Finally watched the Madden game between Shop’s Redskins and the cpu Eagles.

Presentation comments – I think I will be skipping the team intros very quickly. Not a bad idea but I didn’t care for them. I thought last year’s commentary of Simms and Nantz was a huge improvement even if they weren’t always smart. I heard some new stuff but the smart hasn’t been elevated much. Last year Nantz was obsessed about first downs. This year he’s obsessed about who is playing in the slot. I really enjoyed Simms last year but his commentary lacks good specifics and this hasn’t been improved either. His commentary on plays like the read-option act as though it was just a basic running play. Why not have read-option specific commentary? Same goes for screen passes. He needs to be more specific but the commentary isn’t there.

Half time show is a little improved after the downgrade of last year. At least we get highlights of our game mixed in but it’s not better than Madden 12 and has no commentary. Post game also unimproved.

Some things I liked: Cpu Vick waited and found Maclin for a TD at the back of the end zone. He used good sideline awareness to stay in bounds. Same for Shop’s Fred Davis on a sideline catch. I still want to see receivers be more aware and slow their route down if they are heading out of bounds. Not sure on that. The tough catch and hit Shop’s WR took with one minute to go was cool. He threw it into double coverage and the WR made a super tough catch and got spun. A cool play.

The cpu seemed to play smarter. I saw them disguise a coverage on 3rd and 3 as the LCB came up as if to bump only to back off and play zone at the snap (27:35). At least they weren’t falling off every WR to allow an easy short completion which happened too often in M13. Cpu McCoy on a screen play makes a beautiful spin and then hurdle. They use their moves and read the plays well (29:55). The read-option by Shop was not overpowered. He wasn’t able to generate an unrealistic amount of yards. I do like watching the movement the OL gets on running plays including double team blocks.

Things I didn’t like: cpu Vick trucking a free LB at 8:30. This play was ridiculous and defies all logic and physics. A free LB outweighing Vick by close to 50 pounds and moving at near full speed gets trucked by tiny Vick who had little momentum? What the heck? The only really stupid moment I saw but it was terrible. Vick did throw a late pick on a deeper pass. Shop made a nice play but the cpu quarterback needs to lead their WRs on deep plays more downfield. That way it’s either a completion or maybe incomplete. Too often they under throw those routes and it leads to picks. I thought Philly called too many read-option plays on their first drive but didn’t seem to be a problem later on.

Overall it looks like an improvement on M13 with owner mode being the big addition.