The four official directions
The announced layout keeps all four tackle choices on the right stick: flick up for Hit Stick, down for Cut Stick, left for Lunge Tackle, and right for Wrap Tackle.
These are EA's console examples from the Gameplay Deep Dive. Keyboard prompts, remapping behavior, accessibility settings, and Nintendo Switch 2 prompts still need platform-specific capture.
- Right stick up — Hit Stick
- Right stick down — Cut Stick
- Right stick left — Lunge Tackle
- Right stick right — Wrap Tackle
Context still shapes the interaction
EA describes improved arm-tackle coverage for pursuit angles and says high-hit-power defenders carrying momentum can drive smaller ballcarriers backward more consistently. It also says smaller and larger defenders can favor tackle interactions that better match their size.
Those descriptions do not create an automatic decision rule. Ratings, angle, speed, spacing, contact timing, and the specific matchup can change the result even when the same direction is used.
Do not turn the layout into a fake tier list
Hit, Cut, Lunge, and Wrap are different tackle choices, not a published best-to-worst ranking. The official material explains the control map and design goals but does not provide attempt percentages, fumble tables, or guaranteed animation outcomes.
Treat claims such as always use Wrap or Hit Stick always causes more fumbles as unverified unless they include the player ratings, mode, difficulty, platform, build, sample, and comparison method.
A repeatable practice test
Use Practice or another repeatable setting with the same defender, ballcarrier, pursuit angle, starting distance, and difficulty. Test one direction at a time and record contact, missed tackles, yards after contact, and fumbles without changing personnel between samples.
Repeat from inside, outside, head-on, and trailing angles, then re-run the test after a title update. The purpose is to learn when each input is available and reliable for your context, not to manufacture a universal percentage.