[quote name='krashhole']I haven't been online lately so it totally slipped by me. Far as interest, I have really been trying to get this madden thing down, but it just isn't working. As you can see by my stats, I'm clearly not doing something right. Half my passes get intercepted, the others just hit the ground. It's frustrating as hell, but I will finish it out and then I'm done with it. Unless by some miracle I can actually start making my plays work, I won't be picking up Madden 13.[/QUOTE]
The biggest advice I can give you is to start small. Find a few plays that work, and learn them. Because of the way the AI hawks the middle of the field, passing can be very risky. Learn what routes your receivers run and at what point in that route they will be open depending on if the defense is in zone or man coverage (if they're pressing, it will also affect this). Learn to use your TE's. You've got Vernon Davis. Use him.
For running the ball, find what type of plays work for you. Some people like tosses to the outside, some people like running off tackle, some go straight up the gut. With Frank Gore, you should have a reasonable amount of options. I'm pretty sure most of your team is in tact, so play some offline games and try different plays to see how your offensive line blocks (in Madden 13, you'll be able to do actual practices with your franchise team...which is long overdue). When you find things you like, make note of them and incorporate them into your league games.
Madden definitely isn't a game you learn in a couple weeks. If you just use the plays the game suggests for you, you're going to have a hard time because you won't always know what each player is (or should) be doing. It's all about familiarity. When you're just starting out, it's even reasonable to be a one trick pony. Everybody has to start somewhere. Work on beating the CPU and go from there.
It can be daunting to think about how many years most people have been playing this game (which has largely gone unchanged) and how far ahead of you they are. But you can get there. It's just going to take time, patience, and a desire to improve. Honestly, you're in the best place you could be for that though. There aren't many places online where people will openly discuss their strategies and tell you what works and what doesn't work. Madden seems to make people act very funny in that regard.