25 New Plays Coming to Madden NFL 12.

Over the next five weeks, we’ll be sharing with you 25 top new plays in Madden NFL 12! To be clear, there are more than 25 new plays in Madden NFL 12, but we will be showcasing 25 of our favorites over the next several weeks. Each day, a new play will be accompanied by a screen of the play art and a brief description of why the play has been added to Madden NFL 12.

Eagles- Singleback- Ace - PA Eagle Boot Lt- This is the play that Philadelphia Eagles QB Michael Vick connected with DeSean Jackson on the 88-yd TD pass on the first play from scrimmage during the Monday Night Football game against the Washington Redskins.

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Colts- Gun Bunch- Colts DBL Trail- The Colts don’t use the Bunch formation very often, but when they do, this is one of the plays they like to run out of it, especially in the red zone.

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Originally Posted by NatureBoy

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Colts- Gun Bunch- Colts DBL Trail- The Colts don’t use the Bunch formation very often, but when they do, this is one of the plays they like to run out of it, especially in the red zone.

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Custom playbook here we come. I have always been a fan of bunch formation

This is borderline (or maybe beyond) nitpicky, but I really don't like how cheap the playart looks in these Madden plays. Look like heavily compressed versions of what we should really see. The posted NCAA images look so much better.

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Originally Posted by JeffHCross

This is borderline (or maybe beyond) nitpicky, but I really don't like how cheap the playart looks in these Madden plays. Look like heavily compressed versions of what we should really see. The posted NCAA images look so much better.

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It is very nitpicky, lol. But, it's also true.

is play action actually going to have blocking this time ?

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Cowboys- Gun Y-Trips Cowboy- Cowboy Slot Slant- This is a new formation for Madden NFL 12 where Miles Austin will line up in the slot. The Cowboys like to use this play to create one-on-one matchups in the middle of the field with TE Jason Witten and WR Miles Austin. Witten will run a quick drag clearing out the middle while Austin will run a slant in behind him. This play was used in a week 7 game versus the Giants.

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Bills- Pistol Strong Slot- Bills Inside Zone- Bills Head Coach Chan Gailey was one of the first NFL coaches to start using the Pistol going back to his days when he was the offensive coordinator in Kansas City. In this new formation to Madden NFL 12, The Bills line up HB Fred Jackson to the right of the QB and HB C.J. Spiller directly behind in this Pistol set. Jackson will receive the handoff going to the left while Spiller will fake to the right.

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Originally Posted by gschwendt

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Bills- Pistol Strong Slot- Bills Inside Zone- Bills Head Coach Chan Gailey was one of the first NFL coaches to start using the Pistol going back to his days when he was the offensive coordinator in Kansas City. In this new formation to Madden NFL 12, The Bills line up HB Fred Jackson to the right of the QB and HB C.J. Spiller directly behind in this Pistol set. Jackson will receive the handoff going to the left while Spiller will fake to the right.

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I look forward to more NFL teams adopting at leasrt some Pistol formation plays. With the right QB it can really make an offense dynamic.

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Cards- Gun Empty Trips- Zona Short Post- When it’s a passing situation and the Cardinals need to pick up a crucial first down, the ball is more than likely going to WR Larry Fitzgerald. On this play the Cardinals line up in an Empty set with Fitzgerald lining up to the far right. He’ll run an inside dig type route while the slot receiver runs a short hitch in front drawing up the linebackers to create the opening. This play was used in a week 2 contest at Atlanta.

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Originally Posted by NatureBoy

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Cards- Gun Empty Trips- Zona Short Post- When it’s a passing situation and the Cardinals need to pick up a crucial first down, the ball is more than likely going to WR Larry Fitzgerald. On this play the Cardinals line up in an Empty set with Fitzgerald lining up to the far right. He’ll run an inside dig type route while the slot receiver runs a short hitch in front drawing up the linebackers to create the opening. This play was used in a week 2 contest at Atlanta.

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Honestly, I hate plays like this in VIDEO GAMING. The DB's too often stand directly in front of the stationary receivers. It will be interesting to see if Zone D is truly fixed so as to avoid these issues.

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Chargers Gun Normal Y-Flex Tight- Charger Cross- Another new formation for Madden NFL 12, TE Antonio Gates will line up closer to the right tackle in a receiver stance. On this play, Gates will run a drag route underneath drawing up coverage while the backside receivers run a cross and a dig respectively. As defenses collapse on Gates underneath, QB Philip Rivers has his choice of receivers coming across the field for a big completion. This play was used in the Week 1 game at Kansas City.

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Chiefs- Gun-Split Close- KC Z Spot- This play is a very common play from a variety of formations throughout Madden NFL 12. In this particular case, however, the Chiefs like to use the Z Spot concept from the Gun Split Close formation to utilize the speed of HB Jamaal Charles coming out of the backfield. This play was used in a week 10 game at Denver.

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Falcons-Gun Trey Open- Falcons X Drag- QB Matt Ryan and WR Roddy White have become one of the most feared passing threats in the NFL. On this play, the Falcons like to align White tight while isolating him on the backside and have him run an underneath drag route. White also has an option route that will allow him to check up against zone coverage while continuing across the field against man coverage. This play was used in a Week 2 game versus the Cardinals.

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Giants- Gun Wing Trips NY- Giants Go DBL Post- Giants WR Hakeem Nicks had a breakout season and became QB Eli Manning’s “Go To” guy in the red zone. On this play, the Giants have TE Kevin Boss run a mid dig route while slot receiver Steve Smith runs a shorter corner route. These combinations open up the defense for Nicks to run a Post route in behind for a big gain. This play was used in a week 2 game at Indianapolis.

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Jaguars- Strong Pro-PA Jags DBL Post- The Jaguars are a run first team and like to control the tempo with HB Maurice Jones-Drew on the ground. After establishing the ground game, they like to use play action to take shots down the field. One of their big play action plays is this one where they look to try and hit their huge, breakout performer TE Marcedes Lewis on a post route.

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Jets-Snugs-Jets Slot Post- The Jets love to try and confuse the defense with different looks and this is one of the formations they utilize to do just that. On this play, the two outside receivers run wheel routes to stretch the field while the slot receiver runs a post down the middle. This play was used in week 10 against Cleveland for a 25 yard TD pass from Mark Sanchez to Jerricho Cotchery.

Oh my. If that play every made it to NCAA I'm sure that would become my go-to 3rd down play -- and probably result in my offense becoming way too predictable. I do love wheel and post routes.

Basically the same composition as quite a few of the plays from the Syracuse/New Orleans playbooks. It's nasty but receivers running into one another can be a pain in the ass.

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Raiders-Ace Slot Pair- PA Y-Drag Wheel- This is a play that several teams have added to their playbooks over the past season. The TE will run a drag route across the field away from the booting QB and then turn up the field on a wheel route. In this version, the Raiders used this play to perfection for a 43 yard TD pass from QB Jason Campbell to TE Zach Miller in a week 7 game at Denver.

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Dolphins-Doubles Wk-Dolphins Wheel- New Miami Dolphins Offensive Coordinator Brian Daboll used this play last year in Cleveland with Peyton Hillis catching a 19-yard touchdown pass during a Week 5 game versus the Atlanta Falcons. The HB will run a wheel route out of the backfield while the two receivers to that side run routes to clear out the defense.

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Browns-Tight Doubles On-Browns Curls- Tight formations have become a very common sight in the NFL over the past few seasons. The Browns love to use their Tight Ends’ and in this play, the primary receive is Tight End Ben Watson who is running an angled curl route. The flanker to the right of the TE will run a quick drag while the HB runs to the flat. These two routes help open up the TE on the Curl between defenders.

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Dollar 3-2-6 Okie Roll 2 –Dollar 3-2-6 Okie Roll 2 is by design a two deep, four under zone pressure concept. What stands out about the play is that it uses a pre-snap disguise by the free and strong safety. Before the ball is snapped the safeties and nickel cornerback will “roll” to a look where the free safety and nickel cornerback are in the two deep look while the strong safety and dime cornerback blitz.

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Bengals-Singleback Y-Trips-Cincy Sluggo Seam- The “Sluggo Seam” is a very common route concept around the NFL especially in West Coast offenses. With Cincinnati hiring Jay Gruden as the Offensive Coordinator, the Bengals will most likely be installing some West Coast schemes. Jay, who was a member of his brother Jon’s coaching staff with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, will look to invigorate a Bengals offense that finished 22nd in the NFL in points per game.

Damn that Okie Roll cover 2 play looks nice

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Dollar 3-2-6 Okie Roll 3 –NFL defensive coordinators are constantly inventing new ways of giving the offense the illusion of an all out blitz pressure. Dollar 3-2-6 Okie Roll 3 just as its counterpart Okie Roll 2 uses a pre-snap disguise from a 2 deep look. With both inside linebackers showing blitz in the B gaps it looks as if it’s an all out blitz but it’s actually a basic three deep four under zone defense.

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Sub 2-3-6 Overload 3 Seam – A growing trend in the NFL is the use of what’s commonly referred to as “Sub” personnel defenses in normal down and distance situations. In Madden NFL 12, new defensive sets such as Sub 2-3-6 which uses two defensive linemen, three linebackers, three safeties, and three cornerbacks cater to that trend. Overload 3 Seam is a three deep, three under fire zone concept in which the zone defenders use a pattern read technique that causes the zone coverage to play more like a man to man defense.

Interesting. Sounds like Madden (and the NFL) has built-in Audible Up/Down. Cue defensive of choice for cheesers ...

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Sub 2-3-6 Odd Mike Edge 2 Buzz – Sub 2-3-6 Odd uses the same personnel grouping as does Sub 2-3-6 of two down linemen, three linebackers, three safeties, and three cornerbacks. The use of an Odd front in which the Center is covered allows the defense to use multiple looks. Mike Edge 2 Buzz is a play from this defensive set that uses pre-snap movement in order to confuse the offense.

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Sub 2-3-6 Even Sugar Blitz – Sub 2-3-6 Even is a defensive set in which the two outside linebackers will align in a three point stance. This gives the defense a four down linemen look with two athletic speed rushers coming off the edge. The Sugar Blitz is a play in which the middle linebacker and strong safety will align in the left and right A gaps in order to blitz.

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Sub 2-3-6 Even Sugar Fire Zone –Sub 2-3-6 Even Sugar Fire Zone, like the Sugar Blitz play, calls for the middle linebacker and strong safety to align in their respective A gap to show blitz. Once the ball is snapped the strong safety blitzes while the middle linebacker drops into zone. The coverage on the back end of the blitz is a three under, three deep pattern read zone.

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Sub 2-3-6 Even Sugar 3 Bluff – Sub 2-3-6 Even Sugar 3 Bluff has the middle linebacker, strong safety, and nickel cornerback all aligned in a show blitz look. This look is meant to gives the offense the illusion of an all out blitz. Once the ball is snapped the aforementioned three players will each drop to their respective zones looking to read the releases of the receiver routes in the zone coverage.

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Dime Normal Corner Roll 2 –A common “Disguise Coverage” pressure scheme that’s used in the NFL, Dime Normal Corner Roll 2 calls for the right and nickel cornerbacks to blitz off the edge. This play is primarily used when the ball is placed on the left hashmark. This shortens the distance the two corners have to go to get to the quarterback.

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Goal Line 6-4-1 GL Man – A solid short yardage and Goal Line defensive package is a vital part of any defensive game plan. Goal Line 6-4-1 is specifically designed as a counter to the offensive Goal Line formation. With each gap accounted for, this short yardage package will greatly improve the effectiveness of short yardage defense.

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Nickel 1-5-5 Prowl Dbl Loop – In third down passing situations it’s not all that unusual to see an NFL defense align in some form of exotic defensive look. Defensive coordinators use these types of looks in order to confuse the quarterback as well as the offensive line. Nickel 1-5-5 Prowl Dbl Loop is a play that fits that description. Each player in the defensive front uses pre-snap movement to a different position in order to carry out their pass rush assignments.