Defensive Formations

Below is a list of defensive formations found in Madden 10 with some tips on when and when not to use them:

4-3 Normal

Advantages: A balanced run and pass defense. Good against inside runs and short to medium passing.
Disadvantages: Avoid using against four or more receiver sets. Blitzing Linebackers can leave slants and outside runs open.

4-3 Over/Under (Over and Under refers to having an extra LB on different sides of the line)

Advantages: Increased pass rush possibilities. Protect against inside and outside runs.
Disadvantages: Vulnerable to the passing game and fewer Linebackers in the middle could mean fewer tacklers if the HB gets through.

3-4 Normal

Advantages: A balanced run and pass defense. Defends outside runs and flat passes.
Disadvantages: Softer pass rush, but more blitz variety with extra Linebackers. Vulnerable to multiple receiver sets.

3-4 Over/Under

Advantages: Increased pass rush with linebacker at the line.
Disadvantages: Fewer Linebackers defending the short passes. Vulnerable to multiple receiver sets.

3-4 Solid (Both outside Linebackers crowd the line.)

Advantages: Increased pass rush opportunities and disguised blitzing. Stuff the run with increased penetration.
Disadvantages: Vulnerable to quick passes if outside Linebackers blitz. Avoid against multiple receiver sets.

3-4 Even (Outside Linebackers crowd the line and middle Linebackers tighten up.)

Advantages: Balanced run stoppage for inside and outside runs.
Disadvantages: Tighter formation could be vulnerable to the pass.

3-4 Stack (Resembles a 4-3 in alignment.)

Advantages: A 4-3 look for your excellent Linebackers. Variation in pass rushing for fast outside Linebackers.
Disadvantages: Avoid using against heavy passing situations.

3-4 Predator (Linebacker is lined up on the line of scrimmage in a three-point stance)

Advantages: Increased pass rush with linebacker at the line.
Disadvantages: Vulnerable to quick passes if outside Linebackers blitz.

4-4

Advantages: Run stoppage with 8 men in the box (around line of scrimmage).
Disadvantages: Potential to give up the big play, both through the air and on the ground

46 Normal

Advantages: Similar to 4-3 but safety provides extra run stopping support. Pressuring defense.
Disadvantages: Vulnerable to deep passes with just one safety back. Avoid using against heavy passing situations and multiple receiver sets.

46 Bear

Advantages: Combines the 46 Normal and 4-3 Over defenses. Increased pressure along the line for stronger run defense and pressure.
Disadvantages: Weak pass defense. Avoid using against multiple receiver sets.

Nickel Normal

Advantages: An additional defensive back helps protect against the pass. Be sure the "nickel back" is lined up against the slot receiver. Optimum against 3 WR sets.
Disadvantages: Losing a linebacker means losing a good tackler.

Nickel Strong

Advantages: Increased safety help on the strong side. Helps provide additional coverage on a formation where there are more receivers and/or tight ends are on one side.
Disadvantages: Similar to the standard nickel. Also the safety shifted over could leave the other side open, especially if there are backs on pass patterns.

Nickel 1-5-5/1-5-5 Prowl

Advantages: Five Linebackers help defend against a run and five defensive backs help defend the pass. Allows for some blitzing variation.
Disadvantages: Can be a weak run defense if your Linebackers focus on coverage.

Nickel 2-4-5

Advantages: Added Linebackers help defend against an unexpected run. In the 3-4 playbook because of the team’s typical linebacker skill.
Disadvantages: Need to increase pass rush with linebacker pressure.

Nickel 3-3-5

Advantages: An added linebacker to defend the run or short passing.
Disadvantages: Need to increase pass rush with linebacker pressure.

Nickel Odd Split

Advantages: Good against the pass and the extra DB provides speed from coverage and the pass rush
Disadvantages: Could be vulnerable against run.

Dime Normal

Advantages: Six defensive backs to counter the passing game. Use against four or more wide receiver sets.
Disadvantages: Weak against an unexpected run.

Dime Flat

Advantages: Defenders are tighter and closer to the line to protect against run or short passing. Good for end zone defense.
Disadvantages: Weaker against deep passing.

Quarters Normal

Advantages: Seven defensive backs as a pass prevent defense.
Disadvantages: Easy to run against.

Quarters 3 Deep

Advantages: Three deep Safeties to protect against the deep ball. Use in long yardage situations.
Disadvantages: Easy to run against.

Quarters Combo

Advantages: Protects against the deep ball with three deep Safeties.
Disadvantages: Easy to run against.

Dollar Normal

Advantages: Eight players focused on stopping the pass. Use in certain passing situations (long yardage) or even in the red zone to crowd the end zone.
Disadvantages: You have a lot of bad tacklers on the field if your opponent runs the ball!

Madden 10 Slot Cross

The Slot Cross play seems to have a very good success rate. All you do is hit the slot receiver coming across the middle which will always results in a big gain if completed. The route will usually work in man coverage. In Cover 2 zone, you can hit the receiver between defenders. In cover 3 zone defense, you can throw the ball as soon as the receiver gets past the defender in the middle of the field. If a blitz is coming you can dump the ball off to your half back who is running a blue route.

Against the CPU this play seems to work just about every time. Against an online opponent, you may want to use it sparingly.

Top 5 offensive lines in Madden 10

A good running game starts with a good offensive line that will open up holes for you. A lineman with good strength (STR), run block strength (RBS), and run block footwork (RBF) attributes are key to being able to move your opponents out of the way for your running back. Acceleration (ACC) is also important because this determines how quickly the linemen get off the line to block.

Last year, I used the Colts in online games and I'm doing the same this year but I'm having second thoughts because my running game stinks. Here are some results of my last two games:

Rushing attempts for 13
Rushing yards for 40
Average yards per carry 3.07

Rushing attempts for 5
Rushing yards for 9
Average yards per carry 1.8

If you combine the (STR, RBF, and RBS) attributes of the Colt's line and average them out you get a value of 86. This is quite low compared to the top five offensive lines:

1. Eagles 92
2. Giants 91
3. Cowboys 91
4. Vikings 90
5. Titans 90

Not surprisingly, all of these top teams have excellent running backs.

I tend to perform better online when I'm controlling a good quarterback. This is why I usually prefer to use the Colts. I played a couple games with the Cardinals and didn't fare too well. I passed for a lot of yardage but couldn't run the ball. The Cardinals offensive line also has a low rating of 85.

Maybe I should start using the Eagles or Titans like everyone else!

Stopping Wildcat in Madden 10

When Madden 10 was first released I kept getting burned online with the Wildcat. I finally found a formation that does a good job at stopping the Wildcat every time...so far. Just use any base formation that says 'QB Contain'.

Hit Stick in Madden 10

I played an online game last night and was able to force a fumble with my hit stick during a kickoff. Unfortunately, I lost the "fight for the fumble". Nevertheless, this allowed me to understand which players I might want to control during a kickoff and during a game.

If I understand correctly, the player's POW (hit power) attribute determines the success of the possibility of a fumble. I was running Melvin Bullitt when I used the hit stick. I went to check his (POW) attribute and it was 51. I was expecting he would have a higher (POW) value because of the my success but maybe anything over 50 is good.

From now on, during kickoffs, I'm going to kick towards the right area of the field and then take control of Melvin Bullitt.

For those who use the Colts here are a list of players with high POW attributes:

Foster DT, 80
Session ROLB, 77
Freeney RE, 74
Bullitt FS, 51

How to throw a Hail Mary in Madden

I played an online game last night that I should have never won. I was down 13-0 in the 4th quarter and came back to win in the final seconds. With the ball on the 23 yard line and 1:26 left in the 4th quarter I ran the WR Double Pass from the Singleback Y-Trips formation in the Arizona playbook.




I "passed" the ball to Reggie Wayne as a lateral on the right side of the field and then he threw the ball across the field to Joseph Addai who made some spin moves and jukes to make it into the end zone.

Unfortunately, EA cut the beginning portion of the play so all you see is Addai catching the ball (greatness Score 2563):



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I was then lucky enough to recover the onside kick. On first down I ran the Hail Mary which turned into an incompletion. then, on the last play of the game I ran the Hail Mary again and my receiver was wide open. My opponent must have mistakenly made some adjustments before the snap which caused everyone to blitz rather than cover.

Even though I got lucky this time, there's a few things that I tried to do on the last play that helped its success ratio.

Hail Mary:

1. I tried to stay in the pocket as much as possible. If the QB drops back too much, it will turn into longer, inaccurate pass.

2. On PS3 use the L2 button throw the ball farther with a better arch. This button seems to give you a better throw on deep passes.

3. I haven't been able to master the pump fake but doing this may help draw the defense in before throwing the bomb.

Score Breakdown:

Below are the stats of last night's game. As you can see, I had no success running the ball. Take a look at the time of possession! I only had the ball for 3 minutes.

On defense, I used a lot of blitzes mainly to help stop the run.

                    1    2    3    4   OT    F
Colts               0    0    0   14    0   14
Dolphins            0    3    0   10    0   13

Statistics                         Colts         Dolphins
Rushing attempts for                  7              19
Rushing yards for                    -1              35
Passing attempts for                 12              13
Passing yards for                   179             103
Punts                                 2               1
Field goals for                       0               2
Long field goals (40+) for            0               0
Rushing touchdowns for                0               1
Passing touchdowns for                2               0
Returns touchdowns for                0               0
Defensive touchdowns for              0               0
Turnovers for                         1               1
Interceptions for                     1               1
Sacks for                             1               0
Number of third downs                 4               7
Third down conversions                1               4
No-huddle plays                       1               0
Audibles called                       1               6
Hot routes used                       0              11
Shotgun plays                         7               5
Blitzes                              19               7
Time of possession                 3:08           16:52

Madden 10