On the Offensive

Published August 12, 2008

There's nothing sweeter than marching inexorably down the field on your opponent in Madden™ NFL 09, leaving them helpless and flustered as you execute perfectly timed passes, precious third-down conversions, and bruising rushes. Not even a long bomb for a touchdown quite compares to a well-oiled offense clicking play after play.

Bust through tackles without using the Sprint feature, trust me.

The following tips should hold you in good stead as you line up behind center and prepare to pick apart the opposing defense.

Natural Skill
The moment you boot up the game, you're greeted with a quick four-part test to determine your Madden IQ, which in turn determines what difficulty setting you'll play in each phase of the game: pass offense, rush offense, pass defense, and rush defense. Do yourself an enormous favor and accept whatever Madden IQ the man himself grants you.

If you head back and replay the mini-games to garner a higher score, you're only going to make things harder on yourself. If you think you're better than what you showcased, don't worry, your Madden IQ will adjust after each game you play.

Special teams matter.

The Sprint Rule
No self-respecting NFL running back sprints ahead blindly the moment after a handoff, and you shouldn't either. Feel out your blockers, wiggle through the lane with a juke or two, and then press forward through traffic.

Sure, if there's a gaping hole in front of you go ahead and tear through it, but more often than not, that hole will be closed. Using the Highlight Stick judiciously to slide into the open lane and then duck or power through traffic is absolutely crucial if you hope to have any kind of rushing attack.

Only when you're clear, and I mean really clear of the defenders, should you ever pull down on the Right Trigger to Sprint. This isn't just a suggestion in Madden NFL 09, it's an absolute necessity. In fact, I would suggest taking your finger away from the trigger entirely whenever you begin a rushing play.

The Cutback
With the old-school "grab and sprint" rushing mentality effectively squashed, you'll have ample time to really pick out your rushing lane. While you should still start your rushing angle the way the play is drawn up, keep your eyes open for alternate rushing lanes.

The cutback lane is not only available more often than in years past, but also represents your best bet for breaking a big play.

The X button at work.

Catch and Juke
It's yards after the catch that separates a good passing attack from a great one, and much like the revamped rushing game, keep your finger away from the Sprint trigger and your thumb on the Highlight Stick to keep your drives alive.

The moment you settle on a receiver and press the button to pass, take note of the nearest defender's position. When the ball reaches the receiver, juke or spin towards the defender. If you juke away from them, their angle of pursuit will still carry them into contact with you, usually resulting in a tackle. Juke in their direction however, and you may catch them off guard and slip right by.

Hurdle Time
Human opponents tend to make greater use of the Hit Stick than the A.I., and more often than not they'll hit you low rather than high. Take advantage of this by making greater use of the Hurdle ability against your fellow players, than you would against the computer. Tap Y when you're one on one with a defender in the open field, and enjoy the acrobatic thrill of success as you leap over them on your way to a big gain.

Fake and Throw
The pump fake is a lost art in Madden, but if you want a shot at completing a deep pass, use it often. Tap RB to execute the pump fake, and then immediately check to see if the defender near your chosen receiver reacts. If they do, and your receiver isn't in double coverage, chuck the ball downfield.

Lead 'im to the right!

Controlled Catch
While the pump fake often frees up a receiver for a deep pass, it doesn't guarantee a completion. Tip the odds in your favor by taking control of the receiver and timing the catch on your own.

Tap B as soon as you pass the ball and you'll take control of the receiver. Make sure not to move the Left Thumbstick, or you'll break off the receiver's route. Let the A.I. control movement until the last moment, and then tap Y to raise up for a catch before the defenders. If your receiver hasn't beaten the defender deep, try coming back to the ball a bit before jumping for the catch.

Rollouts Beware
If you love to roll out of the pocket with your QB and fire off passes on the run, beware that the defensive ends shed their blocks like never before in Madden NFL 09. This isn't a go-to tactic for NFL quarterbacks, and its usefulness is waning in the video game as well.

That isn't to say you can't use a proper rollout to your advantage, but use it more as a change of pace, not a habit on every down. This is particularly true against human players who are more apt to adapt with their defensive linemen, and their play calling.

Nice Highlight Stick work. Now you can Sprint!

Slide Protection
A blitz-happy defense can cause fits for even well-prepared players, but with the new pre-snap Slide Protection audible (hold LT and press in the direction you want to better protect), you can alleviate at least some of the blitzing headache.

For example, if you see a safety come down towards the line of scrimmage, there's a good chance he's blitzing. If you see a linebacker constantly stopping and starting towards the line, or two defensive players lined up on a receiver, chances are one of them is coming. Keep track of team tendencies. Often, teams will blitz their best linebackers (such as Dallas' DeMarcus Ware or Seattle's Julian Peterson), so you can't go too far wrong sliding the protection to their side of the field.

This should all get you pointed in the right direction, but remember, just like the NFL, Madden NFL 09 is all about adjustments. Never get too married to your gameplan that you can't mix things up and switch your tactics on the fly when needed. Good luck on the gridiron!

Article by Ryan Treit