Madden NFL 16 Gameplay: Defense

[cdj]

We’ve touched on all the improvements made to the passing game with all-new Air Supremacy, so it’s time to show the defense some love.

Here are some of the improvements made to the defensive side of the ball in Madden NFL 16.

https://media.easports.com/content/www-easports/en_US/madden-nfl/news/2015/madden-16-defense/_jcr_content/par/image.img.jpg

PLAY BALL (BALL HAWK)

Play Ball (Ball Hawk) is back and has been heavily revised to ensure the most aggressive path possible to the ball. As with past years, the user plays the ball by holding the Y/Triangle button as soon as the pass is released.

Play Ball is the best way to challenge the receiver for the catch, but comes at the risk of triggering a catch animation behind the receiver and giving up a big play.

https://media.easports.com/content/www-easports/en_US/madden-nfl/news/2015/madden-16-defense/_jcr_content/par/image_0.img.jpg

PLAY RECEIVER (NEW)

New this year is the Play Receiver DB mechanic. Hold the A/X button once the pass is thrown to play the receiver. This drives you towards the receiver as opposed to driving you to a catch point.

https://media.easports.com/content/www-easports/en_US/madden-nfl/news/2015/madden-16-defense/_jcr_content/par/image_1.img.jpg

Hit receiver can be used to dislodge the ball during the catch, but comes at the expense of not being able to trigger interceptions.

https://media.easports.com/content/www-easports/en_US/madden-nfl/news/2015/madden-16-defense/_jcr_content/par/image_2.img.jpg

ORGANIC GANG TACKLES

Forget everything you remember about Pro-Tak. Madden NFL 16 delivers the most dramatic tackles in franchise history with a fully organic, physics-based gang tackling system. We now have fully realized momentum-based organic interactions on tackles that support a limitless number of defenders attaching to the ball carrier.

The system is complemented by new dynamic gang tackle animations that can “go organic” based on additional defenders in proximity.

We also worked on the stat-tracking side – Assisted Tackles and Half-sacks are now being tracked appropriately in the stats screen. It all adds up to the most authentic tackles ever seen in Madden NFL. Gang tackling is back!

https://media.easports.com/content/www-easports/en_US/madden-nfl/news/2015/madden-16-defense/_jcr_content/par/image_3.img.jpg

OTHER TACKLING IMPROVEMENTS

While most players raved about the changes to tackling in Madden NFL 15, some users complained about feeling too much “suction” in the conservative tackle system. The team took this feedback to heart and tuned both the tackle cone and match distance to eliminate warping (or suction) from the tackling system without sacrificing control or responsiveness.

Aggressive tackles were also improved so that defenders always dive towards the ball carrier instead of just at his facing direction.

https://media.easports.com/content/www-easports/en_US/madden-nfl/news/2015/madden-16-defense/_jcr_content/par/image_4.img.jpg

QUICK ADJUSTMENTS

Defensive quick adjustments give users the ability to adjust any of their defenders on the field without having to manually switch to the defender. Simply select the group (DL, LB, DB), choose individual adjustment, select the defender and set the assignment.

This addresses a long-standing legacy issue that put the defense at a disadvantage when it came to pre-play adjustments.

https://media.easports.com/content/www-easports/en_US/madden-nfl/news/2015/madden-16-defense/_jcr_content/par/image_5.img.jpg

ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS

Madden NFL 16 also includes a few key defensive improvements demanded by the community. A few of the highlights include:


QB Spy logic has been updated to be more effective at stopping rushing QB’s
Contain Defenses and logic have been improved to help counter the new rollout and scramble mechanics
New mechanic where users can now make their defenders in spy assignment abandon the spy and chase the QB at any point in the play. This is done by clicking in R3 once he ball has been snapped.
Resolved an issue where users would not have time to audible to onside kick recovery when their opponents caught them in normal return vs. onside kick.
The offense can no longer use no huddle to consistently cause AI defenders to be called offsides.

[Rudy]

The new gang tackling is the highlight for me.

[jaymo76]

Did they really say most users "love" the new tackling system? ... wow! EA another order of KoolAid for my friend please!

[Jayrah]

As I said in the CB/WR interaction thread, differentiation needs to be implemented in cb play where traits and ratings trigger certain responses and animations from each player. Another option is to add a system fully based on user timing, where play receiver and interception attempts timed perfectly give you the best chance at success. In this system, very early triggering would either cause a mistimed jump or your db grabbing the wr and resulting in PI, while slightly early triggering would create a variety of outcomes based on positioning, slightly late triggering could still knock the ball out but allows an opportunity for a completion and finally late triggering would allow the wr the best opportunity to complete the catch. The window would be small too.

Of course just like the receiving mechanics, you wouldn't have to be locked on to the defender but the closest db would perform your wish. Unlike the wr mechanics however, I would like to see a system where the only way you can play the ball with a db is by timing it up and triggering it manually, whether in the air initially or off of a deflection. Success rate would depend on user-timing and abilities of the db involved. This would make it more rewarding to make interceptions, but also would negate the cheap ints that happen regularly and create a down-by-down decision for the user on how to play it. Make the wrong read based on position and player ability and suffer a better shot at a completion. Go for the ball and miss and risk getting burned. Decide not to make a play and your CPU controlled db plays the receiver or goes strictly for the knockdown.

Designated Lbs and DL wouldn't be part of the user-timing equation and would make their plays as normal with CPU control. This would add the element of throwing vs user and throwing at CPU, as well as potentially add an extra strategic endeavor to deciding where to throw on a given play.

Other than that the gang-tackling mechanic is a big deal imo.

[CLW]

I don't see much about improved AI and coverage. Bottom line, nothing really game changing and Madden is still a glorified arena football game that has no real defense as QBs will still have 10 seconds in the pocket to throw and wide open receivers running all over the field.

[CLW]

How ya gonna defend WR catching balls 15 feet in the air:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CIIPyFDWoAQwh10.png:large

[skipwondah33]

6'4" with pretty decent athletic ability, 39.0 inch vertical, 32 5/8 arm length...seems reasonable to me

And if that looks like 15 feet in the air to you...then well :D

[steelerfan]

6'4" with pretty decent athletic ability, 39.0 inch vertical, 32 5/8 arm length...seems reasonable to me

And if that looks like 15 feet in the air to you...then well :D
:+1:

[jaymo76]

How ya gonna defend WR catching balls 15 feet in the air:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CIIPyFDWoAQwh10.png:large

There is just so much wrong with this image. Where do you start? Where is everyone else on the Steelers? Why are two Browns running from the back of the endzone yet nobody is around them? Why is the DB flat footed and not even trying to break up the pass? Is it realistic to turn around and jump about 4 feet into the air without first stopping (this is implied because Madden historically has these types of physics defying catches in mid air)?

Also, considering the line of scrimmage is the 16 yard line, where is everyone? The photo comes from the 15??? This has to be one of those images the Tiburon team would not want released.

[skipwondah33]

That doesn't look like 4 feet to me either :D

Then again I'm not looking into the depth of everything going in the picture either of why players are where they are.

CLW the rest of the NFL wants to know the answer to your question as well..

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2010-09/56117718.jpg

http://dubsism.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/calvin-johnson-catch-against-the-cowboys.jpg

http://i48.tinypic.com/2akfyb4.jpg

https://simmqb.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/bryant-no-catch.jpg?w=800&h=533

https://cbs1037litefm.files.wordpress.com/2014/12/dallas-cowboys-win-nfc-east-8.jpg?w=277

[Jayrah]

:D Nice Skip. Absolutely what I'm saying. WR's dominate in 1-on-1 situations all the time and this looks fairly similar to many screen shots we've seen. Not that Steelers one though.