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[calder]

I don't know much about the NFL (slept right through the Super Bowl again) but my brothers are getting a BBA for their PS2 and Madden is all they play against each other. Unfortunately they know I have one too, so after 6 or 7 hounding phonecalls last night I promised to go buy Madden tonight and play them.

I understand the basics of playing the football - sometimes I run the ball but mainly I like to pick that plays that make the receiver dudes run far far away and try for the 60 yard TD. The defense is all a mystery to me, if nickel and dime means anything in particular nobody ever bothered telling me.

Most of my brothers are idots and I assume I'll be able to hang with them. But Andy is apparently a madden prodigy, according to the other 3 he *always* wins every game by about 60 or 70 points no matter which team he takes or who he's playing against. He said he wants me to play other ppl for a while to get up to his level before stepping up. Obviously, slapping that smug look off his face and taking his crown is going to be sweet, and the quicker I can do it the better. It'll salve the wounds from the shocking day a few years back when he beat me in StarCraft for the first time. Damn that first loss ever in SC to someone I know personally hurt, but I'm still 900-3 or something so I try to let it go.


Here's what I need from you guys:

- which teams are good (beyond the obvious ones I remember from the playoffs)? I know one of my brothers will always pick last years champ, and Ray will always take the Falcons. Are there good teams to pick that match up especially well against certain elite teams?

- on defense, what kind of plays should I pick when I think they're going to run versus throw? Seriously, it all looks the same to me. Years back I'd just pick a random formation that had guys hanging back from teh line because I assumed they were there to defend against the pass. That accurate? When should I blitz? I like blitzing, it feels assertive.

- at Christmas I watched brother #3 play #4 and on every single extra point they went for the 2 point convert. Score, situation etc means nothing to them, and I doubt a single one of them would punt on 4th and 30, we're just not wired that way. Even the oldest of them, a guy who watches NFL football every weekend and seems to actually know the game, can't resist gambling on every 4th down. What play do you pick when you know the guy is going for a long throw on 4th down? What's the best thing to against 2 point convert attempts?

- if there are any "money" plays in Madden 2005, plays that abuse AI glitches for guaranteed yards, I sure don't want to know them... except maybe as a defense against them being done to me of course.

 

[bishoptl]

you could have saved yourself some time and just searched for all of FMT's posts...

 

[Kung Fu Jedi]

Umm...bad news. If they are major Madden players and you're just getting into the game, you're probably going to get owned. Often. You can usually get up to speed quickly if you have a good understanding of football, but if you don't have the basics down, or even know which teams to play, you could be in major trouble. This is especially true with the newer Madden games that have added more layers of depth to the game play. When they start calling hot routes, DB audibles, and line stunts on you, it's going to get ugly.

My advice, take your lumps now, and practice, practice, practice before your next game. Good luck!

 

[calder]

You can usually get up to speed quickly if you have a good understanding of football

Well crap, that's not what I was looking to hear. :lol

*searches for FMT's madden threads*

 

[Ramirez]

Well it sounds like their major cheesers so I doubt any of our tips would help,I never stick around to play people who do bullshit all game :lol

 

[Moegames]

I don't know much about the NFL (slept right through the Super Bowl again) but my brothers are getting a BBA for their PS2 and Madden is all they play against each other. Unfortunately they know I have one too, so after 6 or 7 hounding phonecalls last night I promised to go buy Madden tonight and play them.

I understand the basics of playing the football - sometimes I run the ball but mainly I like to pick that plays that make the receiver dudes run far far away and try for the 60 yard TD. The defense is all a mystery to me, if nickel and dime means anything in particular nobody ever bothered telling me.

Most of my brothers are idots and I assume I'll be able to hang with them. But Andy is apparently a madden prodigy, according to the other 3 he *always* wins every game by about 60 or 70 points no matter which team he takes or who he's playing against. He said he wants me to play other ppl for a while to get up to his level before stepping up. Obviously, slapping that smug look off his face and taking his crown is going to be sweet, and the quicker I can do it the better. It'll salve the wounds from the shocking day a few years back when he beat me in StarCraft for the first time. Damn that first loss ever in SC to someone I know personally hurt, but I'm still 900-3 or something so I try to let it go.


Here's what I need from you guys:

- which teams are good (beyond the obvious ones I remember from the playoffs)? I know one of my brothers will always pick last years champ, and Ray will always take the Falcons. Are there good teams to pick that match up especially well against certain elite teams?

- on defense, what kind of plays should I pick when I think they're going to run versus throw? Seriously, it all looks the same to me. Years back I'd just pick a random formation that had guys hanging back from teh line because I assumed they were there to defend against the pass. That accurate? When should I blitz? I like blitzing, it feels assertive.

- at Christmas I watched brother #3 play #4 and on every single extra point they went for the 2 point convert. Score, situation etc means nothing to them, and I doubt a single one of them would punt on 4th and 30, we're just not wired that way. Even the oldest of them, a guy who watches NFL football every weekend and seems to actually know the game, can't resist gambling on every 4th down. What play do you pick when you know the guy is going for a long throw on 4th down? What's the best thing to against 2 point convert attempts?

- if there are any "money" plays in Madden 2005, plays that abuse AI glitches for guaranteed yards, I sure don't want to know them... except maybe as a defense against them being done to me of course.

Simple..drop back 20 yards and loft a bomb..TD every time :lol Thats Madden for ya

 

[ToxicAdam]

Seriously .... Pick Atlanta ... or convince them since you are new that you should be able to use an "All Madden" team.


Then drop back 20 yards and throw a bomb. Once and awhile let Vick/All Star run out of the pocket .. just to keep the defense honest.


Just keep doing that over and over. Don't let them guilt you into changing your strategy .. stick with it.

 

[Slo]

I posted in your thread in the Online gaming forum, but from this post it sounds like you need more basic lessons. :-\

About defenses: In general, but not always, you should pick a defense that matches up well against the formation your opponent choses. 4-3 and 3-4 are good, balanced formations to use against balanced offensive formations. When your opponent chooses his play, you'll see something like 2WR-1TE-1RB, or 4WR-0TE-1RB. You should key off of this information, and atleast have as many cornerbacks on the field as they have wide receivers.

Here's a brief guide.
4-3: 4 down linemen, 3 linebackers, 2 corners, 2 safeties. This is a good, balanced defense.
3-4: 3 down linemen, 4 linebackers, 2 corners, 2 safeties. An alternative to 4-3, good for when you have an excellent linebacking core, or are getting burnt on outside runs.
Nickel: 4 down linemen, 2 linebackers, 3 corners, 2 safeties. Should be used when your opponent uses 3 wide receivers.
Dime: 4 down linemen, 1 linebacker, 4 corners, 2 safeties. Good against 4 wide, horrible against the run.
Quarter: 3 down linemen, 1 linebacker, 5 corners, 2 safeties. Good against 5 wide, or when your opponent has 4th and 35

 

[Dilbert]

When I first read the title of this thread, and saw that it was calder posting it, I thought he was going to beat down his brothers for playing Madden. I was just popping in to offer my heartfelt support for such a noble endeavor...but it turns out this thread was about something else.

 

[Matrix]

Simple..drop back 20 yards and loft a bomb..TD every time :lol Thats Madden for ya

Maybe if he was playing a retard *sorry if this offends any retard* it would be a td everytime....cause the Madden I play,that doesnt happen.