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chance for a loss. Don't continue to get stuck in 3rd and long situations because you can't execute on 1st and 2nd down.
Patience Behind the Line
By: Kyle Cooper
Almost every other running play in Madden that isn't the HB Slam or the FB Dive will require you to have patience in the
backfield. Just like in the real NFL, you need to allow your blocks to develop before making your move. Most Madden
players make the same mistake on every running play by simply mashing down on the sprint button to run as fast as
they can when they get the ball. However, if they had learned to use the sprint button with more appropriate timing they
could've broken many of those runs for much bigger gains.
In our example, the New Orleans Saints have come out in the I-Form Twin TE HB Swap. This play is designed for the
quarterback to turn around right after the snap and pitch the ball to the running back. Meanwhile, both the left guard
and the fullback lead with blocks to the outside.
What most people do…
An effective rushing attack is about patience. Don't be quick to mash the sprint button or you will outrun your blocking.
As quarterback Drew Brees pitches the ball to Elusive Back Reggie Bush, the two lead blockers pave the way. With
blockers outnumbering the amount of Tampa Bay Buccaneer defenders in the area, we have a chance to turn this into a
big run if we are patient in the backfield. Bush collects the ball and begins to turn upfield. We must slow down and allow
our blocks to unfold if we want to get to the outside cleanly.
But let's suppose we make a big running mistake by holding the sprint button the entire time and not allowing our lead
blockers to lock down on the approaching defenders. Now we have no protection in the open field and we must attempt
to make a move on our own. We're able to shed one tackler, but the costly second of the broken tackle animation allows
the surrounding defenders to close in. Bush is taken down at the line of scrimmage on a play that should've gone for a
big gain.
Patience pays off…
Instead of mashing the spring button immediately, let's be a bit more patient by slowing down and staying behind our
blockers until we find a seam in the defense. As Elusive Back Reggie Bush takes the pitch we follow closely behind our
blockers without sprinting ahead into the open field.
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