What's a good strategy for using the colts in madden 09?

Question

Ok. So me and my friends are playing in a madden 09 tourney and we picked teams randomly. I got the colts and I've never really used them so I was wondering if you guys could give me some tips of how to play them.

Answer 1

pass with them alot and since you have a smart QB use it. and play cover 2 D

Answer 2

Lucky for you my friend, my whole philosophy on offense is to pass. You happened to pull out one of the best teams for that. We'll get to defense a little later.  

First thing, you have the luxury of having 2 Quick Receivers in Wayne and Harrison. While Wayne is not a Speed demon, and Harrison has lost a step, they are still extremely effective because of there ability to run precise routes, and constantly beat defenders. They are also great as Possession Receivers, so don't be afraid to send them on slants, posts, ins, and crossing routes through the middle.

The next thing is you have a great receiving tight end in Dallas Clark, who has good speed, and just like Harrison and Wayne, is a Quick Receiver, which allows him to often beat linebackers trying to cover him. Use him on posts, corners, and double-move routes to give you critical catches when the defense isn't expecting him to (ala 3rd and long, 2nd and short, etc.)

Last, but certainly not least, on offense is you have Peyton Manning. He has great arm strength at 96, amazing accuracy at 98, and with 100 awareness, is a Smart QB, which means if the defense keeps calling the same plays, you'll be able to see them clearly. With Manning, you can play any type of offense; whether that's a dink-and-dunk game, or a vertical passing game. Due to his very high accuracy, you'll be able to put the ball on the money in any spot you, ala the outside shoulder on a fade route, the inside of a receiver on a slant, which is critical for a precise passing game. He's not very mobile, so you'll want to keep an eye on reading the defense. But, if you get some room and it's short yardage for a first down, you can take off.

Now for defense. As we know the Colts defense is undersized, but very fast. Right off the bat I would not play a lot of blitz-man coverage, simply because their corners are not great at man coverage, and do not have the speed to run with receivers. I would stay with a lot of zone blitzes, because their linebackers have good speed, good awareness, and great in zone coverage. Also, you have two good safeties in AntwanBethea and Bob Sanders. Bethea is great at zone coverage and blitzing, and with Sanders' speed and athletic ability, you can manually control him to roam the deep zones, and make plays. As for their defensive line, you have outstanding pass rushers in Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, but lack of size at the DT position. To counter this, anytime you have a running situation, send pressure inside the tackles, and play containment with Freeney and Mathis, to allow their speed and awareness to take over and stop the ball carrier if he breaks outside. As for passing downs, use the zone coverage and zone blitzes for your linebackers and secondary, and for your defensive line, have them widen out to speed rush the offensive tackles, or use twists and stunts to confuse the offensive line, and allow your defensive ends to beat the offensive guards.

Hope this helps and good luck.  

Answer 3

PASS! Try to run mainly a run and gun offense, that has got me many victories with the colts....

Answer 4

start running the football to open up the field so defense will press up then run a couple of play action plays and hit wayne or harrison . usuallly the cornerbacks will bight for the fake  

Answer 5

I use them a lot, I usually pass out the shotgun and use short plays all the way down the field, usually pass to Addai,Wayne, or Gonzalez. Usually not Harrison, unless the other team has a slow/bad corner covering him.