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.

First things first, be warned: The Full House requires discipline and patience. It takes time and effort to develop and maintain the discipline needed to run the formation. It's pounding run plays offer simplicity for the offense and present challenges for the defense. It is only meant to used by the most hardened players. Pass happy Madden players should keep looking because the Full House ain't your cup of tea. But for those dedicated few, who can stick with the run, you can run every offensive play from the full house formation.

Second, consider your team's personnel. Teams with three good running backs are best to run this offense behind a strong offensive line. Rotating fresh backs help manage stamina that makes persistent pounding the the rock on the defense late in the 4th quarter more fruitful. Players may also want to sub a tight ends at fullback to take particular advantage of linebackers in coverage to keep coverage honest. Replacing the fullback with a tight end helps run blocking and catching out of the backfield. On the outside, use the best receivers on the roster in the wide formation.

Consider Timing. When players see the Full House formation, they may ignore the pass and run blitz. Expect heat early in the ball game!!! Don't be discouraged if a run fails to gain yards. Running is cumulative. Because players are likely to send heat, play calling is the engine that makes the Full House work. Players must pay persistently pay attention to detail to determine which plays to call.

BlondeTom explains, "HB Smash is a good drive starter because it works for steady gains, but also has BIG PLAY potential." As a matter of principle, running this play well is essential to the effectiveness of other plays. When this play works, the scheme works. When this play does not work other plays in the scheme force adjustments that make this play work.

Consider the Concept. The Full House owes its success or failure to whether you can stick with the simplest of plans - Run to get the defense to come up, then throw over their heads. Building any plan begins with a foundation. BlondeTom's foundation is the Full House Wide :: HB Smash because it tells the defense to "Get some snacks, because it's going to be a long day."

In our game, BlondeTom punished me with his rendition of the HB Smash. Smash left. Smash right. 1st down. Repeat. My usual minor run stopping adjustments weren't effective and it forced me to commit more defenders than I wanted to attack the edge. Apparently I made the adjustments he expected, because just when I had the Smash shut down, BOOM, he hit me with something else. As a defender, it was nerve racking knowing that a consistently tough play would be consistently run even after I stopped it. It forced me to play a disciplined gap control defense instead of going after the quarterback with reckless abandon.

Once the HB Smash is established as a consistent threat in the defense's mind, you will notice the safeties moving toward the line of scrimmage to pick up the coverage when the linebackers rush the gaps. These defensive adjustments setup other plays... As the defense creeps forward to stop the Smash, options present themselves.

I felt my best option against the smash was to use as few defenders as possible, so I brought the opposite outside linebacker to run down the HB Smash from behind. Like most defenders, my move inevitably left me exposed to the "Curls" play. By bringing the outside linebacker, the defender at the coer is isolated in coverage for an easy pitch and catch. My awareness of the run threat made me want to keep space between my defensive backs and receivers, so I didn't jam receivers as much. By the time BlondTom had run his first pass play, I was already frustrated that my initial adjustments weren't working well enough.

As my patience wore thinner, I began selling out to take the HB Smash away to force another passing situation. On 3rd and medium, defending the curls seemed the easy choice, but I still had to be wary of the Smash. In the back of my mind, I was still thinking about it. While I was thinking about the two threats I'd seen thus far, BlondeTom saw fit to unveil yet another headache for my defense... Flares.

BlondTom explains, "Flares are great for deep shots to your receiver o­n the left or dump offs to backs in the flats." My strategy to cover the run threat and the curls, left enough room underneath to dump the ball off short for a first down. Just when I thought I'd had a handle on his offense, he breaks HB Smash to the left for a long run, which brought my defensive plan around full circle. BlondeTom wanted to remind me not to forget the SMASH.

We play on. Tied 7-7 late in the third quarter I start blitzing the Smash only to find out about the HB Slam which starts out looking the same, but the blocking up front is better for picking up blitzes. BlondeTom explains that he runs the HB Slam when "defenses bltiz to stop the HB Smash." After blitzing into a wall of waiting blockers, my defensive backs were tired from the pounding. Lo and behold, BlondeTom had an answer for that too.

For a system using simple keys and straightforward run plays, BlondTom's version of the Full House gave me fits. Not only did it take me out of my comfort zone defensively, it never let me enjoy success on any play. The understanding that undisciplined play on any play could result in a touchdown was a reality. The constant pounding kept my offense on the sidelines, meaning every mistake on my offensive snaps became magnified. As a defensive minded player myself, I appreciate the attitude of the offense and the options is brings. Overall, I respect BlondeTom's scheme and his disciplined approach to using it. To date, his Full House remains the most developed of any Madden player i've met.

If you're looking for an offense with simple keys to make tailoring your attack for how your opponent is defending - Full House may be your calling. Success keeps the offense in manageable situations and scores low. Take another look at one of the oldest stick moving offensive running formations available on Madden!

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