Madden Tutorial: Using Motion Confuse the Defense

My preferred method of playing the popular video game Madden Football is franchise mode on All Madden difficulty on Playstation 2, although I've also played the video game on X-Box 360, X-Box, Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo 64 and Super Nintendo. There are a variety of strategies I implement to be successful, but one in-game tactic that everyone should be aware of and capable to implement is motion. Properly utilizing motion can offer several advantages to the Madden gamer.

Create Favorable Matchups
Manually utilizing motion pre-snap can enable you to have a wide receiver (WR) or tight end (TE) in a mismatch coverage situation. Wide receivers can end up being covered by inferior defensive backs (DBs) and tight ends can end up being covered by linebackers (LBs). The best way to find favorable matchups is to test the defense and practice the art of making motion a consistent part of your tactical strategy.

Create Additional Blockers
By motioning, you can create additional blockers for both running and pass protecting. This practice is especially useful with tight ends who can be quite capable at blocking. Also, motioned players can be used to block in gaps created by counter or toss running plays. With regard to passing, fullbacks can be motioned in a manner intended to create an improved blocking scheme, especially against a perceived blitzes.

Furthermore, if you have a big wide receiver, then don't be afraid to utilize him as a blocker on running plays. Wide receivers can even be used as blockers on pass plays. If you motion a wide receiver pre-snap and hike the ball while he is located between the tackles, he may block for you. Alternatively, if the wide receiver continues motioning outside of the tackles, the wide receiver will still run his route.

Confuse the Defense
When you use motion, the computer often switches to a more base formation. Therefore, motion can be used, sometimes, to eliminate a blitz. Although, this is not always the case and may backfire. Never be afraid to motion, as you can always motion the player back to where he started (given enough time on the play clock). Sometimes, it is good to motion simply to gain information about the defense's tendencies, which can potentially be exploited later.

Create Empty Space
Motioning players away from a specific area can allow space to attack that area with either the pass or the run. Obviously, this will typically mean fewer blockers, but that can be a good thing if those blockers are wide receivers. Additionally, when you reduce your blockers, the opponent typically reduces their number of players in that area also. With this tactic, you can end up with three blockers against three defensive players, as opposed to four blockers against four defensive players; while the numbers are equivalent in both situations, sometimes it is easier to find running or passing lanes when there are fewer players to navigate.

Furthermore, certain plays have motion built in to them, where one player automatically motions prior to the hike of the ball. However, in such circumstances, these plays can also be utilized without motion. By simply changing the route of the motioning player pre-snap, you can turn a motion play into a non-motion play. Furthermore, once an automatic motion player's route is changed, any player can be put into motion - creating highly customizable plays.

These suggestions are applicable to the Madden Football video game for Playstation, X-Box or Nintendo video game platforms and can help you become a better Madden gamer.