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Neo_Novalis's avatar
Neo_Novalis
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5 years ago

AI controlled HB makes weird cuts on run plays

on run plays I see relatively often weird cuts by AI controlled HBs as soon as they passed the d-line. instead of directly running towards the endzone using the open space in front of him he makes a ...
Neo_Novalis's avatar
Neo_Novalis
Hero+
5 years ago

added a video of this bug to the youtube playlist: Madden NFL 21 AI controlled HB makes weird cuts on run plays - YouTube

1) the video shows Jerome Bettis from the MUT Legends in the Solo Challenge 'Legends Showdown #21'. he runs out of an I-formation following his FB diagonally towards the sideline. after passing the O-line he would have free space if he only kept the direction (where the circle from the repeat mode can be seen) but made a cut to the inside where a bunch of defenders could tackle him.

2) I also added a second video. in this case it is the Punt Returner (same game, same opponent). he runs past his blocking teammates on the right and could make (a few) more yards (at least), but makes a cut left into the defenders.

I've seen this pattern also with WR making cuts after catching the ball while they would have had empty space if they had maintained their direction.

Neo_Novalis's avatar
Neo_Novalis
Hero+
5 years ago

I added 3 more videos showing weird cuts of the ballcarrier. I took them from the MCC 'Week 7: NFC North' Solo Challenges against the Vikings (#3) in the playlist) and against the Bears (#4 & #5).

  • In clip #3, the kick returner from the Vikings (#31) makes a cut directly into a bunch of players while he would have had at least some more yards to go if he had maintained the direction.
  • Clip #4 is very similar to clip #3 , but this time the Bears' KR (#84 Patterson?) makes the cut to the right, again into a bunch of players.
  • Clip #5: QB Mitch Trubisky starts to scramble and passes the OL/DL on the left. he then makes a cut to the right. I think this cut is ok since after the cut the field was also open if he continued to run into this direction. but also in this case it is not clear whether one of my players would have been able to tackle him without the cut. shortly after the first cut he makes a second cut to the left directly into the arms of my defender while no one could have disrupted his run for a few more yards if he would have just kept running straight after the first cut.

Summarising my observations so far: from my perspective, AI controlled ball carriers (not only HBs, but I observed this pattern for HBs only at first) run way too many cuts when there are other players around them, e.g. when passing the DL and they are surrounded with some more DBs (although their lane would be free), or when passing the first defenders during a kick or punt return. if the defenders are only in front of the ball carrier (e.g. at the begin of the PR or KR) or only behind them or on their left or right, they do not make these cuts. But as soon as defenders on two opposite sides come into the ball carrier's radar, he doesn't seem to know his way around.

  • Neo_Novalis's avatar
    Neo_Novalis
    Hero+
    5 years ago

    one more observation: these weird cuts seem to occur if the ballcarrier runs diagonal. the change of direction seems to always be orthogonal (i.e. 90°), e.g. from running diagonal towards the right sideline to running diagonal towards the left sideline.

    I've added more videos to the youtube playlist (#6-9) where e.g. the Bears' HB (#6) runs from left to right (diagonally) and changes to from right to left while there was no space in front of him.

    from my perspective, videos #9 (Seahawks QB #1 starts to scramble while one of my defenders goes down by an impact block behind him) and #10 (#17 runs a Jet Sweep) show the pattern I've already described.

    • in #9, as soon as the QB is circled from several sides, he does not know his way around. he makes the cut as soon as the defender behind him is in a straight line to the defender in front of him. I'm pretty sure that if the defender behind wasn't there, the QB would have continued his previous direction and would have passed the bunch of OL and DL outside. the cut made him running directly into the bunch of defenders.
    • in #10, the WR (#17) runs the Jet Sweep and continues his run to the point where the CB (who is blocked by the outside WR #10), he himself and the bunch of defenders to his left form a straight line. as soon he is in between the CB and these other defenders, he makes this cut to the left. again, he was running diagonally towards the sideline.

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