A little worried about something in Abner's Madden Review

[kwpit79]

Hi,

Can someone with the game alleviate my fears a little? After reading Bill Abner's Madden 10 review, avaialble here:

http://www.gameshark.com/reviews/331...-10-Review.htm

But in particular I'm referring to this part of the review:

For example, if you are on offense and come out in a 3-wide formation, the AI should see this and immediately go into a Nickel defense, bringing in an extra defensive back to cover the 3rd wide receiver. With ratings meaning so much more this year, it’s terribly difficult for a safety or a linebacker to try and cover a speedy slot receiver.


For those who are playing the game (I haven't evened played the demo yet), if you choose a 5-WR set, will the defense still call a base 4-3 or 3-4 defense, leaving mismatches all over the field?

Bill's review is the first I've read about this problem on here, but if it's true, it seems like a game-killer, given the spread of the ratings this year. The CPU should call it's defense based on your personnel groupings.

If it is the case, will it be addressed in a patch?

[Netherscourge]

So if I go from I-formation to 5-wide every other play, the defense should be able to immediately have the correct formations and players in?

That doesn't sound right either.

[countryboy]

I have yet to see the cpu come out and be completely baffled as to which formation/personel to have on the field.

[cjallure24]

I think it depends on the down. If it's first down the CPU may come out in a 4-3 to help against the run, seeing that its first down. I sometimes do that myself.

[sois]

Quote: Originally Posted by Netherscourge

So if I go from I-formation to 5-wide every other play, the defense should be able to immediately have the correct formations and players in? That doesn't sound right either.

Kinda unrelated, but how does this work in real life? Does the offense send out a package and then the defense reacts?

Or does the defense package get determine by the situation? For example, if it's 3rd and 11, do they send out a nickel package regardless of what the offense uses?

Thanks football gurus.

[StoryBook]

Quote: Originally Posted by cjallure24

I think it depends on the down. If it's first down the CPU may come out in a 4-3 to help against the run, seeing that its first down. I sometimes do that myself.

This. It'd be wise not to play man to man in a 4-3 scheme against 3 receiver sets though but depending on the team, you'd rather have the extra LB to try and tackle Michael Turner than a nickel back on 1st and 10.

[kwpit79]

Quote: Originally Posted by cjallure24

I think it depends on the down. If it's first down the CPU may come out in a 4-3 to help against the run, seeing that its first down. I sometimes do that myself.

Yeah, I can see on first down the CPU thinking "stop run first", but in a 5-WR set, you'd have no RB, so the threat to run would be nullified.

I just hope that certain passing formations would cause the CPU to call pass defese formations (nickel, quarter, dime, etc).

[icicle22]

I thought he said that the CPU seems to base the defensive package on down and distance.

For example, on 3rd and 1 it is likely to pick a package to stop the run since that is typically a running situation. You can come out with 5 wides and the CPU still is basing the call on the down and distance.....at least that's what I deciphered from his blogs prior to the review.