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.

One of the easiest methods to establish balance is to use a single formation. While this may not seem creative, it provides the offensive player with the advantage of using one play to setup others while staying with the same look. With a single formation, players may run or pass without the defense being able to setup for either. The drawback for the offense is that a single formation will severely limit the ability to attack specific tendencies in the defense...

Conversely, Madden fans can also create balance by using several formations in combination. The common West Coast practice of scripting plays from varied formations to see how the defense reacts works as well in Madden as sticking with one. As defenses move to adjust to new formations, offensive minds can make moves to exploit each new alignment. The resulting effect is balance as long as the offense uses opposing threats to keep the defense on their virtual heels.

Another method to maintain balance is attacking the entire field. Players seeking to run outside will find more success if they also run to the middle. Players with strong inside running games should also run outside periodically. Forcing the defense to defend the outside runs will improve the effectiveness of runs to the inside as defenders are committed to the edges. On pass plays, short passes compliment long passes and should be used together. Like run plays, balanced pass attacks should also work all areas of the field.

Utilizing several options from a few plays is a commonly used concept for Madden players. The simple appeal of utilizing several options on pass plays allows players to focus on running a mere handful of plays without sacrificing their competitive edge. Some players only plan to use 5 plays, but remain tough to stop because of the plethora of adjustments they employ. The more diverse their manipulation of the small subset of plays, the more success players have establishing a balanced attack.

Just as common a tactic, and equally as effective as establishing balance, is the player that rarely duplicates a play. Their play calling and tendencies seem to change constantly and are difficult to target. The resulting doubt in the defense's mind creates balance. Defending these attacks require a larger commitment of mental energy from the defenses, which is a direct result of the way plays are called and executed.

Sending players in motion is another common element to establishing balance. Players should be careful not to give away their intent before the snap by using motion in a variety of ways. At times it may be beneficial to motion a player to the play side, while at other times it is best to motion away from play side to draw defenders away from the true point of attack. Teams that use only use one type of motion are depriving themselves of an element of balance that can elevate their offense without substantial changes. To help players create balanced motion attacks many Madden playbooks feature sets of Auto-motion plays that match motion for several plays in a given formation.

Packaging is yet another tool players can use to maintain balance. Suppose a player has success throwing short passes to a slot receiver in one formation. Players can use that knowledge against their opponent by using that player packaged to the slot to draw coverage away from the real intended target. Of the elements that players can use to create the idea of balance, attacking with a gimmick may be the best way to setup an expectation that creates balance. Attacking with an opposing threat after an apparent tendency is once again the key.

Suppose an opponent has been having success on 3rd and short with slant routes to the slot from the Weak I - Twin WR formation. Late in the game the defense may be waiting for this situation and pounce when confronted with the same look. To avoid the dangers of lacking balance, a savvy offensive player will use the success of the slants to setup some other form of attack.

To defend the slants the defense may play underneath the receiver to jump the quick pass. To combat this adjustment to a previously successful tendency, the offense can take advantage by setting up a slant-n-go attack that lobs the ball deep once the defenders jump the slant. In one play, the offense has balanced several slants with the threat of one deep route based on the slant.

The benefit to using a dominant tendency to setup another threat forces opponents to play disciplined defense on every snap and creates balance, even for players with heavy passing or running offenses. Cunning players will find methods to add more plays to their attack stemming from one look or from several. Expanding our play selection keeps defenses guessing, but it is our overall decisions that keeps offenses balanced.

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