Which Madden NFL game first introduced the Hit Stick defensive mechanic?

Madden NFL 2005 was the first Madden game to introduce the Hit Stick defensive mechanic. The feature used the right analog stick to let defenders deliver a powerful, timing-based tackle, increasing the chance of a big hit or forced fumble.

The mechanic fit the game's defensive marketing campaign, “Fear the D,” which emphasized giving players more control on defense. Madden NFL 2005 also added defensive playmaker adjustments and formation shifts, making defense more active before and during the snap. The Hit Stick quickly became one of the series' defining controls.

Players sometimes confuse it with the Truck Stick, which was introduced offensively in Madden NFL 06. The Truck Stick let ball carriers lower their shoulder and break tackles; the Hit Stick was its defensive counterpart. Later releases expanded the idea, including Hit Stick 2.0 in Madden NFL 08, but the original mechanic began with Madden NFL 2005. Ray Lewis was the game's cover athlete.