Madden NFL 09 Strategy Guide

Franchise Mode
You just take a team for as many seasons as you want (I think the cap is 60 or something). It’s just a basic franchise mode, with light scouting elements that probably don’t help much. Trades with the CPU are hard, so you’ll pick up many players in free agency if you need to improve quickly. If you don’t do well, you could be fired.

There is an option to go into a fantasy draft, but I haven’t even gotten there yet.

Superstar Mode
I haven’t done this either, but it’s just you become one player and follow  him through the NFL. Fun.

Virtual Trainer
This is a little different from the Madden Test. For one, you have very similar drills to go over, but they are ten rounds long and come in three levels of  difficulty. You start on Easy for each and work your way up.

Rushing ——- I’m sure they tell Madden, “You see, the key to running in football if pressing the correct button as it appears over the defenders head.”

Using Blockers – You need to reach the endzone 7 times for all of these. This one is easy as you can just keep stopping until your blockers catch up and  block the defenders. On easy you can literally just press up, not sprint, and you’ll make it. For the other levels,

*NOTE: You also get set back further and further for each attempt. And don’t forget you can use your moves if you like. Never sprint, and resist the urge to move left or right too harshly.*

Using Special Moves – It’s simply press the button before the defender reaches you, or even as he is tackling you in some cases. It’s pretty stupid as it really doesn’t help you understand real football or arcade football, just  pressing buttons at the right time – go play Guitar Hero! Each difficulty  means the defenders get faster and the button is displayed later, because  that’s how real men play football!

Both – Eh, just take the blocking and add buttons over the defenders’ heads, nothing new here.

Passing ——-

Pocket Presence – This one is kinda fun. The idea is to stay in the pocket  (the light circle on the ground), avoid the rush, and then pass. You are  getting a sense of how to use your blockers, as they can only block in front of them. If you don’t pass when the receiver appears another defender will be coming at ya. Often, the safest place to be is at your blocker’s back. For the medium level, don’t be afraid to use the whole pocket. Moving up or  toward the defenders sometimes is the only thing you can do, but staying still won’t work. For the last level, I guess luck is all you got because your  blockers are dumb and you can’t move, so best of luck.

Throwing to Receivers – The idea is to throw the ball as the receiver is  taking his angle in the route (the cut), and placing the ball so only he can get it (precision passing, aka “touch”). You apply touch by pushing the LS to where you want the ball to go relative to the receiver, either to the left/ right or high/low. The linebacker is terrible, and he only factors into inside routes. For level two you have two choices, and it really makes it easier as you still don’t have a pass rush. Level three adds a tight end and takes away the play art, so the test is whether or not you can anticipate the open  receiver, which is bad for the outside guys as they could be running crazy routes. Look to mainly complete to the TE, or crossing routes, unless you  know to take some gambles. And of course, throw bullet passes, not lobs.

*NOTE: Press coverage is when the cornerback is close to the receiever, and  after the snap the CB will push into the WR before letting him go. If you are still standing in the pocket after this, pass to that WR immediately.*

Both – Well, the golden rule is to not watch the pocket, but you can peek a  bit to see if the one rusher is going outside or not. But you can pretty much  just step back a bit, wait for the WR to get open, and then throw. Level two is not much harder, just have to be real careful between reading zone and man, and even then feel free to pass the ball high. Level three is tight end time, but of course the CPU will know this and sometimes double team the TE. Again, luck is needed because you have no clue what your guys are running.

Rush Defense ————

Avoiding Blockers – The easiest thing is to run toward the blocker, then  sprint for the RB and press the high stick. Don’t forget you can use engaged moves, finesse or power to elude blockers. For level two, again, run to the blockers and then cut to the RB. If he keeps going straight, use one of the  moves and go after him. For level three, just zig zag to the blockers and then cut outside to get the RB; that’s the only thing I got to work. The key to know is that you are faster than the blockers, so feel free to outrun them to the sidelines.

Tackle Moves – These are tricky, but just like rushing buttons. The only real difference is that when you miss, sprint after the RB and maybe you can get a  second chance. For level two, try to mainly corner the RB so he has little room to move, usually meaning you want him to run into your dummy blocker so you  have time to catch up and tackle with ease. Level three

Both – This one is mainly about the tackler portion, so review that if you  need help. Remember, lure in the blockers and then go outside. You can even fall back on just running to the endzone if you’re beat.

Pass Defense ————

Rushing the Passer – Where and when you use the move is key here, but on easy it really doesn’t matter. Level two, keep in mind you don’t have to use the moves, and sometimes the blocker will not block you. Also, if you run into a  blocker so that the QB is at the blocker’s side, you can just press over and  you’ll unblock and go to the QB. Level three is simple because you can just run into the middle blocker, then there’s nothing they can do if you just keep holding down, you’ll run right into the QB no matter what. Well, not totally, but pretty much.

Pass Coverage – Easy is simple because you have the route. Just stay between the rout and the QB and press the intercept button (TRI or Y) and you’ll pass with flying colors – or a firm slap on the behind. Actually, unless you are  really good at judging your depth on the field, you may want to use the swat button instead. The key is to stay with the receiver or else the QB may pass to where you can’t touch it. On medium, you need to negate at least one route and hope the QB throws a bad pass. For slants, just park in the middle. Don’t forget, you can swith to the CB’s after a throw, and for this phase you may want to use the swat button only. But really, it beats me how this tests  anything as you can’t play two people at once, and if the other CB is out of position, how is that my fault? Good luck.

Both – Eh, just combinations of rushing and coverage. You can maybe use the LB in coverage if you like.

=========== Madden Test ===========

See the above section, or the Virtual Trainer right above.