Rudy and Jaymo's Madden CCM experience

[jaymo76]

pLayed game one of the exhibition season and decided to go 90% air just to see what I had. I started my rookie qb, Colton Furr then put in Derek Anderson for q2 and q3. Pryor got the entire fourth q The results surprised me.

Furr 7 of 17 109 yards
Anderson 21 of 30 306 yards 3 tds and 1 int
Pryor 5 of 10 for 28 yards and 1 int

Also my Te,Jared Cook jr is earning his FA contract as he had 7 rec for 69 yards and 1 td. However, out of nowhere, I signed an undrafted rookie, K'sean Senat and he had 6 receptions for 79 yards.

long story short... raiders 47, jags 13.

[Rudy]

Bears resign Brandon Marshall 6 years, $73 mil. Big Ben reups for 5 and $97! Luck rejected offer from Colts. Tannehill is an 80 on open market and better than QBs from Chiefs, Cowboys (Orton starts!), and Cardinals at a quick glance. Probably more. Sign him someone!

[Rudy]

For thinking of Kellen Winslow as a possible cap candidate next year the game has punished me!



The rookie TE will be taking over the starting spot and the offense will lean on my WRs more. I put him on IR and it says a 40 week injury so I don't know if there is a chance he comes back or not.

[jaymo76]

Wow Rudy! in the history of Madden i have only seen one play lost to career ending injury but that person was not on my team. So what happens now? Do you have to cut him at the end of the year? put him on IR indefinitely and then after 40 weeks what happens? I wonder if the cpu will just remove him and give you back a roster spot?

[jaymo76]

In my first day of cuts after the first game I let a few players go who were not cap hits. However, the overall ratings are really misleading. I cut a few cb's with higher ratings because some of the players with lower ratings were far better at zone and man-to-man.

I found this really good punter as a rookie FA. I am tempted to take my first player with an injury and put him on IR so I can keep this kid. Lechler will still start but he is close to retirement and I don't want to simply let this Reyes kid go to another team.

[Rudy]

Wow Rudy! in the history of Madden i have only seen one play lost to career ending injury but that person was not on my team. So what happens now? Do you have to cut him at the end of the year? put him on IR indefinitely and then after 40 weeks what happens? I wonder if the cpu will just remove him and give you back a roster spot?

I have no clue what will happen. I do remember seeing one career ending injury back in Madden 99 or something on the PS1. It was Kellen Winslow who doesn't have a good durability rating. He's actually been surprisingly durable during his 2.5 years in Miami, never missing more than parts of games.

[jaymo76]

TE'S in this years game are essential for success. The commentary even talks about how TE's can take over a game. I rely on my TE's for about 60-70% of my passing game. Madden 12 I struggled with getting the Te involved but with 13 it is a lot easier. owever, a huge issue (for me anyways) continues to be getting you primary recievers involved. Outside of slants i still find the defensive backs always have the position and will be agressive and go and get the ball while your WR will not engage.

[Rudy]

I've actually found the outside WRs to be easier to get the ball to this year. In the past my slot WR would always get more catches than my #2 guy but not anymore. My starting two WRs last season got over 60 catches each and over 800 yards. My TE does good too but right now AJ Greenhas been doing real well for me.

A few things about the game this year.

1. The icons lighting up actually make route based passing possible. Curl are a lot easier to hit and so are corner routesof times right.

2. Cover two zone press coverage allows you to hit the outside WR after he beats the jam and before the safety. You have to zip it in there and lead him to the sideline. Don't throw it too soon or the CB will pick it off.

3. CBs play a lot of off and soft coverage in this game. Forget about the deep routes when you see that and hot route them to a curl. They are often open on the outside. A great way to rack up catches and yards on the outside.

4. Crossing routes are a great way to beat the blitz.

[jaymo76]

Just lost 18-17 to the texans in exhibition 2. THe texans kicked a last second field goal to steel the game. However, there may be a qb controvery brewing. The rookie showed a lot of imrpovement today and even Pryor played well.

Furr 7/10 96 yards 1td
Anderson 9/14 95 yards 1 td 1 int
Pryor 12/16 91 yards 1 int

At the tight end position Jared Cook jr continues to amaze. Fasano may be on the outside lookng in.

[Rudy]

I would definitely go Cook over Fasano. Fasano can't generate any big plays in the passing game.

I'm 6-1 now. I think I may make some further tweaks to toughen the game for me a little more. AJ Green has missed 3 games but he has over 40 catches, 4 TDs and over 600 yards already. It's really nice having a great WR who can beat the press, tiptoe on catches near the sidelines and make all kinds of tough catches.

Jaymo - what accuracy are you using for your QBs on All-Pro? Do you think 10 is too high? I've seen people go lower.

[jaymo76]

I would definitely go Cook over Fasano. Fasano can't generate any big plays in the passing game.

I'm 6-1 now. I think I may make some further tweaks to toughen the game for me a little more. AJ Green has missed 3 games but he has over 40 catches, 4 TDs and over 600 yards already. It's really nice having a great WR who can beat the press, tiptoe on catches near the sidelines and make all kinds of tough catches.

Jaymo - what accuracy are you using for your QBs on All-Pro? Do you think 10 is too high? I've seen people go lower.

I am also using 10 for accuacy. i have my WR catching at 52 becuase of all the drops. Pass blocking is at 30. However, I have cpu pass recognition at 45 and I find the zones are a lot tighter. I also have cpu interceptions at 35. passing is still easy but I don't get the ball tothe outside enough.

[jaymo76]

I swear this game anticipates your issues so you don't have to make tough decisions. Cook jr. and Fasano are both playing great. I was going to give Fasano the start only because of what he did for me last year... loyalty. However, Cook jr. has played so well. long story short... Fasano out 11 weeks. Cook Jr. is now the starter.

[Rudy]

Maybe Madden 13 has a prophesy engine?!

[jaymo76]

I'm about to start the regular season starting with a Sunday night primetime game versus the Chargers. Altogether i have four primetime games on my schedule... Monday, Thursday, and two Sunday's. I like the primetime games as the announcing just feels enhanced. My schedule looks good. I know some people had concerns over at OS for season two but for me everything looks good. I have one three game homestand but that's the only thing. Division swapping looks accurate.

The game of the year on my schedule is another game versus the Texans. Not only have I lost to Houston twice, both games in the last minute (including on the last play in an exhibition game this season)but Phil Simms has also commented on us having a rivalry... right now they are the best of the best as they won the SB last year. I am looking for payback when they visit Oakland in the fall.

I really don't know what to expect this year. After preseason game one I felt great about the team. We ended the preseason 2-2 and frankly I didn't play very well. Versus Atlanta at home we were thumped 54-29! Granted i simmed most of the last three games but my D didn't play well in the preseason. My QB situation is also concerning as Derek Anderson won the starting job but he is extremely streaky at the best of times. When Anderson is cold he is ice cold. Colton Furr, my first round draft pick is just too inconsistent to start but i suspect that i will get him in as much as possible to get him some xp. If Anderson struggles Furr will become the starter.

Around the league I see that Billick landed in New England and Moss and Warner have joined forces to play in... Denver. That is going to be tough as I play them twice this year and i find division games in madden a little tougher than regular games.

Another huge addition needed for MADDEN 14.... PRACTISE ROSTERS!! I had to cut several players who i didn't want to release but i had no choice. Most notably i have this punter, Reyes... the guy is going to replace Lechler... but Lechler has at least one more year. I also had to release two draft picks because their rating are low but they have real potential.

[Rudy]

How about changing the practices to actually be first team offense against first team defense instead of some nomadic group of no-names that show up? That was a bad decision. I know it's not realistic but practices would be more fun if you could play out Madden moments to earn XP instead. Maybe not every week but what about an NFL Replay moment from your actual franchise! Pick a game of the week where the game was close in the 4th quarter and have you replay the final quarter but give you one of the teams randomly and make you play it out. That would be fun and make you feel more connected to what is going on with other teams. In year 4 it would be cool to play with a team like Dallas and find Dalton on the team and no Dez Bryant etc.

[jaymo76]

How about changing the practices to actually be first team offense against first team defense instead of some nomadic group of no-names that show up? That was a bad decision. I know it's not realistic but practices would be more fun if you could play out Madden moments to earn XP instead. Maybe not every week but what about an NFL Replay moment from your actual franchise! Pick a game of the week where the game was close in the 4th quarter and have you replay the final quarter but give you one of the teams randomly and make you play it out. That would be fun and make you feel more connected to what is going on with other teams. In year 4 it would be cool to play with a team like Dallas and find Dalton on the team and no Dez Bryant etc.

Agreed on the generic cpu crap practise... waste of time and effort. i don't play one snap i just choose the play and then watch and i only do the cake walk up by 16 points as it's the shortest. I think the team you play against should be the backups and that way everyone gets xp.

Another issue I have seen brought up is whether or not the cpu practises. the consensus is that cpu teams don't and therefore don't earn xp. This would explain why cpu players don't progress enough during a career.

[Rudy]

Perhaps the Madden team could actually use tuning files to fix some things!

[jaymo76]

Perhaps the Madden team could actually use tuning files to fix some things!

Yeah I don't really get why NCAA and Madden don't use tuning files unless they patch at the same time. The whole point of tuners is to do what patches cannot.

[Rudy]

Josh Looman tweeted me that the generic practice opponents were based on community feedback. They said they wanted that over your own team members. I don't agree but I like how they let the community have input. Also, the practice opponent playbook is your upcoming opponent's playbook.

[jaymo76]

Josh Looman tweeted me that the generic practice opponents were based on community feedback. They said they wanted that over your own team members. I don't agree but I like how they let the community have input. Also, the practice opponent playbook is your upcoming opponent's playbook.

That doesn't make any sense. Why would people choose to play fictional people and NOT get xp for the backups???? That decision needs to be revisited for next year. I agree that it is nice that the developers take feedback though.