Madden 2010 News Post

Madden NFL 10 Blog: 2nd Title Update Preliminary Details

10:32 PM - October 16, 2009 by Ian_Cummings

Check out the Madden NFL 10 blog, which talks about the preliminary details of the 2nd title update.

Quote:


	"In this second title update we focused on some of the more debated topics from our loyal and passionate fan base. We appreciate all the feedback so please keep it coming! In this update you will be happy to hear that we have tuned our Flat Zone assignments to cover the flats more effectively. Defenders will not chuck a WR if another receiver is running a route towards their zone. This will help the defender be in better position to react to a quickly throw flat route and allow him to make a play. The flat zone defenders will also play the ball better if a pass is thrown behind the line of scrimmage as well as taking better pursuit angles after the catch to prevent the ball carrier from being able to get around the corner. This has been one of the top complaints that we have heard about and realized it was definitely something that we needed to address."

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Member Comments

# 241 baseballsim @ 11/04/09 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swingking77


	Quite frankly, I think everything works fine

It sounds like you are saying they don't need to fix the flat zones?

You can also counter blitzes by throwing to the area where the blitz is coming from rather dumping to the flats.

# 242 RayAllen20 @ 11/04/09 04:18 PM

The patch is in MS and Sony's hands and will most likely be released in the middle of the month. From PastaPadre

# 243 BlueNGold @ 11/04/09 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RayAllen20


	The patch is in MS and Sony's hands and will most likely be released in the middle of the month. From PastaPadre

Thank you sir.

Now the haters can stop saying "This patch isn't coming out." or "The patch is coming out in August."

# 244 sportskid84 @ 11/04/09 04:41 PM

I don't understand why it takes so long for MS and Sony to release a patch

# 245 BroMontana82 @ 11/04/09 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sportskid84


	I don't understand why it takes so long for MS and Sony to release a patch

they have a QA process and look for bugs, glitches, or things they find don't work etc.

# 246 mm boost @ 11/04/09 05:23 PM

Referencing what was said above, I don't have any problems with the flats with my slider adjustment settings. I did when I first got the game and played on All Madden.

# 247 baseballsim @ 11/04/09 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mm boost


	Referencing what was said above, I don't have any problems with the flats with my slider adjustment settings. I did when I first got the game and played on All Madden.

Maybe the flats issue is more of an issue in online play.

# 248 Swingking77 @ 11/04/09 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baseballsim


	[/left] It sounds like you are saying they don't need to fix the flat zones? You can also counter blitzes by throwing to the area where the blitz is coming from rather dumping to the flats.

True, but why risk the sack if getting it out as soon as possible to a WR, TE or HB running a short route outside of the blitz will get you huge yards. I maintain that I can and do shut guys down online, but that's from making wise decisions in the D game. The people crying about the flats are blitz happy players who aren't choosing to, or can't cover the flats since the blitz plays they're choosing to run on a frequent basis does not permit them to do so... As a result smart players see this blitz frenzy and realize, after two plays what kind of game it's going to be, and run screens and slants.

In this instance, it's the D's responcibility to change the way THEY play if they're getting beat. Most people just want to be the D bullies and determin what the offence can do, then cry when the O takes what they refuse to cover.

# 249 baseballsim @ 11/04/09 08:16 PM

The flats don't work even if you don't blitz. If I play cover 3 and someone dumps the ball to the flats they will more than likely get a good gain unless I user a DE to cover that side.

# 250 Hooe @ 11/04/09 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baseballsim


	The flats don't work even if you don't blitz. If I play cover 3 and someone dumps the ball to the flats they will more than likely get a good gain unless I user a DE to cover that side.

Generally, the linebackers aren't fast enough to get over to their outside flat zones. Play Cover 2 and you'll do a much better job taking away the flats.

# 251 baseballsim @ 11/04/09 08:24 PM

There's a problem with the flats in Cover 2 and Cover 3 - I thought. It's the blue zone.

# 252 BroMontana82 @ 11/04/09 09:34 PM

For post patch, do we know if anything is being done to address the CPU all out blitz? Also, what about more realistic play calling - there needs to be less passing.

Yes, we can adjust the Coach Sliders but in order to do this, you need to control all of the teams...which eliminates CPU trades. That leads to my last question...if we do control all of the teams and then switch everything such as signing FAs to the CPU except for 1 team, will there be a fix so that the CPU makes trades??

# 253 Valdarez @ 11/05/09 01:22 PM

Did they disable the comments on this blog? It has 0 comments last time I checked.

# 254 STLRams @ 11/05/09 05:24 PM

Wow I can't believe the 2nd Madden patch isn't out yet. 2K just submitted a patch to Sony/MS about a week maybe 2weeks ago and that patch is already about to come out tomorrow. What's up approving the Madden10 2nd patch.

# 255 Swingking77 @ 11/05/09 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tick32


	well i run cover 3's and 2's and the flats are always open. and also they need to fix the pursuit angles in the patch. ive won 3 games recently on defense alone. i felt like the 2000 ravens. 6 touchdowns and only 1 was on offense. becuz its to ez to return picks for touchdowns, becuz the offense takes the worst angles ever. Also regarding the cover 3 issue. I recently asked my bro to let me borrow is ESPN 2K5. i tried throwing to flats on cover 3. if it wasnt block, it was picked off every time. Which is how madden should be.

Alright... Just to make things clear, cover 2 only refers to where the safeties play. They play 2 deep zones. Cover 3 means that you're now releasing a DB to play a 3rd deep zone... None of these mean that you should have anyone in the flats, so saying the generic cover 2 and cover 3 will stop the flats is false. The Cover 2 and Cover three are simply terms used to describe the safety play. As an example look at the generic Cover 2 in the 43, you'll notice that the two DBs are playing a flats zone, somewhat, and they should be playing a press, which to the best of my knowledge, it looks as though they are. This should slow down a screen just fine, it does for me and I generally play as a DE or DT to start. But it doesn't STOP it, it slows it down. Cover 2 Man Press works better to stop the screen, but it leaves the WRs a bit less covered.

Then if we go to a generic Cover 3, we see that the DBs are now dropping out into deeper zones, while the LBs cover the flats somewhat. The problem is that these are LBs and not generally the best cover guys, so it's a toss up if it works or not... The best bet to beat the screen is Man Press, or Cover 2 with the additional press before the snap. That and being aware enough to know that if it looks like you're getting to the QB to easy that you're getting set up for a screen should be all you need.

After that, there are all kind of containment plays in the 43 defence... I think most playbooks have over 30 plays in there. The containment options are all there, but you have to know your playbook to know what works and what doesn't...

But to simply throw out Cover 2 and Cover 3 is rather funny since they're just generic terms used to again describe the Safety play. As an example, you can have the Dime Cover 2, where the flats are covered, or you can have the Buccs/Bears Cover 2 with the MLB dropping back into a deep zone. But in the end, they're all cover two plays because of the safety play... Just like Quarters means that All DBs are dropping back splitting the secondary into 4 parts...

So with all of that being said, a known issue with the 2k series was that the screen passes didn't work at all since the only way you could get the ball to your back was to lob the ball to him... Trust me on this one, if you look up my other posts you'll see that I'm a huge 2K5 fan, but I admit where there were issues in the game. And when you add in the fact that the screens didn't work, and that they set up their cover 2 a little different, it isn't even a fair issue to discuss.

This entire "screens plays work too well" is all spurred from people playing poor D and exploiting the insane blitz plays in this game, resulting in players simply throwing short... End of story on that... If there were things that could be done against the blitz other then short passes then players would do it, but if you do anything more then slants and screens you get sacked... A lot of the time I see online guys play blitz for two or three downs and expect that like magic, the only time they play a zone or man, they're going to get what they're after. It's a joke and shows how many players rely on the blitz... Because 9/10 if you play against a player who doesn't know how to counter the blitz you're getting your sack. Logic like that results in players expecting that 9/10 times that they play a zone they'll stop everything that comes their way which isn't sim or realistic... It's just sad.

I'm not a huge Madden guy... I'm no genious, but I know football.

P.S. Also, as an issue for the 2K5, 2K allowed you to move your DBs in or out, as well as up or back, which would help, but that's not in this game, so it can't be used as a fix for this year...

# 256 ZoneKIller @ 11/05/09 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swingking77


	Alright... Just to make things clear, cover 2 only refers to where the safeties play. They play 2 deep zones. Cover 3 means that you're now releasing a DB to play a 3rd deep zone... None of these mean that you should have anyone in the flats, so saying the generic cover 2 and cover 3 will stop the flats is false. The Cover 2 and Cover three are simply terms used to describe the safety play. As an example look at the generic Cover 2 in the 43, you'll notice that the two DBs are playing a flats zone, somewhat, and they should be playing a press, which to the best of my knowledge, it looks as though they are. This should slow down a screen just fine, it does for me and I generally play as a DE or DT to start. But it doesn't STOP it, it slows it down. Cover 2 Man Press works better to stop the screen, but it leaves the WRs a bit less covered. Then if we go to a generic Cover 3, we see that the DBs are now dropping out into deeper zones, while the LBs cover the flats somewhat. The problem is that these are LBs and not generally the best cover guys, so it's a toss up if it works or not... The best bet to beat the screen is Man Press, or Cover 2 with the additional press before the snap. That and being aware enough to know that if it looks like you're getting to the QB to easy that you're getting set up for a screen should be all you need. After that, there are all kind of containment plays in the 43 defence... I think most playbooks have over 30 plays in there. The containment options are all there, but you have to know your playbook to know what works and what doesn't... But to simply throw out Cover 2 and Cover 3 is rather funny since they're just generic terms used to again describe the Safety play. As an example, you can have the Dime Cover 2, where the flats are covered, or you can have the Buccs/Bears Cover 2 with the MLB dropping back into a deep zone. But in the end, they're all cover two plays because of the safety play... Just like Quarters means that All DBs are dropping back splitting the secondary into 4 parts... So with all of that being said, a known issue with the 2k series was that the screen passes didn't work at all since the only way you could get the ball to your back was to lob the ball to him... Trust me on this one, if you look up my other posts you'll see that I'm a huge 2K5 fan, but I admit where there were issues in the game. And when you add in the fact that the screens didn't work, and that they set up their cover 2 a little different, it isn't even a fair issue to discuss. This entire "screens plays work too well" is all spurred from people playing poor D and exploiting the insane blitz plays in this game, resulting in players simply throwing short... End of story on that... If there were things that could be done against the blitz other then short passes then players would do it, but if you do anything more then slants and screens you get sacked... A lot of the time I see online guys play blitz for two or three downs and expect that like magic, the only time they play a zone or man, they're going to get what they're after is a joke and shows how many players rely on the blitz... Because 9/10 if you play against a player who doesn't know how to counter the blitz you're getting your sack. Logic like that results in players expecting that 9/10 times that they play a zone they'll stop everything that comes their way which isn't sim or realistic... It's just sad.

Thank You.

+10

# 257 CFav @ 11/05/09 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swingking77


	Alright... Just to make things clear, cover 2 only refers to where the safeties play. They play 2 deep zones. Cover 3 means that you're now releasing a DB to play a 3rd deep zone... None of these mean that you should have anyone in the flats, so saying the generic cover 2 and cover 3 will stop the flats is false. The Cover 2 and Cover three are simply terms used to describe the safety play. As an example look at the generic Cover 2 in the 43, you'll notice that the two DBs are playing a flats zone, somewhat, and they should be playing a press, which to the best of my knowledge, it looks as though they are. This should slow down a screen just fine, it does for me and I generally play as a DE or DT to start. But it doesn't STOP it, it slows it down. Cover 2 Man Press works better to stop the screen, but it leaves the WRs a bit less covered. Then if we go to a generic Cover 3, we see that the DBs are now dropping out into deeper zones, while the LBs cover the flats somewhat. The problem is that these are LBs and not generally the best cover guys, so it's a toss up if it works or not... The best bet to beat the screen is Man Press, or Cover 2 with the additional press before the snap. That and being aware enough to know that if it looks like you're getting to the QB to easy that you're getting set up for a screen should be all you need. After that, there are all kind of containment plays in the 43 defence... I think most playbooks have over 30 plays in there. The containment options are all there, but you have to know your playbook to know what works and what doesn't... But to simply throw out Cover 2 and Cover 3 is rather funny since they're just generic terms used to again describe the Safety play. As an example, you can have the Dime Cover 2, where the flats are covered, or you can have the Buccs/Bears Cover 2 with the MLB dropping back into a deep zone. But in the end, they're all cover two plays because of the safety play... Just like Quarters means that All DBs are dropping back splitting the secondary into 4 parts... So with all of that being said, a known issue with the 2k series was that the screen passes didn't work at all since the only way you could get the ball to your back was to lob the ball to him... Trust me on this one, if you look up my other posts you'll see that I'm a huge 2K5 fan, but I admit where there were issues in the game. And when you add in the fact that the screens didn't work, and that they set up their cover 2 a little different, it isn't even a fair issue to discuss. This entire "screens plays work too well" is all spurred from people playing poor D and exploiting the insane blitz plays in this game, resulting in players simply throwing short... End of story on that... If there were things that could be done against the blitz other then short passes then players would do it, but if you do anything more then slants and screens you get sacked... A lot of the time I see online guys play blitz for two or three downs and expect that like magic, the only time they play a zone or man, they're going to get what they're after. It's a joke and shows how many players rely on the blitz... Because 9/10 if you play against a player who doesn't know how to counter the blitz you're getting your sack. Logic like that results in players expecting that 9/10 times that they play a zone they'll stop everything that comes their way which isn't sim or realistic... It's just sad. I'm not a huge Madden guy... I'm no genious, but I know football. P.S. Also, as an issue for the 2K5, 2K allowed you to move your DBs in or out, as well as up or back, which would help, but that's not in this game, so it can't be used as a fix for this year...

Great post IMO SK.

# 258 Swingking77 @ 11/06/09 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adam45h


	It's clear you know alot about football, no doubt, but as it applies to this game I am inclined to disagree. You can EASILY torch the CPU for 400+ passing yards a game by throwing exclusively to the flats. I watched my little brother go somewhere in the neighborhood of 24 for 25 on passing attempts in the second half against the Steelers on sliders that even I was getting killed on in the first half, and I'm much better than he is. I realize there are alot of variables involved in what we're discussing here, but throwing to the flats and calling screens are known money plays until EA updates the coverage/awareness in those zones.

And yet I stop people online, I stop the computer, and have had the computer hit me for losses on screens... Perhaps the sliders you have allow for this to happen.

# 259 BlueNGold @ 11/07/09 02:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swingking77


	Alright... Just to make things clear, cover 2 only refers to where the safeties play. They play 2 deep zones. Cover 3 means that you're now releasing a DB to play a 3rd deep zone... None of these mean that you should have anyone in the flats, so saying the generic cover 2 and cover 3 will stop the flats is false. The Cover 2 and Cover three are simply terms used to describe the safety play. As an example look at the generic Cover 2 in the 43, you'll notice that the two DBs are playing a flats zone, somewhat, and they should be playing a press, which to the best of my knowledge, it looks as though they are. This should slow down a screen just fine, it does for me and I generally play as a DE or DT to start. But it doesn't STOP it, it slows it down. Cover 2 Man Press works better to stop the screen, but it leaves the WRs a bit less covered. Then if we go to a generic Cover 3, we see that the DBs are now dropping out into deeper zones, while the LBs cover the flats somewhat. The problem is that these are LBs and not generally the best cover guys, so it's a toss up if it works or not... The best bet to beat the screen is Man Press, or Cover 2 with the additional press before the snap. That and being aware enough to know that if it looks like you're getting to the QB to easy that you're getting set up for a screen should be all you need. After that, there are all kind of containment plays in the 43 defence... I think most playbooks have over 30 plays in there. The containment options are all there, but you have to know your playbook to know what works and what doesn't... But to simply throw out Cover 2 and Cover 3 is rather funny since they're just generic terms used to again describe the Safety play. As an example, you can have the Dime Cover 2, where the flats are covered, or you can have the Buccs/Bears Cover 2 with the MLB dropping back into a deep zone. But in the end, they're all cover two plays because of the safety play... Just like Quarters means that All DBs are dropping back splitting the secondary into 4 parts... So with all of that being said, a known issue with the 2k series was that the screen passes didn't work at all since the only way you could get the ball to your back was to lob the ball to him... Trust me on this one, if you look up my other posts you'll see that I'm a huge 2K5 fan, but I admit where there were issues in the game. And when you add in the fact that the screens didn't work, and that they set up their cover 2 a little different, it isn't even a fair issue to discuss. This entire "screens plays work too well" is all spurred from people playing poor D and exploiting the insane blitz plays in this game, resulting in players simply throwing short... End of story on that... If there were things that could be done against the blitz other then short passes then players would do it, but if you do anything more then slants and screens you get sacked... A lot of the time I see online guys play blitz for two or three downs and expect that like magic, the only time they play a zone or man, they're going to get what they're after. It's a joke and shows how many players rely on the blitz... Because 9/10 if you play against a player who doesn't know how to counter the blitz you're getting your sack. Logic like that results in players expecting that 9/10 times that they play a zone they'll stop everything that comes their way which isn't sim or realistic... It's just sad. I'm not a huge Madden guy... I'm no genious, but I know football. P.S. Also, as an issue for the 2K5, 2K allowed you to move your DBs in or out, as well as up or back, which would help, but that's not in this game, so it can't be used as a fix for this year...

Great, great post man. We need more posts like these in the Madden forums. I know football but TBH, there were a few things you mentioned I didn't know. Thanks.

# 260 homeycool @ 11/07/09 04:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swingking77


	Alright... Just to make things clear, cover 2 only refers to where the safeties play. They play 2 deep zones. Cover 3 means that you're now releasing a DB to play a 3rd deep zone... None of these mean that you should have anyone in the flats, so saying the generic cover 2 and cover 3 will stop the flats is false. The Cover 2 and Cover three are simply terms used to describe the safety play. As an example look at the generic Cover 2 in the 43, you'll notice that the two DBs are playing a flats zone, somewhat, and they should be playing a press, which to the best of my knowledge, it looks as though they are. This should slow down a screen just fine, it does for me and I generally play as a DE or DT to start. But it doesn't STOP it, it slows it down. Cover 2 Man Press works better to stop the screen, but it leaves the WRs a bit less covered. Then if we go to a generic Cover 3, we see that the DBs are now dropping out into deeper zones, while the LBs cover the flats somewhat. The problem is that these are LBs and not generally the best cover guys, so it's a toss up if it works or not... The best bet to beat the screen is Man Press, or Cover 2 with the additional press before the snap. That and being aware enough to know that if it looks like you're getting to the QB to easy that you're getting set up for a screen should be all you need. After that, there are all kind of containment plays in the 43 defence... I think most playbooks have over 30 plays in there. The containment options are all there, but you have to know your playbook to know what works and what doesn't... But to simply throw out Cover 2 and Cover 3 is rather funny since they're just generic terms used to again describe the Safety play. As an example, you can have the Dime Cover 2, where the flats are covered, or you can have the Buccs/Bears Cover 2 with the MLB dropping back into a deep zone. But in the end, they're all cover two plays because of the safety play... Just like Quarters means that All DBs are dropping back splitting the secondary into 4 parts... So with all of that being said, a known issue with the 2k series was that the screen passes didn't work at all since the only way you could get the ball to your back was to lob the ball to him... Trust me on this one, if you look up my other posts you'll see that I'm a huge 2K5 fan, but I admit where there were issues in the game. And when you add in the fact that the screens didn't work, and that they set up their cover 2 a little different, it isn't even a fair issue to discuss. This entire "screens plays work too well" is all spurred from people playing poor D and exploiting the insane blitz plays in this game, resulting in players simply throwing short... End of story on that... If there were things that could be done against the blitz other then short passes then players would do it, but if you do anything more then slants and screens you get sacked... A lot of the time I see online guys play blitz for two or three downs and expect that like magic, the only time they play a zone or man, they're going to get what they're after. It's a joke and shows how many players rely on the blitz... Because 9/10 if you play against a player who doesn't know how to counter the blitz you're getting your sack. Logic like that results in players expecting that 9/10 times that they play a zone they'll stop everything that comes their way which isn't sim or realistic... It's just sad. I'm not a huge Madden guy... I'm no genious, but I know football. P.S. Also, as an issue for the 2K5, 2K allowed you to move your DBs in or out, as well as up or back, which would help, but that's not in this game, so it can't be used as a fix for this year...

While I agree with you when referring to football terminology, I have to disagree with you when speaking Madden play calling terminology. In Madden whenever a play says "Cover 2" there is always someone covering the flats via a zone. When a play is called "Cover 3" there are always players in flat zone coverage. If the play were man up on the outside it says "Cover 2 man" or "Cover 3 man" and there are many variations of these safety sets as you said, however if the play is called simply "Cover 2" or "Cover 3" there are ALWAYS players covering the flats. Again I am only speaking of Madden language here. I certainly do not disagree with anything you said accept only to point out that when someone says they need to fix "cover 2" or "cover 3", they are most likely speaking of the plays themselves, not the safety sets.

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