NOTE:
After each play, the offense has 40 seconds (25 after penalties and
timeouts) to select a play before a delay of game penalty is called. The defense
has five seconds to choose a play after the offense is ready to break the huddle.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYS
From the Playcalling screen, you’ll find punt, kick, and special “trick” plays.
GAME SCREEN
If your player is off-screen, an arrow the same color as your control indicator points
toward him from the edge of the screen. Press
in the opposite direction of the
arrow to bring the player on-screen.
GAMEPLAY TIPS
Audibles (Offense and Defense)
If you see a weakness from the opposition, call an audible and set up a new play
at the line of scrimmage (before the ball is snapped).
To call an Audible:
1.
Before the ball is snapped press
C
, then press
A
,
B
, or
C
, or pull
E
or
F
.
The players adjust their set and/or formation as the new play is called out
on the field.
2.
Press
D
to cancel (before selecting an audible). To customize your offensive and
defensive audibles,
➤
OFF/DEF Audibles
on p. 32.
Hot Routes
Hot Routes quickly change a receiver’s original route before the ball is snapped.
To call a Hot Route:
1.
Press
D
, then press the button symbol of the receiver whose route you want
to change.
2.
After the receiver’s original route is cancelled, press
to send him on a fly
pattern, press
for a curl pattern, or press
or
to run an in or out pat-
tern. To send receivers on an out slant press
j
, or press
i
for a post pattern.
-12-
Blocking Hot Routes
Change your blocking assignments for your halfbacks, fullbacks,
and tight ends. Call these at the line of scrimmage when you
anticipate the defensive pressure coming from an unprotected
side of the line.
To call a Blocking Hot Route:
1.
Press
D
, then press the button symbol of the running back or
tight end whose passing/blocking route you want to change.
2.
Press
J
to change to a blocking assignment to the left. Press
I
to change it to the right.
Receiver/Back Motion
Move a player in motion before play begins. Once the ball is snapped,
the player runs the same assigned route as before but from his current
location on the field.
To call man in motion:
1.
While at the line of scrimmage, press
or
or move
or
to highlight an eligible player.
2.
Press
or
or move
or
to send that player in
motion and then snap the ball to begin the play.
Bullet/Touch Pass
Throw a bullet pass (hold down the button that corresponds to the targeted
receiver) and the quarterback fires the ball to the receiver. To drop the ball
in over coverage, throw a touch pass (tap the button).
Route-Based Pass
On a route-based pass, the quarterback leads the receiver based on the player’s
route instead of the current direction the player is running.
➥
➥
To throw a route-based pass, click and hold
and press the button of the
receiver you want to throw to and the quarterback leads the receiver through his
route while he’s running.
QB Scramble
If your quarterback is under heavy pressure, press
D
to remove the passing symbols
while he’s still behind the line of scrimmage and scramble for yardage. During the
run, you can press
D
again to bring up the passing symbols. Once the quarterback
crosses the line of scrimmage, he’s not allowed to throw the ball downfield.
-13-
Time remaining
in quarter
Down and
yards to go
Play clock
Controlled
player
Player
identifier
Time remaining
in quarter
Down and
yards to go
Play clock
Controlled
player
Player
identifier
MAD03xbxMAN 7/10/02 1:27 PM Page 12
