What Does Madden's AI Need to Do Better?

[RaychelSnr]

Madden has always been a game that deals each year in incremental improvements rather than growing by leaps in bounds. And while there may be much to like about the fine-tuned AI in Madden 17, that doesn’t mean there aren’t areas that could still use some work for next year.

Though the running game may have earned a large portion of the developers’ attention on the offensive side of the ball -- resulting in linemen being more trustworthy than they’ve ever been -- there are logic issues in blocking that remain unresolved. These become especially apparent on pitch plays, where a pulling lineman will frequently get confused about who he should be attacking on the outside to best spring a back for big yardage.

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[sebennayx]

It's not an issue with blocking logic, it's the entire foundation of blocking and the OL/DL interactions being fundamentally incorrect.

In it's current format, Madden will never achieve more than a win/loss patty-cake battle limiting the capabilities of the user to fit within the restrictions of the system. If the line has realistic responsibilities, keys, etc., and can play both as an individual and as a unit, then you can make the physical, technique, and intangible ratings all matter.

To date, Madden has never had any of this, which holds the entire game back. Build the trenches first, do it right - the rest will follow. A house without a foundation will not stand, no matter how fresh the paint job...make no mistake, the trenches are the foundation of everything that is football.

[Hooe]

I'd like to see the CPU be more personnel-aware with respect to play-calling / game-day team management.

Things like rolling a safety towards a weaker CB in Cover 1 (which the CPU appears to love on this game), motioning receiving running backs like Danny Woodhead out of the backfield to the slot to create mismatches (and also NOT doing this for power backs like LeGarrette Blount), or avoiding putting weak MCV safeties against great receiving tight ends and slot receivers.

I the user can and will do all of these things because I'm deploying my personnel intelligently. I'd like to see the CPU do a better job of matching me.

[DeuceDouglas]

All three of these I'd say are the main ones I'd hit on. As a whole I'd say the AI just needs to have significantly better situational awareness and reacting like you'd expect players to react.

Playcalling. Not calling Cover 1 and Zero Blitzes in third and longs, etc. Constantly calling Curl Flats, Four Verticals, etc. This is more of a fundamental flaw with how the CPU chooses their plays more than anything though so I'm not sure it really applies.

Blocking. Probably the most frustrating aspect of the game. Throwing a WR or HB screen and having your blockers run out and do nothing with defenders right in front of them, watching your OL just let blitzers run right past them while they waddle in place, watching your FB run right past the LB to try and block the safety 15 yards downfield, it's just horrible.

QB AI is one of the biggest for me. Playing the CPU virtually every QB feels exactly the same with the exception of maybe a slight increase in errant passes for a worse QB. Pocket awareness is virtually non-existent. You don't ever feel things like a Brady or Manning's pocket awareness or pre-snap reads, Russell Wilson's mobility, Alex Smith's propensity to check down or any intricacies that make QB's unique.

The pursuit angles is another one that isn't too common but whenever I've seen it happen, it always results in huge plays. I had a punt return where the punter had the angle and was running towards the sideline and then inexplicably ran forward and then back to the sideline completely eliminating the angle he had and allowing me to score.

Basically the AI needs to improve in all those areas that make you truly say "WTF?!?" and where there is no good explanation as to why a player would be doing what he is doing.

[49UNCFan]

1. Recognize mismatches and opponents weaknesses.
2.Learn who they're go to players are on offense.
3. Late game situations
4. Learn when to and when not to run out of bounce and field awareness in general
5.Pursuit angles
6.QB play is a major one. Qbs dont evade the defense or try to buy time.
7.Sometimes they kick field goals at the 45-50
8. Recognize the stars on defense( defensive players should shadow a star player when they are in a zone or simple strategy.

[MizzCincyGamer513]

I would like for the AI to have better play calling in certain situations. I'm in a PLAYERS ONLY CFM I play RB but a lot of times the CPU specials team does fake field goals instead of taking the easy chip shot. Instead it's turnover on downs and I'm jus forced to watch on the sideline.

[The JareBear]

The biggest and main thing for me is play calling-playbook utilization and QB behavior/logic

I think it is weird that the game plays significantly better with custom PB or generic PBs assigned to each CPU team, that seams like an easy fix on EA's side to figure out what is causing team PBs to cause less dynamic gameplay experiences in game.

[SolidSquid]

Call plays, utilize formation subs to get there best guys on the field in certain situations, understand team needs based on things like attributes and age, draft better/more realistically, understand situational football(stop running out of bounds an inch before the marker on 3rd down, now when they should just try to get the first instead of trying to make a big play).