Repositioning Players

I consider this to be one of the most important things I picked up on with the play editor (behind the custom route thing and the combining plays from different formations thingy). Generally, when you give a player an assignment, he is automatically given a direction by Madden, depending on where he is currently lined up. For example, if you assign "Back Step-Dive Right" to a HB in a spot three squares behind the QB (the regular HB spot), he will have a different direction than if you assigned the same thing when the HB was lined up two squares behind the left tackle.

In the first case, the assignment will be almost straight forwards, a little to the right. In the second case, the assignment will be almost horizontal to the right. The direction will vary from square to square in the backfield. This can be used to fine-tune the direction of assignments, whether on a running play, a blocking assignment, or dropping back into a hook zone on defense. Simply move the player to a different spot, give the assignment, and move him back. This opens up a world of new options to you.

• Besides direction on a running play, timing also can be controlled. The difference isn't apparently noticible, but sometimes can make a difference whether a blocker can get set up or not. The deeper the ballcarrier is lined up in the backfield, the slower the handoff is. Move him to a spot right behind the QB, and you'll get a pretty quick handoff.
• You can create a kind of "hop counter": Move the player a little to the right (don't remember the exact position off the top of my head), and assign him a hop step/dive right. The arrow will point to the left, but the player hops to the right, but heads back left.
  • Video Link (54k)
• You can use this as a basis to create handoffs/pitches to players lined up outside of the box, who normally wouldn't be able to carry the ball. Simply move them into the box, give them the desired assignment, and move them back. View the Custom Route Runs tutorial for more info.
• You can fine-tune direction of blocking as well. Players lined up in the box have the same direction characteristics as the running assignments above. A player lined up behind QB will have a different blocking direction than a player lined up right behind the tackle. You can create an almost "flat" blocking path, by putting a player behind the tackle, and selecting "outside" to the opposite direction. I've been able to get my WRs to crack block down on LBs (if they are close enough) on occasion with this trick. Also, a great way to get your backside TE across the field on the slow-developing counters or delays.
• You can expand the blocking options of the tight end. He's usually limited to pull/screen right/left, by moving him around, you can give him the options of other players. Move him into the backfield, and assign away.

• Screen blocking

  You can improve blocking on screen passes. If you try to assign WRs split out wide to block on a screen, sometimes they will just set up near the line, or even try to drift back and help pass block. You can move them into the deepest square behind a tackle, assign them the "Off Tackle" blocking assignment, and move them back, to help out blocking. The WRs now tend to head downfield a little, sometimes even running ten yards downfield to block a defender.
• On defense, the direction of dropback for a hook zone is also determined by position on the field (view the Hook Zones tutorial for more info). The closer to the line a player is, the more outside and more shallow his drop will be. The further outside a player is, the further outside his dropback will be.