1998 Season Recappppp

1998 FACTS
	1998 FINAL STANDINGS 1998 SCHEDULES
PRESEASON FEATURES
	MADDEN 99 PREVIEW PRESEASON NEWS WEATHER DEBATE NEW WEATHER RULES SWAMM'S 98 PREVIEW
SWAMMI REPORTS
	GB/PITT PREVIEW Wk. 1 SWAMMI REPORT Wk. 3 SWAMMI REPORT SWAMMI'S WK 7 TOP 10
MAJOR 98 STORIES
	COMMISSIONER SLAPS THE CREATOR WITH A 2 GAME PENALTY
SITE UTILITIES
	HELP CONTACT EMAIL the Commish!!! Send Commissioner Allen all of your questions or comments concerning the PFL.

The Swammi Previews Madden 98 Bye Bye Bread N Butter Everyone that has played this game thus far has come to the consensus that Liquid AI (artificial intelligence) is not artificial. Gone are the days of going for it whenever you want to on fourth down. If you want to win, you better learn how to punt and settle for three. Also gone are those money plays. You know the ones you could count on over and over to work for you whenever you got yourself in a jam. You know, those bread n butter plays. They will still work for you, but not on every third and long, and not on every fourth down either. This realistic approach comes welcomed by experience players as well as the PFL because each opponent wants to out coach the other. We don't want to be at the mercy of a game that has unrealistic 75 yard bombs and a double hitch play that not even Deion Sanders can defense. This is why Madden 98 is far superb to 97. Despite the fact that 98 has yet to stand the test of the time and the PFL, for that matter, we spoke highly of 97 when it first hit the market as well. But soon, we had it figured out and was scoring in excess of 100 points on the computer set in the Madden level mode. But not so fast on 98. The defense it much better. They respond faster and cover better. Although Jerome Bettis can still bulldoze over five or six tacklers, you must know how to tackle good in order to stop him. Just like in real football. Madden 98 brings a realistic approach to the running game as well. No longer will Barry Sanders just go outside whenever he chooses against the computer or a well skilled opponent. Now Barry can still get his 100 yards, but you have to call your plays right and mix up your passes and runs to keep the defense off guard. Just like in real football. And how about that double flag the Cowboys and 49ers ran to perfection last year that no one could stop consistently. Or that 20 yard drop back by Jeff Blake as he picked the defenses apart on the TE Slant play. Not so fast this year fellows. Too many of those plays called back to back and you'll hear Summerall saying"interception". And scoring......everyone I've talked to is scoring on the average under 20 pts.. a game or less. Just like in real football. So how does one beat the game? Well beating the game is not as challenging as it is to win the Super Bowl on the Madden level. Because Liquid AI not only adjust to you as the game goes, it makes season adjustments as well. Before we discuss plays, lets discuss keys to winning. Have a game plan before you play a skilled opponent. Understand how you plan to mix the run and the pass and what ways you want to keep your opponent off guard. When calling plays, don't always use the same formations for the same plays. In other words don't always throw screens from the three wide and run from big or jumbo. You must mix it up from all formations so you don't tip a very observant opponent to your plays. Use your audibles to your advantage. You should always have three checkoff plays for blitzes, 8 man fronts/presses or zone coverages. Here is one instance where it would be to your advantage to call all your audibles form the same formation. This way the defense is not tipped by a formation shift. Learn how to run the ball to control possession and control the clock during the game. Run from the I formation and use your lead blocker. And most importantly, follow the play the way it is designed. The old Maddens let you break to the outside easily if a hole is clogged. You better think again in 98!. Follow those blocks!!!. Quick runs up the middle like 3 wide/I/HB Lead, can pick up consistent yards because sometimes they hit the defense before they can adjust. Don't run outside without a blocker. If you are going to run a HB toss or sweep, you best put a man in motion, preferably the TE if you are running to the weak side to help with blocking. In the next issue we will discuss passing and how it complements the run.