I haven't played in a couple of years either, Ryan. Just bought a PS4 a couple of days ago so I could buy the new Madden game and check out an Aggie filled NFL team... $700 to feed my addiction because I had to buy my wife BF4 Premium. Absolutely sickens me when I think of the total cost.
Popped out of bed at 3am this morning like a kid at Christmas. Played for 3:15am-6am
Connect Franchise is like the old franchise. You can play online or offline. Fantasy Draft in both. You get so many hours a week that you can practice, develop players, gameplan, etc.
Here's what's changed for me:
Playcalling:
I'm not sure if you can change it back to the old way, but they basically give you a selection of plays for the down/distance with stats on those plays' effectiveness, how often you've called it, your opponents tendencies on this down/distance, etc.
Tackling:
You get a cone as you approach a ball carrier, and it's supposed to reduce your tendency to miss the ball carrier with a dive tackle/hit stick.
Blocking:
The offensive line seems to work much better together. Opening up holes, double teaming, etc.
Defensive Line:
R2 right before the snap lets you fire off the line. Then a square (power moves) or "x" (finesse moves) appears for you to press to perform the pass rush move. Bull rushes, swims, spins all seem to work really well, and I was able to generate a pass rush with 4 linemen.
Player Ratings:
Players are rated for your system. So Robert Quinn is a speed rusher, and if you scheme is a 4-3 he'll be rated great. If you're a 3-4 his rating is worse. Same goes for every position. Zone CBs and Man-To-Man CBs and their rated based on your scheme. Zone Blocking linemen and "Big Maulers"
Defense exists. I like a strong DLine that can shut down a running game and allow the rest of my players to play in coverage. Against Matt Forte, he went 15 carries for 55 yards. One play was a 20 yard pitch. The rest I shut his ass down with a 3-4, 2-4-5 only blitzing occasionally on passing downs.
Granted my DLine consists of JJ Watt and D. Poe, but they actually make a difference and hold the line, take up double teams, so my LBers are free to make tackles.
CPUs QB is incredibly efficient. Kirk Cousins was like 16-20 with a pick. They find the open man if there is one. If not, it's a sack. If your defense is giving up the short mid field they'll check into short slants and crossing routes at the line and take it all day.
I'm a beginner again, still need to learn all the little things like disguising defenses and shifting coverage that I heard they added. Plan on logging a little more play time this weekend, if I can get free.