Mid-air collisions are another welcomed addition to and are an improvement of the WR/DB interplay system, which was first implemented with Mut 24 coins. I witnessed numerous instances where a real battle for the ball was fought on the air just before the point of catch. In particular, Alshon Jeffery took off and high-tailed an attempt to pass, and the DB attempted to hit the ball away when he came down, when they were colliding bodies to bodies. It appeared to be much more natural than of the interactions which occurred during the season. Another new feature is the capability to the stick of the ball with a WR while they are trying to take the ball. I actually was capable of drawing an offensive PI since I had arrived too late. It enhances the interactions and could make up for the lack of PI-related calls in the game.
Tackling has been given an improvement in animation, and as every player is affected by RPM, they appear more realistic in terms of weight and momentum. There were some great two-man tackles which made sense within the context of the game, and contributed to the overall feel that the sport. Hit stick tackles require more skill and timing to master and have been animated in a different manner in order to appear more attractive. There was a distinct distinction between a hard-hitting linebacker and a slick CB regards to how each tackle appeared.
I experienced a unique situation in which I was able to drive a CB using Ajayi. He did not really lose momentum as he did previously. He was able to blast across the CB without falling and was able to continue running. Another aspect of tackling is the ability to explode from an strafe that is directed at defense. Instead of feeling as if the offensive always had the upper hand having the ability to explode from the defensive strafe, I was able to feel that I could effectively take on the player who was attacking me and strike solidly.
It took me a while to make the commitment to muscles memory. However, it did help my defensive game over the long term. One thing that happens in the absence of a strafe to burst, is the player is likely to fall forward when tackling. This was especially crucial close to the sticks and often was the distinction between a first down and the change of possession. The changes to tackling seem as if they're geared towards giving more control to the player, and skilled cheap Mut 24 coins players will certainly be able to fill in gaps in their skills once they've learned the new tackling technique.