With all of the news surrounding Madden NFL 25, gamers are getting their hands ready to grab the game when it releases on August 27th. While many gamers like to play with their favorite teams, others like to use the best team in the game. Below is a list of the Top 5 teams in our MaddenTips.com power rankings based off last years finishes and speculation of how Madden NFL 25 will play based off all of our insider information!

Honorable Mention: Atlanta Falcons, Houston Texans, Detroit Lions, Washington Redskins

5. Minnesota Vikings – We already covered Adrian Peterson as our “#1 Player To Run Free With in Madden 25”.

Strengths: Run Game, Clock Control

With the game taking a heavy focus on running the ball, you want to have the best possible player on your side. How many times have you hopped into an online game and matched up against someone who struggled to stop the run? Peterson is the guy that can make them pay. If you can manage QB Christian Ponder and mix in backup Joe Webb, the Vikings have a chance to stay on this list. The Vikings struggled at wideout in Madden 13, but added super reliable WR Greg Jennings to play outside. Although they lose Percy Harvin, they drafted another athlete in WR Cordarrelle Patterson. If he can pick up some of Harvin’s versatility, the Vikings will be in good shape for Madden 25.

Pro Tip: Control the clock with the running game to make up for an average defense.

4. Baltimore Ravens

Strengths – Balance, Vertical Passing Game

Joe Flacco proved he was elite last season and led the Ravens to the Super Bowl Title. He not only earned himself millions of dollars, but likely a boost in his Madden 25 rating. Helping him out on offense will be one of the best all-around backs in the NFL, Ray Rice. Rice is a great weapon out of the backfield on screen passes and should have some of the best moves in the game. Make sure to use the precision move modifier to slow up and stay behind your blockers while the screen gets set up. The more you can get the defense to focus in on Rice, the easier it will be to use Flacco’s great arm strength to connect with WR Torrey Smith downfield. On Defense, the Ravens have some new faces but should be much younger. If CB Lardarius Webb can recover from injury, he is a great leader who plays well against the run.

Pro Tip: The Ravens have great special teams which are led by Jacoby Jones, try and get him into the open field and let his speed change games.

3. Green Bay Packers

Strengths – Passing Game, Defensive Hit Power

Aaron Rodgers is considered the best QB in the game by our standards. His ability to throw downfield consistently matches up with QB’s like Brady and Manning, however he has just enough speed to burn the defense. If your opponent likes to play heavy man coverage, look to break the pocket with Rodgers and scramble for a first down. Green Bay has always had a top tier passing game, but this year they add in two rookie HB’s in Eddie Lacy and Jonathan Franklin. Lacy will bring great balance on early downs with Franklin being a great change of pace back on 3rd down. On Defense, Green Bay is loaded with talent at the LB position. When your opponent gets into a 3rd and long situation, unleash Clay Matthews and Nick Perry off the edge!

Pro Tip: Randall Cobb is a dynamic player not only in the return game, but also on WR screens.

2. Seattle Seahawks

Strengths – Defensive Depth, Power Run Game

Seattle went out this off-season and earned their spot on this list. They acquired WR Percy Harvin in a trade and also signed some key pieces for their defense. Gamers who like a power back will benefit from new moves like the stiff arm which can be used to knock back defenders or string out runs depending on how it is used. In Madden NFL 25, a back like Marshawn Lynch can truly go beast mode as he will have plenty of moves he can pull off!

On Defense, Seattle has tons of playmakers. Their secondary is known to catch everything so make sure to be ready to run free on defense.

Pro Tip: QB Russell Wilson has the ability to get free with his legs. Test the defense early to make them commit defenders to spy the QB.

1.San Francisco 49ers

Strengths – Offensive Line, Run Game Balance, Defensive Front 7

The 49ers prove once again that defense is the most valuable thing in the Madden NFL Series. They regain their top spot from last season powered by the all-new Force Impact System. This is going to allow their talented LB core to lay even more crushing hits than last season. For gamers that are fearing all of the new run free moves, SF should be the ultimate counter! On the other side of the ball, the 49ers should have one of the most interesting playbooks in the game. QB Colin Kaepernick gives your offense an edge as he is able to either hand off or keep the ball for himself if the defense over commits. For gamers who are looking to rack up wins, the 49ers are no doubt the beast team in Madden NFL 25!

Pro Tip: Target WR Anquan Boldin in the Red Zone, he has a great ability to hang onto catches that are thrown into traffic.

For more great tips and tricks for Madden NFL 25, make sure to sign up for the maddentips.com newsletter and follow us on Twitter @MaddenTips_

#1. Playmaker – Introduced in Madden 04 playmaker controlled allowed offensive minded players to harness their inner quarterback and make plays on the run. Who doesn’t remember playing with Mike Vick and the Falcons? Better question, who didn’t love it?

#2. Hitstick – While gamers loved the offensive playmaker controlled introduced in Madden 04 they felt that the feature gave the offense an unfair advantage. A year later EA listened to fan feedback and introduced the Hitstick and changed the way we play defense forever. It leveled the playing field and allowed you to actually be a defensive minded player.

#3. Owner Mode – First introduced in Madden 04 Owner Mode makes it’s triumphant for the Madden NFL 25 season. For the first time on next gen consoles you can be in complete control of your entire franchise from top to bottom.

#4. Physics – Madden NFL 13 introduced the Infinity Engine to the franchise and along came physics. This was an absolute game changer and had been a request from the community for years. Players now feel like players in game and you can finally feel every hit in the game.

#5. Run Free – In Madden NFL 25 elite players will feel elite with the new Run Free feature. This feature is the single most underestimated feature in the history of Madden. I say this because it is going to change the way we play the game forever. This is the future. Get ready.

A few of the worst…

#1. Ring Building – I remember firing up Madden 08 and always being asked to buy a ring. Never knew what it was. Never really cared. Did anyone ever buy this ring? Give me details.

#2. Madden 09 Rewinds – Sorta cool if you were playing your little brother. Just rewind every time you threw a pick and watch him complain. Nothing he can really do about it anyways because he’s your little brother. Outside of that there was no real use for this feature.

#3. Fight for Fumble – This brought back my inner Tecmo Super Bowl, but it just felt out of place when you actually fought for the fumble. I lost way to many battery packs in the proccess. #RIP Fight For Fumble.

What are some of your favorite features? Let us know below!

 

There will be all the old favorites in CFM like import draft class from NCAA 14, 32 Team Control, Same Couch Experience etc.

For more details, here are some links to users with even more hands on time! (I have played it and completed a fantasy draft and pre-season.)

Under The Code

Updated Progression System in Madden 25 Franchise Mode via Shopmaster

Top 5 Things You Need To Know about Franchise Mode in Madden 25!

Top 5 Relocation Projects in Madden 25 Owner Mode

Good Game Bro

All the New Details for Madden 25 CFM!

Tradition Sports Online

What To Do in Owner Mode!

Ok Madden Tips nation hope to spread some light on another great scheme. Today we will be going over the Arizona Cardinals Playbook offensively and the 3-4 playbook defensively.

 

These two playbooks are optimal for the packers roster. We will dive into the playbook breakdowns and the depth chart in a minute, but first I want to shed some light on why the Shotgun Spread is so effective in this game.

 

The spread is so easy this year because of the way we can attack every area of the field and read the defense so easily. One concept I just recently read about was post-snap reads. This year my offenses have been based on progression reads, but I never really understood why it was effective until now. The reason these plays are so effective is because of how we can attack a defense based on what they do so essentially we set up route combos that beat every coverage.

 

The article talked about reading the safety’s post snap to easily determine the basic coverage the defense is in. So essentially if the safety’s go 2 deep or one deep we now know basically what everyone else is doing. Hope you guys caught something this week that can help and make sure to enjoy the scheme and leave your feedback!

For your browsers sake I have only posted ONE of Cody’s video in this post. The rest of the links are below!

Enjoy!

Best. Deal. Ever.

Sign. Me. Up.

• For fans unable to receive DIRECTV service, each Madden NFL 25 Anniversary Edition will include a unique code to access the 2013 regular season (17 weeks) trial of NFL SUNDAY TICKET on computers, tablets, and mobile devices- including access to DIRECTV’s award-winning RED ZONE CHANNEL^®.

ZFarls had this last year and he would flaunt around every Sunday with his iPad saying how dumb I was for not hopping on this deal. This year I fully plan to take advantage of my iPad Mini and rock this. I won’t need the game though so I will most likely do a giveaway.

Who wants a free copy of Madden NFL 25 Anniversary Edition? I’ll pick someone from the comments section.

EA SPORTS just released it’s latest playbook which details new Defensive Control in Madden 25.

From the looks of this video it appears that defense will be a major point of emphasis this season. This is great news for defensive minded players as they have had to take on the onslaught of the NFL becoming an offensive minded league.

A few highlights of the video
- Improved Pursuit Angles
- Heat Seeker Tackling
- New Dive and Lunge Tackles
- Force Impact
- Revamped Hit Stick

What do you think of the new trailer? Will you be hit sticking or heat seeking in Madden 25? Let us know in the comments below!

Madden 25 has reinvented the running game this season by giving gamers ultimate control in how they string together moves. Gamers are now able to use normal, precision and combo moves for over 35+ total moves to break down defenses. While taking a handoff will still be the traditional way to run free, gamers are going to be able to pull off these moves all around the field. Different situations and positions are going to give Madden players the ultimate ability to be more creative. Below are the Top 5 Players we look forward to running free with in Madden 25.

Marshawn Lynch

Many gamers think “Run Free” involves being in open space, however a power back like Lynch will be super effective using the force impact system. Lynch will boast an ability to pull off two different types of stiff arms in Madden 25. The first is a power punching style stiff arm that is done by tapping the button, use this in short yardage situations to move the chains. The other is performed by holding down the button and is best on the sideline. This will hold out the runners arm and can be used to drag defenders and gain additional yards at the end of the run. Lynch will also have access to the best precision truck moves in the game, which will flatten smaller defenders and keep defenses in their base personnel longer.  With all the possible moves for power backs this year, running the ball in the redzone will be a huge factor in scoring more points!

Pro Tip: Don’t forget to work QB Russell Wilson in with the Read Option Game!

Patrick Peterson

A dynamic defender goes mostly unnoticed, however every now and then they get a chance to shine when they get the ball in their hands.  Teams are always looking to get the ball into the hands of one of the NFL’s best athletes like Cardinals CB Patrick Peterson. If you are able to grab an interception, your defense can quickly turn into offense as you look to find a lane for the pick six. Peterson will also be a star in the return game in Madden 25. With better downfield blocking, you should be able to benefit with all the new moves.  A player with the raw ability of Peterson might not need too much more than a well time acceleration burst to get to top speed where he will never be caught from behind!

Pro Tip: While the hurdle is an amazing move when successful, it can open your player up to risks like injuries and fumbles, use it wisely!

Robert Griffin III

Last season, we saw some unique offenses being unleashed around the league. Formations like the pistol and plays like the read option were added to schemes that featured a QB who made great decisions and had the speed to burn the defense. In Madden 25, the new read and pitch keys will help gamers determine who they need to be looking at on defense to make the proper read. If an overzealous defender tries to take out the running back, gamers can hold the ball with the QB and attack the now empty edge. RG3 will be a great player to utilize due to his abilty to make moves in the open field. We have already seen his spin move featured in the Run Free Trailer and it will be a great weapon with a defender approaching at an angle when running down the sideline.

Pro Tip: Stamina is a factor in Madden 25, make sure to protect your QB from big hits by going out of bounds if possible.

Randall Cobb

Every NFL fan knows the Green Bay Packers have one of the best QB’s in the NFL in Aaron Rodgers, but many overlook one of their best weapons in WR Randall Cobb. Cobb is a player that can line up almost anywhere and turn a quick play into a long one! No matter where your WR catches the ball in Madden 25, they will have the chance to run free after the catch. You can try Cobb on screens, end arounds, in the slot or outside and likely have success. Cobb will have a great ability to juke around linebackers if he has just a sliver of space. Make sure to work him all around your lineup at multiple positions and if the defense doesn’t account for him, make them pay!

Pro Tip: Make sure to protect the ball in traffic by holding RB on XBOX and R1 on PS3.

Adrian Peterson

The NFL’s reigning MVP will be an amazing player in Madden NFL 25 with all the possible Run Free move combinations. Peterson will give gamers multiple moves that they can combo together to make entire defenses struggle. By using the precision mechanic, gamers can slow down Adrian Peterson to make sure he gets in behind his blockers before getting him quickly back up to speed with an acceleration burst. Faking out defenders by just quickly decelerating is a move that all the top players will master. When you pick up Madden 25, make sure to head into practice mode with the Vikings and test out Adrian Peterson and all the run free moves. Peterson is the quintessence of the new Run Free moves and is the guy you need to learn all the moves now at your disposal.

Pro Tip: Make sure to check your RB’s ratings to see what precision moves they can pull off!

Who are you most looking forward to #RunFree with this season? Leave it in the comments!

The first news of NCAA Football 14′s new Ultimate Team Mode (NFUT) is making internet waves today! According to StickSkills, the Press Row Podcast had on NCAA Producer Ben Haumiller to talk details! Aside from 2,500 players from all 126 schools being in the mode, the addition of online head to head seasons is excellent news. The seasons will be 10 games long and feature a playoff and relegation according to Kotaku. This sounds like the FIFA Seasons which are great.

For more NCAA Football Ultimate Team News, listen to the above podcast or check out some more snippets from the Stick Skills article below!

Ultimate Team in the game will take advantage of the NFLPA license and bring forth active NFL players represented in their college days. Peyton Manning at Tennessee is an example of players that we’ll be able to collect and add to our team, but Ben stated that there were additional players licensed outside of the NFLPA budget.

Below, we’ve included a few snippets of information from the podcast:

• Roughly 2,500 players currently is the target in the NCAA Football 14 player pool.
• The development team couldn’t use some players because they’re not in good standings with their respective colleges
• All 126 schools are represented within the game
• Players who had great college careers but sub-par NFL careers will be a focus (Erasmus James mentioned as an example)
• Head-to-Head Seasons will be the premier mode for online play in NCAA Football 14.
• Russell Wilson will have both a Wisconsin & a NC State version
• The Skills Trainer will help you earn unlocks for Ultimate Team
• Cards will be from different years of a player’s career at their college. Used Matt Barkley freshman year as an example. Doug Flutie and Tyrann Mathieu were also mentioned as being included.
• Playbooks, players, and stadiums are included. Coaches are not part of the Ultimate Team mode this year.

Let us know if you will atleast open that first free pack in NFUT this season!

LordLuck from the Madden Tips Forums has just dropped a blitzing knowledge bomb that will help your defense in Madden 13 and has potential to work in Madden NFL 25.

Take a look at the blitzes below and let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Playbook Used: New England Patriots
Formations Used: 4-3 Odd, 4-3 Over Plus, 3-3-5 Sam Even

The Stalingrad Blitz mini scheme

When Madden 25 releases on August 27th, will you be playing it on All-Madden or All-Pro Difficulty?

Many gamers out there feel that All-Madden offers the most consistent gameplay, challenge and less fumbles. For the most part, these claims are unproven. All-Madden doesn’t “take more skill” to play on, imo. The only true factor is that you don’t have the advantage of “Defensive Assist” which helps make playing defensive coverage easier on the HB.
On All-Pro both players have it, so the defense could arguably be tougher and since both players have it, nobody is at a disadvantage.

“You guys don’t play on All-Madden?”

The 100% true reason we do not play on All-Madden is because the Virgin Gaming Challenge Series rules are All-Pro which is the same as online ranked. With 400K on the line, we practice with whatever settings will give us the best chance to win that tournament. If they said to play on rookie with 18 minute quarters, there is a strong chance that is what we would do. Working towards an end of season tournament and having something to train towards is something that keeps Madden super fun late into the season. If I play a random game against the CPU ever, its always on All-Madden.

Madden 25 Pledge: When I attend community events at EA Sports, we always look to have All-Madden be the “true test of skill” for the hardcore gamer. We want less computer assist and want the true gamer who has practiced and put in the time to be determined the winner. If that is the case for Madden 25, I will play on All-Madden and set our community to the same difficulty.

Let me know if you think there is a difference between All-Pro and All-Madden in the comments and where you think it matters the most!

#Lockup

Madden Ultimate Team @EASports_MUT is currently doing a specialty “Madden Cover Vote” Collection. They are doing giveaways that include a nice Revis card.

For those eager to see the Madden NFL 25 Rookie Ratings, head into Madden Ultimate Team and start digging for cards. While most of the star players from the draft were linemen, there are some Madden sleepers in there. While most players won’t have the exact same rating, you can get a pretty good idea of where these guys line up!

Are you gonna play MUT in Madden NFL 25? Stay tuned for a playbook on Madden Ultimate Team from EA on July 1 to see the new goods!

Ok, guys, welcome to this week’s scheme of the week. This is one of my favorites, and there is lots of content to break down!

Offense: New England Patriots
Defense: 4-3 Playbook

AUDIBLES

Offense: Base Set: Gun Trips TE Drive Post

1. Gun Ace Fl Screen

2. Gun Split Patriot HB Slip Screen

3. Gun Bunch Bunch Trail

4. Singleback Deuce Wing HB Counter

5. Gun Ace Tight Slots Pats Wheel Drag

Defense: Base Set: 4-3 Under Will Punch 3 Seam

1. 4-3 Stack Sam Fire 3

2. 4-3 Under Mike Will Cross 3

3. 4-3 Over Plus Cover 4

4. 4-4 Split 2 Deep

5. 4-3 Over Zone Blitz

Now that we have the audibles set, let’s discuss personnel before we get in the lab. For defense, we would like one fast tackle and one strong one; your RE position needs to be able to blitz and cover, and your LE is your best pass rusher. For linebackers, you want your best pass rusher left at the ROLB, your best coverage backer at the LOLB, and you will pick your user player, who will be the middle backer. In the secondary you want your two best man coverage players at the DBs. Your strong safety needs to be able to tackle and cover, and your free safety needs to be able to cover in zone. Offensively, you need two good route-running receivers, two receivers or tight ends who can catch and block, and a running back who has decent speed and can catch. The team I would recommend for this scheme is the Denver Broncos.

Here is your Broncos depth chart:

QB: Manning
HB: Moreno
WR1: Decker
WR2: Thomas
WR3: Tamme
TE: Dressen
LE: Dumervil
RE: Miller
DT1: Wolfe or Warren
DT2: Ayers
LOLB: Williams
MLB: Woodyard
ROLB: Mays
CB1: Bailey
CB2: Porter
FS: Moore
SS: Q. Carter

Now, let’s get into these schemes and how they can be run many different ways, and how to utilize them best so that you can win more games and enjoy this game more!

Patriots Offensive Scheme

4-3 Defensive Guide Video

Sample Game with Scheme and Commentary!

Winners: St. Louis Rams — The Rams were one of the lowest-rated teams last season. Their HB, Steven Jackson, was solid but not elite. QB Sam Bradford had very little help on the outside and suffered when reliable slot WR Danny Amendola was injured. Amendola and Jackson left, and the Rams had huge gaps at their skill positions. They were able to fill them and really move up the rankings for Madden NFL 25. They selected Tavon Austin, who is a Harvin/Cobb-type weapon. SGibs is projecting Tavon Austin to have a solid rookie rating for Madden NFL 25. Austin helps, but the Rams also got Stedman Bailey to work the outside. They got great value at LB with Alec Ogletree, and their safety selection, T.J. McDonald, should bring some decent hit power to the defense. The Rams are no longer the worst team in Madden NFL.

Green Bay Packers — The Packers have been a top three Madden team for years due to QB Aaron Rodgers, who just signed a new deal over the weekend. That move alone keeps them relevant; however, their commitment to draft a running back is what grabbed our attention. RB Eddie Lacey and his “99 Spin Move” will be coming to GB. While I don’t think he is enough to bump them up, they also drafted UCLA RB Johnathan Franklin, who fits more into a third-down-back role. This is where they were lacking, and picking up two potential fits that make them more balanced will be huge for the Packers in Madden NFL 25.

Cincinnati Bengals — The Bengals drafted Tyler Eifert, who is projected to have a nice Madden NFL 25 rating. Eifert has great size and will really stress opposing linebackers when he lines up with TE Jermaine Gresham. The Bengals are a slower, more methodical offense, and he will fit nicely into their scheme. They also picked up RB Gio Bernard, who should have elite agility and solid speed. This will give them a nice change of pace from “Law Firm,” who is a between-the-tackles runner.

Buffalo Bills —  I have a soft spot for QB E.J. Manuel, who is a great physical talent and also a very good Madden player. I love seeing raw talent being selected, and the Bills desperately needed some. They have great talent at the HB position but really needed some explosiveness at WR. They did just that in the draft with WR Robert Woods and Marquise Goodwin. Goodwin ran a blazing 4.27 time at the combine and should have the best Speed rating in the rookie class! He is a weapon to utilize with Manuel and gives the Bills great team speed along with C.J. Spiller! Woods is a solid all-around player and should be able to move up the depth chart quickly.

Who do you think improved the most via the NFL Draft? Leave it in the comments with your favorite selection! 

Why is Tebow an important Madden player?

Tebow is more of a power runner, and his average accuracy doesn’t make him appealing as a starting QB. What Tebow does bring to the table, though, is a package of plays known as “Jet Heavy” (formerly Bronco Heavy).

These “Heavy Packages,” including the Gun Heavy Panther, are very effective ways to pick up short yardage, and are dominant in the red zone. Whichever team picks up Tebow would likely add this package to their playbook and give themselves an edge. Almost one full year ago, SGibs broke down how to use Tebow and these packages; those strategies ring true today and perhaps will in Madden NFL 25!

Here is a free scheme from CBallard showing just how good the “Jet Heavy” offense can be in Madden!

Where will Tebow sign for Madden 25? Leave it in the comments with your favorite Jet Heavy Pass Play Adjustments! 

Knowing all this about Hunter—does this not get you excited about the guy? How do you not want him on your team?

College: Tennessee
Position: WR
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 196

Projected Madden NFL 25 Ratings

OVR: 73
SPD: 90
ACC: 92
AGI: 91
CIT: 74
CTH: 83
JMP: 96
Hand Size: 9 3/8 inches

Fact Not Opinion: The New England Patriots will trade up to grab Hunter early in the second round.

 Picture of my tiny hands.

Got a question from a reader mailbag last night during all the draft madness that asked what the greatest Madden song of all time is.

IMO it’s “Never Scared.” Song kills it.

College: Houston
Position: CB
Height: 5’11″
Weight: 191

Projected Madden NFL 25 Ratings

OVR: 76
SPD: 94
ACC: 95
AGI: 94
MCV: 85
ZCV: 80

Drafted: Oakland Raiders

There is no doubt that Hayden will be a special addition to the Raiders this season, but what scares you is whether he will be around in future games. Thankfully, Madden is a very “what have you done lately for me” type of game. For the next year you will reap the benefits of this young man’s skills. He will lock up top receivers in Madden NFL 25.

Fact Not Opinion: Give me DeMarcus Van Dyke over D.J. Hayden in Madden NFL 25. All. Day. Long.

Learn more about the Run Free Playbook 1 for Madden NFL 25.

College: Tennessee
Position: WR
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 205

Projected Madden NFL 25 Ratings

OVR: 73
SPD: 96
ACC: 92
AGI: 93
CIT: 77
CTH: 75
JMP: 88
Patterson is a big-time sexy pick in this year’s draft. He has the size, speed, and great leaping ability that wow scouts this time of year. The hardest part is projecting if he will become the next Demaryius Thomas or Charles Rogers. He is a receiver who could have an immediate impact heading into Madden NFL 25. Think WR Stephen Hill (New York Jets)

Projected Pick: St. Louis Rams

With the loss of Danny Amendola to the Patriots this off season it would make sense for the Rams to target a WR in the draft. Time is running out on Sam Bradford; he has shown flashes of brilliance, but with an improving NFC West things won’t be getting any easier. Bradford and Patterson could mesh perfectly together.

Fact Not Opinion: Tennessee teammate Jason Hunter will be a better Madden NFL 25 receiver.

Learn more about the Run Free Playbook 1 for Madden NFL 25.

5. WR: Aaron Dobson – Marshall
A 6’3″ frame is always a solid starting point. With most CBs under 6’0″, the size advantage can be important with a few nice stats like Catch in Traffic, Jump, or Speed. With a 4.4 40, Dobson should have plenty of athleticism.

4. RB: Onterio McCalebb – Auburn
Ran a 4.31 but has also been seen around the 4.27-4.29 range. His ability to line up in the slot and catch passes will make him a great skill player in the league. Would keep a team like Seattle or Green Bay in the Top 3 teams for Madden NFL 25. Great KR at a minimum!

3. DE: Barkevious Mingo – LSU 
I will let his raw athletic ability talk on this Sports Science video.

2. QB: Geno Smith – West Virginia  
Smith isn’t really a sleeper, as he has met with KC, which holds the #1 overall pick. He may go at #8 to the Bills or continue to slide towards round 2. Moore’s tweet here is interesting; it looks like after some film study and workouts that he is translating better to Madden than QB E.J. Manuel? Only time will tell.

1. DE: Ziggy Ansah – BYU
Ran a 4.63 at the Combine while standing 6’5″ and 270-plus pounds! You want the next Bruce Irvin on your squad or a JPP? Who knows if he can produce like those guys on Sunday, but on my virtual gridiron, I will coach this guy to super stardom!

P.S. Philly also landed a 6’7″ WR in Ifeanyi Momah! We have been talking for years about lack of height (sorry, Riley) for the Eagles. Let’s see if this guy, who was injured during his senior season at BC, can make a splash with Chip Kelly and his new offense!

College: Alabama
Position: HB
Height: 5’11″
Weight: 231

Projected Madden NFL 25 Ratings

OVR: 75
SPD: 91
ACC: 92
AGI: 88
STR: 82
CTH: 68
TRK: 90
SPIN MOVE: 100

Lacy was one of the most exciting running backs in all of college football last season. He led his team to another national title and put on an impressive display of speed and power on the game’s brightest stage. Lacy doesn’t have breakaway speed, but I think he will be a bit faster than former teammate Trent Richardson (90 SPD—can I get a check on that?). Overall he will be a slightly upgraded Richardson in Madden NFL 25. I legitimately think that his spin move should be a 100. That is how well Dirty Burt has marketed this man to me over the past two seasons. I see one spin move and I hit the floor. Lacy over Barry in the spin move department!

Projected Pick: Cincinnati Bengals

I love this pick by the Bengals. Assuming it happens. Moving forward they would have three studs at the key offensive positions that would make them a powerhouse for the coming years. QB Andy Dalton, WR AJ Green, and HB Eddie Lacy would round out a young and talented offensive team. Mix in the Bengals’ defense and you have a team that I’m very excited about heading into Madden NFL 25.

Fact Not Opinion: Lacy isn’t the sexiest of picks. Like Trent Richardson, he just won’t wow you once you play with him on the virtual gridiron. He will be solid, he will be reliable, but he won’t be the dominant player you want him to be.

Learn more about the Run Free Playbook 1 for Madden NFL 25.

College: Notre Dame
Position: TE
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 251

Projected Madden NFL 25 Ratings

OVR: 76
SPD: 76
CIT: 88
CTH: 85
JMP: 84
IBL: 58

Eifert is the type of tight end that benefits defensive-minded teams in Madden. If you were to ask me, “SGibs, if you were to have only one playmaker as a receiving option in Madden what type of player would he be,” I would say, “Give me a tall receiver with good CIT.” You can win games with defense and ball control, and that is exactly what Eifert represents to Madden hopefuls during this draft. He’ll be a reliable safety blanket when times get tough. He is one of my favorite picks in this year’s draft.

Projected Pick: Green Bay Packers

Jermichael Finley has yet to really produce for the Packers. I think Green Bay looks to solidify their receiver corps with Eifert after the departure of both Greg Jennings and Donald Driver. This is a win-win for them as it should spark Finley into performing better, and they also have a better long-term option in case Finley flounders once again.

Fact Not Opinion: Eifert will have the best CIT rating of all rookies in this year’s NFL Draft.

Learn more about the Run Free Playbook 1 for Madden NFL 25.

College: West Virginia
Position: WR
Height: 5’8″
Weight: 178

Projected Madden NFL 25 Ratings

OVR: 80
SPD: 98
CTH: 88
CIT: 78
ACC: 97
AGI: 99

What a resume Austin has built over his career at West Virginia. Specifically looking at his junior and senior years he had a combined 215 catches, 2,475 yards receiving, and 20 TDs. The most exciting thing Austin brings to the table is his speed—an absolute game changer for whatever team he lands this year. He has potential to be one of the best young receivers in Madden NFL 25.

Projected Pick: New York Jets

The Jets need a receiver badly. Not sure if they need a QB or a WR more, but one thing is for sure they need a PTP (prime-time player) catching passes this season. Austin is exactly that and would help subdue the gang green over the loss of Darrelle Revis.

Fact Not Opinion: Austin is the most important draft pick heading into Madden NFL 25. His speed is going to make whatever offense he goes to a force to be reckoned with. I think of Austin as an upgraded Jacoby Ford. Don’t forget the #1 rule:

Never kick deep to Jacoby.

Learn more about the Run Free Playbook 1 for Madden NFL 25.

The feeling in the Madden Community is  ”Offensive linemen are not a sexy pick for your favorite Madden team.” We all yell at the TV when we pass up a stud WR like Tavon Austin for a 300-pound-plus LB hog whom we will barely notice battling in the trenches. The KC Chiefs will select Eric Fisher with the first pick, but will that help their Madden game?

Real Truth: Offensive Linemen in Madden do have value! 

If you are playing in a 32-member fantasy draft, linemen have less value, and you likely won’t see one taken in the top 10 rounds. Humans are great at putting off later problems like linemen for a speedy third down back now! (Think about eating fast food—great now, not great long term.) This isn’t a problem, though, because nobody else has selected a lineman and they don’t disappear; you just get solid linemen later.

The problem in a CPU fantasy draft is that the computer drafts more like an NFL franchise and makes responsible picks on defense and along the trenches. This is why I always end up with the same 80 Overall, 95-plus Strength DTs in nearly every franchise. I always prioritize those players much lower than a real team.

How this factors into the NFL, Madden, and your favorite team!

We mentioned that you cringe at the thought of your favorite team missing out on a skill player for a “big ugly.” I was pumped when my Giants scored David Wilson and Rueben Randle last year! Neither, despite high draft status, was good enough to start for my team last year in either Madden or NFL.

However, look at the most popular team in Madden last year, the San Francisco 49ers! They drafted Joe Staley in the first round in 2007. In 2010, they took Anthony Davis very high and then also took G Mike Iupati in the first round of the same draft. This is while they were not considered a “good team.” Last season, they grabbed the flashy A.J. Jenkins in the first round, and he didn’t play a snap in most Madden games. Their most valuable pick turned out to be LaMichael James with the 61st pick. I have tried running my offense with other teams and more talented backs, but the offensive line does not hold up the same. These three guys on the line may not have been wow picks, but they are essential to my scheme!

Proven linemen cost way too much to sign on the open market and will leave your team hurting; while you may not be pumped if your team makes a less flashy move, just know that it may help down the line!

#Lockup

College: West Virginia
Position: QB
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 220

Projected Madden NFL 25 Ratings

OVR: 73
SPD: *83* (That is why you get a ratings czar. @Donny_Moore just dropped knowledge on me. Love it. He isn’t afraid to say, “Hey SGibs, you chump — you’re wrong. Bro ran a 4.5 — fix that projection.” That, ladies and gentleman, is why he is the best at what he does. #Czarcore
THP: 88
THA: 74

Smith has the ability to be a sneaky pick in this year’s draft. I want to compare him to a poor man’s Andrew Luck in terms of ratings. He has the arm strength to be an NFL QB, but his accuracy has come into question by NFL scouts. I think he has a chance to be a solid pickup for any team in Madden NFL 25.

Projected Pick: Jacksonville Jaguars

Blaine Gabbert is the head honcho in Jacksonville, and I think it’s safe to say that his job security isn’t the highest in the league right now. It would make sense for the Jags to take Smith, to not only light a fire under Gabbert but to also pull the plug on him early in the season and bring in Smith to save the day.

Fact Not Opinion: Geno Smith will be the most important off-season move the Jaguars can make to improve heading into the Madden NFL 25 season. He will provide a viable option at QB to a team that has one of the best HBs in the game. With the Run Free information released yesterday you can expect to pound the rock this year and use Smith to manage games.

Learn more about the Run Free Playbook 1 for Madden NFL 25.

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So, I have been thinking more and more about how we can answer more individual questions that people have.

Currently ZFarls and I get emails each day asking about specific tips and questions for issues players are experiencing in game. Not sure why we never thought of this before, but I want to start highlighting more of these questions as actual content pieces on the site.

What I ask of you is to email sgibs@maddentips.com or zfarls@maddentips.com with questions and even articles that relate to Madden. Heck, even if it doesn’t relate to Madden but you think it’s interesting, send it to us and we will look to cover it on MaddenTips.com.

Run wild with this. Send us challenges. Send us requests. Send us pictures. Send us videos. Whatever it is, send it to us and we will cover it on the site. We can’t do this without your involvement, so do your part and send ‘em!

START RIGHT NOW!

#LockUp

sgibs’s email = sgibs@maddentips.com

ZFarls’s email = zfarls@maddentips.com

P.S. Feel free to tweet us as well: @sgibs7 & @maddenbible, or even just leave questions as comments on posts or on the forums!

Unlock the power, precision, and creativity of the NFL ball carrier. Whether you’re a slashing running-back, dual-threat QB, or ball-hawking safety, unleash 30 new moves and string together devastating combos with the all-new precision modifier in Madden NFL 25.

ZFarls and I have had first-hand experience playing Madden NFL 25, and I must say it was electric. Before I dive more into my overall thoughts of the game let’s take a look at some of the key features covered in Playbook 1.

SACH PODCAST 6: Run Free Playbook 1

The innovative Precision Modifier provides unprecedented ball-carrier control.

1. Players can now create specialized moves like stutter steps, precision jukes, combo moves, hurdles, and more to reinvent the way they play Madden.
2. Thirty ball-carrier moves open up gameplay possibilities. Use authentic hard cuts at 45, 90, 135, and 180 degrees to eliminate “swerve” running of the past.
3. The precision modifier offers a risk/reward opportunity, as utilizing it will consume stamina, and abuse could lead to tired players who make mistakes.

I have always been a huge fan of players like Reggie Bush. The main reason is that Bush has had all the “key” ratings that mattered to be a successful HB in Madden. He has always had great Speed, Acceleration, Agility, and Elusiveness. These stats allowed him to compete with the best players in the league (Adrian Peterson, etc.). With the new Precision Modifier you will still love using Bush for his athleticism, but there will be a difference between his skill set and that of guys like Adrian Peterson.

While Bush might have all the important speed categories he won’t have the same Trucking ability as Peterson. You won’t be able to trigger those “special” animations that give you the wow moments you see on Sundays.

The elite players feel like elite players in Madden NFL 25.

This doesn’t mean that Peterson will have a huge advantage over every other player in the game (although he feels great on the sticks), but it means the developers have done an amazing job creating a real to life balance on the virtual gridiron.

The key takeaway is that the precision modifier doesn’t change the ball carrier moves that we all know and love, but rather adds nuances for an additional degree of control. For example, tapping “A” will cause a ball carrier to execute a stiff-arm, but if you use the precision modifier it will make the player square up to the face of the defender. My favorite part of all this is that ratings like Strength matter in the equation. With a high strength rating you might see a hard push-off that knocks a defender over. If you are truly a master on the sticks you will be able to rip off killer combo moves using the precision modifier.

There is serious skill involved with the timing and precision of these moves, which will require even the most veteran Madden player’s patience and expertise.

The Infinity Engine 2 brings more polished physics simulation with specific focus put on realistic tackle momentum, tackle wraps, and post-play behaviors.

1. The new force impact system introduces another level of player control and power moves, including the hit stick, truck, dive tackle, and stiff arms – all redesigned to harness the full potential of Infinity Engine 2.
2. The new stumble recovery mechanic allows players to regain their balance and renew their charge – maximizing the yardage they can gain before going down.
3. Timing is the key to success, and precision is rewarded. Mistime a move and pay the price.
4. Blocking matchups have been rewritten by a former NFL offensive lineman to ensure the correct blocks are being made; also, new animations have been added for offensive linemen to ensure they’re getting to the right place at the right time.

One of my favorite new additions to Madden NFL 25 is the stumble recovery mechanic. This allows runners to regain their balance as they power through defenders and fight for extra yards. You will get feedback from the game and will know when to activate it and when not to. Make sure you are quick on the sticks, though, or you might lose the chance to activate it. It is another added dimension that allows players to feel more involved in the game. Don’t worry; it’s not over-powered so that you stay on your feet all game long. A recurring theme that will play out is that it will require skill and precisionto pull it off. One thing I did notice is that while focusing my attention on the stumble recovery I often forgot to use the precision modifier and vice versa. This is a perfect balancing act that the developers have created.

ZFarls: On defense, this is the year to user control a linebacker IMO. I felt like the tackle breakdowns gave me more control on defense, similar to how ballhawk was in Madden NFL 13. I felt more locked into my player and able to react to the new running cuts.

Sanders was already on the cover of Madden NFL 2000 (in the background behind Madden) and most recently appeared on the NCAA Football 13 cover with Robert Griffin III. Peterson won the MVP last season while coming off of an ACL injury and leading the Vikings to the post season.

Both players seem like a great option to represent the new “Run Free” controls that were highlighted in the Madden NFL 25 Playbook 1 just after the show!

Last season, Cam Newton was defeated by Calvin Johnson in Times Square live on Sports Nation! SGibs and ZFarls were live in attendance for the reveal!

(Look for a live stream from CRBuke during the draft to get live feedback!)

 

EA SPORTS officially unveiled the cover of NCAA Football 14, featuring former Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson.

NCAA Football 14 will launch Tuesday, July 9, for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. For the first time in franchise history, fans can experience the unpredictability of college football through the new Infinity Engine 2, which features real-time physics and a new force impact system.

Fans can now pre-order NCAA Football 14 at select retailers to receive exclusive Ultimate Team packs.

EA SPORTS Season Ticket Get a 20% Discount on NCAA Football® 14 PDLC

The most important NFL Draft pick for Madden NFL 25 is GENO SMITH (QB – West Virginia).

Here’s why:

Wherever he goes will be important. Smith will immediately make that team a contender (think Redskins this past year with RGIII). Smith will have enough speed to run read options and allow for easy yards with his legs. He will be the most important pick in the NFL Draft for Madden NFL 25 purposes. I’m literally on hands and knees praying that he lands with the Chiefs at the number 1 spot. It is most likely a long shot, but wow—that offense will be hot. Charles, McCluster, Bowe, Baldwin, and add in Smith and you instantly have one of the best offenses in the game.

I would also like to see him potentially fall to the New Orleans Saints at 15 or the Cincinnati Bengals at 21. Smith might see more playing time in Madden NFL 25 over Brees and Andy Dalton if he were to fall to either team. The Saints offense is explosive, and the Bengals defense is downright scary.

Please, Smith—land with the Chiefs, Saints, or Bengals!

When Is the NFL Draft?

The 2013 NFL Draft returns to primetime, with the first round taking place Thursday, April 25 at 8PM ET, followed by the second and third rounds on Friday, April 26, at 6:30PM ET. Rounds 4–7 will be held Saturday, April 27, at noon ET. You can watch it live on NFL Network.

A Quick Patriots Rant

29) New England Patriots

Perfect plan: Losing Wes Welker made finding a slot receiver a priority, which is why Danny Amendola was a key signing. However, the Patriots still need an explosive threat on the outside to stretch the defense and alleviate the blanket of coverage facing tight ends Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski in the middle. Patterson would be a viable option, though his fellow Vol, Hunter, could be a better choice, based on his refined route-running ability and polished game. Woods or Allen would also fit as excellent outside receivers.

Backup strategy: Bill Belichick has failed miserably in his attempts to upgrade the secondary through the draft, but that won’t necessarily stop him from taking a stab at the cornerback position at the bottom of the first round. Amerson and Johnthan Banks possess the size and ball skills to play in the Patriots‘ system, while Rhodes and Taylor are also intriguing fits.

If the Patriots don’t pick a stud WR with their first round pick I will write them off until the second mini camps start. It’s a love-hate relationship. They stockpile draft picks and are always in great position to select studs. Then they always seem to go the “safe road.” It seems to work, as they rack up wins every year and are always contenders for the Super Bowl, but can we get a beast for Brady as he heads down the back 9?

Justin Hunter from Tennessee would be the sexy pick for the Patriots and might be the perfect fit. At 6’4″ and a 4.44 40 time he can be the outside WR the Patriots haven’t had since Randy Moss.

I got some goosebumps. I was gonna say he gets an 8 out of 10 because he didn’t sprinkle grass all over his head and do a dance, but I’ll bump it up to a 9 for including the menu sounds at the end.

Maybe add some Nelly Hot in Here to really spice it up if this thing goes viral.

Below you can check out all the latest information for this NCAA Football 14 playbook, written by EA SPORTS.

The ultimate goal of any video game is to immerse you in the action. That’s why we’ve been heavily focused on making improvements both on and off the field for NCAA Football 14. We’re excited to start revealing some of the biggest upgrades to presentation.

 

Blur Tempo

In NCAA Football 14, you’ll feel the emotion of college football right from the streamlined and responsive menu interface. Now you can see all the game modes and available options – such as Play Now, Dynasty, and Ultimate Team – at a glance and jump straight into the action.

One major complaint from fans over the last few years was that the pregame simply took too long. When you’re in Play Now, you want to play. Pregame festivities have been redone from 2- to 3-minute sequences to emphatic 30-second intros that still retain all of the college traditions that play such a big part of different schools’ identities.

The intros in Dynasty mode are also deeper and more immersive than ever before. Rece Davis will set the stage with robust game storylines that are accompanied by a variety of on-screen banners, faithfully recreating the type of montages seen on ESPN before big games on Saturday. On-screen banners incorporate dynamic phrases, and there are multiple variations based on the type of game you are playing, like a rivalry or bowl game.

 

Leave It on the Field

New triggering logic in NCAA Football 14 will capture the emotion on the field like never before. Replacing the legacy vignettes are more than 500 new sequences that run between plays. These vignettes are designed to keep you in the action – just like watching college football on TV. You’ll also notice dynamic player wipes and all new-team wipes.

Another detail that makes a big impact is the inclusion of pre-play player chatter. Now, in addition to hearing the QB bark out audibles, you can listen in as defenders call out their adjustments. You might catch the center calling out the number of down linemen or the QB calling out the Mike Linebacker. Linemen can make calls to alert potential blitzers, and the defense will counter by calling out strength of formation. You may even hear the location of the tight end or which players the defense will be keying on. You’ll also hear players celebrating between whistles as they make game-changing plays like TDs and INTs.

 

Authenticity is important to NCAA Football 14, and the game will feature the latest new uniforms, team-specific gloves, and base layers. In close collaboration with the apparel manufacturers, you can expect regular uniform updates post-launch as well.  Rest assured that your team will not only be playing in accurate gear, but they’ll also be using the correct football based on their school’s equipment and apparel manufacturers. That’s right; Under Armour schools will play with an Under Armour ball.

 

This year, South Alabama makes its long-awaited debut in NCAA Football, along with Old Dominion and Georgia State. The Jaguars stadium has been accurately recreated, as has Texas State’s. That’s right, Jim Wacker Field at Bobcat Stadium will be in the game. Both big and small schools received attention, with TCU’s stadium updated to reflect their recent renovations. Horned Frogs fans should feel right at home.

 

Neutral-site games make their long-awaited debut this year, including the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic (Georgia Dome), Cowboy Kickoff Classic (Cowboys Stadium), and the Texas Kickoff Classic (Reliant Stadium). NCAA Football 14 also features three stadiums brought over from Madden NFL: Soldier Field, MetLife Stadium, and M&T Bank Stadium. You can even create your own neutral-site game. Let your imagination run wild.

The Story of the Game

In addition to the on-field improvements, NCAA Football 14 features a more realistic and enjoyable broadcast experience. This year, Brad Nessler and Kirk Herbstreit will focus on the ever-changing in-game stories that make college football so great. They’ll highlight key players and their performances throughout the season, along with the storylines that play out dynamically on the field.

The development team meticulously studied box scores throughout the 2011 and 2012 seasons, dissecting statistics and finding patterns. What was discovered was that many games follow similar storylines, and these were the first building blocks of our Drive Stories feature. In NCAA 14, Brad and Kirk will recognize patterns as the game progresses and comment on them as a banner is shown on screen. These moments precede key drives and mimic real broadcasts where the commentary team would take a step away from the action and sum up how the game is playing out.

 

Anyone who has watched college football knows that when a National or Conference leader is playing in a game, the broadcast will place the spotlight on them. In NCAA Football 14, if a user-controlled team or the opposition has one of these Key Players, Brad and Kirk will introduce the player and talk about his importance, and then track his performance throughout. How is he playing in relation to his team? Does he rebound from a slow start? Does a Key QB’s run game steal the show? Is the player falling apart as his team struggles? These are just some of the many storylines available this year.

There are also special storylines in store for the most dedicated Dynasty gamers. Some won’t become available until at least your 2^nd year as a coach, while others take much more time to unlock.

 

The ESPN Living Game Clock, which provides quick-hitting stats on previous plays, player stats, game stats, play selection, and more, is just one more piece that heightens immersion and makes the game feel truer to an actual ESPN broadcast.

We can announce that NCAA Football 14 will feature a halftime show with Rece Davis and David Pollack. The duo will recap your game, call out highlights, and set up the second half with a combination of thoughtful insight and witty banter.

David Pollack’s experience on the defensive side of the ball, along with his natural chemistry with Rece Davis on air, results in a compelling halftime show. The insightful banter back and forth creates naturally flowing, authentic commentary.

And last but not least, we’re excited to announce that “Zombie Nation” and “Seven Nation Army” are in NCAA 14, two of the most widely used stadium anthems in the country. And yes, you’ll hear the crowd chanting, just like they do in real life. More info is on the way, so make sure you read the site regularly.

A ton of other features will be announced shortly, each making NCAA Football 14 look, and feel, like nothing you’ve ever played before. Check back in the coming days and weeks for even more details on all the improvements to presentation.

Fans can keep up to date by visiting the NCAA Football website, Facebook, and Twitter for exclusive assets and unique insights into all of this year’s new features. College football enthusiasts can also get involved in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #PLAYTRUE.

The representative from New School is the #2 seed Adrian Peterson. The Vikings RB edged out Arian Foster and will look to compete against the #3 seed, Barry Sanders. Sanders is the current cover athlete on NCAA 13 with Robert Griffin III! Sanders was also on the cover of Madden NFL 2000!

The only info we have on Madden NFL 25 came from Jon Robinson of ESPN, who was able to deliver the news that “all an EA SPORTS representative would tell us is that the game will highlight a “run free ball carrier feature” that will offer “unprecedented ball-carrier control and precision.””

Click Here To Vote; you can also use the players’ hashtags to vote on twitter! #MaddenCoverVote

Check out Virgin Gaming’s NEW Xbox Live Tournament App!

Xbox Tournaments with Virgin Gaming lets you win cash playing your favorite video games, without leaving home! Play in daily tournaments, challenge friends in head-to-head matchups, and build your skills competing against thousands of gamers online.

There is a new app available to download via the Xbox Live Marketplace. This app appears to allow you to set up and play all your Virgin Gaming tournaments direct from your console.

You will need to head to www.VirginGaming.com and link your current account to the app. This was very easy to do and the entire process took no longer than 5 minutes.

Will you be using this app to play in Virgin Gaming tournaments?

#LOCKUP

Today the guys talk about a recent post from @drifterbub via Tradition Sports Online, where he details all the latest NCAA Football 14 news.

They also dive into the Madden NFL 25 Rookie Ratings Sleeper Watch and How to Effectively Build a Passing System.

First we need to understand what a passing system is. A passing system is a philosophy of how a team will literally pass the ball around the field. There are numerous types of passing systems: Air Raid, West Coast, Run and Shoot, and a Pro-Style system. Each believes in different ways to deliver the ball to receivers to move the chains.

Gonzalez then questions how and why passing systems are built from the ground up. He believes there are 15 steps in which anyone can build a passing system.

• (1) It gives receivers the opportunity to defeat tight man coverage.
• (2) Prevents conflict between receivers.
• (3) Have a defined timing.
• (4) Stretch the defense vertically and horizontally.
• (5) Keep the QB out of interception danger.
• (6) Deny pattern reading by the defense.
• (7) Keep receivers from free pass defenders.
• (8) Have a principle of route conversion.
• (9) Adjust to condensed field areas.
• (10) Have the ability to isolate certain parts of a pass defense.
• (11) Allow for quick throws when the defense is outflanked.
• (12) Accommodate delays and screens.
• (13) Have set reading concept.
• (14) Have organized scramble rules.
• (15) Have the ability to adjust to multiple formations.

Let’s take a look at what all this means and how it affects your Madden game.

(1) It gives receivers the opportunity to defeat tight man coverage.

The first point of emphasis is about attacking man-to-man coverage. Offenses must have numerous routes designed to beat man-to-man coverage on every play. It also mentions that the progression of these routes needs to coincide with the timing of the patterns. For example, running a mesh over the middle of the field (two crossing patterns: typically drag routes) is great, but once those routes cross each other your window of opportunity for beating man coverage dwindles. A better strategy might be to run an underneath drag with a deep out towards the sideline. This will allow you to read the drag’s release and follow the pattern directly towards the out pattern as it breaks to the sideline. This is route progression at its finest when attacking man-to-man coverage.

(2) Prevents conflict between receivers.

Conflict between receivers can bog down an offense quickly. This means, don’t have two receivers run routes near each other. Make sure there is enough spacing between the routes so that one defender can’t cover two receivers. A classic example of this in Madden is when you have a deep post run by a slot receiver. Then the other slot receiver is hot routed to a streak. We then throw downfield to the deep post because he appears to be open only to have the pass intercepted by the deep safety because he was able to play both the streak and the deep post. This leaves us frustrated and mad at the game. Don’t fall victim to this.

(3) Have a defined timing.

Defined timing is all about making sure that each route on the field can be thrown with the same window of the QB’s progression. This allow for QBs to get into a rhythm with their receivers and build trust and confidence that the receiver will be open when they are supposed to be. When it comes to Madden I see this being more about learning when to throw specific patterns against specific defenses. This means to learn the difference between throwing a 5-yard out and a 10-yard out. They are the same pattern, but there are major consequences if you throw late or too early.

(4) Stretch the defense vertically and horizontally.

The vertical and horizontal passing game is something we talk about a lot. We all fall in love with the vertical passing game because it produces the biggest and best results. Who doesn’t love throwing 80-yard TDs? What we need to pull from this principle is that we should always be looking to attack short and only take advantage of deep patterns when defenses anticipate short and leave the deep pattern open. This is a major point of emphasis in Madden. Make sure that you always have one vertical pattern on every play. If your opponent forgets for a half second…make them pay.

(5) Keep the QB out of interception danger.

How many times have you thrown a pass in Madden and immediately upon release knew it was going to be intercepted? That is because we aren’t keeping the QB out of interception danger. This means to always make sure that when we are throwing patterns we are never trailing a receiver and are always leading him. Think about drag patterns. Translate this to Madden when you “throw late in the flat” or if you throw a drag pattern once the receiver has already crossed the face of the QB. It often leads to interceptions. Instead, set up your routes to work together so that your progression is always leading each receiver.

(6) Deny pattern reading by the defense.

Denying pattern reading by defenses is a major point of emphasis in Madden. This means to make sure that your opponent can’t make a read on a play based on specific routes being run. For example if you are facing the New England Patriots playbook and are going against the Gun Ace Tight Slots formation, you will expect your opponent to run Pats Wheel Drag. As soon as you see those outside receivers break to the flat you know they are running Pats Wheel Drag and can potentially make a user play to prevent any positive results for the offense. However, the opponent is adhering to principle #6 of building an effective passing system and called Gun Ace Tight Slots Stick. The outside receivers are running flat patterns and sit in the wide-open flat. Your user defender is downfield 20 yards waiting for the receivers to break upfield on their wheel patterns, but unfortunately for him the offense has already gained an easy 10 yards in the flat. Denying pattern reading is an important rule that won’t allow your opponent to make user plays effectively.

(7) Keep receivers from free pass defenders.

This is a tricky rule to relate to Madden, but I think I have it figured out. Keeping receivers from free pass defenders is about teaching both the QB and the receiver how to effectively run routes to beat both man-to-man coverage and zone coverage. I believe this can work two different ways in Madden. When running a curl pattern in you will have two different windows to attack defenses. If you are facing zone you will need a flat pattern to pull the underneath zone away from the curl. Once the flat defender is out of the way you can throw the ball immediately. If you are facing man-to-man coverage you will only need to focus on the curl receiver. You need to throw the ball as soon as the receiver makes his cut. The timing is crucial because if you wait too long the defender will be able to recover and make a play on the ball. This differs from real life because receivers will actually change their routes based on the defenses they see. They will adhere to the original route but they might cut it short if they see a zone defender playing the first down marker, and if they see man-to-man they might cut the route inside a bit harder to get better positioning. The Madden equivalent is learning how each route can be effective against each coverage and then capitalizing on the timing for the completion.

(8) Have a principle of route conversion.

Having a principle of route conversion means to always be ready for what you don’t expect. Getting to the line of scrimmage, reading the defense, and then executing can and will work, but against the best of the best expect life to not be so easy. Football is all about deception. Make your opponents think one thing and give them another. That is why you must always be ready for what you don’t expect. For example: It’s 3^rd and 5 and you come out in Gun Y Trips 4 Verticals, expecting that your opponent will be playing some type of Cover 3 zone defense to amply protect the short field as well as protect deep. The 4 Verticals call makes perfect sense because we don’t think our opponent will play any type of Cover 4 defense because the down and distance don’t call for that defense. We figure that if the defense is in Cover 2 or Cover 3 we will hit our crossing TE over the middle of the field for an easy first down. At the snap of the ball the unthinkable has happened. Our opponent has called Cover 4, but are we ready? Thankfully we have prepared for this situation and we know that even against a Cover 4 shell we can complete a pass to our TE over the middle of the field. We simply must let his route develop downfield a bit longer and we will make the completion. Always have a plan for the opposite of what you will face. We talk a lot about having a “bail out” route on the field. This means if we expect zone coverage make sure to have one route on the field that can beat man-to-man coverage. Just in case.

(9) Adjust to condensed field areas.

Adjusting to condensed field areas specifically targets two different things for our Madden games: the red zone and the hash marks. Depending on where you are on the field you will want to change your game plan. If you are in the red zone it’s not a good idea to run 4 Verticals to try and move the chains. A better idea would be to attack the field horizontally. Your biggest enemy in this area is space, so make sure to adjust your game plan and have specific plays to use here. Most of us recognize the need for red zone efficiency, but I think we forget about what hash mark we are on and how this can affect our system. Just as we are limited in the red zone we are limited when it comes to what hash we are on. Don’t run corner patterns to the near sideline, and don’t forget to space the field evenly. This can be subtle but can make a huge difference over the course of time.

(10) Have the ability to isolate certain parts of a pass defense.

Having the ability to isolate certain parts of a pass defense means to always give yourself the advantage when it comes to the passing game. This calls for signaling out specific defenders to dictate where and when a pass will be delivered. In Madden this defender will always be the user defender. Find him and know where he is going. Not only that, but you need to dig deeper and understand that this user defender is a cog in a machine – your opponent doesn’t have 12 defenders. He can’t user control a defender without it causing some type of result on his side of the ball. For example: If your opponent user controls the FS that likely means that he or she is controlling a defender that is more times than not responsible for the deep third of the field (Cover 3 zone). This means there is an increased chance of deep balls downfield and more bracketed coverage underneath. If your opponent is controlling the SS, this means that he or she is most likely controlling a defender who is responsible for patrolling the middle of the field in robber coverage. This means the deep half of the field has better potential to be covered while underneath will be more exposed (Cover 3 zone). Finally, if your opponent user controls the MLB, know that he or she is controlling a defender that is directly responsible for anything over the middle of the field as well as the defender that is covering the HB in man-to-man situations. This means that the sidelines will be open and that you should utilize your HB in creative ways (Cover 3 zone and 2 Man Under). How does all this knowledge change your actions and decisions on the field?

(11) Allow for quick throws when the defense is outflanked.

Get the ball out as quickly as possible even if the defense isn’t set. Your job isn’t to worry about your opponent getting a fair shot at stopping your offense. If you have the advantage in an area, use it. In Madden this means to quick-snap the living daylights out of your opponent. Call your play and get to the line of scrimmage as fast as possible. Snap the ball and complete the pass; this will leave your opponent feeling scrambled all game long.

(12) Accommodate delays and screens.

Accommodate delays and screens. Screens check. Delays not so much. This means to incorporate WR Screens and HB Screens into your gameplan. Somewhere along the line you should make your opponent fear the screen game. Screens are often the safest and most explosive plays in the game. Running delay plays doesn’t mean running HB delay routes, but it means to have the intention of targeting your last read as your main read. I attribute this to user catching in Madden. This means to set up your play and have all your specifics laid out so that if the opportunity arises you can deliver the underneath drag or the backside out. If all else fails throw the sideline fade. The user catch in Madden can be your best friend and it can be your enemy. If you don’t practice, it won’t be apart of your arsenal, and if you do practice it will make your life that much easier when it comes to moving the ball.

(13) Have set reading concepts.

Having set reading concepts means to take everything that you know and put it together. Work all the knowledge that you possess to your advantage. Don’t just chuck streaks and think you are good at Madden. To get to the next level you need to fully understand the reasons behind why something is effective and then capitalize when the situation presents itself.

(14) Have organized scramble rules.

Use a team competitively that has a mobile QB and practice scrambling against max coverage defense. If you think about the most dominant Madden teams of all times, they all possessed a QB who could scramble if needed (04 Falcons, 09 Cowboys, 12 Packers, 13 49ers). This is because they are a 6^th option that a defense has to account for. If you face a pocket passer, defenses only have to defend five offensive options. If the QB can scramble, that now creates a dilemma for a defense. They now need to account for a 6^th option, and that can drastically change defensive game plans.

(15) Have the ability to adjust to multiple formations

Have the ability to run multiple formations but utilize the same concepts. This translates into Madden when we think of throwing out patterns against man-to-man coverage or zone coverage.  Typically we like to use a Gun Spread look as it allows us to have balance on the field and attack both sidelines. Rule 15 asks that we mix things up but still for the defense to respect the same areas of the field. This can cause confusion for our opponent and create opportunities for our offense.

For the videos that break down each of these options, click on the heading hyperlinks. They will help you take your passing system to the next level.

Comment below and let us know if this has helped your passing game.!

EA SPORTS has officially released the first gameplay video for NCAA Football 14.

Here’s the first look at the new gameplay engine in NCAA Football 14, which unlocks the unpredictability and innovation of college football, bringing multiple college play-styles to life.

NCAA Football 14 features real-time physics and an enhanced running game that allows users to feel the big plays on offense and defense, with big hits, stiff-arms, realistic hard cuts when a runner is changing direction, improved run blocking, and a new acceleration burst that lets you get around the corner or through the hole and into the open field.

Make sure you pre-order your copy of NCAA Football 14 for exclusive content. For more details, hit us up on Twitter or Facebook.

And remember, NCAA Football 14 releases on July 9 for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

 

Are you excited for the release of NCAA Football 14? Let us know below!

The opponent is inside the 5-yard line going in to score. There is less than 15 seconds left. We want to stop their offense from scoring, and in the process, we want to run the clock down to where they have enough time for just one play. So, we will stop them, get penalized half the distance to the goal, but leave them with enough time to run one play. We will then go back to our regular goal line defense and stop them to win the game.

 

A comment on the post said, “The most interesting thing about it to me is the attention to situational detail. It makes me think of the most successful coaches and their insight into situations more than schemes, maybe?”

Wheels started spinning in my head about what this meant for my Madden game. How much time do we spend on situational play calls in Madden? I assume not enough. The majority of my time is spent working on my scheme. My time in the lab is spent perfecting my setups, but I don’t spend nearly enough time thinking about situations that I could potentially be in throughout a game.

Buddy Ryan went as far as deliberating getting a penalty called on his team to give his team the best chance to win. He has covered that situation when I have not.

What situations should we be paying attention to? How can this help improve our games? Leave a comment below!

The article also states “all an EA SPORTS representative would tell us is that the game will highlight a ‘run free ball carrier feature’ that will offer ‘unprecedented ball-carrier control and precision.’”

Check out the rest of the ESPN Playbook here!

Asomugha was one of the league’s best cornerbacks, but during his brief stint with the Philadelphia Eagles his stock dropped. His inability to make consistent tackles and play “lockdown” coverage left many wondering if his best years were behind him.

The rich certainly get richer as we head into Madden NFL 25 season. The 49ers were already the best defensive team in the game, and the addition of Asomugha only makes them better. His height will make a world of difference for that secondary. He should also see a few upgrades as he plays for a team that just lost in the Super Bowl. Expect him to get back in to the low 90s for an overall rating.

Is this a good signing by the 49ers? Let us know in the comments below!

Nnamdi Asomugha (Madden NFL 13 Current Ratings)

OVR 86
SPD 90
CTH 60
JMP 91
MCV 87
ZCV 84
PRESS 90

Against the Run: For my money or XP, I love having big, strong ends that fit into the 3-4 style of defense against the run. Their key ratings are usually Strength and Block Shed. In my opinion, Strength can help them get a push against the offensive line, and Block Shed will free them up to make a tackle for a loss in the backfield. I don’t personally feel like Power or Finesse Move is as important against the run; I like it more against the pass.

Against the Pass: When rushing the passer, I almost always try to set up a defensive rush to get a blitzer free. I often want my fastest Speed player (secondary blitz) or my quickest lineman (Acceleration) to get in free. I don’t want to use talented players as guys I know are going to get blocked or draw a lot of attention from the offensive line. I want to try to free up my best Finesse or Power Move rushers for a shot at the QB (Hit Power is a bonus and can help force fumbles, IMO). When I have players rushing one-on-one against elite tackles like Joe Staley, I know that I likely can’t win with my run front, or with just an athletic DT like B.J. Raji. I know I need to use solid athletes with good rush moves and athleticism to stand a chance at getting to the passer.

Example: The Giants are currently looking into signing DT Mike Patterson, who played with the Eagles last season. He would add to their depth, especially after adding Cullen Jenkins but losing Chris Canty. They already have a super strong Linval Joseph, Shaun Rogers, and pretty athletic Marvin Austin.
Against the run, the Giants would be perfect for a 5-2 lineup. Rogers could be the anchor inside due to his massive Strength advantage. Marvin Austin could line up next to him and be pretty flexible due to his solid Acceleration and Block Shed. Cullen Jenkins would be the other interior lineman against a team that tended to run outside. If the team was gashing you in the middle, perhaps Linval Joseph and his massive Strength could be subbed in to create more of a wall in the middle. The 49ers have solid strength on their interior line, so you would want to match up your best strength guys there in a running situation.
With elite talents at DE, the Giants can play Tuck and JPP, but other teams might place a Patterson on the edge in run sets if they really aren’t holding up.
With these two elite rushers, you can often just send three or four guys straight and eventually get some pressure. This is important to remember: If you have your run lineup in, don’t try this! If you have your pass rushers in the game, unleash the hounds! (Remember, playing against the Colts in practice mode, Freeney and Mathis would fight!!!)

Other teams with ability to run multiple fronts: Bears, Cardinals, Seahawks, Packers, Cowboys

What is your favorite rating to spend XP on with the defensive line? #Lockup!

On the outside looking in, the hype around Matt Flynn is going to make this trade “sound better then it is.” Matt Flynn will be a downgrade for the Raiders in Madden NFL 25. The Raiders are expected to ship Carson Palmer to the Arizona Cardinals, which would leave the Raiders with Matt Leinart and Terrell Pryor as the backup QBs on the roster.

Flynn won’t get the job done in Madden. Having a 69 DAC is absolutely worthless. If you are going to use the Raiders and expect to win you must use Terrell Pryor. His 90 SPD and 75 DAC make him the best available option for the Raiders. One of the main reasons behind this mindset is all the speed they have on the offensive side of the ball. Your game plan should be about getting the ball to all the speed downfield.

Do you think this trade helps or hurts the Raiders in Madden NFL 25? Let us know with a comment below!

Raiders’ Current QB Depth Chart including Matt Flynn
Carson Palmer – OVR 82 SPD 53, THP 91, SAC 84, MAC 76, DAC 79
Matt Flynn – OVR 77, SPD 76, THP 82, SAC 87, MAC 77, DAC 69
Matt Leinart – OVR 72, SPD 54, THP 83, SAC 81, MAC 79, DAC 64
Terrell Pryor – OVR 69, SPD 90, THP 91, SAC 71, MAC 73, DAC 75

With that question solved, it is now time to find out what is your greatest Madden play of all time? I am sure I had some incredible ones back in the dorm, but I would probably have to go with this…

5-minute mark:

Leave your greatest Madden play of all time below! Teams, down and distance, score, time, etc! Bonus points for beating a family member! Winner gets a free offensive playbook at the launch of Madden NFL 25!

Today I wanted to slowly break down a few things that we might forget about in the day to day grind that is Madden. Currently right now we are all playing Madden NFL 13, but we are all chomping at the bit for the release of Madden NFL 25 (even if it is 5+ months away). The goal here is to remember the little things and focus on getting better one step at a time. Even if you have everything here mastered, think about the overall message about slowing down what you are doing and improving each step along the way.

P.S. In all seriousness, what is my drawing rating? I’m pretty sure overall I’m right at 48, but I have this innate ability to draw SICK alarm clocks. My alarm clock rating is 99.

#LOCKUP

#1. Learn the Controls of the Game
#2. Find Your Identity. Run or Pass?
#3. Find Your Team
#4. PRACTICE
#5. Simplify Playcalling
#6. Online Competition
#7. Sign Up at www.MaddenTips.com/forums
#8. Time
#9. Patience
#10. #LOCKUP

Not that I forgot how good RG III is in this game but I completely forgot how good RG III is in this game. I even mention today in the Madden Secret Society that he is quite possibly the greatest Madden QB. I think I rank him just below Mike Vick 04 and Aaron Rodgers 12, but if he can string together a few good passing years he has a shot at the throne. Backing him up we have rookie standouts Andrew Luck and Russell Wilson. This team is stacked at the QB position.

Picking the HBs for this team was deja vu. It is primarily the same combination and style I had for the second string team. LaMichael James is the feature back with Doug Martin of the Buccaneers backing him up. Ronslow in the Madden Secret Society mentioned that he plays similarly to Ray Rice. That is a good thing because Rice is a monster on the field. We then add in Alfred Morris, who is a much better option than Michael Bush, specifically with his elite Carry and Truck ratings. To round out this group we have the glue that sticks everything together –  Jeff Demps’s blazing 98 speed.

The WR position concerns me a little. There isn’t one standout guy from the bunch. I don’t have a guy that I feel confident in for crunch time. For the most part they all have solid Catch in Traffic ratings, but there is no Michael Crabtree on this team who can save the day with an elite Catch in Traffic rating. I almost left Stephen Hill, from the Jets, off this team. However, his 96 Speed and 6’4″ frame were just to much for me to ignore, and he will see a starting role. Playing opposite him is a guy that didn’t even get drafted until the supplemental draft. Josh Gordan is quietly one of the better rookie WRs in Madden NFL 13.

Our final position to fill was the TE position. I knew that Colby Fleener of the Colts was going to be on my roster – I just didn’t know who was going to back him up. Fleener stands at 6’6″ and is a force on the field. He has surprising speed for such a big target. He will most likely be the guy you force the ball to in late-game situations. Backing Fleener up is none other than Miami Dolphin Michael Egnew. You most likely have never heard of him, but this guy can flat-out ball. He has great size and has comparable hands to Fleener. He was the biggest surprise on this roster.

Who did I leave off? Think Trent Richardson got snubbed? Tell me why with a comment below!

QB
Robert Griffin III – OVR 89, SPD 92, AGI 95, ACC 90, THP 95, SAC 88, MAC 87, DAC 85
Andrew Luck – OVR 87, SPD 82, AGI 85, ACC 87, THP 92, SAC 89, MAC 83, DAC 88
Russell Wilson – OVR 89, SPD 86, AGI 90, ACC 92, THP 93, SAC 87, MAC 85, DAC 83

HB
LaMichael James – OVR 74 , SPD 93, AGI 96,  ACC 97, ELU 93,  CAR 73, CTH 75
Doug Martin – OVR 88, SPD 91, AGI 92, ACC 96, ELU 94, CAR 92, CTH 73
Alfred Morris – OVR 88, SPD 87, AGI 84, ACC 92, TRK 98, CAR 94, CTH 64
Jeff Demps – OVR 63, SPD 98, AGI 96, ACC 99, ELU 84, CAR 68, CTH 73

FB
Evan Rodriguez – OVR 68, SPD 83, AGI 82, ACC 75, CTH 82, IBL 70

WR
Stephen Hill – HT 6’4” OVR 71, SPD 96, AGI 88, ACC 93, CIT 78, SPC 90, JMP 93
Josh Gordon – HT 6’3” OVR 79, SPD 91, AGI 91, ACC 92, CTH 84, CIT 82, JMP 89
T.Y. Hilton – HT 5’9” OVR 78, SPD 95, AGI 96, ACC 96, CTH 85, CIT 81
Alshon Jeffery – 6’3” OVR 74, SPD 88, AGI 83, ACC 83, CTH 88, JMP 91
Travis Benjamin – 5’10” OVR 69, SPD 96, AGI 95, ACC 95, CTH 77

 TE
Colby Fleener – HT 6’6” OVR 74, SPD 87, AGI 86, ACC 85, CIT 83, JMP 89
Michael Egnew – HT 6’5” OVR 65, SPD 84, AGI 84, ACC 82, CIT 82, JMP 88

1. No starter can be on this list (according to the latest Madden NFL 13 Official Roster Update).
2. Any backup for DTs and CBs is available (#3 and below on the depth chart).
3. Any backup for DEs, OLBs, MLBs, FSs, and SSs is available (#2 and below on the depth chart).

Starting with defensive tackles I immediately began salivating at the thought of one specific player. I was going to build my entire defense around this behemoth: Terrence Cody. Cody is 6’4″ and weighs in at 349 lb. He has 97 STR, 92 BSH, and a surprising 70 ACC. He was the anchor that was going to lead this defensive squad to greatness. Then I realized that he was listed as the #2 DT on the Ravens roster. I had to rebuild my team before it even began.

Maybe the most surprising player on this entire roster is Bills DT Torell Troup. His 93 STR and 92 BSH make him a force in the trenches. I have known about Troup for the past couple of seasons and felt good about him starting at the #1 DT spot. The letdown of losing Cody was immediately forgotten when I saw that DT Nick Fairley, from the Lions, was available. I love Fairley’s versatility. He has elite speed at the DT position (SPD 73 and ACC 92), and his 95 PMV ranks #3 for all DTs in the game. For my backups I wanted to make sure that I had players that were interchangeable and package-specific. Troup is more of a run-stopping DT, while Fairley is better at pass rushing, and that is exactly why I took DT Josh Chapman from the Colts and Marvin Austin from the Giants. Chapman can replace Troup if needed and can sub in for Fairley for running downs and run-heavy schemes.  Austin can replace Fairley if needed and sub in for Troup on third down. I really like my DTs even if there is no Cody on this roster.

When I started scanning for viable DE options I found that most teams simply don’t have quality backups. Only a handful of teams had backups that I would feel comfortable with on the field. I lucked out that Osi Umenyiora, of the Giants, and Bruce Irvin, of the Seahawks, were not technically starters. These pass rushers are about as good as it gets, and backing them up I have Shawne Merriman (just retired) and Martez Wilson of the Saints. Wilson is extremely athletic, and I like having the ability to drop him into coverage, while Merriman is on this team solely because of his 94 Hit Power.

Next up we visit the wonderful world of OLBs. I thought for sure there were going to be a ton of extra stud OLBs lying around. I was wrong again. It’s shocking to know how thin the depth charts are. Dontay Moch from the Bengals is really the only player that I feel excited about. His 90 SPD and 90 POW make him a force on the field. After Moch I selected Thomas Howard from the Bengals, DJ Williams from the Broncos, and Parys Haralson from the 49ers. All three players are solid, but none of them make you say uh-oh.

I feel like I took advantage of the game with my MLBs. Navarro Bowman technically isn’t a starter because he is listed as the #2 MLB on the 49ers’ depth chart. I almost thought about starting the entire process over because I felt like I was breaking the rules or something. I quickly realized that I wasn’t about to spend two hours correcting the work I had already done. So, Bowman remains, and backing him up is one of the biggest no-brainers in the history of no-brainers: Bruce Carter from the Cowboys. Carter is a gem and can play sideline to sideline.

The position that has the most depth on the defensive side of the ball is the CB position. I had a list of about 20 guys that I spent a good 20 minutes on trimming down one by one. Some of you might disagree with my #1 overall second-string CB, but I feel that Tennessee Titan Tommie Campbell deserves a shot. He stands at 6’3″  and has 95 SPD. He also has elite Hit Power for a CB (77). Rounding out my CBs I have Denver Bronco Tracy Porter and Atlanta Falcon Dunta Robinson. Both these guys are solid cover corners that can play man-to-man for my squad. With my Dime and Quarter selections I went the route of pure speed. Josh Robinson and DeMarcus Van Dyke bring exactly that to my roster.

I’m about to make a bold statement. The FS position in the NFL is the least important. Not only are there not many quality starting FSs in the game, there is just about no one that is productive on the bench. With that said I found a few diamonds in the rough. Bengals FS Robert Sands is 6’4″, and that’s pretty much the main reason he’s on this roster. Backing him up I have Packers FS Jerron McMillian and Texans player Shiloh Keo. McMillian is actually pretty decent, and Keo really shouldn’t be on this team. I just couldn’t live with myself if I left a 95 Hit Power off my roster.

The last but not least position I have to cover is SS. I absolutely love the guys I have here. Taylor Mays from the Bengals is the definition of a S-T-U-D. He can do it all. You name it and he can do it as a user-controlled defender. Mays is arguably the best user-controlled SS in the game. Backing him up is the Giants’ Kenny Philips. Technically he was their starter, but he is currently listed as the #2 (due to injury). I then finished my team off with long-time Madden gem Mike Mitchell. I’m not sure what I’m going to do with him, but I will find a way to use him (kickoff coverage anyone?).

I don’t feel as good about my defensive squad as I did about my offensive team. What does that say about the NFL? Clearly it’s an offensive league? The majority of the league’s talent is on the offensive side of the ball. What about looking specifically at the defensive side of the ball? I found a lot of depth at the CB position and that was about it. Each team had their starters and not much else.

In a head-to-head matchup who wins? Would my offense consistently beat my defense or would my defense lock down my offense? Let us know with a comment below!

Here are the key ratings for each player on my defensive team.

DT
Torell Troup – OVR 66, SPD 49, STR 93, ACC 68, TAK 84, PMV 82, BSH 92
Nick Fairley – OVR 86, SPD 73, STR 87, ACC 92, POW 88, PMV 95, BSH 87
Marvin Austin – OVR 71, SPD 75, STR 83, ACC 92, POW 80, FMV 87, BSH 79
Josh Chapman – OVR 68, SPD 65, STR 90, ACC 69, TAK 76, PMV 74, BSH 92

DE
Osi Umenyiora – OVR 88, SPD 84, ACC 91, FMV 97
Bruce Irvin – OVR 79, SPD 90, ACC 94, PMV 95
Shawne Merriman –  OVR 75, SPD 75, ACC 80, PMV 87, POW 94
Martez Wilson – OVR 71, SPD 87,  ACC 90, PMV 82, POW 86

OLB
Dontay Moch – OVR 61, SPD 90, ACC 92, TAK 80, POW 90
Thomas Howard – OVR 83, SPD 87, AGI 90, ACC 86, TAK 88, MCV 68, ZCV 80
DJ Williams – OVR 85, SPD 83, ACC 86, TAK 83, POW 90, MCV 67, ZCV 79
Parys Haralson – OVR 85, SPD 81, ACC 93, TAK 82, FMV 90

MLB
Navarro Bowman–OVR 94 OVR, SPD 83, ACC 91, TAK 98, POW 91, BSH 94, ZCV 80
Bruce Carter –  77 OVR, SPD 88, AGI 87, ACC 92, TAK 85, POW 90

CB
Tommie Campbell – HT 6’3” OVR 70, SPD 95, AGI 94, ACC 92, POW 77, MCV 77
Tracy Porter – HT 5’11” OVR 81, SPD 93, AGI 93, ACC 95, CTH 70, JMP 93, MCV 87
Dunta Robinson – HT 5’10” OVR 86, SPD 93, AGI 94, ACC 94, POW 81, MCV 88
Josh Robinson – HT 5’10” OVR 73, SPD 97, AGI 91, ACC 97, MCV, 79, ZCV 81
DeMarcus Van Dyke – HT 6’1″ OVR 68, SPD 98, AGI 87, ACC 96,

FS
Robert Sands – HT 6’4” OVR 64, SPD 84, AGI 85, ACC 88, CTH 71, JMP 91, POW 88
Jerron McMillian – HT 5’11” OVR 71, SPD 93, AGI 91, ACC 87, JMP 93, POW 83
Shiloh Keo – POW 95

SS
Taylor Mays – HT 6’3” OVR 75 , SPD 95,  AGI 95, ACC 93, JMP 96, POW 91, ZCV 82
Kenny Philips –HT 6’2” OVR 86, SPD 88, AGI 90, ACC 90, JMP 94, TAK 72, POW 83
Mike Mitchell – HT 6’1” OVR 75, SPD 87, AGI 87, ACC 88, JMP 88, TAK 76, POW 91

1. No starter can be on this list (according to the latest Madden NFL 13 Official Roster Update).
2. Any backup QB, HB, FB, or TE is available (#2 and below on the depth chart).
3. Any backup WR is available (#3 and below on the depth chart).

I’m actually very impressed with the team I created. I think this team could stack up against any team currently in the game, and the players are all backups.

At the QB position I really lucked out. Alex Smith is a #1 QB on most teams in the league, so he is certainly a luxury for the time being. Who I have backing him up might be a surprise to most, but Denver Broncos backup QB Brock Osweiler can chuck the magic bean. If Smith was any slower I would seriously consider starting Osweiler. Going into the selection of the QBs, I really wanted Jake Locker, but he went back and forth as the starter for the Titans, and the official roster has him at the #1 spot, so he was out. I also took a look at Tarvaris Jackson and thought about putting him on the team but decided I would use that roster spot on a skilled position.

KC Believes Smith is Starter Quality!

Next I had to dive into the vast world that is backup HBs in Madden NFL 13. There were a ton of viable options, but I broke the list down to a specific method. I wanted a shifty feature back who could be expected to play all downs (LaMichael James). Next I knew that I needed to back James up in case of injury and/or fatigue (Taiwan Jones). My third and final step was to find a reliable HB that I could use in late-game situations (Michael Bush). James is the entire package when it comes to an HB in Madden NFL 13. I actually start him when I use the 49ers. Jones allows me to spell James and is a great rainy day policy. Bush provides a big trucking-type HB (94 TRK), and his 95 CAR will be crucial for late-game situations. I got greedy and decided that Jeff Demps from the Patriots is an absolute must. In spurts he is one of the best HBs in the game.

Fullbacks were tricky. I found myself filtering through all the teams and decided on Greg Jones (Jaguars) and Mike Tolbert (Panthers) to be my fullbacks. I quickly realized they were the teams’ #1 FBs, so I had to start all over. The remaining players were nothing to write home about, but I feel I found a diamond in the rough. Jacob Hester is a utility knife in my arsenal. While I don’t expect him to get much playing time, I do think he was the best available at his position.

Next up, I had the wonderful task of scouring through all the WRs in the game. Each team has way too many for an exercise like this, so it was somewhat of a painful task. I got real excited when I came across the San Francisco 49ers and the Green Bay Packers. Both teams had numerous options for my team. My SE will be Randy Moss and my FL will be Ramses Barden. I like height on the outside, and both these guys bring big-time presence to the field. In the slot I will have the ability to switch between Randall “Corn” on the Cobb, James Jones, and Jacoby “Don’t Kick Deep to Me” Ford. Ford will see the least amount of playing time, but he is a nice option if I’m looking to get a bit more speed on the field.

The TE position was the last position I had to fill and was quite possibly the easiest. Going into it I had two TEs on my mind: Aaron Hernandez and Chase Coffman. Turns out that both guys were perfect fits and both were backups for their respective teams. I got greedy once again and snagged 6’8″ TE Leonard Pope because why wouldn’t I have a 6’8″ weapon in the red zone? Lob TDs for dayyyyyyyys.

Pound for pound this team can hang with any team in the game. Who would you pick? Who did I leave off the list? Let me know with a comment below!

Here are the key ratings for each player on my offensive team.

QB
Alex Smith – OVR 87, SPD 77, THP 87, SAC 90, MAC 80, DAC 77
Brock Osweiler – OVR 69, SPD 69, THP 96, SAC 81, MAC 79, DAC 83

HB
LaMichael James – OVR 74 , SPD 93, AGI 96,  ACC 97, ELU 93,  CAR 73, CTH 75
Taiwan Jones – OVR 72, SPD 97, AGI 92, ACC 96, ELU 86,  CAR 73, CTH 74
Michael Bush – OVR 83, SPD 86, AGI 82, ACC 87, TRK 94, CAR 95, CTH 74
Jeff Demps – OVR 63, SPD 98, AGI 96, ACC 99, ELU 84, CAR 68, CTH 73

FB
Jacob Hester – OVR 74, SPD 83, CTH 77, IBL 70, RBS 66, PBS 70

WR
Randy Moss – OVR 82, SPD 90, CTH 88, CIT 75, SPC 96, JMP 94
Ramses Barden – OVR 73, SPD 85, CTH 79, CIT 85, SPC 86, JMP 95
Randall Cobb – OVR 86, SPD 92, AGI 97, ACC 95, CTH 93, CIT 92,
James Jones – OVR 86, SPD 86, CTH 91, CIT 97, SPC 92, BPR 94
Jacoby Ford – OVR 74, SPD 98, AGI 96, ACC 97, ELU 93, CTH 76, CIT 74

TE
Aaron Hernandez – OVR 94, SPD 88, AGI 89, ACC 91, CTH 93, CIT 93, IBL 67
Chase Coffman – OVR 64, SPD 71, CTH 85, CIT 90
Leonard Pope – 6’8”

QB: Despite losing another big game, Tony Romo once again had solid numbers that led to nowhere. He has never burst past the “Rodgers Speed Threshold” that is the minimum need to beat slower defenders on the QB spy. He won’t really sustain a Read Option-style attack, so his arm will need to be top tier. While incredibly solid, he doesn’t have the Stafford- or Brady-like cannon but does balance it all out with his decent foot speed.

HB: Felix Jones never made the Madden impact we thought his raw physical speed would allow. He has sneak poor hands out of the backfield for a back of his style. DeMarco Murray has pretty good speed for his style of running but will need a big healthy season to be anything but a solid “Steven Jackson” type who never really translated to making huge plays.

WR/TE: Dallas has some studs in the passing game, but they will need Dez Bryant to go from a very good player to “Megatron” level if they want to be great. Miles Austin is losing ground, and Jason Witten, while reliable with his CIT, isn’t a great option to stretch defenses anymore. Kevin Ogletree will need to be tougher in the middle of the field, to go along with his solid athletic ability. Losing Marty B hurt their dual TE game, but James Hanna is a complete sleeper who can be huge depending on how the game plays this season!

Defense: Dallas is shifting to a 4-3 defense with Monte Kiffin taking the reins over from Rob Ryan. They lost Dan Connor to their division rival, so they will need star LB Sean Lee to recover from his season-ending injury last season.

Key Signing: Ernie Sims

While Sims has never quite delivered on his insane ratings on the field, he is still a solid speed guy. Despite his decreases, he can still be effective in a limited role. In Big D, he doesn’t need to be the featured guy (Ware, Spencer, Lee). He can easily fit in and be a nice asset to control on the defense.

With Ratliff and Ware, who may be listed as a DE in the 4-3, the Cowboys will have tremendous versatility on how to set up their front seven, and this will be able to confuse opponents before the snap.

In the secondary, Dallas got solid play from Brandon Carr, who outshone rookie Morris Claiborne, who rallied and finished the season strong. Claiborne has great athletic ability and should be able to match up against most #1s around the league next year.

Dallas does lose Gerald Sensabaugh to FA, but he was a slower player who can hopefully be upgraded from an athletic perspective. They could use some hit power in the secondary as well. While Michael Huff would be a great fit, he reportedly won’t be waiting around for Dallas to make room.

Overall: If Dallas wants to jump back into the top 5, they will have to increase their hit power in the secondary and upgrade at safety. Offensively, DeMarco Murray will have to take it to the next level and get some ratings boosts in the process. For players who like purely balanced attacks, Dallas is in the top 5 mix with NYG, HOU, ATL, DEN, and BAL. They likely won’t crack into the tournament scene, though, with our top 3 (49ers, Packers, and Seahawks).

Who would you like to see Dallas select in the 2013 draft? Leave it in the comments!

No doubt the 49ers are looking for a viable backup to QB Colin Kaepernick. With Alex Smith moving to Kansas City the 49ers will need a replacement for Kaepernick if he gets injured. White seems to fit the mold that the 49ers are looking for.

Let’s take a trip down memory lane…

During the Madden NFL 10 Madden Challenge, I lost to Pat White and the Dolphins in the final 16 of that tournament. I was shocked at first, but my opponent made Pat White look like a superstar on the field. He had speed for days and he had just enough throw accuracy that he could hurt me downfield while I focused on ways to contain him in the pocket. While I don’t expect White to make a huge Madden NFL 25 splash if he lands with the 49ers, I do expect to pay close attention to any other team that signs him.

Pat White (Anticipated Madden NFL 25 Ratings)
63 OVR
85 SPD
81 THP
70 SAC
65 MAC
65 DAC

Will Pat White make a return to the NFL? Will he make an impact in Madden NFL 25? Let us know with a comment below!

This could be a painful loss for all Patriots fans, both in Madden NFL 25 and on Sundays. With the recent loss of HB Danny Woodhead, the Patriots lack a top-end speed option out of the backfield. HBs Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen aren’t known for their speed, and the hope was that Jeff Demps would fill the role of Danny Woodhead on virtual fields across the country.

This is quietly one of the biggest developing stories of the Madden NFL off season.

You live by the Demps and you die by the Demps, and it looks like in Madden NFL 25, we won’t get to take that Ferrari out for a spin.

Jeff Demps (Madden NFL 13 Stats)
63 OVR
98 SPD
96 AGI
99 ACC
68 CAR
73 CTH
66 INJ

#LOCKUP

Perhaps the Pats bring in his old Florida backfield-mate Chris Rainey? (Just sayin’.)

While the main part of free agency wrapped up with all the big contracts, there is still a secret battle being waged for spots in the Madden NFL 25 Power Rankings. Players who will be essential for blitzing in Madden NFL 25 are still available and at a very low cost for their talent levels. Here are some key players who will help decide the trench in battle in Madden NFL 25.

Honorable Mention: Victor Butler (Speed), Israel Idonije (Multiple), Richard Seymour (Beef)

Elvis Dumervil (Signed): After the contract snafu in Denver, Dumervil leaves the team shooting up our rankings after the signing of Wes Welker and DRC. Now, Denver will still have Von Miller, but it was huge for them to have it coming off both edges. Now, Baltimore, who lost Paul Kruger to Cleveland, fills a gap to stop its slide out of the top 5, to right around the top 10. Elvis is more talented physically than Kruger and will give Baltimore the threat it needs opposite Terrell Suggs. They already lost Ellerbe, Lewis, Boldin, Reed, and Williams, so this is a big signing to keep them relevant.

Osi Umenyiora (Signed): The Falcons lose John Abraham, but Osi would be a suitable replacement despite not playing the exact same role. Osi has strong acceleration and was New York’s second best pass rusher behind JPP. The Giants will be fine without him in Madden NFL 25, but Tuck won’t be able to slide inside as much, and they lost Chris Canty, who was their best overall DT. Flexibility is huge, and he gave NY a great rotation. In Atlanta, he will be strictly a down lineman, but they still have the sneaky versatile Kroy Biermann.

Dwight Freeney: With no plans yet, Freeney would be a great option to go opposite Von Miller. He got experience in a 3-4 last year, so he now has great scheme versatility. The Broncos would easily be a top 5 Madden 25 team if they had Freeney and Miller coming hot off the edges from multiple fronts. Freeney is aging but still has strong speed and acceleration. He is a better option at this stage than John Abraham, IMO, but Abraham is solid overall and a great option for any team that doesn’t land their first target.

James Harrison: The man with 99 Hit Power was never the biggest or fastest player, but he was capable of some serious hit sticks. The Steelers have such great depth and speed at LB, they are choosing to let him walk. Any team that wants to force fumbles in Madden NFL 25 could use a player like Harrison to unleash on the offense. He is likely the most under-the-radar free agent left, and hopefully his recent down trend won’t hit him too much in the ratings department!

Which player still left would make a huge impact for your Madden NFL 25 team? Leave it in the comments! 

Yes, the Lions had Jahvid Best, and yes, he is virtually the same type of running back as Bush.

There is one HUGE difference. Best has a 55 injury rating. Bush has a 73.

Best can’t stay on the field, and staying on the field is half the battle. At the start of the year I played a lot of games with the Detroit Lions but eventually left them because they didn’t have a reliable running back.

Reggie Bush will change all that next season in Madden NFL 25. Bush will be what Jahvid Best always was supposed to be for the Lions: a reliable shift running back who can make big plays with his feet and hands.

Of course, this is all made possible because of the talents of one Calvin “Megatron” Johnson. With defenses forced to double- and sometimes triple-team Johnson, this will leave a lot of open field for Bush to run on.

The very first team I will use in Madden NFL 25 is the Detroit Lions. Fear the Roar!!!

Reggie Bush (Madden NFL 13 Ratings)
84 OVR
95 SPD
97 AGI
96 ACC
93 ELU
90 SPM
97 JKM
79 CAR
71 CTH
73 INJ

Honorable Mention: Paul Kruger – Browns

25. Glenn Dorsey – 49ers
While this was not a glamour move, adding some depth to the defensive line (which stands to lose Ricky Jean-Francois) is a smart addition. The 49ers get a high talent player who has under-performed so far; with a big start he could easily get some ratings boosts.

24. Jason Jones – Lions
Detroit is set to be a great team, and with an aging Kyle Vanden Bosch, you once again want as much depth and talent on the line as possible. Having players who can play in multiple fronts is huge for setting up blitzes in Madden.

23. Rashard Mendenhall – Cardinals

Mendenhall rebounded back from a torn ACL, but he joins a weaker team in the rankings and isn’t much different from former starter Beanie Wells. Mendenhall can be a solid trucking back, so hopefully the game will set him up for success.

22. Keith Rivers – Giants
Re-signing your own players is very big for staying relevant. Rivers has speed and hit power that the Giants couldn’t afford to lose, especially with Michael Boley being released. The Giants helped their Madden NFL 25 ranking by keeping this solid LB.

21. Aqib Talib – Patriots
Talib should get a nice ratings adjustment from his great play in New England last season, and the Patriots need the secondary help to stay in the top 5–7 teams in Madden NFL 25.

20. Manny Lawson – Bills
Lawson is always an X-factor due to his raw talent. He was a great 49er and Bengal and should fit nicely beside Mario Williams. The Bills likely won’t be a top team early, however, unless they solidify the QB position.

19. Martellus Bennett – Bears
Bennett is a super-athletic TE with the frame to match. He played well with QB Eli Manning last year and finally started to earn some ratings boosts. He can be a solid inside target with WR Brandon Marshall on the outside.

18. Osi Umenyiora (Falcons) Elvis Dumervil (Ravens)
These three rushers have the ability to create pressure with their acceleration ratings. Having a guy who can be your “main blitz guy” to line up around is BIG. Here are two players who move from one winning team to the next!

17. Dustin Keller – Dolphins
Keller gives Miami a reliable target over the middle for their young QB, but the Dolphins will need a backfield spark to break into the top 15.

16. Dannell Ellerbe – Dolphins
Miami has been spending crazy in FA, but Ellerbe is only a decent player by Madden standards, and they may have overpaid him to be the anchor of the defense. He should see a nice rating, though, due to his solid post-season play and versatility.

15. Louis Delmas, Chris Houston – Lions
Detroit retaining these two players in one of their problem areas is huge. They are both solid players that the Lions won’t need to find a replacement for in the draft.

14. Danny Amendola – Patriots

Amendola is a nice signing, but he doesn’t bring anything extra to the Patriots since they lose Wes Welker. Gronk can make up for the Catch In Traffic ratings points that they lose in this trade-off. They will need a big early season from Amendola to earn some ratings upgrades.

13. Connor Barwin – Eagles
Philly dumped Jason Babin last year, and they fell out of the top 7 teams. Adding back another rusher to go opposite Trent Cole is a nice start. They also added Kenny Phillips but lost a chunk of their secondary. Until we know what Chip Kelley installs on offense and how the new game plays, the Eagles are somewhere around 15.

12. Danny Woodhead – Chargers 
Woodhead leaving doesn’t hurt New England because they have plenty of players who can make up for his versatility, but he does add a nice weapon to the Chargers’ backfield, which they have been missing since Darren Sproles left town in FA.

11. Dashon Goldson – Bucs
This Hit Power beast, who joins Mark Barron, will be a staple of the Bucs defense for years to come. They were big players in FA last season, but it didn’t quite pan out. If they get off to a hot start, they could crack the top 12.

10. Shaun Smith, Dunta Robinson – Chiefs
Adding big CBs is always a bonus in Madden. These guys will help create a top 10 secondary in Madden NFL 25, and if that is how the game plays, they could end up being a great team, with J. Charles as the focus.

9. LaRon Landry – Colts
Landry is an athletic specimen who will bring raw talent to the Colts. If you can user-control Landry on defense, you will bring fear to any opponent trying to work the middle of the field. The Colts should increase their ratings due to a great playoff run, so they will likely be a popular online team in Madden NFL 25.

8. Glover Quin – Lions
Quin is a fast safety and will bring great flexibility to the Detroit secondary. He has strong man coverage ratings and will let Detroit match up against teams that like to use players like Aaron Hernandez or Randall Cobb in multiple spots.

7. Greg Jennings – Vikings
Jennings is a solid Madden talent but, without Aaron Rodgers throwing him the ball anymore, he will have to prove he can put up the same stats to keep his rating high. If this move works out and Jennings can put the team on his back, the Vikings could make the top 10 for running-style players who use AP!

6. Steven Jackson – Falcons
Michael Turner is no longer with Atlanta, so Jackson will get a chance to prove he can carry the load. He is a better all around back than Turner, but he doesn’t excel in any one category. With a shifty player like J. Rodgers on the bench, Jackson won’t need to do it every down like in St. Louis.

5. Wes Welker – Broncos
If Madden NFL 25 is big on the Catch in Traffic rating, then Welker is a strong addition for Denver. While Peyton Manning isn’t fast, the three WRs he has available are great. They are the new GB at WR depth-wise, and Manning will be able to spread the ball to everyone.

4. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie – Broncos
DRC is a beast in Madden. His speed and size are a unique combination that spring Denver into the top 5 Madden NFL 25 teams for next season.

3. Cliff Avril – Seahawks
Seattle has plenty of explosive players on their defensive line already, but adding a versatile player like Avril is just one reason that they will remain a top defensive team in Madden NFL 25. If Bruce Irvin continues to improve, the offense will be unable to block this rush!

2. Mike Wallace – Dolphins
Miami has spent big all during free agency to attempt to break into the top 15 teams. Mike Wallace puts them close with his ability to get open deep downfield! If QB Ryan Tannehill plays well early, Miami could become a sleeper team.

1. Reggie Bush – Lions
Detroit is shaping up to be one of the top 5 teams in Madden NFL 25. Adding Reggie Bush gives them a movable chess piece to create mismatches all over the field. Calvin Johnson will retain an amazing rating after his record-setting season, and if Jahvid Best can get healthy, this team will be loaded!

Other Notes:

• Percy Harvin to Seattle was a trade, but he is a true weapon who can be utilized like Randall Cobb was last season. Seattle is likely to be a top 3 team in Madden NFL 25!
• Green Bay will need to start making some moves to remain in the top 3 teams for next season.
• The NY Giants look to remain a top 5 team, but only if they can keep RFA WR Victor Cruz.
• Huge thanks to Under the Code for sharing their free agency images! Click here to see who they think are the early winners and losers in free agency.

ZFarls’s Final 4:

1. BC
2. Dook
3. UMass
4. Eli Manning

Join in now! Click Here!

Make sure to check out the Madden NFL 25 Cover Vote going on at Sports Nation to crown a winner between New School and Old School!  

Hail to the Victors! Former Michigan QB Denard Robinson and potential Madden NFL 25 sleeper Denard Robinson has taken down the cover vote for NCAA Football 14! Ryan Swope of Texas A&M battled back in the final round, but Denard ended up with the win. Robinson was already a winner back in February when he took down Madden Bowl XIX in New Orleans with teammates E.J. Manuel and Kenjon Barner!

Robinson (NCAA All-Time leading rusher as a QB) will replace current dual cover athletes Robert Griffin III and Barry Sanders. Griffin won the Heisman and had an incredible rookie season for the Redskins. Robinson is the third Michigan man to grace the cover, after Charles Woodson and Desmond Howard! Here is to Denard having the same luck!

In today’s show ZFarls and SGibs breakdown the Madden implications of the Percy Harvin trade. Will the Seahawks become the top team in Madden NFL 25?

Sign up for the Compete 4 Ever Madden 13 Tournament.

QOTD: How would  you use Percy Harvin in your offense?

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To call in to future shows, the number is 508-318-8946.

EA SPORTS has launched its bracket for the Madden NFL 25 cover! On one side are 16 legends representing the “Old School,” including Deion Sanders and Joe Montana. On the other side are the hottest players in the NFL, including Rob Gronkowski, Colin Kaepernick, Russell Wilson, and RG3 holding it down for the “New School”!

The winner will be crowned one day before the draft on April 24! Vote for the first round here!

• Matt Stafford is taking over for Calvin Johnson, who is currently on the cover!
• Barry Sanders, Marshall Faulk, Eddie George, and Ray Lewis are all legends who have already been on the past covers.
• RG3 is currently on the NCAA Football 13 cover with Barry Sanders, who are both in the bracket on opposite sides!
• Cam Newton, who was in the finals last year, has been replaced by DROY Luke Kuechly.
• Chad Johnson is in the legend bracket for the Bengals.
• Reggie Wayne is the only active player on the Old School side since Ray Lewis retired!

Who do you think will win the vote? Leave it in the comments!  

What is your favorite line in any of these videos? Leave it in the comments!

With the NFL Draft approaching after the Combine, teams now have an idea of what type of talent is in this class and who will likely be available to them. Those who didn’t see that gem they need can still use free agency to fill a need or even grab a superstar. Which players would help a new team the most in Madden NFL 25?

Let’s start at the halfback position!

Madden has done a great job of differentiating the types of backs, from Darren Sproles to Frank Gore to LaMichael James. Each feels different, and not everyone can hang onto the ball out of the backfield on quick routes.

Honorable Mention
Trucking – Brandon Jacobs, Shonn Greene, Michael Turner, Cedric Benson

 5. Steven Jackson/Rashard Mendenhall

Age or injuries may make you skeptical about these backs, but I still think they can be solid but non-explosive players in Madden NFL 25. Mendenhall is a great trucking-style back and Jackson has a complete skill set, but overall they don’t have the wow factor in any category that I would like to see on my favorite team. (As a Giants fan, David Wilson is going to be my back, and neither of these guys leapfrogs him, but depending on your team, they could be an upgrade.)

4. LaRod Stephens-Howling (The Hyphen) 

After injuries to Beanie Wells and Ryan Williams, Stephens-Howling went from PR role to 3^rd down to feature back. He was very impressive in this role and should earn a Sproles-style role with a team. While a guy like Felix Jones may be more athletically gifted, he is approaching his Madden decline IMO, and a new guy like Howling may be peaking.

3. Danny Woodhead

During the Patriots’ offensive explosion, Danny Woodhead did it all on offense. He would be overlooked by fans for the more powerful Ridley or the quicker Vereen, but nobody put it all together like Woodhead. His connection in the no-huddle game with Tom Brady was super valuable. If he can do this for a new team, such as Green Bay, they would quickly move towards the top of the Madden NFL 25 pack.

 2. Ahmad Bradshaw

Bradshaw is a 26-year-old back who has won two Super Bowls. He carried the team for a stretch last year, but that tends to break him down. Pairing Bradshaw with another true power back would allow him to do everything else except be the battering ram, and his career would continue well. He can play every down, but he just doesn’t need more than 15 carries until he proves his feet can hold up.

1. Reggie Bush 

Bush has always been a solid player in Madden, although he never quite reached the ceiling of his rookie hype. He did lead all backs in catches that season, however, and can be a real threat if used properly by the right team. He proved he could take on more of a full role between the tackles to add to his arsenal, and he might be a good option for the right team. I don’t feel a desperate team will overpay him and try to turn him into an everything back. A team like Green Bay would excel with him as they would finally have a great back that fits their scheme and can be heavily used outside the backfield.

Who would you like to see in your team’s Madden NFL 25 backfield? 

ZFarls and I will not be playing.

If you would like to participate in this tournament, please leave your name, gamertag/PSN (indicate what system you play on), and email address where we can reach you.

Rules of the Tournament
3-minute quarters (semifinals and finals will play 4-minute quarters)
No onside kicks unless trailing in the 4th quarter
No Canton greats

The tournament brackets will be updated as the week progresses. You can check the brackets at this link: http://challonge.com/MT13Tourney

We will be giving away some cool EA SPORTS gear to the winner of the tournament (jacket, shirts, iPhone cases).

Please use the forums to banter before the tournament.

They then talked with HHBronco about his run to the final 16 in Las Vegas at the Virgin Gaming Challenge Series! Find out what book he used and what he ran on defense against ZFarls in the VG semifinals online!

Call in number is 508-318-8946.  @Maddenbible @SGibs7

ZFarls and I are taking on a new venture in the world of Madden Tips. We will be doing “Sach” (Steve & Zach) podcasts dedicated to you, the fans of Madden Tips Nation.

The NFL Combine is a great look at the incoming class of rookies for Madden NFL 25! Rookies in Madden NFL games rarely break over the 80 barrier for overall rating, but some can possess game-breaking physical attributes that really can make an impact. Let’s take a look at the class of full-year rookies from Madden NFL 13 and the impact they had on the season! This will help us predict whose Combine performances we can look to as indicators of stud rookie ratings for Madden NFL 25.

This NFL.com Top Performers is an incredible tool to analyze different Combine positions, years, and drills!  

Top Madden NFL 13 Rookies
An Honorable Mention goes to Jeff Demps, who didn’t attend Combine #Olympics. Stephon Gilmore was an all-around top tier in every major category as well.

5. Bruce Irvin. Irvin was the most athletic performer on the defensive front 7. His 40 time of 4.50 was the best at his position, along with the 6.70 cone and 4.03 shuttle. These times set up his physical attributes to be electric, and he delivered early on his raw ability.

4. Chris Rainey. Rainey performed the best 3 cone and 20-yard shuttle times in recent memory at the Combine. He set himself so far apart that teams had to give him a shot. This proved he had elite agility and acceleration, which gave him a shifty ability to go along with the speed from his 4.45 time, which was in the top 3 for HBs.

3. Andrew Luck. Luck was extremely touted all season long and didn’t disappoint at his combine day. His 4.67 time was 3rd among drafted QBs, behind Griffin and Wilson. He had very impressive 3 cone and 20-yard shuttle times, too, which perhaps foreshadowed his team’s willingness to run Read Option plays in the red zone. Luck also had the skill ratings to back up his #1 overall selection.

2. LaMichael James. James was tied for 2nd in the 40-yard dash for RBs, with 4.45 speed. His 3 cone and 20-yard shuttle runs were above average but very consistent. Partner this with his 2nd round status and his ability to make an impact on a great team all season long, and you see why James was important. Mostly, the team he went to was highly used, so you saw more of him than a better Combine athlete like Stephen Hill. James gave the 49ers a speedy and shifty runner to partner with Frank Gore in Madden.

1. Robert Griffin. RG3 was the biggest impact rookie due to his physical skills. He ran a 4.41 at the Combine, which is extremely quick for his position. This undeniable speed makes him a weapon. Partner this rating with his talented deep accuracy from his days at Baylor, and RG3 had the arm to stretch defenses deep!

Top Combine Prospects for Rookies in Madden NFL 25!

5. Tyler Eifert. The TE did a solid job at his Combine day. He was top 3 in nearly all categories. He set himself apart in the 3 cone by being the only player under 7 seconds. He has the most polish to his game, so his skill ratings should end up high and go along nicely with his above-average physical skills.
Teams can score some athletic value, however, from OSU TE Jake Stoneburner, SDSU TE Gavin Escobar, or ARK TE Chris Cragg!

4. Desmond Trufant. Trufant showed his speed with a 4.38 40 but showed his all-around ability with a 3.85 shuttle too! He played 45 straight games in college and should be a solid all-around athlete in Madden NFL 25.

3. Marquise Goodwin. This WR from Texas posted the best official 40 over the last two seasons with a 4.27! His speed will be undeniable, but without him running the shorter explosive events, it will be hard to get a feel for his agility/acceleration. He is also inexperienced and may have some trouble getting off the press for his skill ratings, but it is hard to look away from his speed!

2. Christine Michael. The RB from Texas A&M was a beast at the Combine when you really look at the numbers. He is a Chris Rainey–style back with an average 40 time but insane short-burst ability as shown by his numbers from the 3 cone and shuttle drills and vertical jump. Everyone expects Oregon’s Kenjon Barner to be one of the best athletes, and while he was near the top in every category, he was only the best in the 60-yard shuttle. Barner should have skills from his production at Oregon, but his raw game will be similar to his teammate’s, LaMichael James, from their Combine numbers alone. Barner is a step slower in the 40, but they are both 5-8/5-9 and around 195.

1. Geno Smith vs. EJ Manuel. Smith posted a 40 time similar to Russell Wilson’s, and Manuel was near Andrew Luck’s. Both guys led the pack in the rest of the events, with Manuel taking the vertical and Smith taking the broad jump.
Over the past few years, athleticism hasn’t meant much at the QB position from Combine results. Only RG3 is really one of the top performers who has made a big impact. Overall, guys like Brad Smith and Reggie McNeal, who have impressed there, haven’t gotten a shot. It does seem like Smith and Manuel will be drafted as QBs, though, and their performances should give them some solid physical ratings to work with in Madden NFL 25.

P.S. The fastest QB would have been Denard “Shoelace” Robinson, with a 4.43, which was just slower than RG3, but he was a WR at the workouts. Overall his WR times were above average, but for a QB they would have been elite. Don’t count him out! #Athlete

Who do you think will be the athlete with the best rookie rating for Madden NFL 25? Leave it in the comments!

OK guys, I’ve been wanting to do these two schemes for a while. Offensively, let’s talk about the New York Jets playbook and what we will be doing with Tim Tebow and the Jet Heavy formation. This formation is amazing because it forces the defense to commit to stopping the run as well as some very difficult quick passes from our quick audibles. The philosophy of this offense is to ground and pound on 1st down and look to utilize our opponent’s aggressiveness in trying to stop the run to capitalize with our quick passes.  It’s important to establish the run because it will open up your passing game when needed. Now onto the defense. The 4-4 formation has been my bread and butter since October. This formation has so much to offer. Below you will find setups in the video for two-man, three-man, five-man, and six-man blitzes. Please make sure you work your way up to the six-man blitz. You will want to see how they handle the two- and three-man A gaps left and right. If they are picking that up, mix in some coverage D and some edge pressure. Once they start blocking a HB every time in that 3rd and 3 situation, spring the six-man blitz – also known as THE BLITZ – and do our ultimate yellow zone technique and boom!!! You’ll have your opponent wanting to quit. Thanks for checking out these two schemes – hope you enjoy.

With news of Alex Smith being traded to Kansas City Chiefs today, let’s take a look at potential offensive styles for KC in Madden NFL 25! Remember that they changed their head coach from Romeo Crennel to former Eagles coach Andy Reid.

When we last left Alex Smith in San Francisco, his ratings were extremely solid, although he was benched in favor of the more explosive and younger Colin Kaepernick. However, Smith had solid ratings due to an excellent 2011 season where he limited turnovers and led his team to the NFC Championship game!

He finished up with 87 overall, 77 Speed, and 90 Short Throw Accuracy! While Smith has dropped to 77 Deep Throw Accuracy, I think he will do a great job in Andy Reid’s West Coast Offense. The Philadelphia book in Madden NFL 13 was used by the VG Champion Problem, so the Chiefs will likely get most of the plays, depending on how Reid will bring it over based on his personnel. He probably won’t keep much of the Read Option stuff IMO, but Smith can still scramble if the defense falls asleep.

Smith started Madden NFL 13 at an 83 overall, so he was playing at a high level before his concussion and the 49ers’ shift to Kaepernick. He gained short and deep accuracy, so if he can pick up where he left off, the team will be in good shape. If the Chiefs can find a way to retain Dwayne Bowe and TE Tony Moeaki gets healthy, Smith may have some weapons outside. Hopefully, WR Jon Baldwin can improve like Michael Crabtree and Steve Breaston Dexter McCluster can harness some Ted Ginn. Smith didn’t have an explosive offense in SF and shouldn’t expect one in KC either.

As far as playbooks and the grounds game, Reid had a great cutback runner with LeSean McCoy and now has one of the best speed backs in the game in Jamaal Charles. Reid also likes to use FBs in the red zone for traps; will he bring back and use the underutilized Peyton Hillis or try to bring another big back in for that role this season? In Madden NFL 25, there is no doubt that I will have them as a two-headed monster, especially if Philly brings back their Near/Far style sets, which they didn’t have in Madden NFL 13. They mostly ran from I-Form sets.

With the Madden NFL 13 season winding down, the Madden NFL 25 season is fast approaching. There is a lot you can do to improve your game before the new game hits shelves August 27, 2013. We list the best ways to take advantage of your time in the coming days.

#LOCKUP

1. Playbooks – Learn every playbook. Know which playbooks contain specific plays – Falcon Cross (ATL), Pats Wheel Drag (NE) – so that you can adjust your scheme as the year progresses. You should also lab every unique play in the game to see how it can be effective in a scheme you create. This is something that should be done during the first week the game comes out. Fight the urge to play online, and spend your time early in the year dissecting the nuances of the new game.
2. Depth Charts – Learn your team’s depth chart by heart. This ensures that going into every game your team will be set up perfectly for your scheme. Many times Madden gamers get lazy in a spot like depth charts, and it can cost them timeouts early in games. It can also cause lineup issues within their schemes as they audible to and from schemes.
3. Field Goals – Spend time learning how far your team’s field goal kicker can actually kick a field goal. Find his max and “comfort” zone. Too many times games come down to field goals, and there is nothing worse than thinking your kicker won’t have the leg for that 60-yard field goal when he can actually kick 62.
   
4. Punting – Having great special teams in Madden is huge! Coffin corners can change the outcomes of games because they force your opponent to run more plays, which results in more chances for you to make a big play on defense.
5. Kickoff Coverage – Some players have it and some don’t. This is something that you can actually lab in practice mode. Go into practice and select the play style Has Kickoffs. Grab two controllers and work on getting downfield to lay the boom!
6. Kickoffs – Over the years there have been numerous ways to kick the ball off effectively that have given the kicking team an advantage over the return team. Madden NFL 10 and 13 had the squib, while Madden NFL 11 and 12 had the short kickoffs. Get into practice and find what’s effective.
7. NFL Draft/Free Agency – Find out who the big-name players are in the NFL Draft as well as NFL Free Agency. The drafting and signing of a player can make all the difference in which team you will choose for next year’s game. Think RGIII going to the Redskins. He instantly made them a Madden threat for years to come.
8. User Skill – At this point of the Madden NFL 13 season stop using defensive assist. Learn to make defensive plays without the assist option. It will make your defensive user control better as you head into the Madden NFL 25 season.
9. Blitzing – You must learn how to blitz effectively. One of the most important blitzes you can have is sending six defenders while getting two of them untouched. This is the foundation of any blitzing scheme. Once you accomplish this you can then work on sending pressure off either edge and from different coverages.
10. Max Coverage – Utilize Max Coverage defense from your blitzing formation. This defense will rush one defender and have one defender in a QB spy. Do whatever else you want with the coverage.
11. User Catching – Start user-catching everything. Drags, zigs, and whatever else you can think of. This will help to increase your offensive user control as we move toward Madden NFL 25.
12. Unbumpable Patterns – Learn to get your receivers free releases from the line of scrimmage. A great way to do this is by putting a receiver in motion and snapping before he sets. This will give him a consistent look
13. Zone Flooding – Learning how to attack zone coverages from every formation is huge for your offense. This knowledge will carry over for years to come.
14. Run Game – The great equalizer. If you can run the ball effectively you will win far more games than you lose. Running the ball levels the playing field and can result in major frustration for your opponent.
15. Read Option – The Read Option has taken the NFL by storm. It is also a excellent complement to any offense in Madden. It is one of the better ways to score in the red zone and can really open up an offense. The Read Option will be popular in Madden NFL 25, so you probably want to learn how to stop it, too!
16. Screen Game – Having effective screens can result in huge plays for your offense. They are great in no-huddle situations and can make your opponent have to sell out to stop them.
17. Goal Line Defense – It doesn’t matter if you give up the most yards in a game. It only matters that you give up the fewest points. Generate quick pressure while maintaining coverage in the flats and you will be on your way to solid goal line defense.
18. Goal Line Offense – When you get toward the goal line the number of plays you can call starts to shrink. Make sure you have a few money plays to use in the red zone.
19. User Control D – The best user-control defenders have the ability to take away three different reads on every play: the initial read, the secondary read, and the third read. This leaves you with only the option to check down in the flat. Here are some tips on who to user-control on defense in Madden NFL 13!
20. Labbing – Practice, practice, and more practice. You should be spending the majority of your time working on your skills in practice mode. Be specific with what you are doing. Run through different scenarios and try to convert specific plays in specific situations.
21. Lab Partner – No one can do it alone. Search for a like-minded player that you get along with. The most important thing is that you both communicate with each other so that you are both helping each other improve. Allow for a free-flowing form of dialogue that breeds constructive criticism. Nothing stunts individual growth more than not being able to listen to feedback.
22. Change Play Calls from One Formation – Run multiple plays from the same formation on offense and defense. This will force your opponent to always play the guessing game and never truly be prepared to stop what you are doing.
23. No Huddle – The speed of your offense can cause major issues for a lot of gamers. See if your opponent can handle it. Slowing your game down is also an option, as a lot of gamers hate a game where they only get a few possessions.
24. Tournaments – Playing in tournaments will improve your game tremendously. Once you play on the big stage your confidence will soar. Make sure to keep calm and focus on the entirety of the game and not just individual moments. Tournaments are a roller coaster of emotions, and you need to harness all your energy to win them.
25. Leagues – League play can help you build rapport, which will lead to better lab partners. It will also keep you fresh on the most current trends.

History repeats itself. Even in Madden. Over the years I have noticed a consistent trend of the most successful Madden players in the world. This trend has started to gain even more steam over the past few years. There are offensive and defensive trends, and today I’m going to talk about both and what it means for your Madden game moving forward.

Offensive trend: Since Madden NFL 10, wheel routes have been a major part of the most successful offenses.

Defensive trend: Since Madden NFL 09, using six blitzing defenders from one formation and multiple coverages has been a major part of the most successful defenses.

OFFENSE

Falcon Cross is arguably the greatest Madden play of all time. Since Madden NFL 10 it has dominated Madden play year after year. In Madden NFL 10 the best option was to get to the line of scrimmage as quickly as possible and snap the ball with no adjustments made. The crossing patterns were amazing and open against any base coverage. The HB’s route torched blitzing defenses, and the deep post made aggressive user players pay.

In Madden NFL 11, motioning the far left WR and snapping after he took two steps became the craze of the nation. The crossing patterns remained dangerous, and the deep post was still one of the best deep routes in the game.

In Madden NFL 12 the focus was the effectiveness of the wheel/slant out route combination. If you saw man-to-man coverage the wheel routes cut upfield torched coverage, and if you saw zone the slant out was wide open because the wheel would pull buzz and flat zones down.

In Madden NFL 13 we focused on the wheel route’s ability to generate inside position for easy inside pass leads. The crossing patterns remained effective but primarily against zone defenses.

What does this tell us about what to expect from Madden NFL 25? Look to base your offense around wheel patterns.

Why?

I look at the wheel route and see that the reason for it being so effective is that there are multiple windows to throw the pass for completions. If you face a zone blitz, the flat portion of the route is open for a snap throw. If you face coverage defense, you can force the throw downfield for a user-catch opportunity. There are hardly any other routes in the game that give you this type of flexibility for your offensive scheme.

There are three plays that I want you to focus on, not only for this year but for next year: Pats Wheel Drag (NE playbook), Jets Slot Post (NYJ playbook), and Falcon/WR Cross (ATL, Run ‘N’ Gun, HOU playbooks).

Schemes come and go, as do players, but these plays always remain.

DEFENSE

Defense is a entirely different beast. Each year there is a new hot blitz that takes the community by storm. In Madden NFL 13 it was the rise and fall of the A gap. You could generate A gap pressure from just about any formation in this year’s game. The flip side of this pressure was that using an aggressive offensive line block allowed you to pick the pressure up without having to block your HB. This rendered the almighty A gap pressure useless.

What remained, though? The ability to send six blitzing defenders from one formation and multiple coverages.

Looking back at specifics, I think of four defenses since Madden NFL 09 that dominated the online Madden community:

Sting Pinch D (3-4 Over – Madden NFL 09/Madden NFL 10)
Contain D (46 Normal – Madden NFL 11)
46 Normal/Sugar D (46 Normal, Nickel Normal – Madden NFL 12)
Bear Under D (46 Bear Under – Madden NFL 13)

While each defense is different from the others the “blueprint” remained the same. They have the ability to send pressure off either edge (Sting Pinch and Bear Under D are a bit different from 46 Normal/Sugar D) as well as from both edges, all while being able to change the coverage behind the pressure. This allows for extreme flexibility in one’s defensive scheme and allows for specific setups for specific situations.

What does this mean moving forward for Madden NFL 25?

Find a defensive formation that can send six blitzing defenders to generate pressure off both edges from multiple coverages.

The other important fact to consider about all these defenses is that they were all extremely quick to set up. Most didn’t require crazy exotic setups. The 46 Normal Contain defense was by fair the most unique but still was extremely easy to set up.

This is the staple, this is the blueprint; make sure to focus on this for Madden NFL 25.

3-4 Defense Part 1

3-4 Defense Part 2

West Coast Offense Part 1

West Coast Offense Part 2

West Coast Offense Part 3

West Coast Offense Part 4

You can follow more of Cody’s action below!

Cody’s Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/cnballard0531?feature=mhee

ZFarls is hell bent that Gun Spread – Curl Flats is needed as the base. At this point in the season I think Curl Flats is no longer the best scheme as a base but is the best complementary offense in the game. I think you dink and dunk Curl Flats rather than make it your base. He told me I’m crazy, but personally I think he’s putting too many eggs in one basket with Curl Flats.

Here are the plays that I would use:

Gun Flex Wing – Read Option
Gun Snugs – Jets Slot Post
Gun Snugs – HB Draw
Gun Heavy – PA Post (I forget the actual name)
Gun Ace – FL Screen

Base Play: Gun Flex Wing – HB Slip Screen

Here are ZFarls’s plays:

Gun Ace – Curl Flats
Singleback Ace – Curl Flats
Shotgun 5 Wide – Curl Flats
Goal Line – QB Sneak
Goal Line – Curl Flats

Mostly kidding – add some Falcon Cross in there.

Now my question to Madden Tip Nation is, what would your audibles be? We already have a few people that have posted on the forums.

Leave your plays below!

Order of games shown:

SGibs (Red) vs Gunnas
Zan (White) vs ATL Killacam
Darrell (White) vs Round 2
Problem (White) vs Warhawk

What is there to say about Vegas!? What a great city, great food, great tournament, and great people. First things first – I live about two and a half hours from Vegas, so it’s a relatively easy drive and really one highway to get there. I arrived around 11:30 Friday morning and met Gibs, Farls, Zan and VG Carl for the first time at lunch. We then went up to the room and started having some fun playing each other and opening up the custom jerseys we got for the event.

Later on in the day, Darrell arrived and labbed with Zan and I. We all labbed some great new defense for about three to four hours and then went to bed. Saturday morning rolled in very quickly and we all met for breakfast. After breakfast everyone returned to their rooms, freshened up, and headed to the Lagasse Stadium, where the tournament was held.

The venue was excellent for a big tournament! it was very wide with a lot of TVs and plenty of good-looking girls. I also found it super funny that a lot of people I met knew me just because of all my Seahawks gear. Some people I met from MaddenTips were Hollow, JamielIReif, AilingAmeoba, Warhawk, Lil Man, and tons more. Overall, it was a group of great, friendly people. Finally, games started up, and me and Farls taped a lot of key drives, key stops, and key plays.The majority of competitors ran the San Francisco 49ers, but a big surprise was a lot of Green Bay Packers in the first round – almost 40 percent.

For the most part, people ran Carolina, New England, Philadelphia, and San Francisco playbooks.The tournament was great – some of the best games I’ve ever seen. And the best game I’ve seen ever was the Warhawk vs Problem game! Warhawk threw a pick down 14 with 30 seconds left before half, and Problem received in the second half. Warhawk forced two big defensive plays for TDs that allowed him back in the game quickly, but Problem prevailed on a huge interception in the red zone. He elected to seal the game with a field goal and kick deep with just 6 seconds left for the win! Next up, he headed to finals, where he ended up winning another championship in a tight game.

Overall, the Virgin Gaming Challenge Series in Las Vegas was a great experience, one of my best weekends I’ve ever had with a bunch of class act guys and some great new friends. If you guys ever have the time and money, definitely go to the Madden Challenge – it was 100 percent worth it.

-RDikes

Virgin Gaming will host 256 of the best Madden NFL 13 players from all around the country (maybe even world). Starting in September, the Madden Challenge Series kicked off; gamers needed to win four straight games to qualify for the online semifinal rounds. Qualifying lasted until January 1 or until 1,026 seats were filled. On January 9 and 10, Vegas hopefuls competed online in the most important games of their lives.

While the tournament doesn’t take place until February 9, I plan on getting to Vegas a few days early to get my bearings in Las Vegas. I will be staying at either the Venetian or Pallazo. Make sure to book your flights and accommodations sooner rather than later. For those planning on arriving the day of the tournament … do everything possible not to do this. It will make for a extremely long day, and you don’t want that to affect your tournament play.

To see brackets of the final 256, please click the links below (you can find me in GROUP 1 under the name “Maddenbible”).

GROUP 1 Brackets
GROUP 2 Brackets
GROUP 3 Brackets
GROUP 4 Brackets

Below you can find the official rules for the tournament. We are glad to see that onside kicks will not be allowed unless trailing in the 4th quarter.

Virgin Gaming Madden Challenge Official Rules

Those looking to get a mental edge before February 9 should check out the video below.  If you’re heading to Vegas for the Madden NFL 13 Challenge Series with Virgin Gaming, what should you expect? How can you make sure you will be ready for the tournament?

Who’s going to win it all? Who is taking home the $140,000? Let us know by commenting below or visiting our forums to discuss.

15 days and counting…

#LOCKUP

ZFarls will give some tips for competing in live tournaments and what gamers should expect in Las Vegas on Saturday! They will take a look at the brackets and break down some huge potential matchups! ZFarls will also recap Madden Bowl and let you know which NFL stars had game in Madden NFL 13!

See you live tonight at 8 EST at www.maddentips.com/twim
Leave your Challenge Series questions in the comments! 

ZFarls and SGibs went to New Orleans during Super Bowl week for EA SPORTS’ Madden Bowl, hosted at the Bud Light Hotel. This event has kicked off Super Bowl week for the last 19 seasons and matches up the biggest NFL stars in Madden. Last year, Team Clutch – Drew Brees, Tim Tebow, and Jimmy Graham – took down the trophy. Brees, Graham, and Ingram were back in their hometown looking to defend the title! Could they lock up?

Madden Bowl XIX Round 1 Matchups
Saints: Jimmy Graham, Drew Brees, Mark Ingram
vs.
Rookies: E.J. Manauel, Denard Robinson, Kenjon Barner

Studs: Victor Cruz, Rob Gronkowski, Arian Foster
vs.
Stars: Trent Richardson, Doug Martin, A.J. Green

Both the Studs and the Stars used the Falcons, while the Rookies took the 49ers and the Saints basically played as themselves! Both Falcons teams really liked to pound the ball with Michael Turner. The Stars had the advantage in the passing as they hit some big plays down the seam to Julio Jones. The Rookies played tremendous defense all game long and got some critical stops. They utilized Frank Gore to control the game!

Here are some more pictures from #MaddenBowlXIX

Even SGibs admitted Victor Cruz was the best-dressed player at Madden Bowl!

1. RJ Bell ‏@RJinVegas

   2014 #NFL Odds [3]: TB 60/1, Clev 66/1, Arz, Buf, Ten 100/1, Oak, Jax 150/1
2. 3 Feb RJ Bell ‏@RJinVegas

   2014 #NFL Odds [2]: Wash, Dall, Chic 30/1, Cin 35/1, Det, Min, Ind 40/1, Phil, Carl, NYJ, Mia, Stl, KC 50/1

   Expand
3. 3 Feb RJ Bell ‏@RJinVegas

   2014 #NFL Odds: NE 7/1, SF 8/1, Den 8/1, GB 10/1, Hou 14/1, Balt 14/1, Sea 16/1, Atl 18/1, NO 18/1, Pit 18/1, NYG 20/1

Easily the best conspiracy explanation for the lights going out last night.

This is a must-read.

Football: The Kotaku Review

If football—that is, the American National Football League football—used the same naming scheme as “Dungeons & Dragons,” we’d call it “Beer Commercials & Cheerleaders.”

Like dungeons and dragons, beer commercials and cheerleaders are two things that not everyone likes. They are also, however, not The Point of their respective games: they are simply nouns which evoke an atmosphere. You either buy into that atmosphere body and soul—or you don’t.

 

I’m going to need you to forget about beer commercials. I’m going to need you to forget about cheerleaders. Don’t worry—you’re free to remember them when we’re done, if you absolutely must.

 

I’m here to tell you that Football is, beneath its blaring American pop-culture facade, a turn-based / real-time action collectible trading card game of fine, minute mathematical depth, with just the right pinch of procedural randomness, and character / plot development unparalleled in any other role-playing game released yet in the history of games. You might not believe at first that Football is a deeper, harder, more interesting game than Advance Wars, though once you give it a chance and look past the boring graphical presentation, its math will blow your mind and you will be a convert for life.

 

To read the rest of the article please click the following link…

Football: The Kotaku Review

The Good: Jim Harbaugh’s challenge on the spot of the ball forced Flacco to make an incredible throw and Boldin to make an even better catch on 3rd and inches. He took a real chance but clearly saw something and went with his gut.

Before the half, the 49ers had two timeouts left with 2nd down and 2 from the red zone, with 17 seconds left. I absolutely loved the run call to try to pick up the first (they came up short) and then use their second time out to have three cracks at the end zone with 12 seconds left. The bummer was they came up short, had to use the timeout, and then only got one play off until it was 4th down. They took their final timeout with 3 seconds left to kick the FG. I thought they handled it excellently.

The Bad: This series was an extremely tight window that I felt was mismanaged:

If I remember correctly, once Gore broke the run, he ended up out of bounds on the 7-yard line with around 2:39 left. They tried a run with James that got them down to the 5-yard line with 2:35, and they then let the clock tick all the way down to the two-minute warning, which I didn’t mind, because they still had two timeouts left. At this point, they draw up a roll-out play, which is unsuccessful. Here is where it gets sketchy; they call a run with Kaepernick, but with a delay of game coming, Jim Harbaugh is forced to take a timeout that he needs desperately. The play never develops, and now they must go back to passing to preserve the clock in case they don’t score. They end up not converting and touch the ball next with just 4 seconds left. The timeout they burned would have saved them 40 seconds and made it more like 44, and the Ravens wouldn’t have been able to use the safety. As a fan who watched my Giants give the Patriots the ball back with extra time last year after questionable management, I know it is something that can haunt you. As Madden players, we must manage our own clock, and thankfully we can play hundreds of games to really understand it. My goal here is not to second guess the play calls of whether they should have run, rolled out, etc., but just what they might have done differently if given another chance. Jim was obviously calling plays he thought would work, so I won’t waste my time there. I saw the Ravens blow coverage on a roll-out play to Welker in the red zone 2 weeks ago, so there is always that angle, but I am strictly talking clock. In Madden, we can just load up another opponent, but in the NFL we can only sit and think about next year!

I felt like the 49ers had a chance to get one more possession out of the game but ultimately went with the “Score or Die” mentality, not because they wanted to but because of an error that forced them to take the timeout. The “What if they scored too early argument?” I don’t believe in, because Baltimore had all three timeouts and could have gotten the ball back with 1:30+ left by using all three timeouts, and with a successful two-point conversion, a FG would have only tied the game.

Possible Second Guesses: After the miss by Akers, which was negated by a running into the kicker penalty, there may have been a chance to go for it. It became a 4th and 2, and they took the points to make it 28-23 instead.

Send a little more heat on the safety play to force the punter out of bounds quicker. If he goes out with 7 seconds or so, maybe Ginn can get out of bounds around the 40ish to give a Hail Mary chance.

I thought John Harbaugh was very aggressive with his play-calling, including a great fake FG (although the kicker needed to run 18 yards since he needed 9 and was 9 yards deep, but he really did have a pretty clear lane). I believe John would have started taking timeouts if the 49ers had run on their last series during the goal line stand anyway.

What did you guys think about the clock management in Super Bowl XLVII? Would you have handled it differently in Madden NFL 13?

EA SPORTS has announced that the upcoming edition of Madden NFL that is released every August will not be sticking with the “Madden NFL 14” name but instead going with “Madden NFL 25” as a tribute to their big anniversary.

EA SPORTS has officially announced Madden NFL 25, launching on August 27. This year’s game will feature the Madden NFL 25 name when it launches in August, plus a new fan Cover Vote will pit the NFL’s greatest legends against today’s hottest stars.

Madden NFL 25 will be available for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system for $59.99. To learn more about Madden NFL 25, visit http://www.easports.com/madden-nfl. Fans are also invited to become a Madden Insider for exclusive information on Facebook, including the latest news, original content, and more forMadden NFL 25.

 

What do you think of the name change, Madden Tips? To me it doesn’t matter what they call it – I will always “beat you in Madden.”

Madden Bowl XIX was held at the Bud Light Hotel in downtown New Orleans on Thursday, January 31. The night was packed with NFL players teaming up for the 3-on-3 co-op mode and looking to take home the coveted trophy. The hometown and defending champion New Orleans Saints were the favorites, but the three other teams all had confidence.

Madden Bowl 3-on-3 OTP Teams:
Saints: Drew Brees, Jimmy Graham, Mark Ingram (Ingram swapped out with his fellow Heisman winner Tim Tebow from the winning team last year)
Rookies: Denard Robinson, Kenjon Barner, E.J. Manuel
Stars 1: Victor Cruz, Rob Gronkowski, Arian Foster
Stars 2: A.J. Green, Trent Richardson, Doug Martin

Game 1

The first matchup put the title on the line as the Saints used their own squad and took on the 49ers, who were used by the rookies. The rookies went up early, but the Saints powered back to tie the game at 7. With the rookies looking to take the lead at halftime, the Saints got a huge stop on the goal line as the clock struck 0! However, the rookies were only delayed as they got the ball on the kickoff and drove down. The Saints rallied back and scored to tie the game at 14.

The rookies then scored with around 1:25 left and the Saints got a final drive. They scored to make it 28-27, and their coach Chase Daniel confirmed they should go for 2 and the win. The rookies stepped up and got a big sack with Bowman! The Saints got the onside kick but ultimately ran out of time over the middle of the field. The champs were eliminated in their home city and the rookies moved on!

Game 2

Victor Cruz and Rob Gronkowski were busy during Madden Bowl XVIII with Super Bowl XLVI, while Arian Foster looked to make a splash after a first round loss last year. They took on Doug Martin, A.J. Green, and Trent Richardson, and both chose the Atlanta Falcons. Virtual Michael Turner had a big game for Green and company, who played a nice clock-control game. They got up early, but team Cruz was able to hit some big plays to stay in the game. They were ultimately locked up by great defense that forced back-to-back turnovers, and the team with two RBs was able to get a field goal and the win!

Finals

Video streaming by Ustream

The rookie squad of Justin Blackmon, RG3, and LaMichael James made it to the finals last year but lost – could this year’s rookies change their luck? It started with virtual Frank Gore being an absolute beast and getting them the early lead. The stars stayed with their winning Michael Turner formula and tried to pound the ball, but the 49ers defense proved to be too strong! The rookies got an interception from a 49er safety and then turned to the ground-and-pound game. Virtual LaMichael James helped avenge his loss last year and scored the icing TD with under a minute left. This gave his former Oregon backfield mate Kenjon Barner the win!

The rookies took the best team available in SF and rode their defense and run game all the way to victory. They weren’t phased by the pressure and huge crowd rooting on their more established opponents.

The rookies raised the Madden Bowl XIX trophy, and then the concert with Big Boi and Lil Wayne got underway. We will have some more footage from the event later in the week, so stay tuned to Madden Tips!

–ZFarls

This week ZFarls and I will be attending Madden Bowl, held in New Orleans, LA. We typically do a “Mailbag Monday” post, but this week we wanted to offer to all of Madden Tip Nation a chance to have questions answered by NFL stars!

All you have to do is leave your question here and we will do everything in our power to get those questions answered! Here are some highlights from last year’s event, which had Drew Brees, Tim Tebow, and Jimmy Graham taking down RG3, LaMichael James, and Justin Blackmon!

Don’t forget to check out the official EA SPORTS Super Bowl Sim here. And leave your prediction to WIN a free Madden NFL 14 Winners’ Kit! 

If you have a question you’d like to ask of NFL stars, submit it in the comments section below.

Super Bowl Week is here, and we have our first prediction of the result between the 49ers and Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII! Madden NFL 13 has let us know their results below!

Leave your prediction below for a chance to win a copy of the Winners Kit for Madden NFL 14! That is right – you will be the first person to acquire all of next year’s content as it becomes available! You will also get a lab session game against ZFarls or SGibs in Madden NFL 13!

Prediction Needed (copy and paste and fill in the comments): 
ZFarls:  Ravens 20, 49ers 16; Kap rushing yards 71; will Torrey Smith score a TD? Yes; MVP Ed Reed

SGibs: Ravens 13, 49ers 31; Kap rushing yards 116; will Torrey Smith Score a TD? No; MVP Frank Gore

We will be live from Madden Bowl 19 this Wednesday in New Orleans, so stay locked to Twitter for updates and action!

Do you stay in your base defense against five WRs or change it up? 

A VEGAS STORY

by: Hollowpoint

February 9, 2013, marks one of the biggest live tourney events I personally have ever attended. I have an idea what to expect, but you never REALLY know until you arrive and de-plane.  Now that I’ve officially registered, verified my account, bought my plane ticket, and booked my room, it is official that in 15 days, this year’s Madden will take on an entirely different meaning for me.  It will serve as a test of all the work I’ve put in up to this point as well as show the other gamers that an older guy can run with the young pups as well.

 

The Madden Challenge Series in Las Vegas allows me the opportunity to do two things that I’ve always wanted to do: One is to etch my name into the conversation of one of the greats of the game. If you’ve played this game for any amount of time and take it serious, you know all the names, been to all the sites, know all the plays and playbooks. The team ratings are second nature to you, and by now you know all of the routes that beat man and all the routes that beat zone. The second thing was to see Vegas. Although this is a business trip, I do intend to check out some of the shows and events that entail this city.

 

This tournament is more than what you know. It’s a test of how much pressure you can stand and how long you can last to become the #1 guy in the Madden community. Although the title could be debated a million times over, there is nothing better than saying you outlasted over one million competitors. The competition will be fierce, I have no doubt, but this game is more than just seam streaks, wheel routes, and A gap blitzes. It’s about mental toughness. Can you fight through and win eight games to be the last man standing?

Cheer Hollowpoint on as he goes for the title on February 9!

P.S. Good luck, Hollow. You are in my bracket, though. So only have enough luck to eventually lose to me!

This week we will be taking a look at the Oregon spread zone read offense. We will be using the Carolina Panthers playbook for this scheme, and the theory behind this is what we saw a few weekends ago in the 49ers vs Packers game. In this scheme I have discussed the concept of the inside zone read and the outside zone read. Also I have discussed some passing concepts outta this scheme where we want to set up the pass with an explosive running game and eventually burn them deep.

 

-Cody Ballard

Intro Video

Offense

Full Game

Wrapup

Virgin Gaming released the rule sets for the Madden Challenge. Check them out below. Onside kicks aren’t allowed until the 4th qtr and you must be losing!

THE EA SPORTS™ Madden NFL 13
Challenge Series Live Event Rules

Click here for General Tournament Rules

General Rules

• All games are played on the Playstation 3 console for EA SPORTS NHL 13
• No opening the Playstation 3’s disc tray, unplugging anything from the TV, Playstation 3, or touching the power outlets
• No moving a TV or Playstation 3 without a Referee’s permission
• No raising any TV’s volume
• No coaching allowed (for example, people in the audience may not advise a Player while playing)
• You may bring your own controller
• If a Player believes a controller is defective, that Player can pause the game and notify the referee. The referee will determine the controller status in making such a decision
• No excessive use of vulgar language. Excessive use of vulgar language is defined as consistent use of vulgar language at a volume that is audible to spectators of the match as well as a single use of vulgar language at a volume that is audible to spectators of another match
• Standing on chairs, tables, or other tournament equipment is strictly prohibited
• Verbal abuse of Referees and other Tournament Officials is strictly prohibited. Verbal abuse of a Referee or other Tournament Official includes, but is not limited to, the use of insulting words or gestures directed at a Referee or other Tournament Official, and excessive argument with a Referee or Tournament Official resulting in the delay of a Match
• Players have five minutes each prior to the start time of the match to load rosters, set lineups/formations and make any necessary changes. After five minutes have passed you must stop all changes. Referees have final decision on when you are to stop your changes in order to maintain the schedule of the tournament
• Anyone found to use excessive time to set their line-ups prior to game risk being removed from the tournament at the referee’s discretion
• Use of vulgar language directed at a Player or Spectator is strictly prohibited
• Inciting Spectators into taunting another Player is strictly prohibited
• Excessive taunting or celebration by Players is strictly prohibited. Excessive taunting or celebration includes, but is not limited to, post-Match taunting or celebration directed at or referencing another Player. Post-Match interactions between Players must be limited to acts of sportsmanship
• Intentional Forfeiting or conspiring to manipulate the Brackets is strictly prohibited
• Gambling, including betting on the outcome of a Match is strictly prohibited
• Inappropriate physical contact with any Opponent, Spectator, Referee of Tournament Official is strictly prohibited
• Throwing anything at another Player/spectator or into the crowd is strictly prohibited.
• Players are expected to treat all Virgin Gaming Staff members and Sponsors with respect
• Players found breaking these rule are subject to penalties such as a suspension from Ejection from tournament and venue grounds, a fine, suspension from Virgin gaming website for a period of time to be determined by Virgin Gaming and suspension from future Virgin Gaming competitions and tournaments

General Settings

• Games will not be played online or have online capabilities
• All games will be played with default settings
• Event Type: Exhibition
• Quarter Length: 5 minutes
• Accelerated Clock: On
• Play Clock Remaining: 20 seconds
• Time: 1pm
• Stadium: Home Team Stadium
• Weather: Clear
• Skill Level: All Pro

Rules

• No customs playbooks will be allowed
• Players are not allowed to use a USB stick to load anything onto the PS3 consoles
• Rosters will be updated no more than two weeks before the event begins
• No manual blocking kicks, field goals, extra points or punts. Players must put their controller down when their opponent is attempting any type of kick that was previously stated
• No fake field goals, no fake extra points, no fake punts
• Users are only allowed to onside kick if losing in the fourth quarter. Any player winning a game is not allowed to use an onside kick
• Both Players can select the same team
• Players may not select any fictional All-Star teams
• If Players are at odds over who is the Home team, such will be determined by a referee coin flip
• Any game that goes into Overtime will have the coin toss determined by a real live referee and the result of such will be simulated in game
• Each player has 5 minutes to set their line-up prior to game as references in the General Rules
• Each Player gets 2 pauses per game and only 1 per half. You are allowed 2 minutes of pause time to make changes. If you do not use your given pause in the first half, that pause is not transferable to the second half
• You can only pause the game when on the play selection screen
• Unnecessary pauses or delays are prohibited and can be subject to match forfeiture at the referees discretion
• Any action designed to disrupt the opposing Player’s view of the field or ability to select controlled players is prohibited and can be subject to match forfeiture at the referees discretion
• Each game will begin play at its designated time. Any Player attempt to delay such can be subject to match forfeiture at the referees discretion
• Players not present at the designated start time of their game will be disqualified and their opponent will be given a win for the match. Please be in the designated play area 5 minutes prior to round start time
• Players shall be responsible for keeping track of game situation so if a game is interrupted, the situation can be restored. In all situations possible, tournament referees will monitor the game situation so that it may be restored in the event of game interruptions
• Players shall raise their hands at the end of the game so a referee can record their score. Only scores reported to the referee are official

Game Interruptions

• If a game is interrupted intentionally by any Player, that Player will immediately be disqualified
• If a game interruption is caused by outside circumstances such as a machine error or loss of power, the game shall be continued from the point of interruption subject to the referee’s discretion
• Notwithstanding the above, a Player can pause the game to change strategy and/or formation under the max allotment of 2 times per game and only 1 time per half

Referees

• Referees will be on site to monitor all game play. Referees will begin play, and will record scores for each game
• Referees will be identified by an outfit and special ID tag
• The decision of a referee is final and binding

Dress Code

• A dress code will be in place for the live finals and Virgin Gaming will have absolute discretion to approve the clothing and apparel worn by the players during the Event. Virgin Gaming will also have the right to remove any logo(s), image(s) or word(s) on the players’ clothing and apparel, which in the opinion of Virgin Gaming contravenes the reputation of Virgin Gaming, or promotes a competing site. Participants wearing such clothing will be asked to change before they are allowed to participate.
• Players shall not wear, carry or bear any items of a commercial, religious or political nature, or which in Virgin Gaming’s opinion reflect unfavourably upon the Virgin Gaming and all official Sponsors and Partners. Clothing may not carry out any promotional activity in connection with Virgin Gaming unless otherwise approved in writing by Virgin Gaming.

Drugs and Alcohol

• Use of drugs is prohibited on the premises of, or during the attendance of, live events or tournaments, for the duration of the competitive tournament.
• Players must not be under the influence of drugs while participating.
• Smoking is prohibited except in approved designated areas.
• Any player who appears to violate the above terms under this clause may be removed from the tournament and ground of the event

A great discussion was happening on the forums about what the best hot routes are for each play.

In this episode of Mad-Den TV I go over how to build an offensive scheme around hot routes only.

No matter the formation or play I show you how to execute your offense to perfection.

Will this help your game? Let us know by commenting below!

10. Sound. The most obvious thing I was missing out on was sound. This seems too simple but when you listen to music in these headphones, you can literally hear things in the songs you didn’t know were there. Not just that the bass rocks (not in your ears, but somehow the whole top of your head) but small nosies and background singers that I have never heard on even some of my most favorite songs. I don’t know much about fidelity, but when you hear it, you just know that is how music is supposed to sound.

9. Comfort. These headphones are extremely light, which is especially noticeable when you pull them off your ears but leave them on your head. They manage this all the while remaining sturdy. You can really grab and twist the top band with confidence. It is nice they could give you something you want to wear all day but not sacrifice the durability to bring them anywhere.

8. Cable Control. The headset has great versatility, and that is what you expect from something of this quality. The ability to plug/unplug the cord and move it from your left to your right is something that adds more value. You can have the mic on either side as well (I personally like the audio cord on my left, and it is great to have options). Another nice feature is the cord controls; you can do more than just pause your songs. Depending on how many times you click or hold, you can also go to the next/last track, fast forward, etc. This will be clutch to not have to pull my iPad out of my pack when it is under my feet on a plane.

7. Locked In. I have a new rule in my apartment: When the light is on, don’t interrupt me.

It is like a light in a recording studio! Doesn’t it seem that your friends or family only want to talk to you during the 4th quarter!? That is always when the phone rings for me. Even if you can’t get your friends to agree, you can just turn up the volume, and overall the light is just a really nice touch!

6. Portable. The headphones are easily folded up inside themselves like a pretzel, which allows you to tuck them into the provided carrying case. I have a different pair that only flattens itself so I always have to wear them to the airport because they don’t easily fit into my bag. With the MVP Carbons, they “get small,” like MJD slipping through a hole, so they can easily be packed as an afterthought.

5. Simplicity. It starts with the beautiful box, which is nicely designed and lays out everything you need for the full experience.

The set comes with everything you need and includes instructions for all your consoles. With one deep breath, you will be able to get everything working quickly, so you can get back to gaming. SGibs was able to get it set up to the Xbox in about 1-2 minutes, which is incredible seeing as how he still thinks Walkmans are hot. You still get HDMI video, too, with component audio, which means you don’t have to sacrifice any quality.

4. Isolation. My first experience with these headphones was trying to communicate with SGibs, who was wearing them and cranking his Bieber. I thought he just didn’t want to hear me, but it turns out he couldn’t.

I then tried them on after and I thought he was doing the “fake talk” where your mouth moves but no words come out. He was actually talking and these things just create a vortex of peace and quiet. I can now understand why people with the Monster “Beats By Dre” are so in their own world. You can throw these things on and really focus because you are in a world that is the equivalent to being under water. Some people are able to focus and block out the noise of their coworkers or roommates chattering, but for everyone else there is a library or the MVP Carbons.

3. Full Game Audio. The most overlooked part of this headset is the ability to plug in through your console and get full game audio in ridiculous surround sound quality through the headset. This is where I feel the true value comes out. I have looked into this before, since I do play late at night and people got tired of me waking them up when I went on a tank run in Battlefield 3. I got frustrated with dying when people snuck up behind me because I had to have the TV turned down. Problem solved; now I can put these headphones on and blast away without bothering anyone. Plus, I don’t have room for big sub woofers in my apartment and can’t mount speakers behind me in my office. I am always playing in different locations, so being able to carry five speakers and a sub in just a headset is the answer for me.

2. Headset. This is not just a pair of headphones that Monster decided to slap a microphone onto and call a day. The quality of chat is excellent. Not to mention they work on both Xbox and Playstation 3. I have spent way too much over the years on headsets. I’ve bought nice wireless ones that never are charged, I have one that is solid on Xbox but can’t get it to work on my PS3. I have the official NFL-style one, but if I wear it outside even to check the mail, I get weird looks. Overall, it is nice to have something that can just snap in and give you instant quality chat when you join a party. Then, you pop it right out and go back to boss mode.

1. Style. I am not a man with an abundance of swag, I have tried and failed many a time. However, the look of these headphones on my dome has easily pumped up my rating into the 90s. They have the sweet carbon fiber looking checkers that remind me a lot of the Oregon carbon fiber helmets from earlier this season. I can only hope they will let me run as fast! The best part is that SGibs initially fell in love with black, but once he saw how fresh my white ones were, he was envious! Farls beats Gibs again!

I have been confused every time I write about the MVP Carbons because I never know whether to put headphone or headset after, but the answer really is whatever you want or need it to be for you. I had been so paralyzed about choosing a good headset, headphone, and game audio for a long time that I just kept putting it off. The ability to get all of this in one set for me that actually looks normal is great. If you’re interested in a pair of these headphones, check out the GameStop site for an opportunity to pre-order. If you are at the Virgin Gaming Challenge Series in Vegas, I will have them to check out and we can also hop in a chat if you want to check the voice quality on the mic!

–ZFarls

Make sure to look for the best of highlights mixed in! We also still have plenty of free MUT cards available from the show! (Xbox)
Only claimed cards so Far: LT, Reggie White, Woodson, Jordy, Irvin, Lott.

The Saints offensive playbook in Madden NFL 13 has some great plays to help your offense! On TWIM 89, ZFarls and SGibs went over their favorite plays from the book to give you a free scheme.

The Saints have a few unique run plays, gadget screens, and of course some great passing concepts. Make sure to watch the video below to find out which run is great, but why some of the trinket screen passes shouldn’t be over-used. Lastly, find out why Saints Spot Shake is one of the best plays in the game every single Madden season!

Are you a big fan of the Saints playbook? What is your quick pass?

The Read Option (Free Scheme) is a solid play in Madden NFL 13. It allows the QB to quickly hand off the ball or hang onto it and run if the defensive end doesn’t stand up. Players like Colin Kaepernick and Russell Wilson have made a living from this play and are now great in Madden NFL 13 due to recent roster updates to boost their speed and acceleration!

How can you stop the Read Option? Here is a great blitz angle that will really fire into the backfield, no matter what your opponent does with the ball. We choose to commit an extra defender to it, rather than allow our defensive end to be the only man responsible! We already use this formation as a great way to defend the run, so why not add in this way to make it more versatile!

Let us know what tactics you like to use to defend the Read Option in the comments!

Video streaming by Ustream

Make sure to vote below and tune in live to vote in the chat for even more categories!

I wanted to get the Madden Tips community’s overall opinion of Madden NFL 13 thus far. Leave your thoughts here or click the above link and post it in the forums. Here is a snap shot of what I think so far:

Likes?

Dislikes?

What do you think of Madden NFL 13 this far in the season? What are some thoughts of the future. How would you like to see this game evolve? What are your big-picture ideas?

I ended up really liking the non-stacking of the linebackers – I felt like it was a breath of fresh air in terms of how we set up blitzes. On that same note I would like to see the ability to stack linebackers brought back. I don’t like to see limitations in the game, so hopefully down the road it will return.

I really wasn’t a fan of the O-line in this year’s game. I feel it was psychic and it was extremely hard to get four-man and five-man blitzes in most cases. Zone blitzing is nearly impossible. We have the formula but I would like to see more actual blitz schemes in the game.

Overall I want the entire defensive side of the ball revamped. I want smart zones on defense. I want to be able to call out all my defensive adjustments prior to the play call. I want to decide that I want to bracket down on Aaron Hernandez and for my defense to look to play the middle of the field. I also want adaptive AI. I want individual players to have independent minds on the field so that the same repetitive plays don’t keep working.

What are your thoughts?

Thanks

Easier said than done.

A key to the success of the Patriots’ no-huddle scheme is their ability to always be one step ahead of their opponent. Ray Lewis and his ball hawk friend, Ed Reed, will need to be able to call in defensive play calls just as quickly if not quicker if they plan on stopping the Patriots.

They will also need to continue to play bracketed coverage on the Patriots’ inside-out passing attack. Last year in the AFC Championship they did an amazing job at this. This year they will need to also be on the lookout for the Patriots’ improved run game and their ability to make big plays down the sideline.

Let’s take a look at the Ravens’ depth chart for Madden NFL 13:

Offense

QB
1. Flacco
2. Taylor

HB
1. Rice
2. Allen
3. Pierce

FB
1. Ed Dickson

WR
1. Smith
2. Boldin
3. Jones
4. Pitta
5. Dickson
6. Rice

TE
1. Pitta
2. Dickson

Defense

DE
1. Suggs
2. Kruger
3. Upshaw

DT
1. Ngata
2. Cody
3. Kemoeatu

LOLB
1. Ellerbe
2. McClain

MLB
1. Lewis
2. McClain

ROLB
1. Upshaw
2. McClain

CB
1. Webb
2. Johnson
3. Smith
4. Williams
5. Graham

FS
1. Reed
2. Graham

SS
1. Pollard
2. Graham

This is the optimal setup for the Ravens! Do you think they will win on Sunday? Leave your prediction here for a chance to win a free custom offensive scheme from ZFarls and SGibs!

Winner recieves a custom scheme from SGibs and ZFarls from the playbook of their choice!

Leave your predictions in the comments! Here is the format:

SGibs:

• Patriots 31, Ravens 17: Brady 280 passing yards
• 49ers 24, Falcons 20: Kaepernick 50 rushing yards. Bonus: Julio Jones will score? Yes

ZFarls:

• Patriots 23, Ravens 27: Brady 219 passing yards
• 49ers 31, Atlanta 16: Kaepernick 67 rushing yards. Bonus: Julio Jones will score? No

Winner receives a custom scheme from SGibs and ZFarls from the playbook of their choice! See you in the comments below!

It’s late in the first quarter. A play ends, and seconds later Tom Brady has his team back at the line. He gives a hand signal to his receiver, a tap to his offensive linemen. “Alabama! Alabama!” The ball is snapped. An outlet pass goes to Stevan Ridley, who rumbles to the Houston 40-yard line, another first down. Subs run in. Soon, the Patriots are back at the line. Except now, running back Shane Vereen is lined up out wide. The Texans are scrambling. Brady takes the snap and hits Vereen on a quick hitch. Vereen dips around linebacker Bradie James and then spins back inside, gaining 25 yards before he’s done.

 

I would love if you would take the time to click the above link and read the amazing article written by Chris Brown. I will still be here waiting once you return.

Think about the top Madden NFL 13 players you have faced. What is the #1 correlation between their success and the New England Patriots?

Speed.

In the real NFL the Patriots are able to run more plays and do it with more efficiency than any other team in NFL history. They can do this because of simplicity, running the same plays and concepts from different formations. Why is this effective? It allows the quarterback to make the same exact read every snap no matter the formation.

Let’s think about the core foundation of what we teach here at Madden Tips.

The 5 Sets for Success

• 3-Headed Rushing Attack – the ability to run left, middle, and right from the same formation
• Quick Pass – used to attack blitzing defenses
• Man Beaters – these are compressed formations and specific route combinations, such as zigs, drags, and pick routes
• Zone Beaters – trips and bunch sets; for example, route flooding
• Base Play – a specific play to come out in that gives you the same reads every play

In Madden Tips we teach to perfect the no-huddle offense and to use the above audibles for specific situations.

The idea is to come out in your base play. The base play gives you the ability to see the defense for what it is. You are giving yourself the same presnap read offensively on each play. That way when your opponent makes changes to the defense you will notice them no matter how slight they might be. The base play uses the same passing concepts from the same formation, which helps YOU, the quarterback, to have the same read on every single passing attempt (similar to the Patriots, eh?).

The audibles come into play when you are looking to attack one specific defense. Is your opponent trying to defend your 4WR spread offensive attack? Simply check down to your three-headed rushing attack and pound the rock on them until they switch out.

Is the defense looking to play a bend-but-don’t-break defense? Move on to your zone-beating formation and light them up on one side of the field.

While there might be differences in the names of plays and how they are drawn up, the underlying strategy is the same.

Speed kills. The 5 Sets for Success allow you to be one step ahead of your opponent, forcing them to be quick on their feet. The Patriots use simplified terminology to be quick while we use specific audibles to attack our opponent.

Think about it.

#LOCKUP

P.S. Take a peek at this Peyton Manning article (simplicity is the ultimate complexity)

Next up was Madden Ultimate Team time, where ZFarls pulled 14 legendary packs and got some gems like Dick Night Train Lane, Michael Irvin, Joe Greene, Reggie White, and a bunch of purple playoff collection cards that he will now have to figure out what to do with. What now, MUT fans?

We then got into Madden Tips, like stopping the run from 4-3 Stack, busting out a Saints’ offensive scheme, talking Pats vs Broncos, and taking tons of your mailbag questions.

The GOTW ended up being a revenge match, where Wolfman got the call from the bullpen to try to take down ZFarls and not allow another comeback. SGibs took on Adam after a laggy start in a game vs RDikes. ZFarls then played a bonus match vs SLagcher that came down to the last play!

WOW.

Just when you least expect it, ol’ Chip hits you from the blind side, and, BAM, he’s right back in the picture.

Imagine what this will do for Madden NFL 14? Imagine the Eagles’ playbook? It was already one of the better books in the game. Now let’s give Chip Kelly all those tools in the shed that the Eagles have (SPEED FOR DAYS), and, wow, will you have a nasty offensive.

I’m so excited.

LESGO.

Who was your favorite? I would say Peterson all day! #OrangePeanut

TWIM episode 89 will be live on Wednesday at 5PM/8PM ET. Make sure to leave your mailbag questions in the comments below! SGibs will explain his march to the Las Vegas Challenge Series! ZFarls will give his favorite playoff moments, including how to pull a Flacco and get behind the defense when you need a big play. Is SGibs nervous about facing the Ravens again in the AFC title game? There will be plenty of live tips and action, so get ready to be in the chat on www.MaddenTips.com/twim.

The Game of the Week will feature SGibs vs. Ryan Dikes on PS3, with both players utilizing their Patriots schemes, which can be found (free!) on the Maddentips.com home page here. On Xbox 360, ZFarls will take on EA SPORTS Game Changer “DaMole” in a rubber match with the series tied at 1.

See you live on Wednesday! #lockup

ZFarls & SGibs

Here is the base formation from Gun Deuce Wing; make sure to come out in the Counter! This will follow SGibs’s patented 5 Sets for Success on O! Great work by RDikes!

Here is the first audible broken down: Strong Normal – HB Off Tackle (run right).

Second audible: Gun Ace – FL Screen (quick pass, blitz beater).

Third and fourth audibles: HB Mid Draw and Pats Wheel Drag from Gun Ace Tight Slots
(man and zone beater; you need the draw vs coverage D).

Audible five: Pats X Slant (special bonus play)

So, leave your thoughts and thank yous in the comments for Ryan! Also, make sure to check out SGibs’s free Pats Mini Scheme from earlier in the season!

GROUP 1 Brackets
GROUP 2 Brackets
GROUP 3 Brackets
GROUP 4 Brackets

This past week I was fortunate enough to qualify for the Virgin Gaming Madden Challenge, which will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada, on February 9.

The matchups are located on Virgin Gaming’s site, but I thought I would throw the brackets up on Challonge.com (with the help from Hollow).

Right now we have both Group 1 and Group 2 updated. Throughout the day we will get the remaining groups up.

Share this with others who might be interested to see!

P.S. I’m in Group 2 under the user name MADDENBIBLE

#LOCKUP

SGibs also showed how to stop tournament-level concepts and later took on SDWhite in the GOTW, who ran these plays! Could SGibs lockup?

Congrats to Ryan Ali for sending in the winning setup chart from the video. JCoop came in second!

Rest assured the updates will be beneficial and you will be excited to see what’s in store.

Just wanted to give a quick update about that!

Also – #GOPATS

What do you think Eddie Lacy would be rated in Madden NFL 14 if he chooses to enter the draft? Would the freshman Yeldon be rated higher than him in the future? Project your ratings below!

Overall: 76
Speed: 91
Strength: 84
Spin: 98
BTK:  88
What do you think? Could he be the next Trent? Leave it in the comments.

Copy and paste your answers below to win a free Madden Offensive Wildcard Guide! 
1. The Bengals will ______ (Win/Lose) to the Texans by a score of 27-17
2. The Vikings will _______ (Win/Lose) to the Packers by a score of 34-21
3. I think AJ Green/BenJarvis Green-Ellis will have more total yards. (Choose One)
4. I think Russell Wilson will pass for 191 yards and run for 43 yards.
5. I think Aaron Rodgers will throw 3 TDs.
6. I think Adrian Peterson will run for 121 yards.

Take those 6 questions and paste them in the comments with your answers! #LOCKUP and good luck to all the fans out there!

He recently wrote a great blog post explaining what Strength does in Madden NFL and how they determine the ratings. Clint worked with ratings czar Donny Moore to help give some perspective on players that he went up against during his playing days.

“What do the ratings actually do in the game?”

It’s a question I hear all the time about Madden. The answer is, ratings do A LOT in the realm of gameplay – some of what you’d expect and some things that may surprise you. The rating under the microscope here is the Strength (STR) rating and how it relates to line play in the game. As a designer on Madden, I know Madden players want to know what all the ratings do. So let’s start with STR:

First, I want to discuss how the players are given their Strength rating. A lot of Madden players believe the strength rating is assigned based on NFL Combine Bench Press numbers or something similar. I can tell you that it does factor in, but it’s definitely not the only data we use. Our resident Ratings Czar, Donny Moore, works his tail off scouting everybody in the league, and he would never just use one number to assign a rating. I worked with Donny this year to rate every offensive lineman in Madden. When working on the STR rating, the first thing I did was note whether a player plays on the left side or the right side of the line. Historically, the stronger run blockers play on the right side and the more athletic and quick linemen play on the left side. The reasons for this vary, but I’ll discuss a few:

To find out more information on the Strength ratings in Madden NFL 13, click on over to Clint’s blog and find out what actually plays out with Strength during a block! Does it mean you get more pancake blocks?

Here are Clint and ZFarls chirping it up at E3. Follow him on Twitter @ClintOldenburg. If you like this post, tweet him at #BlockSoHard.

For the GOTW next week we will need a couple of brave volunteers to step up to the plate. If you think you’ve got what it takes, leave your PSN and 360 tags in the comments below!

P.S. ZFarls thinks he can steal my scarf swag. I started this revolution and he thinks he can just jump in on it.

• How to throw consistent comeback routes (with special guest host Darrell)
• How to stop quick passes to your opponent out of the backfield!
• Quick pressure from the 1-4-6 defensive playbook
• Dealing with a WR like Andre Johnson at TE!
• Can playing the computer be beneficial to your game? Why?
• Working with low-rated HBs in the Catch category!
• Best route combos besides curl flats in Madden NFL 13!

There were dual games of the week, with SGibs (Lions) taking on Shopmaster (Redskins) and Darrell (Saints) taking on BuffaloRob (Seahawks). The latter was a great battle with a solid comeback and some interesting end-of-game management! Check the archive to see who won these matchups!

Back in Madden NFL 2005, he was the cover athlete in the game that introduced the “hit stick” to the franchise, which I believe is the best single addition in any game. It has remained in the game since and really delivers a rewarding feeling when you force a fumble!

While never the fastest LB in the game, Ray Lewis 100 percent left his mark as the Greatest Madden LB of All Time! How will you remember him after he is gone? Vote below!

Above is a link to the bracket, and I’ll give a breakdown of the games and my opponents.

My first game was against Madden Tip Nation member CrossoverCam. He brought out a solid Strong Close scheme and really attacked downfield unlike anyone else I have played this year. I played a ton of coverage knowing he didn’t have an HB Draw to check down to, and it paid off in the end.

SGibs – 28
CrossoverCam – 3

Next up I was set to play Cainmarko (who I believe is Game Time Phillys Juggernaut). A longtime Madden vet. I was confident that he would bring a solid gameplan to the table and he did. He used the Philadelphia Eagles playbook and ran Gun Trey Open HB Philly Seam flipped the majority of the game. Out of respect for his push to Vegas I won’t break down what he was doing, but let’s just say he had a game changer out of this. As luck would have it, I ran into this situation earlier in the year playing the computer, of all opponents, and realized the easy fix/solution.

SGibs – 49
Cainmarko – 14

Next up it was badnews from Game Time Philly as well. Badnews took out Madden Tip Nation member Ryan Dikes earlier in the tournament, so I was out to avenge Dikes’s loss. Badnews is another Madden vet who brought out the Philly playbook as well and had a very nice Gun 2 Back scheme that had screens, read options, and deep balls all within. He started getting pass happy downfield, so I played a ton of coverage defense once again.

SGibs – 23
Badnews- 10

The championship game was up next, and I was set to face arguably the best Madden player in the past few years: Warhawk is a member of TNA and has really come onto the scene as of last year. He is known for a pass-heavy offense and amazing reads to complement his high octane offense.
The game started out great for me. I quickly went up 17-7 in the first quarter and felt good. A couple of mistakes and fumbles quickly let Warhawk back in the game as he tied it 17-17. Just before halftime Warhawk was driving and threatening to score. He threw a pass deep down to the 1-yard line that was USER-PICKED and gave me the ball with 3 timeouts and the ball at the 20-yard line. The very next play Ted Ginn went to the house to give me the 7-point lead at halftime.
After the break I was able to get the ball back once again and go up 14 points with only 5 minutes remaining in the 4th quarter.
For all intents and purposes I thought this game was over. The first play after my score Hawk hit me deep with a 60-yard pass downfield. This was almost the worst-case scenario. I needed to make him drive, I needed to take time off the clock, and giving up 60-yard passes was not ideal.
He ended up scoring, going for 2, and getting the conversion to close the lead to 6 points. My next possession stalled out with a 4th and 9 from my own 15ish. I decided to punt even though there were about 4 minutes to go. I could have gone for it but I felt that I could hold him, force a interception, or get a hit-stick fumble. Worst case scenario I thought that if he did score there would still be enough time on the clock for me to drive and kick the game-winning field goal. I had all three timeouts as well.
He got the ball back down 6 and scored once again. He went up by 1 and kicked off to me. I had two crucial plays. 3rd down and 4th down. Both needed 6 yards for the first down. Both were overthrows to Ted Ginn over the middle of the field. I used the same play I used to score just before the half, only this time I missed on both. It was one of those scenarios where you throw an inside pass lead and can’t click onto your receiver and manually move him into position quickly enough. If I had caught either one of those balls, Ginn was gone for the TD.
So, I gave Warhawk the ball back, and he sealed the deal and won 39-38.

SGibs – 38
Warhawk – 39

I felt I had a great chance to win this tournament, and heck, I almost did. I made mistakes in that 4th quarter, which I talk about all the time on TWIM. I played tight, I played timidly, and I played afraid. With a lead to top it all off. I was playing NOT to lose, instead of playing to WIN. Congrats Warhawk and good luck in Vegas.

I’ll be ready.

My New Year’s Madden Resolution
When I make my play call for a specific situation (such as 3rd and 1), and I know that I am going to wheel out the HB and he is going to be uncovered, this is what happens: I have made my read, made my adjustment, and called the play to get me the first down; however, my brain says that if I know where I want to go, then the opponent does too. So, even though I have a wide open HB in the flat to move the chains, I never throw it to him because I assume he is going to be covered. Even though I specifically called the play to get him open. I then move to my second read of a zig, etc., which is 50/50 if it is open.

To become a better Madden NFL 13 player, I must stop assuming the opponent is going to know what my exact first read is on any given play. I rarely throw to my first read anymore. If I were calling “Bench Bonus,” I would no longer throw it to the motioned guy who roasts man to man because I would assume my opponent knows that is where I want to go.

Whenever I play someone who I know isn’t on my level, I have no problem throwing to my primary target, because my opponent can rarely make the adjustments that I can presnap. However, if I play someone who watches the show and has seen my offense, I don’t throw because I assume that opponent knows my plan. This is why I have stopped throwing outs and motioning the faded inside slot WR, which is awesome and very hard to stop even when you know it is coming! I need to get back to it!

What is your Madden NFL 13 resolution for the New Year? Do you rely too much on one blitz? Can’t defend the stretch run? Don’t know how to stop TEs over the middle? Afraid to click on? Not sure how to ballhawk properly? Leave your thoughts in the comments!

In the NFL, there is a huge NFC East battle today for a playoff spot, between the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Redskins! SGibs likes the Skins to win, only because he doesn’t want to see the NYG in the post-season! Who takes the game and what will the score be?  

ZFarls: Cowboys 25, Redskins 23, MVP Tony Romo
Well, as a Giants fan, it has come down to me rooting for Tony Romo in a clutch game. So, might as well make the silliest pick in the history of picks, just this one time!

Make sure to leave your prediction in the comments for a shot at a Madden NFL 13 eGuide! 

Stat Box Stories is a blog that aims to combine the statistical side of sports and sports video gaming with the art of storytelling to recount the details of each game played across video games like NCAA Football 13, Madden NFL 13, NHL 13, and FIFA 13.  Photo and video highlights of each featured matchup will also be shared in each entry.

With the biggest games coming up soon, make sure to click on over and check out the results to all the biggest BCS games! #RollTide

If you like his work, hit him up on Twitter and let him know! I am a huge fan of the images he takes from each game, as he really focuses on the small details!

If you have things you would like to see corrected in NCAA 13, leave a list in the comments as SGibs and ZFarls will be heading to Orlando to share YOUR feedback with the team. Please list it out and keep it respectful, and we will work on getting it fixed. Thanks!

But There Is More!

Some people might have already implemented that in their gameplan, so I wanted to share ANOTHER similar style play with you. This play is automotion too, but I actually like to cancel it and make it a stock drag which will not get pressed.

My Reads:

I like to hot route the X WR to a streak or an out route depending on the coverage, he is move inside nicely and should get a pretty clean release. This will force the defense to re-base align quickly and will often leave open the HB. You can streak the HB on the right, or place him on a wheel if you think the flat is tender. I LOVE streaks, but there can be some traffic in the middle of the field. The route by the back on the right is a nice quick pass that you can hit for big yards. You can also, wheel or streak him as well. On 3rd and 1, try an out route that the zones will drop away from for an easy chain moving play. The A WR can stay on his route or be placed on a zig against man or in short yardage. This play really crams the defense inside, until all the sudden you unleash a deep ball in the seam or sneak a wheel route out the the HB! Try this play out! It is from Gun Split Formation which is in many playbooks! 

 Let me know if you have success with this play! Comments or @Maddenbible

Make it dance, Will! Plus, make sure to put your best HPW guys in the depth chart slot we showed on TWIM 85! 
Via @KegsNEggs Blog

Many new players love to use a Cover 3 style defense since it appears to give them the most area of the field covered. However, veterans know that this is a misconception and that the best defense in the game is actually 2 Man Under. A huge tip is to user the MLB covering the HB and really control the middle of the field!

Here we deliver the most versatile 2 Man Under style coverage and teach you how to set up a quick blitz from it.

With this video tip we showed you the best defensive play in Madden NFL 13. Now let’s take a look at the Top 5 Pass Defenses to accompany it.

5. Green Bay Packers – The Packers aren’t known for lockdown defense this year, but in Madden NFL 13 they have a secondary that can win you ball games. Charles Woodson is currently injured, so make sure to sub him at starting SS. FS Morgan Burnett is a great user defender and is great in run support. The duo of CB Sam Shields and CB Tramon Williams is arguably the best tandem in the game. Mix in a great pass rush with LBs Clay Matthews and Nick Perry, and the Packers have one of the best defenses in Madden NFL 13.

4. Cincinnati Bengals – For some, the Bengals might be a surprise on this list. However, when you have a deep secondary that possesses Taylor Mays (6’3″, 95 SPD, 91 POW) and Robert Sands (6’4″, 88 POW), that is a great starting point for your secondary. The Bengals match their size with speed at corner. Pacman Jones and Terence Newman give the speed the Bengals need to defend any receiving corps in the game.

3. Dallas Cowboys – The Cowboys have the best one through four corners in Madden NFL 13. Each one of them would be a starter on just about every other team in the game. Brandon Carr, Mo Claiborne, Mike Jenkins, and Orlando Scandrick allow the Cowboys to play a blitz-heavy defense without worrying about getting exposed in the secondary.

2. Seattle Seahawks – I absolutely love the Seattle Seahawks’ defensive secondary. This is the best nickel lineup in the game. FS Earl Thomas has enough speed to play 1v1 coverage against top receivers. While SS Kam Chancellor brings his 6’3″ frame and 94 POW to the field, at corner the Hawks add more height with 6’3″ CB Richard Sherman and 6’4″ CB Brandon Browner. This height in the Hawks’ secondary causes matchup problems for any receiving corps.

1. San Francisco 49ers – The #1 defensive team in all the land is the 49ers. While they don’t have the best overall secondary in the game, they have a ton of hit power and good speed to complement. They are placed at #1 because of their ability to block shed and have multiple players on the field with 90+ hit power. If you want to play lockdown defense in Madden NFL 13 you MUST use the 49ers.

Do any of you Madden Tippers play Civilization 5?

Better question—who wants a piece of my General Washington and Team ‘Merica?

Since we are taking a short Madden break to celebrate Christmas, I figured, Why not lock up in something else competitive?

If you want to play hit me up on twitter @sgibs7. Seriously.

ZFarls and I decided to take an Xmas holiday break and play some Halo 4. The video above is the result.

Things to take away from this…

1. ZFarls bosses me around way too much. He thinks he’s some Halo 4 legend.
2. I’m pretty good at shooting Grunts.
3. I’m a better Warthog driver.
4. We will NEVER beat Halo 4 on Legendary difficulty.

Is this cool? Should we never make another one again? Let us know.

Mastering just one passing play is a great feeling because you know all five potential reads. You know when each route breaks and where to go if the user defender takes away one of your looks. You know to scan the field left to right calmly as the passing windows open up. You also know where to throw depending on down and distance, which is the reason so many online gamers only have a few go-to plays. When you “go rogue” and call random plays, you only know the first one or two reads depending on what the defense looks like before the snap. So, if you guess wrong or the defense takes away your first look, you are in huge trouble! This is also why having a base play is so important!
Here are some keys on how to learning to read progressions in Madden NFL 13!

How many reads can you make on one play you’re confident in? How about on a random play? Let us know in the comments!

Generally, auto-motion isn’t a great option beyond a few individual plays, but they also give you another way to hold the defensive end, like the Read Option using auto-motion. Do they think it’s a real scheme that can hold up in online gameplay?

Have you had success with auto-motion? Tell us your play in the comments!

• How to improve ballhawk skills
• Seahawks’ under-center scheme
• Bears’ problem breakdown
• Patriots over Packers as the #1 team?
• Passing game progressions
• How to build a scheme and TONS more tips packed into four hours

SGibs took on three games, and ZFarls played two, which are packed into the video!

There will be no TWIM on 12/26, but we will likely be live streaming at some point that day! Look out for great Xmas deals during the holiday break!

Players to look out for in Christmas promos:
97 JJ Watt
Dolphins, Jets, Bucs, Patriots, Lions puzzle packs
Curtis Martin and Barry Sanders are available!
Keep any players you think will be good for the team collection. From here you can learn their value and either sell them on the market or keep them for the collection prize!

Hit him up on Twitter if you have any questions: @CRBuke

Last night on TWIM 86 (archive coming soon), Madden Tips was able to start a tournament where the first 16 players to win two games got entered into a bracketed tourney, with the winner getting a seat in the Las Vegas finals AND a cool $500! We battled all night on TWIM and will keep you updated on the bracketed finals. We would like to thank Virgin Gaming for the chance to give away a free seat to our community and Prima Games for getting it all set up!

What are some key tips to playing tournament games? 

Look for good matchups in the early rounds! SGibs played a heavy hitter like HHHBronco in the early round because he couldn’t find a matchup he wanted quickly. In the later rounds of tournaments, there will be great players everywhere, but early just try to get as many wins as you can against easier opponents.

Clock Management – With the first 16 players to win getting in, you want to finish as fast as possible!
On TWIM, we often try to score and run plays at the ends of games to keep things interesting, but in a tournament setting, you have to close out the win. Both of us lost a lead in one of our games last night, and even though we were careful with the ball, we still couldn’t close it out.

Make Adjustments – I was unable to adjust to seam routes to the TE last night, and it cost me the game. My setups were not fast enough with the connection, and I just didn’t do well enough to get the win in the last game. Need more work on PS3 here.

Make sure your playbook is set up! Even though I lucked out and won when I took the wrong offensive and defensive book, it was stupid. I was in a hurry with the tournament start time and was having some profile issues, so the plays I had just set 10 minutes before weren’t saved/loaded and I need to take a deep breath and double check.

Be ready to battle: Plays happened that will keep me up all night long: the Aldon Smith pick, the Rodgers fumble (I slid!), and the DB swatting on the Bishop pick will haunt me, but it was a fun battle, and I will keep you posted on the round of 16 tournament that is upcoming!

-Z
What did you notice was different about tournament play? 

With all the recent Madden NFL 13 roster updates, there has clearly been a shakeup at the top. QB Aaron Rodgers has taken a hit with his deep accuracy that no longer truly separates him from the pack. He is still the best overall passer in the game, but it’s no longer clear-cut. He now has Kaepernick as a better overall athletic option and Brady as a better pure pocket passer option. While he is still the best of both worlds, what do the ratings look like for teams now?

Former Madden NFL 13 Power Rankings

Current Top 10 Madden NFL 13 Teams

10. Ravens: They edge out Atlanta for now, but if their fall continues, the Falcons will boost up!
9. Pitt/Cincy tie: Whoever gets in will probably benefit from ratings updates and get the nod.
8. Lions: Matt Stafford is excellent, and Jahvid Best is solid to use.
7. Giants: They’re balanced, but there’s no HB or speed in the secondary or LB corps (to play 49ers style).
6. Bears: They have some mean hit power on their defense.
5. Cowboys: They’re still very balanced but not eye-popping in any category.
4. Seahawks: Hustle Wilson has improved, and their secondary is great.
3. Packers: Rodgers and having no true HB drop them down two spots.
2. Patriots: Brady and a surprisingly decent defense.
1. 49ers: Best defense…ever? Or this gen?

Gone are the Eagles, whose play style never quite fit this year’s game, along with the Saints, for the same reason. What always happens is a shift towards defense at the end of the season. People have learned how to play an offensive style that suits their game and they focus on defense. The figure out what schemes are the best, but many require elite players all over the line like SF has. Gamers must ask, can I get this done with just DeMarcus Ware, or do I need a second nasty rusher to make this blitz scheme work? Then, they move on from there and arrive at their squad. Most gamers use the top team because it gives them the best overall chance to win.
Who do you use?

To maximize the no-huddle attack, check out www.maddentips.com for our five players to use in your main formation as well as a full audible scheme to get you checked into the best plays to win!

Depth Chart
QB – Tom Brady
HB – Woodhead, Ridley, Vereen, Bolden
WR – Lloyd, Welker, Hernandez, Gronkowski, Woodhead, Branch
TE – Gronkowski, Hernandez

5 Offensive No-Huddle Audibles

Singleback Normal Patriots – HB Power O
Singleback Normal Patriots – Slot Screen
Gun Split Patriot – Slot Post
Gun Ace – Quick Slants
Gun Ace Tight Slots – Pats Wheel Drag

Base Play – Gun Empty Ace Patriot – Pats X Slant

Setups

Singleback Normal Patriots – HB Power O

1. OPTIONAL – Motion the slot WR or far right WR over and snap when he’s behind the TE.

The extra blocker will provide extra support in the run game. If you are looking for quickness simply audible to this play and snap as fast as possible. This run is used to make your opponent respect the run in this no-huddle offense.

Singleback Normal Patriots – Slot Screen

1. Hot route the slot WR to a streak.
2. Hot route the HB to a swing left.
3. Hot route the far right WR to a drag.

The HB Power O will keep your opponents on their heels all game long. We also want to have them respect our quick screen game. We make a few adjustments that will allow us to get the ball to our HB with blockers in front, rather than our WR, and this gives us a better chance at big play potential.

Gun Split Patriot – Slot Post

1. Hot route the HB to the left of the QB to a streak.
2. Hot route the receiver to the right of the QB to an in.

Target the streak to the HB as your first option. You can either snap-throw this as a quick pass or wait for him to run downfield. For the latter use an inside pass lead for the easy completion. The receiver to the right of the QB is a nice checkdown against zone defenses and will often get great separation against man-to-man defenses. Look to the post over the middle of the field against Cover 2 zone defenses. The deep out on the right sideline crushes any style of Cover 3 zone blitz. The far left WR is a late read but will get open with a sideline pass lead against man-to-man defenses.

Gun Ace – Quick Slants

1. Hot route both TEs to a combination of your choice that includes fades, zigs, drags, or slants.
2. Hot route both outside WRs to fades or smart routed outs.
3. Hot route the HB to a streak or block.

This formation is killer in short yardage situations. Zigs to the TEs crush man-to-man defense as they break out wide. Drags are also a great change of pace against user defenders, who will often attempt to jump the zigs outside.  The streaks/fades to the TEs will crush downfield defenses and will make your opponent respect the deep middle of the field. The outside WRs are options for user catches via the fades and can be used to throw outs as well if your opponent is showing a Cover 3 blitz. The HB out of the backfield will be an annoying pass to defend with all the other options on the field.

Gun Ace Tight Slots – Pats Wheel Drag

1. Hot route the inside slot WRs to any combination of zigs, drags, slants, streaks/fades.
2. Hot route the HB to block or to a streak

Pats Wheel Drag is arguably one of the better plays in the game. The outside wheel routes torch man-to-man coverage and get to the tender spot of zone defenses. You can throw inside pass leads downfield for easy completions and can even throw them as quick-pass options as a hot read against the blitz. The inside receivers should be used primarily as options for short-yard completions underneath or to flood zone defenses down the field. Block the HB for extra protection, because this play needs extra time in the pocket to target the downfield routes. When facing coverage defense, I love to streak the HB and zig the right slot WR.

“How can I learn to use pass lead, and when should I lob the ball vs throw a bullet pass?”

 

This was an important question, so SGibs and ZFarls got their lab coats and beakers to answer it. Lobbing is a key area that we often overlook; it is probably only used on the deep ball and 1/10 passes, so we don’t practice it enough. Bullet passes are important, but since we play with Aaron Rodgers, we have to realize how delicate it really can be with lower-rated QBs! Here are some tips to make sure you throw the perfect pass lead!

Do you think lower rated QBs make it harder to click on when using pass lead?

Hey Madden Fans,

On last week’s episode of “This Week in Madden,” we had a legendary finish that will certainly live on in the archives forever. We will look over the mistakes that got ZFarls into the hole and also the mistakes that got him out of it!

Also on the clipboard:

• Is there a new #1 team in Madden NFL this season?
• Will Kaepernick get another ratings increase? How will it effect the 49ers’ gameplan?
• Are the Seahawks and their 50-point outbursts poised for prime time? We will give a scheme to maximize their O!

If you have a question you’d like us to break down, submit it in the comments section.

Tune in this Wednesday at 5PM PT/8PM ET on www.MaddenTips.com/TWIM! To catch up on previous episodes of TWIM, click here.

Happy Holidays from the TWIM Team!

By using slide protection and adjustments in Madden NFL 13, gamers can pick up any blitz their opponent throws at them. Complaining and calling your opponent cheap will not make you a better player. There are no nano blitzes in Madden NFL 13!

The NCAA Football 14 Cover Vote details have been announced, and all 126 schools are available to be on the cover. Head over to the NCAA Football Facebook page to vote for your favorite school!

Madden Tips Power Rankings

1. Alabama
2. Notre Dame
3. Florida
4. Nebraska
5. Georgia
6. Oregon
7. Clemson
8. Navy
9. Oklahoma
10. Ohio State

Everyone Else

123. Wake Forest
124. UMass
125. Memphis
126. UNLV

Who do you think will win? Leave it in the comments! Go Vote!

If you missed last night’s show then you missed one of the most epic shows in TWIM history.

The ZFarls and Wolf game came down to the final seconds. 12 seconds remaining. Down 9. It is being dubbed the greatest Madden comeback of all time.

Check the archive to find out not only who won the game but also a full hour’s worth of tips!

Below are a few of the topics we talked about last night on the show!

• Can you replicate Peyton Manning and the Broncos’ attack in Madden NFL 13?
• Win streaks in online play – how to catch fire!
• Will David Wilson overtake Ahmad Bradshaw in the Giants’ backfield?
• Newton, Kaepernick, and RG3 are proving the option CAN work in the NFL. Is the same true for Madden?

Last night we also announced the release of the Madden NFL 13 Wild Card Offense eGuide, the “NEW Gun Heavy Panther.”

We have developed a BRAND NEW replacement for the Gun Heavy Panther. We feel that having a clutch formation for consistent 3rd and short conversions is too valuable to overlook. We ditched Carolina in favor of a book that will likely become the newest phenomenon in the community! Get ready for the Wild Card Offense featuring the Detroit Lions playbook!

You can purchase the Tournament Wild Card eGuide here, or the Starter Wild Card eGuide here. Not sure which is right for you? Take our quiz.

#LOCKUP

Well, folks, Wolf was training hard all season long and even refused to play ZFarls last week to keep his scheme a secret. Wolf employed SGibs to give ZFarls false information on his gameplan so he would be unprepared to have the necessary tools to stop him. This was all working out great for Wolf, and then Farls stopped being a sheep and turned back into a duck…

In all seriousness, it was a great live battle on TWIM with lots to learn from on both sides of the ball. It was crazy in the TWIM chat when it happened, and we look forward to more big games! Great game, Wolf, much respect!

One of the only sports games to win a GOTY!

MADDEN NFL 13 LIKES

• Physics – I have gotten used to it, and going back and playing Madden NFL 12 isn’t as fun. That is how I know it’s good.
• Ballhawk (SGibs)
• Pass Lead — I love how Aaron Rodgers feels different than Blaine Gabbert with the pass lead you can put on the pass.
• Defensive Zone Swapping – The fact that you can’t honestly get a read on the defense presnap is one of the best updates to the game this year. It was so automatic last year, but now you have to do some work to figure out what is going on! Reading defensive coverage is actually a challenge now!
  
• Catch Animations – Not seeing respective catch animations is awesome.
• Chess Match/Game Balance – Devs have removed the ability to only run one play and actually be competitive in big games. You need a full onslaught of plays to match up at a high level against a like-minded opponent. TEs at WR aren’t a factor because ratings like Blocking matter. Sure, these things take focus and practice to stop, but once you reach a certain level, the game is balanced.
• Communities – While this was in Madden NFL 12, we never harnessed the power until this season.

MADDEN NFL 13 DISLIKES

• Ballhawk (ZFarls) — I get outjumped, but it’s because I ballhawk too early.
• Harder to get pressure on defense – We still have great blitzes, but many players can’t figure them out on their own and play coverage defense instead of gassing it up! Gotta bring pressure to win!
• Onside kicks – While I have gotten much better at scooping them up, when you play online some people are kicking too many for my liking!

OVERALL

Most of us skipped the CCM mode, which was a huge addition to the game, so I am sticking to the areas I know most about!
I really liked Madden NFL 12 because it had great balance. It took Madden NFL 13 a long time to grow on me and for me to get used to the physics and learning the coverages. Now that I have a scheme and fully understand the game, I am enjoying it more than ever. I have been playing games very late into this season, which I didn’t do too much of in Madden NFL 11. With the big Virgin Gaming challenge coming up in February, I expect to be playing Madden NFL 13 well into next year!

Leave your thoughts in the comments!

In today’s show I obviously rant about the New England Patriots’ white-wash of the Houston Texans last night. I also go over a VERY effective Shotgun two-back quick-pass scheme that is universal with all playbooks in Madden NFL 13!

We have brought you some serious lists for Madden NFL 13 this season and all of them have been packed with tips. We had 5 Tips to get you ready even before the game came out! As this year (but NOT season) wraps up, lets take a look back at the Top 5 list action on the www.maddentips.com site this year. Some are from our Official Madden NFL 13 Guide which is a nice gift for the football fan too!

We started out by sharing our Top 5 Running Plays in Madden NFL 13 on the EA Sports Page!

Next up it was the Top 5 Defensive Teams in Madden NFL 13! Many of these teams had players that were later included in the Top 5 Defensive Players in Madden NFL 13! Make sure to check out these Top 5 Defensive Formations to utilize with the above lists!

To go along with the idea of playing good defense, we broke down the Top 5 Running Teams in Madden NFL 13.  A solid D and three headed rushing attack is one of the Top 5 ways to start winning more games in Madden NFL 13.

Continuing down the offensive path, we made sure to look into the Top 5 Offensive Formations that everyone is using this season. These are great to know on defense too since you will be seeing them in online ranked games. A key to stopping these formations is knowing the Top 5 Blitzing Tips which can help you learn how to attack them.

The later we got into the season, we realized how important our Top 5 Tips for Reading Coverages was to get people better. It was always the number one question a new player asked, other than how can I stop TE’s over the middle of the field? If you can do these two things, your offense and defense will have a great starting point.

Making sure you choose the right team is also very important. We broke down the Top 5 Best Teams, but many players don’t like to use the favorites. So we also looked into the Top 5 Sleepers Teams. Choosing any of these squads will raise your chances of getting more wins. If throwing the ball is more your style, we took a shot at the Top 5 Passing Teams and also showed you why a base play is so important!

Overall, these lists have helped us pack tons of our Madden NFL 13 knowledge into every post on the site and we hope you take a minute to look back at some of the links we have built up during another great season!

-Z #Lockup

I dont always choose to kickoff each morning with the New England Patriots but when I do they typically beat down the Houston Texans 42-14.

No one really gave the Patriots a chance. The Texans were to fast, to strong, and were going to come into Foxboro and show the NFL while they were the best team in the game.

Not so fast. Tom Brady and the New England defense showed last night why they haven’t lost a game at home in December, since 2002. That is a unreal streak.

I said the score would be 42-17 not because I’m a cocky Patriots fan (sorta am) but because I knew that the Patriots matched up well against the Texans. Next week against the 49ers is going to be a different story.

This is the best Patriots team I have ever seen. That includes the 2007 18-1 season. The defense is starting to turn it up. Alfonzo Dennard and Aquib Talibs ability to play underneath coverage while Devin McCourty roams the deep secondary has allowed the Patriots to do things defensively that they haven’t done here in a long time.

Keep in mind one thing moving forward. Arguably the most dynamic TE the game has ever seen will return to the lineup for the playoffs.

#10-3

PS – 49ers vs Patriots next week. 49-7. Yup. I thought it might be a tough game but one thing B.B. does well is shutdown rookie QB’s espicially in December. #11-3

PSS – Kaepernick in my eyes is a rookie. This is his first true year as a starter. Carry on.

The battle for AFC supremacy occurs tonight in Foxborough, MA. The 10-1 Texans come into the house that Tom built looking to prove they are not only the best team in the AFC but the best team in the NFL.

Meanwhile, the Patriots look to claim the #2 seed in the AFC, helping them clinch (for the time being) a first round bye. This is being dubbed the best MNF of all time. Who will win?

Leave your score predictions below. Closest to the correct score will win our next Wild Card eGuide.

Much like the NFL there is a specific way we all need to cater out game plans to win in Madden NFL 13 during the month of December. In the NFL experts of the game talk about being able to pound the rock during the cold winter months. They also mention turnover free football being crucial during crunch time.

Does this hold true for Madden?

Let's find out.

While I don't disagree with the idea of preventing turnovers or running the ball to get wins in the month of December, I just don't think that is the end all be all on HOW to win in December in Madden.

There are only 16 games in a NFL regular season and there are only 4 games for each team in December. Because of this NFL teams put much more emphasis on the above matters. In Madden NFL 13 it's very realistic that you could play 16 games in ONE WEEK. That is why I stress less importance on those things and more importance on your own personal awareness of whats happening around you by your opponents.

This means knowing what the current trends are. This means knowing what the most used offensive and defensive schemes are. This means knowing how specific formations can and will beat you in Madden NFL 13.

Becoming an elite Madden NFL 13 player can be easy in terms of stick skill and your own personal success. The hardest part is getting over the final plateau which is all about knowledge of whats happening in the Madden community.

This means that you MUST think MORE when you play Madden.

Here is a test. I'm going to name a offensive playbook and I want you (without scrolling down and looking) name the formations from the playbook given that you have to worry about beating you.

Detroit Lions Offensive Playbook.

Think for a second and then scroll down to see if your answers are similar.

Singleback Jumbo Pair
Gun Ace
Gun Ace Twins
Gun Ace Pair Flex

You might be wondering WHY at this point (if you are that means you need to work harder on your thinking when it comes to Madden).  Each of the formations listed above have TWO TE's in the game. This means that each formation has two receivers that are a threat for fades, zigs, drags, and slants. We once again revisit your awareness to whats happening around you in the Madden community.

In Madden NFL 13 TE's are unbumpable which makes them tough to stop (yes you can user press them or even have a flat zone press them, but if you call man coverage and look to press they won't). The vast majority of every elite Madden 13 player is using formations such as the ones listed above to create easy yards with their TE's by using the above hot routes.

I always feel I'm ONE step ahead of my opponent before EVERY game of Madden. At the play call screen (if I can see their playbook) I know right away what I can expect them to try and do. Am I always right? Not 100% but usually I'm pretty close.

If you are taking this all in and are having a hard time digesting what this all means let me explain it this way. Think of it like playing your best friend in a game of Madden. You play all the time so you know just about all his favorite plays. You know when hes going to run and you know three plays ahead of the current play what to expect. This is the type of awareness I'm talking about that YOU can have if you pay 10% more attention to each game you play.

Don't just play the game. Think about HOW and WHY you are playing. Think about WHY the play is successful. Once you start doing this you will start winning more games in December.

The Detroit Lions Offensive Playbook will be the next Wild Card eGuide released on Madden Tips. You can check it out here or even see it used on last weeks TWIM 84 GOTW!

This Week In Madden #85 will be live Wednesday on MaddenTips.com with more Madden NFL 13 tips and action. We will be breaking down your questions and exploring topics such as:

• Can you replicate Peyton Manning and the Broncos’ attack in Madden NFL 13?
• Win streaks in online play – how to catch fire!
• Will David Wilson overtake Ahmad Bradshaw in the Giants’ backfield?
• Newton, Kaepernick, and RG3 are proving the option can work in the NFL. Is the same true for Madden?

We will also be showing off more free plays from our upcoming Wild Card Offense eGuide. Plus, we’ll be giving away a great backfield route that we use in our scheme!

If you have a question you’d like us to break down, submit it below in the comments section.

Tune in this Wednesday at 5PM PT/8PM ET on www.MaddenTips.com/TWIM! To catch up on previous episodes of TWIM, click here.

BIG game tonight. There is ONE reason why the New England Patriots win this game tonight.

“The biggest game in the history of this franchise.” – Andre Johnson

That stands out for me. The Texans have already clinched the playoffs – this game really doesn’t mean much. They are on a crash course with the #1 or #2 seed in the AFC regardless of tonight’s game.

Johnson setting that stage lets me know they aren’t ready for this yet. Tom and the Pats role tonight. 42-17.

#10-3 GO PATS