Running Overpowered With Stick Skillz

[cdon2k]

This may fall on deaf ears due to Ian being gone, but here goes. It has become apparent to me that EA has gone overboard again this year. Last year running was too difficult, so what do they do? Make running overpowered. Now don't get me wrong, I am very happy with the stick moves actually being useful, but it seems to me that stick skills are too large of a factor in the running game.

Here are my examples. I was the Vikings vs. my opponent was Colts. A little background, I am an older gamer (30's)... Usually, when I use the Colts, running is tough because Addai isn't a dominant back (well, actually he is more successful than he should be lol). Well, I played a guy who had some great stick skills and he made Addai look like Adrian Peterson. On a few runs he broke 3 to 4 tackles lol. Conversely, I couldn't get Peterson to break much because he had some good tackling stick skills. So here's the dilemma, I admit that this guy was just better than me at the sticks, but does that mean Addai can be turned into Peterson? This is a case of players not playing like they should. IMO, no matter how good your stick skills, a player shouldn't be able to turn Addai into Peterson.

I have only had this happen a few times as I usually am not overwhelmed by people with stick skills as I like to scheme my way around this issue. I had a guy do his best Peterson impression with Felix Jones of all people last night and it's starting to get old. This situation is leading me to believe running should be nerfed. Passing is already difficult due to warping safeties and CB's so I think it's time. Additionally, if Ian ever sees this, can we get a record reset for patch 2?

[RaiderKtulu]

So...you have trouble running. Someone else destroys you... so you want to make it even harder to run?

[cdon2k]

No, what I was getting at is that running shouldn't be based on stick skills, it should be based more on the player involved, offensive formation vs. the defense formation and play call. Right now I just think the game still leans more toward stick skills in this area. I am just saying the players involved should matter more than how quickly the user can hit buttons.

[KBLover]

I think this is a dilemma of all graphical sports games - how much to 'reward' the user for his own skills vs how much they should be limited by the player they are controlling.

Personally, I agree with you. I shouldn't be able to call a run up the middle vs a 6-man run blitz and make any kind of gain unless I have an awesome line or found the one gap that's open in time.

If Addai can look like Peterson but Peterson looks like a scrub, then I agree, that's too far.

What's the point of controlling elite players in this case?

[cdon2k]

Thank you KB, that's exactly what I was getting at. I came up against this dilemma during Madden 09 as Addai could not get a yard when I needed it (which is true to life because the Colts suck on 3rd and 1). I am pretty sure that their close emulation of reality wasn't on purpose because this was Madden 09, but I was left with the question: do they make the game true to life and make some teams just bad or do they let the user overcome bad attributes like the addai situation? I was so happy when I got Madden 10 and I could run for 3 to 8 yards per carry with Addai thinking "running's fixed", but even at the time I realized that EA over corrected the running game giving the user too much power to make things happen.

Fast forward to now. We have very little power in the passing game (another EA overcorrection) and the running game is out of control. Sigh, another year of Madden not mirroring the NFL. I know a lot of people will say this is just bitching, but this year it is even more bittersweet because with Madden 10, we are MUCH closer than we have been sim wise. This debate needs to be taken to the highest level because I think something should be done by patch 2.

[Dimplenuts]

While I agree with you guys a bit......I still think stick skills should have some effect. Otherwise we might as well not even play the game and just watch everyone run around according to there ratings...

[cdon2k]

Well obviously stick skills should have an effect diplo, but what I was getting at is that playcalling and personel should have at least an equal impact (I would prefer greater, but that's me). It goes back to the old arguement, players not playing like themselves: speed rating and stick skills only mattering.

[dallasfan]

I actually love the running game especially as my stick skills improve.

BTW, Felix Jones is an incredible runner (though often injured) that averages 9.4 ypc. I can see him giving your defense fits regardless of who is controlling him.