EA dropped a surprise edition of Gridiron Notes this morning that introduced us to the console version of The Yard in Madden NFL 21. While gear earned on both the mobile and console versions will be shared, the game modes themselves have a lot of key differences. Below you will find a link to the full Gridiron Notes for today's article as well as a summary of key highlights.

To view the Gridiron Notes for Madden NFL 21 The Yard Deep Dive, Click Here.

WHAT IS THE YARD?

While some Madden fans have played organized football at different levels in their lives, many of us were first introduced to the game of football in our own backyards. A lot of fun was had and memories were made here. The Yard looks to take us back there in Madden NFL 21 with this all-new, action-packed 6v6 game mode. Each player will play as their own customized Avatar that allows you to play anywhere on the field and look the way you want through different gear and accessory options.

THE YARD GAMEPLAY

One of the first differences you will notice in The Yard is the size of the field. It is 80 yards long and 40 yards wide, where first downs are earned by passing the 20-yard markers. In addition to the difference in field dimensions, the following areas also offer up some key differences:

Double Passes

In The Yard, all passes behind the line of scrimmage are legal and can be executed as many times as you would like. Past the line of scrimmage, players can pass backward as many times as they would like as well. With all this passing behind and past the line of scrimmage, receiver icons will always be visible in The Yard. A new mechanic has also been added that allows players to bat a ball in the air to another receiver by holding LT/L2 and pressing the button for the intended receiver.

Laterals

In The Yard, you can lateral the ball as many times as you would like by pressing LB/L1. You can even lateral out of a tackle as well but be careful! Laterals offer a chance at big plays but come with high-risk in the form of fumbles.

Pass Rush Timer/Pass Timer

If your backyard game as a kid included counting "Mississippi" before you could rush the passer, then you should already be familiar with pass rush timers. Each location will have a timer (standard is 1 second), which indicates how long the defense must wait before blitzing. There will also be a timer that shows the QB how long they have to throw until the play is dead when there are no defenders blitzing (standard is 4 seconds). If a defender does blitz the QB, the timer disappears and the QB is free to scramble beyond the line of scrimmage. QBs can not run past the line of scrimmage if no defenders rush.

Multi-Snap

Another key difference in The Yard is the ability to snap the ball to any player on the field, not just the QB. This feature is referred to as "Multi-Snap" and can be executed by holding LT/L2 and pressing the button icon for the corresponding player you would like to receive the snap. There are also custom animations specifically for The Yard gameplay, such as behind-the-back passes and between-the-legs catches to add another element of excitement to each game.

SCORING IN THE YARD

Below is a breakdown of The Yard's unique scoring system that rewards creativity:

• Touchdowns are worth 6 points
• Touchdowns with a double pass or lateral receive 2 bonus points
• 40+ yard touchdowns are worth 1 bonus point
• Interceptions are worth 1 bonus point
• Extra points can be worth 1, 2, or 3 points based on which you choose to attempt. Going for more points will push you further back from the goal line, so choose wisely! Kicking is never an option in The Yard.

Similar to Superstar KO mode, The Yard is drive-based. Standard rules allow three drives per team. Overtime is a modified version of the college OT system where each team gets a drive. If both teams are still tied after three drives each, teams will alternate single plays attempting to score a touchdown until there is a winner.

THE YARD PLAYBOOKS

In The Yard, each team will start with the same basic playbook. Teams will then have a limited number of custom-designed plays on both offense and defense to get creative and catch their opponents off guard. If you want to direct snap the ball to your HB, who then laterals to your QB to throw a pass to your WR, who then laterals to another WR to gain a big chunk of yardage, this is your time to show off that creativity!

PROTOTYPES

When you enter games in The Yard, you will be faced with two decisions: selecting your prototype and your position. The prototype you select will be based on Past and Present NFL players and dictate the style of play for your Avatar. Selecting your position will determine where you line up on the field for both offense and defense. If you would like to use a WR prototype and line up at QB, you have that ability in The Yard!

Each Prototype consists of three main components: X-Factor, Abilities, and Skill Points. The X-Factor that comes with each Prototype can not be changed and will have unique activation requirements for The Yard that you may not see in other modes. You will start each Prototype with a few Abilities to choose from and unlock additional Abilities as you progress through the game mode. Each Prototype can be equipped with two Superstar Abilities of your choice. Finally, Skill Points can be earned by leveling up the Prototype you are currently using and are used to modify specific traits. A green arrow under modifiers means the player has maxed stats in that particular area, while a red arrow means they will struggle.

TEAMMATES AND SQUADS IN THE YARD

Once your position and Prototype have been selected, you will get to see your team. In most games against the CPU, your team and opponents will be drafted randomly from a group of players that are unique to each location. The Yard also supports Squads play that allows up to three users to play on each team in a 6v6 format. If you are playing a game by yourself, you will have the ability to control all six of your team's players. If you are playing duos, then each user will control their Avatar as well as two of your NFL teammates. In a trios game, each user will control their Avatar as well as one NFL teammate.

In certain events, you will be given the ability to draft your NFL teammates after all users have selected their position and Prototype. Pay close attention to the player's Prototype and Abilities at this stage to select the best option to complement your squad!

THE YARD WORLD TOUR

The Yard World Tour consists of special locations with unique challenges. For instance, at F.O.B. Nico you will take on single drive drills with changing field position and in Miami, you will face first-and-goal situations. You can expect future locations to have unique aesthetics and rules as well. Below are images from the first four locations:

Miami Port – a portside environment where you will take on some of South Florida’s best.

Lambeau Tailgate – This venue outside of Lambeau Field will introduce you to Packers stars and NFC North rivals.

F.O.B. Nico – a Forward Operating Base in an undisclosed location, this location is filled with NFL Combine stars who found the dog in them.

Brandenburg Football Festival – A field situated in front of Berlin’s famed Brandenburg Gate. This festival brings the NFL’s Pro Bowl stars to Europe in some of the hardest challenges The Yard has to offer.

GEAR AND CHALLENGES

With over 2,000 pieces of unique Gear in The Yard to choose from, you will have the ability to swag out your Avatar how you see fit with unique visors, helmets, jerseys, pants, and more! There will be a different Gear loadout for Home and Away. Home Gear loadouts will feature a dark jersey while the Away Gear loadout will feature a light jersey. You can unlock new Gear by earning Cred, leveling up your Prototype, completing events at each venue, and by leveling up during each season.

THE YARD SHARED INVENTORY

Don't forget that The Yard offers a shared inventory system between Madden NFL 21 and Madden NFL 21 Mobile! In order to take advantage of this shared inventory system, follow these steps to link your accounts: After logging into the Madden NFL 21 Mobile App and completing the tutorial, click the menu option in the top left corner and select "Settings". Next, select "Link Accounts" and then "EA Account". You will then be asked to provide the email address associated with your EA Account. A 5-digit code will be sent to your email that you will then enter into the Madden Mobile App. Once you have successfully entered your code, that's it! Your accounts are now linked.

Will you be testing your skills in The Yard this season? Share your thoughts on Madden's latest game mode with us in the comments below.