Prima Guide:
Madden NFL 06: Online Play Tips
Playing against Madden ballers from coast to coast on Xbox Live® is the only way to truly see how your game stacks up. The plays don't fall into the same recognizable pattern that the CPU calls, and you face odd twists at every turn. Yes, you encounter players that blitz every play, or throw deep with reckless abandon, but they are easy to handle.
It's the players that stick to a variable game plan that cause problems. When playing online you will typically encounter one of five basic styles of play:
Ground Pounders don't worry about their QB rating.
Ground Pounder
The player that runs the ball to drain the clock is one of the most frustrating opponents to compete against. All they worry about is scoring and using up enough time so that you have to race your offense down the field against time. You encounter this type of player at the Madden Challenge.
When defending against the ground pounder, it's important to keep good pursuit angles. The majority of ground pounders watch for the defense to over-pursue, and then take advantage of cut back lanes or out of position players.
As Madden says, wait for the hole, then BOOM!
Clock Baller
The clock baller is a different monster. Skill-wise they are easier to deal with than the ground pounder, but they are more frustrating. Jump out on them quickly or attack them with a balanced offense of running and passing to drain the clock and force them to go to the air. This may sound like a contradiction, but in reality you fight fire with fire.
NFL MVP Peyton Manning fires downfield.
Aerial Assault
Moving the ball through the air has always been the method of choice for most players. There are three main styles of the Aerial Assault Offense. There are the "dink and dunk" coaches, who run a west coast-style offense. There are "variable range" players who run short, medium, and deep routes to move the ball downfield.
Manning's favorite receiver, Marvin Harrison.
Finally there are "chuck it deep" players, the ones who drop back 15 or 20 yards and frantically lob it up to their best receiver in hopes he will come down with it more often than the defense does. If you have played online recently, you know what I'm talking about.
Give the QB time to throw, and you'll be sorry.
Dink and Dunk
The dink and dunk offense is effective, but the player must be able to read coverages and know his team's offensive pass plays. This type of player is dangerous because they use every receiver, and it's difficult to figure out where they are going with the ball.
Speed kills, especially on turf.
Variable Range
The second aerial assault player is one who throws short, medium, and deep. These are the hardest players to defend against. They use all their receivers just like dink and dunkers, but are not afraid to go up top every once in a while. To defend against them, disguise your defenses by using the defensive Playmaker, coverage audibles, manually moving defenders, and blitzing.
Manning prepares to chuck it...
Chuck It Deep
Finally there are the "chuck it up" players, also known as the Hail Mary offense. These players normally cannot read pass coverages. Their only source of offense is to drop back 20 yards and launch it deep in hopes that their top receiver will pull it down.
Harrison burns the coverage for an easy TD.
Over the years, this has been one of the most abused styles of offense in football games. Fortunately, in Madden NFL 06 the defense is better equipped to defend the deep pass. Furthermore, pass interference is back in the game, so pushing off won't be rewarded this season. These players will find chucking it deep is much less effective.
Want more inside information about Madden NFL 06 on Xbox 360™ and Xbox Live? This game is so detailed, Prima has two complete strategy guides available, covering every aspect of the game from the offensive and defensive side of the ball! Find out how to get the downloadable player's guides here.
