Punt Returns

[FrankStallone]

I've been playing this game since it came out, and the longest return I can remember getting was about 30 yards, and that was when I spun out and completely reversed field, miraculously not being tackled by the first convoy of unblocked Chris Johnsons.

Does anyone have success with punt returns, and if so, how? I've tried everything, and my people just absolutely refuse to slow down the gunners, or anyone else for that matter. I average about 6 yards a return. Is punt returning just broken?

[bfindeisen]

Quote: Originally Posted by FrankStallone

I've been playing this game since it came out, and the longest return I can remember getting was about 30 yards, and that was when I spun out and completely reversed field, miraculously not being tackled by the first convoy of unblocked Chris Johnsons. Does anyone have success with punt returns, and if so, how? I've tried everything, and my people just absolutely refuse to slow down the gunners, or anyone else for that matter. I average about 6 yards a return. Is punt returning just broken?

I have finally gotten Punt and Kick Returns to play out more realistically...but I have made a myriad of adjustments to the sliders and rosters to achieve this.

First and foremost, I have reduced the Speed Threshold and Tackling (both for User and CPU) down to 0. I have gone back and forth on this but can now say that this yields the best results for getting proper speed separation between players and allowing for more realistic tackle animations (it won't be easy for a DB to take out a bigger runner in a one v. one situation). You can now create gaps in the defense by changing directions, etc. because players won't warp or slide; they must now plant and turn. I think this change will improve your Return game the most.

Secondly, I have been in the process of "spreading" out the ratings on each team in Madden. What I mean is, I reduce a number of Ratings categories for every player to create a greater disparity in talent between the elite players, the average players, and the scrubs (Key Ratings to adjust: Awareness, Tackle, Hit Power, Def. Pursuit, Agility, etc.). This allows more athletically gifted return men to create better separation between pursuing players; also, by reducing the awareness, tackle, hit power, and def. pursuit ratings, your player isn't "sucked" into as many tackles as before and there are fewer players collapsing on the ball-carrier at all times.

Finally, the last adjustment I have made is to put the proper special teams players actually on Special Teams - not Starters. The game corresponds certain depth chart positions with certain Sp. Teams positions. I have created a thread explaining how it works HERE.

Hope this helps...I know, for me, these changes (along with massive slider overhauls) have really gone along way to not only improve Special Teams play, but also the game as a whole.

[baseballsim]

In Madden NFL 12 for me, punt return left or right seems to give a little better results than punt return middle.

[TVC15]

Quote: Originally Posted by FrankStallone

I've been playing this game since it came out, and the longest return I can remember getting was about 30 yards, and that was when I spun out and completely reversed field, miraculously not being tackled by the first convoy of unblocked Chris Johnsons. Does anyone have success with punt returns, and if so, how? I've tried everything, and my people just absolutely refuse to slow down the gunners, or anyone else for that matter. I average about 6 yards a return. Is punt returning just broken?

You know who I blame for poor punt returns? That's right, you guessed it...

[leftshoe18]

I returned my first punt for a touchdown and haven't smelled the end zone since. That's been typical for me though since before that I hadn't returned a punt for a touchdown in Madden since 2003.

[FrankStallone]

Quote: Originally Posted by TVC15

You know who I blame for poor punt returns? That's right, you guessed it...

That's just what the Germans want you to believe.

I lowered the speed threshold to 0 and it seemed to have a large (positive) effect. Almost broke one with Hester. I also noticed the same thing about return right/left in regards to return middle, but the difference was small at best. Still never came remotely close.

[cl34v4g3]

This may sound like cheese, but it works for me and I average somewhere in the top three in PR avg every season. I return 1-3 punts a year for a TD. That's not too unrealistic in my opinion..

I go into practice mode and look at who all is in my punt formation. You can also do what bfindeisen does and do your depth chart so who should be on your ST is actually on your ST. Either way, just take note of who is actually on the field.

The do the following for each player you took note of-
1. Player management
2. Edit player
3. Change position to OL
4. Put Run block strength, footwork, and impact blocking to 99
5. Change position back to original
6. Save edit

That along with the speed threshold with greatly improve your average. And like I said above, doing this doesn't automatically make it a TD every time. If you can juke, spin, and take good angles though you can pretty easily average at the top of the league and get a few PR TDs every year.

My only problem with this is that it makes kick returns a bit to easy. If you run to the inside and cut outside at the last second, you can get an easy 30-35 yard return seven out of ten times. Before I realized this I had five KR Tds through half a season. So you may have to keep yourself in check and run out of bounds or just run into tackles if you think you're going a bit overboard...