Learning Madden All Over Again

Published August 28, 2008

Madden NFL 08 is at once familiar and strikingly different when compared to previous year's efforts. Yes, many of the gameplay mechanics remain the same, but tweaks to the A.I., Hit Stick 2.0, and the new branching animations and weapons system all require consideration, understanding and a willingness to adapt to succeed. Prepare yourself to tackle Madden's new challenges.

Low tackles courtesy of Hit Stick 2.0.

Cover Up
The cry of "FUMBLE!" has been let loose at an alarming rate since the release of Madden NFL 08, but the solution is already at your fingertips. Like a real NFL running back, you need to protect the ball when the big hit is in sight. Press RB before a tackle and the chances of coughing up the ball are reduced drastically. You can cover up even while sprinting, performing jukes or powering ahead, though it will slightly slow down such moves.

This takes some getting used to, but it's essential to retrain your ball-carrying instincts if you want to sustain drives.

Avoid the Pick
Defensive backs in Madden NFL 08 are more instinctive, faster, and smarter about playing the ball than ever before. Where a safety in zone coverage may have grazed a pass with a fingertip in the past, they're now more likely to snatch the ball out of the air for a pick-six. Consider the following to negate the secondary's new-found ball hawking skills:

• Lead the receiver: Unless your receiver is wide, wide open, you should always lead the ball away from the nearest defensive back when making the throw. Press the left stick in the desired direction when throwing the ball. For instance, press down during a quick hitch, towards the sideline for an out pattern, and up field on a fly route.
• Linebackers in zone: Keep a sharp eye out for linebackers in zone coverage between you and the receiver you want to throw to, as they'll leap into the air to snag any bullet pass you try to throw over their heads. Combat this by throwing a lob pass over the linebacker, or roll out of the pocket to get a clear line-of-sight.
• Check down and throw away: Just like the real NFL, sometimes the defensive coverage is just too good. Unless you see a receiver clearly open, don't throw the ball. Instead, check down to a tight-end or halfback in the flat, or simply throw the ball away.

Avoid double coverage.

Vary the Call
Studious quarterbacks and linebackers using the Smart QB/LB weapon can diagnose your play at the line of scrimmage if you call the same plays too often. This can prove disastrous. A quarterback will toss a fly route knowing there's no safety help on the right side, or the linebackers will collapse the weak side on a counter running play. It's important to keep your calls varied throughout the game. Don't rely on old standbys and you'll keep the opposition guessing.

Weapon Alert
More than any previous year, you must respect the abilities of the opposing superstars. Blitzing Peyton Manning too often is liable to get you burned, and passing to Marcus Trufant's side of the field is just unwise unless your receiver is wide open. Not covering up the ball when Ray Lewis is set to blow you up can prove troubling.

Take the time before a game to recognize the various weapons available to the other team and strategize accordingly. You need to know that Chad Johnson can burn your non-star cornerback and make sure there's safety help over the top. Similarly, consider bringing eight men in the box to help contain the likes of LaDainian Tomlinson, Larry Johnson, or Shaun Alexander.

Learn to recognize the weapons that nullify opponent's abilities. For example, Larry Johnson is a master of the stiff-arm, but using the stiff-arm leaves him open to having the ball stripped, so hold A when tackling him to strip the ball.

Thank the Spectacular Catch weapon.

Conservative O
Madden NFL 08 rewards careful decision making more than previous titles. Sure, you can throw the occasional bomb, but you better set up the play-action fly-route with some solid running and short-to-mid yardage passes to get the defense to commit. Play smart and take fewer chances. Let that be your Madden 08 mantra.

Catch that Ball
Like protecting the ball as a runner, it takes a bit of learning to play the role of receiver. Use B at the line of scrimmage to select your desired player and then tap LB to designate them as controllable after the snap. Once the ball is hiked, you'll control that receiver instead of the quarterback, and will be able to call for the ball with A.

• Right stick cuts: Don't make cuts by simply turning the player with the left control stick. Instead, use the right control stick to instantly plant and cut to help you shake off the defender.
• Find the hole: If you recognize zone defense, locate the "hole" in the zone where no defender is stationed and plant yourself on that spot. Then, call for the ball.
• Possession reception: Unless you're clearly open, hold down Y instead of tapping it for a possession reception. You won't cut up field quite as quickly, but you'll be much more likely to hold onto the ball.

Zone Turnovers
Man to man coverage certainly has its place, but as long as your front four defensive linemen can rush the passer with any kind of consistency, you may want to consider playing more zone defense than man coverage. Zone defense allows your defender to read the quarterback and jump the ball. You're much more likely to intercept the ball when playing zone defense.

That's enough studying. Now it's time to put these tips into practice and get on with the job of continued Madden dominance. Good luck.

Article by Ryan Treit