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- Know your audibles! To play Madden NFL 2003 successfully, you have to be able to read the offense or defense at the line of scrimmage, and make changes to exploit mismatches. Any good player will have his 5 audibles memorized. We recommend a wide variety of offensive audibles, such as a pitch left, a run to the right, a short screen pass, a corner pattern, and a deep route.
- Under Pressure: Always keep the pressure on opposing QBs. Don't be afraid to blitz early and often. We prefer the 4-3 Whipman and the Nickel Over Smoke. It's also a good idea to use coverage audibles and switch to a Bump-n-Run so you can chuck the receivers at the line and give your linebackers an extra step or two to the QB.
- Wait for the holes: Many players immediately jam on the sprint button as soon as they receive a handoff. Unless you are in a single setback formation, you risk outrunning your blocker. Don't be afraid to jog behind your fullback, wait for the key block, and then sprint through the hole.
- New Formations: There are two new defensive formations this year, the 46 and the Quarter. We use the 46 to stack the line of scrimmage and stop the run. But we use the Quarter for definite passing situations. We like to use a coverage audible to a Bump-n-Run, then take control of one of the corners, but instead of bumping, we bring him streaking in for a blind-side sack.
- Easy Madden Cards: This is a little cheap, but when you're having trouble filling out your card book, consider creating a second profile. Load up a two-player game with your original and your second profile, go into exhibition and choose the same team for both profiles. Now, whenever you complete a Madden challenge, both profiles will earn points. Buy cards with your second profile and trade the hard-to-find ones to your original profile.
- The Hottest Routes: Occasionally the defense will mismatch by putting a linebacker on a slot receiver. When that happens, don't hesitate to hot route that receiver to a deep route, relying in his superior speed to give him separation from the linebacker.
- Spread the Love: If you are playing against a fast, mobile quarterback, don't be afraid to spread your linemen out before the snap. This opens up bigger holes for a run up the gut, but makes for a wider pocket and discourages fast quarterbacks from bootlegging it.
- Scout like a Pro: When you are scouting rookies in the Franchise Mode, don't always scout first and second round picks. Those early picks are often selected quickly on draft day, wasting the time you spent researching them. Instead, scout rookies projected to go later in the draft so you can find a superstar in the making.
- Practice your Mad Skills: Play through the mini-camp as far as you can, not just for the Madden cards, but for the chance to polish your individual skills. The swat ball drill in particular is a great way to master the timing it takes to intercept a pass.
- Fool your Friends: If you are playing a two-player game against a friend, don't forget to conceal which play you are calling by selecting the play above or below the currently highlighted window (see your manual for button assignments.) Also, assign hot routes on running plays to make your friend think you are running a passing play.
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