Madden NFL 25 Video - Playbook: Run Free with Trey Wingo and Doug Martin

[jpdavis82]

Simfballcritic gave his impressions on this trailer vs what he has played so far. I think everyone needs to play the game for themselves before jumping to conclusions good or bad.

[jpdavis82]

Dorian made a great post about running mechanics and fundamentals compared to this trailer, but I think to make the most fair comparison,we should be using NFL footage not college, the games are played at different speeds. So here are some real examples of the same HB's featured in this trailer.

Jamaal Charles

Spoiler

Ray Rice

Spoiler

Chris Johnson

Spoiler

Doug Martin

Spoiler

Demarco Murray

Spoiler

Trent Richardson

Spoiler

[Hova57]

Quote: Originally Posted by DorianDonP

Aside from the foot planting and animations, the main problem to me with the running game is the lack of lateral movement. To much of the game is either zig zag or run straight ahead (now coupled with somewhat unrealistic combo moves). Low center of gravity/lateral movement isn't really represented which means the game doesn't capture the line of scrimmage running of many running plays. Spoiler Patient running like that is hard to duplicate in the games. EA is going to show off their highlight reels of trucks, stiff arms, and spin moves, but I'd be much more impressed if they highlighted hitting holes with hard cuts and smaller jukes, instead of so much open field/to the outside stuff. In Madden/NCAA, you don't really have to make any cuts or jukes INTO the hole. I'm interested in seeing more gameplay of the speedburst thing to see how that affects those plays. Spoiler That's the bread and butter of the running game.

Wilder is a beast and he's gonna be one in NCAA "CAN'T WAIT"

[BezO]

Quote: Originally Posted by jpdavis82

There's not one instance of patty cake blocking in that entire video, guys are arm locking and getting in each others pads. I just watched that video 4x in slow motion and strictly focused on the blocking.

Different definitions?

There are defenders stuck to blockers in the middle of the field while the ball is being run to the outside. There are defenders stuck to blockers in the middle with their back's to the ball while the ball is 15 yards down field.

I'll call it Tecmo blocking instead. 2 players engage and the only outcomes are pancake & break block. Engaged players have no mobility. Blockers should not be stopping defenders from moving laterally nor backwards without holding.

Phobia points out what I'm talking about below.

Quote: Originally Posted by Phobia

...I was mainly watching this "new line play" and guess what every block looks the same as last year. For instance watch this guy in the video. Runningback is 10 to 15 yards down field past him yet he is still in block animation WTF!!!!!!!!!!

It's also the defenders further in the background. This throws the timing & spacing of the game way off. Too much room on the outside. Those engaged players should be flowing towards the play, defending their gap. How does a defender contain if he can't move once engaged? How does EA balance this? Easier for defenders to disengage than real life? DBs better tacklers than real life? Something has to be manipulated to keep rushing in control.

Quote: Originally Posted by jpdavis82

The RB is 10-15 yards past him? Where? I see Charles about 2-3 yards from him, also watch the Trent Richardson clip, you'll see blockers disengage and run upfield

If you could see what that defender is doing when the RB does get 15 yards up the field, he'd be doing the same thing those defenders in the background have no business doing. Playing patty cake. Dancing. Whatever you want to call it.

[jpdavis82]

Quote: Originally Posted by BezO

Different definitions? There are defenders stuck to blockers in the middle of the field while the ball is being run to the outside. There are defenders stuck to blockers in the middle with their back's to the ball while the ball is 15 yards down field. I'll call it Tecmo blocking instead. 2 players engage and the only outcomes are pancake & break block. Engaged players have no mobility. Blockers should not be stopping defenders from moving laterally nor backwards without holding. Phobia points out what I'm talking about below. It's also the defenders further in the background. This throws the timing & spacing of the game way off. Too much room on the outside. Those engaged players should be flowing towards the play, defending their gap. How does a defender contain if he can't move once engaged? How does EA balance this? Easier for defenders to disengage than real life? DBs better tacklers than real life? Something has to be manipulated to keep rushing in control. If you could see what that defender is doing when the RB does get 15 yards up the field, he'd be doing the same thing those defenders in the background have no business doing. Playing patty cake. Dancing. Whatever you want to call it.

There will be a blog and I think trailer coming out soon about the blocking, we'll see if it shows something different than past Madden's regarding blocking.

Jon Robinson touched on it briefly in his impressions article.

“As everyone knows, interaction between the offensive and defensive lines has been a sore spot, a weak spot for the franchise for years,” said Dickson. “So to handle this, we went out and hired a former NFL offensive lineman named Clint Oldenburg. He played for the Redskins, Jets and Patriots, and he came to us with a wealth of knowledge about what real-world run blocking and pass blocking looks like. He broke down for us how real-world offensive and defensive line interaction really works. This year, we really focused heavily on the running game, so you’ll see these new interactions and variations like pull block steps, reach blocks, zone steps … a lot of new stuff going on with our blocking game. Every single running play in the entire game has been completely redone.”

[SageInfinite]

Yeah that's the one of the biggest problems with Madden's blocking, there's no flow. Blockers and defenders can't guide and drive to impact plays. There's either guys get beat or they get thrown to the ground. The engagement might as well be non-existent.

[TreFacTor]

Quote: Originally Posted by DorianDonP

I just noticed in this, the defender has a good angle on the runner but when the runner spins, the defender (#94) magically warps behind him for the missed tackle. The animation seemed to cancel out the defenders positioning. If that's any indication, then positioning and momentum doesn't matter. There's no way they can talk about the defense being improved if it's going to be handicapped like that.

I think that what's worse, and even more telling, is that Murray is on one leg when he collides with #94...that in and of itself let's me know there will be animations that aren't interruptable. #94 has the option of laying Murray out with a big hit up top or taking out a knee and simply gets shrugged off of Murray...not realistic at all.

Edit:
Now that I think about it, the notion that these early looks are with the game on rookie and certain players ratings boosted makes IE look even worse if it's true...the attributes of the players should never override the physics. This in particular is a perfect example of weight, balance and force not being taken into consideration or simply being nullified by an animation or string of animations. I would have been fooled had Murray had a stumble animation and then been tackled by the nearest defender but we see he continues on so...

[beauforsure]

Quote: Originally Posted by secondsolution

Well, that looked a million times better than the trailer. As long as the moves aren't too effective I think it will be a good feature.

this game looks like an arcade . its the NBA Jam of football Madden 25