The battle for gridiron supremacy is becoming just as fierce on couches the world over as it is on the field—minus the bone rattling hits of course—with the popularity of the Madden and NCAA franchises rising seemingly exponentially every year.
Watch out for the fumbles in the mud and rain.
That said, however, with these games becoming so realistic, the layers of complexity have been piling up for years. Hand a controller to a game novice or a football novice, and the odds are already stacked against them.
It's a shame too, as the rich gameplay and almost unbelievable depth of strategy to be found in modern football games like Madden NFL 07 and NCAA® Football 07 is truly spectacular. That's where this Novice Guide comes in.
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Basic Glossary
Though the sheer volume of football terms is vast, there are some basic terms you ought to be familiar with. These are some of the most common and important terms that you need to know.
- Man Coverage: Your cornerbacks, safeties and linebackers are assigned an individual player to cover defensively. This is the opposite of zone coverage.
- Zone Coverage: This is the opposite of man coverage. Your defensive players are assigned an area of the field, a 'zone' that is their responsibility.
- 4-3, 3-4: The two most common defensive lineups in football. The first number represents the defensive linemen and the second is the linebackers. The number refers to the way they stack up on the field. 4-3 defense consists of four linemen and three linebackers.
- Nickel and Dime Defense: Nickel and Dime defenses are for pass coverage. Nickel defenses substitute one corner back for one linebacker, a Dime defense pulls out two linebackers for two cornerbacks. These defenses are used for more coverage when the offense puts in more wide receivers.
- Blitz: You blitz when you send extra players to rush the offensive line (usually to try and sack the quarterback). The important thing to remember about blitzing is that while you may put more pressure on the quarterback, the players who blitz will be unable to perform their regular defensive duties.
- Play Action: Play action refers to a play where the quarterback fakes a handoff to the running back and then passes the ball. This is done to draw the defense towards the running back, leaving a receiver open downfield for an easy completion.
- Draw: This is the opposite of play action and refers to a running play that initially looks like a passing play. The quarterback will drop back as if to pass, and after a pause he will hand the ball off to a running back.
- Counter: In a counter play, the running back fakes to one side of the field, and then immediately turns to the other side to receive the handoff, drawing the defense to the wrong side of the field.
- Strong Side, Weak Side: The strong side of the field is the side where the tight end is lined up, offering both extra protection for the quarterback or the running back. Conversely, the weak side is the side without the tight end.
Let the A.I. play pass defense.
Understanding the Game
The single most important element to understand when it comes to football video games is this: The game you watch on the weekends is the same game you play at home. The same game-planning, tactics, matchups, and play-calling are all required. Tactically, you must play these games as a sport, not as a video game, to be successful.
The Basics
If you're a novice player and you heed the following advice, you'll find a lot less frustration than if you take the virtual field blind.
Don't Know Jack?
First, if you know absolutely nothing about football, ask someone who does. Run some web searches, read some articles, or pick up a book if you like, but the best resource is always going to be picking the brain of a football fanatic. Pretty soon all those alien phrases will start to make sense.
He's wide open!
Decipher the Playbook
Spend some time looking at the playbook and understanding what the diagrams mean. In the game you should be able to do this in Practice Mode without worrying about the clock. Take your time and understand how each play works.
Blitz Occasionally
Novice players fall in love with blitzes, especially all-out ones. These leave you wide open, and on passing plays it means you're going to watch wide open receivers make you look like a fool. Use the blitz as a changeup, a way to surprise your opponent, not as your standard play.
Let the A.I. Play
Another common mistake is to take immediate control of a player as soon as you can. On offense, you're almost always controlling the guy with the ball, so that's fine, but on defense, you should focus on just playing a defensive linemen till you get used to the game. Don't automatically switch to the guy nearest the ball. Let the A.I. control the defensive backs and linebackers, and only take control when you know you can make a difference.
Punt When Appropriate
You should only go for it (try for a first down on fourth down) when absolutely necessary, especially on your side of the field. Far too often new players throw caution to the wind and get flustered when they don't make it. There's a reason why real coaches almost never go for the first down on fourth. Follow their lead.
As realistic as football games are getting, the above tips are just scratching the surface. Once you've mastered the basics, be sure to check out other articles on Madden and NCAA Football for more tips and tricks, and check out our free Prima sample pages as well.
