Ten Necessary things to add in Madden 17

 Madden 16 has some strong points but it also has some gaping gameplay holes that need to be addressed. In addition to resolving the speed issue which made rookies DOMINANT who hadn't played a NFL down the fastest players in the game, it had old features that need to reappear in addition to some new ones that need to make their debut. Here are the ten NECESSARY things we need to see in Madden 17.



 10. 4th Down Percentages - In the same vein as better QB completion percentages we need to see 4th down percentages that are realistic as well. The league average is about 30% and one of the main reasons players go for it so often is that Madden 4th down percentages are much higher than what you see in the NFL....and they shouldn't be. Let's see this addressed next year.

9. QB Accuracy - Madden took the huge step [which we never thought they would] of acknowledging that QBs actually throw bad/off-target passes. Its time to take it a step further because good and elite passers still aren't off-target enough. One of the main reasons the short passing game is still too high percentage is a lack of too-high, 'just wide' or short-hopped passes. We need to see more of them.

8. Toss Plays - Someone has to explain to the guys at Tiburon that the toss play isn't some magical unicorn sprinkled with fairy dust. For too long defenders have been clueless in regardless to stopping it and its time it stopped. The toss is no different from any run play to a specific side, is it a counter to defenders blitzing inside? Sure. But when we're blitzing defenders to that side or crashing our line in the direction of the play it should effectively neutralize it--this isn't rocket science.

7. Surprise Onside - This is a feature that was included and then taken out when it shouldn't have been. This is a viable tactic in the game, to prevent abuse just limit it to one time per game to insure users will use it when they need it.

6. Defensive Matchup - Another necessary feature that disappeared. We simply can't allow offenses to move their elite offensive players all over without options and counters for the defense. Allow defensive players to follow guys all over the field if necessary. This is an older feature that was curiously taken out...it needs to make its return.

5. Separation - In short, the separation receivers get in Madden is excessive. Defenders in man coverage across the board must be given more respect in regards to staying with offensive players. Watch your standard drag play and witness how bad man coverage is in Madden. The TE/LB matchup is the worst example of this. The standard 'open' can't be 5+ yds of separation where defenders have no chance at a play on the ball or receiver...separation like that should be possible, but rare.

4. DL Batdowns - One of the realistic ways to lower QB completion percentages, rein in the short passing game, display the dominance of defensive linemen and reward pressure on the QB. Animations where linemen bat down the pass at the line of scrimmage are necessary, particularly when they're bearing down on the QB or defending short passes like the slant. Linemen like JJ Watt and JPP have shown that they can affect the passing game in more ways than one, and we need to see it in next year's Madden.

3. Challenges - We know, We know. A true challenge system means putting bad calls in the game. It also means making sure the replay shows what really happened, that the knee WAS down, that the receiver DIDN'T get both feet in, that the ball DIDN'T cross the plane. Guess what? It's what users want, add it into Madden 17.

2. More Defensive Options - Madden needs a paradigm shift in regards to defenses that are available, think about it: where is Double TE? Double X? Why was the corner zone taken out of the audibles? Why is a true version of bracket coverage still not in the game? The options are far too limited and veteran Madden players are too experienced at taking advantage of the defenses currently in the game. Perhaps its letting us choose each segment of our defense (DL, LBs, Secondary) separately or changing blitzing where we can choose a specific gap, maybe its adding a slew of new defenses and defensive options. Whatever it is, something must be done to revamp Madden defenses as they are at a point where they need to evolve to keep up with the offenses.

1. Commit System - This is the single-most necessary feature in Madden 17 and it doesn't have to be built from scratch, simply expanded on. We've been talking about how the game can start to better reward strategy and the chess-game on the gridiron for years. We like how we can neutralize our opponents running game if we properly guess where they're going (minus the part where our CBs in man coverage, blitz--this should never happen) this needs to be expanded to the pass game. Allow us to be specific: If we want to commit to defend an intermediate pass to the middle of the field, allow us to reap the benefits if we're right and the consequences when we're wrong. But in a subtle way that doesn't include automatic interceptions, we want commit to do away with the days of users running the same play over and over but not in a cheap way. We want to see defenders in the right position making deflections, jarring the ball loose and providing blanket coverage. If nothing else, an in-depth Commit System will render the days of play-action/screens fooling the AI instead of the other user long gone.

Well that's our list, we're sure Madden 17 will have a feature list that will appeal to casual users and give options to franchise and MUT fans. Still, never forget that the core of what is 'Madden' is remains the head to head contest, so the more this aspect resembles real football--the better.