Madden 25 has changed how read options work

Michael Vick changed Madden and actual NFL football forever. More teams than ever are seeking mobile quarterbacks to power read option and RPO-based offenses. Madden NFL has added these explosive plays, but things in Madden 25 work differently than in the past few years.

To hand the ball directly to the running back on a read option play, don't push anything. The back will get the ball and then it's a typical running play and you'll start looking for the holes to get through. To pull the ball and keep with it your quarterback you push either A/X. EA has explained this is a better simulation of the motion on a read-option.

In theory, this makes sense. Pulling the ball is the biggest motion the QB would make on the play, and hitting a button simulates that. The slight problem is that read options have worked the complete opposite way for the past couple of years. Players running these plays for two years have a muscle memory that won't easily be rewritten. I'm one of these players, and yes, this has led to a couple of options getting blown all the way up.

EA Sports College Football 25 handles options the same way. A lot of players are returning not just to football games, but video games in general after 11 years off. That makes it a good time for EA to make such a change, but it's confusing for those who never left. First-world video game problems, folks.

Madden NFL 25 has a lot of new plays and new types of plays. The shared resources with CFB 25 are obviously paying off. The NFL playbooks won't be quite as wild as what college teams run, but there are lots of interesting new wrinkles. Madden will add new plays throughout the year as NFL coaches and coordinators cook up new tricks.