Madden NFL 25 News Post

Will People Adjust to the Pocket in Next-Gen Madden?

11:33 AM - November 7, 2013 by RaychelSnr

RGIII is dangerous running the ball, but only because he is a rare talent.

One of the Madden franchises' most glaring issues in past versions of the game has been with its offensive and defensive line interaction.

The gamer never got a realistic representation of an incredibly important part of football in the line play. We ended up seeing the same two or three animations that didn�t portray any kind of realism.

Madden 25 on next generation systems is touting a new �War in the Trenches� feature which promises to not only give overhauled offensive/defensive line play, but more importantly, it promises to change the way we play the game.

Read More - Will People Adjust to the Pocket in Next-Gen Madden?

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# 81 mestevo @ 11/12/13 05:50 PM

That'd be nice, but not expecting it. Enjoyed the option training and queues added this year, something to help guide you through identifying the mike and the ramifications of that, how/when/why to slide protection (something I just did last night for the first time in 3+ years because honestly never felt the need or really understood the effect).

# 82 N51_rob @ 11/12/13 09:20 PM

Lots of information here. Thanks for the detailed response. I have a couple of questions.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RexDEAFootball


	I can assure all of you the new pocket collapse system has a direct and immediate impact on gameplay. Here are a just a few of the ways it changes the game: 1) It is now critical to read blitzes pre-snap, as slide protection is now a big component of protecting yourself against the blitz.

Very good to hear, but what about the psychic Oline/TE/RB of current gen who will run clear across the offensive line to pick up a free runner. Basically if I know the blitz is coming from the left and a slide protection to the right will I get the desired effect or will some one come across to pick up the free rushers?

Quote:


	2) With 5 man protection, you can only block 5 defenders. If they send 6, one will get through. This makes hot routing TE's and RB's in to block another key strategy in running an effective offense.

Does this mean that guys will use their hands to slide and slip? No more blitzers just running into the back of the Dline effectively allowing one blocker to block multiple rushers?

Quote:


	3) Understanding the concept of a 'hot read' receiver with a short curl, hitch or smoke screen route is often necessary against the blitz.

Some of these routes were already overpowered in current gen madden, the curl and hitch in particular vs man coverage (which is what you get with a lot of blitz') will these routes be tuned to be less effective?

Quote:


	4) Less time in pocket means less time to go deep. Expect to adapt and hit your check down routes like shallow drags and RB's leaking out into the flat.

Will users be able ti differentiate between an excellent, average and poor pass protecting offensive line? There are times on current gen where w/o uniforms there is no differentiating between players. This goes for all posistions. QBs are too accurate, WRs are all the same. There is no real way to differentiate between a route running technician and a raw speedster.

Quote:


	There are also huge upgrades in pass defense, making it more important than ever to make good reads. Rookie and Pro are still pretty safe for the casual, but for everybody else the hope is that they change their play style and employ real football strategies to adapt to the change in direction.

Thanks again for your feedback and your joining OS to interact with the community. Seems like you guys have taken the direction of building the game from the Line of Scrimmage out. I hope it works well. I am excited to see what Next-Gen Madden has to offer.

# 83 4thQtrStre5S @ 11/12/13 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N51_rob


	Will users be able ti differentiate between an excellent, average and poor pass protecting offensive line? There are times on current gen where w/o uniforms there is no differentiating between players. This goes for all posistions. QBs are too accurate, WRs are all the same. There is no real way to differentiate between a route running technician and a raw speedster.

^^^^ This is one of my main concerns...The individual player attributes for the offensive line, and Defensive lines also, do not seem to matter...I still get frustrated/annoyed when I remember those YouTube videos showing the offensive line replaced by 5'6", 160lb players with all attributes set to "5" and they still blocked as if they were all-pros...

# 84 Captain Obvious @ 11/13/13 07:37 PM

i missed the stream but from what i seen people say is that there is no pocket? looks like current gen? wow...

# 85 4thQtrStre5S @ 11/13/13 07:57 PM

I watched the stream and also followed that with going over to YouTube to check out some NFL 2k5 gameplay, and actual NFL gameplay, and really I think people are expecting too much of a "pocket."

Here is a Youtube clip of GB v Pitt (real NFL)...Notice the pocket is similar to MAdden 25...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cM_KHLuCctQ

I would also suspect that pocket creation also depends on the skills of the lineman...

# 86 The JareBear @ 11/13/13 09:49 PM

The problem is the QJB video showed guys speed rushing hard off the edges, forming what I think people are looking for with a pocket, where the edge rusher is almost coming from slightly behind the QB, or directly from his side. In the stream there was none of that, it was all regular patty-cake/block shed animation at the LOS.

The pocket didn't look any better in the stream, honestly. Not to me anyway.

Other stuff DID look better though.

# 87 NDAlum @ 11/14/13 09:12 AM

I did see some of the updated OL interaction/AI. I did see a blitzer come in and the OL broke off his original guy and went after the blitzer who was going to come in free.

Keep in mind it was on the stream and happened quick so I can't give 100% full details. This is just what I thought I saw.

It was a positive though

# 88 bc21045 @ 11/14/13 10:10 AM

Maybe I'm wrong but watching those streams and watching the videos that showed off oline/dline interaction it just felt like the lines were "working together" to form a pocket rather than the pocket being a natural result of d lineman constantly trying to get to the qb.

It almost seems like there's a to-do list. First is forming the pocket then once that's done the dline can try to break the block and pass rush.

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