Madden 2001 FAQ v.1.0 Author: Dan Thomas E-Mail: Dan3369@hotmail.com AIM: Tdan171 Feel free to IM or E-Mail me if I have made an error, if you have any questions about the game, this FAQ, or if you have a request for information about Madden 2001 that is not covered in this FAQ. I would like to thank EA Sports for making an AWESOME game Thanks to John Madden and Pat Summerall for great NFL commentary ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Table of Contents 1. Controls 2. Top Players 3. Top Teams 4. Bottom Teams 5. Strategies 6. Version Information 1. Controls Gamepad Pro Controls: Pause game Start Call Timeout Select Instant Replay L2 Cycle through sets and formations D-Pad Select set and formation Yellow Cycle through plays D-Pad up and down Select a play Red, yellow, or green Flip play R1 Previous formation Blue Offense (Before the snap) View receivers to the left/right L1/R1 Fake the snap Green Call an audible Red, then Red, yellow, green, L1, R1, or L2 Move receiver in motion D-Pad left and right Call a hot route Blue QB crowd control R2 Snap the ball Yellow Running Speed Burst Yellow Dive/QB slide Red Jump/Hurdle Blue Spin Green Stiff arm R2 Juke left/right L1/R1 Lateral the ball L2 Passing View available receivers Yellow Pass to the receiver with that control symbol Red, yellow, green, L1, or R1 QB scramble Blue Throw ball away R2 + Blue Route-based passing L2 + receiver symbol Pump fake R2 + receiver symbol Receiving Control receiver Yellow Dive for pass Red Jump for pass Blue Defense (Before the snap) Cycle defenders Yellow/Green Reposition player D-Pad Zoom out Blue Shift Defensive line L1 Shift secondary R1 Call an audible Red, then red, yellow, green, L1, R1, or L2 Crowd Control R2 Read-n-React Defense L2, then D-Pad up and down Defense (After the snap) Control player nearest to the ball Yellow Dive Red Power tackle/speed burst Green Jump Blue Strip ball L1 Swim move R1 Kicking Game Kickoff Yellow, then red, yellow, or green Field goals Yellow, then red, yellow, or green Punts Yellow then Yellow Direction of kick D-Pad left and right Call an audible Red Kickoff/Punt receiving Control return man D-Pad Switch players Yellow Fair catch/kneel Blue Control Conversion Table Gamepad Pro D-Pad = Sidewinder D-Pad = Keyboard up, left, down, right Gamepad Pro Red = Sidewinder X = Keyboard S Gamepad Pro Yellow = Sidewinder A = Keyboard D Gamepad Pro Green = Sidewinder B = Keyboard F Gamepad Pro Blue = Sidewinder Y = Keyboard E Gamepad Pro L1 = Sidewinder Left Trigger = Keyboard W Gamepad Pro R1 = Sidewinder Right Trigger = Keyboard R Gamepad Pro L2 = Sidewinder Z = Keyboard A Gamepad Pro R2 = Sidewinder C = Keyboard G Gamepad Pro Select = Sidewinder M = Keyboard T Gamepad Pro Start = Sidewinder Start = Keyboard Spacebar 2. Top Players Here is my comprehensive list of the top five players at every position. These rankings are based on their skill on this game Quarterbacks 1. Kurt Warner 2. Peyton Manning 3. Brett Favre 4. Troy Aikman 5. Brad Johnson Halfbacks 1. Marshall Faulk 2. Eddie George 3. Fred Taylor 4. Edgerrin James 5. Stephen Davis Fullbacks 1. Mike Alstott 2. Tony Richardson 3. Donnell Bennett 4. Larry Centers 5. Jermaine Fazande Wide Receivers 1. Keyshawn Johnson 2. Marvin Harrison 3. Randy Moss 4. Tim Brown 5. Jimmy Smith Tight Ends 1. Frank Wycheck 2. Tony Gonzalez 3. Wesley Walls 4. Shannon Sharpe 5. Jay Riemersma Left Tackles 1. Tony Boselli 2. Johnathon Ogden 3. Orlando Pace 4. William Roaf 5. Bob Whitfield Left Guards 1. Larry Allen 2. Ruben Brown 3. Randall McDaniel 4. Bruce Matthews 5. Raleigh Mackenzie Centers 1. Dermontti Dawson 2. Kevin Mawae 3. Tom Nalen 4. Jeff Christy 5. Fred Winters Right Guards 1. Will Shields 2. Tre' Johnson 3. Adam Timmerman 4. Kevin Gogan 5. Marco Rivera Right Tackles 1. Leon Searcy 2. John Runyan 3. Erik Williams 4. Willie Anderson 5. Adam Meadows Left Ends 1. Kevin Carter 2. Michael Strahan 3. Robert Porcher 4. Michael Sinclair 5. Reggie White Right Ends 1. Tony Brackens 2. Chuck Smith 3. Chad Bratzke 4. Bruce Smith 5. Michael McCrary Defensive Tackles 1. Warren Sapp 2. John Randle 3. Bryant Young 4. Darrell Russell 5. Chester McGlockton Left Outside Linebackers 1. Peter Boulware 2. Mo Lewis 3. Bill Romanowski 4. Chad Brown 5. Cornelious Bennett Middle Linebackers 1. Ray Lewis 2. Zach Thomas 3. Hardy Nickerson 4. Levon Kirkland 5. Stephen Boyd Right Outside Linebackers 1. Junior Seau 2. Derrick Brooks 3. Jessie Armstead 4. Jamir Miller 5. Kevin Hardy Cornerbacks 1. Sam Madison 2. Deion Sanders 3. Charles Woodson 4. Aeneas Williams 5. Todd Lyght Free Safety 1. Carnell Lake 2. Brock Marion 3. Mark Carrier 4. Rod Woodson 5. Kurt Schulz Strong Safety 1. John Lynch 2. Lawyer Milloy 3. Leroy Butler 4. Rodney Harrison 5. Darren Woodson Kickers 1. Jason Elam 2. Jason Hanson 3. John Kasay 4. Olindo Mare 5. Al Del Greco Punters 1. Bryan Barker 2. Tom Tupa 3. Darren Bennett 4. Mitch Berger 5. Tom Rouen 3. Top Teams Here are the top five lists at each category. Offense 1. Cowboys 2. Packers 3. Rams 4. Redskins 5. Titans Defense 1. Jaguars 2. Lions 3. Ravens 4. Buccaneers 5. Rams Special Teams 1. Redskins 2. Broncos 3. Jets 4. Bills 5. Dolphins Overall 1. Jaguars 2. Broncos 3. Rams 4. Redskins 5. Buccaneers 4. Bottom Teams These teams just can't get it done. Here are the five worst teams at each category Offense 1. Browns 2. Giants 3. Bears 4. Cardinals 5. Chargers Defense 1. Bengals 2. 49ers 3. Saints 4. Steelers 5. Eagles Special Teams 1. Bears 2. Cardinals 3. Chiefs 4. Cowboys 5. Bengals Overall 1. Bears 2. Bengals 3. Browns 4. Cardinals 5. Chargers 5. Strategies Having trouble moving the ball? Are you getting fired from your teams in franchise mode? Here is some help: Building a Team: As most people know, you need a great Quarterback. I would suggest also picking up an average backup to fall back on should your starter get injured. Halfback is, in my opinion, the most important offensive position on Madden 2001. You can't rely on the passing game forever, so you have to have a good backfield. I would suggest a speedy guy with good tackle breaking ability Fullbacks and Tight Ends are basically luxuries for teams who are solid most everywhere else. If your halfback's rating is below 80, do not worry about a fullback or tight end. Instead, concentrate on picking up a better halfback Wide Receivers are also necessities. You need at least 2-3 good receivers and 2-3 average to poor receivers. Remember, even a poor receiver can catch a pass. Offensive Line, often overlooked, is just as important as any other position. A couple of good tackles will send your running back to 10-15 yard gains and more on toss, sweep, and off tackle plays. Pick up solid guards and a center for big gains up the middle. Another important part of the O-Line is quarterback protection. At one point in my franchise, all of my linemen were rated 85 or higher. Almost every pass play I ran, my QB had near five seconds of time in the pocket. Defensive Lineman will end your opponent's game very quickly if it is correctly utilized. As most people already know, the defensive line's job is to stop runners and nail QBs. A few good linemen are the first steps toward a solid defense Linebackers are a very important part of the team. Pick up the right combination of LB sizes and speeds, and your defense will be near its pinnicle. Defensive backs and Safeties will make or break your team. Good coverage men will stop passes and make interceptions left and right. Weak coverage will get burned by even the average receivers. Game strategies Offense: Early in the game, concentrate on staying balanced. Split up your passes and runs fairly evenly. Almost always run the ball on 1st down and pass on any 3rd and 5 or greater. Avoid passing deep at almost all costs. If you are winning by a large margin near the end of the game, run on every play and stay in bounds as to keep the clock running. If you are down near the end, you have to pass downfield often. In a close game, as ridiculous as it may seem, keep running. Slam the ball down their throats. Long passes are just offering them an interception. Defense: If you're sure that they're running, use a 4-3 package. On an obvious pass, use the 3-4 Safe or, my favorite, the Dime Prevent. If you aren't sure, Use the nickel formation or a 3-4. 6. Version Information Version 1.0- Created FAQ! Made Controls, Top Players, Top Teams, Bottom Teams, and Strategies sections. Coming Soon...Well, what do you all want to see in this FAQ? Email or AIM me!