Depth Chart Position desired changes?

[shagrugg]

Wondering if there are any depth chart positions you feel need to be added to the game... such as Short Yardage Running Back?

Many teams employ a specific power RB for 3rd/4th and short and Goal line situations. I'd like to see this accounted for in Madden via the depth chart as opposed to formation substitutions.

So are there any other depth chart changes/additions you'd like to see in the game? If so please post here with a brief explanation.

[bigdfan76]

Long snapper. They are in the game but the cpu logic is well... not logical. Because of roster requirements I'm sure in 1-2 years all the cpu teams will drop them. Not to mention some of the long snappers aren't a O-line position or TE so you actually can't sub them into the LS position after the cpu subs them out. You have to edit their position to C or TE or something. Anyway LS needs to be implemented the right way.

[VikeKing]

I really want a special teams depth chart, or at least a way to substitute for kickoff and punt teams. I am tired of my best pass rusher blocking for punt returns and starting ILB covering kicks. 3-4 defenses should not have their 2nd MLB covering kicks...I lost my starter for a season due to that.

Also wish that 3rd down back had an impact in sim games. They don't get any extra catch stats and if it's your 3rd string back (or lower) it's as if he didn't play all season.

[shagrugg]

Quote: Originally Posted by VikeKing

I really want a special teams depth chart, or at least a way to substitute for kickoff and punt teams. I am tired of my best pass rusher blocking for punt returns and starting ILB covering kicks. 3-4 defenses should not have their 2nd MLB covering kicks...I lost my starter for a season due to that. Also wish that 3rd down back had an impact in sim games. They don't get any extra catch stats and if it's your 3rd string back (or lower) it's as if he didn't play all season.

agreed on special teams... especially for gunners which is probably the most well-known position on the kick and punt coverage units.

[Franchise408]

I would like a short yardage back, but mostly, a slot receiver position.

[VikeKing]

Quote: Originally Posted by Franchise408

I would like a short yardage back, but mostly, a slot receiver position.

I don't quite understand what you mean. Isn't WR #3 always the slot unless you play with like the Pats playbook? Or do you mean in your idea the attributes calculated diff for OVR of slot position? Like ACC/AGI/Route being more significant? Just curious.

[havokeff]

There are a ton of positions that need to be added, or I should say the depth chart needs to be redesigned.

Goal line running back.
Long snapper.
Return specialist.
Weak Side Linebacker.
Strong side Linebacker.
Jack/Elephant DE/OLB Linebacker.
Nose Tackle.
Under Tackle.
Pass rushing specialist.
Left cornerback.
Right cornerback.
Nickle back.
Flanker.
Wide out.
Slot receiver.
Blocking tightend.
Receiving tightend.
Blocking fullback.
Receiving fullback.

Now you can work around most of this, but it is annoying to have to do it IN GAME and then you have to do it every year, and there are some of them sorta there already, but these need to be actual positions in the depth chart.

They also need depth charts based on coaching scheme. If you have a 4-3 coach, then you have the under tackle and nose tackle positions, the weak, strong and middle linebackers positions.

Run the 3-4, then you should have the nose tackle position, the middle, strong, weak and elephant linebacker positions.

Run a hybrid 3-4/4-3 then you need a depth chart for both where you can have Suggs as your OLB Elephant and as your 4-3 DE. And Ngata as your 3-4 RE and 4-3 under tackle.

Of course by doing this, you are going to totally confuse the crap out of most players that don't really understand defense, so in addition, you need to add position tendencies/strengths to players as well as penalties for lining guys up in the wrong positions.

Say you look at Patrick Willis, he will have 3-4 and 4-3 MLB as well as 4-3 OLB positions listed as strengths. But you look at someone like John Beason and he would have only 4-3 MLB and 4-3 OLB listed. Both would have 3-4 OLB, Will or Jack/Elephant as negatives.

Look at Albert Haynesworth and he has 4-3 undertackle listed only as a strength. 3-4 DE or NT would be listed as negatives and put a penalty on him in those positions. Look at Ngata and every line position would be listed as a strength/tendency.

Wes Welker would have slot receiver listed as a strength/tendency yet would have flanker as a negative.

This would allow for Wes Welker to be the #1 receiver based on his being so good out of the slot for Brady and not because he is the #1 receiver on the depth chart that puts him out of his position.

It would also, hopefully, keep the AI from wanting to put someone like Dwight Freeney in a 3-4 end position.

A depth chart revamp should also eliminate the seeming penalties for players that aren't the #1 starters when it comes to progression. I.e. Tedd Ginn loses speed because he isn't the #1 receiver every year, even though he is the slot receiver and kick and punt returner.

Or Rogers-Cromartie regresses because Nnamdi is the #1 CB, even though he is on the field every single play Nnamdi is.

It would also serve to make elite players, truly elite reflecting it playing time wise and stat wise.
Vernon Davis is as good a blocking tightend as he is a receiving tightend, so you can have him as both in your depth chart. This saves you from having to have a blocking tightend like say the Bears and keeps defenses from having a tell on running vs passing plays.
The a fore mentioned Ngata and Suggs again are good examples. Instead of having to have a 3-4 end and 4-3 undertackle or as pass rush specialist in a 4-3 at end and 3-4 OLB Jack/Elephant as separate players, you have them all in one.