Clint Oldenburg Explains the Strength Rating For Linemen in Madden

[ABR173rd]

EA Sports Designer, Clint Oldenburg has explained the strength rating for lineman in Madden, which includes a detailed look at how players strength ratings are determined and how gamers see it in-game.

Quote:

For the linemen, STR is a match-up between a blocker and a defender who are engaged with each other. If the disparity is largely in the blocker's favor, he will be able to hold his block for a longer-than-average amount of time based on the size of the disparity (not every time). If the STR rating matchup is in favor of the defender, he will be able to disengage from the block much quicker than normal on average (again, not every time). And if the two players have similar STR ratings, you'll see varied results in wins and losses over the course of game, but neither will dominate in this one specific area.

Make sure you give it a read, plenty of good details inside.

Source - Madden Strength Rating for Linemen (SOTL)

[KingV2k3]

Interesting read, but also underscores the fact that Madden continues to be "azz-backwards" where the OL / DL interaction is concerned...

The ratings crew treat the LT as the "blindside" for pass blockers and the right for run blockers / maulers...

The commentary also has lines where Simms mentions that teams run off the "power tackle" on the right and the pass blocker is on the left...

But the guys who are in charge of the gameplay have had the D's pass rush come from the D's left (opposite to RL) side forever...

The sacks are generated by the LDE / LOLB / LDT...which is backwards...in the current system, the D's pass rushers line up against the O's run side...

This year, they made some adjustments in the depth charts that moved some players into positions to reflect HOW THE GAMEPLAY ACTUALLY WORKS (or in this case, doesn't)...

But, it's still a mess...

Maybe instead of a STR blog, the ratings guys should look up the gameplay AND commentary guys (down the hall?) and FINALLY get all three on the same page where OL / DL interaction is concerned...

Just a thought...

[KBLover]

Quote:

For the linemen, STR is a match-up between a blocker and a defender who are engaged with each other. If the disparity is largely in the blocker's favor, he will be able to hold his block for a longer-than-average amount of time based on the size of the disparity (not every time). If the STR rating matchup is in favor of the defender, he will be able to disengage from the block much quicker than normal on average (again, not every time). And if the two players have similar STR ratings, you'll see varied results in wins and losses over the course of game, but neither will dominate in this one specific area.

So all it does is determine maintenance of the block, not the movement or push that a lineman can get...?

So a 99 STR LT vs a 30 STR DB is not going to push the DB around, just make it hard for the DB to get away?

STR certainly seems to impact pancakes...the top 2 pancakers on my OL are my monster of a LG (97 STR), and my equally menacing RG (95 STR). It's not even close. LG has 19, RG has 21. So if it's not STR that's doing it, what is?

And, yeah, King, the game play with the LT/RT is so backwards. It's insane. They have a guy who played and knows OL on staff and it's STILL backwards. Go figure, huh.

[D_Fos]

Quote: Originally Posted by KingV2k3

Interesting read, but also underscores the fact that Madden continues to be "azz-backwards" where the OL / DL interaction is concerned... The ratings crew treat the LT as the "blindside" for pass blockers and the right for run blockers / maulers... The commentary also has lines where Simms mentions that teams run off the "power tackle" on the right and the pass blocker is on the left... But the guys who are in charge of the gameplay have had the D's pass rush come from the D's left (opposite to RL) side forever... The sacks are generated by the LDE / LOLB / LDT...which is backwards...in the current system, the D's pass rushers line up against the O's run side... This year, they made some adjustments in the depth charts that moved some players into positions to reflect HOW THE GAMEPLAY ACTUALLY WORKS (or in this case, doesn't)... But, it's still a mess... Maybe instead of a STR blog, the ratings guys should look up the gameplay AND commentary guys (down the hall?) and FINALLY get all three on the same page where OL / DL interaction is concerned... Just a thought...

Makes me wonder, if they tuned defense from a different viewing angle? The same type of camera views, just from the defensive 3rd person perspective.
IDK, just throwing out some idears...

[Bull_Dozer]

Awesome. Now just tell us exactly how the other ratings work please.

[Kaiser Wilhelm]

Quote: Originally Posted by KingV2k3

Interesting read, but also underscores the fact that Madden continues to be "azz-backwards" where the OL / DL interaction is concerned... The ratings crew treat the LT as the "blindside" for pass blockers and the right for run blockers / maulers... The commentary also has lines where Simms mentions that teams run off the "power tackle" on the right and the pass blocker is on the left... But the guys who are in charge of the gameplay have had the D's pass rush come from the D's left (opposite to RL) side forever... The sacks are generated by the LDE / LOLB / LDT...which is backwards...in the current system, the D's pass rushers line up against the O's run side... This year, they made some adjustments in the depth charts that moved some players into positions to reflect HOW THE GAMEPLAY ACTUALLY WORKS (or in this case, doesn't)... But, it's still a mess... Maybe instead of a STR blog, the ratings guys should look up the gameplay AND commentary guys (down the hall?) and FINALLY get all three on the same page where OL / DL interaction is concerned... Just a thought...

I understand what you are saying, but I am willing to bet this guy isn't the one making all these decisions, seeing as I have never heard of him. At this point, I grateful somebody over at the Empire is releasing some damn info about the inner workings of this game.

I'm rather excited to see if this becomes a sort of developer diary thing. Of course, developer diaries usually are more useful prior to the game shipping, but beggars can't be choosers, and right now, we are beggars.

Anybody want to create interest via and aggressive letter writing campaign?

[TheDelta]

So I gotta ask, if the only thing STR determines is how long a block can be held, what the hell are R/PBK ratings for? I thought those were supposed to determine those kind of things...

[slick589]

All maddens ratings have been and still are pointless.

Here is what matters. Speed and awareness.

Positional ratings mean nothing if awareness is low.
Speed kills in the NFL but in madden it can win you games no matter how bad a player is rated in positional attributes

A safety with 40 man and zone still balls out in madden if he has 99 speed
Also a saftey with 99 man and zone cant cover anyone if his awareness is 40.

Id really like them to do something new with the awareness rating. It should have no effect on positional ratings and should be used as a knowledge of the game rating. Ex knowing down and distance and what routes to expect, knowing where the sideline is.