OVR rating is nearly meaningless

[ovrcfntdorgamiartist]

So I pick up this FA running back after both Beanie Wells and Ryan Williams go down with season ending injuries for the Cardinals. In true Madden fashion, speed is key at RB. However, since this RB has size, he's a better Beanie Wells than Beanie. A 94 spd powerback with an OVR rating of about 62.

This video does also show off some great animations this year:

http://www.easports.com/media/play/video/98609199

[mWolfe]

Quote: Originally Posted by ovrcfntdorgamiartist

So I pick up this FA running back after both Beanie Wells and Ryan Williams go down with season ending injuries for the Cardinals. In true Madden fashion, speed is key at RB. However, since this RB has size, he's a better Beanie Wells than Beanie. A 94 spd powerback with an OVR rating of about 62. This video does also show off some great animations this year: http://www.easports.com/media/play/video/98609199

Nice. The OVR though is really to help the CPU do its depth charts and evaluate players and there progress on CPU controlled teams. Since the AI can't base it alone on just on certain skills it needs the overall to help make its decision. I wish the user could hide it since most of us base are players by skill rather than overall.

[LambertandHam]

Quote: Originally Posted by mWolfe

Nice. The OVR though is really to help the CPU do its depth charts and evaluate players and there progress on CPU controlled teams. Since the AI can't base it alone on just on certain skills it needs the overall to help make its decision. I wish the user could hide it since most of us base are players by skill rather than overall.

Bingo. I draft, scout, and sign free agents not so much based on overall, but by the specific skill set I need.

[LivingLegend]

Quote: Originally Posted by mWolfe

Nice. The OVR though is really to help the CPU do its depth charts and evaluate players and there progress on CPU controlled teams. Since the AI can't base it alone on just on certain skills it needs the overall to help make its decision. I wish the user could hide it since most of us base are players by skill rather than overall.

It doesn't even do that right now, I think it's about time the OVR rating is done away with.

[TNT713]

The OVR rating is meaningless and has been for decades.

The OVR rating is determined by considering key elements depending on the position. You can have a player with tremendous SPD and a horrible overall. IMO, only rookies look at the OVR rating.

More seasoned players look at the ratings that matter for a position and completely ignore the OVR.

Later

[Beeks]

Here within lies the biggest problem with Madden. To the user, the OVR rating means nothing. To the CPU, however, it means absolutely everything. This is why progression sucks. This is why free agency sucks. This is why franchise is a shadow of what it should be.

The CPU doesn't care if a 62 OVR player had a record breaking season. All it sees is one number... 62.

In my Bucs franchise, I'm starting a 61 linebacker over an 84 linebacker. My 61 guy is severely outplaying the 84 guy. At the end me the year, 61 had about 100 tackles, 5 sacks and 2 picks. A pretty good year for any linebacker. His potential is a C. He progressed -1 OVR. He's now a 60 after a great year at 26 years old. This is what we call 'broken'.

[kpkpkp]

Quote: Originally Posted by mWolfe

Nice. The OVR though is really to help the CPU do its depth charts and evaluate players and there progress on CPU controlled teams. Since the AI can't base it alone on just on certain skills it needs the overall to help make its decision. I wish the user could hide it since most of us base are players by skill rather than overall.

Quote: Originally Posted by LambertandHam

Bingo. I draft, scout, and sign free agents not so much based on overall, but by the specific skill set I need.

These 2 quotes sum up how I feel perfectly.

I always look at a players skill set.. IE his specific catching ability, or speed, skill traits, or maybe his awareness for when the CPU controls him on defense etc etc.

Those specific skill sets are whats most important to me, while I use the OVR as just a guideline. Whereas the CPU needs OVR as the final deciding factor just as mWolfe said.

For example; when deciding which of 2 RB's to start when you intend to use RB's in the passing game, catching ability is important. Even though the RB with a lower OVR might be the one with the catching ability. In this case I would start the RB with a lower OVR whereas the CPU would start with one with a higher OVR.

Also I think OVR DOES matter most in simmed games. For example, when I play as the Patriots I start Wes Welker in the #2 depth chart spot, so he goes in the slot. But when simming a game, I move Welker to #1 on the depth chart so he gets the proper number of targets.

[PGaither84]

I remember in Madden 11 when it first came out I was doing a franchise with my 49ers. In the NFL draft, in the 6th or 7th round the Jets chose a 6'6" Defensive End with a low overall mainly because his Finesse Moves rating is so low. For every 3 points of Finesse Moves a DE has, his OVR is raised by one. Compare that to Block Shedding where it takes 18 points to raise the OVR by a single point. Madden doesn't separate between 3-4 and 4-3 defensive ends.

Anyway, that player had a low OVR rating, but A potential and was cut by the Jets after his first season. I ended up paying him BIG money to join my team and he was a beast on the field. Nearly every run that went to his side of the field was shut down because of his 95+ block shedding and 95+ Tackle ratings... and he was my LE, which means all strong side runs were shut down.