Madden NFL 09 Strategy Guide

Here is a rundown of all the teams in what is called the “weaker” division in the NFL. It’s due to the thought that only a handful of teams could beat  whoever wins the AFC, while the AFC has many top teams.

Key

Rating: offense + defense = overall** Key Weapons: best offensive options minus the QB; best defensive options for you to play Strength: best thing on this team Weakness: one thing far below the rest

*NOTE: All of this is partly subjective on my part, but I try to stay honest about it all. See, I put my hated Cowboys first, then my Eagles.*

**These will change, and I know they are not right at the time of this posting, but the ratings and players are mostly in the same ballpark. Teams will change up until the trade deadline, around week 6 or so in real time.

======== < NFC East >   ========

Dallas Cowboys ————–

Rating: 96 Key Weapons: TO, Barber, Witten; Ware (OLB), Hamlin (FS) Strength: offense Weakness: defensive line

The Cowboys have one of the most talented teams in the NFL, and luckily for  you there is no choke factor in Madden. The only weakness on offense is the  fact that there is little behind Terrell Owens at WR. Romo has passing and  scrambling abilities, as well as the ability to evade some tackles. Couple  that with Jason Witten and Owens and you have short passing and play action potential on every play.

The running backs are not gamebusters, but they offer speed and power. Marion Barber is the work horse that gets you past 4th and 1 and goal line punches.  Felix Jones lets you run laterally, but he’s a rookie so don’t rely on him in clutch downs.

The defense is solid all around. DeMarcus Ware is one of the best LB’s in the game, and the rest of his LB corps is great too, and they need to be to cover up the weakness in the d-line. Running offenses can find success up the middle, but passing plays should look for zone coverage and pass through Roy Williams, one of the worst zone defenders in the game.
Philadelphia Eagles ——————-

Rating: 91 Key Weapons: Westbrook, Curtis/Brown, Jackson, Smith; Dawkins (FS) Strength: secondary Weakness: LB

The Iggles offer a team that is very close to being elite. Donovan McNabb is no longer the scramble-first QB of old, but he can still move around. He’s one of  the stronger QB’s in the game and always leaves open the threat of a deep  bomb.

Brian Westbrook is quite possibly the best all around offensive weapon in the  NFL. He’s a great RB alone, but combine that with the fact that he can act as  a WR on every play and the offensive potential is there for every play. If the defense is playing run-defense, audible to passing play and send B-West into a hot route.

The Eagle receiving corps is not great, but it does provide depth. Reggie Brown and Kevin Curtis take a Randy Moss and split him into two – Brown being tall and Curtis being fast. Playing in the shotgun puts in the rest of the  WR’s, mainly fast-guy Jackson, onto the field. Jackson is way fast, FYI.

For defense you have talent all around, except in the linebacking corps. Where you may find trouble stopping the run you will not find such stopping the pass. This is the best secondary in the NFL, with only Quinten Mikell the “weak”  link at SS, and he isn’t horrible by any means. Heck, even the average LB’s can make a few plays.

New York Giants —————

Rating: 94 Key Weapons: Burress; Pierce (MLB), try Phillips (FS) Strength: offensive line Weakness: defense

The Super Bowl Champs, or “the team that got hot at the right time to reach the Super Bowl and then got REALLY lucky to win the Super Bowl” don’t offer much talent at the key positions. Eli is kindly a better QB in this game than in reality, but aside from Plaxico there aren’t many playmakers he can pass  to.

You’ll rely almost completely on the running game, which is bolstered by the  great offensive line. Jacobs and the other RB’s offer all kinds of running styles, but aren’t spectacular at anything.

The defense isn’t terrible, but it too offers little. You have one of the best pass rushing d-lines in the game with Osi and Tuck at defensive ends. Antonio Pierce helps stopping the run. The rest of the defense is better than most, but still not great.
Washington Redskins ——————-

Rating: 88 Key Weapons: Portis, Moss, Randle El; Fletcher (MLB), Landry (SS) Strength: defense Weakness: passing

The Redskins really don’t do anything exceptionally well, but you have spots of goodness. Jason Campbell could one day be a great QB, but at the moment he offers the classic run-first talents of scrambling QB’s. His speedy WR’s help in crossing routes, but these receivers are short and not reliable over  the middle.

Clinton Portis is an above-average elusive back. Offense goes through him  since defenders won’t worry too much about the pass. You’ll need to get a run game going with Portis or you could see pass coverage every down until you  prove otherwise.

The defense does well enough, with great LB’s and a deep secondary. The d-line doesn’t stand out, so rely on the other positions to bring pressure and stop  the run.

========= < NFC North >   =========

Green Bay Packers —————–

Rating: 91 Key Weapons: Driver, Jennings, Grant; Hawk (OLB) Strength: defense Weakness: no Brett Favre (aka Aaron Rogers)

Brett Favre wasn’t gamebuster on the team, and Aaron Rogers doesn’t help this  team’s passing attack at all. You have two great WR’s in Jennings and Driver, but it just depends on whether Rogers can get the ball to them.

Ryan Grant offers a bruising running game, but he’s not a gamebuster either.  Just like the Giants, you’ll need to establish a running attack with Grant to  open up the Rogers passing game.

The Packer defense is solid all around, with great CB’s, decent safeties,  two strong LB’s, and great DE’s. This is one of the better balanced defenses in the game. You’ll need them too to cover up for the “rookie” QB.
Minnesota Vikings —————–

Rating: 90 Key Weapons: AD (Peterson), Rice; Henderson (MLB), Sharper (SS) Strength: Adrian Peterson Weakness: QB

Another team with all the pieces in place except for QB. Tarvaris Jackson has  potential to be the next Donovan McNabb, but the arm isn’t there. He’s the  classic run-first scrambling QB, and along with AD you can overkill your run game and then allow passing.

Speaking of AD, which is All Day, Adrian Peterson is the man-child out of OU that will be one of the legends of the game if he stays healthy. He combines  power with speed, and he can catch if needed. Seeing 8 in the box isn’t much of a problem, but anything less and the defense has made a huge mistake.

The Viking defense has one glaring flaw, the backfield. Up front you have the best defensive line in the game in Jared Allen and the two Williams. You have Sharper at SS, Winfield at CB, and Henderson at MLB, but other than that the rest of the backfield is average at best. Feel free to use 4-3 zones or nickels to make sure all your bases are covered.
Chicago Bears ————-

Rating: 80 Key Weapons: Hester; Urlacher(MLB)/Briggs(OLB), Brown (FS) Strength: defense Weakness: offense

A team in the Super Bowl a few years ago. You can only hope you have Rex in at QB as he at least offers the deep ball. Sadly, that is the highlight of the  offense believe it or not. You better find ways to get Devin Hester on offense because you’ll need him. No run game, no true WR’s, and all you have is Hester.

Speaking of him, your special teams may be your best bet at making offense.  Hester will go down as the best return man ever, so get good at reading returns and making your moves. One score with him and you’ve made up for the bad  offense.

The Bear defense is always known for being the best part of this team. Strong points are the LB’s and corners, but the safeties and linemen could use some  work. The corners help stop passes and the LB’s will stuff the run, the rest is up to your playcalling.

Detroit Lions ————-

Rating: 78 Key Weapons: Williams & Johnson; Sims (OLB), Smith (SS) Strength: WR Weakness: running

The lovable losers. You have Kitna as a decent QB, but it’s best he gets the ball quickly to one of his tall WR’s. Williams and Johnson offer possession and speed, Roy and Calvin respectively. McDonald is you slot guy with better moves than the others, so don’t be afraid to give him the ball and let him make a play.

There is no running game, so let’s move on. You’ll need to pass to set up the run, FYI.

The Lion defense is pretty lame as well. You have a good LB in Sims and one  good DT in Redding, but that’s about it. Dodden is a good enough corner, but  he is the only highlight of the secondary.
========= < NFC South >   =========

Tampa Bay Buccaneers ——————–

Rating: 91 Key Weapons: Galloway; June(OLB)/Brooks(OLB) Strength: defense Weakness: offense

It may sound odd to say this offense is a weak point if you were to be around the NFL a few years ago. Garcia, my boi, is getting old and he doesn’t have stellar weapons around him. You could probably make some strange formations  using more than one of these 3 above-average RB’s. Dunn, Graham, and Williams are toss-ups to which one is better, so it’s your call. Joey Galloway is  still a speed guy at WR, but the rest are possession guys at best.

The Buc defense is still the strength of this team. You have a strong LB corps in Brooks and June, and Ronde Barber will keep his guy mostly quiet. The other CB Buchanon is quite fast. The linemen are not bad, but not great.
New Orleans Saints ——————

Rating: 87 Key Weapons: Colston, Bush, Shockey; Vilma (MLB) Strength: offense Weakness: defense

In a complete 180 of the Bucs, the Aints offer a pro offense, but a defense that couldn’t stop USC.  Drew Brees is an extremely good QB, and he has many weapons to throw to in Colston and Shockey. Reggie Bush may not be a great  RB, but he is a solid receiver.

The running game is still solid, but not stellar. Bush is a better RB in this game than in reality, but if you can get him in space he can do good. Deuce is a power back good for short yardage. Keep in mind what RB you have on a  running play as the two are very different.

Defense is horrible for this team. You have Vilma and some good linemen, but that’s it, and I mean it. Fujita may be the best other guy on the team, but that’s not saying a whole lot. You’re giving up points, so deal with it.
Carolina Panthers —————–

Rating: 86 Key Weapons: Smith; Beason (MLB), Harris (SS) Strength: Steve Smith Weakness: running

Lucky for you, no suspensions will be served in this game. Steve Smith and Jake Delhomme are you offense, so get that straight. There is really nothing else on offense, I swear. You have to sit in the pocket and wait for Smith to be open.

The two RB’s are average and very similar, so you could toss a coin as to  which one you want to use. They are pretty inexperienced, so keep that in mind.

The defense has Peppers and Beason, but nothing spectacular anywhere else. The defense isn’t bad, but not enough to win you games.
Atlanta Falcons —————

Rating: 67 Key Weapons: White? Strength: none Weakness: all

Come on, they had some players last year, but this is a fresh team with  nothing. You have a defensive end in Abraham, and maybe a burner in Michael  Turner, but that’s it. I could talk about this team if no other team had  superstars, but most teams do and this team has none.

======== < NFC West >   ========

Seattle Seahawks —————-

Rating: 87 Key Weapons: Tatupu (MLB) Strength: defense Weakness: running

A team that is on the decline, but still tops in the NFC. Hasselbeck is in the upper tiers of QB’s, and he has decent weapons to throw to. Branch, Engram, and Burleson are all #2 wide receivers, so they aren’t bad.

Shaun Alexander could have made the run game better since his stats would have been better in this game than in real life. As it stands, you have Jones as a decent small RB, but he’s not great by any means.

The defense will keep you in all your games. Tatupu and Peterson make for  one of the best LB corps in the game, and the secondary isn’t too bad either. On the line you have Kerney, which is probably enough.
Arizona Cardinals —————–

Rating: 78 Key Weapons: Fitzgerald & Boldin, James; Wilson (SS) Strength: WR Weakness: defense

You have a great weapons, but not really a great gunslinger at QB. Warner is  a pocket passer, but Leinart isn’t much better. You’ll need to quickly get the ball to your two great wideouts, Fitz and Bold. Fitz is your big, deep threat while Boldin will make your catches over the middle.

Edge is a solid RB, and nothing to sneeze at. He’s not top-shelf material, but he’s good enough as a runner.

The defense has a decent secondary, but that’s about it. Average LB’s, one  good DT, and the rest of the line is sub-par. Expect to see a few runs against you.

St. Louis Rams ————–

Rating: 77 Key Weapons: Holt, Jackson; Witherspoon (MLB), Atogwe (FS) Strength: Steven Jackson Weakness: defense

Good for you virtual Jackson doesn’t hold out. Bulger is was supposed to be the next great QB, but he is still below the upper tiers. He’s good, but he doesn’t have much to throw to. Holt is the solid veteran, and the rest are there.

You’ll need to ram the ball up the middle with Jackson. The FB isn’t too bad either, so I formations and play actions will work really well. You’ll see 8 in the box to start games, so pass to Holt and company to open up the  space for Jackson to truck forward.

The defense is not bad, but not great. A few guys at postions, Witherspoon at MLB and Atogwe at FS, but not much else. Next year the Long guy could be better than now, or maybe as the season progresses.
San Francisco 49ers ——————-

Rating: 72 Key Weapons: Gore; Willis (MLB), Lewis (SS) Strength: defense Weakness: QB

Wow, you don’t have a QB, so don’t think otherwise. You really don’t have  much to throw to anyways. Davis at TE is good, but the rest of the wideouts are #3’s at the best.

Luckily for the passing game, you have Frank Gore to lower that FS. Gore is fast and strong, but not a gamebuster. Offense on the 49ers goes through him.

Defense is above average for this team. For the secondary, only the FS is the weak point. At the LB corps you at least have Willis, one of the best in the game, and he will have to control the run game by himself. The line isn’t  terrible, but not strong.