Madden 20 Custom Playbook & Game Plan Play Call Guide

[timhere1970]

Re: Madden 20 Custom Playbook & Game Plan Play Call Guide

Completely agree with this philosophy. I never want to tip my hand as to what I am running based off of formation alone. I'd rather run with fewer formations with more varied concepts than go with a plethora of formations while running the same basic plays.

To extend on this when making a playbook make sure to bring the formation and set up under "all plays" and check to see if there are plays you would like to add to that set as all plays from the set will not be in the team playbook you started with.

[BleachYourWork]

Re: Madden 20 Custom Playbook & Game Plan Play Call Guide

Rather than being overwhelmed by all the many different formations, personnel packages, run and pass concepts, it may help you to step back, take a breath and start slow and simple.

I would suggest picking 5 base formations and 5 nickel formations that best suit your particular preferences and roster. From there, select various types of running plays including zone, power, counters, tosses etc. Be versatile with regards to selecting your pass plays also. Select man beaters, zone beaters, plays that spread out the defense and plays that tend to clear a specific receiver.

Based on the Giants personnel, I would make sure I feature the heck out of Barkley, Engram while working some PA deep to Tate. Shepard is no slouch either.

Hit the practice field and work on what you've selected so far. See what you run well and expand upon that. Everyone has their own theories on offense and what they like best. As you continue to work through a variety of different plays, your own philosophy will be born from that.

I create a defensive playbook, but do not install a gameplan. I just don't like the way it's set up. I'm probably only up to around 140 plays in my offensive book thus far, but only bring my gameplan (60 plays) to each game. I find that to be enough.

When you create your own playbook, can you do the formation subs? In years past, i use to create my own playbooks but stopped because it canceled out formation subs in franchise mode. I haven't tried it in 19 or 20 and hate spending all the time doing that just to find out i can't use a pre game formation sub set up.

Sent from my SM-J337A using Operation Sports mobile app

[edgevoice]

Re: Madden 20 Custom Playbook & Game Plan Play Call Guide

When you create your own playbook, can you do the formation subs? In years past, i use to create my own playbooks but stopped because it canceled out formation subs in franchise mode. I haven't tried it in 19 or 20 and hate spending all the time doing that just to find out i can't use a pre game formation sub set up.

Sent from my SM-J337A using Operation Sports mobile app

To some extent, you can. Make sure that once you create your custom playbook, you must select that coach's book in CFM under scheme. That way, whatever formations that are a part of that book will allow for you to use formation subs. However, any formations that you've added that were not originally part of that playbook, will not allow for formation subs to stick.

I would suggest going through the available base playbooks and selecting the book that best represents the formations you want to use. That way, formation subs will be the most effective.

[phoenixjaidin]

Re: Madden 20 Custom Playbook & Game Plan Play Call Guide

Edge! Good to see you again, my friend. After wracking my brain trying to figure out the new gameplanning feature for Madden 20, I finally realized I should've looked you up as you've already been tackling it. I'm working on a new gameplan with the procedures you've placed here, and will update the youtube video set I made with regards to the changes (crediting you of course, as you did discover the workings for all of the custom playbook gameplans!)


Anyways, just wanted to reach out and say keep up your amazing work!


*EDIT: Actually, quick question. With the new 30 play situation arrangement, other than for quick swap purposes, is there a reason to use the 3x5 stars, 3x4.5 stars, etc rating system for "page assignment" or can one just do 30x1 star and have it all randomized and jumbled? I'll be messing with it myself but in case you've already tested it, figured I'd ask!

[edgevoice]

Re: Madden 20 Custom Playbook & Game Plan Play Call Guide

Edge! Good to see you again, my friend. After wracking my brain trying to figure out the new gameplanning feature for Madden 20, I finally realized I should've looked you up as you've already been tackling it. I'm working on a new gameplan with the procedures you've placed here, and will update the youtube video set I made with regards to the changes (crediting you of course, as you did discover the workings for all of the custom playbook gameplans!)


Anyways, just wanted to reach out and say keep up your amazing work!


*EDIT: Actually, quick question. With the new 30 play situation arrangement, other than for quick swap purposes, is there a reason to use the 3x5 stars, 3x4.5 stars, etc rating system for "page assignment" or can one just do 30x1 star and have it all randomized and jumbled? I'll be messing with it myself but in case you've already tested it, figured I'd ask!

Thanks for the kind words. Much appreciated.

The reason for the rating system I use is for quick gameplan changes only. You can simply add your plays and leave them at the default 2.5 stars it will automatically assign.

It's much faster and easier to use the 2.5 default star method, but finding plays you may wish to swap out later, as you build additional gameplans, will then take longer. Whatever way works best for you mate. Best of luck and hit me up if you have further questions.

Good luck with the video. I am sure folks will appreciate being able to "see" how it's done.

[burth179]

Re: Madden 20 Custom Playbook & Game Plan Play Call Guide

I have a custom book now but it's not really "custom" like you guys are doing. It's just the Pats playbook with an extra formation (I form close) added.


(Which if you are struggling running the ball inside the 5 or anywhere on the field really I form close HB Stretch will almost always get you some yards even with power backs you can usually get to the edge, or at least have an available cut back lane. It does get stopped sometimes but it works at a very high rate. Just don't hold the sprint button until you hit the line of scrimmage and it works very well. I mention this just because people were asking about plays in the red zone)


But anyway I have a mobile QB now and want to add some stuff from the Ravens playbook to try out, it looks like they have triple options and what not that could be interesting.

I do hate fumbling through all the formations and stuff though sometimes to find my plays, and I feel like less can be more if I just get rid of the stuff I don't need. I'm always like "well I might use that sometime".. And then never get around to using.

I was wondering if I created just like 15-20 base plays (stretch, iso, counter, slants, corner route, etc, etc), then just pick different formations I can run them all from. Then maybe have a few "special" formations for my sub-packages with more RPO/Option plays specific for my mobile QB.


Then I can find a few extra plays in each formation that I may want to add outside of my base.


IDK just kicking around ideas talking to myself (lol) - but this thread is very good and will try to mess around with this stuff at some point, I will definitely mess around with how you structure the book.


Do you have defensive playbooks as well? I actually kind of like playing defense better than offense (although All Madden "Robo QBs" are a bit of a pain so I started using sliders).

[timhere1970]

Re: Madden 20 Custom Playbook & Game Plan Play Call Guide

I have a huge offensive playbbok that is maxed out with every play being used in at least one situation or audible. If i run the same plays over and over i get bored. I rate 3 plays 5 stars, 3 plays 4.5, threee plays 4 and on down to 3 plays 1 star. Any other plays in a situation are rated half star. Then i go into my gameplan every game and pick a couple of situations to mix it up. I add a half star to every play. The five star plays go to half star, the 4.5 star plays to 5 star on down the line until i get to half star plays. I boost the top 3 of those to one star. This keeps my play calling in rotation and keeps it fresh for me. I would game plan each game if i had the time but work and kids keep me from that.

[edgevoice]

Re: Madden 20 Custom Playbook & Game Plan Play Call Guide

I have a custom book now but it's not really "custom" like you guys are doing. It's just the Pats playbook with an extra formation (I form close) added. But anyway I have a mobile QB now and want to add some stuff from the Ravens playbook to try out, it looks like they have triple options and what not that could be interesting.

I do hate fumbling through all the formations and stuff though sometimes to find my plays, and I feel like less can be more if I just get rid of the stuff I don't need.

I was wondering if I created just like 15-20 base plays (stretch, iso, counter, slants, corner route, etc, etc), then just pick different formations I can run them all from. Then maybe have a few "special" formations for my sub-packages with more RPO/Option plays specific for my mobile QB.


Do you have defensive playbooks as well? .

Nothing wrong with starting with a playbook you like and then adding plays from there as you move forward. Starting slowly and moving at your own pace is sensible. The fact that you want to add plays to take advantage of the skill of your particular players is a sound idea as well.

Formation fumbling through playbooks in order to call plays, along with trying to remember what I want to call based on the situation, is what prompted me to put a lot of time in effort into putting gameplans together. Nothing like having the plays you want to choose from per-situation automatically come up just as you've planned. Brings a nice sim element of coaching to the game.

Finding plays you like to run and having available in multiple formations in a great idea. However, I would suggest that you vary both your run and pass schemes within each of them situationally. For example, in my core offense, I have a nice HB dive weak I like to call on first down. However, I also have a texas post in the same situation that I like to dial up a little later. That way, especially when playing a human opponent, you are not giving away what you are doing based on situation-formation. I tend to think of these as "set-up plays" and "pay-off plays".

I did create a very basic defensive playbook. I stay fairly vanilla, but mix in occasional pre-snap hots, line slants, and DB shading in press man coverage. I also find that calling blitzes, like Over Storm Brave, and then hotting my LB's into hook zones to be very effective at times.

Keep at it at your own pace, while continuing to branch out with additional concepts to keep your playcalling and offense more and more dynamic along the way. Good luck.

[edgevoice]

Re: Madden 20 Custom Playbook & Game Plan Play Call Guide

I have a huge offensive playbbok that is maxed out with every play being used in at least one situation or audible. If i run the same plays over and over i get bored. I rate 3 plays 5 stars, 3 plays 4.5, threee plays 4 and on down to 3 plays 1 star. Any other plays in a situation are rated half star. Then i go into my gameplan every game and pick a couple of situations to mix it up. I add a half star to every play. The five star plays go to half star, the 4.5 star plays to 5 star on down the line until i get to half star plays. I boost the top 3 of those to one star. This keeps my play calling in rotation and keeps it fresh for me. I would game plan each game if i had the time but work and kids keep me from that.

Tim, you state that you change star ratings in your gameplan to change how they rotate for you. Does that mean that you call your plays from the first suggestion in the playcall window?

[burth179]

Re: Madden 20 Custom Playbook & Game Plan Play Call Guide

Finding plays you like to run and having available in multiple formations in a great idea. However, I would suggest that you vary both your run and pass schemes within each of them situationally. For example, in my core offense, I have a nice HB dive weak I like to call on first down. However, I also have a texas post in the same situation that I like to dial up a little later. That way, especially when playing a human opponent, you are not giving away what you are doing based on situation-formation. I tend to think of these as "set-up plays" and "pay-off plays".

I did create a very basic defensive playbook. I stay fairly vanilla, but mix in occasional pre-snap hots, line slants, and DB shading in press man coverage. I also find that calling blitzes, like Over Storm Brave, and then hotting my LB's into hook zones to be very effective at times.

Keep at it at your own pace, while continuing to branch out with additional concepts to keep your playcalling and offense more and more dynamic along the way. Good luck.

Thanks for the feedback - yeah I hear you about mixing it up, and using set up plays, etc. I tend to do this a little bit even if I haven't really got into too much actually creating my own books (just be play selections).


I am going to re-read some of the beginning of this thread and your PDFs and use some of your ideas mixed with my own I think. It is adding an element of immersion to the game for me at least for franchise mode.


Yeah as for defense I do that all the time, call blitzes (like Over Storm Brave) and change my linebackers accordingly. Sometimes I might spy one and play one in coverage, sometimes change both to different coverage, sometimes just let them both blitz.


I like to try and implement a 4-3 Under type of defense however the lack of strong side/weak side shifting in Madden makes it a bit challenging (3-4 Predator for under front and 3-4 Over Ed for over front will actually play strong/weak with the LBs and the "LEO" has his hand in the dirt so those formation probably represent that scheme better than the actual 4-3 Under and Over fronts).

Plus, I am only in "base" about as often as the offense is in "base". So really Nickel is probably my "base" defense because I'm calling it more than the "base".


I typically play Nickel against 3WR, Dime against 4WR, although down and distance will also play into what personnel I will use as well.

[timhere1970]

Re: Madden 20 Custom Playbook & Game Plan Play Call Guide

Tim, you state that you change star ratings in your gameplan to change how they rotate for you. Does that mean that you call your plays from the first suggestion in the playcall window?

Yes, between there and the run/pass screens. The suggestions do not line up perfectly with what is starred the most but they do seem to rotate through more when they have more stars. I also pick one set a game to emphasize that i go back to several times a game . For example i may pick pistol ace and go to that every other first down and pick a play unless in two minute drill of course.

[burth179]

Re: Madden 20 Custom Playbook & Game Plan Play Call Guide

Edge - a few questions about the "EDGE PLAN" PDF. Not that I am going to copy what you are doing 100% but your feedback is still insightful none the less.


"Core Offense" - Are you assigning it to ALL situations? Or only all 1st and 2nd down situations?


"Short yardage" - Does that only apply to 3rd and short or any down?


"2 Minute + Medium and Long" - Are you assigning those to ONLY 2 minute and 3rd down medium and long? Or Also assigning those to 2nd down Medium and Long?


Thanks.

[edgevoice]

Re: Madden 20 Custom Playbook & Game Plan Play Call Guide

Edge - a few questions about the "EDGE PLAN" PDF. Not that I am going to copy what you are doing 100% but your feedback is still insightful none the less.


"Core Offense" - Are you assigning it to ALL situations? Or only all 1st and 2nd down situations?


"Short yardage" - Does that only apply to 3rd and short or any down?


"2 Minute + Medium and Long" - Are you assigning those to ONLY 2 minute and 3rd down medium and long? Or Also assigning those to 2nd down Medium and Long?


Thanks.

"Core Offense" is assigned only on all 1st and 2nd down situations. I kept in mind 2nd and medium and long when putting together my core.

"Short Yardage" applies to 3rd & 4th downs, as well as inside the 5. However, when actually inside the 5 there are plays from goal line that I will use, though I cannot gameplan.

"2 Minute + Medium and Long" - Yes, these are assigned to ONLY 2 minute and 3rd/4th down medium and long.

Of note, while I keep to my rule of calling plays situationally via my gameplan, my one exception is that my "audibles are always up". Very important to carefully think about how you put those audibles together. For instance, on 1st down I may run single big trap. The next time when in this situation I may dial up single big stretch. However, if the defense gives me the look I want, a quick formation audible to skinny posts and bang, there's my payoff play.

Good luck as you put your book together. My entire gameplan is only 60 plays, which feels about right for me. Other than running plays, I don't often need to call the same pass play twice. However, you could greatly increase that capacity by not copying situations as often as I did. I included the PDFs for reference purposes only. I am sure most folks who implement their own gameplan will do so in the manner with which they think is best.

[burth179]

Re: Madden 20 Custom Playbook & Game Plan Play Call Guide

Cool thanks man. Yeah I hear you with the audibles I usually try to hat count and audible frequently anyway. I like the dive/stretch combo personally (or Maybe I just flip play). I might include panther stuff in my book they have 2 3 TE/2RB formations (one gun one under C) that can also audible to goal line stuff as well right out of them (or to each other)

[KingV2k3]

Re: Madden 20 Custom Playbook & Game Plan Play Call Guide

Two questions:

1) Can we assign custom playbooks to the CPU using the two controller method / 3rd string QB as was possible in previous Maddens?

2) Did anyone take note of which Team Default books have the most fleshed out gameplans, that lead to realistic run / pass splits and situational playcalling?

If the were at least a few / handful of decent Team Default books, they could be used as "generics" to assign to teams that run similar offences, etc.

Thanks!