A little overwhelmed.

[Gagnon39]

I haven't played a Madden game regularly in many years even though I usually buy it annually. Today I finally caved and bought Madden 15. So far, I'm liking it, especially the tutorials but I have to admit, I'm a bit overwhelmed. To anyone that ever says that Madden is more of an arcade game that a football simulation, you're crazy.

The biggest challenge I'm facing is the play calling. In years past I've chosen my plays both on offense and defense from the formation screens. However, this year, with so many options, I feel like I need to make an adjustment.

I consider myself a fairly knowledgeable "football guy." I coached two years (an assistant) of high school football for what it's worth and I rarely miss a Bears game. Like I said I've played many football games but in recent years I haven't played them regularly. I know football basics in regards to when to call certain plays but I do struggle with my defensive play calling. There's just so much going on. I've started to use the coaches suggestions and just select from that menu but I feel that if I do this I'm limiting myself.

How do you guys go about calling plays? Especially on defense? Do you use the coaches suggestions? And more importantly, does the coach give good suggestions in your experience? I really want to enjoy this year's game but it just seems like a lot to take in for a gamer that hasn't played video game football much recently.

[Connolly22]

Re: A little overwhelmed.

I haven't played a Madden game regularly in many years even though I usually buy it annually. Today I finally caved and bought Madden 15. So far, I'm liking it, especially the tutorials but I have to admit, I'm a bit overwhelmed. To anyone that ever says that Madden is more of an arcade game that a football simulation, you're crazy.

The biggest challenge I'm facing is the play calling. In years past I've chosen my plays both on offense and defense from the formation screens. However, this year, with so many options, I feel like I need to make an adjustment.

I consider myself a fairly knowledgeable "football guy." I coached two years (an assistant) of high school football for what it's worth and I rarely miss a Bears game. Like I said I've played many football games but in recent years I haven't played them regularly. I know football basics in regards to when to call certain plays but I do struggle with my defensive play calling. There's just so much going on. I've started to use the coaches suggestions and just select from that menu but I feel that if I do this I'm limiting myself.

How do you guys go about calling plays? Especially on defense? Do you use the coaches suggestions? And more importantly, does the coach give good suggestions in your experience? I really want to enjoy this year's game but it just seems like a lot to take in for a gamer that hasn't played video game football much recently.

i hate to say this, but it depends on what defense you're playing with and who you're playing against. 50% of the time just call a generic play like Man cover 2 and use the coverage adjustments and shift pre snap to get a good look for the offensive formation you see.

[Gagnon39]

Re: A little overwhelmed.

Another thing is that I feel like I have about 6 seconds to pick my play on defense.

[Connolly22]

Re: A little overwhelmed.

Another thing is that I feel like I have about 6 seconds to pick my play on defense.

do you play with acc clock?

[quadrospazzed]

Re: A little overwhelmed.

Sounds like you're playing the CPU. I find the CPU really tough to stop too. The computer can execute every play in the playbook and so when you try to stop one thing it can easily counter with the opposite. The only times I have beaten the CPU I've outscored them rather than shutting them out. On third and long every CPU QB throws like Manning.

[Gagnon39]

Re: A little overwhelmed.

do you play with acc clock?

Yes. I have it set to 20. But in the past I remember having time to pick my play on defense. It seems shorter this year for some reason. I'd say I successfully pick my own play about 50% of the time.

[Neolithic]

Re: A little overwhelmed.

What happens when you don't pick a play? is it one of the plays on the screen at the time, or just a pick by the CPU likely one of which was the "coaches suggestions based on situation or strategy?" or just totally random, or just the last play you ran?


I haven't payed enough attention honestly.

[quadrospazzed]

Re: A little overwhelmed.

In terms of play-calling, I wait til my opponent shows their personnel, and then I pick my formation to counter it. Depending on the situation I'm thinking about the coverage and the pass rush I want to use, or what part of the line I want to hit with a run blitz in short yardage situations. Though often the play I choose isn't the one I run because I often call audibles.

It'll go 3 WR set -> the formation -> choose play -> pre-play adjustments -> the play itself.

After I choose my plays manually in the first half, I go back and use the 'suggested' page. It will list the plays I used in the first half and tell me how effective they were. Also that tiny window that shows you what plays were called in the previous down? Pay attention to that. A lot of thought was put into this year's interface but it also takes a lot of thought to navigate it. Kind of like an NFL defensive playbook.

[Gagnon39]

Re: A little overwhelmed.

In terms of play-calling, I wait til my opponent shows their personnel, and then I pick my formation to counter it. Depending on the situation I'm thinking about the coverage and the pass rush I want to use, or what part of the line I want to hit with a run blitz in short yardage situations. Though often the play I choose isn't the one I run because I often call audibles.

It'll go 3 WR set -> the formation -> choose play -> pre-play adjustments -> the play itself.

After I choose my plays manually in the first half, I go back and use the 'suggested' page. It will list the plays I used in the first half and tell me how effective they were. Also that tiny window that shows you what plays were called in the previous down? Pay attention to that. A lot of thought was put into this year's interface but it also takes a lot of thought to navigate it. Kind of like an NFL defensive playbook.

It's definitely a lot to take in for someone who hasn't played video game football in a while.

[Mrmagoo]

Re: A little overwhelmed.

This certainly would be the boat I'd be in if I had purchased it too.

[Gagnon39]

Re: A little overwhelmed.

This certainly would be the boat I'd be in if I had purchased it too.

Honestly though, I don't mind it. I'd rather be overwhelmed than underwhelmed. I don't know if I'll continue playing Madden 15 long though with NHL 15 coming out so soon. But it's good to see EA kind of catering to the more hard-core/simulation guys rather than what some might call dumbing down the game. There's SO much going on with plays, pre-snap adjustments, etc. If I was a casual gamer that didn't have any football background I'd be completely lost.

[Sheba2011]

Re: A little overwhelmed.

I haven't played a Madden game regularly in many years even though I usually buy it annually.

I know this doesn't have much to do with your point but this line has me very confused, you buy it annually but don't play it??

[TrufflesEater]

Re: A little overwhelmed.

How do you guys go about calling plays? Especially on defense? Do you use the coaches suggestions? And more importantly, does the coach give good suggestions in your experience? I really want to enjoy this year's game but it just seems like a lot to take in for a gamer that hasn't played video game football much recently.

There's no substitute for throughly knowing your playbook. One way to do that is to use Play Now mode, in which you can turn off the play clock.

[geisterhome]

Re: A little overwhelmed.

is the playcalling really more difficult/complex this year?

[Sheba2011]

Re: A little overwhelmed.

is the playcalling really more difficult/complex this year?

Playcalling isn't really the problem, defense is more complex this year. You need at least a basic understanding of football strategy this year to know what plays to call. You need to be able to recognize a cover 2 (etc) or the defense will pick you apart.