This page will be updated soon for Madden 2006 (9/16/05)
This is the Madden 2004 page I've put together with some tips I've managed to find from various websites and internet message boards, this material was not written by me, but I've decided to host it for easy reference.
Madden Game guides here
Various Tips from Madden Forums
I like using the Rams and Marshall Falk. His speed and run/catch dual threat make people I play focus on him just enough to make my entire offense productive. If you were to try and stop my passing attack with Bulger you would be forced to start opening up to my off tackle runs...he's not bad to put up as a wideout occassionaly too...if they respect him, i open up the crossing pattern alot that way...if they dont respect him, it can mean BIG yardage...I like backs in madden that I can utilize that way....If you're pickin Jamal Lewis you're SCREWED with someone who knows the 46 cover 2 variation and packs 9 or 10 on the line...cause there's only one thing you can do with lewis. Once you shut down his power runs then the D is forced to acknowledge that they're passing is the only threat...and let's face it, the Ravens air attack is not much of a threat with 85+ rated corners. As im sure you see in my Sig and by how I'm talking, i just played the Ravens. This guy was GOOD On D..he was lockdown...but I held his offense to 25 yards and lewis to -4 rushing..and he didnt catch a pass either. I just stacked the line with the 46, blitzed maybe 4 guys every time and kept the cover 2 or even cover 3 on at all times as well. Occassionally I'd have my inside DB's go into containment on the outside, just to prevent any rollouts or screens...he couldn't do anything. Against the ravens D i did one thing: made sure that the Run became at least a THREAT...nothing major, just something that if not guarded against would become a problem. As soon as I did this I could start passing and running out of the same formations and out of 4 downs could usually find a way to keep the chains moving. Every time he went into cover1 I had either faulk swinging to the weak side or sharp flag patterns going out towards the sidelines. By just crossing one or two recievers, now I established the kind of spread I wanted on the Ravens D. Another hint against the Ravens D...realize that if your back can come out of the backfield to catch balls, that you should intentionally be lining him up against lewis, and dragging him out towards the sidelines...the more you can get lewis occupied with coverage on a diversionary reciever, the more you can start passing towards the middle, and setting up the off tackle runs. Lastly, it'd be a great idea to have an audible where you can have one slot running a seam and the other running a corner route towards the sidelines...you can really start splitting up that ravens d this way...never letting them get comfortable stacking the line...because once they do that, you're DONE lol...
OH! and one more MAJOR thing that could prevent probably 40% or more of all online "vs ravens" loses...(probably even against the CPU) if they have their CB's in bump and run, DO NOT even consider throwing into the flats...they WILL pick the ball and bring it back for 6...or at least give them outstanding field position that could make the difference in the game...this is how they win. IF they are in bump and run, keep stacking 2 and 3 WR on the same side and running toward that side...mix in a few plays having your WR slant toward the middle of the field...trust me, you'll gain some yards, and they will back off the bump and run. Once they do this you'll see their defense start to really break down...
you just gotta pick em apart...sorry to make this a VS ravens thread, but I figured it was semi relevant. added 10/19/2004
Hold R then select the play you want. When you press the A button nothing will happen but this play is now your R audible. Release the A button and choose whatever play you like then once on the field you can use your R audible. Pretty useful, it maeans that you can effectively run two different plays on each down and then choose one right before the snap.
"waiting for blitz assignments" does work also for run blocking. Generally if you get nailed before you get to line, if you go to replay, you will see that an offensive lineman or two, hit their opposing defensive linemen and then a blitzer (or LB/safety covering the HB) swoops in. Your lineman will jump off his guy and try to catch him, this results in a couple offensive linemen missing both their initial block and the blitzer.
If you wait for the center to call it out, your offensive lineman will pick up the blocking much more efficiently. Not so much confusion and chaos. There is a rare occasion if the defense calls the right play, and your on a sweep with pulling linemen, that they may abandon there lead block assignment to stay in and protect if a blitzer is coming. So, on sweeps you need to watch and see if the lineman stays or goes on his assignment and adjust accordingly. Cut it back inside if he doesn't come off the line to lead you outside.
And definetly don't tap speed burst until your past the initial wave.
As we all know, taking control of a DB who is already in position to make a play on the pass may take you out of position. So, instead of taking control of the defender and then making a play, simply hit the Triangle (go for interception) or L1 (knock down pass) while retaining control of your current player. This may be a bit confusing, so let me run down an example play:
You control the MLB and are playing your drop zone. The opposing QB drops back to pass and throws a bomb to the FL on a streak. You do NOT take control of the DB who is in man coverage with the FL, instead, when the ball is near your defender, and you think he can make a play on the ball, simply press the L1 button. He will now attempt to knock down the pass. Likewise, you can press triangle and go for the pick.
Using this trick, your CB will no longer wait for the WR to catch the ball and then hit the receiver. The CB will make whatever play on the ball you tell it to. Be cautious going for the pick though, you will get burned. On the flipside, curls are no longer unstoppable (press L1 and your CB will reach forward). added 10/14/2004
Next are a few guides that I've cut and pasted together from http://www.maddenmania.com
Passing Guide
Running Guide
Guide to the Bend don't break Defense (Cover 2)
Appendix C of Bend don't break
Comments? Suggestions? Please email me at: stevebell9@hotmail.com
Last updated: 10/14/2004 11:20am CST