What formations are you guys going to be running for Madden 2009 on the defensive side of the ball? We here at Madden Gods have gotten a few sneak peaks into some of the improvements coming for this year, and the 1-5-5 nickel formation you can find in  a few playbooks is going to give offenses some trouble.

(more…)

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

How many of you have already reserved your copy of Madden 2009 scheduled for realase in early August? Better yet how many of you are going to be waiting outside the gates of your video game stores for those midnight relases?

We’d love for you to let us know, so why not head on over to our Madden 2009 Forums and let us know your thoughts right now. Registration is 100% free and so is all our information. There isn’t any reason not to!

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

The Hit Stick has been in Madden for a few years now, but it only allowed the user in control of the defender to make bone crushing high hits. In Madden 08, EA has given us Hit Stick 2.0.  What is Hit Stick 2.0?  Hit Stick 2.0 allows the user to not only tackle the ball carrier high, but also tackle the ball carrier with a cut (low) tackle.

(more…)

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

If you’re player can drop back to QB contain, then you should be able to execute this simple strategy. What you do is move the DE or the LB to other side of the center then set them to a contain. You should notice they are in a contain to the opposite side of the field they are usually on.

In the case of a DE, just move the cursor off of him and he will reset position. Now you have a DE running a sick blitz angle that will take him straight to the A gap or have him run right into the guard instead of the tackle.

In the case of a LB, they will attack the opposite side of the line they usually would. This adds another angle you can consider when trying to make your blitzes in addition to shift LB left, right, down, spread etc.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

The Setup

4-6 Bear Hero Stunt

1. Crash the defensive line outside (XBOX - White button + R3 + up / PS2 - L1 + R3 + up)

2. Playmaker the right defensive end to play in the flats

3. Pinch the linebackers (XBOX - Black Button + down / PS2 - R1 + down)

4. Playmaker the linebackers to blitz (XBOX - Black button + R3 + down / PS2 - R1 + R3 + down)

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

The Setup for 4-3 Normal Storm Blitz Play

• Call fake blitz (Y + left on left analog).
• Playmaker LB to diff. zones or DEs to contain if needed.
• User FS to rob TE and support run.
• Pass commit on snap.

This play is designed to create interceptions and sacks against base under center sets (2 RB 1 TE). It also has very sound gap integrity against the run. At first glance, this play actually looks very unsound, or at least it used to in my eyes. But this play is a monster, and if anyone can help me improve it, that would be great. I’ve tried line shifts and crashes and playmakering one of the DEs to contain but none seem truly necessary as of now because it is killing people who try to pass under center on me.

(more…)

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

The Over Storm Brave can be run exactly like it is to get pressure on the QB.  But, the normal setup can be blocked rather easily.  Here I will look at an overload setup that is very difficult for the offense to block even if they go with max protection.

*       Move the ROLB or the LOLB directly over the Center
*       Pinch the Linebackers and line up double A gap blitz
*       Call press coverage

The 2-4-5 is a flexible defensive set and is great against the shotgun if we get creative with it.  Now I want you to look at this offensive formation.  We have a HB lined up on the right.  Ideally we will want to overload the left or the middle.

I’m going to show you the middle overload alignment.  The first thing I do is grab one of the OLB’s. In this case since I want the back to block to the right I grab the ROLB.

I am going to take him and move him directly over the Center.  I get him really close to the ball withoutmoving him offsides. This should help tie up the center and guards to let your MLB’s shoot thru

Now, I pinch the linebackers and make sure they line up Double A Fire.  Finally, I will go with press coverage on the outside. This will jam the WR’s and hopefully give our LB’s another second or two before the receivers can release and get down field.

As the QB receives the football we get both Inside Linebackers firing up the middle. The faster the MLB the better the blitz will be performed.

The three step window for the QB to pass closes rather quickly. Most players won’t just sit there, and will attempt to scramble out of the pocket, and hurt their QB accuracy as a result.

If all goes well, the end result should be a sack, or a fast throw for a very short gain if any at all.

Source: Ea Sports Online

Bookmark It

Hide Sites