More Tips Protect Your QB!

[wjw242]

Here are some good tips for protecting your qb.This post as been edited from different sources, good luck!

Protect The Quarterback

The biggest thing i've learned with this years Madden.
I too was screaming and crying about how this game is this or
that. but after making a conscious effort to stay in the
pocket i have been protected much better.

yes your o-linemen will just 'miss or not even try' to block
that end or DT but that does kind of happen in the NFL.

practice your plays and try to figure out what patterns are
3-step, 5-step, and 7-step dropbacks. and another thing,
ALWAYS have a dump off pattern (in case of this OL missing
blitzer)

After playing a few games I learned to kinda watch
where the blitz is coming from before the play, read the
defense to see who has the best chance of being open before
you hike the ball, keep an eye on where the pressure is coming
from the hardest and either step away from it or up and get
rid of the ball. If no one is open step out of the pocket and
throw it to the cute girl in the crowd or scramble if you have
a fast enough QB.

The best Offensive lineman are going to have blown plays now
and then so it does happen but I have not had this problem at
all and only suffered 10 sacks all year as the Lions on
All-Pro default sliders.

This happens alot , the only remedy is to read the
rush and make sure you you either have your backs in for
protection or out for dumpoffs..

After playing a few games I learned to kinda watch where the
blitz is coming from before the play, read the defense to
see who has the best chance of being open before you hike
the ball, keep an eye on where the pressure is coming from
the hardest and either step away from it or up and get rid
of the ball. If no one is open step out of the pocket and
throw it to the cute girl in the crowd or scramble if you
have a fast enough QB.

One way to make your pass protection better, and your overall
blocking more effective, use the realistic approach. When you
get to the line, wait a second. Use a hard count. You may see
people starting to creep. Then you'll know who's blitzing, and
you might need to put extra guys in protection. Also, watch
this carefully. If you wait about 10 seconds after you line
up, the center starts pointing to the defense. He's making
line calls that make your blocking more effective. You'll have
to be patient, but it works


Really, when your center is pointing at the defense, he is
telling the line who to pick up? That really works?

I hate to disagree with you, but the center pointing has
nothing to do with who blocks who...the best way to predict
where the O line is going to block is to note which direction
the HB is blocking (when directly behind the center). If the
HB is blocking left, the Center will generally go to the first
man on his right; when HB is blocking right, the Center will
generally slide left.

However, when the O line is facing an ODD front (center
covered), it pretty much reverts to straight Big on Big. This
was the reason such blitzes from 2003 (Silver Flipped, etc.)
were so effective - the Guard would always revert to BOB
blocking in this case and follow the stunting DT leaving a
wide gap for the blitzing LB/NB.

Unfortunately, this still has no effect on the OT who does the
bar stool-swivel approach when <ahem> "blocking" a DE in a
wide split

There so this little thing called extra blockers. if your
going without a TE or your TE and RB are both running routes,
you may not have enough o the line o block everyone. try Hot
routing your TE to block. I have my most succesful plays out
of singleback big cuse when i see a blitz I make a TE stay to
block.

I completely forgot.. How do you hot route a running back to
block instead of go out for a pass ?
Hit triangle L2 to block left or triangle R2 to block right.

I thought there was a problem with the game, also.
Then I took an objective look at what was happening. I was
dropping back too far.

And this is from someone who knows Madden football, and who
has never dropped back more than 5-7 yards. But even that at
times will cause bad blocking. You HAVE to stay in the pocket.
Absolutely have to. Drop 3, 4 yards back and sit. It sucks,
because you feel like you could get sacked at any time, but
dropping further back is giving that end the angle to rush.

And yes, there is a distinct difference between this year's
game and last year's in terms of dropping back. I think a part
of the fix to dropping back was to make the tackles ignore the
block at times if you went too far back. A little unfair?
Yeah. But it's a quick fix way to penalize you for doing
something you shouldn't be doing. End justifies the means, I
guess


STAY IN YHE POCKET!

practice your plays and try to figure out what patterns are
3-step, 5-step, and 7-step dropbacks. and another thing,
ALWAYS have a dump off pattern (in case of this OL missing
blitzer)

I hear you man, but do you know how deep a 7 step drop is? It
is nine yards - basically two yards deeper than the HB's
allignment...that is virtually impossible in this years game
unless you have both backs blocking - even then you're playing
with fire, because you can't reliabley count on them to pick
up their assigment.

The pocket in this year's game basically has become for three
step drops only (FB depth, 4 yards). Yeah, I've adjusted, but
frankly I don't get to run plays that I could have last year,
which is disappointing and frustrating. If you plan on
throwing a 20 yard deep out or deep over, a seven step drop is
mandatory for timing purposes.

7 step drop is 9 yards? So each of his steps he
goes 4 full feet? Wow.

Absolutely, nine yards from the LOS though, not nine yards
from where the QB is, so the QB's steps are a little over
three feet...so if the LOS is on the 50 yard line, a QB taking
a 7 step drop would plant on the 41, then hitch up to about
the 42 to throw on time.

- a 3 step drop is roughly 4 yards from the LOS (where FB
alligns)
- a 5 step drop is roughly 6-7 yards from the LOS (where HB
alligns)
- a 7 step drop is roughly 8-9 yards from LOS (two yards
deeper from HB's original allignment)

This is exactly how I 'time' my throws - depending on the type
of route I want to throw, I simply establish a point for my QB
to drop to. For instance for a five step pattern, I will note
the HB's depth presnap (what yard line he's lined up on) and
that's how far I'll drop to throw the pass.

I certainly don't plant myself 3 inches from the screen to
count steps, lol.

Next time you watch a game, check out how deep a 7 step drop
actually is. It generally is 5 big steps, followed by two
quick steps before the QB makes his initial plant - then he
will hitch up.



Posts: 87I hate the new blocking but am trying to adjust with
staying in the pocket, etc, but They could have let you drop
back further without always getting creamed. The defensive
line should have been let loose more easily if you scrambled
to the right or left, not just taking a seven step drop. I
don't have time to hit my receivers. Yea, I keep people in to
block, and then the receivers are double covered. I'm
frusterated. The game plays totally different when playing
another human (not online). The game plays GREAT that way...


if you watch the ends in an actual game a lot of times they
will blow right past the tackles and the tackle has to shove
them on the shoulder to throw off the trajectory of their
rush.

the key to the whole thing like everyone else has said is
the pocket. also use the snap count to keep the d linemen
from going on the first hut every time.

This is true. the problem with Madden 2004 is that the tackles
don't even touch the DEs anymore. they just drop back 2-3
yards and swivel. It would be more realistic if they got at
least a shove in to make the DEs stumble. The good DEs will
quickly recover. Sometimes you see this with guards too who
will try to shove the DT or LB past the QB.

Even if the tackles don't touch the ends (which usually means
the ends are coming from from a wider angle) you still have
the advantage. First, the end is farther away, so you can
still make your prescribed drop to be in synch with the timing
of the route. Second, use the pocket to your advantage. In a
straight four man rush, the ends will come from outside, and
that leaves the two guards and the center on the two tackles.
If they have them covered, all you have to do is step into the
pocket and watch the ends run by you. Basically, the key is to
step into the clear passing lane


Yeah I know. I don't have a huge problem getting sacked by
DEs. My point was that EA could at least make the offensive
line look like their trying especially if they're rated in the
high 90s. My biggest gripe is when the guards or center act
like they don't see the guy in front of them (swivel and turn
blind eye) and I'm sacked before I know what hit me. I guess I
just want EA to add a couple of animations for weak blocking
technique if the LBs and DTs insist on blowing past the OL.
I'll gladly take a few sacks if it at least looks like my line
is trying.


I hear you man, but do you know how deep a 7 step drop is?
It is nine yards - basically two yards deeper than the HB's
allignment...that is virtually impossible in this years game
unless you have both backs blocking - even then you're
playing with fire, because you can't reliabley count on them
to pick up their assigment.

The pocket in this year's game basically has become for
tree step drops only (FB depth, 4 yards). Yeah, I've
adjusted, but frankly I don't get to run plays that I could
have last year, which is disappointing and frustrating. If
you plan on throwing a 20 yard deep out or deep over, a
seven step drop is mandatory for timing purposes.

I think the reason why the seven step drop rarely works in
Madden is the same reason why it doesn't work in real life.
You have the ball for too long. By the time you've had the
ball for more than 3.5 seconds, something's bound to break
down.

Ummmm...O-Linemen are supposed to drop back and then make
contact, that's why their bench press reps are so important
(to extend their arms and "shock-stop" the D-Lineman. That
would also explain why O-Linemen look so stupid on false
starts (rocking backwards and sometimes even taking a step
back away from the LOS

Anyone know how to do the thing where the QB drops back and
on his last step bounces off his back foot and come forward.
Its kinda hard to explain, but if youve seen it you know
what i mean.

Just let the CPU control the QB and he'll do it...Of course,
depending on the route he may let go of it right then..

It took me a while to get it on All-Pro but now I am
satisfied with my drop back and pass protection. Stay in the
pocket is right. One thing I have done with some success is
drop back three steps, stop, then drop back or roll out from
there. It gets everyone headed to where I stoped and gives me
more time. I prefer this years protection to being able to
drop back 20 yards in older games. It just took me a while to
get it. I am still not happy with the run blocking on short
yardage but my OL is not the best and I think my TE plays a
huge role.




There are at least four majors keys after the snap:

1. Manage your drop (3 steps is a lot sooner than one thinks)
by feel.
2. Read the D-line's pressure (I wish feel worked too).
3. Read the Safeties/LB's (visual)
4. Know your play and where the targets are. (feel/visual)

Sounds simple right? It is, if you have an idea of the length
3.5 seconds to work throu those four thoughts. And if you can
block out the fact that EA pans the screen wider while you're
dropping back you're even better. The creen panning can be the
biggest distraction/hindrance to keep you inconsistently
taking short drops. The challenge is not focusing on the QB's
steps but feeling the pressure and knowing where your targets
are against the defensive set.

A bit of sad gameplay irony is the unrealistic situation when
I am controlling the QB against the CPU, the DE's/Lb's often
pancake the tackles? This makes matters worse in many pocket
protection cases. Nevertheless, you still need to move into
the pocket.
The real irony is when the CPU controls the QB my o-lineman
are looking for people to block? Literally they work like
they're supposed to!

EA has a real problem as soon as you become the QB-controller.
He moves slower, reacts slower and the line is affected the
same way. Thus you have to compensate for that.


stay in the pocket, when you drop back, step into
the pocket, if u step too far back, the DE will run RIGHT by
the tackle like its nothing, if u do a 3 step drop back and
stand there the DT will push your guard/center right into you
and there goes a huge sack, you have to set up a manual qb
clock in your head or the line will collapse, Be Smart!

[Donovan]

All good points but if your going to copy and paste something at least put up a link

[Jon22]

You don't even have to read that. Have a go to guy on your plays, with a 3 step drop and release and there you go.