Every Thursday, a leader in the community will share a tip or two to help you improve your Madden game.  Next up is Chris Jacobs from the popular fan site Utopia College Sports.

The Importance of Special Teams

Football is a game of field position and special teams play often helps dictate the outcome of the game.  Gamers should spend significant time in Practice Mode once they get the game (or before a big game) working on special teams play.  Let’s break down the areas to work on in order to become more successful at Madden 08 (and NCAA Football 08).

Field Goal Kicking:  Don’t let a win escape your grasp because of a missed field-goal!  Start with short-range kicks, with the ball in the middle of the field and then on each hash-mark.  Kicks from the hashes are significantly more difficult, so as you move the ball further out make sure you are comfortable with the timing and accuracy of these kicks.  After a few kicks at each location, move the ball back five yards at a time.  Do not move on until you can convert kicks routinely at the three locations (left & right hash-mark and middle of field).  If you play with a particular team, make sure you know your kicker’s range.  Start with 30-yard kicks and keep working your way back until you can no longer make the kick.  If you are in need of a game-winning drive, know how far you need to get the ball in order for your kicker to have a chance.  (Remember, to know how long the kick was, add 17 yards to the spot of the ball.  Ten yards for the length of the end zone, plus seven yards from the spot of the ball to where the holder is.)

Punting:  If your team is routinely pinned deep in its own territory, use your punter to help “flip the field.”   Work on ‘coffin kicks’ (punting the ball into the corners) and also punt coverage.  If you can kick a long punt and do not allow a long return (or any at all), the tables could turn into your favor if your foe now has a long field in front of them.

Onside Kicks:  Don’t let a furious rally end because of a missed onside kick.  While odds are against recovering these kicks on a regular basis, you can improve your odds through practice.  There are two ways to kick an onside attempt.  1) loft the ball into air (aim low on ball, use strong power) or 2) drill ball into defender(s) and recover if they mishandle it (aim high on ball, use strong power).

Return Game:  Working on kickoff and punt returns will aid in giving your offense better starting field position.  Learning to return the ball an extra five or ten yards can be a huge difference when playing a foe of equal or greater talent.  On punt returns, don’t be afraid to ‘fair catch’ if the defenders are closing in.  Losing the ball on a muffed or fumbled punt return could be disastrous.  Do not run into your blockers!  Let them set-up a wall and/or block their man before trying to accelerate downfield.

Fakes:  In Practice Mode, work on running fake punts and field goals.  Sometimes a trick play can help bury your foe.  The better you are at field goals and punts, the less likely your foe will expect a trick play.  Determine early in games if your opponent is running a ‘block’ or ‘zone’ on your kicks.  The pressure from a FG Block defense makes it tougher to execute a fake.


While becoming an offensive mastermind or a defensive hotshot may take months to become, any and every Madden player can become a special teams wizard if they devote enough time and practice.  Don’t let special teams play cost you that big win versus your friend (and heated rival).  Now get to Practice Mode and shore up your special teams play!