Aaron Donald And Greg Robinson Receive High Ratings In Madden 15

Jun 17, 2014; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Rams defensive lines coach Mike Waufle talks with defensive tackle Aaron Donald (99) during minicamp at Rams Park. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Every year around this time, EA Sports teasingly begins to reveal some of their player ratings prior to their annual early-Fall release of their ever-popular Madden series. While, in most cases, purchasing the new video game merely means a handful of new, minor features, this season will be the first genuine release on the next generation consoles, which should bring massive upgrades in graphics to the already-realistic gameplay.

However, buying “more of the same” hasn’t been the only mark in the con column for Madden, at least for fan bases like the St. Louis Rams, who have regularly looked to the top of the draft in an attempt to fill some of the massive gaps on their roster. In real life, tossing a rookie into the starting lineup can be nerve-wrenching, relying on a near-teenager to dominate against grizzled, full-grown men on the field. In Madden, it is even worse. Typically, rookies get hit with devastatingly mediocre ratings, often times not even out-rating the scrubs they replaced in the starting lineup. This year, that might have changed…

Yesterday, EA Sports released a handful of ratings for the top rated rookie prospects from the 2014 NFL Draft. So, with the St. Louis Rams snagging arguably the top offensive line and defensive line talents in the class, where would they rank among the first-year players?

No.7 – DT Aaron Donald (79 Overall Rating)

To some scouts, Aaron Donald is regarded as the best pass rushing defensive tackle to enter the NFL since Ndamukong Suh went No.2 overall behind the Rams beloved quarterback, Sam Bradford. According to the snippet of information that was revealed, the Pitt prospect will have: Acceleration (87), Strength (93), Power Move (86), and Block Shedding (85). On top of ranking near (or at) the top in each of those categories among rookies, Donald also has an impressively-high Speed (81) rating; the fastest of any interior lineman in Madden 15. To put his numbers into perspective, Michael Brockers, after having a full season in the NFL, had a mere Strength (84), the same Power Move (86), and only rated 3-points ahead of Donald overall. Not bad!

No.2 – OT Greg Robinson (83 Overall Rating)

The No.2 overall selection in the 2014 NFL Draft has not surprisingly been ranked as the second-best rookie in the upcoming Madden 15 release; trailing only Jadeveon Clowney. The former Auburn mauler will have: Acceleration (87), Strength (93), Run Block (94), and Impact Block (88). His run blocking rating slots him No.3 overall among left guards in the NFL, without having taken a single snap in the league, and his combination of Speed (73) and acceleration should make for easy pulling on stretch plays for Zac Stacy or Tre Mason out of the backfield. Sadly, Robinson did receive a mediocre pass blocking rating, but being sandwiched between Scott Wells and Jake Long should render that deficiency relatively unnoticeable. With his run blocking rating ranking higher than any player on the St. Louis Rams in last year’s Madden release, Robinson will certainly make his impact felt on the offensive line.