Get ready to go head-to-head on Xbox. Get the scoop on the best sports games from Operation Sports Managing Editor Shawn Drotar. In addition to writing previews, reviews, and the site's blog, "Splinters From The Pine," Shawn is proud to provide exclusive coverage for Xbox.com. He can be contacted at shawn@operationsports.com.

Operation Sports:

ESPN NFL 2K5: Thinking on the Fly

By Shawn Drotar, Managing Editor, OperationSports.com

When it comes to success on the football field, the ability to make adjustments on the fly—moment by moment—becomes a necessity. In ESPN NFL 2K5, all the tools you’ll need to become the next Mike Shanahan or Jon Gruden are at your disposal, and you’ll need to learn how to use them all effectively if you expect to become one of the greats.

Here’s a quick peek at the myriad of options available to the ESPN NFL 2K5 player, and how to put them to work for you.

The all-important receiver coverage.

While still in the offensive huddle, you’ll notice that there are options available to switch out certain personnel on the fly, instead of having to stop the game and modify your depth chart. The X button will substitute different running backs into your backfield, while the B button will swap out your receivers. This can be very helpful in certain situations. You may want to rotate a tired player out for a few plays, or perhaps you’d rather have the quick, all-purpose running back available on third down. Substitutions can now be made quickly and effectively, without giving your opponent any obvious signs that you’ve done so. In the defensive huddle, the same tools exist, except the X button swaps defensive backs, and the B button makes subs along the D-line. Keep your players fresh, keep your opponents guessing, and you’re on your way to victory.

Have you found a play during the game that you’d like to use again? At the play calling screen, add it to your selection of audibles by pulling the right trigger and pressing either X, A, or B. This will add the play to your current list of audibles—and assign it to the button you just pressed. This is great for exploiting weaknesses that you’ve just discovered. It’s simple to come back to the play later in the game and see if the defense hasn’t learned any better. If they haven’t, you’ll have a powerful weapon for the rest of the contest.

Poor offense can lead to a QB sac.

Hot routes provide yet another way for the savvy offensive coordinator to exploit mismatches. See a weak spot in the zone? Order your receiver to change his route and take advantage of it. There are eight different hot routes that can be quickly assigned by flicking the right thumbstick and tapping the button corresponding to the desired receiver. Notice that the blitz is coming? You can use the hot route tool to order a player to pass block as well. Instead of pushing the right thumbstick in a direction, press it down like a button, and your quarterback will thank you.

The defense has a few tricks of its own, however, and, if they’re used correctly, they can completely stifle any offense. Moving the right thumbstick in one of four directions will change the positioning of the defensive line. You can quickly shift from one side of the line to the other in the hopes of overwhelming the offense and breaking up the play quickly. Using the right thumbstick in combination with the left trigger will do essentially the same thing for the linebackers. The right thumbstick in combination with the right trigger lets you adjust your defensive backs’ coverages. You can even change the assignments for individual linebackers or defensive backs by pulling the left or right trigger. Select the player by using the corresponding face button, and have him double-team a wideout, blitz the quarterback—the combinations are endless. The smart defensive player will find a way to incorporate all of these tools into their defensive schemes.

Poor defense can lead to a breakaway.

ESPN NFL 2K5 is a deep, intelligent simulation of the NFL game, and those willing to put in the time to learn how to use and master essential tools on the practice field will become formidable opponents indeed. The world’s best players are out there on Xbox Live® right now—and they’re bringing their best game every day. Will you be ready for them?