Chapter 2 - Team Overviews

This chapter provides in-depth analysis on your favorite National Football League teams. You’ll find 2003 offensive and defensive statistics, key player stats, and commentary on the team’s strengths and weaknesses. Note that these rosters and statistics are current as of the updated online rosters as of 8/18.

• OVR - The overall rating for the player.
• SPD - How fast the player can run.
• STR - The player’s strength, which affects his ability to break tackles or make blocks.
• AWR - A player’s ability to react and adjust. Affects a player’s ability to run routes for instance.
• AGI - The player’s agility, enhancing his ability to switch directions--important statistic for special maneuvers.
• ACC - How fast a player reaches full speed. Great for sprinting through open holes in your line or outrunning tacklers around a corner.
• CTH - How well the player can catch. A higher rating means fewer drops.
• CAR - How well the player holds onto the football. A higher rating means the less chance of a fumble.
• JMP - The player’s ability to jump, such as for grabbing high passes or blocking high passes.
• BTK - The player’s ability to break tackles.
• THP - How far a player can throw the ball.
• THA - How accurate a player throws.
• PBK - How well a player pass blocks.
• RBK - How well a player run blocks.
• TAK - A player’s ability to tackle.
• INJ - The likelihood of an injury. The higher the rating, the less likely a player will get injured.

Arizona Cardinals

Division: NFC West
2003 Record: 4-12
2003 Offensive Stats: 280.6 yards gained per game (27th overall)
2003 Defensive Stats: 344.0 yards allowed per game (26th overall)

Key Players:

Although their 2003 season ended with a dramatic win against the Minnesota Vikings (the loss kept the Vikings out of the postseason), the Arizona Cardinals finished 2003 in their usual position: at the bottom of their division. The future looks brighter--it has to--with some new, exciting, young offensive talent and a new head coach, Dennis Green.

Anquan Boldin made a big splash in 2003 with impressive receiving numbers and the offensive rookie of the year award. He’s a solid target for young, inexperienced Josh McNown. The Cardinals drafted college superstar Larry Fitzgerald to complement Boldin. In a few years, this could be one of the top duos in the league. Mix it up on offense with throws to Boldin and Fitzgerald (the Cardinals’ third receiver isn’t bad either), the tight end, and Marcel Shipp out of the back field. Move Boldin around using motion or swaps to help keep him an open target for McNown. Use high percentage passing. McNown doesn’t have the ratings to test tight coverage.

Atlanta Falcons

Division: NFC South
2003 Record: 5-11
2003 Offensive Stats: 272.3 yards gained per game (29th overall)
2003 Defensive Stats: 381.8 yards allowed per game (32nd overall)

Key Players:

Some might argue that the Atlanta Falcons 2003 season ended well before it started: when their star (and Madden 2004 cover guy) Michael Vick went down with a broken leg in the preseason. The Falcons’ offense never really recovered and the defense fell apart as well (the squad ranked last in the league in yards allowed per game). Hopes are once again high in 2004--if Vick can remain healthy.

The Falcons’ Michael Vick can win games with his arm and his legs--he’s the fastest quarterback in the game.

This is a potent offense in Madden 2005. Once again Vick possesses explosive speed and mobility for a quarterback. A lot of Madden players utilize Vick’s legs. Expect to see four wide receiver sets and if there’s no one open at the snap, Vick scrambles behind the line and takes off. There are some new defenses to counter this maneuver so if you’re hoping to keep Vick on the ground, watch out for the outside containment.

Warrick Dunn and T.J. Duckett are a solid one-two punch. Dunn is the speedster excelling in outside runs and as a receiver (out running most linebackers and safeties, which typically cover him one-on-one); Duckett is the north-south runner with burly break tackle ability. Send Dunn in the pattern often; he creates a lot of mismatches against slower safeties and even slower linebackers. Mix in Alge Crumpler, one of the better tight ends in the game. Spread the ball around effectively, which should enhance Vick’s scrambling option even more.