Madden 08

The Madden Playbook

by Phil Barros

Learn to use your Power Backs and Big Hitters in Madden 08

Office productivity around the country slipped to new lows this week as most male employees came down with a sudden case of Madden fever. If you're still wearing pajamas and are half-way through season three of franchise mode, we salute you. But for the sake of your job, we hope you get better soon.

We also hope you get better at Madden NFL 08, one of the best-playing football games of all time. With that in mind, we have a few simple tips to help you up your game and leave your friends on the wrong side of the scoreboard. As this year's title is more of a thinking man's game...

Play To Your Strengths

If you are playing with the San Diego Chargers and 70 percent of your offense is not going through Ladainian Tomlinson, then you are making a mistake. EA put a major emphasis on star players in Madden 08, and it's your duty to get the ball to them. What's more, it pays to play in the same style as the real-life NFL squad. If you're playing as the Rams, focus on getting the ball to Stephen Jackson and spreading it out with Marc Bulger on quick timing routes to Torry Holt and company. If you're playing as the Ravens, be prepared to grind the ball out on offense, utilizing Willis Mcgahee to wind down the clock in a ball-control offense, letting your defense keep things close. If you're playing as the Raiders, be prepared to lose with grace and dignity -- it's going to be a long year in O-Town.

Don't Be Afraid To Run the Ball

Madden has always focused on passing, and the same holds true in 08. You can literally play an entire game running the ball 10 percent of the time. But then you wouldn't be utilizing the fine new blocking schemes EA has inserted into the game, opening holes for even the meekest of backs. Put the ball in the hands of LT or Larry Johnson and watch them create, usually to the tune of a three to five yard gain or more. We've all been frustrated in past games that a Dime defense could somehow shut down a power running play, but this year things are different, and you need to take advantage of it. And as always, a successful running game will cause safeties and linebackers to bite on play action, opening up a big play for a speedy receiver in single coverage on the outside. Balance out your offense and reap the rewards.

Use Motion

One of the easiest ways to open up the field is put your offensive players in motion. In the running game, this could mean an extra block on an outside run, creating a seal to the outside. It could force a defensive back in man coverage to follow the receiver, opening up space on that side of the field. Or it could simply be used as a decoy to confuse your opponent. In the passing game, motion is a great way to overload a zone defense to one side. By adding an extra receiver you can attack a zone, keying off a defensive back forced to cover two players. Also, this often frees up a running back coming out of the backfield. Finally, motion can help get your star receivers into one-on-one coverage, allowing guys like Terrell Owens to do what they do best -- go up and get the ball.

Play Hot

The best Madden players in the world are consistently using hot routes to exploit a defense. It may be as simple as calling a streak for a downfield threat like Devry Henderson when he finds himself in single coverage to the outside. Or you could call a slant route for a receiver to fill the space of a blitzing linebacker. Or you could simply use the hot route to clear space for another offensive player. Throwing the ball into traffic is very tricky in Madden 08, especially on higher difficulty settings, and your goal should be to free your receivers as often as possible. Hot routes are a great way to do this on the fly.

Defensive hot routes make their next-gen debut in Madden 08. While these are used less than offensive hot routes, they can help you to adjust to a tricky offensive set without calling an audible. If, for example, you call a blitz and it leaves a receiver uncovered, you can call the blitz off for a linebacker so he can help out in coverage. On the flip side, if you think a team is going to run the ball, you could call a strong safety blitz on the fly. The key to defensive hot routes is to use them carefully -- a smart quarterback will usually find a receiver you left open by calling a DB blitz. At the same time, a smart player will be able to make minor adjustments without compromising the rest of the defense. Also be sure to shift your secondary, linebackers and defensive line depending on offensive formation and down and distance.

Be Precise

Precision passing is back, and it's about time. With this feature you can use the left stick to choose where to throw a ball to a receiver. If your flanker to the right is running an out, it helps to press right on the analog stick to ensure the quarterback leads him to the outside. This will prevent a defensive back from jumping the route for a pick. Using precision passing on a seam route with your slot receiver can be deadly -- simply aim the ball in the direction opposite the defender. This is especially effective when a clumsy linebacker is assigned to cover a quick receiver.

On a simple curl, you can throw the ball in the direction you want the receiver to run after the catch. And finally, it's possible to hit a streak or two every game with the right conditions. In single coverage, you can throw to the outside shoulder of a stud receiver and he has a much better chance of catching the ball. Simply hitting the throw button will give a defensive back a small window to knock the ball down. But if you can lead a burner like Steve Smith, he can usually get past a DB to make the big play.

Protect The Ball

Now that the strip button is back, offenses are fumbling the ball a lot more. There is nothing more frustrating than hitting a player for a big gain only to have him fumble when a DB strips him from behind. If you see that you are about to be tackled from behind, simply cover the ball. You'll see this in every NFL game. Big players that don't cover up are bound to fumble. See Leon Lett. In the passing game, be calm. It will be long season if you try to force the ball where it doesn't belong. EA upped the AI of defensive backs to eliminate "gimme plays" like corner routes. If your man is covered, check off to the flat or, yes I swear, throw the ball away. Forcing a pass in the middle of the field on higher difficulty settings will almost always result in an interception. Madden 08 rewards smart players, so it's time to adjust your game accordingly.


Check out all our Madden coverage:

Posted: 16 Aug 2007