CPU Quarterback Play (Behavior Under Pressure, Interceptions) Thread

[CujoMatty]

Re: CPU Quarterback Play (Behavior Under Pressure, Interceptions) Thread

A couple of observations on my end, having watched a number of games in my Madden 23 online franchise (All Pro, default sliders, Simulation game style):

- When the CPU gets to operate with time or in the quick pass game, they are pretty capable and generally make good reads.

- As far as I can tell, the CPU can never hot route in a blocker, be it against an obvious blitz look, in an obvious vertical passing situation, against an elite edge rusher, or compensating for a weak offensive line. This can result in an abundance of five-man protection schemes, which increases how often the CPU quarterback faces pressure.

- Some, but not all, CPU quarterbacks behave like a bad Madden user under pressure. They sprint backwards and against their handedness out of the pocket so that there's no easy throw to make should a guy break open. This isn't limited to "bad" quarterbacks either; I just watched CPU Matthew Stafford play an absolutely miserable six-interception game against our Bills user. (As an aside, the CPU is absolutely terrible at replicating the Rams' real-life offense for a multitude of reasons).

- I haven't really seen the CPU attempt to throw the ball away under pressure thus far, and I don't think the CPU is capable of using Skill Based Passing to intentionally throw a ball into the dirt near an eligible receiver.

I can say that this factors greatly in my experience. And way too many cpu thrown picks.

As the colts its Kwity Paye, Ngakoue, Buckner and Grover Stewart and they generate a ton of pressure.

[roadman]

Re: CPU Quarterback Play (Behavior Under Pressure, Interceptions) Thread

I seriously wonder if the problem is the A.I. "Intelligence" difference between All Pro and All Madden.

I play on All Madden default sliders, and I absolutely AM seeing the CPU QBs throw the ball away, even occasionally throw balls into the ground when under pressure.

I am playing on AP and I've seen Brady and Cousins throw it into the ground and out of bounds.

Fields threw 2 picks in my other FM game.

[CujoMatty]

Re: New CPU Overpowered Interceptions Thread

I'm kinda curious what difficulty everyone that is seeing these issues are playing on.

I play All Madden default, and I am NOT seeing the issues with CPU QBs throwing tons of INTs.

Going through my box scores from my Lions franchise (yes, I print out box scores of all games lol) the most the CPU has thrown against me is 3 (twice, Cousins, and Drew Lock) but both QBs were under pressure all damn game long.

Edit: Both games were blowouts, and 2 of the 3 picks came in the 4th quarter.

All Madden was a lot better unless the momentum meter was full for either me or the cpu.

It's just too bad that I can't play All Madden.id take 10 ints a game over the craziness that accompanies that difficulty any day. Lol

[roadman]

Re: CPU Quarterback Play (Behavior Under Pressure, Interceptions) Thread

Leave it to EA to have a polarizing issue in Madden.

Let's hope there is a fix and fixes the right area and

doesn't cripple other area's. including pass d and coverage

[kdutch98]

Re: New CPU Overpowered Interceptions Thread

Playing with the Lions is probably a reason you are getting that. Go play with the Rams for 10 games and see how many get thrown. I don't have see a ton either but Playing with Carolina and not having a premier pass rusher and a solid but not spectacular secondary also plays a role there.

I'm getting a TON of pressure on the QB though. 54 sacks. Aiden Hutchinson is an X Factor already, and has 19 sacks.

And I'm still not seeing the unrealistic CPU interceptions.

[kdutch98]

Re: New CPU Overpowered Interceptions Thread

All Madden was a lot better unless the momentum meter was full for either me or the cpu.

It's just too bad that I can't play All Madden.id take 10 ints a game over the craziness that accompanies that difficulty any day. Lol

I'm not seeing the craziness either, like you did in years past.

I'm getting very realistic games

[Dagan]

Re: CPU Quarterback Play (Behavior Under Pressure, Interceptions) Thread

Hopefully this doesn't throw a wrench into what some of you hope is going on, but I chose to crash back down to bare essentials to test a franchise.

ROOKIE - SIMULATION
Ball Hawk, Heat Seeker, D Assist, etc. ALL TURNED OFF

Sliders
---------
Pass Coverage - 0
Interceptions - 0
...Awareness - 0

Tackle - USER - 40 / CPU - 52

(everything else is 50)

---------

Injuries - 25
Fatigue - 25 (for now because I want to see how it changes past week 8)
Speed Threshold - 18


Laugh or mock if you wish, I understand, but I am seriously NOT seeing superhuman interceptions at all anymore. Athletic reach up grabs (no jumps), catches off deflections, interceptions from lame duck throws because my QB was hit as he threw it - are what I am only seeing. I am getting swats, and now, raising the CPU tackling to 52, I am seeing some dislodged catches / drops because the DBs hit my WR right when the ball gets there. I'm also seeing bullet passes that actually do go through defenders arms / hands for completions.

It's crazy to me that this is working because I didn't expect it to be giving me the competition that it is at such a basement level. I'm going to keep ramping things up, still because I think I will just get better anyway.

It's currently WK 3 in my offline franchise. I have the most INT's with 5. Next is T. Bridgewater with 4. The current TD leaders are Tannehill, Mahomes, Rodgers with 9 each. For more context, Mahomes has 2 INT - Tannehill has 1 INT - Rodgers has 0 INT.

[toodles2you90]

Re: New CPU Overpowered Interceptions Thread

I'm getting a TON of pressure on the QB though. 54 sacks. Aiden Hutchinson is an X Factor already, and has 19 sacks.

And I'm still not seeing the unrealistic CPU interceptions.

Ok so you are taking a team that was bad defensively adding a rookie pass rusher and doubling their sack totals and INT totals from the previous year. Not to mention a historically high sack total since no team has had 60+ sacks since 2013. You basically are proving the point that you pretty much have to nerf one thing (sacks so the CPU doesn't throw the ball at all) to prevent INTs.

[canes21]

Re: CPU Quarterback Play (Behavior Under Pressure, Interceptions) Thread

A couple of observations on my end, having watched a number of games in my Madden 23 online franchise (All Pro, default sliders, Simulation game style):

- When the CPU gets to operate with time or in the quick pass game, they are pretty capable and generally make good reads.

- As far as I can tell, the CPU can never hot route in a blocker, be it against an obvious blitz look, in an obvious vertical passing situation, against an elite edge rusher, or compensating for a weak offensive line. This can result in an abundance of five-man protection schemes, which increases how often the CPU quarterback faces pressure.

- Some, but not all, CPU quarterbacks behave like a bad Madden user under pressure. They sprint backwards and against their handedness out of the pocket so that there's no easy throw to make should a guy break open. This isn't limited to "bad" quarterbacks either; I just watched CPU Matthew Stafford play an absolutely miserable six-interception game against our Bills user. (As an aside, the CPU is absolutely terrible at replicating the Rams' real-life offense for a multitude of reasons).

- I haven't really seen the CPU attempt to throw the ball away under pressure thus far, and I don't think the CPU is capable of using Skill Based Passing to intentionally throw a ball into the dirt near an eligible receiver.

This is my experience on All Madden. Clean pocket? QB play is fine. They make most throws, have some realistic misfires here and there. It's fine. QB under pressure? The CPU has no idea on how to handle it and far too often tries to run one way and throw the other way, often at a deep target, and it leads to defender in no man's land being gifted a free interception.

I have over 30+ full games on All Madden and was averaging somewhere between 4-5 interceptions thrown by the CPU each game. Terrible.

However, I've played 2 complete games with accelerated clock off now and have seen the CPU throw a total of 2 interceptions. Coincidence? Maybe. So far in these 2 games when the QB gets pressure they are making far better decisions. Too small of a sample size right now to say anything conclusive, but I will continue to test this.

[kdutch98]

Re: CPU Quarterback Play (Behavior Under Pressure, Interceptions) Thread

Ok so you are taking a team that was bad defensively adding a rookie pass rusher and doubling their sack totals and INT totals from the previous year. Not to mention a historically high sack total since no team has had 60+ sacks since 2013. You basically are proving the point that you pretty much have to nerf one thing (sacks so the CPU doesn't throw the ball at all) to prevent INTs.

No, it is showing the exact opposite as what most seem to be experiencing. Even with that much of a pass rush, I'm not seeing the outrageous CPU QB interceptions. They are throwing the ball away, throwing uncatchable passes, etc. Not throwing into coverage, unless trying to come back, where they have no choice but to do so.

This is my experience on All Madden. Clean pocket? QB play is fine. They make most throws, have some realistic misfires here and there. It's fine. QB under pressure? The CPU has no idea on how to handle it and far too often tries to run one way and throw the other way, often at a deep target, and it leads to defender in no man's land being gifted a free interception.

I have over 30+ full games on All Madden and was averaging somewhere between 4-5 interceptions thrown by the CPU each game. Terrible.

However, I've played 2 complete games with accelerated clock off now and have seen the CPU throw a total of 2 interceptions. Coincidence? Maybe. So far in these 2 games when the QB gets pressure they are making far better decisions. Too small of a sample size right now to say anything conclusive, but I will continue to test this.

I'm seeing the exact opposite from the CPU. The max interceptions I have seen from the CPU in a game is 3, and that happened just twice. Even with me getting a huge amount of pressure.

The quarter thing is interesting. I saw it somewhere else where it was discussed that maybe short quarter lengths with accelerated clock was causing the CPU to take more chances, feeling they are pressed for time, resulting in more picks.

I play 12 minute quarters, with accel clock on 20, and I am NOT seeing the CPU take chances like these, until they are behind late in the game (when basically forced to take those chances)

[kdutch98]

Re: New CPU Overpowered Interceptions Thread

Ok so you are taking a team that was bad defensively adding a rookie pass rusher and doubling their sack totals and INT totals from the previous year. Not to mention a historically high sack total since no team has had 60+ sacks since 2013. You basically are proving the point that you pretty much have to nerf one thing (sacks so the CPU doesn't throw the ball at all) to prevent INTs.

to add to this, the FEWEST pass attempts in a game against me has been 31. Every QB in my franchise has thrown the ball over 30 times against me.

[toodles2you90]

Re: New CPU Overpowered Interceptions Thread

to add to this, the FEWEST pass attempts in a game against me has been 31. Every QB in my franchise has thrown the ball over 30 times against me.

You are missing the point of what I'm saying. You are taking a team that is going to be terrible defensively, rates terribly defensively in madden, but going to put up historically good numbers in both sacks and interceptions and using that as a baseline for something not being an issue. Once again, go play with a highly rated defense for a season and see how different is.

But I'm not going to hijack this thread anymore than it already is.

[kdutch98]

Re: New CPU Overpowered Interceptions Thread

You are missing the point of what I'm saying. You are taking a team that is going to be terrible defensively, rates terribly defensively in madden, but going to put up historically good numbers in both sacks and interceptions and using that as a baseline for something not being an issue. Once again, go play with a highly rated defense for a season and see how different is.

But I'm not going to hijack this thread anymore than it already is.

I'm not the one missing the point.

The point is, I'm NOT seeing these horrible throws by CPU QBs on All Madden, for whatever reason.

Despite putting them under enormous pressure, and them throwing the ball a sh*t tone against me.

[RGiles36]

Re: CPU Quarterback Play (Behavior Under Pressure, Interceptions) Thread

My point is, that, in years past, there wasn't much fear in making throws into coverage against the CPU, because most of them were just batted down.

This is simply not true, and it’s also why it makes no sense to me that people are full-on or half-heartedly defending this stuff. Madden at default settings has always punished the user or cpu for bad reads. There are posts going around this forum of former devs indicating that the INT probability has historically been inflated for the competitive crowd.

[UtahUtes32]

Re: CPU Quarterback Play (Behavior Under Pressure, Interceptions) Thread

I am really enjoying the difficulty of All-Madden. If the INT slider is truly broken, I hope they fix it, but default All-Madden is a challenge for me this year. I'm reworking my brain to stop throwing into coverage, stop throwing while I'm taking sacks, my INT's are dropping slowly.