The Phat Back

Now, I know you are sitting there saying, "Craig, what the hell you talking about? Phat Back?" Yes, Phat Back. You know who they are. Jerome Bettis, Natrone Means, Mike Alstott, Eddie George, Jamal Anderson. They big power runners. These are the classic North-South runners, the guys who believe that the shortest possible distance between two points is through a cornerback. After these guys are brought down, defensive players get back into the huddle and say "Damn, I am tired of tackling this guy" How to grade a Phat Back--look for these qualities STR, CAR, BT, WT when you chose a runner. They don't have to the fastest or the quickest but they do need the ability to break tackles and carry the ball 30 times a game. How to use a Phat Back-the Phat Back is a North and South runner so use plays that go straight ahead and not to the sidelines

I HB Lead

One Back Dive Strong

Strong I HB Lead

The Phat Back is the ideal player for smash-mouth football. If you have the lead and what to bleed time off of the clock, give it to your phat back for 3 yards and a cloud of dust.

Pass Rush by Michael Hollar

Because of the Thanksgiving Holiday (and because I have been also playing Xenogears) I haven't been able to spend as much time on Madden 99 and I would like. Michael Hollar emailed me with a defensive playthat he was gracious enough to share with us.

I don't know if you've tried it before, but my favorite pass rushing technique is the outside-in move. I scoot my weakside DE a tad outside(since there's no TE and I have a clear look) before the snap and take a quick step to the outside when the ball is snapped. I do this when I've called a play that has a straight-up pass rush because you need the DT to occupy the guard. If the DT keeps the guard busy and your first move gets the tackle going outside, you will have room to slash back to the inside and hustle for the QB. Since the initial move is not a speed or power move, all the DE's juice is still left for the burst through the line so the QB doesn't have time to get out of your way.

Play of the Month

One Back SE Slant

Playing Tip

Do you know one thing I love about Madden 99? How it emulates real life football skills. A perfect example is how you have to read coverages. That is why vision is so important. You always here John Madden talk about players who have great vision and who have eyes in the back of their heads. On passing plays, try to scan the entire field. If you only look at the blitzing linebackers, you won't find open recievers. If you only look down field your gonna miss the blitz. Try look at the entire field at once, instead of just focusing on one reciever. Many times, a guy will be wide open, doing nothing. Also, when running the ball, don't blindly run into the like hitting the speed burst or juke button. Look where you are going. I always follow my fullback no matter where he is going. Once you start looking where you are going, running is a whole lot easier, especially on the Madden level.

Til next time...

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