In this tip, SportsGamer is going to break down one of the great hidden gems in Madden 2007. There are a lot of different blind throws that your opponent can make to the flats on either side of the field successfully. The reason players can make these throws is because they know how the defense is going to react on the play. However, we're revealing one tactic that many top players are using to trick their opponents into blindly throwing into the flats. Read below to find out how.
Quick Setup
Step 1 - Make sure that your cornerback is playing a zone in the flats.
Step 2 - Call bump n' run to move your cornerbacks closer to their receiver. (XBOX - Y + down / PS2 - Triangle + down)
Step 3 - Press (XBOX) Y + Black button + up / (PS2) Triangle + R1 + up to take away the bump, but keep your cornerbacks standing right where they are. (Now we are giving our opponent the appearance of bump n' run coverage after the snap)
Figure 1 - In this first image, the Houston Texans have come out in the Nickel Normal 2 Man Under defense. The 2 Man Under is a defense that has man to man coverage across the field with 2 deep safeties playing over the top.
Figure 2 - In this next picture, we are only using quick setup steps 1 and 2. The reason we only want to use the first two in this example is to show you what a difference using quick setup step number 3 can make.
Figure 3 - The St. Louis Rams have come out in the I-Form Normal Smith Option. The goal on this play for the offense is to send running back Stephen Jackson to the left and hit him for a quick pass underneath the outside coverage.
Figure 4 - Quarterback Marc Bulger sends Jackson in motion and prepares to takes the snap.
Figure 5 - Shortly after Jackson pass the left tackle Bulger takes the snap.
Figure 6 - Bulger takes a two step drop and plants his feet to make the blind throw to Jackson. Our opponent knows that the running back will be open because when the cornerback bumps the receiver it allows Jackson to run open underneath.
Figure 7 - Cornerback Lewis Sanders releases from the receiver and attempts to recover as the ball approaches Jackson.
Figure 8 - Jackson makes the catch with the cornerback well out of position.
Figure 9 - Jackson is able to pick up 6 yards on the play before being pushed out of bounds. This pass can be very annoying to try to defend against without using step number 3 in the quick setup.
Figure 10 - This time, we use step number 3 in the quick setup to guard against the quick pass in the flats more effectively.
Figure 11 - As the play begins we want you to notice cornerback Lewis Sanders once again. Notice that Sanders does not bump the receiver this time, allowing him to slide into a better defensive position.
Figure 12 - Our opponent again makes the blind throw with Bulger to the running back. However, this time we've made the proper adjustment to make a play on the ball.
Figure 13 - Sanders jumps in front of the pass and looks to turn this into 6 points as he heads the other way.
Figure 14 - Rams' receiver Torry Holt sprints as fast as he can to prevent Sanders from scoring.
Figure 15 - Holt was unable to catch up as Sanders dives into the endzone for 6.
Final Conlcusion
Disguising your bump n' run coverage with this SportsGamer hidden gem in Madden 2007 will surely surprise many of your opponents. If you are able to trick your opponent into throwing a pass udnerneath just once, then you can rest easy because they will most likely not attempt it again. Check out exactly how this works in practice mode before heading into live competition.
