Position overhauls are long overdue

[canes21]

It's 2024 and Madden(and CFB) are still using the same dated positions they had back in the 1990s. LOLB, 1 single WR position, LE, etc.

While it's nice they added specialty depth chart positions like Slot WR, Power Back, Rush LE/RE, Sub LB, etc., we desperately need a depth chart overhaul.

We need SAM and WILL linebacker positions. They already have a handful of formations in the game where the positions do flip with offensive formation strength, so we know EA is capable of doing the Strong and Weak alignments defensively.

We need an Edge position desperately.

We need X, Y/H-Back, Z designations.

I know there's always been the argument the average fan doesn't understand half of these designations but that shouldn't be what stops EA from making this change. The majority of this fan base doesn't even understand the different between match and zone coverage and that hasn't stopped EA from having match be in the game. Heck, EA has spent ample time redoing and improving match in recent years.

Not only would this aid in just having players in their proper positions more consistently finally, but it would really aid in roster management for CPU teams and even user teams for the casual user that isn't sure how to properly round out a roster.

Knowing we already have specialty depth chart positions and some formations that flip strong and weak sides it shows EA has the framework already in place to make a change like this. It's a tease and it's about time they finally deliver us this change. It is long overdue and would really help improve the game and would help the game simply be more authentic.

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[Spudbox65]

Re: Position overhauls are long overdue

How bout making Long Snapper into a position instead of making them all TE’s?

[iceman43]

Re: Position overhauls are long overdue

How bout making Long Snapper into a position instead of making them all TE’s?

Because they usually are TEs in th league

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[Dsabol715]

Re: Position overhauls are long overdue

Long Snapper and EDGE, for sure. Adding secondary positions like the Show on the Player cards too would be cool to see.

[Ghost Of The Year]

Re: Position overhauls are long overdue

How bout making Long Snapper into a position instead of making them all TE’s?

And add in a Long Snap attribute as well, to make them worth eating up a spot on the roster. As it is, I can't justify keeping the Jets IRL long snapper if he's waaay worse than every single one of my other O-linemen. Give him an accuracy rating that other O-linemen just cannot match. Otherwise I'm going to use a regular O-lineman.n

[ReturnoftheTmac]

Re: Position overhauls are long overdue

Maybe even some more specialized ones like inline TE and whatever term you wanna use for a TE like Pitts. People use a few different ones for that. That way we don’t have CPU teams playing these guys totally reversed because the inline TE is usually lower rated.

Other ones like off ball LB, interior DL, nose tackle, box safety, deep safety, hybrid safety, slot CB. These could really help CPU teams so they don’t have a guy like Mike Hilton playing outside corner. Or Kyle Dugger playing the deep safety position, etc.

[WiiMaster]

Re: Position overhauls are long overdue

Pretty sure this is in the works. Wouldn't be surprised if we see it in 26 or 27.

[Ghost Of The Year]

Re: Position overhauls are long overdue

Pretty sure this is in the works. Wouldn't be surprised if we see it in 26 or 27.

Hopefully so, that would be great. What info have you heard that makes you optimistic?

[Richie71]

Re: Position overhauls are long overdue

I don't expect any changes. NCAA didn't, despite the greater variety of formations.

It's kind of there with the sub-packages, and in the modern NFL, sub should be considered base.
The infuriating part is that if you do a left-stick sub (i.e. 4DE in nickel) then the depth chart looks at your base sets, not your sub sets.

[canes21]

Re: Position overhauls are long overdue

Pretty sure this is in the works. Wouldn't be surprised if we see it in 26 or 27.

I'm hoping so. I'm hopeful the "newer" formations that do flip based of strong/weak side are them getting this into the game and are not just coincidental.

I'd love to have all the common positions in the game with their being multiple different depth charts depending on what system you ran so you could have your X, Y, and Z WR's. You'd have your star or whatever your system calls it on defense. If done right, it could really help the CPU teams feel more unique and manager their rosters better and in more realistic fashion.

[WiiMaster]

Re: Position overhauls are long overdue

Hopefully so, that would be great. What info have you heard that makes you optimistic?

I remember Clint mentioned when the ratings dropped that they've been working on it but couldn't get it in this year.

[UtahUtes32]

Re: Position overhauls are long overdue

Yes to everything in the OP.

[canes21]

Re: Position overhauls are long overdue

I remember Clint mentioned when the ratings dropped that they've been working on it but couldn't get it in this year.

Please be true.

There's so many positions once you start thinking of them that would benefit from this. The obvious are having your SAM and WILL backers. But having your 1 and 3 techs actually lining up properly 100% of the time would be nice.

Having X, Y, and Z depth chart positions would be great. The Slot WR specialist depth chart is nice, but it could be improved.

My dream would be to have a database within the game that has all the common position titles like what has been mentioned in this thread. Then, each scheme has their own depth charts that pull from the database the particular positions they need. An example being a 3-4 needs a nose guard/0-tech while a 4-3 needs a 1 and 3-tech up the middle. Some schemes run field and boundary corners, others run left and right, etc.

On top of that database and schemes having unique depth chart listings there would be a nice creation suite allowing you to create schemes, formations, and plays. If I want to create a scheme that is built around a Percy Harvin type lining them up in the backfield, then in the slot, motioning them around constant, etc. then I would have the ability to create a scheme featuring an H-back and create formations and/or use existing ones that also move the H-back into the slot, I could create plays that use him in orbit motion, rubber band motion, etc. allowing me to move him all over to get the matchups I want so that my offense can truly revolve around him.

[melodicmarc]

Re: Position overhauls are long overdue

I agree. The thing I think I’m most passionate about is getting the strong and weak designations into the game. I really need my free safety playing deep coverage every snap and my strong safety playing near the LOS. Same with Will and Sam as you said. Also a nose tackle position would be great so that you don’t have your nose tackle plying a 3 tech some of the time.

It would be nice if they could simplify player positions to edge, linebackers, and interior defensive linemen. Then have the actual position details like will and Sam on the depth chart.

[IlluminatusUIUC]

Re: Position overhauls are long overdue

An example being a 3-4 needs a nose guard/0-tech while a 4-3 needs a 1 and 3-tech up the middle.

Yeah that's one of the big flaws with running any kind of multiple defense. DT1 on a 4-3 alignment goes to the 3 tech spot but DT1 on a 3-4 alignment goes to the Nose. When you have a team like Buffalo with an undersized 3T in Ed Oliver, it puts him in a terrible position in normal 3-4 situations.