Mjhyankees and Delta get intellectual (or more on the running game)

[mjhyankees]

At Jarrod's suggestion i pulled these posts from another thread. Hope it helps with someone's running game. All others feel free to add to this. Even if you feel it's a small point....it'll help someone.

1. Before we even get to sliders, M11 offered some facets of the running game that IMO were more real life than in the past. Points to keep in mind: a. Don't touch the sprint button. The Defenders come off their blocks faster when you do that. Hit sprint only in open field.
b. Follow and read your blocks. You can't just go to the spot where the hole is supposed to be. Be prepared to cut in sooner or bounce out. Know what the key block is on every running play and/or where the double team block is. You usually want to cut off the double team.
c. Use play art to look at the blocking scheme. I've noticed for example that I'm in single back formation running a dive and the NT is double teamed but the LB is unblocked! Going ahead and running that play is suicide. To the game's credit, that unblocked LB is usually going to stuff you at the line. Audible to something else, flip sides, whatever but make sure the front 7 guys have a man on them (unless it's an outside guy...sometimes you don't have to block them on certain plays.).
d. Audible......just like in real life if you call a running play and they've got 8 guys in the box, continuing to try to run against that isn't going to work. Audible to a pass play (but watch for blitzers, get rid of the ball quick). IE. I was playing as the Steelers against the Jags the other night and was looking forward to a nice ground and pound game. Well the Jags continually came out in 7 and 8 man fronts making running really tough. I started calling pass plays from 3-4 WR sets to force them into other defenses less run oriented. When they finally did (I had to throw way more passes than I intended) I could audible to a run against a 5 or 6 man front and have more success.
e. Know your blockers ratings. If I'm the Vikes it makes far more sense for me to run left with Hutchinson over there than to the right. Study your roster, know who the good run blockers are.
f. By the same token, know the D. Trying to run at Suh all day is a waste of time.
These are just real life issues to deal with running the ball. This game to it's credit is not just an arcade game where you can run with impunity. I have games where I get destroyed running the ball too. But most of the time my back ends up with a tidy 4 ypc average (like 21 carries 85 yards etc.).

2. Regarding sliders......you'll get all sorts of advice as to which ones are best or best for you. I can say this: Lower the cpu run reaction, tackling, and block shed.....and/or raise human runblock, and break tackle. In the beginning, I had to make it easier for myself to have any running game at all. As I got better (and smarter) I was able to lower the sliders back to a more challenging level.
Hope this helps and post in the slider forum for more help on that.
PS.....I have my own set of sliders that work for me. It's on all madden though. Maybe check my numbers, and those of other sets to get an idea of what you may want to do. At all costs avoid Jarrod's set....He's totally insane and even looking at his sliders will set your running game back 3 levels.

[mjhyankees]

this from Delta:

"I fully agree with this. I'm using Jarodd's sliders (which are commonly considered to be the hardest) for my current fantasy franchise and I'm regularly killing the CPU on the ground. Of course you will get stuffed often, there's no way around that, if you don't get stuffed regularly, your rushing difficulty is too low. You just have to keep at it, wait for the hole to open and then rush through it.

Rushing in 11 on highest difficulty is all about quickness, both from the player on the screen and from you. You need to read your blocking assignments and the defensive setup presnap and after the snap. For example, you'll always want to have the defenders directly next to the hole you hit to be double blocked, running with a lead blocker can be a huge help because if someone gets off their block, he can push them out of the running lane to keep it open.

After the snap, don't look at your back, watch the front seven. If you call a dive and both the MLBs blitz, you immediately need to decide whether the bump the play to the outside (you need a fast back to do this) or just plow in. Sometimes running straight into the blitz can lead to huge plays, especially with a great back like AP because if you got a lead blocker with high Impact Block rating he can block a hole open and if you manage to hit it before they catch up with you from the side or behind you've got daylight right in front of you.

If you say they're stacking the middle presnap, audibling to an outside run like Power O (or even Sweep/Toss plays but those are more risky and should only be used with fast backs) can make you get away from the pressure fast.

Rushing in M11 is about patience and quickness, you need patience because as I said, you will get stuffed often, and you need quickness to take the opportunity when the defense gives it to you."

[Jarodd21]

Once thing I would like to add to this masterpiece is to take notice where the NT lines up. If he's on the right side of your center or left and you call an ISO thats going in that direction flip the play around because 9 times out of 10 if you run it right there you will get stuffed. Flip the play over and follow your lead block. Be ready to make a quick cut once your FB engages on the DLineman or LB. Pay attention to how the defense comes out if your calling a power 0 too. If that side is crowded with LBs/Ss and the Dline has shifted to that side. Flip the play around and get busy on the other side. You have to make a quick decision to either run the play inside the tackle where it suppose to go, outside the tackle inbetween the TE or be ready to make a quick cutback to the inside of the Guard for a positive gain. If both sides of the tackles look crowded audible to an inside run like ISO or HB lead. You have to really pay attention to the defense and figure out all the blocking schemes and tricks to have a good running game. Running becomes easy once you learn all of this..

[mjhyankees]

Quote: Originally Posted by Jarodd21

Once thing I would like to add to this masterpiece is to take notice where the NT lines up. If he's on the right side of your center or left and you call an ISO thats going in that direction flip the play around because 9 times out of 10 if you run it right there you will get stuffed. Flip the play over and follow your lead block. Be ready to make a quick cut once your FB engages on the DLineman or LB. Pay attention to how the defense comes out if your calling a power 0 too. If that side is crowded with LBs/Ss and the Dline has shifted to that side. Flip the play around and get busy on the other side. You have to make a quick decision to either run the play inside the tackle where it suppose to go or be ready to make a quick cutback to the inside of the Guard for a positive gain. If both sides of the tackles look crowded audible to an inside run like ISO or HB lead. You have to really pay attention to the defense and figure out all the blocking schemes and tricks to have a good running game. Running becomes easy once you learn all of this..

Funny you mention this, when I coached this situation would often come up. WE'd run an Iso (FB lead block on the MLB for the TB). If the NT had shifted to the right and we were running right, we didn't flip the play, the HB would cut back to the left, sort of like a counter or cutback play. It was an automatic read. You are essentially recommending the same thing. I think in past maddens I could do this move....(cutback) I think I've done it in M11 but like you I usually just flip the play.

[Cre8]

(Hopefully I am allowed to post in this thread.)
- With that said -

I think it is also important to look at how the DBs (esp. safties) are lining up. While it is great advice to look at what is going on with the 'front 7' I think a lot of players forget to read the DBs and how they line up.

It is fairly easy to read blitz (although, sometimes they will drop back into pass coverage). If you see someone like Polamalu creeping up on what was originally 'strong side' - chances are good that it is now a better idea to
1. Switch the side the play is being run to
2. Switch the play to an inside run (1 or 2 gap)
3. Switch to a 'quick pass' and make the CPU regret blitzing

[Jarodd21]

Quote: Originally Posted by Cre8

(Hopefully I am allowed to post in this thread.) - With that said - I think it is also important to look at how the DBs (esp. safties) are lining up. While it is great advice to look at what is going on with the 'front 7' I think a lot of players forget to read the DBs and how they line up. It is fairly easy to read blitz (although, sometimes they will drop back into pass coverage). If you see someone like Polamalu creeping up on what was originally 'strong side' - chances are good that it is now a better idea to 1. Switch the side the play is being run to 2. Switch the play to an inside run (1 or 2 gap) 3. Switch to a 'quick pass' and make the CPU regret blitzing

Yes you are. If anybody feel like they can contribute to this in anyway is good espcially since running the ball is a big issues for alot of people. Especially guys making that leap to all-madden sliders. Great stuff by the way.

[mjhyankees]

Quote: Originally Posted by Cre8

(Hopefully I am allowed to post in this thread.) - With that said - I think it is also important to look at how the DBs (esp. safties) are lining up. While it is great advice to look at what is going on with the 'front 7' I think a lot of players forget to read the DBs and how they line up. It is fairly easy to read blitz (although, sometimes they will drop back into pass coverage). If you see someone like Polamalu creeping up on what was originally 'strong side' - chances are good that it is now a better idea to 1. Switch the side the play is being run to 2. Switch the play to an inside run (1 or 2 gap) 3. Switch to a 'quick pass' and make the CPU regret blitzing

Feel free to post in any thread if you have something to say or contribute. You are right about this. Ironically I never mentioned it - likely because I dont' do it much. I'll pay attention to guys creeping up or 8 or 9 men in the box but I don't look for coverage enough. You can almost always tell if they are in cover 1 or 2 or 3, zone or man etc. But I don't do this enough probably.

I have my own system based on player location on defense. It seems simplistic but if the DB is lined up off the ball a little and straight up to outside I hot route to a slant. If they are close and or inside, I go for an out pattern. I streak everyone if they are in a max blitz look (I have great success hitting the TE in the seam like this if I get it off quickly). If they are in bump and run I look for another receiver because unless it's a good one (ie. Fitzgerald) they won't get off the bump quickly enough to prevent me getting sacked. (I've actually yelled at the game "illegal contact!!!" as the DB "presses" my guy 10-15 yards downfield.).

[mjhyankees]

Duh....I forgot this thread was about running the ball.......and I started the thread!!!!