Madden Playbooks

[danny's stogie]

I'm curious to hear what playbooks everyone is using and why they use them...I'll start and then maybe we could use this thread to help each other out and give tips. It seems like everyone's favorite playbooks are the Skins, Vikings (a little too basic for me), and Pass Balanced (haven't had a chance to use it yet), but here are mine.

Skins--The single back 3 and 4 wide reciever sets are fantastic. I can execute an 80 yard drive in 6 plays about 80% of the time without changing my formation once. And what's best is that I have about 6-7 single-back, 3+ reciever formations to chose from. They are incredibly versatile. If an opponent tries to stop the pass you usually get a lot of running lanes and if they try to stop the run you'll find plenty of mismatches against your wideouts. Also, the counters and stretch plays in this playbook are the best running plays that I've used so far.

Steelers --It's not nearly the dominate force that it was in 05 (the single greatest playbook ever invented), but it's still very, very good. It has a couple nice trips-bunch formations and excellent shotgun passing. The only thing that could make it better is if they didn't get rid of the single back formations from 05.

[IndianBaller27]

Marvin Lewis' was pretty good for me, but it doesn't have much variety, so I'm probably gonna switch back to Gibbs. I never really gave his playbook a shot

[ryflan47]

Gibbs, my friends hate the bunched WR sets, and I completely own them with them!

[SkinsASchamps]

I use denver... i know. but they have good play action and the running scheme works for portis..

[Carmelo]

I'm curious to hear what playbooks everyone is using and why they use them...I'll start and then maybe we could use this thread to help each other out and give tips. It seems like everyone's favorite playbooks are the Skins, Vikings (a little too basic for me), and Pass Balanced (haven't had a chance to use it yet), but here are mine.

Skins--The single back 3 and 4 wide reciever sets are fantastic. I can execute an 80 yard drive in 6 plays about 80% of the time without changing my formation once. And what's best is that I have about 6-7 single-back, 3+ reciever formations to chose from. They are incredibly versatile. If an opponent tries to stop the pass you usually get a lot of running lanes and if they try to stop the run you'll find plenty of mismatches against your wideouts. Also, the counters and stretch plays in this playbook are the best running plays that I've used so far.

Steelers --It's not nearly the dominate force that it was in 05 (the single greatest playbook ever invented), but it's still very, very good. It has a couple nice trips-bunch formations and excellent shotgun passing. The only thing that could make it better is if they didn't get rid of the single back formations from 05.


I go with the skins. I haven't even tried the other playbooks. I admit, I'm not the best at madden but I love the skins playbook. Most times I never use anything but the single back formations unless I've only got inches to go and I switch to goalline. I just wish they had Greg Williams playbook!

[LATrueRedskin]

Tony Dungy. Big plays for the slot receiver. Switch and put Moss and/or Patten in the slot at times and tear 'em up.

[danny's stogie]

Gibbs, my friends hate the bunched WR sets, and I completely own them with them!

You'd like Pittsburgh's playbook a lot then.


I use denver... i know. but they have good play action and the running scheme works for portis..


Yeah, I really like their running plays, but their pass plays are awful imo. Also, I'm not as much of a fan of PA like I was in 05. When playing against other people it seems like it's just as effective to throw normally and when you play against the CPU in All-Madden their biggest cheese problem is that always call CB or OLB blitzes when you call PA. You never have time to step back into the pocket. If I use PA I'll audible to it because if I don't, the CPU will have called the perfect play to counter it.

[funnyperson1]

I just use the Skin's playbook honestly, Iform is great for running plays, and Singleback is great for everything else. With playmaker, and hot routers, I really don't vary up the actual plays and formations that much.

On defense there is one play called Smoke Strong or something like that in Quarter, which drives my friends nuts. It blitzes the second safety, a CB and a LB which results in a ton of sacks.

[Sonoma]

I play with the Skins and use Pit for offense and 3 - 4 for D.

Pittsburgh: Has a wide variety of plays, can play any style of football you want. Great running plays and an open passing game makes it great for the Skins.

3 - 4: I think everyone should give this a try. Great mix of plays and very confusing for opposing defenses to figure out.

[IndianBaller27]

You'd like Pittsburgh's playbook a lot then.



Yeah, I really like their running plays, but their pass plays are awful imo. Also, I'm not as much of a fan of PA like I was in 05. When playing against other people it seems like it's just as effective to throw normally and when you play against the CPU in All-Madden their biggest cheese problem is that always call CB or OLB blitzes when you call PA. You never have time to step back into the pocket. If I use PA I'll audible to it because if I don't, the CPU will have called the perfect play to counter it.
I just tried Pitt for the first time today, AND I LOVED IT!!! Its great. I think I'm gonna stick with this for a while.

And I think the worst problem in '06 is that you get absolutely no time to throw. You get the fake off and there they are. in your face for the sack. I can't even tell you the number of 3rd and 20s I've been in. Also, a kind of cheap thing to do to get by this is on that 3rd and long, get a tall reciever (at least 6'4") that can jump really well and throw it up to him.

I imported my draft class from NCAA Football '06 and found a WR who was 6'11" in the 4th round!!! In his fourth season he set records for most receptions (144), most rec yards (2000+), and rec TDs (22). Now his overall rating is at 94 I think with 99 catching and 99 jumping.

[danny's stogie]

I just tried Pitt for the first time today, AND I LOVED IT!!! Its great. I think I'm gonna stick with this for a while.

And I think the worst problem in '06 is that you get absolutely no time to throw. You get the fake off and there they are. in your face for the sack. I can't even tell you the number of 3rd and 20s I've been in. Also, a kind of cheap thing to do to get by this is on that 3rd and long, get a tall reciever (at least 6'4") that can jump really well and throw it up to him.

I imported my draft class from NCAA Football '06 and found a WR who was 6'11" in the 4th round!!! In his fourth season he set records for most receptions (144), most rec yards (2000+), and rec TDs (22). Now his overall rating is at 94 I think with 99 catching and 99 jumping.

If you loved Pitts playbook then pop 2005 in for a few minutes and check out last year's version.

Yup, play action isn't nearly as effective as it was last year. If I want to use it I'll call a quick pass play so that the CPU defense calls a cover 2 or 3, then I'll audible to the play action in my formation specific audible option. I also usually use hot routes to shift into max protection

[RedskinRyan]

nothing but the skins offensive playbook. since i always play with them first, its the one i adjust to first. the singleback has alooooooooooooooot of options.

as far as defense, i normally just do 4-3, but i like throwing in some 3-4.

[Sonoma]

The 3 - 4 D is great to use with the Skins, great LBs. Plus I love the Nickel 1 - 5 -5

[IMALILTEAPOT]

pittsburgh is what i use. a lot of the plays and sets they have in there is actually what we play in the real game too

[CornerBlitz]

I like to use Oakland's offensive playbook for some reason.

[smoak]

I remember thinking Gibbs' was too boring so I switched? I'll go back to it this w/e and check it out.

[vabeach_skinsfan]

I use the Jacksonville - Jack Del Rio playbook. I love the routes they have for the TEs. I usually put Santana on the slot with 3 receiver formations, and Cooly as a full back. The run formations are alirght, I use a lot of pre-snap motions and slide protection blocking schemes. Try and catch the D off guard.

I like to use the Balance D. Enough run stop formations, and we have the personel to cover recievers one on one.

[ryflan47]

I use the Jacksonville - Jack Del Rio playbook. It love the routes they have for the TEs. I usually put Santana on the slot with 3 receiver formations, and Cooly as a full back. The run formations are alirght, I use a lot of pre-snap motions and slide protection blocking schemes. Try and catch the D off guard.

I like to use the Balance D. Enough run stop formations, and we have the personel to cover recievers one on one.
What exactly does slide protection do? I've hit that button accidentally a LOT and I have no clue what it does.

[vabeach_skinsfan]

What exactly does slide protection do? I've hit that button accidentally a LOT and I have no clue what it does.

If you see someone blitzing from the right/left side, you can provide protection to that side by using the slide protection button, instead of sending someone in motion to pick up the "blitzer". I use it on run plays too though, it helps with the blocking.

[ryflan47]

If you see someone blitzing from the right/left side, you can provide protection to that side by using the slide protection button, instead of sending someone in motion to pick up the "blitzer". I use it on run plays too though, it helps with the blocking.
Thanks, it sounds pretty cool.

[IMALILTEAPOT]

the new england offense is pretty good too. its kind of like what we run now. i wish the gibbs offense had more passing plays, like the shotgun. the run plays are nice though

[RedskinsUnited]

I use our playbook,

On Offense: the singleback formations, strong and weak I, and the Full formation. This last one is excellent for short yardage, just pass it to Cooley or Sellers.

Defense: 4-3 and the various nickel formations.

[vabeach_skinsfan]

I use our playbook,

On Offense: the singleback formations, strong and weak I, and the Full formation. This last one is excellent for short yardage, just pass it to Cooley or Sellers.

Defense: 4-3 and the various nickel formations.

I like the 4-3 D, because of the LB personel that we have.....but i find it hard to stop the run to the outside. The thing I love about the 4-3 D, is that if you are playing a team with a superb tightend (i.e. KC, San D, NY) you can go 4-3 or 2-5 and double converage the TE. It helps keep the TE out of the game.

[MoeRedskins]

For O its the Skins playbook all the way, for the D I use the balance playbook. It has the 4-3, 3-4, 46, nickel, dime and quarter. you can change up so often and keep the O on its heels. I like it a lot. The play selection is limited in each formation, but you can give the other them so maany looks that they have no idea what is coming.

[vabeach_skinsfan]

For O its the Skins playbook all the way, for the D I use the balance playbook. It has the 4-3, 3-4, 46, nickel, dime and quarter. you can change up so often and keep the O on its heels. I like it a lot. The play selection is limited in each formation, but you can give the other them so maany looks that they have no idea what is coming.

Yeah the Balanced D is what I use majority of the time. 46D and 3-4 will definitely stop the run plays. The only disadvantage about the Balanced D is that the 4-3 playbook is limited. They don't have the double TE, or double TE bracket coverage. And that makes it extremely hard to cover the tight end, with a DB or LB. I hate to give my secrets away, but to prevent them from getting to the TE, I send atleast 1 LB and DB on a blitz. TE routes require more than 2 seconds to get open, just enough time to sackthe QB.

[bertoskins]

I use skins playbook
full house and singleback big set
also 3 wides for long gains

[RedskinsUnited]

I like the 4-3 D, because of the LB personel that we have.....but i find it hard to stop the run to the outside. The thing I love about the 4-3 D, is that if you are playing a team with a superb tightend (i.e. KC, San D, NY) you can go 4-3 or 2-5 and double converage the TE. It helps keep the TE out of the game.

Yeah, I agree. I have friends who are fans of the teams you mentioned with good TEs who would pass it to em ALL THE TIME, Tony G. has put up 160 yards on me a couple of times.

[RedskinsUnited]

I wonder how the Redskins ratings and playbooks would be like on the X-Box 360 version of Madden?

[vabeach_skinsfan]

Yeah, I agree. I have friends who are fans of the teams you mentioned with good TEs who would pass it to em ALL THE TIME, Tony G. has put up 160 yards on me a couple of times.

Yeah, I usually do the same thing when I use those teams. Its hard for a DB to cover a TE, especially when someone uses a dime, nickel, 3-4 becasue the a good tight end will always have the advantage of catching over the smaller defender. But since I do a lot, I found out how to defend it pretty good too. If you use the 4-3, switch it to the 5-2. 5 linemen, 2 LBs, and choose the Double tightend bracket. It will do oc againts the run, really good against covering the te.

[forcefield58]

I play as the Skins, always.

Use single back primarily with 4 receivers less regularly. When I get in a pinch I'll use playaction to Moss which works 90 percent of the time.

On defense I use 4-3 exclusively and I've managed to do pretty well with it. Only problem here is I've been burned by the deep pass a couple times when I couldn't reach the QB...you have to play it smart.

My biggest question is this:

Is there a way to change a position permanently? I like to use Brunell but have to go into options right before the first play of a game and switch each formation from Ramsey to Brunell. There has to be an easier way??

[JakeIron]

I like to use Gibbs' offense just because it has a lot of options to Cooley. Plus all the rollout PAs are pretty nice. The systems also allows to attack the flats with sellers and portis.

[bantu]

I've used to the Herman Edwards playbook since last year. The reason I chose them was because last year they were one of the only playbooks with no shotgun, and heavy run formations. I thought that would be the most similar to Gibbs' real style. Its funny how this year we have actually switched to some Shotgun, cuz so has the Herman Edwards playbook. I don't know if it is the best, but it is what I'm used to. I just need a little time with a playbook before I become unstoppable.

[LavarEatsBabies]

I like the viking playbook, it's great for passing (especially deep or to the TE), but it's pretty limited as far as runs go, and no counters with a leading fullback. Thankfully I always have the skins playbook.

[Santheb]

I like the Rams playbook. Rams 24 Counter is the best running play that I've found.

[HAWGZHEAD]

I'll take the Skins playbook. QB waggle to Cooley is butter.