yeah madden bugs me and my buddy (on same team) when we play our franchise games. Some things are just so frustrating it makes me hate the game.
That is the thing about Madden...it can be incredible one min and suck *** the next.
My biggest beef with Madden this year is the pathetic punt return blocking. Only have 4 returns in a combined 4 games...and that is only because I used a punt block formation. Any normal punt return formation results in the defenders being around our returner BEFORE the ball gets there EVERY SINGLE TIME. Ugh. Also, the pass defense this year doesn't seem all that good...I don't give up a lot of yards but just the way the pass yards are given up is silly and so unrealistic.
It is almost like two diff groups of programmers do the game (one good, one lakcing skills/logic) and they throw each group's product together and we are left with Madden.
Whatever the case, IMO NCAA2004 beats Madden down with a bag of nickels.
Some advice......
on denfese try using the plays madden recommends. We started doing this 2 games ago (we are 4 games into season 1) and have been dominating on D. last game we had 8 picks and only gave up 7 completions on 30 attempts for about 70 yards. hahaha. I figure what Madden says gives an advantage since it is the AI choosing the play for you to....stop the AI.