Madden NFL 06 Tips and Glitches (Xbox)

For the first time in 10 years, the Madden franchise has revolutionized its passing game, giving Madden NFL 06 the most groundbreaking and innovative offensive arsenal ever created. The new QB Vision Control lets you scan the field, look off defenders, and make perfect throws within your unique field of vision. Formation-specific audibles and smart routes that allow receivers to extend their patterns to pick up crucial yardage have been added to beef up the passing attack. Now you can play the game in a whole new way in NFL Superstar mode by guiding an up-and-coming collegiate All-Star on his path to become an NFL All-Pro-complete with endorsements, agents, and more. Pick apart defenses and become an NFL legend with Madden NFL 06, the only licensed and true-to-life NFL experience.

Gameplay Tips

Get a Tutor
With EA SPORTS now owning the NFL exclusive license, we may see an influx of gamers coming over from other franchises. Whether you're new to Madden or just new to football games in general, you need to watch the tutorial videos. I know, you don't usually mess with tutorials-but these do an excellent job of dissecting the basic gameplay elements of the series, as well as offering video concerning the major new additions to the game (such as QB Vision Control).

QB Vision Control
The new QB Vision Control system highlights the area of the field your quarterback sees. Move this vision cone with the right thumbstick as the play develops (simulating a QB's progressions) to find your open receiver and complete the pass. It's a huge addition to a game that helps even the odds between a QB with great running ability (think Michael Vick) and one with great vision (think Peyton Manning).

It also adds a great strategic element before the ball is snapped. The vision cone will automatically highlight the area around your primary receiver when the play begins, but if you see that something's amiss (an oncoming blitz or double coverage on your primary, for example), switch out your primary receiver (perhaps to the running back on a short out pattern). Use this feature often, especially against defensive-minded players who like to outguess your offense.

Use

the Momentum
Stopping on a dime with instant change in direction has been a staple of sports games for years, but Madden 06 and its immediate predecessor have done a great job of eliminating this, causing players to move with realistic momentum. What's more, you can use this to your advantage.

On defense, box a player in by running in at an angle, but not going for the direct tackle. As they attempt to stop, turn, and go the other way, their momentum change will give you the time you need to make the tackle or allow another defender to come in and do the job for you. On offense, pull back on the right thumbstick when running with the ball to throw off defenders as they streak down at a hard angle for the tackle. This causes a stutter-step, and with any luck the defender flies past you.

Defensive Audibles
No, I'm not talking about plays, I'm talking about recognition. All the defensive upgrades from last year's Madden are back, and they need the same degree of knowledge to use effectively. Make sure you have a good understanding of on-the-fly defensive audibles (e.g., make your free safety double up on the outside right receiver, put a linebacker on QB spy patrol, shift the lineman and linebackers, move up the D-backs for bump and run coverage), and use them constantly.

The Quick Snap
Defensive audibles are crucial, but get around them on offense by not wasting time. First and ten and you want to surprise the defense with five wide-outs? Don't let them adjust at the line. Pick your play, run up to the line of scrimmage, and snap the ball before they know what hit them. If they're too worried about proper coverage, let them waste a timeout.

Truck and Hit Sticks
Last year premiered the Hit Stick, analog control with the right thumbstick when setting up a devastating tackle. This year introduces the Truck Stick, where the ball carrier lowers his shoulder and flattens defenders. Both features call for a reasonable degree of patience. Don't use either unless you're sure of the situation.

On defense, if you don't connect with the tackle, you're going to allow a substantial gain. On offense, don't lower the shoulder if jukes and spins would better serve the situation. If you do, by the time you break the tackle, another defender jumps your position.

Online play tips
It's the players that stick to a variable game plan that cause problems. When playing online you will typically encounter one of five basic styles of play:

Ground Pounder
The player that runs the ball to drain the clock is one of the most frustrating opponents to compete against. All they worry about is scoring and using up enough time so that you have to race your offense down the field against time. You encounter this type of player at the Madden Challenge.

When defending against the ground pounder, it's important to keep good pursuit angles. The majority of ground pounders watch for the defense to over-pursue, and then take advantage of cut back lanes or out of position players.

Clock Baller
The clock baller is a different monster. Skill-wise they are easier to deal with than the ground pounder, but they are more frustrating. Jump out on them quickly or attack them with a balanced offense of running and passing to drain the clock and force them to go to the air. This may sound like a contradiction, but in reality you fight fire with fire.

Aerial Assault
Moving the ball through the air has always been the method of choice for most players. There are three main styles of the Aerial Assault Offense. There are the "dink and dunk" coaches, who run a west coast-style offense. There are "variable range" players who run short, medium, and deep routes to move the ball downfield.

Manning's favorite receiver, Marvin Harrison.
Finally there are "chuck it deep" players, the ones who drop back 15 or 20 yards and frantically lob it up to their best receiver in hopes he will come down with it more often than the defense does. If you have played online recently, you know what I'm talking about.

Dink and Dunk
The dink and dunk offense is effective, but the player must be able to read coverages and know his team's offensive pass plays. This type of player is dangerous because they use every receiver, and it's difficult to figure out where they are going with the ball.

Variable Range
The second aerial assault player is one who throws short, medium, and deep. These are the hardest players to defend against. They use all their receivers just like dink and dunkers, but are not afraid to go up top every once in a while. To defend against them, disguise your defenses by using the defensive Playmaker, coverage audibles, manually moving defenders, and blitzing.

Chuck It Deep
Finally there are the "chuck it up" players, also known as the Hail Mary offense. These players normally cannot read pass coverages. Their only source of offense is to drop back 20 yards and launch it deep in hopes that their top receiver will pull it down.

I can bet that you'll laugh a lot while checking out this glitch. I know I did: