Week 4, 2011

[Oneback]

=============== Colorado State Rams (2-0) ===============
Last week the Rams were idle.
This week, the Rams travel to Denver to face the Colorado Buffaloes (0-2).

=============== Troy Trojans (0-1) ===============
Last week the Trojans were idle.
This week, the Trojans will host Vanderbilt (2-1).

=============== Marshall Thundering Herd (1-1) ===============
Last week, Marshall won 37-20 against Colorado (0-2).
This week, the Thundering Herd travel to Miami to face the Miami Hurricanes (1-0).

=============== Iowa State Cyclones (2-0) ===============
Last week, Iowa State won 13-7 against Iowa (1-1).
This week, the Cyclones will host Ohio (2-0).

=============== Duke Blue Devils (1-1) ===============
Last week, Duke lost 28-25 against Stanford (2-0).
This week, the Blue Devils travel to Lawrence to face the Kansas Jayhawks (2-0).
In recruiting news, the following Duke targets have announced their decisions:
- (***) CB Jason Walter has committed to Duke

=============== Wake Forest Demon Deacons (0-2) ===============
Last week, Wake Forest lost 48-41 against NC State (2-0).
This week, the Demon Deacons are idle.

=============== Colorado Buffaloes (0-2) ===============
Last week, Colorado lost 37-20 against Marshall (1-1).
This week, the Buffaloes will host Colorado State (2-0).

=============== Kansas Jayhawks (2-0) ===============
Last week, Kansas won 20-9 against Northern Illinois (1-1).
This week, the Jayhawks will host Duke (1-1).
In recruiting news, the following Kansas targets have announced their decisions:
- (***) TE Joe Tolbert has committed to Kansas

=============== Vanderbilt Commodores (2-1) ===============
Last week, Vanderbilt won 34-28 against Minnesota (0-2).
This week, the Commodores travel to Troy to face the Troy Trojans (0-1).

=============== Indiana Hoosiers (3-0) ===============
Last week, Indiana won 28-27 against Virginia (1-1).
This week, the Hoosiers travel to Bowling Green to face the Bowling Green Falcons (1-1).

=============== Minnesota Golden Gophers (0-2) ===============
Last week, Minnesota lost 34-28 against Vanderbilt (2-1).
This week, the Golden Gophers will host New Mexico State (0-2).

=============== Miami University RedHawks (2-0) ===============
Last week, Miami University won 31-3 against Akron (0-2).
This week, the RedHawks are idle.

[fsuprime]

Kansas I have my series 7 license exam on thursday so i am studying all day tomorrow but i can play thursday night or friday afternoon

[Oneback]

Kansas I have my series 7 license exam on thursday so i am studying all day tomorrow but i can play thursday night or friday afternoon

[skipwondah33]

Kansas I have my series 7 license exam on thursday so i am studying all day tomorrow but i can play thursday night or friday afternoon

On vacation until Friday. We get back Friday afternoon, unsure of exact time will post up when I know.

[psuexv]

ID, when can you play this week. I probably can't tonight but should be good to go the rest of the week.

[fsuprime]

On vacation until Friday. We get back Friday afternoon, unsure of exact time will post up when I know.

ah perfect time for me to have the exam then, have fun on vacation, ill probably be getting wasted this weekend since it is my last one here in tally with my friends but I am sure there will be a good time to play early friday evening or sometime saturday

[Oneback]

RC what times are you available to play? With my schedule right now I'd be able to play anytime after 1pm up till 5:30pm central today or tomorrow and anytime after 1pm central on Friday through Monday at 9:30pm central.

[Kingpin32]

Kingpin what time can you play? Oh thats right you don't have a game this week.

[RcSinger]

I just broke a $50 controller that is less than 2 months old. Getting kicked around the way I do is demoralizing and has rendered this game miserable to me. I have asked several times before for help in understanding what I am doing wrong and I usually get some good info but it's not in depth enough. There has to be something extremely lackluster in my playcalling or play style that causes it. Most games I play I have mo blocking up front. My opponent has very good blocking throughout the game with the very rare breakdown. My receivers are always locked up in coverage meaning I have to force the ball in while my opponent has always got open receivers. I try for the pick in the few times that I do have someone in position and get maybe 1 in 10 I try, yet my opponent usually gets 2 or 3 in every 5.
When I do get something going, a penalty takes it away from me (ala the holding penalty after I got the first on the 3rd and inch play OB). when I find an open receiver, he often will drop the ball. I notice that lots of passes to he flats work for my opponents, yet anytime I try for them, either the receiver is covered or the QB throws the ball out of bounds. Many plays where I have openings, the QB will throw an impossible pass for the receiver to make. Where is my run blocking? Even against the CPU, I have no holes to run through. Last year I always had good running stats against the CPU but this year I cannot run at all.

I know you guys could care less if I dropped out if the dynasty because there is someone waiting to fill my spot. But I am begging someone to take the time to help me with playcalling strategies, reads, and/or gameplay before it cones to that.

Is it possible that EA actually programmed certain gamertags into the game to just fail? Maybe the ones who have been he most critical of them? Far fetched, but I am starting to wonder.

[Oneback]

RC, none of us want to see you drop out. Hang in there just a little longer as I am working on a huge write-up for the offensive side of the ball which will include tips on the running and passing game as well as how to defeat certian coverages and protect against the blitz. It will also have a few things about defense but that isn't what this write-up will be about, I'll do a full write-up on defense later.

On offense you do call a lot of the same running plays so everytime you'd come out in 21 personell I'd call a certian defense, and when I saw you were in Weak Normal I'd make an adjustment then grab the weakside linebacker as I know the power play was coming.

[Iron Dragon]

I can play Thursday after 10, or Friday evening & night.

[RcSinger]

21 personell? Does that mean 2 WR and 1 back?

[Oneback]

21 personell? Does that mean 2 WR and 1 back?

2 backs, 1 tight end

[gschwendt]

2 backs, 1 tight end

I always thought 21/22 personnel listing were actually referring to WR & TE personnel (then the rest are assumed RBs).

[Oneback]

Other way around, you always count (or at least this is how I learned it) what you have to align to on defense. In other words...you start off by having 6 gaps that you have to defend (outside each tackle, guard/tackle and guard/center gap to each side of the line). For every tight end you add another gap, so with 1 tight end there would be 7 gaps, with 2 tight ends there would be 8 gaps. With just one running back in the game you wouldn't add a gap (unless you have a running quarterback), but with every additional running back you would add one gap.

This is significant because if the offense comes out in 12 personnel and you line up with seven in the box the offense has you out numbered. So, what does the defense do...they drop a safety into the box and utilize a one high look. The defense must then have an answer for 2x2 looks because the offense can now threaten with 4 immediate deep threats.

[gschwendt]

Well, I feel like a dope. I was almost certain before but I remember whenever I was building my 22-personnel custom playbook for the pre-release video purposes, I double checked my terminology and could have swore I found a (seemingly respectable) website referring to the same exact thing I was thinking. Now I can't find it. :/

I was trying to build a playbook built around 1HB & 2TEs... obviously I was referring to 12 personnel.

[psuexv]

I can play Thursday after 10, or Friday evening & night.

Tonight after 10 should work out well.

[psuexv]

On offense you do call a lot of the same running plays so everytime you'd come out in 21 personell I'd call a certian defense, and when I saw you were in Weak Normal I'd make an adjustment then grab the weakside linebacker as I know the power play was coming.

RC - I've never played you but if OB is right and you are predictable that is never a good thing. You might want to work out of throwing from "running" formations or being able to flip the run can be very valuable too.

[ryby6969]

To add to what E and OB said RC, the only way you can overcome predictability in playcalling is superior stick skills or players. You cannot run on first and second and then throw on 3rd every drive. Most of this I am sure you know, but once you get into the heat of a game it is easy to forget. The defense has to be kept off balance by playcalling and personnel or your offense will sputter. Gameplan to what your team does well and your competitor does not. The one thing I will tell you is I know you have trouble user tackling so when I have played you in the past I try to exploit that. If I go against someone who I have not played and they use a safety for example, I make sure to challenge them early to see how they react.

Most of this stuff pertains to defense as well this year. If you call the same few defenses all game good players are going to find ways to exploit it. I would not get to down on yourself at the moment because you have not played with your team to much and have to get a feel for what they can and cannot do. Make mental notes of what works so when CPB's get patched(hopefully) you will have an idea of what to make your playbook into.

[psuexv]

Yeah Papa is the only one I know that can call the same play over and over and over and over again and get away with it