Game: Madden NFL 2005 System: Playstation 2 FAQ Author: SilverChaosVII ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ DDDDDDDD EEEEEEEE TTTTTTTTTT RRRRRRRR OOOOOOOO IIII TTTTTTTTTT DDDDDDDDD EEEEEEEE TTTTTTTTTT RRRRRRRR OOOOOOOO IIII TTTTTTTTTT DD DDD EEE TTTT RR RR OOO OOO IIII TTTT DD DDD EEEEEEEE TTTT RRRRRRRR OOO OOO IIII TTTT DD DDD EEEEEEEE TTTT RRRRRRRR OOO OOO IIII TTTT DD DDD EEE TTTT RR RR OOO OOO IIII TTTT DDDDDDDDD EEEEEEEE TTTT RR RR OOOOOOOO IIII TTTT DDDDDDDD EEEEEEEE TTTT RR RR OOOOOOOO IIII TTTT LLL III OOOOOOOO NNNN NNN SSSSSSSS LLL III OOOOOOOO NNN NN NNN SSSSSSSS LLL III OOO OOO NNN NN NNN SSS LLL III OOO OOO NNN NN NNN SSSSSSSS LLL III OOO OOO NNN NN NNN SSSSSSSS LLL III OOO OOO NNN NN NNN SSS LLLLLLLL III OOOOOOOO NNN NNNNN SSSSSSSS LLLLLLLL III OOOOOOOO NNN NNNN SSSSSSSS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Table Of Contents 1. 2005 Team Roster 2. 2005 Team Schedule 3. Offensive Strengths 4. Offensive Weaknesses 5. Defensive Strengths 6. Defensive Weaknesses 7. Good Set Audible Packages - Offense 8. Good Set Audible Packages - Defense 9. Key Offensive Plays 10. Key Defensive Plays 11. Help Playing With The Lions 12. Help Playing Against The Lions 13. SilverChaosVII's Franchise Tips 14. Legal Crap ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1. 2005 (Default) Team Roster Quarterback - Joey Harrington (Default Overall - 83) Quarterback - Mike McMahon (Default Overall - 79) Quarterback - Rick Mirer (Default Overall - 74) Halfback - Kevin Jones (Default Overall - 78) Halfback - Olandis Gary (Default Overall - 74) Halfback - Shawn Bryson (Default Overall - 74) Halfback - Artose Pinner (Default Overall - 73) Fullback - Cory Schlesinger (Default Overall - 89) Wide Receiver - Charles Rogers (Default Overall - 84) Wide Receiver - Roy Williams (Default Overall - 83) Wide Receiver - Tai Streets (Default Overall - 83) Wide Receiver - Az-Zahir Hakim (Default Overall - 77) Wide Receiver - Scotty Anderson (Default Overall - 65) Wide Receiver - Reggie Swinton (Default Overall - 61) Wide Receiver - Eddie Drummond (Default Overall - 59) Tight End - Stephan Alexander (Default Overall - 73) Tight End - Casey Fitzsimmons (Default Overall - 69) Tight End - John Owens (Default Overall - 67) Left Tackle - Jeff Backus (Default Overall - 86) Left Tackle - Ben Johnson (Default Overall - 57) Left Guard - Damien Woody (Default Overall - 91) Left Guard - Kelly Butler (Default Overall - 68) Center - Daminic Raiola (Default Overall - 87) Center - Tyrone Hopson (Default Overall - 72) Right Guard - David Loverne (Default Overall - 79) Right Guard - Matt Joyce (Default Overall - 79) Right Tackle - Stockar McDougle (Default Overall - 87) Right Tackle - Victor Rogers (Default Overall - 59) Left End - Robert Porcher (Default Overall - 86) Left End - Jared DeVries (Default Overall - 65) Right End - James Hall (Default Overall - 83) Right End - Kalimba Edwards (Default Overall - 81) Defensive Tackle - Shaun Rogers (Default Overall - 90) Defensive Tackle - Dan Wilkinson (Default Overall - 87) Defensive Tackle - Kelvin Pritchett (Default Overall - 77) Defensive Tackle - Cory Redding (Default Overall - 72) Left Outside Linebacker - Boss Bailey (Default Overall - 83) Left Outside Linebacker - Donte Curry (Default Overall - 71) Middle Linebacker - Earl Holmes (Default Overall - 86) Middle Linebacker - Wali Rainer (Default Overall - 78) Right Outside Linebacker - Teddy Lehman (Default Overall - 75) Right Outside Linebacker - James Davis (Default Overall - 71) Cornerback - Dre Bly (Default Overall - 91) Cornerback - Fernando Bryant (Default Overall - 87) Cornerback - Chris Cash (Default Overall - 72) Cornerback - Andre Goodman (Default Overall - 71) Cornerback - Keith Smith (Default Overall - 70) Cornerback - Roderick Babers (Default Overall - 63) Free Saftey - Brock Marion (Default Overall - 88) Free Saftey - Terrence Holt (Default Overall - 72) Strong Saftey - Brian Walker (Default Overall - 79) Strong Saftey - Bracy Walker (Default Overall - 71) Kicker - Jason Hanson (Default Overall - 90) Punter - Nick Harris (Default Overall - 72) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2. 2005 Team Schedule Preseason August 14 - vs. Pittsburgh Steelers August 21 - @ Cleveland Browns August 28 - @ Baltimore Ravens September 2 - vs. Buffalo Bills Regular Season September 12 - @ Chicago Bears September 19 - vs. Houston Texans September 26 - vs. Philadelphia Eagles October 10 - @ Atlanta Falcons October 17 - vs. Green Bay Packers October 24 - @ New York Giants October 31 - @ Dallas Cowboys November 7 - vs. Washington Redskins November 14 - @ Jacksonville Jaguars November 21 - @ Minnesota Vikings November 25 - vs. Indianapolis Colts December 5 - vs. Arizona Cardinals December 12 - @ Green Bay Packers December 19 - vs. Minnesota Vikings December 26 - vs. Chicago Bears January 2 - @ Tennessee Titans ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3. Offensive Strengths The Lions had possibly the most successful 2004 draft (at least on paper) by snagging wide receiver Roy Williams, a proven route-runner with blistering speed and a knack for exploiting holes in defensive coverages. He will join wide receiver Charles Rogers, another first-round pick with big-play capability. Quarterback Joey Harrington stands to benefit from one of the speediest wide receiver sets in the league. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4. Offensive Weaknesses The Lions ranked dead-last in the running game last year, so the team hopes that second-round draft pick Kevin Jones can help turn things around. He is a fast runner who excels at pass-blocking. The Lions also still lack a quality right guard (although the arrival of Damien Woody may help), and suffer from a general lack of depth across the offensive line. Any injuries to the front five could hamper the running game. The team also lacks a tight end with all around skills. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. Defensive Strengths The Lions seem to be building a strong nucleus in the secondary, thanks to some key free-agent moves. Cornerback Fernando Bryant and safety Brock Marion will help solidify a defense that was shaky against the pass all last season. They will join Dre Bly, a cornerback with Pro Bowl talent. The added manpower will help the corners play tighter on receivers at the line of scrimmage. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6. Defensive Weaknesses The front seven sorely needs some big-name talent to generate a stronger pass rush, especially when it comes to defensive end. The loss of linebacker Barrett Green to free agency is salt on an open wound, although the Lions hope to recoup their loss with second-round draft pick Teddy Lehman. He is a speedy linebacker with strong physical attribures who'll undoubtedly see playing time this season. The lack of overall depth across the defensive line is another big concern. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7. Good Set Audible Packages - Offense Note: These are all suggestions, they are not certain to be the best. Also note that there are more than enough so you should just pick the ones that you like. Passing Shotgun Normal Offset Weak - WR Option Shotgun Normal Offset Weak - Double Outs Shotgun Normal Offset Weak - WR Post Corner Shotgun Normal Offset Weak - Post Flags Splitbacks Normal - FL Go Splitbacks Normal - Curl Flats Splitbacks Normal - TE Option Splitbacks Normal - FL Zig Out Running Weak I Normal - FB Dive Weak I Normal - HB Gut Weak I Normal - Power Toss Weak I Normal - HB Wham Singleback Normal - HB Slam Singleback Normal - HB Sprint Singleback Normal - HB Toss Strong Singleback Normal - HB Smash ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8. Good Set Audible Packages - Defense Note: These are all suggestions, they are not certain to be the best. Also note that there are more than enough so you should just pick the ones that you like. Blitzing 4-3 Normal - LOLB Blitz 4-3 Normal - OLB Fire 3 4-3 Normal - CB Blitz 4-3 Normal - Storm Blitz Nickel Normal - ROLB Blitz Nickel Normal - Silver Shoot Pin Nickel Normal - Under Smoke Nickel Normal - Engage 8 Coverage Quarter Normal - Cover 3 Quarter Normal - Cover 2 Quarter Normal - 4 Across Quarter Normal - Double Z 3-4 Normal - 2 Man Under 3-4 Normal - Cover 3 3-4 Normal - Trio Sky Zone 3-4 Normal - Cover 1 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 9. Key Offensive Plays Shotgun Normal Offset Weak - Rogers Option Try to hit Rogers in the seam; if he is double-covered, throw it to Streets. You are going to need some time to comeplete this play, so rolling out to the left or right may be the best way to find the open receiver. If all else fails look for Kevin Jones after the fake block. Split Backs Twin Wide Receiver - Flats Look for the open receiver and deliver the ball out there quickly. This is a timing play. Moving the ball from the quarterback to the designated receiver quickly is what makes this play work. Be looking over the middle for Tai Streets in case other options fail, he is open a good amount of the time. If you are able to get this play down right, you should be able to get a first down. Singleback Empty 4 Wide Receivers - Outside Corners Good for spreading out the defense and showcasing the dynamic duo - Harrington and Streets. But get the ball away in a hurry, as there's no one back to protect you. If you execute, you can put up some pretty big yardage. It's not a money play because it takes so much time to develope, but it is a good play to keep your opponent on his toes. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 10. Key Defensive Plays 4-3 Normal - Cover 1 Robber The play allows you to surround the opponent with some pretty talented defenders You'll have the run and the pass covered at the same time. If it's a timing play the middle of the field is taken away. If it's a deep pass, your defenders should make it to the QB before he can hit anyone. Even if they don't, he'll be hearing footsteps and might blow it. Quarter Normal - Cover 3 This is a major staple of the Lions defense. Give opponents a good dose of this coverage, and you should be able to hold your own or at least keep the offensive team guessing. Cover 3 is good for stopping the pass and the run, but it's mainly meant to stop the short or midrange passing plays Nickle Normal - Cover 1 In passing situations this will take away the middle. It's also good for stopping the run, mainly because of the big guys on the Lions D-line. There is no sweeter feeling than knocking down a pass or sacking the quarterback in a third down situation to make the offensive team kick the ball away. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 11. Help Playing With The Lions The main thing that you want to focus on is the passing attack with Roy Williams and Charles Rogers at the ends, Az-Zahir Hakim as the slot receiver and sending Kevin Jones out of the backfield to make some big plays. Hakim can use his speed to blow away the corners and can be used on end arounds and reverses. In a four receiver set, throw in the direction of Tai Streets, who has a positive history playing under coach Steve Mariucci. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12. Help Playing Against The Lions Play a lot of Nickel and Dime packages stop the passing game and force the Lions to try to beat you on the ground with their young, inexperienced backfield. Avoid corner blitzes at all costs unlest you have some really fast linebackers to cover the receivers. Run hard agains the defensive line and focus on opening holes for running backs off the ends. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 13. SilverChaosVII's Franchise Tips * Put LE Robert Porcher on trade block for a draft pick or a free saftey * Sign a back up RE from free agency * Edit Kalimba Edwards changing him to LE rather than RE * Change TE Casey Fitzsimmons to the starter, he progresses fast * Adjust the QB to your tendencies * If you are a scrambler start McMahon * If you are a pocket passer start Harrington * Both turn out to be great quarterbacks in the long run ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 14. Legal Crap Yeah, this FAQ is designated for IGN and GameFAQ purposes only. The creation of this FAQ is by SilverChaosVII and should not be used unless I approve it. If you need to email me my email is SilverChaosVII@yahoo.com, but please don't be sending me crap mail or anything. Also this FAQ would not be possible without the help of Prima Official Game Guide to Madden 2005. Some of this information is taken straight from it as some isn't. Thank you and there will be more teams to come soon. Copyright 2005 Mike Mill