This is pretty much what I was thinking... there will be suspense anyway...maybe you can rotate the camera around the pileup to make things interesting.
STR should definetely be a factor, also I'd say body type or body weight should definitely be a factor... Also, does the NG game have the Toughness attribute or is that gone?
As far as button mashing goes, that should definetely not be an option, unless EA has a way to block turbo on controllers.
The other kinda crazy thing I was thinking of is maybe during the pile up you can flash 3 defensive formations one after another and the players have to select the correct one... like .. Cover 2 or Cover 3, etc..etc... anyway who ever guesses the most correct in the fastest time wins... Kinda like the NCAA Rattle the QB thing...