[infemous]

I've been saying it for a long time but the passing mechanic needs to be slightly adjusted, so that there is a gauge (can toggle whether its visible or not) that determines the velocity and subsequent trajectory of a throw.

Meanwhile, as the gauge fills, the QB winds his arm up. A QBs throwing motion and release speed will affect the speed with which the gauge fills up, and their throw power will determine the differences between how fast the ball travels (and its trajectory) at various stages of the gauge being released.

This will then allow for a much more fluid passing mechanic, that will allow for more nuance in the passing game. Different QBs can make different kind of throws. Some players may prefer a QB with only 75 THP because of the touch they can put on throws that a 99 THP QB may not be able to make. Different throwing motions will actually have a small but significant impact on the passing game and again preferences for throwing styles can be established (some may like a slow wind up to be more precise with how to throw it).

You combine this mechanic with QBs being able to miss more throws by smaller margins, more animations for DBs and WRs to attempt to make plays on different types of throws (not always successful) and just generally more pass deflections by DBs in good position instead of INTs and then you have an overhauled passing game without touching on the actual WR and DB interactions down the field too.

Another essential aspect that needs to be addressed is that the pocket needs to be smaller, and the left stick should afford WAY more control to move your QB within it (depending on a QB Footwork rating - which I have written about way too often - basically it affects drop back speed and QB speed/movement/animations within the pocket)

Then having a right stick to assign to do special moves, if a player has the ability to do that special move, allows for more creativity and realistic ways of avoiding sacks and pressure, just like real QBs do.