Kobra's Corner Madden NFL 09: 3-4 Under MLB Blitz

By Paul "Kobra" Gleason

April 15, 2009

Don't forget to check out the video on the Madden NFL 09 landing page!

This week in Kobra's Corner, we take a blitz out of the VG Sports Filmroom that shows how to get tourney style pressure. This write up and video was done by Phillyron.

There are times during the Madden season where things come up that require immediate attention. In my opinion this is one of those times. I have heard through the online skill competition sites and the tournament scene that there is an extremely effective way that people are starting to use to run the FL Screen. Instead of holding a solution for this for the skill sites and tournament scene, I think delivering it to you will be beneficial, and also start a topic of discussion for us to expound on.



In order to get things set up the right way, I have put the offense in the TE Slot package and called the FL Screen out of the Gun Normal formation. The defense that we're going to start off dealing with this play will be the 3-4: Under MLB Blitz.



The offense comes to the field and hot routes the SE, TE(Slot) and TE(A) to curl routes. We all know how effective these routes are this year and to combine these with the FL Screen is close to being an unstoppable tactic.



A solid offensive play is always a welcome challenge. Back when players respected each other enough to not steal each other's offense, guys would get in the lab and work on shutting down a high power play so that it would be less potent the next time they came up against each other. The play that we have called is the start of that same process.



There are a few playmaker adjustments that we have to make when running this play but the purpose of this play call was to have a play that could generate pressure but also protect the main curl areas, between the hash and the numbers. I start off by moving my RCB left and right and then playmaker him to play man on the slot tight end. I move the cornerback left and right to prevent him from running inside to sit over the TE once I put him in man coverage. This keeps our assignments hidden.



We then playmaker the RILB to a yellow zone.



The last playmaker adjustment is to put the LCB in man coverage on the FL. This will help contain the screen route.



The last move, and the most important one is to adjust the coverage to play inside. We do this by pressing the (Y) button and down on the Right analog stick. I used to do this in Madden 08 to help deal with the TE Strafe and we can get the same effect when using it to prevent the rocket curl.



The offense will put the HB in motion to the right, and snap the ball soon as he reaches the TE. Many guys are also slide protecting the line to the right. As soon as they snap the ball they sprint right back with the Quarterback.



Once guys get back around 15 to 20 yards they turn around and launch a pass to any of the down field curl routes.



We pick the TE(A) on his curl route and this defense with the way we have the zones shaded inside.



As the ball comes in to the tight end, we have our DB in coverage underneath the route. This is the reason why we can have success versus this play because it is extremely hard to get computer controlled defenders to stay underneath of curl routes. Many times what you will see is the defender react and then step behind the receiver and allow the catch. This has been the only way for me to get the defenders to come underneath for now. I promise there will be more, but with 2 days of labbing against it, this has been the only set up to give continued success.



We' don't get the interception here but we get our hands on the ball and then follow it up with a crushing hit on the Tight End. Please look at the video for the footage of the play as seen in the screen shots as well as a real time display of the play.