One of the most important things in any game are the controls. The main controls for player control have not changed much over the years. There have been some button changes and of course they have been added controls through out the Madden Franchise games. In game controls are pretty much the same as they have been for the last 2 or 3 installments, with a couple of tweaks, mostly in play calling and pre snap controls.

As usual you run the ball with the analog stick, but one main difference is the "feel" of the running game. Instead of holding the turbo button with a fast runner and blowing past your blockers, a slower, follow the blockers and be patient with the turbo button is now a better way to run the ball. I actually felt more in control of the game with how this game played out. To me it was more realistic. You can't just button mash and run through everyone. In fact, avoiding a tackler is much more realistic.

No longer do you stop dead in your tracks from a hit. Depending on your momentum versus the tacklers, you will actually carry through a tackle. And why I am discussing this, I was most impressed by the accuracy of the ball spotting. This was always a gripe that now has been addressed. I no longer have to yell and scream that i was 3 or 4 yards further down field then my runner was given credit for. Great improvement EA!!

Tackling is more fluid and gone are the days of diving 10 yards thru the air to make a tackle. You can try it. But be prepared to fall short of the carrier or if you come close expect the runner to run straight thru your "arm tackle". The timing of the tackles is also vastly improved. By this I mean you need to have the right angle of pursuit or you may run behind the ball carrier. Dive at a bad angle and it is likely the offensive team will have a huge gain. As in last year you can hit high or low with the big stick button as well. Just make sure that your body mass, momentum and angle are better then the runners or you may just bounce off.

Of course, some better tacklers will slide down the bottom and wrap the tackler up. Gang tackles are much more realistic and not just between two defenders. At times, I had as many as 5 tacklers on a runner. Yeah LT, you da man! Gone also is the annoying trait of speed killing in the whole game. You may be fast but my defender thinks your a stiff and thats why knocked you out of the game. One of my favorite features is the ability to adjust how aggresive your offense or defense plays. Affecting the moment of the game.