Some more detailed franchise issues/suggestions:
1) Special teams: As I mentioned, a coach should be able to set the players who will participate on the kickoff return and kickoff coverage teams. This is the only formation where this is not possible, which does not make a lot of sense. This is a problem since offensive players (FB, WR, TE) end up like heat-seaking missiles and never miss a tackle on kick coverage. I would suggest adding two attributes for players - STC (special teams coverage) and STR (special teams return) that would provide a player's ability to cover (tackle) and block on the special teams. There are a number of players in the NFL who have had their entire careers based on special teams ability; and there is currently no attribute to represent this.
2) Along with the above, there should be a "Special Teams Player of the Year" for each conference as there actually is in real life, and a "special teams" representative on the Pro Bowl.
3) Draft. As I have mentioned many times, the generated players in the draft have attributes that are not realistic. The edge rushers all have heights of 6-0, where height (length) is a prime attribute of an edge rusher. In one draft, no QB was taken in the first three rounds, which would never happen, even if there was not a player with a top 3 round grade. There are first round CB with agility in the low 70's, which would never happen. The software is based on a database of player attributes including height and weight. A generated draft class should be created using the actual distribution of those attributes.
4) There should be an ability to set blocking (OL) double teams and pass coverage double teams for an entire game, as opposed to having to do this for every play, e.g., on every play the OL will double team Khalil Mack and double cover Julio Jones. This could be one of the "coaching options" on the play-call menu.
5) In franchise mode, there should be access to updated league-wide player stats throughout the game. Or at the very least, the player should have access to his own team's updated stats during the game.
6) The TE v DB tackle physics need to be updated. If a 170lb CB tries to tackle a 270lb TE, in real life the vast majority of the time the TE will plow over him for additional yards. However, in Madden, when a DB tries to tackle a TE, invariably the TE is stopped immediately, which is not realistic. This does not seem to be an problem for RB, but it is for TE and big WR.
7) There need to be tighter rules for awarding a sack when a QB is running outside of the pocket. If a QB is clearly running, and is tackled behind the LOS, this is always recorded as a sack.
8) There is an incorrect correlation between QB accuracy and interceptions. The most accurate QB throw a lot of interceptions in a game, while QB with very poor accuracy do not. It seems as if the QB accuracy attribute is used to determine how likely a defender is able to make a catch on an interception. In a game, a backup QB with very poor accuracy - or a P/K thrust into duty - will have all of this passes bounce off the hands of defenders. In real life, QB with poor accuracy throw a lot of INT, while QB with great accuracy throw very few. The logic needs to be changed so that poor accuracy will result in a lot of INT, great accuracy in very few. To say it again, it seems clear that QB accuracy is currently used to determine how likely it is that a defender makes a catch (INT); this provides very inaccurate results.
9) In the actual NFL certain QB tend to throw interceptions (Winston), on the other hand, certain players at every position seem more likely to make a big play; I would suggest that there be a separate rating for QB that directly controls how likely they are to throw an interception, and for every player how likely they are to create a big play. There is no attribute that controls for this. Mahomes/Rodgers/Mack, etc. simply make big plays, and this does not directly correlate with awareness, or any other attribute.
10) There should be more salary cap management flexibility in franchise mode. A coach/owner should be able to control the guaranteed amount for a contract each year, and be able to control the salary - consistent with league rules - each year. In other words, be able to do the salary cap engineering that actual NFL teams do. In addition, a coach/owner should be able to renegotiate a contract every year - except for rookie contracts which have different rules - rather than only be able to renegotiate in the last year of a contract.
11) With respect to the above, there are players who want to be able to simulate an NFL franchise, so we want everything to be as authentic as possible. We don't care about being in a league or playing online with other people. I realize many of the existing rules are there to ensure there is a level playing field. Have one option: simulation or competition. If "simulation" is selected, everything is as authentic as possible, we can't play online but we don't care because we don't want to. If you chose "competition", then there will be the existing unrealistic rules that are there to keep people from cheating. In my opinion, this would be the most important modification to Madden.
12) Effective "scramble drills" do not exist for WR or other players on offense. There should be some intelligence so that when these players realize their QB is in trouble, they work to get open, go deep, or provide a better target.
13) For the Pro Bowl teams, there should be a separate category of "edge rusher" rather than have categories of DE and DT and OLB. Also, there should be a statistic for QB hurries. Finally, shooting for the moon, a partnership with Pro Football Focus would be nice so that every player is graded on every play.
14) Along with the above, the number of pressures given up should be recorded for each OL and along with pancake blocks, should be the basis for Pro Bowl and "OL of the Year" selections.
15) NFL broadcasts have advanced kick statistics such as the velocity of a kick and from how far away it would have been good. This would be a nice addition.
16) In the games, the official scoring (statistics) for each play should be provided: Peterson 1 carry for 3 yards, Nelson a pancake block, Smith with the tackle and Fuller with an assist.
17) During the NFL draft coverage, it was frequently said that coaches were looking for "position-less players." A coach should be able to have a backup QB line up at WR, or a CB line up at LB.
18) For the Pro Bowl selections, the number of tackles should not be a factor in selecting the CB. A large number of tackles is always a bad thing for a CB. In addition, as I have mentioned previously, there is a problem with the selection of punt/kick-returners to the team. Often, the Pro Bowl kick returner has never returned a punt or a kick or even played in a game.
