It’s about time.  Today is the day I get to talk about Connected Franchise in Madden NFL 25.  There is going to be a lot of coverage today on Connected Franchise Mode from various outlets, including ESPN, UnderTheCode.com, GoodGameBro.com, TraditionSportsOnline.com, Operation Sports, GameChangersRadio.com and of course here on MyMaddenPad.com.  So let’s set the line up for when all of this information comes out.

Sometime today (hearing multiple reports that it’s going to be around 3pm.) EA SPORTS will release a blog and I’m guessing a video as well.  I’m not sure when this blog will be released so please make sure you follow me on twitter @Shopmaster as I’ll tweet as soon as I get word from EA that it’s live.  That blog and video will be shown here whenever it does go live.

Once the blog goes live, expect to see multiple tweets from the sites above about their content on Connected Franchise and I’ll list each one here as I discover them as well as in the Madden NFL 25 Information Central.

After you’ve read all of the content out there you may have some more questions and that’s where Game Changers Radio with myself and MadScientist come to the rescue.  We will be doing a live show to talk even more about Connected Franchise and answer any questions that you still may have.  We are trying our hardest to get an EA Developer on the show with us to help answer some of those questions you have.  We are broadcasting at 9pm est. and you can listen to that by following this link: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/easgcradio/2013/05/21/game-changers-radio-special-cfm-playbook-event

Then even after that I will be putting up a Q&A page dedicated to Connected Franchise where you can post your questions and view other questions already asked.  That link will be put up tomorrow morning.

So there you have it, if you have any questions please use the comment section below and give me your thoughts on CFM and what you are looking for to be in CFM.

Happy Sunday!

The other day EA released it’s Playbook #2 Blog and video that was focused on the defensive side of the ball.  There were quite a few things going on in that video and a lot of discussion coming  from that video along with some questions about Hit Sticks and the “Heat Seeker” tackling in Madden NFL 25.  It’s good to get this info out now before the CFM Info comes out later tomorrow because not many people will be talking about game play for a while until E3, or unless another gameplay video surfaces from EA.

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I talked a little bit about blocking in Madden NFL 25 on a recent Game Changers Radio Show and how it is improved.  I thought I’d drop some more information regarding blocking in light of a recent video that fellow Game Changer SimFBCritic did on his YouTube Channel and some questions that were asked of me on Twitter just yesterday about the blocking.

If you are not subscribed to Sim’s Channel, go and do that now.  Sim is a good dude that believes, stresses, and lives for Simulation in all games including the Madden NFL franchise.  Yesterday he posted a video talking about some information that he gathered from Devs regarding blocking.  Let’s take a look:

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In one of my previous articles I talk about the Running Game in Madden NFL 25 and how it’s not just the RBs you’ll have to worry about. In this Madden NFL 25 ‘Quick Hits’ article we take a look at the Top 5 QBs in the game that not only get it done through the air but will cause some problems if you let them ‘Run Free’ in the open field.  On this list you won’t see V. Young and his 85 SPM, Dennis Dixon and his 90 JKM, or Tim Tebow and his 86 TRK. For the purpose of this article we are using the last roster update for Madden NFL 13

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After a two day delay EA SPORTS has finally released a new defensive video focused on Defensive Control.  This is Playbook #2 in the Madden NFL 25 Playbook list which focuses on the defensive side of the ball including heat seeker tackling, diving, and always staying in position. 

The following is taken from the EA SPORTS Playbook #2 Blog that went with the above video.

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ESPN writer Jon Robinson got a chance to talk to Philadelphia Eagles’ QB Michael Vick about his new app called Mike Vick: Gametime for iOS.  In that article; courtesy of EA SPORTS, was a screen of Michael Vick in Madden NFL 25.

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Just a quick note that the Madden NFL 25 Defensive Video that EA SPORTS said would be out today is now likely to be pushed back till tomorrow thanks to a recent tweet.

@nitsua98 @shopmaster Likely tomorrow. Thanks for your patience.

— EA SPORTS Madden NFL (@EAMaddenNFL) May 14, 2013

I don’t think people should worry that this is two Monday’s that information for Madden NFL 25 is delayed.  The delay has nothing to do with the game itself.

So we’ll wait for the video tomorrow to see how the defense looks in Madden NFL 25. In the meantime check out my Madden NFL 25  Quick Hits: Sideline Interceptions article.

It could be that my stick skills are terrible, or maybe it’s because I play with the Washington Redskins so much that my sorry DB’s are to blame, or maybe just maybe my opponents have mastered the total control passing.  Whatever the reason, it frustrates me to no end the inability to catch interceptions near the sidelines in Madden NFL 13.  It doesn’t matter where I am, back of the endzone, side of the endzone or anywhere close to the white sidelines, I just can’t catch an interception.  If you are having the same problem in Madden NFL 13, then you’ll like the fact that all that changes in Madden NFL 25.

The thing is we see it all the time in the NFL.  Amazing 1 handed picks near the sidelines while going out of bounds or leaning out of bounds while keeping both feet in.   Who can forget the sideline grab by Richard Sherman (SEA) against the Cardinals last year?

You never saw that in Madden NFL 13 to a lot of fans disgust.  I can’t tell you how many times my guy has dropped an INT along the sidelines.  Every time my guy had a beat on the ball near the sidelines he would drop it.  Even DBs with great catch ratings like Revis would drop the ball if he was even close to being out-of-bounds.  Let’s not even discuss how fades in the endzone were hardly caught in the back of the endzone for a touchback.  This made throwing outs to the sideline and anything in the back of the endzone somewhat of a non-risk factor for the offense. There was hardly any danger at all to throwing the ball late on a 10 yard out to the short side of the field other than an incomplete pass.

Well all that changes in Madden NFL 25 and thank goodness.  I recently got some hands on time with Madden NFL 25 and not only did I see some sideline interceptions, but I also saw some great sideline catches by DBs.  These weren’t just standard catches either.  I saw interceptions where the DB couldn’t get two feet down but he caught the ball.  I saw a reaching interception, interceptions where DBs broke on the ball and intercepted it and their momentum carried them out-of-bounds.  I even saw some interceptions in the back of the endzone where guys toe tapped it.  I had to go to replay a couple of times to make sure I was seeing it right.

The other thing that feels different about interceptions in Madden NFL 25 is how the screen rotates.  It still freezes and rotates but it seems a lil more fluid.

Updated: After talking with someone from EA, the screen does freeze when you intercept it.  Sorry for those that like how NCAA is, because I do think that was better but was unsure how it looked.  I could have sworn the build I played it was fluid and not a freeze.  We’ll see what the E3 build tells us next month.

Being able to catch on the sidelines may be a subtle change, but I think guys will generally like the way you can snag them near the sidelines in Madden NFL 25.  Now if I can just get my DBs to stop dropping wide open interceptions, I’d feel better.

For more impressions about Madden NFL 25 Gameplay and Connected Franchise, follow me on Twitter @Shopmaster and leave your thoughts and comments below.  Be sure to read some of my other “Madden NFL 25 Quick Hits” articles and catch another game play article tomorrow.

Also be sure to check out the Madden NFL 25 News and Information Central with all of the news from around the web and updated daily to get you ready for the release of Madden NFL 25.

Late last night on the Madden NFL 25 Facebook wall, EA announced that it will be releasing a new video today centered around the defensive side of the ball.

There has been a lot of talk coming from EA about the new “Run Free” system and how much improved the running game is in Madden NFL 25, but much concern from the community is about the defense and will it be adequate enough to handle an over powered offense.  Let’s face it, offense gets all the glory and defense gets no love.  Offense has always been the sexier side of the ball to market.  While that may be the case, most people if asked what their favorite Madden of all time was, most would answer when the defense got a lot of love with Madden 05 and Madden players were able to combat the offensive juggernaut that Madden 04 created.

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Everyone is always so obsessed with player ratings when it comes to the Madden NFL franchise and today I will feed on that obsession a little bit and will concentrate on 1 rating for one player. That player is Robert Griffin III and that rating is his 76 Playaction (PAC) rating.

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