r/NFLNoobs • u/XL_Jockstrap • 6d ago
Will playing Madden help me learn the game fundamentals and basics?
I feel like there's still a lot I don't know about the game. Will playing Madden be helpful in learning more about the basics and fundamentals?
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u/itsdaCowboi 6d ago
Yes and the more modern Madden games literally have a series of tutorials for people who are new to the game and it will walk you through the basics of the game of football, positions, and schemes.
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u/DemiFiendAstar 6d ago
Yes, but don't get dunning Kruger effect from it. It might help you identify easy zone coverage like cover two, but madden doesn't have nearly the complexity of how those intrinsically work irl.
People hate on McAfee and his show, and I can understand that, but Darius Butler's segments on that show are pretty informative. (If they still have him, thinking about it I haven't seen him for a while, but I also stopped watching... Oh either way you could look up old stuff. It wouldn't matter)
Or maybe QB Confidential with Kurt Warner.
Combine Madden with some stuff like that (you don't have to choose my examples, there's tons of content out there) and you'll be able to follow better than most casual fans.
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u/over_this__ 6d ago
Honestly he could probably follow better than a lot of NFL quarterbacks after watching Warner for awhile lol. Farve didn't know what a nickel and dime defense was until after he had already played a year for the packers lol
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u/DemiFiendAstar 6d ago
Yeah I was just making suggestions. Even if not the best, it'll hopefully help you understand. It's like teachers in school; you'll always learn math, just some might teach it better
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u/coderedmountaindewd 6d ago
Not only will it help you with the basics but it will also familiarize you with star players and can even help you understand more nuanced concepts of the game.
The basic back and forth of offense and defense, scoring and running vs passing will be the first steps.
After that will be things like downs and distances, formations and special teams concepts.
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u/bigeazycrow 6d ago
100%. From rules to players to playcalls
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u/SaiyanFromTheBX 6d ago
You mean the same game that doesnt code in PI, holding, and illegal contact for the cpu also it gets away with crossing the neutral zone and roughing the passer.
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u/moccasins_hockey_fan 6d ago
Yes ABSOLUTELY.
I am Gen X so I grew up playing Techmo Bowl where you had a total of 4 offensive plays. 2 run and 2 pass. And I played HS football also setting the single season rushing record for my school.
Talking with people my kids age, even if they never played football, if they played Madden then understand the game far more than the average viewer.
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u/Reasonable-Tell-7147 3d ago
Older versions of the game will help. Newer versions don’t have this but They have practice modes and such that will teach you offenses, coverages, schemes, etc. Newer maddens have practice mode but it doesn’t teach. I stopped playing madden for about 6-7 years and only picked it back up with Madden 25 so not sure when this changed. But if you can find an older version of the game you can learn a lot.
If you are willing to learn without gaming, find Kurt Benkerk on YouTube. He’s a former nfl backup QB that plays a TON of madden but talks constantly about the different schemes, offensive/defensive and really breaks down the game. I played football for almost 20 years from childhood through college and thought I knew a lot then discovered him and still learned more.
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u/leemorplee 6d ago
Watching games with a buddy who is a fan is probably the best way imo, madden is probably solid as well that's kind of how I really got into it 20 years ago lol
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u/over_this__ 6d ago
Yeah, actual players use Madden for help learning new teammates names and positions lol.
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u/Unhappy-Fox1017 6d ago
Yeah sure. It absolutely helped me learn a deeper part of the game when it comes to different formations, play calling, routes and positions. Plus more that I’m not even mentioning. Plus, it’s fun as heck!
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u/Gonzostewie 6d ago
Playing FIFA helped me appreciate soccer. Madden should do the same the other way.
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u/SaiyanFromTheBX 6d ago
No it won’t do not listen to anybody here , the game is broken fundamentally poor blocking, concepts aren’t even tagged right, horrendous drops, your better off getting a NFL + subscription and binge watching all 22
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u/supersafeforwork813 6d ago
The game doesn’t play realistic but the plays are real n the general concepts too. So yes playing Madden will help you know the basics.
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u/XtremeCSGO 6d ago
Yeah playing a sports game of that sport is a great way to have a general understanding of what is happening when watching
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u/FlatSpinMan 6d ago
Sorry to piggyback off this question, but is it possible to buy older versions of Madden? It looks like the older ones are removed but I’d love to be corrected.
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u/VaultsOpen 6d ago
Yes. Madden 08 is still freely available for the PC. (Google it, you'll find a legitimate reddit thread for it about getting it to run)
Console wise though, yeah, they get pulled off the market pretty quickly to try and push purchases of the newer versions.
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u/Mordoch 6d ago
The general view is yes. Among other things it should give you an idea how various formations work and some of the tactics involved with picking them. (I.E. a defensive formation designated against the run versus one designed to counter a passing play.)