Madden NFL 11 Blog: Run Blocking Improvements

[J Masta J]

This better be on rookie, because those LB reactions were TERRIBLE. They were more on par for how LBs would read and react in HS, NOT the pro's. In the NFL, reads are made in less than a second...thinking is the enemy. The LB's in these videos react horribly slow. In fact, they don't even begin to fill gaps until the FB is 1 yard past the LOS! Plus, the interior linemen are double teaming DT's DOWNFIELD! Even as a high schooler, i would've diagnosed this play far quicker than these virtual pro's did. This better be on an easy setting or sliders better be consequential or else...

(this is all from the Jets v Chargers vid)

[J Masta J]

I have to say...the kick out block on the counter looked FANTASTIC. and it was great seeing linemen get down field.

even so, reaction time by LBs WAY to slow. the misdirection on this play isn't even that much...the FB does go right, yes, but TWO guards pull left. LB's would be moving at that point.

Same with the stretch...i like the blocking mechs, the double team and go to second level, but those LB reactions are GOSH DARN AWFUL. Honestly, a double team block could not possibly be sustained for 2+ seconds if the OL hopes to also pick a backer up. They're chip blocks at most, and we aren't seeing that right now.

As for the Power-O, the reactions are still bad, so I won't harp on that. But watch 69, the pulling guard...a little bit of suction blocking there???? I watched it from every angle and 2/3 of the time it looked like yes, but the last angle looked like it was natural... and that pancake animation at the end was a thing of beauty.

all in all, they put in some great blocking mechs, but it will just be a matter of finding the right difficulty level and sliders to make LB reactions realistic, b/cuz they aren't even close in these videos.

[backbreaker]

Quote: Originally Posted by Allyn Wake

Jesus ppl before looking for something to complain about .. read pages 4 and 5 an listen to wat PGaither84 was saying about the game ...

I stated this in another thread in response to PGaither84. Every year CD guys come back with glowing things to say and more specifically in commented on the blocking and run game and I chimed in and told him LBzrules said the same thing last year, boasting of changes made on the fly. So forgive me if I don't really get goose pimples when someone at CD tries to re assure us. We get this every year and I've been in these forums since the 90's, Couple that with blog debacle last year.

For the most part CD guys are playing the alpha version of the game. When features are added bugs arise code re-writes features change.

This is why I say show me this stuff in beta form or when the game is complete.

[roadman]

Quote: Originally Posted by backbreaker

I stated this in another thread in response to PGaither84. Every year CD guys come back with glowing things to say and more specifically in commented on the blocking and run game and I chimed in and told him LBzrules said the same thing last year, boasting of changes made on the fly. So forgive me if I don't really get goose pimples when someone at CD tries to re assure us. We get this every year and I've been in these forums since the 90's, Couple that with blog debacle last year. For the most part CD guys are playing the alpha version of the game. When features are added bugs arise code re-writes features change. This is why I say show me this stuff in beta form or when the game is complete.

I agree with most of this BB, but you know as well as I do, that it appears this year , the CD folks are more low key than last year, at least that the way it appears to me.

Quite frankly, I like that approach better.

[spankdatazz22]

Quote: Originally Posted by BezO

This game needs balance. EA should adopt a both-sides philosophy. For every addition/fix, there needs to be equal attention paid to it's opposite.

This. It's been sorely lacking for years

[LBzrule]

Quote: Originally Posted by roadman

I agree with most of this BB, but you know as well as I do, that it appears this year , the CD folks are more low key than last year, at least that the way it appears to me. Quite frankly, I like that approach better.

I'll be honest too. I thought the game we would get this year would be what we played at CD with improvements. Last year a lot of notes were made as to what was bad with the game. One issue that would have been a game killer was defensive pursuit. Couldn't anticipate the game being scaled back.

[PantherBeast_OS]

Videos and blogs look good and all. But my big concern is the suction and all that with the new oline blocking scheme. I don't want to see my front 4 get pushed around like ragdolls and all. I'm just afraid suction for the D might be worser this year because of this new run blocking scheme and all. I have to agree with some people on here the D does look to be some what slow at reacting to the play and all. I just hope in the end they have balanced all this out when the game goes gold. Because if the oline is tuned to good then the Oline is going to be way to over power. They really need to make sure both the D and the run blocking is balaced out to make it fun for both sides of the ball.

[seriousluboy83]

My only question is "why is every play a 10+ yard gain???" I understand showing blocking improvements but hopefully every run won't be a "BIG" run now