What is Untarget User Adjustment
User defender blitzes got you frustrated? Players taking their user, standing right on the line of scrimmage, trying to mess with your offensive line reads?
EA added a counter. It's called Ontarget User Defender.
Turn this on. Your offensive line completely IGNORES the defensive user. They won't even look at them. Makes user manipulation useless.
Here's the thing. Most people don't know this exists. They're still getting picked apart by user rushers when there's a simple setting that fixes it.
How to Turn On Untarget User Adjustment
Two ways to do this. In-game and permanent setup.
In-Game Method
- Click the right stick in
- Opens coaching adjustments menu
- Scroll down to Ontarget User Defender
- Turn this ON
That's it. Works immediately.
Permanent Setup
Better method. Set it once, never worry about it again:
- Go to main menu settings
- Find coach adjustments
- Turn on Ontarget User Defender
Now it's on forever. Every game. Every snap.
How to Know It's Working
Look for the flame icon over the user defender.
That flame means your offensive line isn't reading them. When the ball snaps, they're invisible to your blockers.
User standing right in the A-gap trying to show blitz? Your center won't even acknowledge they exist.
When to Use Untarget User Adjustment
Always.
Seriously. There's no downside. Turn this on permanently and forget about it.
But especially use it when you see:
- User defenders crowding the line of scrimmage
- Players moving their user around pre-snap trying to confuse your line
- Consistent pressure from user rushers
- Your offensive line making weird blocking decisions
Why This Works Against User Manipulation
User manipulation relies on ONE thing. Making your offensive line think there's pressure coming from somewhere it's not.
Player shows their user in the A-gap. Your center sees this, thinks "blitz coming", adjusts blocking accordingly. Then the user backs out at the snap, but your protection is already messed up.
Untarget removes this completely. Your line doesn't care where the user is standing. They block based on the actual defensive scheme: not the fake pressure the user is showing.
What Happens When You Use It
Your offensive line blocks like the user defender doesn't exist.
User showing A-gap blitz? Your line blocks the actual linebackers and defensive linemen. Not the fake pressure.
Result. You pick up pressure easily. Get clean pockets. Make easy throws against what should be a difficult defense to beat.
Real Example
Opponent brings their user up to the line. Trying to show extra pressure. Without untarget. Your line might slide protection toward the user, leaving actual rushers free.
With untarget. Your line ignores the user completely. Blocks the real threats. You get time to throw.
Common Mistakes with Untarget
Not setting it permanently. Stop adjusting this every game. Set it once in the main menu. Done forever.
Forgetting it exists. This is probably the most underused adjustment in the game. People suffer through user manipulation when there's a simple fix.
Thinking it hurts your blocking - It doesn't. Your line still blocks everyone else normally. They just ignore the user.
What This Doesn't Fix
Untarget doesn't stop actual user rushes. If someone brings their user as a rusher for real, not just showing pressure, you still need to account for them.
It only stops the MANIPULATION part. The fake pressure. The pre-snap movement designed to confuse your line.
Also doesn't fix bad offensive line play in general. If your blocking is trash against regular rushes, this won't help with that.
Why Most People Don't Use This
They don't know it exists.
EA added this feature but didn't exactly advertise it. It's buried in coaching adjustments that most people never touch.
Also. People overcomplicate things. They think there must be some downside. Some reason not to use it. There isn't.
How to Counter Untarget (When You're on Defense)
If your opponent has this on. User manipulation becomes useless.
Stop trying to show fake pressure with your user. Either bring them for real or don't. The fake stuff won't work.
Focus on actual pressure. Real blitzes. Coverage concepts that don't rely on pre-snap mind games.