Madden NFL 10 Blog: Franchise Mode Improvements

[jeetaa6]

The more they can bring over from HC 09, the better this game will be. This is sounding very promising for us Franchise guys. Can't wait to hear about Trade logic. Heck, if the CPU teams actually transact trades (instead of having the same guys on the trade block all year long with no moves being done), that will be a big improvement!

I'm also a bit wary of having RB's skills rapidly diminish upon hitting age 30. I'm hoping they put some randomness in there a bit, so it's not an automatic occurrence.

[debauchlord]

Re: Madden NFL 10 Blog: Franchise Mode Improvements

I'm also a bit wary of having RB's skills rapidly diminish upon hitting age 30. I'm hoping they put some randomness in there a bit, so it's not an automatic occurrence.

I wouldn't be too worried about it...I mean, your 99 RB hits 30, maybe drops to 90, 31, maybe drops to 85, hits 32, maybe drops to 78 or so....those are still effective numbers, just not at all mind boggling. It has been repeated here several times, but over 30, EFFECTIVE backs are almost one in a million. Tiki was the only back at age 31 to be very effective in recent memory. Bettis on the Steelers was "effective" in that with his size and weight he can fall forward and get three yards. Going back, MAYBE Marcus Allen scrumming it with the Chiefs. LT will try to break the cycle but it is not looking good.

[kcarr]

Re: Madden NFL 10 Blog: Franchise Mode Improvements

I wouldn't be too worried about it...I mean, your 99 RB hits 30, maybe drops to 90, 31, maybe drops to 85, hits 32, maybe drops to 78 or so....those are still effective numbers, just not at all mind boggling. It has been repeated here several times, but over 30, EFFECTIVE backs are almost one in a million. Tiki was the only back at age 31 to be very effective in recent memory. Bettis on the Steelers was "effective" in that with his size and weight he can fall forward and get three yards. Going back, MAYBE Marcus Allen scrumming it with the Chiefs. LT will try to break the cycle but it is not looking good.

Bettis was situationally effective but as a back who before the age of 30 was held under 1000 yards once in 9 seasons after the age of 30 in 4 years never hit 1000. Marcus Allen was also still a decent option at times who had skills that could be used to lead to success but after 3 straight 1000 yard seasons including 1759 at the age of 25, and all those seasons taking at least 266 carries after that he only hit over 210 carries once and never hit 1000 yards. While these guys were still solid backs they were nowhere near the elite level some of the people on here seem to want 30 year old backs to maintain.

[red butler]

Re: Madden NFL 10 Blog: Franchise Mode Improvements

Players should progress based on success, but the main thing they should progress in is Awareness. Everyone learns from experience.

I feel that even back ups who don't see the field much should still progress in Awr. Not much, but they still should just by simply being on the team, watching mentors, and practicing.

If players can continue to increase in Awr , then when older players start to regress physically, they can still be a decent player by using their smarts, not relying on their physical tools to get the job done.

Example....... Your MLB is 33 yrs old. For the last few years he has started regressing in speed, acc, agility, block shedding, and maybe a little in strength. His awarness and play recognition however are still climbing a little (as long as they're not maxed out) if he is still producing on the field.

To me, this is the only realistic way to represent the decisions to keep savy veterans on your roster, or fill it with youth. A "pick your poison" scenario. You can decide to have a lot of young athletic, unpolished talent on your team, or you can fill your team with crafty veterans who have the mental, but not physical edge.

It needs to stay somewhat balanced, not just make the old players regress rapidly right out of the game. For example.... Your back up QB could be a tough decision..... do you want a 72 rated back up QB that is young with all the physiclal tools, or a 72 rated veteran whose arm is about worn out, but has great awareness....??? Which one do you want if your starter goes down, in the playoffs....??? (especially if you were simming the games, not playing them yourself.)

I agree with this completely. A player shouldn't increase in speed, agility, and jumping attributes just because he puts up great stats. I can see a quarterback improving accuracy or a receiver improving his hands, but most attribute increases should be in the leadership, consistency, play recognition lines of attributes. My only concern is that Awareness has no impact on user controlled quarterbacks.

[glitchditcher]

Re: Madden NFL 10 Blog: Franchise Mode Improvements

I wouldn't be too worried about it...I mean, your 99 RB hits 30, maybe drops to 90, 31, maybe drops to 85, hits 32, maybe drops to 78 or so....those are still effective numbers, just not at all mind boggling. It has been repeated here several times, but over 30, EFFECTIVE backs are almost one in a million. Tiki was the only back at age 31 to be very effective in recent memory. Bettis on the Steelers was "effective" in that with his size and weight he can fall forward and get three yards. Going back, MAYBE Marcus Allen scrumming it with the Chiefs. LT will try to break the cycle but it is not looking good.

Fred Taylor in 06 ran for 1,200 yards and averaged 5+ YPC at 31.

[Matt Diesel]

Re: Madden NFL 10 Blog: Franchise Mode Improvements

Just a thought. Sorry if I missed it. Since potential rating is hidden, static (assuming), would we be able to edit it through the Roster/Player editor?

[adembroski]

Re: Madden NFL 10 Blog: Franchise Mode Improvements

Fred Taylor in 06 ran for 1,200 yards and averaged 5+ YPC at 31.

That will still occur. Fred Taylor, in his heyday, outside of injuries, could easily have been called a 95+ rated back. Now, maybe he's an 85-88... not horrid, 1,200 still well within reach.

If a top-end back drops 10 points in one year, he's not a worthless back all of the sudden.

[CreatineKasey]

Re: Madden NFL 10 Blog: Franchise Mode Improvements

One thing to remember with Taylor is with his injuries he has less wear and tear on his body than other full time RB's his age.

He's still a stud of course, just had to mention that for perspective as I see it plays a factor in the success he has at his age.

[adembroski]

Re: Madden NFL 10 Blog: Franchise Mode Improvements

One thing to remember with Taylor is with his injuries he has less wear and tear on his body than other full time RB's his age.

Runningback-- the only position in sports where injuries actually extend your career.

[stux]

Re: Madden NFL 10 Blog: Franchise Mode Improvements

good RB years after 30 with 4 yard + averages and decent yardage:

Fredd Taylor 2007 - http://www.nfl.com/players/fredtaylo...e?id=TAY220162

Tikki Barber 2006 - http://www.nfl.com/players/tikibarbe...e?id=BAR025952

Warrick Dunn 2006 - http://www.nfl.com/players/warrickdu...e?id=DUN705495

Fredd Taylor 2006 - see above

Priest Holmes 2005 - http://www.nfl.com/players/priesthol...e?id=HOL627237

Correy Dillon 2004 - http://www.nfl.com/players/coreydill...e?id=DIL255767

Curtis Martin 2004 - http://www.nfl.com/players/curtismar...e?id=MAR543073

Marshall Faulk 2003 - http://www.nfl.com/players/marshallf...e?id=FAU138264

Priest Holmes 2003 -

Garrison Hearst 2003 @ 32 - http://www.nfl.com/players/garrisonh...e?id=HEA453213

Tyrone Wheatly 2003 @ 31 - http://www.nfl.com/players/tyronewhe...e?id=WHE081965

Warrick Dunn 2006 - see above


After looking for a while they do really drop off after 30, if you look you will find a few that are productive (600+ yards with 4+ yard averages) up to 33 and that seems to be the end of most RBs careers. After 30 I do not think there are many feature RBs that don't have the help of another back to help carry the load.

I think a FEW backs should stay decent till maybe 32 or 33 BUT they need to have really low stamina AND higher risk of injury.

[ryby6969]

Re: Madden NFL 10 Blog: Franchise Mode Improvements

Question for the devs, will severe injuries affect players ratings in physical attributes? Like if a hb tears an ACL, will his speed and agility go down until they are fully healed?(If ever, as it usually takes a few years for them to be completely healed)

[kcarr]

Re: Madden NFL 10 Blog: Franchise Mode Improvements

good RB years after 30 with 4 yard + averages and decent yardage:

Fredd Taylor 2007 - http://www.nfl.com/players/fredtaylo...e?id=TAY220162

Tikki Barber 2006 - http://www.nfl.com/players/tikibarbe...e?id=BAR025952

Warrick Dunn 2006 - http://www.nfl.com/players/warrickdu...e?id=DUN705495

Fredd Taylor 2006 - see above

Priest Holmes 2005 - http://www.nfl.com/players/priesthol...e?id=HOL627237

Correy Dillon 2004 - http://www.nfl.com/players/coreydill...e?id=DIL255767

Curtis Martin 2004 - http://www.nfl.com/players/curtismar...e?id=MAR543073

Marshall Faulk 2003 - http://www.nfl.com/players/marshallf...e?id=FAU138264

Priest Holmes 2003 -

Garrison Hearst 2003 @ 32 - http://www.nfl.com/players/garrisonh...e?id=HEA453213

Tyrone Wheatly 2003 @ 31 - http://www.nfl.com/players/tyronewhe...e?id=WHE081965

Warrick Dunn 2006 - see above


After looking for a while they do really drop off after 30, if you look you will find a few that are productive (600+ yards with 4+ yard averages) up to 33 and that seems to be the end of most RBs careers. After 30 I do not think there are many feature RBs that don't have the help of another back to help carry the load.

I think a FEW backs should stay decent till maybe 32 or 33 BUT they need to have really low stamina AND higher risk of injury.

Marcus allen is the only one I found that went beyond about 32 or 33 and still played with any effectiveness. As far as backs remaining decent sometimes, yes they should. However these backs were mostly not elite by that age.

Fred at 31 was a solid back but was not an every down back. He was very productive though sharing carries with MJD and was a solid starter, probably a mid 80s quality player.

Tiki was great but that line was really underrated at that point. Pretty much the same group is now considered the best or one of the best olines in the NFL. I would have said he maintained a mid to high 80s level play though.

Warrick after he turned 31 had that one solid 1100 yard season and then dropped off. Probably mid 80s

Priest after he turned 31 was solid in the games he played but was also sharing carries and never played more than half a season. Possibly high 80s but so beaten down by all the carries, nearly 1000 in the 3 previous years, that his injury ratings should have been probably in the 60s.

After corey turned 31 he played one season and put up decent but not great numbers. 800 yards on a superbowl team with a really good oline, I would say high 70s or low 80s

Curtis had one good season where I would have called him high 80s at 31 years old but dropped down to at best low 80s by the next year.

Garrison had a solid season at 31 but nothing to write home about. Probably would have called him low 80s then and then high 70s the next year.

Once Marshall hit 31 he was average at best. Maybe mid 70s.

After Wheatley hit 31 he did run for slightly over 1000 yards but it took him a season and a half to do it. Average at best production. Maybe mid to low 70s.

These players may have been able to play decent at 31 years old but it wasn't at the top of their games for most of them. There was definate dropoff in most of these cases by this point and for all of them by 32 years of age none of them were much above average.

[7stringking]

Quote from article...
"Finally we get to progression, easily one of the most often-discussed areas of Franchise mode in the community for Madden NFL 09. Donny Moore did a lot of good work with progression prior to my joining the team and I’ve been able to keep tweaking it since. Here are the major changes we’ve made so far:

• Older players will digress much faster. In fact, when a running back hits 30, he’s going downhill at warp speed.

• Younger players will progress quickly if they play well. We’re talking up 10 points in overall if he has a great year.

• Veteran players will still progress, but not substantially. They can also digress if they play poorly."



I may be wrong, but shouldn't he be saying 'regress' NOT 'digress' at the end?


I think digress means to go off on a tangent, not go down or backwards

[kcarr]

Re: Madden NFL 10 Blog: Franchise Mode Improvements

Quote from article...
"Finally we get to progression, easily one of the most often-discussed areas of Franchise mode in the community for Madden NFL 09. Donny Moore did a lot of good work with progression prior to my joining the team and I’ve been able to keep tweaking it since. Here are the major changes we’ve made so far:

• Older players will digress much faster. In fact, when a running back hits 30, he’s going downhill at warp speed.

• Younger players will progress quickly if they play well. We’re talking up 10 points in overall if he has a great year.

• Veteran players will still progress, but not substantially. They can also digress if they play poorly."



I may be wrong, but shouldn't he be saying 'regress' NOT 'digress' at the end?


I think digress means to go off on a tangent, not go down or backwards

Already been mentioned but yes you are right

[Glorious Arc]

Re: Madden NFL 10 Blog: Franchise Mode Improvements

Already been mentioned but yes you are right

Why do people get hung up on proper english and grammer its not like we are in school? I got yelled at for typing alot, others have been "called out" before as well, and now josh is taking it lol o well...

(this was not a "serious" post dont get onto me)