Current state of the game
Let me start off by saying I understand this is the absolute worse time of the year to play Madden due to Everyone knowing all the cheese plays. Lately it seems like the update did something to the game that makes the Nose guard shed blocks too quickly. It also seems like I can’t stop anyone on Defense anymore. The FS running around the field disrupting all the Routes has gotten to an all time high. Everyone is using KC because with Mahomes and Hill it gives the added advantage of being able to play madden like years past. Meaning running right throwing left. Running backwards throwing Corner routes. The way the gm is currently set up if you don’t get a Ebook and get you some better cheese you can’t compete. I can’t wait until NCAA returns I’m done with Madden it’s Awful,Terrible,Ruined.
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I find screens still very effective when you're looking to pick up 3-10 yards. They used to be very OP in the past which is why the team made some changes around them. At one point they were extremely hard to stop. They are still used heavily in the NFL but I feel like those massive gains you see from them are becoming much rarer as teams are getting quicker at identifying them.
It comes down to what RB you're using and waiting for those blocks to develop. Even though it might be tough to see the inside of the field (unless you play with your camera view expanded further out), cutting inside real quick and going back to the outside can be effective. Sometimes the RB can get hung up on the lineman which can be frustrating, but at the same time screens don't develop 100% of the time in real life games so that is the risk/reward of using them in my opinion.
If at least the higher awareness AI controlled players could catch on to specific plays and play better vs those plays that is being ran into the ground, there would be more play call variation and would be way more realistic. Instead of AI players reacting the exact same everytime someone runs a specific play.
Ok so what about WR screens (not bubble screens) that take the WR 5 seconds to start running again? I used to love running WR screens for defenses that have CB backed off the ball 10 yards. But now by the time the ball is thrown the defense reaction time is to fast and the CB is right there. And even worse then that the WR won't accelerate and takes a long time to start running again. How come My real questions are never responded to like Psychic DB's and user safety crap???
Yesssss thissss. It feels like the last time I had games like this where you had to use football IQ to win a game rather than taking advantage of poor programming was way back on PS2 days
Madden 13 had the OP pass lead that could turn a streak to a post or corner route from the way you threw it. Madden 25 was the start of A gaps DT walking through the offensive line free and it just kept going downhill from there.
I know what you're talking about when it comes to a delay in them moving up north after catching the pass. Again, not all screens in real life develop into big gains. I still use WR screens but not as much as in previous versions because I think the team did a great job on balancing them out. There are times when I'll get hit at the line of scrimmage and other times I gain 10-15 yards. It's a huge risk/reward scenario.
It's very possible to make a quick finesse move after catching the pass for a huge gain like what this player did in this week's top plays: https://forums.ea.com/en/madden-nfl/discussion/253183/madden-nfl-20-top-plays-of-the-week#latest
Not true at all. Go watch the Rams, Chiefs, Eagles, Patriots and even the Titans (the team you guys seem to have zero clue about). Screen plays are still frequently used to create big plays.
A big problem in madden is that defensive speeds are heavily tuned to cover too much ground. Unrealistic PA block shedding is going on Year 10 of not being properly addressed (it's only the basis of the modern day offenses!). QB deliveries remain incredibly too slow on short dumps.
Those three things take out any sort of misdirection, which is the basis of a lot screens.
But let's be honest, Madden isn't really about thinking or having balanced mechanics. It's about pandering to MUT spenders and little kids who just want to play an arcade style game.
No, the problem is the game has poor mechanics. WRs aren't attacking the ball and squaring their body to attack up field. You've got to user RAC, which is also dumb because RACs give speed boost animations (another gameplay flaw that has been in the game for far too long).
In real life, WR screens are typically used when the outside has numbers. Where it's typically blown up is when a smart DB recognizes the play and attacks the blocker, creates penatration and causes the ball carrier to hesitate, allowing the rest of the defense to come in.
Madden 08 introduced rocket catches, which were the basis of every pro. I also believe that was the Madden where one of the pros figure out the juke glitch that automatically forced a mistackle every time on a CPU defender.
We felt like we were playing a simulation.
We never saw sonic, donkeykong or godzilla as halfback.
I feel like I'm playing Blood bowl.