In my opinion, the single best play in the game is the Singleback Tight Doubles Slot Corner. If you are looking for just one play that you allows you to attack several parts of the field quickly, then this is the play for you. The Slot Corner not only provides you with reads at every level of the defense, but you can also run out of it successfully by using the HB Slam. Let me take you through the steps that I like to use when playing against some of the nation's best players.
Singleback Tight Doubles - Slot Corner
Console(s)
XBOX, PS2
Playbook(s)
Quick Setup
Step 1 - Come out of the huddle in the Slot Corner play out of the Singleback Tight Doubles formation.
Step 2 - Hot route your #2 receiver to perform a slant over the middle (XBOX - Y + receiver's icon + right trigger / PS2 - Triangle + receiver's icon + R2)
Step 3 - Hot route your tight end to perform a streak route (XBOX - Y + receiver's icon + up on the D-pad / PS2 - Triangle + receiver's icon + up on the D-pad)
Step 4 - Send your #1 recevier in motion to the left towards the tight end. Then, send him back in motion to the right and snap the ball just before he sets. Once the ball is snapped, you can take a quick drop back with the quarterback and fire to the receiver who was sent in motion if your opponent is not manually guarding him.
Step 5 - If the player you are playing against is defending this motion route himself, then you have three easy reads to make on th eopposite side of the field. First, look at the running back coming out of the backfield. The running back will typically be open against almost any defense for a minimal gain. Next, look at for slant route moving across the middle of the field. Lastly, if both these players are not open, then wait for the best corner route (white reciever on xbox and L1 receiver on ps2) in the game to develop for a big gain.
Play Breakdown
Figure 1 - In this example I'll be using the New York Giants. As you can see, I've just come out of the huddle in the Singleback Tight Doubles Slot Corner play.
Figure 2 - The New England Patriots are playing the 3-4 2 man under with a 10 man coverage scheme. Many top Madden ballers are doing this on defense, including myself.
Figure 3 - Firist, I put receiver Amani Toomer on a slant over the middle of the field.
Figure 4 -Next, I send tight end Jeremy Shockey deep on a streak route. Shockey won't usually be a target on this play, but his route forces the safety to stay close by.
Figure 5 - I send receiver Plaxico Burress in motion to the left until he reaches the tight end.
Figure 6 - Then, I send him back in motion to his original spot and hike the ball just before he sets again.
Figure 7 - I take a quick step back in the pocket with quarterback Eli Manning as I prepare to make the throw.
Figure 8 - As you can see, when making the throw to Burress you want to take a quick drop back and press up on the directional pad. This is what many people who play madden refer to as a hike and throw. Remember, the taller the receiver you use the better your chances are for a completion.
Figure 9 - When you throw this pass you'll notice that the receiver is unbumpable and the cornerback doesnt react to the ball. These two factors make it an easy catch for our receiver. The person you are playing against literally has to either guard it themselves or double team it to slow it down. If your opponent decides to guard this motion route manually, then you can expect to beat them with one of the other solid pass catching options on the field.
Figure 10 - This time I am going to look to hit Toomer running a slant route over the middle of the field.
Figure 11 - Toomer is going to be open over the middle if I can just be patient enough in the pocket to wait until he clears the middle linebacker playing underneath.
Figure 12 - I release the ball with Manning just as Toomer passes behind the linebacker and into open area.
Figure 13 - Toomer prepares to makes the catch as the ball closes in.
Figure 14 - Toomer easily makes the catch over the middle of the field.
Figure 15 - The most consistent read will be your running back moving into the flats on the left side of the field. However, I always like to look a bit further downfield to pick up extra yardage if it's available.
Figure 16 - Wide receiver Sinorice Moss makes a hard break towards the sideline as he starts his corner route.
Figure 17 - At this point, I've gone through all of my reads and Moss is the last option is the corner route. This corner route is the best corner route in the game because the angle at which the receiver breaks to the outside is harder than other corner routes. A fast receiver will get open almost everytime when running this route. I would suggest either holding up, or up and left when making this pass depending on how big and fast your receiver is.
Figure 18 - The only chance the defense has of stopping this play is if Moss drops the pass.
Figure 19 - Moss makes the catch with a lot of open room to run in front.
Final Thoughts
This is easily the best play in the game. There are so many options on this play that the most uneducated Madden player can move the ball consistently if they can just make the right read every time. If your the type of person that doesnt want to use all your audibles and make a lot of adjustments before you get to the line of scrimage, then this is the play for you. After you have completed a pass the best thing to do is hurry up to the line and follow each step over and over.
