuse your opponent on both sides of cheap Madden nfl 25 coins the ball.