Madden NFL 08 - Working In the Circle Route

Many of us are fully aware of how effective circles routes have been over the past few years in the game of Madden. Fortunately, there's a circle route that belongs to the wide receiver in a number of different plays throughout the game. Today, SportsGamer's going to check out the circle route from the Shotgun Wing Trips Double Drag play to show you how to get the most out of it on the field.

Shotgun Wing Trips - Double Drags

Console(s)

Quick Setup

Step 1 - Select a passing play that calls for a receiver who is off the line of scrimmage to perform a circle route.

Step 2 - Motion the receiver assigned to perform the circle route to the opposite side of the field.

Step 3 - Snap the ball shortly after sending the receiver in motion and make the throw when he makes his cut back to the sideline.

Play Breakdown

Take a look at the offensive assignments for the Double Drags play in the first image above. The receiver who is assigned to perform the circle route that we want to utilize is on the far right side of the field. The Dallas Cowboys' defense has come out of the huddle in a 3-4 man to man look.

Our opponent has decided to call for bump n' run coverage on the outside receivers. Fortunately, this play not only beats man to man defenses without the bump, but it also beats man to man defenses when the bump is applied as well. The first thing we do is move the player icon over to the (B) receiver and send him in motion to the left. Shortly after sending him in motion to the left we snap the ball. The quick use of motion with this circle route before the snap allows our receiver to beat the bump n' run and gain better position on the cornerback more consistently as he runs back to the outside.

Motioned wide receiver Santana Moss makes his initial cut to the inside.  Then, Moss breaks back towards the right sideline as we prepare to make the throw with quarterback Jason Campbell.

Moss gets great inside position on the cornerback, allowing us to make a safe throw by pressing up and right on the d-pad to put the ball in a spot that only he can catch.  The end result is an easy gain of 15 yards and another Skins' first down. 

Final Thoughts

Utilizing the circle route to a wide receiver will be much easier if you're using a player that is tall.  However, as you saw above, this route can be completed to a player of any size if you simply make sure to manually click on and box out the defender as the ball arrives.  This route is extremely difficult to stop, especially when you've got additional routes running underneath and over the top that your opponent must worry about.  Try this route out for yourself the next time you head into the lab!