Madden NFL 10 Blog: Blocking Improvements Part 2 - The Run Game

[droopizzle34]

Re: Blog is up! Run blocking improvements...

I'm sure it only looks that way because of the way the animation was captured. It takes two people to mo-cap a tackle (obviously), so whoever the ballcarrier was, he dipped his shoulder a little before being hit. But there really isn't any "bracing" going on outside of the animation.

Anyway, nice blog. One thing I noticed wasn't touched on was lead blocks. Have those been tweaked at all? Sometimes in Madden 09, the FB or whoever was lead blocking would make the wrong decision in picking up the block. If there's a blitz and someone gets in the backfield, sometimes he'd ignore him and go on to assignment. Also, inferior lead blockers should get blown up in the hole, not just sidestepped like they do in 09. This would slow down people who love to run dual tailbacks in the I Formation.

Preach!!!! Man the FB was EXTRA DUMB last year. I used to look like this so many times in my league games ----> I hope this issue is also addressed.(the fb,not me bagging my head...lol already addressed that..LMAO)

[madchuck]

Re: Blog is up! Run blocking improvements...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srUo2MDngJE

Sometimes you dont have time to brace yourself</EMBED>

[Deegeezy]

Re: Blog is up! Run blocking improvements...

Hopefully all the new animations = no more lazy animations to show a defeated blocker such as the defender simply knocking him on his backside at the snap of the ball.

[Valdarez]

Re: Blog is up! Run blocking improvements...

This definitely look better than Madden '09, where the NT seemed to blow up every play.

What difficulty setting is the example below running on? And what where the line assignments by the defense? I'm just curious because that's one heck of a large hole that was created for the running back and there is a lot of movement going on. Will movement always be 'away' from the gap the running back is running towards?

More importantly, as the difficulty increases how does the line play become more aggressive? Do we see less movement, more special moves for quick tackles, player with higher PA allowing for better position (getting of their blockers / moving to the ball faster), or other?

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The biggest problem I had with the running game in Madden '09, other than the uber godly NT, was with lead blocking. Once I maxed out the slider setting on Madden, guys couldn't get a block for nothing. I had one player where three of my guys lined up like an arrow, the perfect pocket block setup. Only to have one single DB run down the field, go right through the middle of all three of them, and I mean literally through the middle. Not a single player even attempted to block him or made a move in his direction. It was as if he wasn't on the field to them. He went through untouched and hit me square for the tackle. It was crazy.

I have complained about APF2K8's lead blocking, primarily due to the missed block scenarios such as the one I just gave, and the lack of realistically shedding blocks. Madden '09 was far worse however in the missed blocks area... and I mean, far, far worse, to the point it was more frustrating, than fun running the ball. I ended up passing 90/10 in Madden, when I'm typically a down the line 50/50 run/pass player. In Madden, blocks were consistently missed, when they were made, they were held for too short a duration, making them all but worthless. Has Madden '10 done anything to address the lead blocking issues of Madden '09?

[lint]

Re: Blog is up! Run blocking improvements...

I was most impressed with the 3rd video.

Not only was there a double team block but the guy peeled off to stop the LBs from blitzing.

/rummages to go get $5 to reserve Madden10

[celg35]

Re: Blog is up! Run blocking improvements...

Ian, I was wondering if the improved blocking this year had an influence on holding calls and penelties.

with all the coding that was implemented, was it tricky to throw in holding calls. will we see more of them or is that slider dependent??

great blog , and thanks for the feedback .

[PantherBeast_OS]

Re: Blog is up! Run blocking improvements...

This definitely look better than Madden '09, where the NT seemed to blow up every play.

What difficulty setting is the example below running on? And what where the line assignments by the defense? I'm just curious because that's one heck of a large hole that was created for the running back and there is a lot of movement going on. Will movement always be 'away' from the gap the running back is running towards?

More importantly, as the difficulty increases how does the line play become more aggressive? Do we see less movement, more special moves for quick tackles, player with higher PA allowing for better position (getting of their blockers / moving to the ball faster), or other?

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The biggest problem I had with the running game in Madden '09, other than the uber godly NT, was with lead blocking. Once I maxed out the slider setting on Madden, guys couldn't get a block for nothing. I had one player where three of my guys lined up like an arrow, the perfect pocket block setup. Only to have one single DB run down the field, go right through the middle of all three of them, and I mean literally through the middle. Not a single player even attempted to block him or made a move in his direction. It was as if he wasn't on the field to them. He went through untouched and hit me square for the tackle. It was crazy.

I have complained about APF2K8's lead blocking, primarily due to the missed block scenarios such as the one I just gave, and the lack of realistically shedding blocks. Madden '09 was far worse however in the missed blocks area... and I mean, far, far worse, to the point it was more frustrating, than fun running the ball. I ended up passing 90/10 in Madden, when I'm typically a down the line 50/50 run/pass player. In Madden, blocks were consistently missed, when they were made, they were held for too short a duration, making them all but worthless. Has Madden '10 done anything to address the lead blocking issues of Madden '09?

Well as we can see here on all the videos The blocking and the defense pursuit is looking great. All because of the pro tak. I am happy bout all this. This look far better then it was in 09.

[jdr4693]

Re: Blog is up! Run blocking improvements...

why do the running backs still run funny? they kinda runn like robots still. they should be lower to the ground, not standing up straight.

[shotgun styles]

Re: Blog is up! Run blocking improvements...

This definitely look better than Madden '09, where the NT seemed to blow up every play.

What difficulty setting is the example below running on? And what where the line assignments by the defense? I'm just curious because that's one heck of a large hole that was created for the running back and there is a lot of movement going on. Will movement always be 'away' from the gap the running back is running towards?

More importantly, as the difficulty increases how does the line play become more aggressive? Do we see less movement, more special moves for quick tackles, player with higher PA allowing for better position (getting of their blockers / moving to the ball faster), or other?

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The biggest problem I had with the running game in Madden '09, other than the uber godly NT, was with lead blocking. Once I maxed out the slider setting on Madden, guys couldn't get a block for nothing. I had one player where three of my guys lined up like an arrow, the perfect pocket block setup. Only to have one single DB run down the field, go right through the middle of all three of them, and I mean literally through the middle. Not a single player even attempted to block him or made a move in his direction. It was as if he wasn't on the field to them. He went through untouched and hit me square for the tackle. It was crazy.

I have complained about APF2K8's lead blocking, primarily due to the missed block scenarios such as the one I just gave, and the lack of realistically shedding blocks. Madden '09 was far worse however in the missed blocks area... and I mean, far, far worse, to the point it was more frustrating, than fun running the ball. I ended up passing 90/10 in Madden, when I'm typically a down the line 50/50 run/pass player. In Madden, blocks were consistently missed, when they were made, they were held for too short a duration, making them all but worthless. Has Madden '10 done anything to address the lead blocking issues of Madden '09?

There are way too many whiffs on offense. Yes, a guy may be hard to block, but the offensive player should not just RUN RIGHT BY HIM. That's terrible.

[g2thecore]

Re: Blog is up! Run blocking improvements...

I have to agree with Valdarez on the size of the hole, that was a HUGE hole. Furthermore, I'm still not happy with the run cycles. I'm hoping this is not the final run animations, and that Simon is still tuning them.

Otherwise, I love the run blocking improvements. I love to run the ball, so any improvements to make the run game more realistic is welcomed. Good job as always, I'm very excited for E3 now!

[STLRams]

Re: Blog is up! Run blocking improvements...

Great job Ian, I really like how your looking at so many aspects of this game and trying to find ways to improve on it.

[Valdarez]

Re: Blog is up! Run blocking improvements...

As a primarily APF2K8 player, who tried to play Madden '09 and found it wanting, it's really hard to make the adjustment of not having control of your line calls. I'm watching the videos again and I see a lot of straight line DLine calls for your examples (no stunting), which is fine, but what I don't like is that they are all straight up engagements. There's no control of gap right/left to take away edge runs, or razors/pinches/all in to take away the gaps, or a fan to try to control the QB roll outs. Will Madden ever give us the ability to control the DLine assignments instead of binding it to a specific play, thus greatly reducing the strategy of defensive play?

[jdr4693]

Re: Blog is up! Run blocking improvements...

I just want them to fix the wierd running so badly. That is not how running backs or any other human being would run. They need to be LOWER to the ground with their hand out feeling for holes and pusshind and stuff. Not standing straight up like a pencil.

[PantherBeast_OS]

Re: Blog is up! Run blocking improvements...

I just want them to fix the wierd running so badly. That is not how running backs or any other human being would run. They need to be LOWER to the ground with their hand out feeling for holes and pusshind and stuff. Not standing straight up like a pencil.

Well the running backs looks good to me. I don't see anything wrong with them.

[ch46647]

Re: Blog is up! Run blocking improvements...

I think the run blocking looks light years better!! The 50 new blocking animations should really make every play look different. Only question I have is will there be consistant double teams on elite D-lineman in the 3-4?

I cannot wait for next weekend. This board will be very lively when gametrailers does their "Madden gameplay blowout" vids!