2005 madden manual

The following table reveals the team statistics for the current National Football League teams. Louis Rams 86 92 81 99 St. This chapter provides in-depth analysis on your favorite National Football League teams. OVR - The overall rating for the player. SPD - How fast the player can run. ACC - How fast a player reaches full speed. Great for sprinting through open holes in your line or outrunning tacklers around a corner. CTH - How well the player can catch. A higher rating means fewer drops.

CAR - How well the player holds onto the football. A higher rating means the less chance of a fumble. THP - How far a player can throw the ball.

THA - How accurate a player throws. PBK - How well a player pass blocks. RBK - How well a player run blocks. INJ - The likelihood of an injury. The higher the rating, the less likely a player will get injured.

Although their season ended with a dramatic win against the Minnesota Vikings the loss kept the Vikings out of the postseason , the Arizona Cardinals finished in their usual position: at the bottom of their division. The future looks brighter--it has to--with some new, exciting, young offensive talent and a new head coach, Dennis Green. Anquan Boldin made a big splash in with impressive receiving numbers and the offensive rookie of the year award.

The Cardinals drafted college superstar Larry Fitzgerald to complement Boldin. In a few years, this could be one of the top duos in the league. Move Boldin around using motion or swaps to help keep him an open target for McNown. Use high percentage passing. Duckett RB 82 86 89 80 58 92 Some might argue that the Atlanta Falcons season ended well before it started: when their star and Madden cover guy Michael Vick went down with a broken leg in the preseason.

Hopes are once again high in if Vick can remain healthy. This is a potent offense in Madden Once again Vick possesses explosive speed and mobility for a quarterback. Warrick Dunn and T. Duckett are a solid one-two punch. Dunn is the speedster excelling in outside runs and as a receiver out running most linebackers and safeties, which typically cover him one-on-one ; Duckett is the north-south runner with burly break tackle ability.

Send Dunn in the pattern often; he creates a lot of mismatches against slower safeties and even slower linebackers. Mix in Alge Crumpler, one of the better tight ends in the game. Punish defenses on the ground with pro bowler Jamal Lewis and play aggressive, take-away style defense with standout stars Chris McAlister, Ed Reed, and Madden cover man Ray Lewis leading a great all-around squad.

Even Jamal Lewis is best kept on the ground he has just a 69 catch rating. His break tackle rating of 99 means he has the power to pound through linemen and over a lot of linebackers--use those stiff arms and special moves! Increased speed and acceleration over last season offers a better chance to implement outside runs. Ray Lewis is nearly unstoppable on defense. His high awareness makes Lewis strongest in coverage not as much in blitz situations.

Ed Reed has enough skills to play man-to-man or should be used to assist the Raven defenders not named Chris McAlister. They dropped to just yards per game from in this is the 30th ranked offense in yards gained per game!

Offensively the stats are certainly decent, despite their rather poor showing in Defensively the team is strong with an excellent linebacker squad and a solid secondary led by former Patriot Lawyer Milloy. On offense, establish a running game with Henry, a good mix of speed and break tackle power. Eric Moulds is your primary receiver in the passing game.

Look to insert second year player though first for him as he was out all last season with a knee injury Willis McGahee into two back formations for an intriguing one-two punch. What a difference a year makes. At the end of the season, the Carolina Panthers had just concluded a campaign with big questions at quarterback. In , the quarterback question was answered early with the emergence of Jake Delhomme. The Carolina Panthers went from to nearly winning the Super Bowl. Stephen Davis is a powerful runner.

In the passing game, look to match up quick Steve Smith on slower corners or, even better, even slower safeties or linebackers by shifting him around the field. Swap him into the slot and use motion to create mismatches. The Chicago Bears begin with a much different look than the squad. Instead, the Bears look to the future and have presented the reins to Florida Gator quarterback and first-round defeat pick Rex Grossman. Note that at the time of this writing, Booker had just been traded to the Miami Dolphins.

A roster update could make this change. Keep your play calling unpredictable with passes out of run sets and runs out of passing sets. The Cincinnati Bengals surprised a lot of teams in almost to the point where many will forget their nickname, the Bungles. Checking the ratings, both quarterbacks are extremely close. Kitna gets the nod with awareness for his veteran status but Palmer is faster and has a slightly stronger arm. The Bengals are on the rise.

Primary wide receiver Chad Johnson is one of the best in the game. Having let long-time Bengal Corey Dillon move on to AFC rival New England, Cincinnati starts upstart Rudi Johnson at running back--good, but not superstar ratings--and even have a first-round draft pick Chris Perry behind him if needed. The Browns finally answered that question definitively in it would be neither!

If ratings are any indication, the Browns made the right choice: Garcia provides veteran awareness, excellent accuracy, quick feet for a quarterback, and near tank-like durability the high injury rating. Utilize his mobility with roll outs and even some scrambles. William Green and Lee Suggs offer the Browns a new controversy: who to start at running back? Ratings are nearly indistinguishable from one another. Utilize both in two back sets for a duo of decent options as both runners and pass catchers.

First round draft pick Kellen Winslow provides a decent option at tight end: expect his ratings to soar higher in coming releases. Despite making the playoffs with a record, the Dallas Cowboys revamped considerably on offense. They lost their starting quarterback, starting wide receiver, and starting running back. The Cowboys made significant changes on offense, including Vinny Testaverde at quarterback and Eddie George at running back.

The Cowboys added former Titan Eddie George in hopes he still has something left in the tank. Keyshawn Johnson, another former Parcell player, replaces Galloway at receiver in an off season trade with the Bucs. A conservative passing game--given the lack of standouts in key positions--will likely produce the most consistent results.

Rely more on the Cowboys top ranked defense. Losing Portis means a significant downgrade at the running back position. Speedy Quintin Griffith is a front runner for the starting position, though the Broncos also drafted Tatum Bell as further insurance. Run behind excellent right guard Dan Neil. The Detroit Lions are a young football team. If Coach Steve Mariucci can turn potential into points then the Lions will be a force to be reckoned with in the very near future.

Second year player Charles Rodgers and rookie Roy Williams are a fast one-two punch at the receiver position. Move them around the field, put them in motion, and work to get them matched up against slower defenders. Behind Favre is Ahman Green, one of the top running backs in the game. Near top ratings in both speed and acceleration, Green excels inside and outside the tackles and should be a big part of your pass offense as well. The receiving group lacks super stars but is a solid bunch; Javon Walker is an emerging star and offers the best speed on the team.

Focus your offense on spreading the ball around. Hand off to Green inside then outside then work play action to Walker, Franks, or Green and repeat. Remain unpredictable. The Houston Texans failed to make significant strides in The team ranked near the bottom of the league in both yards gained per game and yards allowed per game. But the Texans are a young squad and are in place to improve in the upcoming season.

David Carr has respectable ratings; good throwing power and decent accuracy. The Texans running game gained focus in with the emergence of Dominick Davis. Andre Johnson leads the receiver squad with excellent speed and jumping ability. Stretch defenses with Johnson while maintaining a strong ground game behind Davis and the fast Hollings when Davis needs a breather.

The Indianapolis Colts and Peyton Manning cleared a big hump in the season: they won a playoff game. Unfortunately, they still lost a playoff game. But the Colts should remain strong in and are certainly one of the best squads in Madden Peyton Manning boasts impressive stats.

Utilize him in the flat and as a dump option when the downfield receivers are tightly covered. Harrison also has a 99 catch rating. Mike Vanderjagt is also a legitimate offensive weapon.

He can nail those 50 yard field goals. The Jags finished 12th in yards gained per game and 6th in yards allowed per game. Those numbers should have translated into more wins. But the Jags lost several games by less than a touchdown, which can quickly turn a possible playoff run into a disappointing season finish. He offers a strong arm but only moderate accuracy and awareness. You can send Fred on the outside or up the gut for decent yardage. The wide receivers are young but led by veteran Jimmy Smith.

Instead, look to hit Smith in openings in the zone or on out routes. Tony Gonzalez is the best tight end in the game. The Kansas City Chiefs were the tale of two teams.

On one side you have an offensive juggernaut led by the best running back in the game today: Priest Holmes. He can accelerate through the hole or around the end, can break tackles through the middle, and is a potent force as a pass catcher. He also has a great line to run behind. Tony Gonzalez, the best tight end in the game, offers a superb option--not just as a dump off but as your primary target.

Move him around the field and work him into your game. Utilize his speed and look for opportunities to mismatch him up against a slower safety or linebacker.

What the Chiefs have in offense, the Chiefs lack in defense. They ended with the 29th ranked defense in yards allowed per game. Fortunately the Chiefs have the offensive tools to win shootouts: expect high scoring games. After another disappointing second half of the season, the Dolphins looked to improve at key offensive positions.

They added A. These new "weapons" on offense combined with the running of Ricky Williams and their usual strong defense made seem hopeful. That is until Ricky Williams suddenly retired right before training camp and David Boston was lost for the season with a knee injury.

Chris Chambers is another strong Dolphin receiver. Chambers and Boston make a nice combo in Madden Mix in Randy McMichael as another down field selection.

The Dolphins remain strong on defense. Jason Taylor anchors the line, Zach Thomas is one of the best middle linebackers, and Patrick Surtain can cover nearly everyone in the game in single coverage. There are many other stars as well. Play aggressive defense and keep scoring low and allow a conservative offense to stay in the game.

The Vikings started strong and looked to be the NFC favorite Despite the strong start, the Vikings failed to make the playoffs. The team mirrored the Chiefs: explosive offense but vulnerable defense. Culpepper is one of the top quarterbacks in the game. The Minnesota Vikings have one of the best quarterback-wide receiver combos in the game. Randy Moss is the best receiver in the game: maximum rating in speed, acceleration, and jump ability.

Moss also has high awareness; use him on option routes and allow him to find the open space. Bennett is an extremely fast back and can be dangerous in pass patterns man-on-man against slow linebackers. But Moss is your primary weapon. Move him around the line to hopefully open him up. Use hot routes on him when you spot a mismatch. And in a move that probably made other AFC teams more nervous, the Patriots bolstered their one "weak" position by adding long-time Cincinnati Bengal Corey Dillon to their backfield as the featured ball carrier.

Spread the ball around to the Patriots capable receiving group; use two tight-end sets to get both solid Patriot tight-ends into the game. The Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots have one of the stingiest defenses in the game--both run and pass defense.

The Patriots have the best defense in the game rated 99 overall and are pretty much solid across the board. Ty Law and Rodney Harrison are the primary superstars. Their coverage skills allow you to play any defensive coverage you wish--including an array of blitzes. The secondary is strong enough to play single coverage.

New Orleans Saints. Joe Horn and Donte Stallworth provide two weapons at wide out. Horn is the better overall receiver but Donte possesses the speed and acceleration to help stretch defenses, which should hopefully open more running lanes for McAllister.

Boo Williams is a rising star at the tight-end position. Expect a high scoring affair. The New York Giants enter with a controversy at quarterback. The Giants sent Kerry Collins packing he ended up at the Oakland Raiders but acquired two capable signal callers.

The Giants enter the season with a quarterback controversy: veteran Kurt Warner or rookie Eli Manning. Their Madden ratings are quite close. Warner has a slight edge in throw power, accuracy, and awareness Eli is a rookie after all but Manning is more mobile and durable Warner is the injury rating equivalent of a toothpick. The Giants do possess some weapons on offense. Tiki is fast, agile, and one of the top pass catching running backs available.

The Jets had high hopes in but lost starting quarterback Chad Pennington to a broken wrist during the preseason. Pennington is highly accurate but lacks the arm strength to consistently hit the deep ball.

The veteran Curtis Martin has lost a step or two but still retains respectable stats just nothing explosive. Kevin Mawae at center provides excellent blocking.

Use dives and blast plays to get Martin through the line. The Oakland Raiders suffered through one of the worst seasons for a team that was just one year removed from going to the Super Bowl. It was as if their lopsided defeat at the hands of the Tampa Bay Bucs lingered well into the next season. To compound matters, the Raiders opened the season without wide receiver Jerry Porter and quarterback Rich Gannon also missed most of the season with a shoulder injury.

Porter is a good secondary receiver. Both are similarly rated; neither will pose much of a deep threat. Use Wheatley to punch through the line. The Eagles addressed two big concerns in the off season: a playmaker wide receiver and a legitimate pass rusher on the defensive line. The Eagles needed a playmaker wide receiver: so they signed one of the best in the league, former 49er Terrell Owens.

The Eagles added flamboyant wide receiver Terrell Owens, one of the best wide outs available in the game, to give McNabb an explosive target in the passing game and signed Jevon Kearse away from the Titans to provide much needed pressure on the opposing quarterback. This is a solid squad and certainly one of the favorites to reach the NFC Championship game yet again.

Westbrook and Buckhalter are the two backs; Westbrook offers better speed and pass catching ability while Buckhalter is superior in short yardage situations. Although the Steelers still have one of the better defenses anchored by all-pro linebacker Joey Porter , the offense fell off considerably in Inconsistency at the quarterback and running back position created the biggest problems.

The Steelers signed ex-Eagle Duce Staley to energize the running attack. Staley and Bettis provide a strong one-two punch. Use Staley to run outside and to catch passes; Bettis is the better inside runner and should be used in short yardage situations.

Establish a strong running game by swapping out Staley and Bettis for specific situations. Hit Staley out of the backfield to loosen the defense and open up your options at wide receiver. LaDainian Tomlinson is one of the best running backs in the game and by far the best player on the San Diego Chargers. The San Diego Chargers have one of the best players in the game LaDainian Tomlinson is a dominant mix of speed and power.

Former starter Drew Brees is a forgotten man so the Chargers drafted Philip Rivers as their new future star. The San Francisco 49ers bear little resemblance to the Niners. It was like an off season fire sale.

The 49ers lost their starting quarterback, starting running back, and both starting receivers. Kevan Barlow started at running back late in the season and proved he deserved the position.

Utilize highly rated Fred Beasley to open up holes. Matt Hasselbeck has come into his own over the last season and a half and should be considered one of the top quarterbacks in the league. Shaun Alexander is one of the best all-around running backs in the game--potent acceleration to combine with high break tackle ability.

Run behind strong offensive lineman Walter Jones at left tackle. Darrell Jackson and Koren Robinson present two solid targets at receiver. Plus Bobby Engram is solid in three-receiver sets. Utilize a lot of singleback, three-receiver sets for both run and pass situations to keep defenses on guard.

Torry Holt had a breakout season last year--his new Madden ratings reflect his great year. The St. Louis Rams still have one of the most explosive offenses in the game. These are your playmakers. Any of their Madden ratings could put them in a starting position on any other team. Play a wide open offense and spread the ball around to your big stars.

Both Holt and Bruce could beat defenders deep, though Holt definitely has the speed and catching advantage. Run Faulk behind all-pro left tackle Orlando Pace. Also make sure you use Faulk as a receiver as well. Use hot routes to send him out on every passing play so you have the option if needed. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers completed a disappointing season after winning the Super Bowl the year before.

The Bucs suffered from inconsistent play on both sides of the ball as well as some major off the field distractions by the name of Keyshawn Johnson. Mix in Garner and Alstott as a speed versus power combination. Alstott excels in short yardage situations with a near maximum rating in break tackle ability. Utilize Garner as a receiver option out of the backfield.

Galloway will stretch defenses while McCardell is a dependable possession receiver. Derrick Brooks is still one of the best linebackers available. You could make a strong case for either quarterback but most would argue that McNair is the heart and soul of the Tennessee Titans. During the off season, the Titans let former Heisman trophy winner Eddie George go he later signed with the Dallas Cowboys. Defensively the Titans remain strong with solid stars at each position level.

Kevin Carter anchors the line, Keith Bullick is a standout linebacker, and Samari Rolle can shutdown many receivers. Under owner Daniel Snyder, the Washington Redskins have made major changes to the team every season.

Other off season moves included signing veteran, ex-Jaguars quarterback Mark Brunell and completing a blockbuster trade that sent cornerback Champ Bailey to the Broncos for all-pro running back Clinton Portis. The Redskins made a huge off season trade acquiring premiere running back Clinton Portis. The always-dangerous Portis should be your primary focus on offense.

Testing defenses deep will certainly help open holes for Portis. Look for primary wide out Laveraneus Coles--given a 99 rating for speed--on the deep go routes. Maneuver him around the line and use hot routes to take advantage of mismatches. For the most part, strategies and features on offense remain largely the same. A successful offense moves the ball efficiently and effectively. Predict what the defense is doing so you can gain positive yards on every down.

Avoid backpedaling and putting the team in long yardage situations where your course of action becomes much more predictable. This section will provide explanations of offensive formations and packages, offer specific tips on managing an explosive passing and rushing attack, and reveal the best Madden NFL players at key offensive positions.

When selecting your play on offense, you must first selection a formation. The formation inserts specific personnel onto the field in specific spots. You can adjust formations and packages on the play selection screen. Change a shotgun formation to four wide receivers and even insert your running back into the slot position. You can further adjust formation personnel through packages, such as using a jumbo backfield for short yardage, moving the tight end to the slot position, or giving your starting running back a rest.

These package substitutions are covered later in this chapter. The following list covers the basics of each formation, their strengths and weaknesses, and appropriate usage.

Certain sub formations of each formation are also covered. Use this section as a guide during your offensive play selection. Goal Line: The aptly named goal line formation would be used most often in very short yardage three yards or less or goal line situations.

Use playmaker control to switch the direction of your running play depending on how the defense stacks the line.

Use package substitution to insert a jumbo backfield for, possibly, better break tackle ability depending on your team. Switch to the Miami package to exchange the receiver for a better blocking tight end. Mix up your play with a pass out of goal line, which can be very effective.

Use a hot route to ensure one of your receivers is running a quick pattern in case the defense has called a heavy blitz. I Form: The I Form formation features a fullback then a running back lined up directly behind the quarterback.

But it can be a powerful pass formation as well, especially against aggressive opponents thinking run. For instance, the I Form-Big formation inserts two tight ends and just one receiver.

Certainly a good running formation with all that blocking but also a surprising pass formation. In any I Form formation, utilize the running back and fullback or two running backs if you use the Dual HB package as options in the flat.

If your opponent aggressively blitzes, one of those options is likely to be wide open. Strong I, Weak I: These formations are similar to I-Form, but the fullback is offset either to the strong side the side of the offensive line with the tight end or the weak side the side of the offensive line without the tight end.

The uses are similar to the I Form. Far, Near: These formations are similar to Strong and Weak, but the fullback and running back are positioned close to one other behind the quarterback. Split Backs: This is another two-back set but the two backs are lined up along the same line in a split formation.

Both backs are just offset from the quarterback. It holds similar advantages and disadvantages to the other two back sets. Full House: The full house formation includes three backs in the backfield: one full back and two running backs.

The position of the backs resembles a cross between the I Form and the Strong or Weak formation. You can hand off to the primary back, the secondary back, the full back, or use it as a passing formation and send three backs into the pattern. Jumbo-T: The Packers playbook includes the Jumbo-T, which resembles the full house formation with multiple backs two running backs, one fullback behind the quarterback.

Like full house, it allows for several run options and can be effective in passing plays with effective back and tight end routes. Singleback: The singleback formation is extremely varied. Most, though, feature a single running back and a set of receivers, tight ends, or a mixture of both.

Using the sets with a running back, three receivers, and a tight end can be unpredictable and pose match-up problems. If the defense calls nickel, then you have the advantage in the running game. If the defense calls or , then you could have an advantage in the passing game. Shotgun: The shotgun formation is a typical passing formation because it allows extra time for the quarterback to read the defense and hit the open receiver before the rush closes in.

Alter the personnel in a specific formation with package substitutions. Using packages you can easy insert two running backs instead of using a fullback, swap wide receiver positions, or move a running back to the wide out slot. The following list details some of the package substitutions and how to use them effectively. This can be an effective substitution for teams with two decent running backs for instance, Atlanta, Cleveland, Minnesota, Denver, etc for pass plays to the backs.

Also if you want a quick way to utilize the secondary running back on plays designed for the fullback. Jumbo Backfield: Substitutes your running back for the fullback for dual fullbacks. Good for short yardage situations and for teams with good fullbacks San Francisco, San Diego, for instance for use in runs designed for running backs. WR Swap: Swap the primary and secondary receiver positions to alter their assigned pass routes.

WR Swap Strong: Places your best two receivers on the strong side then swaps their position essentially placing your top receiver in the slot position. Spell HB: If your primary running back is fatigued, use this package to quickly swap in your secondary back for some fresh legs. In addition, we've got tips on how to take on the game with every team, a full list of player ratings, and much, much more. Check out the list below, and you'll see what we mean.

Start with our guide. In this guide, you'll find:. Please help improve this wiki if you can, and remove this notice if appropriate. Madden Wiki Guide. Last Edited: 28 Mar am. Contributor Assistance If you're unfamiliar with editing our wikis, this simple How-to Wiki guide shows you how to get started. If you are unsure about something, do not hesitate to ask the staff or flag the page you are having trouble with please don't forget to tell us about the problem or reason.

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