Attribute Spotlight - Madden 12 Middle Linebacker tackle (TAK) attribute.

    This is the second position in a series, were I will look at the tackle (TAK) attribute and consistency in Madden 12.  Prior to this post, I was creating my own Missed Tackle (%) using solo tackles and missed tackle stats gathered from ProFootballFocus.com.  A little over a week ago ProFootballFocus.com released a new stat called Tackle Efficiency Rating.  This rating is defined by PFF to be "the number of attempted tackles per miss."  They are using both solo tackles and tackle assist when computing this rating, along with missed tackles.  


    For this blog I will refer to the Combined Tackle Efficiency rating for middle linebackers (MLB).  PFF also provides Tackle Efficiency for run plays only, as well as pass plays only.  I believe the combined rating is the best one when trying to determine which players are the best at performing the actual act of tackling.  


    Athough this is a new stat/rating, I have shown in my previous blog on Corner Back (CB) TAK attribute that missed tackles could have been used previously to come up with a more consistent and accurate TAK attribute.  That said.  With this new Tackle Efficiency Rating from PFF, it should be even easier for EA to provide accurate, consistent, and realistic tackle attributes in future Madden titles.


    Of course, we all must first agree that the TAK attribute is the ability of said player to perform the act of tackling.  We must be clear, Tackle Efficiency isn't about the total number of tackles a player makes.  Tackle Efficiency is about how well the player performs the act of tackling.  


    Today, I selected the top 10 Middle Linebackers (MLB) in Madden 12 (based on most current update) and  used the TAK attribute to sort them.  You will see a lot of familiar names on this list.  I than took the last 3 years of Tackle Efficiency Ratings and included those figures in a table to analyze.  This will give us a better idea of the current accuracy of the TAK attribute for MLBs.  I intentionally did not include total tackles.  All of these players have posted high tackle numbers in the past/present and I don't believe the number of tackles should decide how well a player tackles in Madden.  I also picked one MLB out of the top 10 for comparison, that is Paul Posluszny.  Posluszny keep showing up among the top players in Tackle Efficiency so I decided to include him out of curiosity.  


Here is the table:


TAK = Madden 12 tackle attribute as of most updated roster 1/10/11.   


TakEff = ProFootballFocus Combined Tackle Efficiency Rating (the number of attempted tackles per miss.)              ** Please note, the higher the number, the better the Tackle Efficiency.

Top 10 Middle LB's for TAK attribute in Madden 12
		2011	2010	2009	3YR AVG
Name	TAK	TakEff	TakEff	TakEff	TakEff
Fletcher	99	9.1	12.6	11.2	11.0
Beason	97	N/A IR	16.0	12.0	14.0
Lofton	96	11.2	9.9	10.5	10.5
Willis	96	36.5	13.4	30.3	26.7
Tulloch	96	12.4	15.2	9.9	12.5
Jackson	96	14.8	N/A IR	11.3	13.1
Laurinaitis	96	27.5	14.3	21.0	20.9
E.J. Henderson	96	10.5	11.7	14.0	12.1
Lewis	96	11.9	10.5	13.1	11.8
Urlacher	96	10.7	9.3	N/A IR	10.0
Posluszny	94	18.4	23.5	14.7	18.9	30.5 at OLB in 2010
		2011	2010	2009	3YR AVG
Name	TAK	TakEff	TakEff	TakEff	TakEff
Willis	96	36.5	13.4	30.3	26.7
Laurinaitis	96	27.5	14.3	21.0	20.9
Beason	97	N/A IR	16.0	12.0	14.0
Jackson	96	14.8	N/A IR	11.3	13.1
Tulloch	96	12.4	15.2	9.9	12.5
E.J. Henderson	96	10.5	11.7	14.0	12.1
Lewis	96	11.9	10.5	13.1	11.8
Fletcher	99	9.1	12.6	11.2	11.0
Lofton	96	11.2	9.9	10.5	10.5
Urlacher	96	10.7	9.3	N/A IR	10.0
Posluszny	94	18.4	23.5	14.7	18.9	30.5 at OLB in 2010

© 2010 ProFootballFocus.com. All rights reserved.

    The first table is sorted by the best Tackle (TAK) attribute in Madden 12, the second table is sorted by the best three year average for Combined Tackle Efficiency.  I highlighted the highest in each column.

Observations:

1.  Based on this group of MLBs, Patrick Willis has clearly been the best at performing the act of tackling, followed by James Laurinaitis.

2.  While London Fletcher continues to pile up the tackles year after year, his actual TakEff is toward the bottom of this list.  Maybe the number of tackles a player makes in a season is what EA has been using to determine the TAK attribute.  Remember, prior to this new stat, missed tackles were still being tracked and could easy have been utilized to come up with a number for Missed Tackle% or Tackle Efficiency.

3.  While all of these players have an elite TAK attribute in Madden, is it to much to ask for the best tacklers to get recognized as such.  Granted, they lumped several good tacklers together, but shouldn't Willis, Laurinaitis, and Posluszny have a better tackle attribute than Fletcher?

4.  If we use these same attribute numbers, but assign them based on the average Tackle Efficiency for the last three years,  it would look something like this:

Name	TAK
Willis	99
Laurinaitis	97
Posluszny	96
Beason	96
Jackson	96
Tulloch	96
E.J. Henderson	96
Lewis	96
Fletcher	96
Lofton	96
Urlacher	94

If we used only the Tackle Efficiency numbers from this season, if would look like this:

Name	TAK
Willis	99
Laurinaitis	97
Posluszny	96
Jackson	96
Tulloch	96
Lewis	96
Lofton	96
Urlacher	96
E.J. Henderson	96
Fletcher	96
Beason	94

Notice the top players in 2011 are also the top players in 3 years average.

5.  I prefer to look at things in 3 or 4 year blocks when applicable.  Obviously rookies and FAs with no history in the NFL need to be considered differently.  

6.  I would suggest leaving Beason at his 3 year average since he was injured, while moving Fletcher down the list.

7.  What do you do about role players and players who don't see much action?  First, I would use what data is available.  NFL stats, College stats, College analysis/Draft profile and anything else having to do with the player's ability to tackle.  Next, would be to discuss this attribute with a ratings team.  I mean a real ratings team, not just one person.  A group of objective individuals coming to a consensus on that player's attribute. Until further data/stats paint a clearer picture, this attribute rating will be assigned while considering similar players at the position with a similar NFL history.  

8.  While these selected players don't show drastic differences in the TAK attribute, once you enter the tackle efficiency rating to the table the inaccuracy is clear.  There are several lower rated MLBs in Madden 12, that actually tackle better than some players on this list.  I stuck with this group because it shows that even among the BIG names, there is a clear difference in Tackle Efficiency.  

9.  If the total number of tackles was to play a role in a Madden attribute, shouldn't it be pursuit (PUR)?  Let me know what you think.