Madden 08 producer blog on blocking

In the third entry detailing and showing off specific improvements in Madden 08 (previous ones featured sideline catches and gang tackling), VJ LeBlanc goes over what is new with the blocking in the game.

There is way too much included for me to recap it, so I’d suggest you check out the full blog writeup. You can read it in its entirety here.

For the video below:

1. The first example is of a defender sinking the double team, allowing the linebacker to (potentially) make a tackle.

2. The second example shows the blocking pair succeeding and moving to the second level. The blocker that gets to the second level recognizes that the defender is likely going to beat him to the ball. As such the blocker (successfully) cuts the second level defender. The result is that the blocking pair successfully blocks their zone.

3. The next example is a regular successful double team zone block. The defenders are both blocked.

4. As a note, you can see that the blockers take lateral initial zone steps.

Blocking problems (or lack of realistic blocking in itself) has been a problem that has plagued the series over the years. Certainly for me that has been one of the most frustrating things to deal with. This video is very encouraging to see, and its great that they are letting the hardcore players out there get a look at more of the intricacies in the game, things that are more than just the flashy aspects that they have touted in the past. This is a good example of a specific element to gameplay that may have been overlooked in the past but will have a direct effect on the realism and enjoyment people will be experiencing.