Madden players handle all types of scenarios, none more frustrating than losing a game after a 4th quarter lead.  It's customary for Madden players to change their coverage account for more passes, but we often find ourselves sacrificing the pressure that earned the lead in the first place. 

The agony of abandoning our plan and giving up several passes that lead to a score shine a spotlight on the decision to change coverages to maintain a lead.  Legacy member "shortie211" sent this tip to create pressure mismatches so the offensive team will be forced to make late game adjustments in their play as well. 

Deep passes have been problematic for Madden players for years.  A common tactic of offensive minded players, regardless of down and distance, long completions are particularly effective in the online arena where players may not be completely familiar with all of the defensive adjustments at their disposal.  Don't let your opponents take advantage of you.

Quick strike offenses will have to be methodical, precise, and patient in order to maintain possession against a defense designed to force underneath passes to backs and tight ends.  Since most offensive juggernauts rely heavily on the threat of the deep pass, use this tip originally submitted by legacy member "ChuckDRoz," to keep deep passes from disrupting your defensive plan.

Much of the strategy of football is tied to the formations offensive and defensive teams use to deploy their personnel to best execute their chosen strategy. Essentially, formation is an example of how position is inherently relevant to the outcome of every play. Players that pay keen attention to the formations of their opponents and use their own knowledge of formations to tip the scales in their favor are steps ahead of whoever they play.

Defenses must take into account the three elements of football strategy: Personnel, Position, and Tempo. Where distance is an issue, players may attempt to regain some of the tempo advantage by using personnel with more speed. Where timing is an issue, players may opt to position rushers to blitz a gap closer to the center of the formation. Where personnel is an issue, players may opt to pick their spots to ensure heavy pressure is a surprise to their opponent. As with any competitive endeavor, defensive players must also consider how the offense will use these aspects and attack in a manner that offsets any offensive advantage.

In Madden, formations play the same role as they do in real life. Against less savvy players, sometimes winning the formation battle is all a player needs to win the game. Grizzled veterans of the Madden series; however, will present additional obstacles that must also be overcome. Even so, knowing and understanding the strengths and weaknesses of an opponent's offensive formation creates opportunities to avoid playing into their strengths and allows defenses to capitalize on the weaknesses.

There are many ways defenses can attack formations to minimize the offense's chances at success on any given play. For this article, we will discuss several basic offensive formations and how defenses are likely to attack them. At the end of this article, players should gain confidence in their ability to attack most offensive formations while being able to recognize when their own offensive plays are in jeopardy.

Facing No Huddle? No worries.  You don't have to be baffled by bypassed play selection screens.  Develop instead. Containing hurry up-offense is a necessary skill for o­nline play and league play alike; if for nothing more than to keep the game fun. Like anything else, good preparation is the best defense. 

Hurry-up catches unprepared Madden players off guard. Offensive players want to capitalize on the indecision and use no-huddle when they feel an advantage. Fortunately, feeling an advantage and actually having one are not the same. Much of the advantage of an effective no-huddle offense is psychological. No-huddle plays can create panic. Being fearful of the no-huddle attack is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Fortunately anyone desiring proficiency overcoming no-huddle offenses can do so with only a few minor adjustments.

 

 

Ever since Mike Vick graced the cover of Madden NFL 2004, speed at the quarterback position has revolutionized how we play defense. Now that Vick is back in the NFL and performing well, Madden players must brush up on ways to stop him. As a result of the threat Vick and other scrambling quarterbacks presented two defensive assignments have since been added to the game. Even with the changes, a QB on the move can still be frustrating to defend. Not only can they make plays with their legs, but their arms make them doubly dangerous. Because of their dual edge, you'll need to sharpen the tools in your game plan to contain and neutralize fast passers.

The most common reason players scramble is to get away from heavy nano-blitz style pressure. With the most worrisome pressure packages sending heat through the A-gap, it's no wonder there is such a high premium placed on a quarterback's speed. Whether sprinting straight back or to the outside, gaining separation from the line of scrimmage is critical. Conventional pass drops of 3, 5, and 7 steps get passers away from pressure and time when to throw to receiver routes but Madden players are likely to face more unorthodox pass drop methods. When approached like exaggerations of a conventional drop slowing down fast passers becomes easier.