In Madden, selecting a playbook is the single most important pre-game preparation step a player can make. While Madden allows players to customize plays and formations through hot routes and motion on offense and manual movement and playmaker assignments on defense, players are limited by the playbook they choose. The bulk of strategic options make the the playbook an asset or a hindrance. Without careful consideration for the playbook selection, players can unintentionally derail their own success.

Most playbooks are packed with more than 250 plays available for selection at any moment. Many contain formations geared towards a specific offensive or defensive strength. Choosing a passing playbook isn't a good idea if your team's strength is power running. While matching the playbook strength against a team's strength can create a slight advantage, many factors come into play. Ideally, the “right� playbook should place the best players on the field in a position to make plays. Since every player uses different teams, has their own play style and system of reads, etc. There may not be a "RIGHT" playbook for Madden players, but it’s possible to have the "WRONG" playbook.

Playing offense on Madden can easily become a passing score fest, but running the ball steadily requires an uncommon discipline. The Full House formation, one that hearkens back decades before video games, can still be an effective power punch for players looking to keep scores low. If your defense is capable of pulling it's weight, the Full House formation may be the tool you need to win games without scoring tons of points.

Players looking to pile on the points may want to skip this, but players that enjoy punching their opponents in the mouth will get a kick out of this one. When longtime friend and nemesis BlondeTom2000 and I played our first Madden game years ago, I wasn't sure what to expect. While I knew his offense was unpopular, I had no idea why... Did I find out. His FULL HOUSE attack was too slow, methodical, and patient for most Madden players. But make no mistake, it was effective.

Characterized by a heavy dose of hard hitting run plays and passes that stretch defenses, BlondeTom's Full House uses a unique blend of power and deception to ea victories. After soundly beating me in a few games, BlondeTom agreed to explain the strategy behind his system of play calling - while staying true to the Full House concept.

The minds of Madden players are often faced with the dilemma of how to strike a balance in their offensive attack. While finding balance may seem difficult, balance is simple to achieve. Balance doesn't need to be a 50/50 mix of runs and passes. The real key to balance is setting up opposing threats. Any offense can have a measure of balance, without actually striving for even play calling. The nature of balance in play calling is merely to keep something in the back of an opponent's mind so he will have to think hard about which attack to defend against.

Many Madden players tip their hands with the formations, motion, personnel, etc... Players usually figure out tendencies late in games that make maintaining drives difficult. Any number of 'tells' inform the defense of what is about to happen and allows them a split second to react. Offensive players should work to limit the number of 'tells' they give the defense by using one tendency to setup another. In doing so, they will achieve some balance, even when play calling is lopsided.