How to Counter RPOs and Spread Formations in CFB 26

For players eager to sharpen their skills and buy CFB 26 coins to upgrade their rosters, understanding how to counter RPO (Run-Pass Option) plays and spread formations is crucial. RPOs and underneath crossing routes are some of the most potent offensive weapons in the game and can lead to quick, unstoppable touchdowns unless you make smart defensive choices.

One of the best ways to counter quick drag routes or bubble screens is to call defensive plays with Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells combined with a key shade adjustment. Press triangle while pushing the right stick down to convert your flat zones into hard flats. Hard flats play much tighter underneath routes and help prevent easy completions on quick short passes, drags, or slants.

Against offenses that roll out their quarterbacks or run outside zone runs to counter your Texas Fourman stunt, consider alternating different defensive stunts such as the new Texas Twoman or Tom Twoman stunts. These line stunts help contain scrambling quarterbacks by spotlighting contain on the rollout side while still applying pressure with defensive tackles. Although these stunts aren’t as effective as the Texas Fourman in practice mode, they still disrupt quarterback mobility in real matchups and limit big outside runs or rollouts.

When facing RPOs like the tight end bubble flare, positioning is critical. Move a flat defender or safety over the flare route by adjusting flat zones or manually shifting coverage assignments. This disrupts the timing and space for quick passes, resulting in deflections or interceptions often missed by unadjusted defenses. Calling man coverage against specific RPO routes can also shut down these plays by matching up a defender directly on the target receiver.

A powerful in-game technique is user intervention on RPO reads. By predicting or recognizing an RPO, move your user defender quickly to slow the play or knock down the pass. This high-skill move rewards smart user defense with game-changing interceptions.

With these strategies, you’ll improve your defensive stops and get more value from your team after you buy CFB 26 coins and build a versatile and responsive defense.