Hey everybody, once again, this is TAFKAC with another issue of the Madden 99 Newsletter. With the Holidays just around the corner, now is the perfect time to get together with family memebers, exchange gifts,and kick their behinds in Madden!!! It's Christmas just fun!

Pre-Snap Reads

Bring Back the Grey Beards

Wide Outs as Defensive Backs

Play of the Month

The Pre-Snap Reads

An important factor in any play execution is ready the defense. Looking at the alignment of the linebackers and defensive backs before the snap can give you an advantage when you run your play. When you line up at the line of scrimmage, take time out to check over the defense. Check out the coverage on your recievers. Is it tight (possible bump and run) or loose (possible zone). Check out how deep the safties are. If they are close to the line of scrimmage, deep passes are easier because the safties may not get back in time to help out. If they are deep, then underneath passes such as curls and passes to the running backs are easier since they are too deep to help out. Also check the linebackers. Are they directly over your tight end? If not, your tight end could be open for a quick hit. In general, if a team is lined up in an even, base-type defense, then you are most likely facing a zone which you want to throw underneath. If your opponent lines up in an "press" formation with the linebackers and defensive backs creeping up, you are most likely facing a man or a combination man/zone defense, so you would want to throw up and over the congestion in the middle.

Bring Back the Grey Beards!

I hear people talking about rookies and draft choices and the younger players and stuff. "Don't sign those older players....they cost too much." I prefer a balance of young and old talent but signing certain veterans to key positions has really improved my team. Alot of successful teams are built with veterans players who can fill key roles. Reggie White, Bill Bates, Darryl Green, Warren Moon, etc... are a couple of examples of a few veteran players who are pushing that big 4-0 and still can play. They may have lost a step here and there but the still can give you your moneys worth. Veterans do have an advantage. Skillz. One of the most important factors that Veterans have over rookies is their Awareness level. A high Awareness can compensate for other attributes that a veteran may be lacking (such as speed). Raising rookies can be a rustrating propostion, especially if you are trying to win, now. They can shore up a weak, ineffective team with quality players who are not going to make alot of mistakes. Their are downsides. First, they won't get any better. In fact, they are going to get worse as the years go by. But that doesn't mean that can't play. In fact, they can outplay some of their younger counterparts. Look at Reggie White. He is like 38 and still is one of the leading sackers of 1998. Second, veterans players will eventually retire. But their is also another upside to that to. First you are always going to have veterans so their is talent. Also, you can trade these guys before they get too, too old. In some cases, it is like highway robbery because you can trade for a quality player who has years left for like a quarterback or linebacker who may have just two years left. The bottom line is building your team with the players that you feel you can win with.

Wide Recievers as Defensive Backs?

One day, while going through my roster, I made some observations. Basically, Wide Recievers and Defensive Backs have basically the same statitics. Their are some differences such as catching and tackling but I asked myself, "Self, can wide recievers be defensive backs? Let's find out!" I was playing with the Giants and I signed Brian Manning as an extra reciever. The Giants have two great defensive backs in Jason Sehorn and Phillipi Sparks but everybody else was either average or just couldn't get the job done. I like to run alot of nickle packages on passing downs but I was getting burned by those slot recievers because the nickle backs just couldn't keep up. Manning was pretty cheap and because I had other recievers such as Dar Dar and Brian Alford, I decided to give Manning a shot at nickle back. What? I mean his stats weren't that bad after all. Manning played like a trooper intercepting at least 6 passes and defending a whole lot more. The main disadvantage was run defense where it seams he got run over alot. Oh well such is life. I could live with that. So, If you are short at defensive backs and have extra wide recievers, try giving them a shot at cornerback. Right now, I am experimenting with a running back at cornerback. (It's alive I tell you, It's alive!!! Hahahahahah!!!)

Play of the Month

Play of the Month for December

Far-Weak Flood

Having trouble getting into the endzone? This is my favorite play near the goal line when I am trying to get that touchdown. Just throw to the HB creeping in for a short gain.