Madden NFL 17: The Five Biggest Changes Needed for CFM

Feature Article

Submitted on: 09/20/2016 by Mike Lowe

For more information about this topic, check out Mike Lowe's accompanying YouTube stream.

Madden 17 is easily the best Madden ever made, and the numerous threads and stories already floating around Operation Sports -- mine included -- have been praising the game even before its official release. So how can Madden 18 be an even better experience next year? First and foremost, I think it starts with Connected Franchise mode.

So here's my top five things I'd like to see in Madden 18's Connected Franchise mode.

1. Injury Model Overhaul

This topic could be its own story in and of itself. The injury system in Madden has been the one true arcade element in a game that has -- luckily for us -- really focused hard on being more of a simulation football experience. What Madden 18 needs is an injury system not 100 percent dependent on the collision system as it is now. You'll never see an offensive line injury in a fully played game, unless that lineman recovers a fumble, gets tackled and then gets hurt. It's not the most realistic experience, and it does have an impact on CFM because there's no real reason to worry about depth on your offensive line.

Aside from the system overhaul, Madden 18 should include a weekly designation system where players are listed as either out, doubtful, questionable, probable or healthy. Throughout the week -- perhaps in a mode where we sim not on a weekly basis but day-by-day throughout the week -- an injury status can be updated, and could even improve or regress as you creep closer to kickoff.

2. Expand Game Planning, Coordinators And Coaching Staff

I actually really like the new game planning features in Madden 17 as they are a nice blend of "important but not overwhelming." Where I could see Madden 18 expanding on this would be in the depth of information being delivered, and by whom that information is delivered.

As I mentioned above, having a day-to-day sim instead of a weekly sim would not only allow for some streaming of information about injuries, but also in regards to game planning.

Let's say that on Monday, a day when NFL teams typically meet to review film on the previous week's game, your quarterback's coach may come into your office (think NBA 2K) and say, "I noticed on the game tape that Romo was favoring his ankle towards the end of the game, coach. I think he might be hiding an injury."

This would then prompt you with a decision to either confront Tony Romo, risking upsetting him (personality traits, please!), or you could take your chances with what may or may not be an increased injury risk, but leaving Romo's respect for you intact.

However, the real focus on expanding game planning would come later in the week when you receive a game planning report from both your offensive and defensive coordinator -- people who should be actual characters in CFM.

These reports would deliver information such as your opponent starting a rookie backup at right tackle and how that can be exploited in your defensive game plan.

Your offensive coordinator might then tell you that your opponent's top two cornerbacks are out this week, and that you should focus on exposing their depth in the defensive backfield by running multiple receiver sets.

There are many options that can be worked in, especially if we see a reincarnation of EA's Head Coach daily sim schedule that even had travel days schedule for Fridays. Do you give your team free time on the flight, or are you having another film session mid-flight?

3. Worthy News Coverage

The news section is probably the biggest eye sore in the entire Madden 18 CFM experience. The news screen is something I don't even click on anymore because all it looks like to me is a bad dating site with a bunch of profile pictures and one-liners.

Instead, let's see a weekly highlight show showing us actual game action from all 16 games around the league. Show me top plays, top performers, box scores for every game, playoff pictures, previews of the upcoming draft and drama around the league (another perk that could work well in using a daily sim schedule and player personalities).

During the week, let's hear the radio show that Madden used to have, and could update even on a daily basis as new stories are being developed through the week.

For a league with 32 humans, allow for members of the league to make their own shows streamed straight from YouTube.

4. More Substitution Options

Madden 17 patched in formation subs this year, an answer to one of the community's biggest wishes. Now, let's take it a step further by allowing for more options such as:

Play percentages (instead of formation subs)
Positional matchup locks such as locking your CB1 on their WR1 no matter where he lines up.
Make the system smart too -- it should know the difference between a preseason game and a playoff game where you or the AI are more likely to start that injured superstar.

5. Expanded Stats -- That Aren't Broken

While I'm one of the first to stand up and say Madden 17 is a great game this year, I'm disappointed to see so many errors still existing in the way their stats are being calculated. Some of these include:

Fumble recoveries being counted as doubled in simulated games (accurate on the player screen, doubled in the team stats screen).
Kicker (and punter?) stats not showing up from played games.
Kickoff stats not being recorded if you use your punter on kickoffs.
Simulated games still thinking the kickoff line is the 30-yard line (only about 25 percent of simulated kickoffs are touchbacks).
"Thrown At" and a handful of deeper statistics simply not being tracked in played games.

So after the stat tracking gets cleaned up, Madden 18 should focus on adding to their statistical analysis. Here are some examples that could all be tied into ratings, even awareness for user-controlled players:

-Quarterbacks: Great/bad throws,stats broken down by a throw's distance, red zone stats, comebacks/two-minute offense stats, QBR stats

-Running Backs: Created runs and missed holes by running backs

-Receivers: Catch percentage (catches divided by targets), bad routes, great catches

-Offensive Linemen: Sack percentage (sacks divided by pass play participation), run blocking success percentage (successful blocks divided by opportunities)

-Defensive Linemen: Pass rush percentage including knockdowns, hurried throws, blocked passes, sacks (Number of pass rushing stats generated divided by pass play participation), rushing yards against runs to their gap

-Linebackers: Tackle percentages (number of tackles divided by participated plays), pass rush percentage (see: defensive linemen), pass defense percentage (see: defensive backs), out of position, missed tackles

-Defensive Backs: Passes defensed percentage (catches allowed divided by participated pass plays), big plays allowed, out of position

So what do you think of these potential additions to Madden 18's Connected Franchise mode? What else would you like to see the Madden team work on for next year to enhance Connected Franchise mode?

You can follow Mike Lowe on Twitter @mikelowe_OS and on YouTube.

Member Comments

# 1 BleedGreen710 @ 09/20/16 11:11 AM

considering how much they talked about madden 17 having the 'deepest franchise mode in madden history' makes me very afraid it will go almost untouched in madden 18. same with special teams, which is improved but far from perfect. typically they don't focus on the same areas in back to back years. look no further then the new catching system they added last year and left completely untouched in this years game aside from nerfed aggressive catches.

but this dev team has surprised me and proved me wrong many times this year. look no further then the draft classes that were patched not even a month after i voiced my criticisms of them to one of the EA guys who posts here. for once I have some faith they will build on the franchise mode improvements and make it even deeper next year. but I am cautiously optimistic because of the reasons I stated above.

# 2 cuoreceltico @ 09/20/16 11:14 AM

Thinking what would be be better in madden 18 at few days after the release of 17 is just stupid , madden 17 is full of bugs/glitches that needed to be addressed , just I really want in 18 is a decent playable day one game.

Anyway infact the most needed are new autosubs system, a new engine injury for sure as implement practice injury will be a must, dynamic and most realistic weather , windy game are just boring, new realistic equipment as play model will be a dream.

# 3 BleedGreen710 @ 09/20/16 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cuoreceltico


	Thinking what would be be better in madden 18 at few days after the release of 17 is just stupid

the game came out like a month ago dude

# 4 Armor and Sword @ 09/20/16 11:17 AM

Agree 1000%

M17 is awesome. These changes for Franchise for 18 would make the game legendary.

# 5 cuoreceltico @ 09/20/16 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BleedGreen710


	the game came out like a month ago dude

barely a month is not much more than a few days dude.

# 6 howboutdat @ 09/20/16 11:35 AM

I liked the title of #2 there, however i feel it left alot out .

Look, in the real NFL they have Cordinators who are watching everything going on in the game ( as well as they have already studied up on that opponent and what they like to run and even when) . Then EA already has "coach glass" which is keeping up , in real time plays being called, % of times things are called based on personel on the field, down , etc. The problem with coach glass is, we have a to look off screen , see what it says, look back on screen , call a play, look back off screen to read some more info.This data should find some way to put it up on the play calling screen. Where we arent looking away from the game.

Also id add the "suggestion" stuff that is under each play in the playcalling screen. Currently when it says " the Browns run this so much and gain an average of this amount" is based on data from all online games played. In a online CFM, that data should only be talking about that actual teams data, based on exactly what they run in that particular CFM ONLY. The data is basically useless as it is , when playing in CFM because it has 0 to do with who you are playing. Now its obvious they keep up with that data,a tiny portion is already in game planning this year now.They really need to take that to the next level.So me the data, on that owner, based on what he normally does on average plus what he has been doing in that game im in , in that CFM. That is what cordinators do in real life, to help suggest playcalls, that is what is needed to happen here. The data is already being collected, it just needs to be put together, on screen .

That is one of my biggest things i want to see happen , outside of finally dropping this App they staying so silent on right now. As well as a fully customizable draft board. Not just so i have it in front of me when i draft. But so in case i can not , or someone else can not, make the draft time ( talking about online leagues here ), it will force the CPU to use this draft board to pick.

However, a true customizable draft board im talking about is not exactly like others seem to ask for.Here is what id like to see :

I have 1-1st round pick and 2- 2nds. But the draft class doesnt have alot of talent at CB which i really need and would like to take with my first. However , lets say there are only 4 CBs im willing to spend a 1st on and i have pick 19. I would like to see a way to set it , so i can place the CBs in order 1-4, and if they are not there, then i want to take an LB.So at 5-9 i put a list of LBs in order i want it to search. When my pick comes up, it searches for the first one on the list ,if they have been picked, it goes to 2nd guy and so on.

Now this could be done if the customizable draft board let you set it by each pick you have .If you have 2 1sts, it lets you set both picks order in which you want it to start at and go down.It would also need some parameters it should let you set as well. Like if you only want 1 CB, 1LB, once if say all 4 of your Cbs are there with your first two picks, but you dont want it to just pick CBs, you set it , go 1 CB, 1LB, once it picks one, it skips to the next position listed for next pick. That way its not picking CB,CB,CB,LB or something like that if they happen to still be there.

This is possible, but i realize probably never probable, but it is what a real customizable draft board should function like.

Outside of that, the injury thing listed #1 def needs to happen. Players should be asking for more money based on production as well as attributes,not just overall rating.You know , kind of like real life....

# 7 azdawgpound @ 09/20/16 11:36 AM

To add on how about fixing the issue with the cmp cutting players esp after u make the cuts to get to 53.... I mean after all if u set it to off for no cmp assist or to make cuts then that should stick.

All of what was listed in top 5 plus what I meantioned would be best franchise mode of all Madden's.

# 8 khaliib @ 09/20/16 11:45 AM

1) Make OL independent from one another.
It's the only position were programming is still done based on the "collective" with no regard to "individual" abilities.

2) Make the Draft mean something.
This means that they have to revamp the current "value" system (ie get away from the OVR) and put more focus on player positional skills as the determinant of value.

3) Authentic Broadcast Camera angles.
EA must invest in the "Broadcast Camera" view and get away from the Practice view the game is currently played from, it takes away from the new audio presentation.

# 9 Mike Lowe @ 09/20/16 11:48 AM

Thanks for sharing and expanding on the topic with your own ideas, gents!

# 10 Millennium @ 09/20/16 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cuoreceltico


	Thinking what would be be better in madden 18 at few days after the release of 17 is just stupid , madden 17 is full of bugs/glitches that needed to be addressed , just I really want in 18 is a decent playable day one game. Anyway infact the most needed are new autosubs system, a new engine injury for sure as implement practice injury will be a must, dynamic and most realistic weather , windy game are just boring, new realistic equipment as play model will be a dream.

Calls suggestions for 18 stupid, then makes suggestions for 18.

Come on man, we need to be better than this. Higher standards for posting criticism here at Operation Sports - BE BETTER.

# 11 KG @ 09/20/16 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by khaliib


	1) Make OL independent from one another. It's the only position were programming is still done based on the "collective" with no regard to "individual" abilities. 2) Make the Draft mean something. This means that they have to revamp the current "value" system (ie get away from the OVR) and put more focus on player positional skills as the determinant of value. 3) Authentic Broadcast Camera angles. EA must invest in the "Broadcast Camera" view and get away from the Practice view the game is currently played from, it takes away from the new audio presentation.

I like #1 Khalib even though it's not really a "Franchise" improvement but more of an overall gameplay change. I feel like I can interchange my lineman with no penalty/reward.

# 12 KG @ 09/20/16 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Millennium


	Calls suggestions for 18 stupid, then makes suggestions for 18. Come on man, we need to be better than this. Higher standards for posting criticism here at Operation Sports - BE BETTER.

# 13 BSchwartz07 @ 09/20/16 12:09 PM

What I'd like to see is "play the moment" expanded into a redzone channel type thing where, after your game you can select games that you are interested in from around the league that week and "play the moment" from those games. With any game it is hard not to focus on just your team and lose track of the rest of the league, this would help.

Also, I'd like to see position battles, and benching of players in game. If I get 4 picks on a QB, bring in the backup.

# 14 JayD @ 09/20/16 12:22 PM

Restricted free agents would be great as well. Some kind of a player morale feature would be nice if implemented properly.

# 15 pagkerguy8 @ 09/20/16 12:29 PM

ability to sign free agents during the season for longer than 1 season........ability to re-negotiate contracts besides those about to be free agents(or when a player is holding out)

# 16 T5063 @ 09/20/16 12:30 PM

Isn't it called just "Franchise" now?

Anywho, I think this mode needs to be rebuilt from the ground up. I'd like to see day-by-day simming like in other sports games vs the week to week like we have now.

# 17 Shadymamba @ 09/20/16 12:40 PM

My only gripe with the injuries is why does every injury have to be 5-7 weeks - its crazy. Every time a guy gets hurt on my team I just prepare for the worst - 1 they never come back in the game - 2 at the end of the game 7 weeks broken collarbone, torn bicep, i'm like eeeh I know those are harsh injuries but then i'm like aren't there any minor injuries in madden, does everything have to be catastrophic 7 weeks or more lol

# 18 Cleveland Ryan @ 09/20/16 12:50 PM

Great suggestions. I don't mean to take for granted the improvements, but I'm always disappointed in their annual product (yet always buy, knowing not much will be improved). I really wish they didn't have a monopoly on football. I'm not saying that 2k would force EA out of business or anything, but there would definitely be an elevation of the product. More on topic though, really surprised they haven't integrated the coordinator angle in yet. I really liked playing my way into a head coaching gig on NCAA.

# 19 sir psycho @ 09/20/16 01:57 PM

Great list, can't argue with anything you said.

A couple things I'd like to see, that you didn't mention:

-A more realistic progression/regression system. Regression shouldn't be set in stone. Not every player regresses at the same age. Progression/regression also shouldn't be based on stats. Players don't get better from putting up better stats, they put up better stats because they got better(or the situation around them improved). And they also don't get worse from failing to meet some stat goal. The whole system is so backwards, but the team seems to really love their XP system, so I doubt we'll get that changed.

-The option to hide or obscure rating. I've typed on here plenty of times about why this would be great and add realism, but I'm going to just leave it at the one sentence because I'm lazy right now, and it's a longshot to ever make it in(even though it was sort of in in the past with rookies). Which brings me to my next point....

-I absolutely should not be able to see how good my player is, the instant I draft him. That's a horrible system. It completely ruins the draft.
"Hey, this QB from Michigan looks pretty good, hopefully he can fit in my starting lineup right away." *Looks at screen: "You reached. This player is ranked 310 out of xxx)"* Yeah, that's sim. It's just like in real life when the Raiders drafted Jamarcus Russell, looked at a little message and then didn't even bother signing him. Then, with this knowledge, they drafted a QB in round 2(they visited him 3 times, so they saw he had a true value of early 1st-round) who was much better and was able to start right away. Oh right, in reality, they had to pay him a lot of money, and wasted a couple years trying to see if he would work out.
And to go with that, the scouting system is so messed up that you can see their "true value" when you scout them three times, which makes me put in house rules to never scout a player more than twice.

I don't expect anything I suggested to make it in. Mike Lowe's list is much more realistic, and I hope all of his suggestions do make it in.

# 20 patsfan1993 @ 09/20/16 02:33 PM

Historical Context

I have no idea who won the Super Bowl in 2018.

No idea who was ROY in 2020.

No clue what player stats were in previous years.

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