Madden NFL 2003 - Strategy Guide (Page 01)

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Madden NFL 2003 (PlayStation 2)
Full Strategy Guide

Document Written by PyroFalkon (pyrofalkon@hotmail.com)
Current Version: 2.0
Last Update: 18 February 2003



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||LATEST UPDATE||
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v2.0 (18 February 2003)
I've added a bit of info on trading due to a submission, and I've got a
submitted offensive formation as well.



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||TABLE OF CONTENTS||
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PART 1: INTRO
=============
 1. Intro
 2. Player Positions
 3. Teams

PART 2: HEAD COACH
==================
 4. Offense
    a. Basic Theory
    b. Advanced Theories
    c. Beating the Blitz
    d. Personal Faves
    e. Going for Two
 5. Defense
    a. Basic Theory
    b. Advanced Theories
    c. Personal Faves
 6. Special Teams
    a. Kickoffs
    b. Field Goals
    c. Punts
    d. When to Fake
 7. The End Game
    a. Offense, Leading
    b. Defense, Leading
    c. Offense, Trailing
    d. Defense, Trailing
 8. Challenging Plays

PART 3: GENERAL MANAGER
=======================
 9. Signing
10. Re-signing
    a. Player Progression
11. Trading
12. Scouting
13. Drafting

PART 4: OTHER MADDEN FEATURES
=============================
14. Create-a-playbook
    a. Offensive Formations
    b. Offensive Plays
    c. Defense
    d. Submitted Formations
15. Create-a-team
16. Create-a-player
17. Madden Cards
18. Export-a-team

PART 5: OTHER GAME MODES
========================
19. Mini-Camp
20. Online
21. Tournament
22. Two-minute Drill
23. Football 101
24. Practice
25. Situation

PART 6: PLAYERS AND TEAM RANKINGS
=================================
26. Top 15 Players by Position
27. Top 10 Teams by Category

PART 7: FAQ STUFF
=================
28. Version History
29. Copyright Info
30. Contact Info



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|                  PART 1: INTRO                     |
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This part of my FAQ holds my opening statement (like I'm on trial or
something), a list of all the positions of football, and a list of all the NFL
teams. The abbreviations will be listed for positions and teams, and I'll refer
to those abbreviations throughout the rest of the document.



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||1. INTRO||
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Despite my promise on the last update of my Madden 2002 FAQ, I was not going to
do an FAQ on Madden 2003. I don't know, maybe it was laziness or FAQ burnout or
something, but I was real hesitant in doing it.

However, I've had a change of heart, and now I'm going to write this one. Now,
it's more of an update to my Madden 2002 FAQ than a brand spankin' new one, but
it's complete. I've added things that are new to the series, and I've expanded
the GM part and Challenging Plays section.

If a lot of this FAQ looks familiar, that's because... well, it is. A lot of
this is directly copied from my 2002 FAQ. As always, I make no apologies for
plagerizing myself.



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||2. PLAYER POSITIONS||
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This section deals with what each player's position is, and what skills you
want to look for when you either sign or trade for that position. Also, I'll
only refer to the full name in this section... otherwise, throughout the FAQ
I'll be using the abbreviations.

OFFENSE
=======
Quarterback (QB) - This player is the leader of the offense. He's the first one
to touch the ball on any play. He'll either hand it off to a runningback, or
throw it downfield for a pass. A QB needs to have good Throwing Power (THP) and
Throwing Accuracy (THA) if you intend to use a lot of passing plays. If your QB
has high Speed (SPD), he can run the ball himself during plays that break down,
or simply to avoid getting sacked by the defense.

Halfback (HB) - This player is your main runner. He'll typically just take
handoffs and run downfield, although he may go out for some passing plays. He
needs high SPD, Acceleration (ACC), and Agility (AGI) of course, and a high
Carrying (CAR) so he doesn't drop the ball everytime he holds it. If you're
going to pass to him a lot, make sure he's got a decent Catching (CTH) stat.
Breaking Tackles (BTK) is very important too.

Fullback (FB) - This player typically blocks for the HB if you're doing a
running play, or he'll block for the QB on other plays. Sometimes he'll run
with the ball, and he seldom goes out for passes. Typical FBs will have decent
SPD, high Strength (STR), and good Run Blocking (RBK). Pass Blocking (PBK) is
important too, although it doesn't have to be as high. Unless you're going to
use him for running and passing plays, AGI, CAR, CTH, and ACC don't matter as
much. The HB and FB are collectively called the runningbacks.

Wide Reciever (WR) - Except for very specific plays, there's at least one of
these guys on the field, with up to five total. They're the ones who go deep
and catch passes. High SPD, ACC, AGI, and CTH are very important. CAR and BTK
are very close seconds.

Tight End (TE) - There's normally one of these on the field on each play,
sometimes two, ocassionally none. TEs typically block, although they can go out
for passes too. Because their primary job is blocking, try to get guys with
high STR, RBK, and PBK.

Center (C) - This guy is the one who gives the ball to the QB at the start of
every play. That's the only thing he does aside from block, though, so STR,
RBK, and PBK are the three big important stats.

Guards (LG and RG) - These two flank the C on the left and right. They only
block as well, so make sure they have STR, RBK, and PBK.

Offensive Tackles (LT and RT) - These two flank the LG and RG. Again, they only
block, so you know which three to pick. The C, Gs, and Ts are collectively
called the offensive line (OL).

DEFENSE
=======
*Note: All defensive players obviously need high Tackling (TAK).

Defensive Tackle (DT) - Depending on the formation, there will be either one or
two on the field. Except for very few plays, this player (or players) will try
to blast the QB of the opponent. STR is important, and AGI less so.

Defensive Ends (LE and RE) - These two will flank the DT, and also try to nail
the QB on every play. The DTs and DEs are collectively called the defensive
line (DL).

Middle Linebacker (MLB) - Depending on the formation, there will be one or two.
He stands right behind the front line of the defense, trying to block short
passes or tackle the runningbacks if they get past the front line. Jumping
(JMP) and SPD are important here.

Outside Linebackers (LOLB and ROLB) - They will stand a little ways from the
DEs. They are responsible for stopping the runningbacks if they try to run to
the sidelines, and they stop short passes from reaching the recievers. All the
linebackers blitz ocassionally (run right after the QB, ignoring everything
else), but the OLBs do so more. Therefore, they'll need decent JMP, SPD, ACC,
and AGI.

Cornerbacks (CB) - These guys stand near the sidelines at the edges of the
formation. They are responsible for deflecting passes thrown to the WRs. High
SPD, ACC, and JMP are very important.

Free Safety (FS) and Strong Safety (SS) - The safeties try to block long
passes, as well as tackle anyone who manages to get past the rest of the
defense. They'll typically pick up WRs that outran the CBs, or they'll
double-team WRs if they're not needed elsewhere. Safeties need high SPD, ACC,
and JMP.

SPECIAL TEAMS
=============
Kickers (K) and Punters (P) - The K kicks field goals and kickoffs, while the P
is only responsible for punts. In Madden, their exact position is pretty much
irrelevant; if you have either a good K or P, he can take the job of the other
one, too. Ks and Ps need high Kicking Power (KPW) and Kicking Accuracy (KAC),
naturally.

OTHERS
======
Third-Down Running Back (3DRB) - This is any of your other players, and it's
usually your first HB. The 3DRB typically has the best hands on the roster, so
if you do run on third down, there's less of a chance for a fumble.

Long Snapper (LS) - This is the C who snaps the ball to the QB when the QB is
at least a few steps back from him. It's typically your C, G, or T with the
best AWR.

Kickoff Specialist (KOS) - This player is the one who kicks the ball off at the
start of every drive. It's usually your first K.

By the way, if you ever get a safety scored against you, the kicker who does
the safety punt is, logically, your first P. Your KOS only does normal
kickoffs.



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||3. TEAMS||
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This section will list all the teams in the game alphabetically. I'll also list
the three-letter abbreviation for each, and a little bit of strategy for them
based on the default rosters.

Chicago Bears (CHI) - With Brian Urlacher leading the defense, Anthony Thomas a
strong HB, and Marty Booker and Marcus Robinson being decent WRs, the Bears are
a very balanced team. Their only glaring weakness is the Free Safety position,
so they'll give up a lot of deep passes thrown in that direction if their CBs
are burned.

Cincinnati Bengals (CIN) - Because of where I live, I'm supposed to like
them... but, I think they suck. Anyway, Corey Dillon is one of the best HBs in
the game, and Takeo Spikes is a phenomenal OLB. The Bengals have a lot of
quality players in other positions, though QB is not one of them. The OL is
weak, and with slow-ass Gus Frerotte as QB, there will be a ton of sacks all
over the place. Their DL is not that much better, and their CBs and safeties
absolutely blow. To win with CIN takes Dillon carrying the ball a million
times, which makes them very predictable.

Buffalo Bills (BUF) - BUF is... eh, okay. They're average at best, although
their DL absolutely blows. With Drew Bledsoe leading the offense, at least they
have a strong QB. Their P sucks, and their safeties will let a lot of deep ones
get by, so BUF can really only win if their offense is not having a bad day.

Denver Broncos (DEN) - Oh, if only Elway was back... but it's okay, because
Brian Griese is not THAT bad. Terrel Davis is the HB, which is not exactly
accurate for real life, but whatever. Davis is fantastic as an HB, and with Rod
Smith and Ed McCaffery going deep, DEN should be able to be a strong offensive
threat. Plus, Shannon Sharpe, the TE, is much better than just a blocker. He's
got the skills to catch all passes that come his way, so DEN has a *very*
balanced attack. It's too bad that their defense isn't as good, and with Izell
Reese and Kenoy Kennedy playing safeties, the defense will have to work
extra-hard not to give up big plays.

Cleveland Browns (CLE) - The other Ohio team is only marginally less crappy
than CIN. Tim Couch is young and good, and William Green is pretty good for a
rookie. CLE's OL is not the best thing in the world, but Couch's quick release
on his passes should prevent too many sacks. The only weak position on defense
is Devin Bush on Free Safety, but Robert Griffith on Strong Safety is
exceptional, so they may not give up too many big gains.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (TB) - The entire offense except for the WR Keyshawn
Johnson is only average. As such, TB may have a bit of trouble scoring, but
they're hardly hopeless, and the defense they're playing against cannot fall
asleep or they'll be beat. The DL is exceptional, but most of the LBs suck,
with exception of ROLB Derrick Brooks. The CBs are good, especially Ronde
Barber, and SS John Lynch can deflect most deep passes. Unfortunately, FS
Dexter Jackson is just not up to snuff.

Arizona Cardinals (ARI) - David Boston the WR and Freddie Jones the TE are
really the only ones on offense who are worth their paychecks. The OL isn't too
bad, and the RG Leonard Davis (who is 6'6" and 355 lbs.) is extremely good and
quite young. On defense, they really only have Duane Starks at CB and Kwamie
Lassiter at FS to do any real stopping when the enemy starts passing.

San Diego Chargers (SD) - Doug Flutie at QB is not entirely worthless, but he
has room for improvement. He can hand off to LaDainian Tomlinson though, and
trust that he'll get plenty of yards. The OL will have trouble protecting the
QB though, so SD may take a lot of sacks. SD's DL is pretty good, and their
OLBs are excellent with Donnie Edwards on the left and Junior Seau on the
right. Orlando Ruff and Carlos Polk are terrible MLBs, but at least they're
flanked by Edwards and Seau. The CBs are decent, but nothing to sneeze about.
SS Rodney Harrison is one of the best in that position, and so is P Darren
Bennett.

Kansas City Chiefs (KC) - With Priest Holmes and Tony Richardson the RBs, the
Chiefs can get a buttload of yards on the ground. Johnnie Morton is an option
for a deep pass, but the other WRs are merely average. Still, Tony Gonzalez the
TE is very good, so he can probably do a fine job as a reciever as well as a
blocker. With Willie Roaf at LT, Will Shields at RG, and John Tait at RT (a
combined 19'2" and 939 lbs.), the QB will probably not get sacked too many
times. On the flip side, the whole DL is pretty good and may record several
sacks themselves. The OLBs aren't that great, but Marvcus Patton at MLB is
pretty good. The CBs are average at best and the safeties are crappy, so they
may give up the passing game if the enemy has a good QB.

Indianapolis Colts (IND) - Peyton Manning, Edgerrin James, and Marvin Harrison.
Need I say more? With a fantastic threat on the ground and air, IND can gather
yards on any play. Jim Finn the FB is one of the worst in that position,
though, so you may not want Finn to be the lead blocker for James. Adam Meadows
and Tarik Glenn, the Ts, are good, but the rest of the OL will let too many
defenders come through. IND's defense is almost non-existant, so they should be
scored on easily unless the coach gets extremely creative with his play
calling.

Dallas Cowboys (DAL) - Where's Troy Aikman when you need him? (Oh yeah, he
works for FOX.) At least Emmitt Smith is still around, but he's getting old and
he just doesn't have the same vigor that he used to. Larry Allen at LG and
Solomon Page at RT are pretty good offensive linesmen, but the rest are not
that great. On defense, the Cowboys have a good DL, but their LBs are only
average. Their CBs are below average, but safeties Roy Williams and Darren
Woodson are very good. K Tim Seder and P Micah Knorr leave much to be desired.

Miami Dolphins (MIA) - Ricky Williams is one of the best HBs in the game, and
he's young. WR Chris Chambers is good too, and should see more than his share
of passes. Unfortunately, the TE and OL won't give the QB too much protection.
Should they not be able to score, K Olindo Mare is very dependable and will
make most field goals that he attempts. On defense, the DL is merely average,
and the OLBs need serious help, though MLB Zach Thomas is one of the best
(despite having an EXTREMELY cheesy smile in his pic). CBs Sam Madison and
Patrick Surtain are EXTREMELY good, and with help from FS Brock Marion, the
Dolphins probably won't give up too many big plays.

Philadelphia Eagles (PHI) - Donovan McNabb is one of the best QBs in the
league, and he's still very young. Duce Staley is a great HB, and Cecil Martin
is an excellent FB. WR James Thrash can get it done. TE Chad Lewis is better
suited to going out for passes than blocking. Though LT Tra Thomas and RT Jon
Runyan are excellent in their positions, the middle three of the OL is far
worse. The DL is good, but a little weak on the left side. LOLB Carlos Emmons
is good though, but the MLB and ROLB need improvement. CBs Troy Vincent and
Bobby Taylor, FS Brian Dawkins, and SS Blaine Bishop will do excellent jobs in
blocking passes. K David Akers is well above average as well.

Atlanta Falcons (ATL) - Michael Vick is young and developing from a good QB to
a great one. Warrick Dunn will get plenty of yards on the ground. Bob Christian
the FB isn't the best blocker on the force, and he may be better suited for
short passes or quick runs up the middle. The WRs are average at best and the
OL needs help. Defense isn't much better, with only Keith Brooking at MLB and
Ray Buchanan at CB the only two who are worth their paychecks.

San Francisco 49ers (SF) - Though Steve Young is gone, Jeff Garcia is a more
than worthy replacement at QB, especially since he's pretty young. Garrison
Hearst and Fred Beasley are good RBs. Terrell Owens may be an ass personally,
but he gets the job done at WR. The OL will offer plenty of protection for the
offense. On defense, the DL, especially DT Bryant Young, is a threat. The LBs
are only average though, and only Ahmed Plummer is not a worthless CB. Safeties
Zack Bronson and Tony Parrish are going to be the ones who will have to stop
most passes, and luckily Parrish is up to the task.

New York Giants (NYG) - HB Tiki Barber is above average, and so is WR Amani
Toomer. The OL is likely to collapse though, so plays will have to happen
quickly to ensure scores. LE Michael Strahan is a major threat to opponents,
though the rest of his DL is strictly average. MLB Micheal Barrow is good at
MLB, and Jason Sehorn is an admirable CB with a good five seasons or so left in
him. Shaun Williams at SS will protect deep, as well. Too bad K Owen Pochman is
a very poor compliment to P Rodney Williams, or else the Giants would have some
good special teams.

Jacksonville Jaguars (JAX) - The Jags are the favorite team of one of my
friends. There's good reason too: QB Mark Brunell may be getting on in years,
but he's got talent coming out of both arms. He's not very fast though, so
he'll need to depend on his rather average OL to keep him from getting buried.
Fred Taylor at HB is good and can get plenty of yards on the ground, and WR
Jimmy Smith can get it done through the air. There is no defensive player worth
me typing his name, so the D will have to work hard to prevent scores. K Jaret
Holmes blows, but young P Chris Hanson is worth his salary.

New York Jets (NYJ) - Vinny Testaverde doesn't have too many years left, but
he's still got decent skills. Curtis Martin can get it done on the ground. FB
Richie Anderson is a great second option for rushes, but he can also go out for
passes unlike most FBs. The entire list of WRs is filled with only average
players, although I suppose Laveranues Coles is just a hair better. The entire
OL is good at protection (though LG Dave Szott is on the Injured Reserve for
the first season if you play with Pre-existing Injuries turned on). The Jets'
DL is very good, and their LBs boarder on great. The CBs are only average
though, and the safeties are below that, so they may get beat long and wide.

Detriot Lions (DET) - Most of the Lions' offense is average, though FB Cory
Schlesinger is decent. TE Mikael Ricks has the skill of wet fermented cheese,
and the OL will let in plenty of sacks. Although the DL is all right, the rest
of the defense blows. At least K Jason Janson and P John Jett are worth their
money.

Green Bay Packers (GB) - Excellent QB Brett Favre has a couple of years left,
and he's got plenty of arm power and accuracy to get the job done, although
he's not too swift and will get blasted without good protection. However, the
OL is only average at best, so Favre will need to make quick decisions. Ahman
Green is an excellent HB, but aside from Terry Glenn, the WRs are not as good.
William Henderson is a pretty good FB, balanced between blocking and carrying.
TE Bubba Franks is young but he's already shaping up to be a fantastic player.
If the drive goes to hell, the Packers can count on K Ryan Longwell to bail
them out. The DEs are very good, and the DTs are very bad. The LBs are average,
but CB Mike McKenzie can do his part to block passes. SS Darren Sharper can
assist McKenzie to block those deep ones, and FS LeRoy Butler can do a decent
job too.

Carolina Panthers (CAL) - They have cool jerseys, you never notice? Ahem.
Although most of the offense is average, WR Muhsin Muhammad and TE Wesley Walls
are both excellent receivers. LT Todd Steussie, C Jeff Mitchell, and RT Chris
Terry are pretty good, but LG Jamar Nesbit and RG Kevin Donnalley need
improvement. P Todd Sauerbrun can get it done if the drive breaks down, but K
John Kasay is barely average. Julius Peppers the LE may be a rookie, but he's
already got skills to take him far in the NFL. MLB Dan Morgan is above average,
but the rest of his defense is quite poor.

New England Patriots (NE) - The defending Super Bowl champions have QB Tom
Brady leading the pack. He's young but has good skills already. HB Antowain
Smith is very good on the ground, and Troy Brown and David Patten can get it
done through the air. The whole OL offers plenty of protection, but should they
fail, awesome K Adam Vinatieri can score points and P Ken Walter can send the
enemy a million yards back. The DL is strong, but the LBs are average at best.
CB Ty Law is excellent, and so is SS Lawyer Milloy, so there probably won't be
too many long plays given up.

Oakland Raiders (OAK) - The Raiders is a very old team. QB Rich Gannon can't
have too many years left, and neither can HB Charlie Garner and WRs Jerry Rice
and Tim Brown, but all four still have plenty of skills to get it done on
offense. Jon Ritchie is a young FB though, and he's got pretty good skills in
both blocking and catching. RT Lincoln Kennedy and C Barret Robbins are a force
on the OL, and LT Barry Sims is above average. LG Frank Middleton and RG Mo
Collins are average, making the whole OL quite effective. K Sebastian
Janikowski and P Shane Lechler are very good to compliment the offense. The DL
isn't very good, especially with RE Regan Upshaw on the IR. The OLBs are merely
okay, but MLB Greg Biekert is worth his salary. Young CB Charles Woodson is
fantastic; though he may not get too many picks, he'll rack up the tackles. FS
Rod Woodson is also very good at his position, though SS Johnnie Harris is a
waste.

Saint Louis Rams (STL) - Kurt Warner, Marsharll Faulk, Isaac Bruce, and Torry
Holt on offense guarded by Orlando Pace, Tom Nutten, and Adam Timmerman. That
should tell you why the Rams' aggresive and fast-paced offense took them to the
Super Bowl last season. On defense though, don't forget about DEs Leonard
Little on the left and Grant Wistrom on the right. Aeneas Williams, Dexter
McCleon, and Dre' Bly are all above average or better CBs. Adam Archuleta is
great at SS, and Kim Herring is above average at FS. K Jeff Wilkins and P Mitch
Berger are great there too, so they round out the whole roster quite nicely.
Look for STL to go at least to the NFC championship game or further this year.

Baltimore Ravens (BAL) - They don't have Elvis Grbac anymore, and Jeff Blake is
only decent at QB. Luckily, they've got Jamal Lewis at HB to get the job done
on the ground. All the WRs and TEs are average at best. FB Alan Ricard is
worthless, along with LG Mike Flynn, C Casey Rabach, and RG Bennie Anderson. LT
Jonathan Ogden and RT Edwin Mulitalo are the only offensive linesment worth
their paychecks. Matt Stover is an excellent K who can pull the Ravens' butts
out of the fire if needbe. RE Michael McCrary is the only good player of the
DL. LOLB Peter Boulware is amazing, and MLB Ray Lewis is one of the best
players in the NFL of ANY POSITION. Unfortunately, their fellow LB Adalius
Thomas is a waste. CB Chris McAlister is young and one of the best at CB. The
other CBs and both safeties are below average.

Washington Redskins (WAS) - Until the Redskins get a good QB (and Shane
Matthews just does not cut it), they'll have a one-dimensional offense. It's
not like HB Stephen Davis is bad--he's actually quite good--but if they only
run the ball, the enemy defense will keep stopping them. It doesn't help that
the FB, TE, LG, and C are pathetic. At least LT Chris Samuels and RT Jon Jansen
are young and good, and RG Rod Jones is above average. The K and P are average,
but can do their jobs. The DL is average as well, but the LBs are exceptional
for some reason, with LOLB #57 (LaVar Arrington, who for some reason doesn't
have his name in the game) on the left, Jessie Armstead on the right, and
Jeremiah Trotter in the middle. CB Champ Bailey is incredible, and fellow CB
Darrell Green ain't bad either. Too bad the safeties both suck, or this would
be a pretty potent defense.

New Orleans Saints (NO) - QB Aaron Brooks is young and talented. He's not super
fast, but his speed is above average (especially for QBs), and he's very
accurate in his passes. HB Deuce McAllister can run it well, and WR Joe Horn is
always a good option to pass to. The only weakness on the OL is RG #65 (Chris
Naeole). The other four on the OL are Bubba Miller at C (average), Wally
Williams at LG (above average), Victor Riley at RT (above average), and Kyle
Turley at LT (extremely good), who won't be chucking Jets helmets across the
field in Madden. K John Carney can be depended on, and P Toby Gowin is not
worse than average. Defensively, the Saints are a mixed bag. The DL is pretty
good, with RE Darren Howard and DTs Grady Jackson and Norman Hand being pretty
good. The OLBs are weak, but MLB Charlie Clemons can make some plays. All the
CBs are average at best. So is the FS, but SS Sammy Knight is very very good.

Seattle Seahawks (SEA) - Trent Dilfer is a capable QB with quite a few years
left. He can feed passes to Darrell Jackson with faith, or he can handoff to
Shaun Alexander for big gains on the ground. Rookie TE Jerramy Stevens is okay,
but he'll get better with time. The left side of the OL, with Walter Jones at
LT and Steve Hutchinson at LG is quite strong. The other side of the OL is a
little weak though, so Dilfer may take bear left when in the pocket. The
offense will need to get it done, because K Rian Lindell needs a new job. At
least P Jeff Feagles isn't as bad, but punters don't score points. On
defensive, the Seahawks have marginal DEs, but John Randle is a fantastic DT.
All three linebackers are strong, with Anthony Simmons on the left, Chad Brown
on the right, and Levon Kirkland in the middle. CB Shawn Springs is excellent
and can keep up with even the fastest WRs. The other CBs and SS Reggie Tongue
are only average, but FS Marcus Robertson is worth his paycheck.

Pittsburgh Steelers (PIT) - This is my team. I even have my lucky Steelers cap
on my head as I write this FAQ. Gotta love the Steelers! WOO HOO! QB Kordell
Stewart has finally found his stride. He's light on his feet for a QB, so he
can make plenty of plays on his own. Jerome "The Bus" Bettis runs over every
defender in his way on the way to the endzone. His best strength is to just run
down the gullet of the defense, piercing the DL and blasting into the
secondary. FB Dan Kreider is a very good blocker, and he's quite young. WRs
Hines Ward and Plaxico Burress are young and well above average. Rookie WR
Antwaan Randle El is underrated, and with time he'll become one of the most
effective WRs in the NFL. Mark Bruener has five or more years left and is a
phenomonal TE, able to block as well as receive passes. With Wayne Gandy at LT,
Alan Franeca at LG, Jeff Hartings at C, RG #71 (possibly Kendall Simmons) at
RG, and Marvel Smith at RT, Stewart should not be on the wrong end of too many
sacks. New K Todd Peterson (new in the sense that PIT just got him this season)
is proving himself worthy, and P Jon Miller has already established himself as
one of the premier punters of the league. Defensively, the DL is formed by
strong LE Aaron Smith, big RE Kimo von Oelhoffen, and super-strong Casey
Hampton at DT. The fantastic LBs have Jason Gildon in left, Joey Porter in
right, and Kendrell Bell in the middle, who can all make big stops and big
plays. CBs Chad Scott, Dewayne Washington, and Deshea Townsend all excell in
their position. FS Brent Alexander is decent, but a little below average.
However, Lee (Lethon) Flowers at SS is more than fit for the position. Watch
for the Steelers to go to the AFC championship game or further this year. GO
STEELERS!

Houston Texans (HOU) - I hate the Texans. They haven't played a single real
game yet and I hate them. The name is an embarassment to those of us who are
even remotely creative. WHY THE "TEXANS"? Grr... luckily, because they're an
expansion team, you don't have to worry much about being a threat. David Carr
is their rookie QB, and he's average at best. The only other good thing about
their offense is their OL, because they've got fantastic Tony Boselli at LT,
above average Steve McKinney at C, and above average Ryan Young at RT. K Kris
Brown, let go by the Steelers after his hideous performance all last season, is
on the Texans and stinking up the place. Their P, John Baker, is even worse.
Defensively, the Texans only have four good players: Gary Walker, an
above-average RE; Jamie Sharper, a great MLB; and Aaron Glenn and Marcus
Coleman, both above-average CBs. The rest of their defense blows. Look for the
Texans to carpet the basement.

Oh, Mark Johnson (markjohnson46@cox.net) gave me a quick lesson on the Texans'
name...

####################################################

The new team wanted to resume the name of the Oilers but Bud Adams, the owner
of the the Titans (formerly the Oilers), wouldn't release the name. As a result
Houston decided to take the name of the former Dallas Texans of the AFL. The
Dallas Texans had moved to Kansas City and renamed themselves the Chiefs.

Just thought you might like to know that it wasn't really a lack of creativity,
rather some inspired respect for the past.

####################################################

Whether it's inspired respect or a lack of creativity, I still don't like it,
sue me. ^_^

Tennessee Titans (TEN) - QB Steve McNair has plenty of years left and is a
respectable player. Eddie George is a phenomonal HB and is even younger than
McNair. FB Greg Comella is more of a rusher and receiver than blocker, but he
does all three well. WRs Derrick Mason and Kevin Dyson are good. TE Frank
Wycheck is more of a receiver than a blocker, but he offers enough protection.
LT Brad Hopkins and C Bruce Matthews are good. Fred Miller at RT is slightly
above average, and the others on the OL are mediocre at best. K Joe Nedney is
slightly below average, but P Craig Hentrich can get the job done. The DL is
good, especially with young Jevon Kearse at RE. MLB Randall Godfrey is very
good, and so is Samari Rolle at CB. FS Lance Schulters is extrememly good, but
his fellow safety Aric Morris leaves much to be desired.

Minnesota Vikings (MIN) - QB Daunte Culpepper is fantastic, not to mention
young. He can easily and accurately feed Randy Moss the WR. Derrick Alexander
is another option, thought his skill is nowhere near Moss's. The HB, Michael
Bennett, is okay, but he's young and can grow. TE Byron Chamberlain is very
balanced, and he can go out for passes as well as he can hang back to block.
The left side of the OL, with rookie Bryant McKinnie at LT and Chris Liwiensky
at LG, are average. C Matt Birk is excellent, but the right side blows. K Doug
Brien is below average, and P Kyle Richardson is average, so both are decently
reliable. The Vikings have a terrible defense, with their only good player the
DT Chris Hovan.



======================================================
|                 PART 2: HEAD COACH                 |
======================================================

This part of the FAQ contains information on actually playing the game. For
practice, access any of the training modes in the game, like Football 101 or
Mini-camp.

+------------+
|+----------+|
||4. OFFENSE||
|+----------+|
+------------+

Even if you can't tell Marshall Faulk from Zach Thomas, or have no idea what
position Jerome Bettis plays, or what two teams actually share the same
stadium, you do know that it takes points to win a game. You can't score if you
don't hold the ball, and you can't score consistently if you make mistakes
every five seconds. While it takes a little practice to get down your style,
you should be racking up points in no time.

+----------------+
|4a. Basic Theory|
+----------------+

All right, when you're on offense, the basic question that poses you every
single down is: run or pass?

Now, let's assume for a second that all your guys are equal in strength. The
basic theory of which to choose is related to three questions: what down is it;
how far is it to get a first down; and what's the score.

WHAT DOWN IS IT - Running plays are far better to choose in early downs, mostly
because they are much safer. Because your QB is handing the ball DIRECTLY to
your runningbacks, there's no chance for a turnover unless your runner's
fingers are made of butter and he drops the ball every time. However, because
you probably won't get more than 3 to 5 yards per run, you'll need to pass if
the down count is getting too high.

HOW FAR IS IT TO GET A FIRST DOWN - If you ever need more than 10 yards, you'll
need to pass. Passing will oftentimes get you worlds more yardage than runs,
although throwing too deep too early will cause problems. The Pass Defense AI
is much stronger this year than in 2001 and 2002, and while it's not perfect,
you'll not want to risk giving up an early lead.

WHAT'S THE SCORE - If you're leading, don't bother with passing plays. After
all, there's no reason to risk the lead to get a few extra points. If you're
behind, you'll want to go deep, since that may be your only chance to get away
with a win.

Here's the basic theory list, assuming the score difference is 7 or fewer
points either way...

1st Down: Run.
2nd and less than 7 yards: Run.
2nd and more than 10: Pass.
3rd and less than 2: Run.
3rd and more than 5: Pass.
4th and less than 1: If you're feeling confident and you're past the 50 yard
line, try a run.
4th and anything else: Punt or Field Goal.

Notice that I didn't cover every single yardage situation. The reason is
simple: your team's strengths and weaknesses, as well as your personal playing
style, should dictate the list also. If you've got a fantastic runner like
Bettis, George, or Faulk, run more. If you have a good passer with good
recievers, like Culpepper/Moss or McNabb/Thrash, pass more.

+---------------------+
|4b. Advanced Theories|
+---------------------+

WHEN TO PASS
============
On all passing plays, the WRs have definite routes that they run. If they cut
(quickly change directions) or curl (come back toward the line of scrimmage
after running a set distance), you'll want to time it so they they recieve the
pass as or soon after they make the move.

For example, let's take a play in which the WR cuts inside. The moment he
plants his foot and turns directions, the enemy defender is still going to be
travelling the same direction. The defender must REACT to the action, which
might buy that extra split second you'll need to hit your reciever when he's
free.

Another tip for passing to get your timing so you throw BETWEEN defenders. Take
a look at this...

R------------N----------->

      X           X

===========================
             Q

R=Reciever
X=Defenders
Q=Quarterback

You'll want to throw the ball so your reciever will catch the ball at the N
mark. Now, you'll not want to throw when he's AT the N mark. You'll want to
throw the ball while he's a few steps away. Basically, you'll want to throw the
ball where the defender SHOULD be in two steps, not where he's currently at. If
your timing is good, you can make the play and burn the defense to get a few
extra yards. Practice your timing in Football 101, that's what it's there for.

RED ZONE
========
The "Red Zone" is the area between either 20-yard line and the closest goal
line. If you are inside either Red Zone, the strategy changes a bit.

First of all, if you're in your own Red Zone, you need to be careful. An
interception or fumble could quite easily turn into a defensive touchdown, even
if you're against a team with below-average defenders. Besides, even if you
manage to stop the enemy before they score, he'll be in a beautiful position
when they take over on offense.

Getting out of your Red Zone has two schools of thought. Some play as if their
tails are on fire, and they chuck the ball deep every time to get out quickly.
Others go the safe route and call runs, although they may be stopped soon.

I play a mix, and alter my play depending on the situation. If your team has
better running or passing, or the defense is weak against one or the other,
exploit it. Say you've got a phenomenal QB and WRs. Passing to get out is
probably your best bet. If you've got great blockers and runner, try a running
play designed to get you to the sidelines, then turn up and head downfield.

If you're in the enemy's Red Zone, it's a whole other ball of wax. 20 yards is
not too far from a touchdown, and you're definitely in field goal range. Again,
you'll want to exploit your team's strengths and the enemy's weaknesses, but
it's not nessecery to go insane with risks. I personally run my standard
offense until I hit about the 7 yard line.

The one problem with being in the enemy's Red Zone is that you can no longer
use really deep passes. Short and medium passes are typically what are blocked
unless your QB has a lightning-quick release (which is more up to how well you
play personally). On the other hand, the enemy may use their best DTs and DEs
to stuff the line and give little to no hope of running.

What I typically do when I get that close is run my best running play and see
how the defense reacts. If they blitzed, I throw a pass on the next down. If
they hung around looking for a pass, I run again. Typically, they will run
about the same play for the first two downs, then change for the third if they
think it will help them.