[MarketingWiz]

blackacesons: Here is my take on your concern: Over the years I have found that I set the HUM pass rush slider for realism. It is one of the hardest sliders to "dial in". However since I establish my goal to be realism, depending on what team I am pretending to Coach/GM for, I expect my stud DE's to get about 15+ sacks a season. So for instance, if I am playing as the NY Giants, I want the sliders to deliver 15+ sacks for Tuck and JPaul at seasons end. So basically I dial in the HUM pass rush slider based on the best D-Line in the NFL and test it to death to make sure the stat line is coming in correctly. Once I feel that I am getting consistency, I settle into that slider slot. I always start at "0" and adjust my way up as need be. But please keep in mind that sacks in Madden are more a function of how you use your LB's and Safety's and how you mix in stunts. Meaning, you cannot just rely on your D-Line to shed blocks with straight ahead brute force. You gotta confuse the O-Line pre-snap with "blitz looks" from your LB's and Safety's and know how to do finger ji-jutsu with the R3 stick so that you can swim move or bull rush your DE/LB/Safety through a block. Much like the real NFL, the defense has to "occupy" the best blockers on the O-Line with an overload to free up a stud DE, or your average LB, or Safety for a clean look at stuffing the run or smashing the QB. The problem often comes when the your finger ji-jutsu moves with the truck stick are superior to the CPU AI for picking up blocks and at that point your sack numbers and pressure rushes go through the roof. It is at this point that the game becomes boring for me because in essence the AI is broken.

2) Regarding the DB's, do not confuse setting interceptions higher to equate to more INT necessarily. I have found the setting the INT slider up helps the HUM DB's to better cover the WR's to avoid ROBO QB syndrome. Yes, the INT's can go up, especially if the CPU QB is throwing dead birds for passes. But once again, like all things slider, the HUM INT slider is one of preference and tradeoffs. I HATE ROBO QB, unless the QB is Brady, Brees, etc. But having Cutler ROBO QB da Bears to win against a formidable defense is not acceptable. I have found that keeping the INT slider UP for HUM helps offset ROBO QB and provides for better coverage play by the DB and Safety's.

In closing, remember, this slider set is simply a springboard, a base from which to have discourse amongst ourselves. Feel free to tweak and change it to your skill level and liking. The only steadfast commitments I am firm on are SPEEDTHRESH, GAME SPEED and ACCURATE ROSTERS.