Players who are having a tough time figuring out Madden NFL 22 aren't alone. The game is relatively easy to pick up but almost impossible to master. And the latest addition makes even playing it difficult; the main screen bombards players with various modes, logins, selections, and advertisements.

RELATED: Madden NFL 22: Top Defensive Linemen, RankedSeeing as how pitfalls can happen on the opening screen, nobody should feel bad for struggling. Everybody who picks up the game picks up bad habits or falls into unmarked traps. The best gamers on the planet still have to hone their craft and watch out for making the mistakes that everyone struggles with.

10 Switching To the Wrong Player

Madden NFL 22 Being Nowhere Close To The Action On Defense

This one has been haunting Madden fans for decades and the problem is still here. There is a convenient button to switch to the defensive player closest to the action. Players will eagerly anticipate a big hit, shifting directions and slamming the hit stick right away.

The only trouble is that instead o selecting one of the game's star cornerbacks, the game had the players select a different player. That player then tackles the air and the player that was the intended target watches the runner go by him. Check to make sure the right player is being controlled!

9 Spending Money In MUT

Madden NFL 22 Packs Available For Purchase In The MUT Store

Here is the one rule to never break: Unless gamers possess the talent to win multi-million dollar tournaments, spending money in Madden Ultimate Team is a total waste of time. The game is predatory and the prey are the players who mistakenly think they are a few thousand dollars away from greatness.

Players are better off mastering their technique rather than their cards. Learn to make the right tackle at the right time or how to throw the perfect touch pass. Even pros don't spend money in MUT until they are 100% positive that the card they're aiming for can't be replaced in the following week, but they almost always are.

8 Going Long

Madden NFL 22 Throwing An Inaccurate Pass Downfield

The legendary Woody Hayes once said, "Three things can happen when you pass and two of them are bad." Although modern football is all about passing to the most elite receivers in football, Madden NFL 22 maintains an old-school mentality.

Famously, a player once won a Madden Bowl tournament with a punter as a quarterback because he never threw the ball. This run-first tactic is still the most successful. Run almost always, throwing is a last resort.

7 Ignore O-Line Upgrades

Madden NFL 22 All Blockers Picking Up Their Assignments

Upgrading an offensive line can be an ordeal. It's far easier to take a single position, like the quarterback, then get one of the league's best QBs, and make-believe that everything will be alright. But there is a good reason that front offices pay top dollar to offensive linemen.

RELATED: Madden NFL 22: Top Linebackers, Ranked

Washington won three Super Bowls with various players. None of those teams had the same QB. What they did have was a solid offensive line. To match this history, Madden NFL 22 makes it so an elite blocker is nearly impossible to shed. It takes a while to get the right players, but it is worth it.

6 Calling Repeat Plays

Madden NFL 22 Choosing A Type Of Slant Route

Even with the best offensive lineman, opponents who know the playbook will be able to cover all of the receivers when they know their routes. Unfortunately, the AI is completely non-functional when it sees that a route is covered. Some will just stop and give entirely.

This makes it important to switch between types of plays. Have at least twenty good inside and outside run plays, then twenty good short passes and long passes. This type of variety gets opponents off of their game and confuses them as to what is coming next.

5 Forgetting To Study Other Teams

Madden NFL 22 Landry Catching A Wide Open Touchdown Pass

Most players are good about studying their own them. they know which blockers do the best job, which receivers have extra bursts of speed, and which safeties to blitz with. but that is only half of the equation.

Studying other teams reveals mismatches to exploit. Maybe an 80 OVR receiver doesn't really shine, but one week we'll be lined up against a 60 OVR defensive back. It's as simple as looking at the opponent's roster before the game, but it makes a colossal difference.

4 Locking In On One Receiver

Madden NFL 22 Defender Celebrating A Fourth Down Stop

There are a couple of problems with eyeing down one receiver. Rookie quarterbacks find that if they do this and the option isn't there, they have to run for short yardage. This first issue limits defenders so they only need to focus on one receiver.

The second issue is that this isn't sustainable. The way stamina works, by the end of the game, the receiver will be completely gassed and easy to defend. With an easy win in one-on-one matchups against this overused target, defenses will then shift their focus to the rest of his teammates.

3 Sticking With Suggested Plays

Madden NFL 22 Bruce Arians Calling For A Punt

With all due respect to the AI in Madden NFL 22, teams will be on a 3rd & 15 and the coach will suggest running a quarterback sneak that averages 2.3 yards per carry. Though it feels like using suggested plays feels safe, this is actually a dangerous move.

RELATED: Madden NFL 22: Top Tight Ends, RankedPlayers are better equipped to call the play that works for them. Look at each play's average gain and call more of those. A few of the defensive plays the coach will default to calling have community averages of giving up double-digit yardage. No way should these ever be selected.

2 Making Only One Kind Of Tackle

Madden NFL 22 Using The Hit Stick Against Patrick Mahomes

Madden NFL 22 offers four different kinds of tackles. Some players will only ever use the "run into the other player" option. Others will learn about the hit stick and never elect to do anything except big tackles again.

Each of the tackles has a place. The conservative tackle stops runners from moving forward. Hit stick tackles can bust the ball loose. Aggressive tackles have an increased range. Only using one kind of tackle will look good 25% of the time, leaving the offense to dominate the other 75% of collisions.

1 Avoiding Other Game Modes

Madden NFL 22 Celebrating A First Down In The Yard

More than any other year in the franchise, this is the best year to give every mode a shot. Play each one for an hour or two and then dip out if it's not fun. Beginners will get stuck trying to make a mode work that isn't the right fit for them.

Plus, each game mode offers the majority of its rewards within the first few games. Players who exclusively play one mode are missing out on very low-hanging fruit the game is eager to give out.

NEXT: Madden NFL 22: Top Running Backs, Ranked