NCAA Football 11 Q&A Thread

[Cipher 8]

Are screen plays still "money" this year? And can the CPU actually run a screen play without being stupid and get sacked everytime?

I don't think I ever really thought they were money so to speak but no, I don't think they're money this year. The CPU does seem to handle itself better. There are times that it still plays it stupidly but for the most part, it's better.

Speaking of screens... I've always liked this one play from Tampa Bay's playbook in Madden. A Play Action FB Screen. Does anybody know if any playbook at all has that in NCAA? I love to run that play and I feel FB's are underutilized. I love to recruit a small (5'10") 250 pound bruiser RB and switch him to FB in NCAA.

[CLW]

I've only played 1-2 games with my DL set to aggressive for the whole game and so far I don't think I've seen them jump either. Granted, these were against the CPU which might not be doing a fake snap as often as a HUM player.

That was my assumption. I'd be interested in seeing if a Hum v. Hum game with d-line set to agressive the entire game and if the opponent mixed up the snap call if there were every any offsides by the CPU controlled lineman.

[DrManateePhD]

That did help, thanks!

[DrManateePhD]

Quoting the 2nd blog about the recruit rankings: "This change sounds pretty simple, but it has a big impact. We can now weigh a position to be more or less valuable in the rankings formula. For example, last year's list would take an 80 OVR QB vs. an 81 OVR Kicker and rate the kicker higher. In this year's game we are able to keep the Kickers rating at an 81 overall, but his ranking will not even crack the ESPNU 150 because his position isn't as valued. Together, this change and the new ratings spread improved the Prospect rankings in the ESPNU 150; and we were still basing the list on overall within each position.

-Would you say this has been easily seen in the ESPN U, and what impact has it had if any, on your recruiting or that of the CPU?

[Cipher 8]

The only thing I'm not digging about this game is the defensive play calling. The problem is only when playing non human players though.

In NCAA 10 you could get like 5 seconds to move around through your formations, prepare as I call it, before the AI opponent actually picked a play. Then you were given the allotted 10 seconds to pick a play or one would be picked for you.

In NCAA 11 immediately they have a play picked and you only got 10 seconds to first pick the right formation then find a play you want to run. This is nowhere near long enough, for me anyways.

Is there any way around this in the options and maybe any hints for how to run an effective defense now that this is sped up?

I just find it extremely fast because the play call screen pops up and they already have a play picked, so i look how many WR's? If it's 3 I'm running nickel. 4 I'm running Dime. 2 then I look at how many TE's? 1, I'm in 4-3/3-4 base. 2 I'm in 4-6 or 4-4. But by the time i can process that I'm down to like 8 seconds or less to actually pick the right formation and only like 5 seconds to look between the plays and choose one.

I understand if a team is running a hurry up your going to see less time that's not what I'm talking about though. It does this for teams running a normal huddle up offense as well. It gives you no time on defense to scroll through the plays and pick one you want to run.

I'm thinking I'm just going to have to set my defensive audibles. 1/2 for my base set 3-4 or 4-3 and 1/2 for nickel. That way if they run 2WR or 3WR i got 10 seconds to pick the right formation and get the right personal on the field then just do the audibles for the top plays i like to run, blitz or coverage. The only thing is i would only run 8 plays a game then and really that sucks because a player should be able to scroll through their playbook on defense and find the exact play they want just like they can on offense.

[Rudy]

With only 3 plays on the play screen, picking a defensive play in time was tough in the demo for me too.

[cdj]

With only 3 plays on the play screen, picking a defensive play in time was tough in the demo for me too.

When holding down Bluff (L2/LT) it will page you through plays 3 at a time versus 1 at a time when not holding it. That will help some.

[VolPett]

I respect your guys opinion when it comes to this game more than anyone else on the web.

Due to a supposed thread on Operation Sports, the Commish of my online dynasty has already outlawed bubble/wr screens.

I know you guys have played a weeks work of games, what is your opinion on their effectiveness?

I just really hate to take something out that is a big part of the college game unless there is overwhelming reason.

Thanks in advance, like I said I really value your opinion.

[gschwendt]

I don't think they're overpowered. They're far from guaranteed success and even when successful, they don't gain a ton of yards unless the defense is just out of position.

[Jayrah]

I respect your guys opinion when it comes to this game more than anyone else on the web.

Due to a supposed thread on Operation Sports, the Commish of my online dynasty has already outlawed bubble/wr screens.

I know you guys have played a weeks work of games, what is your opinion on their effectiveness?

I just really hate to take something out that is a big part of the college game unless there is overwhelming reason.

Thanks in advance, like I said I really value your opinion.

Are you serious? Just like any play they are going to work if called against the right play. I haven't seen one go for 6 yet. Also since the man coverage is better it's a lot more difficult than in the demo. I can just see that by watching the games. Even the cpu plays it pretty good. The option is more powerful, so is he gonna outlaw that too? That's a terrible decision without even playing the game. I haven't played it yet, but second hand, I'd be more worried about the run and option. All my leagues are waiting at least to play it, to see the effectiveness issues on Offense AND Defense.

I DID take a middle screen to the house, but I made some good moves to do it. It was a fun play. I tried it several more times though and barely picked up 10 yards on any successful tries. Had to pull a few down and eat the sack too.

[Jayrah]

With only 3 plays on the play screen, picking a defensive play in time was tough in the demo for me too.

Yep that was an issue. It takes more time to pull up the bluff plays imo than to just scroll over. However I think 10 seconds is enough, based on the slower count while in the menu (If you notice it's actually a second and a half or so per count, it's been like that forever, at least on offense). Also, it's not like a whole bunch of new plays are in the D playbooks, and I have memorized which types of plays I like in certain situations and where they are after the 2nd or 3rd game. It's probably not like that for everybody, but I've played it long enough that I know the plays pretty quick.

[DrManateePhD]

Here's a really great video on the new layers of recruiting strategy, would those of you that have the game currently have anything to add this guy's video in terms of strategies you've used against the 'big boys.'

Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDyX4DR-s1g

And Part 2:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScZlf...eature=related

[souljahbill]

I respect your guys opinion when it comes to this game more than anyone else on the web.

Due to a supposed thread on Operation Sports, the Commish of my online dynasty has already outlawed bubble/wr screens.

I know you guys have played a weeks work of games, what is your opinion on their effectiveness?

I just really hate to take something out that is a big part of the college game unless there is overwhelming reason.

Thanks in advance, like I said I really value your opinion.

In the demo, the most yards I've ever gotten on a bubble screen was like, 13 yards are so. Most of the time, the corner runs through the blocking wr like he's water and stops it for a small gain.

[souljahbill]

Here's a really great video on the new layers of recruiting strategy, would those of you that have the game currently have anything to add this guy's video in terms of strategies you've used against the 'big boys.'

Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDyX4DR-s1g

And Part 2:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScZlf...eature=related

I saw that video over at OS. Fortunate for this guy, Northwestern has a lot of high grades themselves. Also, his main rival was in recruiting was Iowa St. who aren't so hot. If he were Northern Illinois, recruiting against Notre Dame or Ohio St. for instance, it would be brutal. This is what's happening to me online in the test online dynasty. A lot of the recruits I'm looking at have Alabama on their list (the highest are only 3 stars) and my school (Southern Miss) has a bunch of C+'s in terms of program incentives. It's definitely hard when you can't spam the 1 or 2 things you're good at.

[DrManateePhD]

Yeah that's what I was thinking, it must be absolutely brutal to play as a school with maybe 1 B rating and that's all your really selling to recruits, sounds like a challenge I can't wait!

[Cipher 8]

When holding down Bluff (L2/LT) it will page you through plays 3 at a time versus 1 at a time when not holding it. That will help some.

Thanks. That helps a little I just wish they didn't pick the play right away or atleast it would give you like 15-20 seconds pre play time to pick a play on defense (when the offense isn't using no huddle). That 20 seconds doesn't have to come off the playclock either... That or the gameplan thing from Madden would be a nice feature especially on defense.

[Jayrah]

That or the gameplan thing from Madden would be a nice feature especially on defense.

THIS! I hope they implement some of that gameplan for defense next year. That would be nice.

[souljahbill]

THIS! I hope they implement some of that gameplan for defense next year. That would be nice.

What is the Madden gameplan? Gameflow or is it something else?

[baseballplyrmvp]

Texas Tech vs. SMU

Air Raid versus Run & Shoot and it's a real life matchup.

I can handle this one. I'll take the smaller team here and see if I can compete on AA.

any update on this, JB?

[Cipher 8]

What is the Madden gameplan? Gameflow or is it something else?

A good article explaining it... LINK

The other part of GameFlow and easily the most important part is Game Planning. Each team ships with a default game plan based on the way they played last year. You can create a custom game plan and play with that. How do you customize a gameplan?

You have a total of 15 play slots available per situation, and the situations are the same defined by a real NFL coach's play sheet. For each play in any situation, you can adjust the "weighting" of the plays from between .5 to 5 stars. Weighting plays determines the frequency a play is called in game.[You can also choose for yourself with your custom gameplan replacing Ask Madden]

You can create and save as many game plans as you want.

Creating a defensive gameplan follows the same mold, except that you aren't creating the plays based on the down and distance, but instead on what the offense is showing in terms of personnel and formation. So in the image below, you'd be setting up your "dime" packages (which can be plays out of any defensive formation, not just dime), and these are the plays that you want to run when the offense lines up with 4 or more receivers.

The full article explains it better with screenshots but basically you set a gameplan of what plays you want to run and you can either have gameflow call them for you or you can actually pick your plays (like normal) with your gameplan replacing ask madden. Basically allows you to put a gameplan together each week for the upcoming opponent like NFL teams do in real life. Only thing is you can only pick plays from one playbook, not mixing and matching plays from two or more team playbooks.