Madden NFL 10 Impressions?

[thewarden86]

[quote name='theFRANCHISE' date='22 September 2009 - 05:16 PM' timestamp='1253654170' post='240015']
Not for me. I stop them most of the time, and if I can't, I always end up scoring at will. [b]I'm AMAZING at the 2-minute drill[/b], even with 1 minute left and no timeouts. That's where your go-to, "money plays" come in handy. [img]http://boards.baltimoreravens.com/public/style_emoticons/default/cool.gif[/img]
[/quote]


We may need to compare slider settings Mr. Amazing. [img]http://boards.baltimoreravens.com/public/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif[/img]

Before the half (with at least 90 seconds and a time-out), I can get down to about the 10 but something stupid will happen and either I have to kick a FG, the time runs out or I get picked.

I did get a butt whoppin from the Titans in year 2. Ironically it was 34-14 like the real deal last year. I could not stop Chris Johnson. I can usually make the CPU abandon the run, but he single handedly torched my defense. But only that one time.

I've had battles with the Ravens a lot, but they're struggling in year three so this last one wasn't much of a contest.

I like the games where it's scoreless either just before the half or until the 3rd qtr. Those are the fun games.

BTW - If you notice, I've been giving myself positive reps. Only to counter the negative reps I've been getting by some little girl around here. Hopefully it stops soon.

[thewarden86]

[quote name='Bltravens' date='22 September 2009 - 05:21 PM' timestamp='1253654477' post='240021']
damn just had a titanic clash with the 11-3 Steelers. Game went into overtime Steelers win the toss, go 3 and out, then I go 3 and out, then i stop them again and go down and win on a 43 yard FG in the snow by about an inch. Final score was 19-16. Some game stats I was 5-17 on 3rd downs and the Steelers were 1-12, Gooden saved the day with a pick in the redzone to save the tie and force it to OT. Polamalu had a pick 6 on a zone blitz lol. Game was just like real life in the way it was played unreal. Still get pissed when Dline come untouched into the backfield, LBs i can deal with but when Grubbs straight up misses the guy in front of him theres problems.
[/quote]


Love those epic battles.

[Bltravens]

So year 2 of my franchise is total chaos on the defensive side of the ball....and not in a good way. My first year I had 6 defensive Pro Bowlers (Gooden, Lewis-DPOY, Suggs, Fox, Wash,Reed) and going into the season Gregg and Pryce regress. I play two games and basically get marched on doing the same play calling that got me all those Pro Bowlers. I decide enough is enough and pull drastic measures and switch to a 4-3 scheme, heres how the front 7 played out.

Kruger Ngata Pryce Suggs
Gooden Lewis Barnes

I went for youth and athleticism at LB, and taking into account Suggs is a 99 at DE i put him there and so far its payed huge dividends and I dont know why at all lol. In the 3 games since I havent allowed over 250 yards passing (and every team was don at half so they threw the ball) and I shutout the steelers in the rain. The only guy in my front 7 without a sack is Lewis, Barnes has 7, Gooden has 2, Suggs has 6, Pryce and Ngata have 2, and Kruger has 3 going into week 7. So this leads me to 2 questions, with the personnel the Ravens have in Madden is moving to a 4-3 better, and the ULTIMATE question 4-3 vs 3-4 which reigns supreme?

[thewarden86]

[quote name='Bltravens' date='25 September 2009 - 04:04 AM' timestamp='1253865889' post='241079']
So year 2 of my franchise is total chaos on the defensive side of the ball....and not in a good way. My first year I had 6 defensive Pro Bowlers (Gooden, Lewis-DPOY, Suggs, Fox, Wash,Reed) and going into the season Gregg and Pryce regress. I play two games and basically get marched on doing the same play calling that got me all those Pro Bowlers. I decide enough is enough and pull drastic measures and switch to a 4-3 scheme, heres how the front 7 played out.

Kruger Ngata Pryce Suggs
Gooden Lewis Barnes

I went for youth and athleticism at LB, and taking into account Suggs is a 99 at DE i put him there and so far its payed huge dividends and I dont know why at all lol. In the 3 games since I havent allowed over 250 yards passing (and every team was don at half so they threw the ball) and I shutout the steelers in the rain. The only guy in my front 7 without a sack is Lewis, Barnes has 7, Gooden has 2, Suggs has 6, Pryce and Ngata have 2, and Kruger has 3 going into week 7. So this leads me to 2 questions, with the personnel the Ravens have in Madden is moving to a 4-3 better, and the ULTIMATE question 4-3 vs 3-4 which reigns supreme?
[/quote]

Is Harbaugh still your HC?

Sometimes when the HC leaves (and I can't find him anywhere to get him back [img]http://boards.baltimoreravens.com/public/style_emoticons/default/mad.gif[/img] ) I forget to readjust the coaching tactics (attack run vs. pass, etc.).

[Bltravens]

[quote name='thewarden86' date='25 September 2009 - 10:27 AM' timestamp='1253896059' post='241200']
Is Harbaugh still your HC?

Sometimes when the HC leaves (and I can't find him anywhere to get him back [img]http://boards.baltimoreravens.com/public/style_emoticons/default/mad.gif[/img] ) I forget to readjust the coaching tactics (attack run vs. pass, etc.).
[/quote]
Ya hes still the coach, has another 2 years left on his contract. Mattison left so I hired Ron Rivera (upgrade in my books) and crap just hit the fan lol it was ridiculous. All my LBs even got a boost in their pursuit ratings, but the Dline was just so ineffective I had to switch.

[thewarden86]

Hmm. That's strange. Maybe you should look at your coaching settings anyway (IF you want to go back to the 3-4 that is). I wonder if Madden has gone so far as to include each DC's type defense. i.e., Rivera runs a 4-3 but Dom Capers runs a 3-4, etc.

[JO_75]

So just a quick question, with this Crabtree holdout still going on how does this effect Madden 10? I read that he may be taken off the 49ers roster(if he hasn't been removed already) until he does sign. The other thing is, say he goes back into the draft, will EA make new classes with Crabtree, or just have a patch you can add to madden 10 or will we have to wait unitl Madden 11 to play with Crabtree? If he goes back into the draft, I would like the opportunity to draft him during the 2010 draft like all 32 teams will.

Also I wouldn't mind if EA made a patch you can download to where you can have the actual draft order from 2010, If I'm the 49ers I want 2 1st round picks, If im the Patriots I want 3 or 4 2nd round picks.

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='JO_75' date='25 September 2009 - 03:36 PM' timestamp='1253907387' post='241277']
So just a quick question, with this Crabtree holdout still going on how does this effect Madden 10? I read that he may be taken off the 49ers roster(if he hasn't been removed already) until he does sign. The other thing is, say he goes back into the draft, will EA make new classes with Crabtree, or just have a patch you can add to madden 10 or will we have to wait unitl Madden 11 to play with Crabtree? If he goes back into the draft, I would like the opportunity to draft him during the 2010 draft like all 32 teams will.

Also I wouldn't mind if EA made a patch you can download to where you can have the actual draft order from 2010, If I'm the 49ers I want 2 1st round picks, If im the Patriots I want 3 or 4 2nd round picks.
[/quote]
As of this morning's roster update, Crabtree has been removed temporarily. If he signs, then EA will put him back in the game; not too hard since he's already on the disc anyway. If he chooses to go back into the draft, he simply won't be included on any roster updates for Madden 10 and will NOT be included in the in-game draft classes since only the first year of Franchise Mode is intended to reflect real-life.

Technically, you won't have to wait until Madden 11 to play with Crabtree, you just can't use him with any roster updates.

And a patch to make the actual draft order for the 2010 draft is iffy since the game already doesn't take into account compensatory draft picks (screws up the draft logic), so to give the 49ers and Pats multiple picks might be more problematic than it seems.

[thewarden86]

So after four seasons I had to delete my franchise and start over. [img]http://boards.baltimoreravens.com/public/style_emoticons/default/mad.gif[/img] I severely screwed up my salary cap. Not very happy about it either as I had some good draft picks I was developing.

[westhamunitedfc]

theFRANCHISE or anyone else, ive only ever owned NFL 2K5 and love it (i dont do updated rosters tho unfortunately)is Madden 10 really worth £39.99? im quite happy with nfl 2k5, is madden 10 actually better, is the franchise mode better for instance?

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='westhamunitedfc' date='27 September 2009 - 05:00 PM' timestamp='1254085213' post='242840']
theFRANCHISE or anyone else, ive only ever owned NFL 2K5 and love it (i dont do updated rosters tho unfortunately)is Madden 10 really worth £39.99? im quite happy with nfl 2k5, is madden 10 actually better, is the franchise mode better for instance?
[/quote]
The franchise mode in Madden 10 is much better than you'd expect, although you'd be disappointed if you expect to train your players every week like in NFL 2k5. There's a weekly highlight show similar to what NFL 2k5 has, and the presentation is similar as well. The gameplay is much improved over previous Maddens, and the difficulty is much more balanced than in years past.

I'd recommend it highly.

[theFRANCHISE]

On another note, craziest play I've ever had:

In a huge blowout against the Vikings in my Ravens franchise, I intercepted Brett Favre and just as I cut back to try to return it for a long TD, Adrian Peterson wraps me up for a tackle -- but not before I lateral it to Tavares Gooden for a TD!

It was completely by accident (and I know there's a lateral button in the game, but I never bothered to look it up), but it seemed to do it automatically for me and created easily the greatest play I've ever seen in Madden 10 thus far!

[westhamunitedfc]

LOL sounds like it!

I was going to rent it to see but cant really be bothered, i may try and pick it up cheap second hand, ill get the 360 version as i dont have a PS3 unfortunately.

Im only interested in gameplay and Franchise mode as i wont be going online with it, do you have to pay for roster updates? never tried superstar mode either so might buy it to have a go on that as well now i think about it.

[theFRANCHISE]

Roster updates are free but you must go online in order to download them. Superstar Mode is OK...it's honestly not that much fun unless you play a skill position, and even then, it's very bare-bones.

[westhamunitedfc]

Ah thats cool, i can use xbox live i just dont intend to play the game online at all, have no interest in online franchises or playing anyone else, mainly because i will be very crap, and will probably take me all year to get to any competent level lol by which time madden 11 will be out.

Im going to keep an eye out and try and pick this one up on the cheap, looking through my collection i do actually have madden 03... but i dont actually remember playing it and its for the gamecube as well lol.

Thanks for your replies mate.

[Bltravens]

[quote name='thewarden86' date='27 September 2009 - 08:42 AM' timestamp='1254062572' post='241917']
So after four seasons I had to delete my franchise and start over. [img]http://boards.baltimoreravens.com/public/style_emoticons/default/mad.gif[/img] I severely screwed up my salary cap. Not very happy about it either as I had some good draft picks I was developing.
[/quote]
Damn, what happened man?

[BloodRaven]

The new patch is terrible. If you make a huge break your HB/WR will actually start stuttering and slowing down, you can run down Chris Johnson from behind with a LB.

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='BloodRaven' date='28 September 2009 - 03:09 AM' timestamp='1254121780' post='243325']
The new patch is terrible. If you make a huge break your HB/WR will actually start stuttering and slowing down, you can run down Chris Johnson from behind with a LB.
[/quote]
I noticed that players (in general) get gassed a little too fast. Other than that, though, I'm pleased to see that there's far less holding calls (especially on field goal attempts) and tackles aren't broken as often. Additionally, defenders pursue the running backs a lot smarter than they did before, so now I don't always have to switch to the OLB myself if I wanna stop a run to the outside for a loss.

[Bltravens]

I play on a custom difficulty with all the sliders set to all madden ( run D and O is at 18 pass O 17, pass D 15) so just to put throw that out there for my story. I switched to a 4-3 scheme and put Kruger and Suggs at DE and Ngata and Pryce at DT, with Barnes Lewis and Gooden as my LBs. I traded Bannan and a 5th to the Broncos for a 3rd and then traded a 2nd and both my 3rds to Miami for Sean Smith to give me a good physical press corner. So I wanted to give you those moves as it sets up my story, Suggs set the NFL sacks record in week 15 with 23 sacks. About half of them were user sacks on obvious pass downs, but a good 9-10 were the CPU Suggs. So for anybody wanting to get that 63 mil out of Suggs there's one way to do it

[thewarden86]

[quote name='Bltravens' date='27 September 2009 - 10:06 PM' timestamp='1254103580' post='243172']
Damn, what happened man?
[/quote]


I severely screwed up in year one. Signed guys that I should have let walk.

Now that I'm restarting I've made a list (as I will every year) of players over 30 and players whose contracts are up. Players in both categories will have thier replacement scouted. Postions in both categories will also have a rookie drafted. I'll see how that goes.

[Bltravens]

[quote name='thewarden86' date='28 September 2009 - 02:51 PM' timestamp='1254171089' post='243778']
I severely screwed up in year one. Signed guys that I should have let walk.

Now that I'm restarting I've made a list (as I will every year) of players over 30 and players whose contracts are up. Players in both categories will have thier replacement scouted. Postions in both categories will also have a rookie drafted. I'll see how that goes.
[/quote]
Ya I told you my story about Chester and Yanda wanting 5 year 35mil contracts. I had to release Pryce and Gregg and I traded away Bannan. Its weird doing it cuz after 2 years for me at least the defense looked so different while the only changes on offense were putting Hale at RG, and drafting a WR. My defense has taken an extreme face lift, and im flirty with about 5 mil in cap space. I think Heap might be the next to go, hes 33 now.

[JO_75]

[quote name='thewarden86' date='28 September 2009 - 04:51 PM' timestamp='1254171089' post='243778']
I severely screwed up in year one. Signed guys that I should have let walk.

Now that I'm restarting I've made a list (as I will every year) of players over 30 and players whose contracts are up. Players in both categories will have thier replacement scouted. Postions in both categories will also have a rookie drafted. I'll see how that goes.
[/quote]

That's a pretty good way to look at it. Yeah I remember screwing up my cap several times in 09. I just bought Madden 10 today, I rented it before so I had a Ravens franchise started(under the default roster) and I am almost done my first regular season. I thought I tell you guys of my tough game against the Steelers which I lost.

Ok, the game was very much all defense until I screwed up and left some players open on plays and Pittsburgh pulled ahead 28 to 7 at half. I made a huge come back to pull within 1 TD with 4 minutes left in the 4th quarter, the score is 35 28. Steelers got the ball back, I made a defensive stop, they punted it, Kelly Washington fumbles on the punt return giving the ball back to the Steelers at my 11. Luckily Foxworth picked off Ben in the end zone and returned it for 20 yards. I'm doing good getting down field and I wind up in a 4th down situation near the 50 with 2:00 minutes left.

I miss the 4th down conversion pass to Heap. I stop them again, under a minute left, here's my third chance. This time I'm doing really well, and getting down the field. I get into a 4th down situation and COMPLETED the pass to Heap but he FUMBLED and I loss the game. Great game but at least I did good to only lose by a TD. Final Score: PIT 35 Bal 28.

[thewarden86]

[quote name='Bltravens' date='28 September 2009 - 08:10 PM' timestamp='1254183048' post='243979']
Ya I told you my story about Chester and Yanda wanting 5 year 35mil contracts. I had to release Pryce and Gregg and I traded away Bannan. Its weird doing it cuz after 2 years for me at least the defense looked so different while the only changes on offense were putting Hale at RG, and drafting a WR. My defense has taken an extreme face lift, and im flirty with about 5 mil in cap space. I think Heap might be the next to go, hes 33 now.
[/quote]


I forget what my list looks at the moment, but there is probably going to be at least 3-4 new starters and a handful of rookie replacements.

[thewarden86]

[quote name='JO_75' date='28 September 2009 - 08:15 PM' timestamp='1254183332' post='243980']
That's a pretty good way to look at it. Yeah I remember screwing up my cap several times in 09. I just bought Madden 10 today, I rented it before so I had a Ravens franchise started(under the default roster) and I am almost done my first regular season. I thought I tell you guys of my tough game against the Steelers which I lost.

Ok, the game was very much all defense until I screwed up and left some players open on plays and Pittsburgh pulled ahead 28 to 7 at half. I made a huge come back to pull within 1 TD with 4 minutes left in the 4th quarter, the score is 35 28. Steelers got the ball back, I made a defensive stop, they punted it, Kelly Washington fumbles on the punt return giving the ball back to the Steelers at my 11. Luckily Foxworth picked off Ben in the end zone and returned it for 20 yards. I'm doing good getting down field and I wind up in a 4th down situation near the 50 with 2:00 minutes left.

I miss the 4th down conversion pass to Heap. I stop them again, under a minute left, here's my third chance. This time I'm doing really well, and getting down the field. I get into a 4th down situation and COMPLETED the pass to Heap but he FUMBLED and I loss the game. Great game but at least I did good to only lose by a TD. Final Score: PIT 35 Bal 28.
[/quote]


That sucks! One, maybe two screw-ups, but THREE??? I wouldn't have been able to take it. [img]http://boards.baltimoreravens.com/public/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif[/img]

[Wacko4JoeFlacco]

The game is super fun, and the Ravens are a blast to play with. However I wish you could skip the chain gang cut scenes, and those fumbles are hard to come up with on the higher difficulty settings. All in all its probably my favorite madden game so far.

[JO_75]

[quote name='thewarden86' date='28 September 2009 - 09:00 PM' timestamp='1254186027' post='243996']
That sucks! One, maybe two screw-ups, but THREE??? I wouldn't have been able to take it. [img]http://boards.baltimoreravens.com/public/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif[/img]
[/quote]

Yeah I will say I was given opportunites to win but couldn't get the job done. I took it but I wound up finishing the year 13-3 as the # 1 Seed. I faced the Chargers in the Divisional round, and beat them 34 to 16. I went on to the AFC Championship game against the Patriots. I beat them 21-11.

Made the Super Bowl and faced the high powered Saints. Boy did Drew Brees give me head aches. I started off well with pressure from Pryce that forced a Ngata INT returned for a TD and was up 21 to 10 at half. I missed a field goal and Brees got the Saints down field and made it 16 to 21(they missed the 2 PT conversion) they held me off again, to score to make it 24 to 21 with under a minute left. I used my time outs well and drove down the field and found Mason for a 12 yard TD pass with 12 seconds left to make it a final score of 28 to 21. Joe Flacco was the SB MVP.

Off-Season: Signed some back ups to my offensive line and I had a pretty good draft and thank you warden I took your idea of jotting down players over 30 and drafting their replacements. I couldn't get Gresham, Spikes or any other top prospect. The DT from Nebraska (his name is too long) was the # 1 overall pick to Detroit. With that said here is how I drafted:

1st Round: Vince Oghobaase DT Duke OVR: 73 Pot: A. He'll replace Kelly Gregg.

2nd Round: Anthony McCoy TE OVR: 63 Pot: B. I couldn't get Gresham so I got McCoy as Heap's replacement.

3rd Round: Arrelious Benn. OVR: 63 Pot: B He'll replace Mason.

I also got a great FB who who was first round material who I drafted in the 7th round with A potential. I'm going to try to see where some of the top prospects were drafted and let you guys know. Brandon Spikes was drafted by Denver.

[thewarden86]

I lost to Green Bay today. FOUR TURNOVERS and I was STILL in it until the end.

Turnovers: Stefan Logan fumbles twice (one ko and one punt ret).
Ben get hit and a LB makes a shoe string catch
Tipped pass picked by the safety.

I was up 10-0 with about 34 seconds left in the half. 3rd and 10 (from deep in G.B. territory) and Aaron Rodgers launches this bomb all the way to the 4 yard line to Greg Jennings with THREE defenders around him. Touchdown. [img]http://boards.baltimoreravens.com/public/style_emoticons/default/mad.gif[/img] Total miracle play.

I kickoff in the 3rd and they go on about a 10 play drive and score again: 14-10 G.B. TURNOVER leads to 21-10.

I go no huddle and score in 5-6 plays and proceed to get coaxed into going for two. I didn't get it: 21-16.

3:00 on the clock and G.B. returns the kick off to about my 40. [img]http://boards.baltimoreravens.com/public/style_emoticons/default/mad.gif[/img]

I force a three and out and they kick a FG (I only have one T.O. left now thanks to challenges).

I go down and score with about 9 seconds left and now I HAVE TO go for two (Thank you John Madden [img]http://boards.baltimoreravens.com/public/style_emoticons/default/dry.gif[/img] )

Needless-to-say, I don't get it.

On-side kick recovered by the Packers; One kneel down: Packers win 24-22.

[JO_75]

[quote name='JO_75' date='12 September 2009 - 09:35 PM' timestamp='1252805739' post='233354']
[b]94 Million over 6 Years??!!![/b] Wow thats alot but I'm sure he did alot to deserve it though. I remember I went and re-signed Gaither(5 year 40 Million), Yanda(4 year 18 Million), Landry(I only gave him a 3 year deal because I may move up in the draft and get Taylor Mays or Eric Berry and put one of them in at SS) and I thought it was pretty reasonable.[b] I hope I don't have to pay Ngata that, that will kill the cap room[/b].
[/quote]

OK now Im stuck in a bind, I won the SB and went to re-sign some players on 1 year deals and Ngata asked for 7 years 100 million dollar deal but he hasn't gotten it yet as he still has to play out his contract year but I am just thinking to Franchise him until I have the money to re-sign him to a long term deal. All I know is I guess winning the SB in the first year and getting a INT in the Super Bowl and going to Pro Bowl sure did increase the contract. Hopefully Mason will retire and hopefully Gregg and Pryce retire as well,(Gregg and Pryce have 1 year left on their deals) I just drafted their replacements, well actually Ozzie drafted Paul Kruger and Kruger will replace Pryce at LE.

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='JO_75' date='01 October 2009 - 12:33 AM' timestamp='1254371631' post='245258']
All I know is I guess winning the SB in the first year and getting a INT in the Super Bowl and going to Pro Bowl sure did increase the contract.
[/quote]
That's why I contemplated re-signing guys during the season, but then I realized that it was already too late since Ngata already has 14 sacks in this final stretch of games, and Pryce has a record-setting 34 sacks. Neither guy will come cheap, but I'm more willing to part with Pryce than Ngata. I'm just worried that trying to re-sign either guy now (or anyone performing at a high level, for that matter) will put me in a huge cap bind when there's a draft pick I really want signed or a free agent on the market I covet.

I may actually have no choice but to let go of Willis McGahee or even Ray Rice since McGahee's too expensive and Rice has already outperformed his contract by leading the league in rushing TDs.

On the bright side, Le'Ron McClain may come cheap since I've barely used him (yet used him just enough to get him nominated for the Pro Bowl...), as well as Dawan Landry (who has only notched 3 picks) and Jared Gaither (who hasn't been nominated to the Pro Bowl despite his fellow guards and C Matt Birk getting nods.) My gut might be to let Derrick Mason walk if he doesn't retire (pains me to do so, though), and re-sign Mark Clayton cheap. Todd Heap will want a new deal for leading the team in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving TDs.

I guess this is what happens when you're [i]too[/i] successful.

[Bltravens]

Damn how did you get coax 34 sacks out of Pryce, I switched to a 4-3 and he still only had 6.