Having trouble with my offense...need your analysis.

[Brutal Attack]

I need a little help utilizing my personnel. I'm in the 2nd year of my franchise and I'm use to having a speedy team and an offense that can move the ball. I've been using the bears so I obviously don't have any speed guys. So I'll name off my key personnel and their attributes and you tell me what you would do offensively and what PB you would use. So far I've tried Run Heavy, Run Balanced and the CHI playbook. I've had much more success with the CHI. Everyone seems to shut down the run when I use run balanced or run heavy.

QB: Vince Young (rookie): SPD: 88 AWR: 70 ACC:90 CAR:74 BTK:63 THP:94 THA: 77

HBs: Thomas Jones: SPD:90 STR:73 CTH:70 CAR:95 BTK:91
Cedric Benson: SPD :88 STR:76 CTH:62 CAR:87 BTK:86
Alley Broussard (rookie): SPD:87 STR:76 CTH:65 CAR:82 BTK:91

as you can see none of my backs can catch so that hampers my 3rd downs somewhat. The good thing is both Benson and Broussard have decent PBK and RBK in the high 40s.

WRs: Mushin Muhammad 6'2": SPD: 90 ACC: 87 CTH: 94 JMP:86 BTK:60
Mark Bradley 6'1": SPD: 92 ACC: 96 CTH: 86 JMP:95 BTK:58
Justin Gage 6'4": SPD: 86 ACC:88 CTH: 77 JMP:94
Martin Nance (rookie) 6'5": SPD: 90 ACC: 92 CTH:77 JMP: 88

As you can see I have mostly posession guys with no real down field threats besides Bradley who I can occasionally get deep with on a PA pass. Not only are theses guys slow but they also cannot catch. Gage in particular drops alot of critical 3rd down passes because we all know that the slot guy has the best routes.

TE: Desmond Clark 6'3": SPD: 76 ACC: slow CTH: 81
Matt Herian 6'5": SPD: 80 ACC: 85 CTH: 78

As you can see I'm lacking quite a few things in terms of key personnel. I seem to have the best luck running out of the I form and then PA passing out of I form or an offset I. However, it's a ball control offense whether I want it to be or not and I definitely cannot explode upfield much. Which is fine it's just not what I'm used to. I'm currently thinking of spending a 2nd round pick to get Matt Jones. I'd rather use the guys I have if I can figure out a way to make it work. Anyone is encouraged to comment.

[surlacher54]

utilize ur TE as much as possible on short in and out routes -- run inside with ur slow stupid backs (i'm not a fan of benson sorry :D ) run hitch and short slant routes with ur receivers and basically just dump it off often for short gains. you're likely never going to beat CBs in fly or deep routes because of their superior speed. also since you got a QB who can run pretty well i'd try to put in some spread offenses so it'll open up the feild a bit -- which might also help your run game too.

[Brutal Attack]

Well my TEs suck balls so I could go to a super short WCO but I don't want to. My backs are kinda um...slow but I thought I could just rotate them and pound the ball all day. Of course that isn't working either. I tried going to nothing but short passes but they just start jumping the routes underneath. So your saying maybe try run and gun? I could try that I guess.

[surlacher54]

well if everything else is shutdown then i think thats the only other choice you have left. plus if you run ur QB that'll open up their defense later in the game.

[Brutal Attack]

well I tried run and gun and the formations just don't work for me.

So I went to the PITT book and it seems to be working in much the same way the CHI was working for me. Run between the tackles and get your one deep PA pass per game. If this also gets stymied then I'll go to Run N Gun but I think it's best to treat Vince as a B Roth in terms of mobility rather than a Vick at this point. Pitts playbook is good for moving around and getting good second chances at 2 WRs that maybe can't get the best seperation.

[realhawker]

I like New Orleans playbook the best. They have great running plays out of the I-form, in a few different flavors.

I form 3 WR has some nice plays if your TE blocks like crap.

It has tons of counter plays which work nicely and a fake toss which is good too.

[Shockey]

I would look at the West Coast Offense that worked good for me. And I think i'd trade Thomas Jones(fan of Cedric) and Desmond Clark for a nice te such as Ben Watson Ben Troupe or Heath Miller all young and can catch the ball

[Brutal Attack]

Actually, Jones is a beast for me. He is just fast enough with good str.

I like Benson but if I was going to trade anyone I would trade Benson and Clark and a draft pick for a faster, pass catching TE and a 3rd down back that can catch.

[BearGator56]

With Vince Young, why not try the Atlanta playbook? Seems designed for his talent.

I use the Bears also. I still don't understand the Cedric Benson pick when he's just a slightly faster back than A-Train was. I only wish they would have chosen a WR with that 4th pick.

Cedric is my main back-he just pummels DB's who try to tackle him. TJ is my passing situation back-and actually catches very well for me. I put him in all of my 3/4 wr/shotgun sets to sub out Benson. Every once in a while he'll bust out for a 70 yard run when he's only getting about 8 touches a game.

Desmond Clark catches a lot of passes for me, but I drafted a guy named Steven Hogan (imported from NCAA 06) in the late rounds who has great speed and catches everything I throw at him.

Eventually you'll have to dump the guys like Gage and Wade. I traded Moose to the Bucs in my 2nd year-he dropped too many passes for me (and after the Carolina game it seems accurate). I still haven't found that Moss/Irvin/Owens receiver we'd all like to have.

I tried to stick with Grossman at QB, but every year he was injured for me. 2 years in excess of 10 weeks! Orton progressed ok to a 91 rating with all the playing time-and he had a stronger arm. Grossman is my backup now with Charlie Whitehurst of Clemson as the 3rd guy.

[Brutal Attack]

I don't care much for the ATL book but I may be forced into using it again. I used it alot with Omar Jacobs and some other fast QBs I drafted. Also the Denver book is good.

I'm chugging along pretty good right now with the NO playbook. I just need some guys that can catch and get upfield.

I find myself yearning for some of the WR beasts I had in other franchises who has 9x speed, 6x str, 9x cth, 6x or 7x BTK, 9x JMP lol.

I think one more draft and I'll be right in where I want to be. I just need to find that cash money WR. Oh and I realized now that power running is not equal to speed running.

[MLB58]

I use the Steelers playbook and I also use the Steelers. My skill players statistically look much like yours at this point, except Roethlisberger is slower obviously.

For running, the key is reading your blocks and letting plays develop. There are plays in almost all formations that ought to work. I don't run out of single back much at all, but other than that there are all kinds of blasts and dives that can work great for 5-6 yards a pop, breaking one occasionally, but you have to follow your blocks. There are counters in almost every form that work. I've found that I need to feel teams out to see whether they are more vulnerable to misdirection or straight ahead type plays. I gave up on trying to scout them in that pregame section, it never works out.

Passing: With slower wideouts you aren't going to run by anyone, but you can trick teams into big gains. There are a few bunch form plays in single back and shot gun where the middle receiver (WR3) will run a flag and the inside guy (TE) will run a post. If you read it right you can have some big gains even with slow WRs. Whenever the defense brings the safeties up to the line I like to check to a play action pass. I have one to the slot receiver running a post from a twins set, and one to the TE running a post from an I form. They both work reasonably well and can result in big gains. There are also a ton of plays where WRs run hook routes in several formations. I love those routes, you can march right down the field with 5-6 different plays in a row when things are humming. There is a play called TE leak that I like a lot. I read the OLB, if he take the TE I dump to the FB, if he come up on the FB I try to hit the TE on hs outside shoulder. There is a play in one of the strong I set called PA WR drag or something like that. I call it to the wide side of the field, usually I throw the out to the TE, the second option is the drag. I guess I use my TE a lot, and Heath Miller only has 76 SPD. I also use a lot of shotgun, the 4 wide set especially. I think there's a lot in the Steelers playbook that works well with average personnel.

[realhawker]

I don't care much for the ATL book but I may be forced into using it again. I used it alot with Omar Jacobs and some other fast QBs I drafted. Also the Denver book is good.

I'm chugging along pretty good right now with the NO playbook. I just need some guys that can catch and get upfield.

I find myself yearning for some of the WR beasts I had in other franchises who has 9x speed, 6x str, 9x cth, 6x or 7x BTK, 9x JMP lol.

I think one more draft and I'll be right in where I want to be. I just need to find that cash money WR. Oh and I realized now that power running is not equal to speed running.

told ya the NO playbook was hot.

[Brutal Attack]

It is pretty good. It's like the bastard child, everyone forgets it's even around. It works pretty well with less than ideal personnel.

[surlacher54]

I use the san diego playbook and have the #1 offense then again i do have leinart moss and porter and no i didn't trade for the #1 pick i earned fair and square by losing the most =[

[Elandil Eldaron]

Well i do think you have a good personnel in your 2nd year franchise. So maybe if your offense is struggling is because of playbook or playcalling ?
You have 2 good running backs, no doubt about that, 2 good receivers, bradley seems quite fast for the deep ball, 92 spd and 96 acc and 95 jmp is enough to make plays in Madden 2006.

[surlacher54]

stop sucking?

[Elandil Eldaron]

HBs: Thomas Jones: SPD:90 STR:73 CTH:70 CAR:95 BTK:91
Cedric Benson: SPD :88 STR:76 CTH:62 CAR:87 BTK:86
Alley Broussard (rookie): SPD:87 STR:76 CTH:65 CAR:82 BTK:91

as you can see none of my backs can catch so that hampers my 3rd downs somewhat. The good thing is both Benson and Broussard have decent PBK and RBK in the high 40s.


Well, 70 catching for Thomas is pretty good for a running back, especially if you throw to him in the backfield, or on some PA Pass. Of course your running back isn't going to catch deep routes in the traffic.


WRs: Mushin Muhammad 6'2": SPD: 90 ACC: 87 CTH: 94 JMP:86 BTK:60
Mark Bradley 6'1": SPD: 92 ACC: 96 CTH: 86 JMP:95 BTK:58
Justin Gage 6'4": SPD: 86 ACC:88 CTH: 77 JMP:94
Martin Nance (rookie) 6'5": SPD: 90 ACC: 92 CTH:77 JMP: 88

As you can see I have mostly posession guys with no real down field threats besides Bradley who I can occasionally get deep with on a PA pass. Not only are theses guys slow but they also cannot catch. Gage in particular drops alot of critical 3rd down passes because we all know that the slot guy has the best routes.

I think you have pretty good receivers, i mean i could turn Bradley into a beast with his physical tools, 92 spd, 96 acc and 95 jmp. Muhammad is pretty good also, not explosive, but i'm pretty sure he catches all the intermediate routes he's thrown too (94 catch). So try to playcall some calls with routes that are made for your receivers or even playmaker some routes. Muhammad won't be a deep threat that's for sure, but i'm sure he has a lot of awareness and can find the soft spots in coverage. So if your line protect well and you have time to let him develop his route and then throw to him, he's gonna be a threat. The key is presence in the pocket, stay cool and not hurry your throws, i don't know if you're comfortable with the cone and precision passing so it's hard to say.


As you can see I'm lacking quite a few things in terms of key personnel. I seem to have the best luck running out of the I form and then PA passing out of I form or an offset I. However, it's a ball control offense whether I want it to be or not and I definitely cannot explode upfield much. Which is fine it's just not what I'm used to. I'm currently thinking of spending a 2nd round pick to get Matt Jones. I'd rather use the guys I have if I can figure out a way to make it work. Anyone is encouraged to comment.

Like i said i think it's more about playcalling, a playbook that suits more your personnel, or even changing some plays at the line of scrimmage that can change your offense in a really good offense. It's true you're running a ball control offense, and there's no problem with that unless it doesn't suit your playstyle. But to explode upfield, you have to be patient, pound the rock, pound the rock, then PA pass downfield, it's pretty much the same in the NFL except for some pass frenzy offense, i mean running the ball will open up the passing game, and the passing game will open up the running game. So try to find the good balance in your play calling. Also try to remind that each team you're face has different style, different defense philosophy, so try to gameplan a little bit, and try to find the weakness of your opponents. Madden franchise isn't like you come in a game and face the CPU with the same plays week in, week out. Let's say you're gonna face a terrible pass defense with a poor secondary, try to be agressive in the game, pass on first down, try to move the ball through the air early in the game.

[baseballtr7]

do some scrambling w/ ur 88spd 90 acc QB. If no one is open, run w/ the football.
Also, on outs, and other routes that go to the sideline, run next to the reciever, and when the defender leaves the reciever to tackle you, dump it off to the reciever. If the Defender stays guarding the reciever, then run.

[Brutal Attack]

stop sucking?

Whatever. I'm not a newb. I just feel like one. Maybe I upped the sliders when I started a new chise.

[surlacher54]

sorry i just ran out of suggestions

[samnc3]

I agree that your backs have a good catching rating.
I play the Steelers, and use the Balanced playbook. It has a set called Full House, you get a TE, HB, and a FB in the backfield. Your tackles better be able to hold! One play sends the tight end around one side, the FB around the other, and fakes to the HB, which usually pulls the line up. A lot of coverages leave the FB and TE wide open.
Also, on third down, run your WR in a post, and your TE on the same side in an out that corresponds to or is past the down marker. Even with a corner on each, when the WR cuts in on his post, the DB covering your TE pauses, either because he's cut off by the WR's route, or he has to choose who he's going with. Sometimes the two CB's swap, leaving the TE wide open and in front of his new cover guy. Other times, they keep the same, but the pause gets your TE open for a quick drop and a 1st down.
Also, for running plays, I use Singleback big and run a counter. You have two WRs, so they have to protect the pass a little. And if more than 7 get in the box, I audible to a pass, because you have two TE's as well. Even a 3 yard gain will keep them honest and back them up for a few plays.