"If you need a clutch 15-20 yd gain, run I formation and pick a route were one of the outside receivers is running a deep post, pick that play and hot route the receiver on the opposite side and make him run a square in, the safety will bite on it, throw the post its open" - LB4LIFE

"I've looked at a lot of tips and really haven't learned anything I don't know. I hope I'm imparting information others don't know.

First of all, I saw bad advice for blocking punts and field goals with all kinds of wild shifts and moving this guy here and that guy there. It's not that complicated.

For blocking punts, pick punt block and rush with the guy on the left end (your starting FS by default). Don't speed burst at first, because you'll need the agility to get around the up back blocking. You'll want to get by him on the INSIDE. Once you're by him (you'll develop a knack for it) its an all out sprint to the punter. Don't dive to block it; jump. I can at least have a chance to block every single punt, but I usually cut my self off after one block because it's too easy.

My strategy for blocking field goals hasn't been as productive for me as my punt blocking. But, again, pick punt block. Set up the returner about five yards behind the middle of the line of scrimmage. Sometimes you're lucky and a gaping hole opens up. (I have a much lower success rate with this than blocking punts.)

I've also developed a successful strategy in running the ball -- and it all starts BEFORE the play with the use of motion, flipping the play, and formational symmetry.

The key is always to have more blockers than defenders on the side you're running to.

Motion:
First, call a wide receiver in motion. If the DB follows, it's man coverage; if not, it's zone.

If the DB follows, motion the receiver from the side you're running to across to the other side, taking a defender with him. Now you can get outside.

If the DB doesn't follow, bring the receiver from the side you're not running toward to the side you are running toward, giving you an extra blocker.

Also, use motion to manipulate shifts by the defense. Obviously, you'd like them to shift from where your running. Move the fullback, the tight ends or the receivers to see if you can induce a shift. Many times, you can motion the player, induce the shift, motion him back and snap the ball quickly before the defense can shift again: This moves the defense without you losing your blocker.

Using motion to add blockers on the running side, induce defensive shifts to the non-running side, or move defensive backs to the non-running side is the crux of a good running game: It sets up numerical advantages (more blockers than defenders) in the area you are going to run.

Flipping the play and formational symmetry:

Often the defense will shift immediately when you get to the line of scrimmage.

If the defense has shifted away from the side you're running toward, there's little else you have to do. Use motion to see if you can get an even better set up (Of course, not at the expense of losing the gift the defense gave you by shifting to the wrong side.)

If the defense has shifted toward the side you're running the ball, the shift is no longer a gift. See if you can use motion to break shift them somewhere else.

However, if you're using a symmetrical formation, any shift is a gift.

(Symmetrical formations are -- for those who failed vocabulary class -- formations which are identical on both sides. Basically, they are the Singleback Big and the Singleback 4 Wide.)

All you need to do is flip the play. Since the formation is symmetrical, none of your players move and subsequently the defense does not move either. By flipping the play, you've made the defense's shift -- originally they're advantage -- into your advantage.

Here's an example that encompasses the above running information:

I pick Singleback Big, Off Tackle to the right side. When I reach the line of scrimmage, the defense shifts the lineman and linebackers, by chance, to the side I'm running.

So I flip the play, the defense doesn't move, and now I have an off tackle to the side the defense has shifted away from.

To make it even better, then, I use motion. I call the receiver on the left in motion, and if he brings the DB with him, the whole left side is open (the lineman and linebackers have already shifted to the right.)

These strategies are most effective with off tackle plays and counters.

I play a franchise on All-Madden skill level and am consistently among leaders in rushing. Right now my back averages over 5 yards a rush and leads the league in yardage.

My apologies for being so verbose. I hope the information is useful." - Skills