I'm trying to give you guys fast impressions....rather than wait 3 days and find out the flaws the game (Every game does....) has. But for now, I will give you this.
I'm in a scrimmage now (against one of the best D's....Eagles') and I wanted to see if last year's golden boy...Jerome Bettis, could run worth shit against them. Well, I can't say for sure, but it has been toned down! He breaks the first tackle up the gut sometimes, but the D just SWARMS him and the gang tackle animations (very impressive!) really put him to shame.
I've been playing NCAA for the last few days. That game is a flatout joke compared to this.
Bah, I'm no good at impressions, especially since they take time to truly form....but I'm trying to help you guys out, who don't have the game.
Edit: I forgot how great the running animations are (aside from the RB's form) when you're following blockers. In NCAA and Madden, you just run normally, even though you're pressing up against someone. In this, it's just so cool watching him fit through holes. Top notch stuff. I'm not sure if they've even improved this from last year, I just really like it. It adds to the gameplay too, because you're not stuck running against a wall, you make the most of the situation.