NFL Head Coach 09

Description of NFL Head Coach 09 EA's football coaching simulation returns to the turf with NFL Head Coach 09. The original NFL Head Coach, whose gameplay was more reminiscent of the European "Soccer Manager" games than the Madden NFL series, received lukewarm reviews from critics. But after a year-long hiatus - during which, presumably, there was some TV and work to spend time with family - the series returns with a renewed focus on depth and realism. Once again, the coach's livelihood depends on his popularity, and everything the players do, from the win/loss record to whether to yell at the quarterback after a bad interception, will affect popularity. Important personnel decisions become even more urgent with the new live event feature, as all trade, free agency, coaching and contract negotiations come down to a timer. Just like in real life, the draft is the heart of the NFL offseason, and players can prepare for it by scouting players at college all-star games, the NFL combine, pro day and individual workouts. Meanwhile, players can get running commentary on the resumes and college careers of more than 20,000 draft candidates from NFL Network's Adam Schefter. Other new features designed to add realism include: Undrafted Free Agents, 75-man rosters for the preseason, trades involving future draft picks, a new injury system and 300 new sideline animations. NFL Head Coach 09's online features allow players to upload created plays and download, rate or view all available plays. Two players can also compete against each other to test their coaching skills. Offline, players can adjust their moves in the middle of the game and save the new formations or create entire game plans using the coach clipboard interface. All created plays can then be exported and used in Madden NFL 09. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide