One of the things about Madden since it has moved onto the next gen consoles is the absence of man lock on/off and they never had user selected coverage shells, which is something I think needs to be added from 2k8. My only problem with 2k8 was the shell selections. I'd want more shells. Anyways here is a break down of how the Ravens use a cover 0 shell to confuse the offense and mask their 2 Deep zone.
http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80c15133
It is way too easy to tell if the defense is in man or zone in Madden. I'd suggest the following coverage shells.
1) cover 3 Weak or Weak Invert Zone
Description: In this shell, the FS lines up a yard to a yard and a half outside the TE around 7 yards off the line of scrimmage. If there is a slot WR he will line up over the slot. The SS lines up over the Center deep, around 12 to 15 yards off. The Corners are both playing off around 8 yards.
2) cover 3 Strong or Strong Invert Zone
Description: Same as Weak Invert Zone, just swap the Safety players. Instead of the FS being close the SS is close.
3) cover 0
Description: Everybody is up and there is no one in the middle of the field deep as the video shows. The corners are squatting showing press and the Safety players are up close to the line of scrimmage.
4) 4 Across the Board
Description: This shell has your 4 primary secondary players (2 CB's, FS, and SS) all at the same alignment depth. Everyone should be around 7 to 10 yards off.
5) 1 Deep Man Free
Description: This shell has 1 safety (FS) in the deep middle of the field prior to the snap, the SS appears in man coverage on the TE or the Slot. The Corners show press coverage.
6) Strong Roll Zone
Description: This shell has the CB on the right side of the screen up showing press coverage (I have to do it this way, since in video games things are not as organic hence I'm not using the term strong and weak CB.) The CB on the left side of the screen, the FS and SS are all at the same alignment depth at around 10 to 12 yards.
7) Weak Roll Zone
Description: Same as Strong Roll zone just swap the CB in the press position.
USING COVERAGE SHELLS
I think one way to incorporate the shells is to either do it like 2k had it, namely calling them on the field OR do it a different way. Let me describe the different way. Instead of calling 4 different shells on the field we make the shell call in the huddle as we are choosing our plays. We can get out of the shell by simply resetting the play at the line of scrimmage. However we cannot choose another shell. I opt for this because 1, I am advocating more than four shells as selections and two I also have in mind auto-motion defense.
Coverage Shells and Auto-motion defense.
If auto-motion defense is given over to the user, it will need an interface. My suggestion is to change show blitz to auto-motion defense. But we have so many things already to deal with once the huddle is broken. Defensive play maker, shifting line and linebackers, Coverage audibles (unless coverage audibles is changed to coverage shells). If coverage audibles is changed to coverage shells then that's the only way I can see this being an on the field adjustment without things becoming overburdensome. But I'd just rather call it in the huddle.
Coverage shells should not hinder auto-motion defense. Let me provide an example. Suppose I have made the call in the huddle that sends the SS and the Sam on a blitz, it's man coverage, cover 0. I also call 4 Across or Strong Roll zone that has the SS lined up deep. So what the player on offense sees is a very conservative zone look right out of the huddle. Now it's just an issue of my timing. I hit the show blitz, which in this interface scheme has been changed to auto-motion defense. The SS is going to come out of the sky running full speed, with Sam scraping over to the edge and attacking the edge. If I have timed it right the pressure should come in their pretty damn quickly WITHOUT the proper offensive line call.
Man Lock On/Off
One of the things I miss in the Next Gen Madden's is man lock on/off. If brought back I would change it though. I don't want this applying to the linebackers. I'd only want it with the corners. Let me explain what I mean. The linebackers zones will change/swap, but they wouldn't be moving around everywhere trying to line up over a man before the snap. The Concept that should be displayed with Man Lock On/Off is Corners Over. And once a cover goes over the linebacker or nearest player to the Corner who has gone over must change to account for that vacated zone. So if it is cover 2 and I have man lock on and the offense is in a twins formation, the OLB now has the flats that is vacated by the CB. The CB on the slow will now drop to a hook zone on the other side of the field.
Ahhh but man lock on/off should not simply be applied to zones and zone swapping. Man lock on and off should also be applied to blitzes. If I call a CB blitz with the outside CB and the flanker goes in motion, even though the CB is blitzing, he has to go in motion with the WR. I have seen this done so well by the Ravens. The blitzing CB goes in motion with the WR and on the snap there is a man swap, the CB blitzes from whereever the WR has gone.
Now this should not be negated by use of coverage shell. Suppose I call a CB blitz and also have man lock on. The offense is in twins formation so we have Corners over. My blitzing CB is on the slot, but I have also called Strong Roll Zone. The blitzing CB from the right side, lined up over the slot will line up showing press on the slot receiver, the CB over the flanker will line up at a depth of ten to twelve yards off the ball with the FS and SS.
Nothing should be negated between these three aspects of defense, Coverage Shell, Auto-motion D and Man Lock On/Off. They should all come together to form a solid fun playing game of defensive football. These elements combined with some of the things already there, new defensive playbooks that emphasize team play styles, new defensive ratings/abilities and individual player sliders that govern how each individual plays, how teams feed of the energy of their leaders ect. At the end of the day, if EA wants to make this game great, if they want this to be all that it can be, then what I am saying is that they have to stop thinking about this in terms of "just a game." They need to capture an "experience."
http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80c15133
It is way too easy to tell if the defense is in man or zone in Madden. I'd suggest the following coverage shells.
1) cover 3 Weak or Weak Invert Zone
Description: In this shell, the FS lines up a yard to a yard and a half outside the TE around 7 yards off the line of scrimmage. If there is a slot WR he will line up over the slot. The SS lines up over the Center deep, around 12 to 15 yards off. The Corners are both playing off around 8 yards.
2) cover 3 Strong or Strong Invert Zone
Description: Same as Weak Invert Zone, just swap the Safety players. Instead of the FS being close the SS is close.
3) cover 0
Description: Everybody is up and there is no one in the middle of the field deep as the video shows. The corners are squatting showing press and the Safety players are up close to the line of scrimmage.
4) 4 Across the Board
Description: This shell has your 4 primary secondary players (2 CB's, FS, and SS) all at the same alignment depth. Everyone should be around 7 to 10 yards off.
5) 1 Deep Man Free
Description: This shell has 1 safety (FS) in the deep middle of the field prior to the snap, the SS appears in man coverage on the TE or the Slot. The Corners show press coverage.
6) Strong Roll Zone
Description: This shell has the CB on the right side of the screen up showing press coverage (I have to do it this way, since in video games things are not as organic hence I'm not using the term strong and weak CB.) The CB on the left side of the screen, the FS and SS are all at the same alignment depth at around 10 to 12 yards.
7) Weak Roll Zone
Description: Same as Strong Roll zone just swap the CB in the press position.
USING COVERAGE SHELLS
I think one way to incorporate the shells is to either do it like 2k had it, namely calling them on the field OR do it a different way. Let me describe the different way. Instead of calling 4 different shells on the field we make the shell call in the huddle as we are choosing our plays. We can get out of the shell by simply resetting the play at the line of scrimmage. However we cannot choose another shell. I opt for this because 1, I am advocating more than four shells as selections and two I also have in mind auto-motion defense.
Coverage Shells and Auto-motion defense.
If auto-motion defense is given over to the user, it will need an interface. My suggestion is to change show blitz to auto-motion defense. But we have so many things already to deal with once the huddle is broken. Defensive play maker, shifting line and linebackers, Coverage audibles (unless coverage audibles is changed to coverage shells). If coverage audibles is changed to coverage shells then that's the only way I can see this being an on the field adjustment without things becoming overburdensome. But I'd just rather call it in the huddle.
Coverage shells should not hinder auto-motion defense. Let me provide an example. Suppose I have made the call in the huddle that sends the SS and the Sam on a blitz, it's man coverage, cover 0. I also call 4 Across or Strong Roll zone that has the SS lined up deep. So what the player on offense sees is a very conservative zone look right out of the huddle. Now it's just an issue of my timing. I hit the show blitz, which in this interface scheme has been changed to auto-motion defense. The SS is going to come out of the sky running full speed, with Sam scraping over to the edge and attacking the edge. If I have timed it right the pressure should come in their pretty damn quickly WITHOUT the proper offensive line call.
Man Lock On/Off
One of the things I miss in the Next Gen Madden's is man lock on/off. If brought back I would change it though. I don't want this applying to the linebackers. I'd only want it with the corners. Let me explain what I mean. The linebackers zones will change/swap, but they wouldn't be moving around everywhere trying to line up over a man before the snap. The Concept that should be displayed with Man Lock On/Off is Corners Over. And once a cover goes over the linebacker or nearest player to the Corner who has gone over must change to account for that vacated zone. So if it is cover 2 and I have man lock on and the offense is in a twins formation, the OLB now has the flats that is vacated by the CB. The CB on the slow will now drop to a hook zone on the other side of the field.
Ahhh but man lock on/off should not simply be applied to zones and zone swapping. Man lock on and off should also be applied to blitzes. If I call a CB blitz with the outside CB and the flanker goes in motion, even though the CB is blitzing, he has to go in motion with the WR. I have seen this done so well by the Ravens. The blitzing CB goes in motion with the WR and on the snap there is a man swap, the CB blitzes from whereever the WR has gone.
Now this should not be negated by use of coverage shell. Suppose I call a CB blitz and also have man lock on. The offense is in twins formation so we have Corners over. My blitzing CB is on the slot, but I have also called Strong Roll Zone. The blitzing CB from the right side, lined up over the slot will line up showing press on the slot receiver, the CB over the flanker will line up at a depth of ten to twelve yards off the ball with the FS and SS.
Nothing should be negated between these three aspects of defense, Coverage Shell, Auto-motion D and Man Lock On/Off. They should all come together to form a solid fun playing game of defensive football. These elements combined with some of the things already there, new defensive playbooks that emphasize team play styles, new defensive ratings/abilities and individual player sliders that govern how each individual plays, how teams feed of the energy of their leaders ect. At the end of the day, if EA wants to make this game great, if they want this to be all that it can be, then what I am saying is that they have to stop thinking about this in terms of "just a game." They need to capture an "experience."
Comment