I got madden!

[ihatedallas]

I reserved it at my local gamestop(aka funcoland) a coulpe weeks ago and i got it early! its great,the management in franchise mode is even better,the gameplay is a bit "edgey"although i think its always bin.

[smoot]

sweet, i got to wait another 2 days, lucky you

hows the draft like, id like to see some mock drafts and more busts or something like that

[ihatedallas]

sweet, i got to wait another 2 days, lucky you

hows the draft like, id like to see some mock drafts and more busts or something like that

havent got through the whole season yet, but theres a new option on d called "hit stick" where you can clear the guy out but you have to get him at the right moment or hell burn yuh

[smoot]

yeah, theve got that on ncaa also, let me know when you get to the draft

[ihatedallas]

yeah, theve got that on ncaa also, let me know when you get to the draft

ok probablly tomm. though

[smoot]

thats fine, how you doing during the season?

[¤Smooooot¤]

I got it also....its so much better than last yeah and this years ESPN.....i love it.

[smoot]

anybody wanna fill me in on some of the changes from last year, other than the big hit control?

[bfauble83]

I can't play the game, I need to be able to change my control configurations. I can't play with circle being my sprint button.

[smoot]

why not?

[Ramsey2Moss]

so much better than ESPN...i got it this morning and I'm already through week 4.

[akhhorus]

I got it, and Taylor is a beast on it. He knocked out Stephen Davis for the year(severe concussion) on a monster hit in the preseason.

[ihatedallas]

anybody who has it no how to place the team captain i read that you can but the comp. did it for me

[Ramsey2Moss]

go under rosters then select the player and go under manage player. its one of the options under that. my captains are arrington, thomas, and coles.

[Ramsey2Moss]

and oh yeah, brunell got a dislocated shoulder against dallas so now ramsey is QB until like week 10.

[SkinsKY]

I traded Brunell in week one (he was getting grumpy) and got a first for him.

I simmed to the offseason and it's incredible. There was a FS who was projected as a Top 10 pick, but I drafted him with the 29th pick of the second round and he was terrible (54 injury). There was also a projected 1st round WR who I could've taken in the late 4th. All in all, I think the offseason is something I will keep a second franchise if only to do offseason stuff.

[bfauble83]

why not?


Because I've used X as my sprint button on defense since forever, and using circle just isnt' natural...it doesn't make sense to me.

[lb56blitz]

Ok, here is my beef with the game. The Skins playbook sucks! Why is there no counter trey? Why are there so many shotgun formations and not enough single back formations. Gibbs rarely ran the shotgun. The playbook doesn't look like it's changed since the Turner era. Portis is off the chain though. You have to use lots of motion to get that one block to spring him for big yards. In my first season he has 1238 yards by game 12. Also, there is no more hurdle button. The hit stick is cool though. I have used it with Sean Taylor twice to cause fumbles against Stephen Davis and Jeremy Shockey. On line play is better this year especially with the new Rushing Attack feature where you go head to head in a ground game training camp mode to see who gets more points. Another big problem, and I am assuming this is a programming glitch, is on designed trap plays where the guard is supposed to pull out and block opposite side, he doesn't pull. He just sits there and you therefore have no block where you need it. This is why I have to put my tight end in motion to the side I am going to be running on to compensate for that. I guess thats all I can remember right now. But all in all, still the best simulation football game on the market.

[IMALILTEAPOT]

I want to get it, but im tired of spending money every year on the game. But it seems like it is really good, and i LOVE the offseason stuff. I just like dealing with the money situations and stuff

[smoak]

I played a game last night waiting for the Ravens game to start and Portis kept getting STUFFED like there was no tomorrow.

At halftime I manuallty put in all the subs (like a preseason game), and Betts had three long carries (30+ yards) and over!?

I haven't paid close attention to the blocking schemes, but I did notice there is at least one play that works similar to the counter trey. I'll have to really dig in and pay attention this weekend.

[Beast56Redskin]

oh man this game is tight! i always do fantasy drafts, even though the skins have a better team than i can put together.... oh well. its a lot of fun, i still have portis and taylor. im enjoying it a lot. am so glad gameplay still same. SOOO MUCH BETTER THAN @2K5

[LadyNRedskinsfan]

ok--i got it, and it feels like im at home again :D.

madden is just the game for me. i cant get with ESPN. i will keep it, but it will collect dust. some of the differences ive noticed were that it is hard to kick, but at least once you get it down, it will be easier to make FGs instead of having them hook all the time. the graphics are better. its tougher to run, but a bit easier to pass. ive only played 3 games so far, so i havent really gotten into it, but i love it.

omt, madden committed two more sins, thrash wears #81 and walt harris wears #28. :doh:

[RedskinRyan]

those were the first 2 things i changed. the biggest thing i dont like so far is that the ratings seem too high. also, i dont like our roster. who the hell is bill ferrario? i wanted mark wilson and jim molinaro in the game too.

and its really cheap that you got a 1st rounder for brunell, but oh well.

[IndianBaller27]

I got it today... Great game!

[JoeDaSchmoe]

Ok, here is my beef with the game. The Skins playbook sucks! Why is there no counter trey? Why are there so many shotgun formations and not enough single back formations. Gibbs rarely ran the shotgun. The playbook doesn't look like it's changed since the Turner era. Portis is off the chain though. You have to use lots of motion to get that one block to spring him for big yards. In my first season he has 1238 yards by game 12. Also, there is no more hurdle button. The hit stick is cool though. I have used it with Sean Taylor twice to cause fumbles against Stephen Davis and Jeremy Shockey. On line play is better this year especially with the new Rushing Attack feature where you go head to head in a ground game training camp mode to see who gets more points. Another big problem, and I am assuming this is a programming glitch, is on designed trap plays where the guard is supposed to pull out and block opposite side, he doesn't pull. He just sits there and you therefore have no block where you need it. This is why I have to put my tight end in motion to the side I am going to be running on to compensate for that. I guess thats all I can remember right now. But all in all, still the best simulation football game on the market.

Haven't seen that problem with the pulling guard, I'll have to look for that.

The Skins' playbook is the same as last year's, and I can only imagine that's because whoever designed the playbooks didn't know much about Gibbs' offense and therefore had no clue what kind of things he would run.

Sounds like other people are having better success with Sean Taylor than I am. He gets beat way too often for me. Oh, and does anyone else run into the problem that LaVar can't cover at all in this game?

Bfauble, sooner or later you're just gonna have to learn to change one little button in order to play a game. Switching the passing icons on and off changed between 2003 and 2004, and that screwed me up for a long time, but I adapted. Hell, when my friends and I switch between Madden and NFL Street we basically have to learn new buttons for everything. It ain't that hard.

[PyroGenic]

in the pre season camp battle ramsey was beating out Brunell by 1 TD and 30% better completion rate but he broke his jaw 2 games in, out until week 6. The really weird thing is that they named Ramsey the starter and Brunell the back-up eventhough the guy can't even talk and Ramsey sent me an email saying how he was going to guide the team through the season... eventhough he was still very much injured.

Taylor Jacobs beat out Thrash and DMC in pre season as well but im putting his butt as 4th string wide receiver because DMC is still better than him in my mind (made some crazy diving catch to make a 70 yard completion and beat the panthers in OT). And i'm so gonna cut clif russell as soon as i can remember about him while im actually playing tha game... he's retarded.

I got Sean Taylor to an overall 90 ranking by the end of preseason, had him play some cornerback with the second defense. He's kicking butt right now, never gets burned and when i make him blitz he causes havoc.

I can't seem to run at all in this game, my line sucks the ass... anybody have any tips? I've been running out of the strongside,weakside, and regular I-forms so I know I should have enough blockers to atleast get out of the backfield. It seems the only time i can make any decent yardage is when i break a tackle and make it to the outside, and when that's closed off i never even have a cutback lane. Anybody know how I can use our stud running back effectively? And is it me or does cartwright make the tiniest holes you've ever seen? the guy is like a dwarf!

And one last thing, something really weird happened when i was playing the rams. In the second half when they had Chandler playing he would NEVER move... it was weird, so i just had Taylor and Arrington hit him every time... but it was still really weird how the computer would drop back 10 yards and just stand there and do nothing.

[JoeDaSchmoe]

I can't seem to run at all in this game, my line sucks the ass... anybody have any tips? I've been running out of the strongside,weakside, and regular I-forms so I know I should have enough blockers to atleast get out of the backfield. It seems the only time i can make any decent yardage is when i break a tackle and make it to the outside, and when that's closed off i never even have a cutback lane. Anybody know how I can use our stud running back effectively? And is it me or does cartwright make the tiniest holes you've ever seen? the guy is like a dwarf!

Wow, that's weird, I can't seem to pass effectively. Maybe we can help each other out. I run well using a simple quick-hitting running play, like HB Smash in I Form. Try to use one that goes between a guard and tackle instead of center and guard, so you can bounce it outside effectively. If they don't shift at all before the snap, run towards the strong side, but usually they'll shift, so just go towards whichever side was made weaker (even if it's your weak side, trust me on that one). I wind up bouncing it outside about 70% of the time, that's usually where my longest gains come from.

[PyroGenic]

Wow, that's weird, I can't seem to pass effectively. Maybe we can help each other out. I run well using a simple quick-hitting running play, like HB Smash in I Form. Try to use one that goes between a guard and tackle instead of center and guard, so you can bounce it outside effectively. If they don't shift at all before the snap, run towards the strong side, but usually they'll shift, so just go towards whichever side was made weaker (even if it's your weak side, trust me on that one). I wind up bouncing it outside about 70% of the time, that's usually where my longest gains come from.

thanks, i guess im just not used to using a faster back. Always drafted a bigger back and made him pound his way through people. Anywho, if you wanna pass i recommend using a lot of crossing and flat routes. That way you can hit your receivers on the run and they're usually open unless the coverage is bump and run or you toss the ball around a defender that is doing a QB spy (it's pretty obvious when he is). My favorite passing play is the one where coles is the primary receiver in a Singleback - 4WR set and it has him cut diagonally across the field. Just drop back about 5 steps and move around to avoid the rush and zip it in there, he catches it everytime for me. If there's a defender in zone coverage in the middle of the field, wait for LC to get to him and then throw it. Also calling an audible to draw the defender away from LC is an easy way to get it to him. Also plays with the TE running parallel to the line of scrimmage are a really easy way to complete passes, just do a bootleg type maneuver out of the pocket and wait for your TE to seperate from the receiver. Also, play action plays usually draw linebackers away from your TE so he'll usually be open for 10 yard gains if they bite (5-7 if the don't). Slants only really work against safeties and GO routes work if you pump fake well and have a fast guy like Coles or Taylor to lob it to... just make sure the DB bites on the fake before you throw it. Twin crossing routes are also really good when you're facing a man coverage because it makes the CBs run into each other and gives you a split second advantage over them. Do a medium-powered pass towards the receiver running towards the sideline and it'll work almost everytime (unless the other receiver gets caught up in the bump and run, thats where you should have your TE running parallel to you just incase... or you can throw it to your RB if you don't have him blocking). There are other things to do as well but I don't wanna give away all my secrets so there ya go.

[IndianBaller27]

Portis is a beast!!! Except for one problem..... He keeps gettin' injured!! After about 8 games, he had 800+ yards, but then he got injured for the rest of the regular season. He came back in the wildcard game. But in the wildcard game he got injured for another 7 weeks. But Laddell Betts rose to the occasion supprisingly and played really well. And I wasn't playing with him, it was being simulated. He had a few 100 yard games...
Pyro and Joe, I have no problem running or passing. Sure there's always that little stretch where they stop you a bunch of times in a row, but I still put up big numbers.

[PyroGenic]

i have it on all pro... those guys just know what im gonna be doing whenever i run it. What still happens to me is that they get into the backfield even before i hand it off and on passing plays they dont even get near me... its really weird.

[IndianBaller27]

I have it on all-madden. And now I'm having the same problem as Joe is having. I can run easily most of the time, but I can hardly ever pass. The only passing play that works for me 80% of the time is the one in I-form. It's called "Strong Flood." It's where Rod goes on a little slant route. I just zip it to him and it's a sure catch. You won't really gain anything after the catch though because you are in between the safety and the corner so even if he breaks one tackle he'll still get stopped. I think they accidentally switched LC's hands with Rod's. I was playing the Saints and LC dropped about three or four passes because he got hit. I did the slant play with Rod and he got hit everytime, but never dropped the ball. He just fumbled it once.

[Skaggsrules]

This game is beast. I traded away Brunell for a 1st rounder in mine too. (Trade to the 49ers, they don't have a good QB). It took me a while to get Portis running, but when i did, man he's a beast. the funny thing is, after I traded Brunell, Ramsey broke his tailbone and was out for the year, then Tim Hasselback dislocated his shoulder, so Tom Tupa was may best option at QB.

[IndianBaller27]

This game is beast. I traded away Brunell for a 1st rounder in mine too. (Trade to the 49ers, they don't have a good QB). It took me a while to get Portis running, but when i did, man he's a beast. the funny thing is, after I traded Brunell, Ramsey broke his tailbone and was out for the year, then Tim Hasselback dislocated his shoulder, so Tom Tupa was may best option at QB.
You used Tom Tupa??? Why didn't you just sign a QB from FA?

[RedskinRyan]

2nd year now. portis is leading the league in rushing, 775 yards in 5 games, is 100 yards ahead of the 2nd place guy, fred taylor. im lacking in passing, 30th in the league, and i just benched brunell. he threw 4 ints vs st. louis, and ramsey is 2-0 so far this season(im 4-2). barrow sprained his elbow and was out 5 weeks(3 left). i put arrington at MLB, and pierce starts at his spot, and arringtons is a beast. i dont have problems with taylor getting burned, but he gets hurt.

[IndianBaller27]

My defense is amazing! I have no idea how they got so great! I guess I just a way with defenses ;). I think I would be a better coach than player. I kinda have the same philosophies that Gibbs has. I think run first most of the time. I love QB's and I have at least 2 good players at that position. I don't know anything about Joe Gibbs' defensive mind. He is more of an offensive guy. On defense I like to have at least one amazing big time linebacker, good corners. I could settle for decent ones though. I think that a great defense starts with the d-line, but I don't really pay too much attention to them. In madden they just get really good anyway. So I think I could be a great coach... But this is just a video game so I could be wrong.

[ihatedallas]

Has anyone noticed the mproved AI?I made a ravens franchise on the side for a "what the heck" kinda thing and the whole season nobody threw to mccalister at all i meen it was so obvious it was crazy.All they did was throw to baxter on the other side.Also the defense for the computer has become smart too,always shifting to the side with my tight end becuase they know ill probablly run that way.Its added a new "element" to the game.

[PyroGenic]

Has anyone noticed the mproved AI?I made a ravens franchise on the side for a "what the heck" kinda thing and the whole season nobody threw to mccalister at all i meen it was so obvious it was crazy.All they did was throw to baxter on the other side.Also the defense for the computer has become smart too,always shifting to the side with my tight end becuase they know ill probablly run that way.Its added a new "element" to the game.

all the AI is throw it down the middle for me because Taylor has like 8 picks this year and Smoot returned 10 ints for TDs, i put arrington as a DE in my dime packages and he's tearing everybody up... 12 sacks in 8 games. AI can't seem to stop my running game or any of my TEs (cooley is now 94 overall). Traded Gardner in the offseason for a 1st rounder from san diego and got a DE but I think he's a bust, keeps on getting hurt. Barrow broke his neck in my first season against the ravens, Lewis trucked him and he kinda just stopped moving... weird thing is that he walked off the field by himself. Coles is overall 99 right now. I suggest just using slant routes in All Madden, it works all the time and he catches the ball in traffic. DMAC is now my secondary receiver and he's doing alright.... 10 TDs but crappy YAC. Traded Ramsey away because Brunell complained about not being the starter (eventhough he was playing because Ramsey was out for the season anyway) and got a solid rookie DT (overall 90 now). Most of my starters are in the pro bowl except for washington (for some reason he can get in the backfield in running plays but never during passing downs), Bowen, Raymer, Hall (never kick field goals... never really had to), and my rookie MLB... he sucks... really really really sucks.... Have #1 rushing defense because teams always pass against me and can never really figure out my different defensive schemes (i love the new defensive features). So far i love this game!

[ihatedallas]

all the AI is throw it down the middle for me because Taylor has like 8 picks this year and Smoot returned 10 ints for TDs, i put arrington as a DE in my dime packages and he's tearing everybody up... 12 sacks in 8 games. AI can't seem to stop my running game or any of my TEs (cooley is now 94 overall). Traded Gardner in the offseason for a 1st rounder from san diego and got a DE but I think he's a bust, keeps on getting hurt. Barrow broke his neck in my first season against the ravens, Lewis trucked him and he kinda just stopped moving... weird thing is that he walked off the field by himself. Coles is overall 99 right now. I suggest just using slant routes in All Madden, it works all the time and he catches the ball in traffic. DMAC is now my secondary receiver and he's doing alright.... 10 TDs but crappy YAC. Traded Ramsey away because Brunell complained about not being the starter (eventhough he was playing because Ramsey was out for the season anyway) and got a solid rookie DT (overall 90 now). Most of my starters are in the pro bowl except for washington (for some reason he can get in the backfield in running plays but never during passing downs), Bowen, Raymer, Hall (never kick field goals... never really had to), and my rookie MLB... he sucks... really really really sucks.... Have #1 rushing defense because teams always pass against me and can never really figure out my different defensive schemes (i love the new defensive features). So far i love this game!

so you play on all-madden?It seems like getting 10 ints for touchdowns with one player,and 12 sacks in 8 games with another seems its on rookie/pro...or your just really, really good

[TexSkin]

Ram beat out Brunnell but I am having a ton of fun with the Madden moments.

[IMALILTEAPOT]

Damn this game seems great. Im still playing 2004 profusly, and i spent like an hour getting all the rosters like how it is now

[IndianBaller27]

Damn this game seems great. Im still playing 2004 profusly, and i spent like an hour getting all the rosters like how it is now
What?!?!?! You don't have '05?! damn that sucks... I think I'm gonna go play it now.

[smoot]

lol, 04 is awsome, but i cant wait till i get my ps2 back so i can play 05

[PyroGenic]

so you play on all-madden?It seems like getting 10 ints for touchdowns with one player,and 12 sacks in 8 games with another seems its on rookie/pro...or your just really, really good

i mix up my coverages and im probably just lucky... LaVar is always in the QBs face and he just chucks it out right when he gets hit, smoot gets then under throw in the cover 2 (or taylor in cover 3... i sub a lot) and they return it for TDs.... for some reason springs is godly on man coverage, if the QB makes hasty throws he makes crazy interceptions. Right now i lost 3 in a row though, i think the comp has figured out my o strategy and portis' ypg are down to around 100 from 200... so yeah...

I think i found a little exploit in the game... if you do QB spy audible on the line the olinemen doesn't immediately block you and ends up throwing you into the QB.