Honestly, i need tips on how to play madden 12

[OGKing]

I'm new to this madden stuff. Anyway, i'm a decent player, but i want to get better and my goal this year is to win 200 online games, i haven't play any online games yet quite frankly because i'm scared. I usually just run man defense most of the time, i have a couple of questions.

1) Should i choose to play man or zone based on my secondary / linebackers zone / man coverage rating?

2) I don't quite understand hot routes, like i don't know how to read the defense as well. What are you achieving when you press "show blitz" Flat zones? Curl to flat? Hook Zones? Deep 2B? Man allign? What are the benefits of running man / zone defenses? What are the disadvantages?

Sometimes i wish i didn't spend so much time watching basketball when i was younger, now i'm really starting to love football, but don't understand much.

I'm using Houston in my franchise, i'm 1-2. I really want to become good at this game.

[OGKing]

any help?

10 characters

[TNT713]

Quote: Originally Posted by OGKing

I'm new to this madden stuff. Anyway, i'm a decent player, but i want to get better and my goal this year is to win 200 online games, i haven't play any online games yet quite frankly because i'm scared. I usually just run man defense most of the time, i have a couple of questions. 2) I don't quite understand hot routes, like i don't know how to read the defense as well. What are you achieving when you press "show blitz" Flat zones? Curl to flat? Hook Zones? Deep 2B? Man allign? What are the benefits of running man / zone defenses? What are the disadvantages? Sometimes i wish i didn't spend so much time watching basketball when i was younger, now i'm really starting to love football, but don't understand much. I'm using Houston in my franchise, i'm 1-2. I really want to become good at this game.

I'll mention a few things about your statement, then get to the help portion of the post.

First, you mention that you're a 'decent' player just before listing several questions that indicate otherwise. Not to seem judgmental. Quite the opposite. Once upon a time, I was in your shoes (it's part of the reason I started my website). Fortunately, you have begun to take steps toward being better by asking the same questions that got me started years ago.

Here's a short FAQ about the defensive hot routes: Defensive Assignments

Once you sign up, there's more articles in the Strategies section that might be a good read as well. I'm writing an article specifically about formations that I expect to release on September 8th to coincide with the kickoff of the regular season as well. That said, let me address your questions specifically:

Quote:

1) Should i choose to play man or zone based on my secondary / linebackers zone / man coverage rating?

Depends on your philosophy. Football can be boiled down to three things: Personnel, Position, and Tempo.

I prefer to play man in virtually every situation (Personnel). Because I can play man coverage with 5 players, while it takes more than 5 players to zone the entire field. I also like to rush at least 4 defenders (Tempo). That leaves 2 defenders to freelance zone, double, or blitz (Position, personnel, tempo). Once the field shrinks in the red zone, I'm more likely to use zone defenses... But that's my philosophy and sometimes it doesn't work for me. Yours may be different.

Hope this helps,

Later

[petersondagreat]

Its all about Match ups and taking advantage of a teams weakness so what team do you use

[OGKing]

Quote: Originally Posted by TNT713

I'll mention a few things about your statement, then get to the help portion of the post. First, you mention that you're a 'decent' player just before listing several questions that indicate otherwise. Not to seem judgmental. Quite the opposite. Once upon a time, I was in your shoes (it's part of the reason I started my website). Fortunately, you have begun to take steps toward being better by asking the same questions that got me started years ago. Here's a short FAQ about the defensive hot routes: Defensive Assignments Once you sign up, there's more articles in the Strategies section that might be a good read as well. I'm writing an article specifically about formations that I expect to release on September 8th to coincide with the kickoff of the regular season as well. That said, let me address your questions specifically: Depends on your philosophy. Football can be boiled down to three things: Personnel, Position, and Tempo. I prefer to play man in virtually every situation (Personnel). Because I can play man coverage with 5 players, while it takes more than 5 players to zone the entire field. I also like to rush at least 4 defenders (Tempo). That leaves 2 defenders to freelance zone, double, or blitz (Position, personnel, tempo). Once the field shrinks in the red zone, I'm more likely to use zone defenses... But that's my philosophy and sometimes it doesn't work for me. Yours may be different. Hope this helps, Later

That website will help me a lot, thanks.

[rocyafellas007]

My 2 cents:

The important thing about D, imo, is to anticipate what the opponent is going to do. Obviously if they're going to run the ball, you want to load up the box or send a run blitz, if they're going to pass the ball, you want to play it differently.
You definetly DON'T want to be predictable.

There are so many tool you can use to enhance your d. I'd suggest you get into practice, and play with the d hot routes. See what they do, and figure out how they'd best be applied in a game situion---having a corner hot route to a flat zone isn't gonna help you if your opponent has been throwing bombs all day right? The same adjustment may get you a pick 6 if your opponent has been killing you in the flats. So you've got to anticipate their move, and counter appropriately. Its chess.

Get into practice and learn those d hot routes though. They're golden. Also, make use of SUBSTITUTIONS and PACKAGES as you see fit.

Keep em guessing---Zone, man, blitz, coverage, combo coverage, d line slides, show blitz. Keep em off balance.

[Antkowiak]

What do you mean by run blitz? Personally I've found that it's best to use zone coverage/zone blitzes when teams keep running off tackle, and using man blitzes when they run up the center/guards.

For OP, as for coverage types, it really depends on the yardage. If you have your opponent in a 2nd or 3rd and long, it's best to use man coverage/man blitzes or if possible, man with a bit of zone over the middle of the field because your opponent will be looking for long yardage, where using zone coverage will often leave gaps for easy catches. Sometimes though, just go with your gut. If a team has been killing you on the ground off tackle and you keep playing zone on 1st down, mix in a few occasional man coverages to keep them honest, because eventually the opponent will try to throw a deep ball.

[rocyafellas007]

Quote: Originally Posted by Antkowiak

What do you mean by run blitz? Personally I've found that it's best to use zone coverage/zone blitzes when teams keep running off tackle, and using man blitzes when they run up the center/guards. For OP, as for coverage types, it really depends on the yardage. If you have your opponent in a 2nd or 3rd and long, it's best to use man coverage/man blitzes or if possible, man with a bit of zone over the middle of the field because your opponent will be looking for long yardage, where using zone coverage will often leave gaps for easy catches. Sometimes though, just go with your gut. If a team has been killing you on the ground off tackle and you keep playing zone on 1st down, mix in a few occasional man coverages to keep them honest, because eventually the opponent will try to throw a deep ball.

By run blitzing I only mean a blitz that your sending with the intent of blowing up the run, as opposed to getting to the qb.