GameStop Madden Mondays Promotion

As is usual every summer, GameStop has begun hosting Madden Mondays on their website. This year, their content will be slightly different from before.

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Every Monday, for the next 8 weeks leading up to the launch, we'll highlight plays from 4 of the 32 NFL franchises within the new custom playbooks feature available in Madden NFL 12.

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The feature is hosted here: http://www.gamestop.com/collection/m...d=soc_10000001

The video clips are being collected and edited into a single video by Operation Sports; the embedded YouTube videos in this thread are linked from their account.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0NyrWAeiXI

Chicago Bears
Nickel Normal Sugar 2 Buzz
The Chicago Bears defensively have been known as the team that likes to play cover 2 on passing situations. While that notion still holds true, the Bears will mix in quite a few different schemes from a Double A Gap blitz look. Double A Gap schemes in which two linebackers align in both A gaps are a favorite of the Bears. Nickel Normal Sugar 2 Buzz is one of the plays that brings this idea to life.

Green Bay Packers
Gun Flex Trey-Packer Corner
When you watch QB Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense the word that comes to mind is "Wow!" Rodgers, and his stellar post-season play, led the Packers on a remarkable run through the playoffs and a Super Bowl title. Despite numerous injuries to several key starters, the Packers' offense never missed a beat in steamrolling through the postseason. With so many weapons on offense it's hard to try and keep everyone involved and happy, but WR Greg Jennings is the one that every team focuses on. On this play, taken directly from the Super Bowl, use the "Packer" package from the Gun Flex Trey set to line up Jennings in the slot where he will run a corner route. The two other receivers lined up to the right will run under routes drawing the coverage and opening up Jennings for a big play.

Minnesota Vikings
Singleback Y-Trips-Vikings Y-Seam
The Vikings came into the season with huge expectations, but a rash of injuries, poor play and a murderous schedule saw them struggle to a 6-10 record. With QB Brett Favre out of the picture, the Vikings will turn to rookie first round draft pick Christian Ponder to lead them back to the playoffs. An old cliché for young QB's is that the TE is their best friend as a safety valve. In this case, TE Visanthe Shiancoe will be the featured target for Ponder on this play as he will be running right down the seam in hopes of splitting the safeties for a big play.

Detroit Lions
5-2 Normal Cover 3
The Detroit Lions over the last few seasons have accumulated a wealth of talent on the defensive line. A play that can be used to take advantage of that talent is 5-2 Normal Cover 3. The play can be used against both the run and pass as the cover 3 concept gives good coverage while also bringing a safety down to the box pre-snap.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRHr_LaEv3M

Atlanta Falcons
Gun Empty Falcon-ATL Drive Unders
The "Drive" route is a very common pass concept that is widely used around the NFL. The inside receiver will run some sort of 10-12 yard inside dig route while the next receiver will run a short drag or under route below the dig. On this play, out of the Gun Empty Falcon formation (new to Madden NFL 12!), Falcons' TE Tony Gonzalez will run the dig while WR Harry Douglas will run the underneath route. QB Matt Ryan also has Pro Bowl WR Roddy White as an option as he will be running a corner route on the left side of the formation if he likes that matchup better than the Drive routes.

New Orleans Saints
Nickel 3-3-5 Cat Blitz 2 Roll
The New Orleans Saints on the defensive side of the ball do a great job disguising their coverage and giving quarterbacks lots of different looks. Nickel 3-3-5 Cat Blitz 2 Roll is a play that drives this point home. The safeties before the snap will rotate to the strong side towards the cornerback who is blitzing.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
4-3 Stack Cover 2 Buc
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have built a reputation for being a strong defensive team. The defensive scheme that's commonly associated with the Buccaneers is Cover 2, aka Cover 2 Buc or Tampa 2. 4-3 Stack Cover 2 Buc has the middle linebacker drop to the deep middle of the field in the coverage.

Carolina Panthers
Gun Wildcat Spread- Power Fk Jet
Heisman Trophy-check! National championship-check! 1st pick in the NFL Draft-check! Not a bad year for Panthers rookie QB Cam Newton. Now everyone will get a chance to see if his skill set translates to the NFL. That may take a few years to figure out, but one thing that we do know is that Cam Newton can run! Just ask any SEC team that had the challenge of trying to slow him down last season. He may not be given the full reins to the offense from day one, but we can expect to see new Panthers' Head Coach Ron Rivera give Newton plenty of opportunities to play and take advantage of his athleticism. In this Wildact set, Newton will fake the ball to the motioning receiver and run the ball through the 4 hole on the right behind the pulling guard.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeEaPZMLgV8

Philadelphia Eagles
Gun Bunch Wk-Empty Philly Under
When QB Mike Vick took over as the starter, the Eagles at times they looked unstoppable. With Vick, wide receivers DeSean Jackson and Jermey Maclin, TE Brent Celek and HB LeSean McCoy, opposing defensive coordinators had nightmares trying to figure out how to slow them down. Add in Head Coach Andy Reid's exotic schemes on offense and you often saw many big plays by the Eagles' offense. In this play the Eagles line up in a basic shotgun bunch formation except that the HB (McCoy) lines up outside the bunch set as a flanker. He will be the primary receiver running a drag route as the bunch receivers run a variety of routes down the field which should create an opening for an easy completion underneath.

New York Giants
5-2 Normal Pinch
The New York Giants have good depth on the defensive line and will occasionally use defensive fronts that put five defensive linemen in the game. 5-2 Normal Pinch is a six man pressure scheme that calls for all five defensive linemen to rush as well as a linebacker. The secondary plays man to man coverage.

Dallas Cowboys
Singleback Jumbo-Cowboy Post
Despite having injuries to several key players and a mid-season coaching change, the Cowboys were still a threat every week to light up the scoreboard. Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator Jason Garrett loves to utilize a variety of formations and personnel to keep his offense balanced. One of those formations is the Singleback Jumbo set which features 3 Tight Ends, 1 WR and 1 RB. This is primarily a running set, but the Cowboys love to take shots down the field to WR Miles Austin out of this look. On this play, Austin runs a post route while the TE to his side runs a crossing route hoping to draw coverage his way and creating a hole for QB Tony Romo to find Austin.

Washington Redskins
Nickel 2-4-5 Prowl FS 3 Seam
The Washington Redskins defensively employ lots of exotic looks on third down passing situations. This is done to confuse the offense as to which defenders are rushing. Nickel 2-4-5 Prowl FS 3 Seam is a play that caters to this tendency of the Redskins.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kdf3Wpr5uxs

Seattle Seahawks
Singleback Ace-Close PA HB Wheel
Who can forget one of the greatest runs in playoff history as Seahawks' HB Marshawn Lynch broke tackle after tackle en route to a game clinching touchdown over the Saints in a Wildcard matchup? Well Lynch is back, but on this play he's going out for a pass instead of taking a handoff. On this play the QB will fake to Lynch on a basic zone play to the left but then boot out to the right away from the run hole. Lynch will carry out a slight fake and then run a wheel route down the left sideline in hopes of getting a one-on-one matchup with a linebacker in man coverage.

St. Louis Rams
4-3 Stack Weak Slant 3
The St. Louis Rams are an aggressive attacking defensive unit that likes to pressure the quarterback in a variety of ways. Fire zone concepts, with rushers coming from different angles is their preferred way to attack the quarterback. 4-3 Stack Weak Slant 3 is an overload fire zone concept that can be used to pressure the quarterback.

San Francisco 49ers
3-4 Under Roll Eagle 2 Invert
The San Francisco 49ers over the last few seasons have struggled on offense, however the defensive side of the ball has been solid. With a new defensive coordinator the 49ers figure to use more fire zone schemes on defense. 3-4 Under Roll Eagle 2 Invert is a two deep four under fire zone scheme that calls for the free safety to blitz and the strong safety and left corner to play deep halves.

Arizona Cardinals
Gun Trips HB Weak-Close Zona Stick Flat
Losing QB Kurt Warner (retirement) and WR Anquan Boldin (Ravens) before the season started put a huge dent in what used to be one of the most explosive offensives in the NFL. Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt, having to play a variety of young and inexperienced QB's, changed to a more conservative offense with shorter, ball-controlled passes. On this play, WR Larry Fitzgerald will line up tight (5 yards outside of the Left Tackle) as the lone receiver to the left side of the formation. He will be the primary target as he will run a quick hitch to the outside while the HB will run a quick dart route to the flat hoping to pull coverage his way and opening up Fitzgerald. This quick, easy read for the QB allows for a high percentage completion and a confidence builder for the offense.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34aCvERAPPc

Pittsburgh Steelers
Singleback Pitt Y-Trips-Pitt Stick N Slide
When QB Ben Roethlisberger returned to the lineup the Steelers' passing offense started to take off. Besides the speedster Mike Wallace and old reliable Hines Ward on the outside, Roethlisberger also likes to involve TE Heath Miller in the passing game. On this play, Miller will run a 5 yard stick route and after a short delay, he will run inside underneath. This play is effective versus man coverage as the defender will usually jump the stick route and allow Miller to create separation to the inside when he takes off over the middle.

Baltimore Ravens
Quarters Normal Dbl Loop 3
The Baltimore Ravens through the years have been one of the best defensive teams in the NFL. The Ravens have been especially good with their overload fire zone schemes. DBL Loop 3 is an overload fire zone concept that's used to bring pressure to the weak side of the offense.

Cleveland Browns
Strong Pro-DBL Pump n Go's
After setting up the defense by running a few underneath curl and out routes, teams will often try and take a shot down the field with double move routes in hopes of catching the defense off guard for a big play. In this play, the Browns use an Out and Up route on the left side of the formation and a Curl and Go on the right. In Madden NFL 12, you can now pump fake to individual receivers by holding the L-trigger as well as the receiver icon to increase the chances of the defender biting on the fake.

Cincinnati Bengals
Nickel Normal Sugar 2 Buzz Invert
The Bengals are an aggressive attacking defensive unit that looks to create havoc with their defensive schemes. Double A Gap schemes in which two linebackers align in both A gaps are a favorite of the Bengals. Nickel Normal Sugar 2 Buzz Invert is a two deep four under fire zone concept that uses the Double A Gap look pre-snap.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SviMqO-dVzI

Indianapolis Colts
Singleback Trips Colt-Colts Ins
Colts Pro-Bowl QB Peyton Manning has had plenty of weapons at his disposal over the years, but the group he has now may be the best he has ever had. Receivers Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garcon, Austin Collie, and tight ends Dallas Clark and Jacob Tamme give Manning plenty of options in the passing game. The Colts love to run "under" routes by their outside receivers and on this play the two receivers on the right will both run under routes. The primary receiver, however, will be TE Dallas Clark who is running an intermediate dig route with a shake cut where he fakes to the right before cutting back towards the middle.

Jacksonvillle Jaguars
4-3 Under - Under Sam Shark 3
The Jacksonville Jaguars stingy defensive unit has played a key role in the success of the team over the past few seasons. The Jaguars have especially stout up front in the defensive line and linebacker units. 4-3 Under Under Sam Shark 3 is a fire zone concept that calls for the middle and strong linebacker to rush off the edge while the right defensive end drops into coverage.

Houston Texans
Gun Tight Doubles On-Texans Fork
When you think of the Houston Texans the first name that comes to mind is WR Andre Johnson. He is the clear focal point of the Texans' passing game. However, TE Owen Daniels, when healthy, has also been an outstanding weapon for quarterback Matt Schaub. On this play, Daniels is the featured target as he runs a corner route that should be open thanks to the right flanker running a post clear out route. Johnson will run a drag smash option on the backside of the play to give Schaub a secondary option if Daniels is covered over the top.

Tennessee Titans
Dime Normal Cover 2 Spy
The Tennessee Titans rely heavily on their defensive line to generate a pass rush on opposing quarterbacks. The Titans generally employ a cover 2 look with a combination of defensive line games. Dime Normal Cover 2 Spy is a cover 2 concept that calls for a defensive linemen to spy the underneath are of the field in the cover 2 scheme.