Winning Game Plans

How do you expect to win?  

Every Madden player needs an answer to this question.  It doesn't matter how fast we run the 40, how many reps on the bench press, shuttle time, or vertical leap.  What matters is how fast you can process football relevant information and how well you can translate what you process into finger movements that duplicate good situational football technique.  Unfortunately, Game Planning is a technique that most players skip.

What play are we calling on 3rd and 8?  What about if we're down by 4?  What if the ball is spotted on our 34 yard line?  What if the we have 0:32 seconds left?  What if the clock is running?  What if it's the 4th Qtr?  What if we have 1 timeout? What if we're on defense?

If we answer each question individually, we might change answers several times.  If we don't have an answer for each question, we're not going to have an answer in the game.  So let's answer some questions.

CLOCK MANAGEMENT - Using Tempo is crucial to sound situational game play. 

• How will we use the 2 Minute Warning?
• How do we handle timeouts on offense vs defense?
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• How do special teams impact our clock management strategy?
• When will we speed up vs slow down our opponent's execution?

Note:  If we're better at managing tempo than our opponent, our chances of winning increase.

Got answers?  Good.  

FIELD MANAGEMENT - Using Position is crucial to sound situational game play.  

• How will we attack the field?
• How will we handle the line of scrimmage?
• How will we handle the backfield?
• How will we use the sideline?
• How will we manage our play calls to setup the next ball spot?
• What area of the field is exposed?

Note: If we're better at managing the field, our chances of winning increase.

Still good?  Let's keep going...

ROSTER MANAGEMENT - Using Personnel is crucial to sound game play.

• Who is on the field?
• What is their skill set?
• How will we use their skill set?
• How will we create a numbers advantage?
• Who are the best players?
• Is anyone fatigued?

Note: If we're better at managing our roster, our chances of winning increase.  

That's all...  Each of us needs answers to these questions.  If we can answer these questions easily, we're half way there.  The question then becomes: 

Can we execute our plan to get the right players (personnel) to the right places (position) at the right times (tempo)?

It's not a yes/no question...  It's a fun/misery question - a W/L question.  

So...  How my question is - how do we win games?