So I got my copy of Madden 2009 this morning and have been playing it all day as the Cowboys.  Some big changes from last year!  Some observations:

Offense:

First all all, I'll say that they really gave Felix Jones the credit he deserves and gave him some high ratings.  He has explosive speed and acceleration when you need it, and he has the brains to make moves on his own if you aren't controlling him.  Marion Barber feels very close to last year, as does TO.  Stanback and Austin are practically useless.   Cricket Anderson has great hands, and tackle breaking ability, and the ability to pick up short yardadge.  Tashard Choice is ranked like a 67 -- and is horrible in the game... I think he's getting a raw deal on the ratings big time!

They've definitely taken something away from Crayton and Hurd this year, as I looked at their ratings and they were in the low 70's.  Last year Crayton was a reliable receiver in the game, as he is in real life -- but this year I'm having trouble just squeezing the ball into him.  Last year I could hit Hurd on a few routes, and this year he is almost impossible to throw to -- and is dead slow.  Any time I've tried leading him with the ball, he does not have the speed or gears to get to it before it hits the ground.

Defense:

The defense is awesome this year with Zach Thomas being the tackling machine as advertised.  Even though he doesn't have the best ratings, he is very effective in the game and able to even push some offensive linemen back.  Mike Jenkins about the same as Anthony Henry was last year in the game, except with more speed and less tackling ability.  Newman is still rated high, but I don't think he gets the credit he deserves for speed or ability. Scand is not ranked very high, but has a 95 speed -- so I guess they are assuming he has ability but no skill at this point in his rookie year.  Ware is still awesome, and Ellis is still pretty slow and doesn't have enough strength to get to the QB on most plays (That's kind of surprising... i thought they would have fixed that from last year!) -- Also they've got Anthony Spencer ranked under 80 I believe, and his speed is only an 82 or something, which I find very hard to believe.   I think Spencer is getting a raw deal in Madden again!

Welp, that's my 2 cents on the game -- talk amongst yourselves.

- Hakrjak