Season 1 - Week 12

[Coach Kernzy]

Only a game or two left for most of us and then we see what awaits us in the offseason.

[Gnarlymutt]

Arch, I'm ready when you are. Later is usually better for me. Let me know!

[Archedemius]

What time tomorrow?

[Gnarlymutt]

After 9pm CST usually works best and I can swing that tonight if you can. If not, let me know what your schedule looks like.

[Archedemius]

I can if my g/f doesn't give me shit.

[Archedemius]

Going to make it tomorrow evening at that time if that is cool Gnarly. Gotta go out of town tonight.

[Gnarlymutt]

Got it. Shouldn't be a problem. I'll check back if it is.

[Coach Kernzy]

Oh the agony of defeat...
Miami OH is no joke. Their #13 ranking in the country is well deserved. They play a controlled run first, big play pass game that is very effective and their defense is very solid in the back 7.
They took a pretty quick 10-0 lead on a nice opening drive and then a quick turnover from me that I held them to a FG.
I settled down and then took a 14-10 halftime lead behind a good mix of playcalling.
In the 3rd qtr a couple great secondary plays by Mia OH resulted in interceptions and allowed them to score a couple TDs to make the score now 24-14 Mia OH.
Determined, the W Mich offense went out and put together a drive but nothing came of it and then after it looked like all was about lost my defense forced a fumble and shortly there after Carder hits Arnheim on a middle screen that is taken 75 yards to cut the deficit to only 3 points. Video on the OD site.
That is as close as we got though as the 4th qtr was a struggle for both teams as the defense tightened up or maybe it was the offenses that tightened up. Either way no one scored until late when Mia OH rubbed a little salt in the wound by running a PA and throwing deep on 3rd and short when I figured they'd just be running out the clock. But hey, it was a good call to sew up the win for sure.
They are tough and they are legit.
That loss probably cost me a shot at the MAC title game however because I'm in a conference tie with C Mich who beat me earlier in the season. I"ll need to have C Mich lose to Toledo this week and me beat Akron next week and then I'd be in the title game.
Overall this game was amazing and played excellently. I really think this slider set is working out pretty damn well.
I did forget to lower holding penalties FYI but I will do that going into next week.

[Coach Kernzy]

4 games done this week, 3 to go with both Florida schools and the user v user MAC game against E Mich and Kent St

[AustinWolv]

NT wins! Helluva game that we got lucky to score on......check the box score for when that late score occurred...........LOL!

[Coach Kernzy]

Saw that Austin, no time on the clock with a TD Pass. Nice

[SmoothPancakes]

I won't be playing until tomorrow or Saturday. HS Football starts for me tonight with the local team playing their season opener against their rivals on Thursday nights when they are at home (the rival prefers Friday nights when on their home field), so I'm sitting in a studio until at least 11pm, then have some other things I have to work on that will probably push my time at work beyond midnight.

[AustinWolv]

Lucky for NT, the CPU played a dumb defense and the single DB couldn't cover both receivers. The WR coming back to play the ball though was still lucky.

[natcret]

Question: EA is reporting that the Dynasty Wire is down. How does that affect playing this week's game?

[Coach Kernzy]

I believe that just affects stories, highlights and stuff like that so I don't think it'll affect actually playing or getting the game reported. (Fingers crossed)

[natcret]

With all of the issues related to EA, I would feel more comfortable in not playing my game until it is back on. My feasr is that I play the game and then something screwy happens to where it won't let me upload or it records my game wrong. I'll keep checking periodically today as I want to get my game knocked out.

[Underdog]

Memphis pitches a shutout against Marshall. 4 Wins baby!

[Archedemius]

Not going to be able to do the user v user game tonight sorry. Studying.

[Coach Kernzy]

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5053/5546370766_2f809b5ba3_m.jpg
The gears of progress come to a screeching halt...

[AustinWolv]

BTW, I'll be able to play this weekend as our vacation got delayed until Monday due to the hurricane.

[natcret]

Yea, Irene thankfully bypassed us. Getting the occasional winds and rain. Thoughts for the folks up in the Carolinas and farther north.

[natcret]

I want to preface this by saying that I have no issue with losing and I don't mind when my little tiny team gets beat up by the big boys. I expect it.

But right now, absolute BS.... I am thoroughly pissed.

It is halftime right now for my game against Troy, and the score is 42-12. They have 135 rushing yards in 15 carries (9 yard avg) to my 89 yards in 25 carries (3.5 avg). They have 267 yards passing to my 149.

I don't care what anyone says anymore: the game is broken. How do you gameplan or do anything when the defense knows your every move. I have seen runs and passes by my opponenet today that I have never seen, even against the heavyweights I have played.

I know you guys are way more in tune with the game than I am, but the fun on all levels is draining. It is absolutely frustrating to call your play, look at the defense alignment then call a quick audible, just like in real life, but in this case, see the defense immediately shift to what you call. Sure, I get a lucky pass or run..but there is no consistency that I can pull from.

Plus, if the roles were reversed right now, then I would be penalized big time in sportsmanship for running up the score.

Additionally, the game goes too far in hurry up mode which I believe causes the AI to cheat...and the DB's and LB's jumping like the soles ontheir shoes are made of flubber....unreal.

I just don't care; I hate to say it but the game is just sapping all the fun from me.

Forgive my rant.

[natcret]

30 seconds into the third quarter...Troy throws and completes a 54 yard pass. 1st and goal for them...

[Coach Kernzy]

Troy was one of the most high powered offenses in the football let alone the Sun Belt last season and I'm sure they will put in the backups for the 4th qtr but they aren't going to let off the gas. It's not their responsibility to stop what they do, it's our responsibility to stop them.
I understand your frustration but I think the games I've played with this new slider set has been excellent.
I'd be happy to help if you anyone has specific questions or would like some pointers or any help. Coach mode isn't for everyone and I understand that, so I'd love to help any way I can for anyone who wants it.

[natcret]

Coach, in my post I made no mention or reference to sliders. I realize that sliders, in a very basic sense, brings additional value to the game and to some extent levels the playing field. So, I support the numerous tweaks that are done with sliders to make the game more realistic and enjoyable. My issue today, however, just like with the other games I have played so far, is with the AI engine.

I saw too many times were my QB threw a pass dead to rights in my receiver's hands and the ball is dropped. Yet, Troy's passes were being caught while bouncing off of other players or passes caught with 3 or 4 DB's attached to their receiver. As much as high powered Troy may have been last year, in what I just went through was highly unrealistic on every level.

I am talking about the AI nuances in the game. Do teams get blown out in real life, absolutely, and I have no issue with that, even with this game. But there is no way you can convince that the AI does not have an unfair advantage no matter what level of team or game setting you are playing. When you see your offensive line basically stand up and say to the defense, "Go right in, I am waiting for a cab," or your OL whisper to the defense saying, “hey we just audibled to a run,” …you get my drift. That is the frustration.

As far as Coach-mode, it is the only mode I want to play. I am too old for joysticks and prefer this mode. I am an old FBpro guy from way back and always look forward to the day when EA finally realizes that it older sports-fan base may actually enjoy playing coach-mode than joystick, instead of these continual band-aid type enticements.

I appreciate your response and understand that even though I may be new to the next-gen world, I am not new to computer FB games or real football. It is just frustrating each week, regardless of whether I win or lose, to see these continual isses with the game.

[SmoothPancakes]

In my opinion, like I so eloquently put in the week 11 and CM OD discussion threads, the AI and CPU in this game is too stupid for good coach mode games. I can take losing. I got whooped by UCF 58-9 in my offline FIU dynasty. I have no problem with losing. But the AI and CPU are too stupid in this game to enjoy Coach Mode right now. Some of this crap that I see in my CM games, would NEVER happen, both in real life, and in video games, with a human controlling the players. But this crap goes unabated by the game when the CPU is in control.

[Coach Kernzy]

Certainly meant no offense natcret.
Just wanting to help you guys enjoy the game.
I understand what you both are saying for sure though.
All we can do is try to make the experience the best we can with what we have to work with and understand the limitations of what this game allows.
Sometimes the AI sucks, sometimes there is some BS but for me the good outweighs the bad and this year is easily the best it's ever been so in comparison to past years I'm stoked and having a blast.

[Archedemius]

Some things are ridiculous, but I always figured that was the cpu's way of making things competitive against real players by doing crazy bullshit. I felt this dynasty, past the UofM game, and my other dynasty are pretty fun. They use two totally different sliders, I think and difficulties. Only issue on the other dynasty is 300+ yd rushing games for hb's.

[natcret]

Certainly meant no offense natcret.
Just wanting to help you guys enjoy the game.
I understand what you both are saying for sure though.
All we can do is try to make the experience the best we can with what we have to work with and understand the limitations of what this game allows.
Sometimes the AI sucks, sometimes there is some BS but for me the good outweighs the bad and this year is easily the best it's ever been so in comparison to past years I'm stoked and having a blast.

None taken. I sincerely appreciate that you took the time to help and to put up with my frustration. Trust me, I will take you up on the advice. This is the first time I have ever played in a coach-mode league so I have no point of reference regarding previous games. However, I am having fun and think we have a great group of folks here.

I guess for me, there will always be an AI issue until EA creates two separate and distinct games, which will prob never happen due to the previous attempts and failures. It's the "square peg in a round hole" syndrome. The game is joystick/controller driven; pure and simple. Because the adjustments and tweaks are geared more towards leveling that playing field (the round hole), EA tries to adjust that coach-mode square peg to make it fit. Unfortunately, because the engine is more akin to button and controller manipulation, I believe it makes a true coach mode scenario virtually impossible. Then again, I may be wrong.

[Coach Kernzy]

Couple games left...
Smooth-FIU
Gnarly-Kent

Arch has left the league siting not enough time.

[Gnarlymutt]

Will get my game in this evening.

[Archedemius]

Sorry guys. This job I was taking was taking too much time to study for licensing. probably going to quit that too lol!

[Underdog]

I was browsing the dynasty web-site and clicked on a link and a pop-up said that I was removed from the league. Not sure what this is all about. If it did in fact remove me. I will need another invite sent to me. Weird.

[Gnarlymutt]

Kent State dolished leaderless Eastern Michigan. Highlights uploaded, but the best was an early game 3rd and 1 flea-flicker for a 50+ yard TD. Polk continued to show improvement as the nickel CB, adding a pick six for good measure.

[Coach Kernzy]

I'll check on that Underdog.
Try getting on the Xbox and seeing as well or maybe it was just a website glitch.
Waiting on Smooth for the last game, I'm sure he'll let us all know when he's done.

[SmoothPancakes]

Just got home. I'll probably be playing my game in the next hour or two.

[SmoothPancakes]

I'm done. I played half of the 1st quarter, and then just simmed the rest of the game. I can't take this CPU and AI bullshit. It's completely killing the game for me. I honestly believe this is going to be my only season guys. The CPU/AI are just too stupid, regardless of difficulty level or sliders, to play true coach mode for me. I'm not having any fun any more, and haven't for a couple games now, and it is absolutely killing my desire to even play my FIU offline dynasty, which I want, and have wanted, to play continuously all the way up to the release of NCAA 13. These games are making me not even want to play my offline dynasty now.

[Coach Kernzy]

Alright, do you want me to go ahead and remove you Smooth so you don't have to worry about it anymore?

[SmoothPancakes]

Alright, do you want me to go ahead and remove you Smooth so you don't have to worry about it anymore?

Nah, it's alright. I'm going to stick it out through the end of this season. There's still one more game and a possible bowl game if I can somehow put up with the CPU/AI BS and manage to beat MTSU. But come the end of bowl season and heading into the off-season, I'll probably go ahead and retire.

I still love the idea of coach mode and want to play coach mode, but the AI/CPU of this game is just too stupid and not smart enough/complex enough to play a true, good coach mode game without a bunch of garbage plays and other crap.

If EA makes changes and additions to coach mode and seriously upgrades and improves the AI/CPU in NCAA 13, and coach mode games play much better next year, I'll gladly rejoin you guys and get my fixes of coach mode action in again. But for this year, there are just too many issues that completely kill it for me. At least when playing in offline dynasty, with full control of the players, I can overcome and eliminate some of the CPU crap that I see in every coach mode game that I play.

Like I said, it's ruining the game for me so much, that I can't even bring myself to play my offline dynasty after playing these OD games, just because it kills all fun of the game for me. Considering I have major hopes of making my offline dynasty a minimum of a 20 season dynasty before NCAA 13 releases, it saddens me to have any and all desires to play my offline dynasty right now ruined from some bad games full of shoddy AI/CPU that kills my desire to even play the game at all for a couple days.

[natcret]

Coach,

I realize a lot of frustration with the AI hit this thread. But, I wanted to let you know that my frustration with the game in no way reflects the great job you are doing with the Dynasty. I still am enjoying it and maybe, with the future patch release, things will get better with the AI.

I just wanted to let you know personnally, you're doing a great job and I appreaciate the hard work you put into the league.

[SmoothPancakes]

Coach,

I realize a lot of frustration with the AI hit this thread. But, I wanted to let you know that my frustration with the game in no way reflects the great job you are doing with the Dynasty. I still am enjoying it and maybe, with the future patch release, things will get better with the AI.

I just wanted to let you know personnally, you're doing a great job and I appreaciate the hard work you put into the league.

Agreed Nat. Please don't take my complaints and frustration with the AI as something personal or directed towards you Coach. As Nat said, you have been doing a great job of handling everything and keeping this dynasty running smoothly, even with the issues we've come across regarding upload failures and server problems. You have done great and I would gladly take part in any ODs or franchises you commished in NCAA, Madden, NHL, or whatever game.

It's just the issues with the game and the logic and smartness, or rather lack there of, of the AI/CPU that are killing coach mode for me at the moment.

[Coach Kernzy]

No problem guys, completely understand and thank you for the kind words.
I'm just trying to keep this thing together and keep as many people around as possible.
Looks like with Smooth probably leaving we'll be down to five so I'm going to start trying to recruit some more owners since we're coming up on the offseason it'll be a good time to get some more folks in here.

I'm also going to try to do a writeup on the nuances of coach mode, what works, what doesn't and just some basic tips, pointers for anyone who wants to read them in the coach mode section of the forums here.

[Coach Kernzy]

Posted that writeup right here in case any of you are interested and please if any of you want some specific pointers or have questions let me know.
http://www.thegamingtailgate.com/forums/showthread.php?3484-Nuances-of-coach-mode-and-some-tips&p=101044#post101044