Addressing Wildcat Restrictions

[TeamBuilder]

The Wildcat (popularized by the Miami Dolphins in 2008) is a new formation in Madden this year. As most Madden gamers know it is usually run with someone other than the quarterback taking snaps while a player put in motion will either receive a handoff or be used in a way similar to play action.


For those of you that may remember the Dolphins unleashed it in a game against the Patriots last year. Among the Wildcat plays that the Dolphins ran was a play-action sweep by Ronnie Brown in which he ran out of the pocket and threw a touchdown pass to Anthony Fasano.


Unfortunately in Madden, when calling the same play-action sweep that the Dolphins used, Ronnie Brown is stuck shuffling within the pocket and cannot scramble out of it. This is an issue that is not only specific to the Dolphins, but any team that attempts a pass out of the Wildcat formation.




Being able to scramble outside of the tackles is what makes the Wildcat that effective in real life.



But why can’t we scramble out of the pocket when attempting a pass out of the Wildcat? I posed the question to Ian Cummings through an Operation Sports thread and he responded in a video regarding issues being addressed in patches.
To see what I am referring to, click this link and take a look at Video #2 (Skip ahead to 2 minutes and 48 seconds for the section about the Wildcat) http://insideblog.easports.com/archive/2009/09/09/madden-nfl-10-faq.aspx

After listening to the response I was left with more questions than answers:


1. Why is Ian Cummings worried about the Wildcat being used as an exploit?


2. Is he implying that there is no way to stop it if the ability to scramble out of the pocket was added?


3. What is the point of having my running back shuffling around the pocket looking to make a pass, wouldn't I just prefer to have my quarterback in there since the ability to run is disabled?


4. I saw Ronnie Brown run (scramble) out of the pocket and throw on Sunday (technically Monday) against the Jets this season. What happened to the motto, “If you see it on Sunday..?”


5. Can there be an option added for the Wildcat that would allow users to turn scrambling on/off?


6. When will the NFL send a memo to all teams saying they aren't allowed to scramble or audible from that the Wildcat because it is too much of an exploit?


That’s my take, what do you think?
- Andre

[TeamBuilder]

Re: Adressing Wildcat Restrictions

Addressing*

[Dianwei32]

Re: Adressing Wildcat Restrictions

nice write up, I've never been a big user of the Wildcat because very few of the playbooks I use (Run Heavy, Titans, Panthers, Saints) have the Wildcat (only the Panthers do, though the Saints have a Wildcat-esque play).

I will admit that I used the crap out of the WIldcat in the demo. I always played as the Cowboys (being a 'boys fan, I hate the Giants) and the Wildcat Jet Sweep to Felix Jones was just devastating, I averaged roughly 50 yards every time I ran that play and was able to score a TD about 75% of the time. It was not nearly as effective in the actual game, but it was fun to just wreck the Giants all day long.

[Bellsprout]

Re: Adressing Wildcat Restrictions

Outside of when I have Vick, I don't even use that formation to pass anymore because it's always a sack.

I'll run it two or three times a game, but that's about it. If we could scramble on passes I might use it five or six times, I guess. It just doesn't appeal to me all that much. I prefer playing with the traditional formations, I guess.

[MiWolves]

Re: Adressing Wildcat Restrictions

What i do with the wildcat is go to shotgun and if i have a decent mobile qb i choose a screen play and wait like a half second and run to the olinemen i usually get 20-50 yards per run but i only use it on non expectant situations like a 3 and 20 so meh.. and i pass sometimes...

[bigdfan76]

Re: Adressing Wildcat Restrictions

I think it's ridiculous that people who insist on exploiting ruin this formation for me. I like athletic QBs and HBs or WRs that are versatile. I drafted Terrell Pryor for this reason. I play with the Cowboys and I had a vision of Pryor and F.Jones running the wildcat. Well it works for the run but not the pass. We should be able to scramble just like we can in any other passing play/formation. If need be only turn it off online and turn it ON offline. That's my take on it. Thanks EA.

[KBLover]

Re: Adressing Wildcat Restrictions

It makes me wonder why it's even in the game if they weren't going to make the AI able to deal with it.

Why would they create a formation that breaks their own AI, then cripple it when it breaks the said AI?

The logic makes no sense to me.

Of course, the real solution, imo, is to fix the AI, not cripple the play, because it IS effective in real life. Just watch Miami shove the ball down people's throats with it almost every week.

[TeamBuilder]

Re: Addressing Wildcat Restrictions

It makes me wonder why it's even in the game if they weren't going to make the AI able to deal with it.

Why would they create a formation that breaks their own AI, then cripple it when it breaks the said AI?

The logic makes no sense to me.

Of course, the real solution, imo, is to fix the AI, not cripple the play, because it IS effective in real life. Just watch Miami shove the ball down people's throats with it almost every week.

Yea I found it odd that Ian Cummings himself referred to it as something he didn't want to make into an exploit...

How would being able to scramble be an exploit? It's just how the play is supposed to be run. It's like he's implying "well your opponent won't know if you plan to pass or scramble so we're going to make it so you can only pass.

Makes no sense, I'm still waiting for the NFL to tell Ronnie Brown that if he wants to throw that ball he can't leave the pocket.

And for that matter, why not just get rid of QB scrambling in general?

[KANE699]

Re: Addressing Wildcat Restrictions

You seriously don't see how its an exploit?

In madden anyone with a fast enough player will just run to the outside and just run up field with the ball ala Michael Vick 2004.

[TeamBuilder]

Re: Addressing Wildcat Restrictions

And how is that an exploit? The Eagles could do that in the NFL.

[teewee]

Re: Addressing Wildcat Restrictions

And how is that an exploit? The Eagles could do that in the NFL.

the wildcat is already cheese without the sramble outside. alot of people do it every play cause its hard to stop.I rather they take it out than let it be the cheesers anthem. the only team that should have success with this play is miami and just because you use their playbook doesnt meen it should work you dont have the same personell to execute the plays. so you shouldnt be able to run up and down the field with the eagles runnin the wildcat.

[J.R. Locke]

Re: Adressing Wildcat Restrictions

The problem with this whole game is that they didn't do the fundementals therefore all this other stuff doesn't work properly or there are exploits because the defense has no options.

For instance if a team lines up in wildcat they almost always run to the strong side of the formation. If there were options to run defensive line stunts to that direction and then to role a safety up and have linebackers shot gaps....you stop the wildcat like they do in the NFL.

But Madden lacks this. So it is an exploit with no counter.

Great write up though. I wish every post was this well put together.

[KBLover]

Re: Addressing Wildcat Restrictions

You seriously don't see how its an exploit?

In madden anyone with a fast enough player will just run to the outside and just run up field with the ball ala Michael Vick 2004.

Which is what I could do with Pat White...out of a standard shotgun formation. Just hit R2 (sprint) and Run like the wind.

So, why is that not "cheese" but doing it out of the Wildcat is "cheese"?

And of course the real problem is that the AI sucks against the Wildcat, not that the play or the execution of the play is unrealistic.

Because I contend the "fix" for the Wildcat scrambling is equally "cheesy" and unrealistic - but that's considered okay.

[KBLover]

Re: Addressing Wildcat Restrictions

the wildcat is already cheese without the sramble outside. alot of people do it every play cause its hard to stop.I rather they take it out than let it be the cheesers anthem.

I'd rather them take it out than cripple it so it no longer works like it does in real life.

It wouldn't be "cheese" if EA would fix their AI.

Use the same AI for the shotgun and defending that if I took Pat White and scrambled out of the Gun with him. That's all the wildcat is, a weird shotgun formation.

In fact, with the hold X to not fake but really hand off, you could run it out of any Shotgun PA - just sometimes you hand it off and sometimes you fake it and then run with the QB.

[TeamBuilder]

Re: Addressing Wildcat Restrictions

I'd rather them take it out than cripple it so it no longer works like it does in real life.

It wouldn't be "cheese" if EA would fix their AI.

Use the same AI for the shotgun and defending that if I took Pat White and scrambled out of the Gun with him. That's all the wildcat is, a weird shotgun formation.

In fact, with the hold X to not fake but really hand off, you could run it out of any Shotgun PA - just sometimes you hand it off and sometimes you fake it and then run with the QB.

You can do that? I know if you held "A" in past games it would actually do the hand off, but I thought they got rid of it this year. But it works with "X"?