Madden NFL 25 Blog - Playing Defense

[jpdavis82]

EA Sports has posted another Madden NFL 25 blog, this one covers playing defense. In the blog they talk about heat-seeker tackling, defensive recovery mechanic, lunge tackles, defensive awareness, pursuit angles and more.

...defensive awareness plays a big role this year, as defenders with a higher awareness rating are less likely to bite on fake-outs. So when a ball carrier attempts a juke on a high-awareness defender, that player is likely to make an appropriate reaction and still make the tackle.

Another example is retuned pursuit angles, where defenders take smarter routes to the ball in order to track down ball carriers and make plays. In addition, defenders will now “break down” and prepare for a tackle as they get close to the ball carrier. This controls their momentum and puts them into the best position to make a play.

[Aggies7]

Nothing overly impressive in my opinion. Tackles don't look as over done as the trucking for running back which is a good thing.

Would've like to see more of the dive tackles in the video.

[californ14]

Re: EA Sports: Playing Defense in Madden 25

The extended information...Cool !!!!

[cuttingteeth]

Re: EA Sports: Playing Defense in Madden 25

0:54 to 0:58 ...is impressive.

[Senator Palmer]

Re: EA Sports: Playing Defense in Madden 25

Correct me if I'm wrong but I do believe that's a new Russell Wilson face scan.

In the defensive vid, both McClain and Wheeler were still with the Raiders, so hopefully these pics and vids are showcasing '12 models, because these don't look good at all to me, especially the legs.

My overall thoughts on this playbook, I'm hoping that's not it, because the stuff I didn't see is what's stick out to me right now. I didn't see anything about a greater variety of pass rush moves, or maybe something like reach tackles mapped to either the left or right stick, or more control over block shedding or ability to strike a blocker via the right stick... something, anything that lets me play with my defender's hands more.

[ghettogeeksta]

Re: EA Sports: Playing Defense in Madden 25

I'm wasn't expecting anything different than in years past from the current-gen Madden, but seeing crap like this gets me discourages about the next-gen Madden. It's hard for me to believe that they can turn this franchise around, especially in the first next-gen release, but I hope they can, I really don't wanna go another 8-10 years without playing a good NFL game.

[slick589]

Re: EA Sports: Playing Defense in Madden 25

Lol at the use of the yet "fake-outs" in the article...that sounds pretty sim

[KANE699]

Re: EA Sports: Playing Defense in Madden 25

Heh still haven't fixed the colts socks, that's a big fine in today's NFL to have no white showing on the socks.


Anyways this was about what I expected on this front, was hoping to hear something about pass defense but whatev's I guess.

[Big FN Deal]

Re: EA Sports: Playing Defense in Madden 25

"...This concept carries over into the passing game as well, as cornerbacks and safeties who trigger the Hit Stick as a receiver makes a catch have a higher chance of jarring the ball loose....."

"....Speedy defensive ends and other high-agility defenders are even more valuable, as they can recover on plays and chase down runners on the backside...."

It's no doubt that the piecemeal approach for football wears on the patience but those quotes are welcome additions. I like the fact that defenders should actually be able to break up more passes using the hit stick in M25 versus receivers, even those with great hands, getting hit right when the ball arrives yet still holding on to it, repeatedly.

Also people should remember some write up last year about how there was no need to run at DEs like Freeney in Madden because they couldn't "run down" the play from the backside. It's great to see the EA blog specifically mention that happens now, which will cause offenses to have to account for those type of defenders.

[jpdavis82]

Re: EA Sports: Playing Defense in Madden 25

I'm not a big accessories guy, but are these socks new that Luck is wearing?

[DeuceDouglas]

Re: EA Sports: Playing Defense in Madden 25

I'm not a big accessories guy, but are these socks new that Luck is wearing?

No they're just messed up for the Colts where there's no white showing.

[KANE699]

Re: EA Sports: Playing Defense in Madden 25

No they're just messed up for the Colts where there's no white showing.

They, much like all the other uniform issues from last year, have not been fixed or have not been shown being fixed.

None of the Colts low standard or high versions of their socks had any white showing which is a simple bug, but one that went ignored.

[californ14]

Re: EA Sports: Playing Defense in Madden 25

"...This concept carries over into the passing game as well, as cornerbacks and safeties who trigger the Hit Stick as a receiver makes a catch have a higher chance of jarring the ball loose....."

"....Speedy defensive ends and other high-agility defenders are even more valuable, as they can recover on plays and chase down runners on the backside...."

It's no doubt that the piecemeal approach for football wears on the patience but those quotes are welcome additions. I like the fact that defenders should actually be able to break up more passes using the hit stick in M25 versus receivers, even those with great hands, getting hit right when the ball arrives yet still holding on to it, repeatedly.

Also people should remember some write up last year about how there was no need to run at DEs like Freeney in Madden because they couldn't "run down" the play from the backside. It's great to see the EA blog specifically mention that happens now, which will cause offenses to have to account for those type of defenders.

I also like the strategy potential from creating a difference between agile DE's and more strength based DE's who may not have the agility and thus won't be able to chase down runners, but would have more of the strength to control the trench...Might indicate a time in Madden where we need to look at allowing "packages" on defense.

[KBLover]

Re: EA Sports: Playing Defense in Madden 25

It's no doubt that the piecemeal approach for football wears on the patience but those quotes are welcome additions. I like the fact that defenders should actually be able to break up more passes using the hit stick in M25 versus receivers, even those with great hands, getting hit right when the ball arrives yet still holding on to it, repeatedly.

Doesn't this happen already? I'm not seeing why they are considering it something "new" to defense.

I see receivers drop the ball often when they get plastered trying to make a catch?

[SmashMan]

Re: EA Sports: Playing Defense in Madden 25

Right-clicked on one image to view it and see if a higher res was available, and noticed in the URLs that they used pics 2-5 in the article. Not sure there's much to see in pic #1, but eh - it's a new screenshot.

http://web-vassets.ea.com/Assets/Resources/Image/madden-25-defense-1.jpg