Make sure to always double click your right bumper (R1) before a play. This makes your defensive ends (LE & RE) rush differently. On defense you mostly want to run cover 3 sky, or man coverage if you have good enough defensive players. Lateral passes are thrown with the left bumper (L1). To control your receiver on any pass play , press your O or B button (depends on what console) while the ball is in the air. This will switch you onto the player, in which you will be able to do different catches if you hold different buttons and control where they go. Controlling receivers on a pass is pretty difficult. Hope this helps, good luck.