Madden Help please... (XBOX 360)
10-06-07 | 01:10 AM
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Madden Help please... (XBOX 360)
OK, so I've never really played any of the football games, Madden or anything else. I have a copy of Madden 2006, and was recently given a copy of Madden 2008 as a gift. Since I never really played Madden 2006, I figured I would play that for a bit before jumping to Madden 2008.
My question is, how do the pass plays work? I don't fully understand the QB vision cone thing, and I don't really know how to tell who is the best person to pass to. I've just ended up passing it as quickly as I can to whoever to make sure I don't get sacked. Any pointers on this? Also, is the mechanism for passing in Madden 2008 the same or has it changed? Thanks.
My question is, how do the pass plays work? I don't fully understand the QB vision cone thing, and I don't really know how to tell who is the best person to pass to. I've just ended up passing it as quickly as I can to whoever to make sure I don't get sacked. Any pointers on this? Also, is the mechanism for passing in Madden 2008 the same or has it changed? Thanks.
10-06-07 | 01:48 AM
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You might as well just start playing Madden 08. It's not like 06 is a prequel or something. And 08 is far superior IMHO.
The cone generally shows you the best receiver to throw to. It happens rarely in 08, at least for me.
Make sure when you hike the ball you take a few steps back. Some people step back about 3 yards. I often find myself stepping back 7-10, which isn't really the best system, since if you get sacked you'll lose a ton of yards and you lose that off your throws. On the other hand, it allows you to take the time to survey your receivers and notice if someone is blitzing or coming at you and toss the ball. You don't want to just toss the ball as soon as it's hiked to you, it doesn't allow the receivers to run their routes and get open.
Another key component of QBing, depending on the QB is Scrambling. That is moving around and throwing on the run. Michael Vick was the gold standard of scrambling QBs before his incident there. That's opposed a QB like Brady who rarely steps outside of "the pocket" (steps back and stands there while the offensive line keeps people from touching them). If you look at a team's play style in 08 it'll tell you rushing vs. passing % and if the QB is pocket, scrambling, or a little of each I believe.
As far as who to throw to. Look at people who are "open" Generally what I do, is look at my best reciever first and see how they're doing. Generally they run deep routes. See how many people are following them (quickly). A great receiver can usually beat a 1 on 1, but remember that the safteys can run over if it's a long pass and help block.
I like to look second at people running 5-10 yard routes. Generally somewhere between 5-10 yards they make a cut, curl, or somehow change direction suddenly to shake their defender. Notice if anyone is wide out in the open. If not, look at someone who is outrunning their defender. Perhaps someone is running perpendicular to you (left to right) and their defender is in chase 2 or 3 strides behind them. Throw it to them, as the pass will be in front of them and they'll generally be able to catch it and move.
The problem sometimes is there simply isn't someone open. In that case you have a few options: throw into coverage, throw it away, or run with the QB. How you deal with that is up to you, but up on the higher difficulties, throwing with no regard into coverage usually means an INT.
A final word is remember to switch between running plays and passing plays. Otherwise the defense will anticipate what you're doing. A big way to help you with this is to run Play-Action plays. These are plays where the QB fakes like he's handing it off to the RB, and instead turns around and passes. These are generally found in the I-type formations and Single back formations.
The best way to learn how to pass well IMHO is to use a team like the Patriots or the Colts which have great Offensive Lines, give the QBs plenty of time, have great sets of WRs, and a smart and accurate QB. Learn to play with Manning or Brady, then switch over to another QB if you like another team.
Hope that helps.
The cone generally shows you the best receiver to throw to. It happens rarely in 08, at least for me.
Make sure when you hike the ball you take a few steps back. Some people step back about 3 yards. I often find myself stepping back 7-10, which isn't really the best system, since if you get sacked you'll lose a ton of yards and you lose that off your throws. On the other hand, it allows you to take the time to survey your receivers and notice if someone is blitzing or coming at you and toss the ball. You don't want to just toss the ball as soon as it's hiked to you, it doesn't allow the receivers to run their routes and get open.
Another key component of QBing, depending on the QB is Scrambling. That is moving around and throwing on the run. Michael Vick was the gold standard of scrambling QBs before his incident there. That's opposed a QB like Brady who rarely steps outside of "the pocket" (steps back and stands there while the offensive line keeps people from touching them). If you look at a team's play style in 08 it'll tell you rushing vs. passing % and if the QB is pocket, scrambling, or a little of each I believe.
As far as who to throw to. Look at people who are "open" Generally what I do, is look at my best reciever first and see how they're doing. Generally they run deep routes. See how many people are following them (quickly). A great receiver can usually beat a 1 on 1, but remember that the safteys can run over if it's a long pass and help block.
I like to look second at people running 5-10 yard routes. Generally somewhere between 5-10 yards they make a cut, curl, or somehow change direction suddenly to shake their defender. Notice if anyone is wide out in the open. If not, look at someone who is outrunning their defender. Perhaps someone is running perpendicular to you (left to right) and their defender is in chase 2 or 3 strides behind them. Throw it to them, as the pass will be in front of them and they'll generally be able to catch it and move.
The problem sometimes is there simply isn't someone open. In that case you have a few options: throw into coverage, throw it away, or run with the QB. How you deal with that is up to you, but up on the higher difficulties, throwing with no regard into coverage usually means an INT.
A final word is remember to switch between running plays and passing plays. Otherwise the defense will anticipate what you're doing. A big way to help you with this is to run Play-Action plays. These are plays where the QB fakes like he's handing it off to the RB, and instead turns around and passes. These are generally found in the I-type formations and Single back formations.
The best way to learn how to pass well IMHO is to use a team like the Patriots or the Colts which have great Offensive Lines, give the QBs plenty of time, have great sets of WRs, and a smart and accurate QB. Learn to play with Manning or Brady, then switch over to another QB if you like another team.
Hope that helps.
Last edited by lordwow; 10-06-07 at 02:00 AM.
10-06-07 | 09:02 AM
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DVD Talk Gold Edition
I suggest you master the art of Brady to Moss online, along with picking a crappy team so your opponent does the same thing and right before everything is locked in, switch to the patriots.
10-06-07 | 09:35 AM
#4
DVD Talk Limited Edition
I would go right to 2008 also. The passing cone is NOT in the game unless you move the RS. Basically, it was something they tried and it was not very successful. Just go ot 2008, it is a MUCH better game. 2006 was something that felt rushed for the 360 launch.
