Yes another Madden '03 thread...

[Guest kkktookmybabyaway]

Sorry, but I gotta get this off my chest.

 

OK, so I got tired of playing against QBs who threw for 500 yards against me despite a secondary where my lowest rated guy is 84. I adjusted the sliders down one for the computer's pass accuracy and catching ability last night.

 

Fast forward to just 5 minutes ago. I'm beating up the Indy Colts (franchise mode), and I'm wondering if I made the sliders too easy. Granted their QB is awful and I was on point when picking coverages and who to double at the right time. I give the catching ability the normal slider and the very next play their WR -- some guy with a 70s rating -- scores on a 71-yard catch. Of course he was double covered, but I gave it a pass. After all, my one guy went for the swat and missed, thus giving the receiver a chance to get free from my strong safety.

 

On the next drive, the Colts pass their way to a 40-yard TD strike. Of course, once again, the guy was double covered and managed to make a one-handed grab on a pass that was thrown just as the QB was leveled. This drive also had several catches made in double coverage. I re-did the slider, but the damage was done and I lost. Of course my receivers like Chrebet (sp?) were dropping just about anything and everything thrown to them.

 

*Slaps face*

 

OK, that feels better...

[Guest Will Scarlet]

Out of curiosity, what level do you play on? I have found that playing on Pro level is an absolute bitch, as my players that I do not control largely play like crap for most of the game. I find All-Pro to be much easier, because the players I do not control usually play up to their levels, as my receivers catch everything thrown to them, and my defense can usually come up with big plays. I never understood why that is though.

[Guest DrTom]

I play on Pro and rarely have those problems. In my franchise, my highest-rated DB has an 84, and I just held Kurt Warner to a 42% completion rate, 160 yards, and 0 TD. My QB (Aaron Brooks) on the other hand, racked up 195 yards passing, a 66% completion rate, and a TD. I won 20-3.

 

I generally play 4-3 defenses, blitz more than half the time, and favor zone defense over man-to-man. In obvious passing downs, I switch to the Nickel package; against an empty backfield, I truck the Dime out onto the field.

[Guest jimmy no nose]

I play on All Madden with the sliders right in the middle and I usually give up 1 or 2 big catches to their 3 and 4 recievers each game, but will hold their 1 and 2 guys to a total of like 50 yards. I usually give up about 250 passing yards a game, maybe because about 1/4 of my team salary is in my secondary.

[Guest kkktookmybabyaway]

I play on All-Pro -- the pro level is way too easy, although it's a nice level to start out at...

 

I've recently tampered with the sliders. Aside from my aforementioned adjustments, I also gave my O-line hosses an extra click in support in the pass protection category -- I was having people like Tra Thomas in previous franchises getting constantly bulldozed by average DEs.

 

With these new adjustments I'm getting some more realistic stats. What gets me in a tizzy is how the computer sometimes plays "superman" with its receivers, especially when they're in double coverage. But now it's all good.

 

Like I said before, I can handle getting burned deep, but with a secondary featuring Champ Baily, Antonine Winfield, Brian Dawkins and Adam Archuluta I don't expect miracle catches 20 times a game, especially when I never blitz any of them...

[Guest ant_7000]

My Question is why is it hard to kick?

[Guest MarvinisaLunatic]

On Madden 2002, I find it impossible to hold the recievers down the whole game, so I usually try to play really tight pass defense early and try to get a 2 score lead and then lax it a little bit. When they inevitably hit the big play, I tighten up again and go back and score again. Id rather them hit the big play in this situation then when its a close game, although it has happened a few times. I have the best Rush defense in the league, cause like the real world, the computer doesnt run the ball much when they are down two scores or more. But I give up a ton of yards passing. I suppose it all levels out..

[Guest DrTom]

My Question is why is it hard to kick?

Actually, I think kicking is the easiest thing to do in Madden. Press the button at the top of the power curve, and again somewhere within the accuracy bar. If you want a bigger margin for error, pick kickers whose accuracy rating (KA) is over 90, or as close to that as you can. I usually end up with one of the Gramatica brothers (both accurate, though Martin has the stronger leg), but I've also done well with scrubs like Brad Daluiso for my PK.

[Guest MrRant]

Hardest part for me is sometimes I just get SHUTDOWN with the running game. Even if I have Faulk and all my O-Line is at least 82. Fucking pisses me off. At least there are passes to Faulk 2 yards from the line of scrimmage.

[Guest Kingpk]

Just think of the kick meter as one from a golf game.

[Guest ant_7000]

My team is the Eagles and Akers has a 92 rating, everytime I go for a 30-40 yard field goal and the wind is blowing left (lets say 7-10 mph) and the ball is on the right hash mark so I don't move the arrow and let the wind hook it and it never hooks, or when I do move the arrow slightly to the direction of the wind it always goes wide. My problem is I never get a stop on 3rd down plays and get beat on down field plays cuz I never seem to get a good pass rush out of my D-Line.

[Guest El Hijo Del Lunatic]

I have found that playing on Pro level is an absolute bitch, as my players that I do not control largely play like crap for most of the game.

 

You can't give them a chance to. That's the trick to Madden, I think - keeping the ball out of the computer's hands at all costs. You can't RELY on them to do anything right sometimes, so you gotta kind of suck it up and find ways to not let that happen. For me, this involves a lot of quick throws on offense (usually to recievers running deep routes, so the safeties are backing up). The computer players don't seem to drop bullet throws when they're wide-open. On defense, I've been switching to the D-back once the pass is in the air of late - it's easier to get a hand on it, it seems, when I do it myself. Or I'll just bring a shitload of pressure to be sure the pass doesn't get thrown.

 

I generally play 4-3 defenses, blitz more than half the time, and favor zone defense over man-to-man. In obvious passing downs, I switch to the Nickel package; against an empty backfield, I truck the Dime out onto the field.

 

You know, I tend to agree with you. I used to play strictly man-to-man defense, rushing seven guys, and that'd work, but the opposing QB would have terribly weird-looking stats. I'm talking 7-19 for 235 yards and two scores or something asinine like that. So lately, in long-yardage situations (usually 3rd-and-8 or so), I've been throwing a lot of dime prevent at offenses. I'll usually take the lone linebacker out of coverage (he's only covering short passes over the middle, which the computer rarely seems to throw). When the computer throws to a WR in the dime, I've got a safety that I can take control of to bat the ball away. It's not perfect - once in a while you get beat deep anyway, plus this opens up the underneath game. I played on All-Pro against the Rams this way today and Warner went 23-41 for 247 yards and no TDs. That, to me, is better than shutting down the underteath stuff and seeing a line like 14-41 for 367 yards and 3 scores.

 

Actually, I think kicking is the easiest thing to do in Madden.

 

It's a lot easier than it used to be. It used to be that you had to aim your kick as the power meter was going, and I was never coordinated enough to think about both things at once.

 

Hardest part for me is sometimes I just get SHUTDOWN with the running game. Even if I have Faulk and all my O-Line is at least 82. Fucking pisses me off. At least there are passes to Faulk 2 yards from the line of scrimmage.

 

Look around for a running play that gets the back into the hole quickly. The plays that I use in Madden games to get my struggling running back on track are always out of the Pro Formation, because you've got your running back lined up to the side of the quarterback. That way, I can call a blast play between the guard and tackle, and all the RB has to do is run north-southto hit the hole. And as long as you occasionally run on a weird down - second and 11 or something - you should be fine.

 

My team is the Eagles and Akers has a 92 rating, everytime I go for a 30-40 yard field goal and the wind is blowing left (lets say 7-10 mph) and the ball is on the right hash mark so I don't move the arrow and let the wind hook it and it never hooks, or when I do move the arrow slightly to the direction of the wind it always goes wide.

 

Your best bet there is to drop the arrow down a little bit and kick a low line drive. You don't really have to worry about kicks being blocked, so if there's wind, kicking a laser beam is the easiest way to do it.

 

LUNATIC

- Pimpin' ho's and clockin' a grip like my name was Dolemite.

[Guest MrRant]

Hardest part for me is sometimes I just get SHUTDOWN with the running game. Even if I have Faulk and all my O-Line is at least 82. Fucking pisses me off. At least there are passes to Faulk 2 yards from the line of scrimmage.

 

Look around for a running play that gets the back into the hole quickly. The plays that I use in Madden games to get my struggling running back on track are always out of the Pro Formation, because you've got your running back lined up to the side of the quarterback. That way, I can call a blast play between the guard and tackle, and all the RB has to do is run north-southto hit the hole. And as long as you occasionally run on a weird down - second and 11 or something - you should be fine.

I've actually tried that. Its not so much breaking out. Its that all of a sudden the 'backers just blow through my line. I can gain maybe a yard or two using motion or a two-TE set.

[Guest kkktookmybabyaway]

Kicking is easy -- it's funny because Seb. Janikowski, who's on my team, as of Week 10 is the front-runner for league MVP. I love kicking 55 yarders...

[Guest DrTom]

Hardest part for me is sometimes I just get SHUTDOWN with the running game. Even if I have Faulk and all my O-Line is at least 82. Fucking pisses me off.

A couple things:

 

I tend to draft strong tackles (86+ ratings, and good at both kinds of blocking) and a center in the same range, but I've always had good results with guards in the 70's.

 

Running outside sweeps and pitches is often effective. Especially with a back like Faulk, who can both make people miss and stiff-arm past them. If you have the Singleback/Twins TE formation in your playbook (with both tight ends on the same side of the O-line), try a sweep or a pitch to that side. Get outside the TE's, pick up a receiver's block, and you should get good yardage. My running backs are usually good (I have Shaun Alexander on my fantasy-drafted franchise), but they're never MARSHALL MARSHALL MARSHALL~! good, and I routinely get 90-125 yards rushing per game.

[Guest DrTom]

I used to play strictly man-to-man defense, rushing seven guys, and that'd work, but the opposing QB would have terribly weird-looking stats. I'm talking 7-19 for 235 yards and two scores or something asinine like that.

I had the same problem, Lunatic. I remember one game I played where I completely hosed the running game, but the opposing QB was 8/18 for 266 yards and two TD's. I still won, but his TD's both came on 70-80 yard bombs where the receiver would catch the ball, get past the one DB near him, and be gone. Since I've gone to the zone as my default coverage scheme, that doesn't happen anymore. I still play man and blitz when I think a run is coming, but I've yet to be burned for a long gain with that coverage on the field.

 

BTW, my roommate uses the prevent defense when he's up late in the game, and it always burns him. He rarely comes from ahead to lose, but he always gets torched on a couple plays, and the final score is closer than it should have been.

[Guest kkktookmybabyaway]

Well you know what they say about the prevent defense -- it prevents you from winning...

[Guest redbaron51]

i'm a 3-4 defence lover. I don't like to blitz much, but I find that defence is best against short passes, especially its a quick toss.

 

Its also pretty good when they stack the line, and you can bunch in because you know that they might triple team on a guy, and with the right play can cost them big yards

[Guest kkktookmybabyaway]

Actually, I don't mind which formation to play as. Since I got Dom Capers as my coach I'm playing 3-4.

 

Out of curiousity, for those that did the fantasy draft, who did you select? I'll post mine up when I get the chance (Perhaps it should come under a different thread?)...

[Guest Lethargic]

By the way....anybody wanna buy Madden 2003 for Xbox?

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...1380626745&rd=1

[Guest kkktookmybabyaway]

If I had an Xbox I would...

[Guest redbaron51]

I all ready have it

 

bought it for 67.99

[Guest kkktookmybabyaway]

$67 !@#$%

 

Wait, you live north of the border. Nevermind.

 

I traded in 5/6 games at an EB I frequent and the chick gave it to me.

 

J/C, up in Canada are there like CFL games you can get? Just wondering...

[Guest cartman]

The EB near me had a deal, trade in 3 PS2 games get Madden '03 free!

[Guest redbaron51]

KKK:

 

My student card lets me get tax off on EB or 40 dollars off anything over 125.

 

 

and no...there are no CFL games up here.

[Guest kkktookmybabyaway]

Bummer. It would seem like an entertaining game. Very pass-oriented...

[Guest redbaron51]

and it would be hard...I mean the run game would be tricky if you love to pound the way through.

 

Also it would be neat on some of the rules and bigger fields, I mean imagine 5 offencive players moving all at once, and no fair catches...it would be a challenge for sure.

 

Hopefully they can get some detail in the stadiums like Skydome which not even half of the seats are filled