Madden NFL 21 Patch Available Now - Franchise Mode & Zone Coverage Improvements - Patch Notes

[bcruise]

Re: Madden NFL 21 Patch Available Now - Franchise Mode & Zone Coverage Improvements -

PS5: CPU seems to be making really good use of the read option, better than I remember at launch. Lamar having no trouble getting into the open field and using moves for even bigger gains. Fun to watch. Guessing this might be the NFL Live playbooks at work, after a full season of playcall data?

Still no sign of the drop back bug that plagues last-gen on PS5, but I am feeling like I'm seeing more sacks. CPU is thinking twice about throwing deep now after the zone coverage adjustments.

[trusaleen1]

Re: Madden NFL 21 Patch Available Now - Franchise Mode & Zone Coverage Improvements -

I guess I missed this line:

We also wanted to share with you our final updates coming to Franchise mode targeted to arrive in early March!
1. Trade Logic Improvements and
2. Franchise League History

Just what I want, Madden updates in MARCH. I hope to be playing MLB the Show by that time...a real sports simulation game!

[jfsolo]

Re: Madden NFL 21 Patch Available Now - Franchise Mode & Zone Coverage Improvements -

Testing pass coverage on All-Madden with pass coverage and pass reaction back to 50 User vs CPU:

It's viable at 50 now with pass blocking at 35 for both CPU and User. The CPU opponent dline gets to your QB a little faster than your dline gets to theirs, but it's fair with the POV advantage that the User has.

There is still some hesitancy by DB on a few plays in terms of turning and running on man-match plays but I see the same thing and much worse happen in IRL games every week. It seems realistic and reasonable in how it plays out now.

Man to man plays really well now, ratings decide things now instead of glitchy movements.

I'm sure I'll find some issues as I play more, but it's back to being a viably playing game now.

[Hooe]

Re: Madden NFL 21 Franchise Mode Update (2 of 3) Arrives January 7 - Full Details Her

This is the most existential dread I have ever felt in my long history of playing Madden NFL.

[MizzouRah]

Re: Madden NFL 21 Patch Available Now - Franchise Mode & Zone Coverage Improvements -

Testing pass coverage on All-Madden with pass coverage and pass reaction back to 50 User vs CPU:

It's viable at 50 now with pass blocking at 35 for both CPU and User. The CPU opponent dline gets to your QB a little faster than your dline gets to theirs, but it's fair with the POV advantage that the User has.

There is still some hesitancy by DB on a few plays in terms of turning and running on man-match plays but I see the same thing and much worse happen in IRL games every week. It seems realistic and reasonable in how it plays out now.

Man to man plays really well now, ratings decide things now instead of glitchy movements.

I'm sure I'll find some issues as I play more, but it's back to being a viably playing game now.

It's playing FANTASTIC now with pass coverage back to defaults on AM, the other slider changes are still needed but wow I'm so happy with these fixes.

[icicle22]

Re: Madden NFL 21 Franchise Mode Update (2 of 3) Arrives January 7 - Full Details Her

Wait. What? A play is locked?

This is the most existential dread I have ever felt in my long history of playing Madden NFL.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Operation Sports mobile app

[PhillyPhanatic14]

Re: Madden NFL 21 Franchise Mode Update (2 of 3) Arrives January 7 - Full Details Her

Wait. What? A play is locked?

Sent from my SM-N950U using Operation Sports mobile app

New play cool-down feature.

[Hooe]

Re: Madden NFL 21 Franchise Mode Update (2 of 3) Arrives January 7 - Full Details Her

Wait. What? A play is locked?

Sent from my SM-N950U using Operation Sports mobile app

This title update added optional play calling cool downs / total play call limits as league-wide options in Franchise mode, online and offline.

I was testing the new options out with very strict limits (2 calls per game, 2 play cool down) to get this screenshot, haha.

I generally like the idea as a means to increase difficulty, but there's some wonkiness with this:

- if you try to audible to a play that is locked or on cooldown, literally nothing happens
- you cannot configure offensive and defensive cooldown / limits separately

The first is obviously just bad UX. I hope that gets cleaned up.

The second wouldn't be a huge issue if the defenses which effectively guard weakside trips sets (Gun Trips TE, Gun Trio TE, Singleback Trio, etc.) weren't so limited. Basically the only formations I can think of in the game which allow playing under fronts vs weakside trips are 34 Predator, 34 Under, and Nickel Triple. So you'll burn through your plays in those sets fast if your opponent likes to run the ever-popular Gun Trips TE - Read Option stuff. In general, if you prefer to play match coverages vs trips (as I do), you're also going to burn through your Palms and Cover 6 calls fast with these options (Cover 3 Mable / Skate is still not in the game, and Cover 4 Quarters Solo check is as far as I know still AWOL). Not a problem with the feature itself as much as an issue emergent from the limitations on defense currently present in Madden.

[bcruise]

Re: Madden NFL 21 Franchise Mode Update (2 of 3) Arrives January 7 - Full Details Her

Wait. What? A play is locked?

Sent from my SM-N950U using Operation Sports mobile app

That's the play limit commissioner option that was mentioned in the notes.

[icicle22]

Re: Madden NFL 21 Franchise Mode Update (2 of 3) Arrives January 7 - Full Details Her

Ok. Cool. Out of context I thought it was something else. I amy have to use this to keep myself from running same plays all the time. [emoji16]

That's the play limit commissioner option that was mentioned in the notes.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Operation Sports mobile app

[khaliib]

Re: Madden NFL 21 Patch Available Now - Franchise Mode & Zone Coverage Improvements -

So for testing purposes:
- Saints 1yr Sim

Saints Draft picks/position: #11

1st photo = QB’s on roster (note age/OVR’s)
2nd photo = 1st Rd pick @ #11 (MLB with an 84 OVR as a starter)
3rd photo = 2nd Rd pick @ #11 (RB with a young 93 OVR & Vet 80 OVR)

odd AI Franchise notes:
- 39yr old 71 OVR P. Rivers chooses backing up young Texans Watson when 4 teams don’t have a QB over 68 on their roster

- Eagles draft the 2nd best rated QB in Draft (73 OVR) in 3rd Rd @ pick #7

- Bengals waste a 4th Rd pick on a 61 OVR QB with need in other places

- Jaguars stick with a 65 OVR Minshew ll and spends 1st Rd pick @ #9 on a 75 WR with two under 25 yr old 84 OVR & 77 OVR WR’s
(they use 3rd Rd pick to address QB situation, a 63 OVR QB)

I note this to say....

1) Simply having 1st Rd QB logic that doesn’t even make an attempt get better at the QB position via Draft and/or Trade with viable options, makes this injection non-functioning due to the missing Team Building Logic piece (due in March)

2) With 85 OVR being the max necessary SS Ability Threshold for positions (QB 60-95, FB/OL 70 & 80 OVR’s) going above these thresholds really serves no purpose and simply prolongs the applied Age Regression where too many players are on the T. Brady youth potion in their late 30’s etc...

With this being the only thing in this update for Offline gamers, Gameplay will have to carry my con’t interest in playing.

Off to see how changes to Zone Coverage impact the game.
- esp as it relates to players not rated so high as Front End players

[Darth Aegis]

Re: Madden NFL 21 Patch Available Now - Franchise Mode & Zone Coverage Improvements -

Reinstalled the game on the PS5 & now it dl the update with the reinstall....

[Armor and Sword]

Re: Madden NFL 21 Patch Available Now - Franchise Mode & Zone Coverage Improvements -

PS5: CPU seems to be making really good use of the read option, better than I remember at launch. Lamar having no trouble getting into the open field and using moves for even bigger gains. Fun to watch. Guessing this might be the NFL Live playbooks at work, after a full season of playcall data?

Still no sign of the drop back bug that plagues last-gen on PS5, but I am feeling like I'm seeing more sacks. CPU is thinking twice about throwing deep now after the zone coverage adjustments.

Yeah they will keep patching that and then......well you know the rest.


Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

[edaddy]

Re: Madden NFL 21 Patch Available Now - Franchise Mode & Zone Coverage Improvements -

Yeah they will keep patching that and then......well you know the rest.


Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

Hey man when you get a chance to play post patch could you give your impressions of secondary gameplay. The one saving grace for me is next gen movement and they stated they have added next gen movement to the secondary. Hopefully it doesn’t break other movement or speed because it’s perfect on next gen. But backpedaling awareness tracking etc I hope get love in this patch.Thanks!!

[edaddy]

Re: Madden NFL 21 Patch Available Now - Franchise Mode & Zone Coverage Improvements -

It's playing FANTASTIC now with pass coverage back to defaults on AM, the other slider changes are still needed but wow I'm so happy with these fixes.

Have they kept next gen movement and are there PI calls now?