Coaching the Best in All-Pro Football 2K8

Published July 24, 2007

All-Pro Football 2K8 is simulation football at its most precise. Standard football coaching moves such as rolling out the Nickel in passing situations or tossing quick passes to avoid the blitz, work exactly as you would expect them to. If you have a football mind, you'll do fairly well. But if you require further instruction on the basics, take a look at our Novice Guide to Football. Even if you're the second coming of Vince Lombardi, there are a few unique game mechanics to All-Pro Football 2K8 with which you should become familiar.

Jerry's looking classic in red and gold.

Give the Defense its Due
Selecting your team of legendary players is a tricky business. You only have so many gold, silver, and bronze level players allowed on each roster, and the glamorous offensive legends like Joe Montana and Walter Payton are terribly tempting.

While you certainly can't go wrong with Montana or Payton, it's critical to think of your defense. In fact, because the mechanics of offense are easier to grasp and execute, you may have more success concentrating initially on defense.

Charged Runs
Whether it's on a kickoff, handoff, after a completed pass or even an interception, a game-changing play comes (usually) courtesy of the ball carrier. It's easy just to tap A and sprint as quickly as you can, but that's neither inventive nor terribly effective.

Hope that's not during a play.

Instead, when you first control a ball carrier, hold down A to "charge" up their skills. Then, unleash a more powerful version of whatever ability you require: a powered juke, shoulder charge, spin, or stiff arm is much more effective then their uncharged equivalents.

It's All About the Kicker
Already many a loss has been bitterly attributed to All-Pro's allegedly unmerciful new kicking mechanic, but there are a few pointers that should swiftly lead to straighter, more powerful punts, kickoffs, and field goal attempts.

• Don't flick up on the right control when you're about to make contact with the ball, but instead flick up when your kicker is beginning the kicking motion.
• Don't push up gently on the control stick, but instead jam it forward quickly to generate power.
• The snap of the ball on punts and field goals is the single most important variable for success. If the snap is low, high, or off to the side, the timing of the kick will be thrown off. Stop trying to time the process as a whole, and instead, focus only on recognizing the beginning of the kicking animation.

Be Patient on the Kickoff
Returning kickoffs is an art in its own right, but one that largely comes down to blocking. Trust your blockers. Don't sprint out of the gates, but charge up your player by holding A. Once your blockers have made their initial contact, burst through the widest hole available. Jukes and spins will usually just give the defense time to line up a tackle, so make one cut and burst through the hole as quickly as you can. Be decisive.

Charge up that big hit.

Run the Slant
It can be discouraging when your bronze-level wide receiver is matched up with a silver or gold cornerback, but don't despair. While it's unlikely they'll burn the defensive back on a fly route, good progress can be made with quick slant patterns, especially if you charge (hold A) the quarterback to unleash "rocket" passes.

Return Specialist
When deciding on a cornerback or wide receiver, consider whether any of their Special Abilities are Return Specialist. If they are, give them a little extra consideration. But don't invest in more than one.

Learn the Reach
In football games gone by, the last resort for catching a ball carrier just out of reach was to dive after them. Instead, embrace the new reach tackle mechanic. If you're controlling a defensive end and the opposing running back is turning the corner, flick the right control stick in the back's direction to reach out and trip them up. It's a unique, effective mechanic and it's a powerful tool for those defensive players that boast the Reach Tackle special ability.

Batted Ball
Like choosing mostly offensive legends for your team, the sexy choice when staring down a pass as a defensive back is to go for the interception. Resist this temptation unless you have an undeniable shot at the ball. Instead, tap LB to try and swat the ball out of the air. Otherwise, you'll end up putting yourself horribly out of position and at great risk of giving up a long touchdown.

OK Coach, this isn't everything you need to know, but just a few tips and tricks that will help you out on the field. Game time!

Article by Ryan Treit