With each new Madden release comes new teams, new plays, and new schemes. Every new season dawns a new day, a resurrection, the rebirth of each and every one of our games. We have hope, we have excitement, and then we have the Madden 2010 Dallas Cowboys. Unfortunately for Madden 2010 we may still be seeing the Cowboys, and seeing them a lot. The 2010 squad appears to pick up where the 09 team left off virtually, despite failing to meet real world expectations. Ultimately, its would seem not even the departure of Terrell Owens will slow this team down.
Jerry Jones must be a Madden fan, why else would they have all these Madden studs!



The 2010 Cowboys are poised and ready to be Americas team!

Madden 2010 Dallas Cowboys - ESPN Ratings

Last years 09 team was in all terms of the sense, “the perfect team”. Offensively they had a scrambling QB with solid THP and THA, a speed and power back, WR/TE with speed and height, there O-line gave you enough time to make two peanut butter sandwiches with fluff, and if one of your starters got hurt just sub one of the reserves and you wouldn't notice a thing. Defensively they had enough line backers to cover 2/3of the World (1/3 is covered by Namadi Asomugha), there secondary was tall and had speed in all the right places, and not to mention two guysthat could lay the lumber with hit sticks. Then in the middle of the season, they got better. As if they didn’t need anymore help they acquired Roy Williams from the Lions. This was every school boy’s fantasy, the stars had certainly aligned for America’s team. Now we have 2010 and I think it’s safe to say that we all fully expected a big time downgrade (recent podcast). Not so fast.

The Cowboys may have lost Terrell Owens but they still have Roy Williams, Jason Witten, and Martellus Bennett. In the backfield they have 96 speed Felix Jones and Marion the Barbarian. Romo still has enough speed to make some noise on the ground and there O-line is absolutely savage. There may not be a more balanced attack offensively in Madden 2010. If there is an area of concern for the Cowboys its speed on this side of the ball, other then Jones there are no real burners on this team. If the deep ball is a big impact on this years game then the Cowboys may disappear on radar’s across the country.

Defense may be the Cowboys strong point this season. Once again they have a plethora of linebackers, three of which have 90+ tackle. In the defensive secondary they have Terrence Newman with 97 speed and Orlando Scandrick with 95. Pat Watkins is back on the roster and his 6’5 frame will be a big acquisition. He may be the glue that holds this all together. The ability to make plays with Watkins may play a vital role in the success of this defense. Mix in hard hitting Ken Hamlin and we once again have a well balanced attack. I can see already see my starting lineup now…


Keith Brooking will have a huge impact on the Cowboys defense in 2010.

Offense

QB- Tony Romo

HB- Felix Jones/Marion Barber

FB- Marion Barber

WR- Roy Williams/Martellus Bennet (TE split end package)

TE- Jason Witten

O-line- Gurode/Davis/Adams/Kosier/Columbo

Defense

Quarters formation with a LB at DE package

DE- Keith Brooking/J. Williams (87 speed, 90 accel, 89 jump)

DT- J. Ratliff

MLB- Demarcus Ware

CB- Mike Jenkins/Gerald Sensabaugh/Terrence Newman/Orlando Scandrick

FS- Pat Watkins/Courtney Brown

SS- Ken Hamlin/Courtney Brown

What will YOUR lineup look like?

Tweet us @Maddenbible, @Sgibs7
Sound off at the forums because everyone has their own perfect lineup!
Honestly though, there is no wrong way to eat a Reese's.

        

        

        

Maddenbible now has forums!

In order to continue to serve the Madden community better, ZFarls and SGibs are unveiling their new forums here!

If your a Maddenbible Veteran, you know the quality tips we provide FREE in a safe and encouraging learning environment. The forums will promise more of the same!

To prove we are serious, New Users will get a FREE tip mailed directly into their inbox when they sign up! Plus Farls and Gibs will constantly be on the forum and chatbox to answer your questions and help develop strategies for Madden 10!

This is big news for us so if you enjoy our content here, head over to the forums and sign up today!

Thanks
@ZFarls
@Sgibs7

        

Where have you gone NCAA?


Its not NCAA the games fault, its the release cycle

With the NCAA Football demo making its way online yesterday, many people began to hammer it on forums and twitter. They also used it to decide whether or not to purchase it. Although I run a madden site, NCAA was actually my drug of choice in the early part of the decade.

Some Quick Demo Thoughts-Overall, it didn’t seem much different, my brother is an NCAA fanatic and when I asked him how it was, his lack of enthusiasm scared me.

 I liked the new sideline animations and although I could still RC a curl the defender seemed to react to it better and did the same animation.

 I felt the difference in the vibrating stick but didn’t enjoy it. People said it felt like Madden 09, but I didn’t fully sense that. One thing I noticed was the pop up ball on a qb hit, as I got 2 user pics that way.  People have such a negative attitude towards the game this year, whether it’s the way madden overshadowed it in the community or the roster error it doesn’t seemed to be as hyped as in previous years. I used to get all jacked up for it…

Should you purchase every cycle?

NCAA- I buy every other year for the most part. My brother is a huge fan so we may split the game, but he thought the demo was similar to last years. He is still a student so 60 dollars to him is a good chunk of money that could be spent on something else.  This game has been a one month teaser until Madden comes out. I love college football in real life and enjoy the rosters which they didn’t get right. That turned me off.

Fight Night- Round 3 was amazing and captured my heart with the demo. I was pumped for round 4 until I got the UFC demo. Now I may wait a few months on fight night. This is a good thing because if it was a yearly offering I would skip it completely, however, because I know it will be around and had a long dev cycle, I will wait to pick it up no problem.

College Hoops- NCAA 2k7 is in my top 5 of all time games. I have not enjoyed a March Madness game since 90’s, but purchased one last year. As long as the game is fun and competitive, I could care less about the bells and whistles. I was taking on my bro who was Duke with Stephon Curry. The game was a back and forth battle which always adds to the experience. Just as Curry was about to heave a 3 for the game winner, it suddenly froze. This could have been a great matchup that propelled us to play more but it kind of spoiled it for me.

This will lead to non yearly release in my opinion and a different style of purchase for future generations. Will their be a Madden 19? Who can honestly say. How could they still have anything new to put in, football will still be the same game by then and they are already doing a great job emulating it.

@-ZFarls

        

ESPN has released the Packers ratings for Madden 10 here

    Cutler is better than me?
    Brett...Hang it up
   

It hurts my brain to think about Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers saga. Im not gonna elaborate on the situation as you should have heard about it by now. The pack is a new team and well...they are very average.

Strength- They have a top five secondary (93,93,90) and even the new ratings couldn't take that away. The D-line and Lb's are average but if they start out with some wins, updates could be very friendly.

Weakness- Ryan Grant is back on earth (85) and their O-line is very average. The WR's are pretty solid but not much depth there or height. It could just be the new ratings but I expected them to be alot better for some reason.

However, Sgibs has found some Madden gems and is in love with the packers...

The Green Bay Packers are certainly and intriguing team. The Packers are one of the only teams in the league that have more then one playmaker on both sides of the balls. The packers are certainly loaded with Madden Gems. Lets take a Lambeau leap into the 2010 Madden NFL Packers! 

        

Madden 10 Ratings: Dallas Cowboys & New York Giants

Todays Maddenbible Mailbag Question: Will the Cowboys still be the favorite tournament team in Madden 10? ZFarls also previews the matchup in the demo between the Giants and Cowboys.

Download | Duration: 00:13:13

Tweet or Aim us your question...
@Maddenbible
Aim:Maddenbible

        

Another day and more player ratings to drool over for the next 24hrs. The Minnesota Vikings are next up for discussion and they definitely should not disappoint. Whether it’s Brett Favre potential contract negotiations or Adrian Peterson ratings the Vikings will be enough to suppress the masses over the weekend! ESPN article 

Peterson is going to put an emphasis on the “Fight For Every Yard” this year for Vikings fans. 
 
Sgibs Breakdown:

HB Adrian Peterson- Key Stats: There was a lot of talk, last year over who was the “best” Madden 09 back. Reggie, LT, and AP were the candidates. Peterson emerged as the sole superstar and is hands down the best running back in Madden 2010. AP will be the heart and sole of this offense. 95 speed, 97 acceleration, and 96 agility compliment Petersons 97 overall ratings. Area of concern for Peterson…69 carry.  

WR Harvin/Berrian- Key Stats: These two WR will compliment each other on the outside. Both are speedy and both are deep threats. Tavaris Jackson does have the arm to sling it deep but really is a red flag with his 67 overall rating. Can he deliver the ball on a consistent enough basis to his playmaking WR’s? Not many teams will possess two 97 speed WR’s on the field at the same time. If you can make T.Jack work, watch out for this offense. Can you say Brett Favre? 

FS Tyrell Johnson- Key Stats: Johnson is a bit of a no name when we think “elite” Madden players. However he is certainly a game changer. With the reduced stats this year he still boasts a solid speed rating of 89, 92 jumping, and a 74 tackle. Paired with Madeau Williams, Johnson poses to be a scary USER player for all opposition. Look out for this Madden gem as we approach the upcoming season! 

The Minnesota Vikings were a dark horse in Madden 09 and they again fall into that category for Madden 2010. If Brett Favre decides to lace up for another campaign he could easily bring them to elite status. They have speedy WR’s as well as height, both sides of the line are dominant, and there secondary has height. Mix that in with strong tackling linebackers and we have a very deadly team to deal with. Like a little speed at QB for situational reasons , no problem, call in T. Jack.

ZFarls: You are going to be able to do serious work running the ball to the left side of the line. If AP can keep his fumbles down this team will be dynamic.
The lack of a QB will hurt them but you will still be able to scheme short throws and play action to their blazing WR's (pun intended.)
The D-line is so strong with Allen and Williams' that the lack of good LB's wont matter. They have solid but slow CB's who will get the job done on the outside with a user safety over the top.

I think the Vikings take a hit due to the new ratings system, however, once we see how they game plays they have enough talent to continue their popularity. Favre will be a great virtual upgrade for them because they have nothing else. I love to be able to scheme with T-Jack and if you love to run and play solid defense with a good d-line this could be your team.

Stay tuned to our countdown for more teams!
Follow us on twitter for real time tips, plays and strategies!
@ZFarls
@Sgibs7

        

Madden Bible 2010 Mock Fantasy Draft




Today's Maddenbible Mailbag Question is from Preacher

He is selecting 13th in an upcoming fantasy draft for Madden 2010. We have drafted up a small guide to help him get the best value for his picks.  I have made a podcast to go along with some of the ideas we talk about as well. We will be elaborating more on this subject as well as adding to this post in the future. If you have a question for the mailbag get live 24/7 answers by aiming maddenbible. Drafting may be the sweetest thing in all of Madden plus its going to be all the rage with online franchise and 32 users. I have completed one before and lets just say I had Derek Anderson and Tavarias Jackson. Even Reggie Bush and his over valued Madden Skills couldn't have bailed me out there. How was I supposed to see Vince Young going 3rd? Human drafts are totally differnet, be prepared.

Download | Duration: 00:15:42

 
For the presentation of this article we will break down the both starting sides of the ball and where/when we can get the best value available. Keep in mind this is our assumption based off of countless hours played on past versions of Madden. This list is subject to change when the game releases on 08/14/2009. We will also take in account that we will have the 13th pick in the draft. Lets get to it!

1. QB-Most important position for any team in Madden. If you don't have an adequate arm we wont be able to move the ball. With the 13th pick we can still manage to get an upper echelon QB. At this pick I certainly think a QB like Donovan Mcnabb will be available. Mcnabb has always boasted a big arm, above average throw accuracy and a more then adequate speed rating. The same story goes for Madden 2010. Mcnabb boasts a solid OVR rating of 91.

*If Ben Roethlisberger is still available look to pick him up here. He has better passing ratings but lower speed. Also he is much younger then Mcnabb, this can pay dividends a few years into your franchise.*


   
ZFarls Take:I feel that QB is more important in this years game than ever. Rather than a guy like Vince Young, Pocket Passers are at a premium. It looks like snaps can be taken under center and someone who can wiggle is no longer over valued. Long and medium range passing also seem to be important in this years game. No longer will acc be just one category. It looks like they will be broken down further which of course makes getting a good qb important. I still love drafting a fast backup qb, but he may not be your first choice anymore.
   
Sgibs7 Take: I'm a big fan of THP and speed. Give me a QB that has tons of THP and a little bit of speed and I'm a happy camper. My reason behind this is that with big THP we can make any throw on the field, it may sail overhead a few times but hey I can live with that. I love speed at the QB position as well. Its another weapon the defense has to worry about. If you followed me in Madden 09 you saw that I loved Jamarcus Russel. However early reports are showing that Madden 2010 may be the year that brings Madden studs like Russel to an abrupt end.



2. RB- For those who like to pound the rock, Running backs are always a good investment. Ideally speed is the most important category. Reggie Bush who is a poor NFL Running back is someone that really dominates in Madden. We also like the ability to use him on passing routes and screens.
We also want a good second back in the mid to late rounds to complement this first pick. We wont be FB diving as much in Madden 10 but I still feel it will be available.

Adrian Peterson is always the top choice but other backs have emerged and speed is at a premium this year. Back's like Chris Johnson will be going early in this years game and carry high value.
   
ZFarls: Also when looking into taking a running back early, make sure you have some of the other pieces in place to make it a success. If your going to spend the next 5 picks on speedy wr's then it doesnt really correlate. We need to focus our team for some solid defense and maybe a lineman up at the top. We must realize that it may make it harder to come from behind. If we think we want to control and posses and running is equal to passing than pick away at RB. You must commit though.
   
Sgibs7 Take: Taking a running back with the second pick is a bit iffy for me. Unless there is an absolute stud still available I would bypass a back at this pick. Speed always kills in madden and there are certainly a handful of lower rated players that we can pick up later on in the draft. If we do see a stud still available with our 13th pick lets look to select them here. If not look to progress another area of concern.

3. WR Corps
As always, Speed and height combos are as deadly as it gets in Madden. I feel strongly that this will be the case in Madden 10. Although I think that the number of players will be tuned down. Solid recievers like steve smith always struggle in Madden due to lack of height where a guy like Brandon Marshall is a stud.

There is a top pack of Moss, Fitz and everyones favorite sleeper, Calvin  Johnson. We must find out how the ratings and lack of RC will affect Madden 10 before we can determine how important this selection will be.
   
Zfarls Take- I see 3-5 top picks being worth it. With the new speed and no rc I think there will be a good second tier of talent which will reward solid recievers who have never been great in madden like torry holt. (in his prime)

I think if once the top guys come off the board you can hold and grab two solid real life number ones for great value. Route running will be imporatnt so don't hold out for scrubs with speed like hester, berrian or my old favorite Bethel Johnson. This madden is shaping up to be different.

Sgibs7 Take: With RC being "removed" from the game this year that may make guys like Hines Ward FINALLY effective, right? WRONG, I for one don't completely believe this. We have heard time and time again that this is the year that so and so will be good. Sadly, we are typically disappointed.

 One thing seems to always hold true at the WR position. Speed and Height is ALL you need. Taking a WR at this pick, this early could be detramental to your teams success. How much of a difference, in Madden, is there between Randy Moss and Chaz Schillens? Not THAT much.

TE- If you are going to use a lot of 2 TE sets then do yourself a favor and get one stud and one solid backup (Heath Miller) early. If we are going to use these guys than they have great value. You can also trade one if you get a Gates and a Winslow! However, if your more into speed and 5 wr sets than don’t waste your time here. In a human draft these guys go a lot earlier than a CPU draft. There are some solid late round options that we can look into later.

O-Line- Unless you lack good protection and manipulation than look into these guys later. If you decided on that run heavy offense then start selecting these guys well before you take a 2nd and 3rd WR. They will make life easier but as long as you focus on there strengths, you will survive.

Defense




CB- How do you combat everyones favorite way to score points? CORNER BACKS! Unfortunetly up until this point WR and the offensive side of the ball have almost always had the advantage in this situation. Numerous reports, from E3 and from lead game designer Ian Cummings, are saying that this is the year that lock down CB's are going to actually lock fown there opposition.

 If this holds true we may want to put a little more value in this pick, potentially moving it up to either two or three. If this does happen and the top CB's are gone (C.Bailey, N.Aso) look to grab Antonio Cromartie or his cousin D. Rodgers Cromartie. Both are tall, speedy, and can jump.
   
CB's are VERY important in Madden. They are also one of the only positions where you never play as the user. We can make up for lack of awarness at other positions but with Cb's they are out on an island. If you had Champ and N. Aso out on the edges would you be scared to bring alot more blitzes? This is a pick that can add serious value to your team.
As ive stated I feel less players will have that burning speed in this years game. I would select one CB high, and then 2 fast and 2 smart cbs. The 2 speed guys will be for blitzing and the 2 smart guys for coverage. Once we determine if zone or man will be the best way to play this years game, we can determing if the ratings matter. Then we pick the gems and you are on your way to dominating on defense.

Sgibs7- I love CB's in Madden. Back on Madden 07 I was in a fantasy draft franchise league called the VGXL. Two of my first three picks where Antonio Cromartie and Jimmy Williams. Many may not remember Jimmy Williams but he was on the same playing field as Cromartie back then. Both were 6'2 and both had 94 speed. They allowed me to play ANY type of defense and I was never affraid of having them get burnt one on one, on the outside. They were great against all WR's.
This combination of CB's really allowed me to expand my defense and allowed for other weakness on my team to not stand out as much. Unlike other positions elite CB's in Madden are NOT a dime a dozen. Thats why I hold there value to be a bit higher on the list.
   
Linebackers- Grab one solid stud to play the middle. On the left side get a fast guy for coverage. On the right side draft an avg speed player who plays the run well. We will learn how to get the right guys on the field in proper situations. This will maximize your draft value and give you better versatility.

Zfarls and Sgibs : Manny Lawson

DE- If you  like to user with these guys and can find good ways to scheme them, by all means draft high. However, in a human draft they should stick around for a bit. There is no point in letting a good DE like Peppers ROT on your D-line if your not going to be mixing him into coverage and getting creative. This can be a value pick and you can either get stalwart on the run or go for total speed. Stick to a theme here and make your picks count.

Safeties-
This is an interesting category with users because the computer may draft very high, however good humans know the value of usering with lower rated players. Ed Reed is an absolute ball hawk and coverboy troy is also a good pick. However, would you rather spend a 2nd round pick or a 13th round pick and grab a guy like Tyrelle Johnson who with your user awareness is just as good as these types of players? There are plenty of good safetys that are later round values. This is a big spot to save on picks. I would spend it on cb's instead.

DT: See 80 ovr, sort by STRENGTH, pick late. We take these guys off the field anyway when not in run situations.

        

used in conjunction with each other to really get into the offenses head. If you can learn to disguise your blitzes than you can force the offense into making bad choices under pressure. Here is the second part of free play friday. If you missed the part one check below or click here

Quarters

 

*Line backer pass rush*

*Place your best pass rushing DE at DT*

*Fastest LB at MLB*

*Fastest CB’s at dime and nickel back ( 3^rd and 4^th on the depth chart)

*Best CB’s on the outside (1^st and 2^nd on the depth chart)

*SS hard hitter*

*FS tall and good user ability*

*user the 5^th on the depth chart CB*

 

Under Smoke

 

Shift line left.

Re blitz the MLB, *RB down*

Re blitz the DT down

Slide the blitzing DB on the left of the screen to the outside hip of the DE

Place the blitzing MLB directly in front of the DT

User the other blitzing DB, and MAKE BIG PLAYS!!!!!!!! (if you bought 1-5-5 guide, use sgibs insanse manual rush tactic for max heat)

 

            When you mix this play in correctly it will mirror the Dime play I discussed earlier. It doesn’t have four down linemen but in the heat of the battle this will look identical to that setup. The major difference is that we are going to be bringing five defenders. If you have played Madden 09 at a high level then you should be aware of the Nickel Strong...<< MORE >>