NCAA Football 14 Demo Details & Impressions

[tko27]

I haven't played the demo yet but have watched just about every video that has been posted and there's one thing that has me a little concerned: streaks and seam routes. The 4-verts play looks better defended on the outside, but inside receivers running seam routes seem like they're open a pretty high percentage of the time. I've noticed a lot of players running these plays fairly often, especially in long down-and-distance situations, and the success rate is much higher than I'd like to see. Frankly it just looks too easy. For those that have played, is this the case?

[AustinWolv]

There is ZERO defense in this game (especially the CPU's pass defense) I scored a TD on EVERY possession

I played another game this morning as UM against Ohio. The running game feels like the last NCAA on original XBox I played in which running up the middle was a guaranteed gain and you rarely were going to be stopped or stop someone on short yardage. Not a bad thing, but really lets pound-it teams control the game.

Miller for Ohio controlled by the CPU is explosive. As soon as CPU detects you in zone coverage and covering up receivers decently, he takes off and gets really good gains with ease. I could not stop Ohio, but they couldn't stop me either.

QBA still WAY to high on default (praying sliders work) my only INC passes were drops

Agreed. Same with CPU.

[quote]Zone defense is still WEAK[/quotes]
Was easy to pick apart.

CPU QBs fumble allot when they try to scramble

Haven't seen this, but mainly been playing against Ohio. Miller is flat-out dangerous.
A little annoyed because defenders seem slow to react to runners in the open field.

Liked the coordinator cam the best

Wanted to like it, but felt too far away for running and playing D. I switched back to Normal camera.

The 4-verts play looks better defended on the outside, but inside receivers running seam routes seem like they're open a pretty high percentage of the time. I've noticed a lot of players running these plays fairly often, especially in long down-and-distance situations, and the success rate is much higher than I'd like to see. Frankly it just looks too easy. For those that have played, is this the case?

Yes, still pretty easy to hit guys on 4-verts, but in real life, that play works as well, that's why a lot of teams will run it. Does it work too often on the late downs and long yardage? Yeah, so you'll still see a lot of people default to it.

The thing I've noticed is that out routes seem to be back........unless you throw late or someone is sitting in a zone, they have been easy to complete consistently.

I agree with CLW that the game is a polished and enhanced NCAA13. The CPU AI appears much better and their dangerous players are explosive and can hurt you which is nice to see from the CPU now. It'll make the game more challenging and make playing different offenses actually mean something. It is friggin' tough on Heisman to deal with them running options plays thus far. There was one drive they scored a TD on me where not a single play was less than 8 yards......seemed playcalling was mixed well too......they were running the ball, but mixing in passes. I haven't seen any boneheaded playcalling as of yet or any crap of them calling a a stupid HB screen and eating a big sack.

I also agree with CLW that pass rush seems too long, but part of that could be that UM's defense isn't all that good in the game. I have to play with Alabama and some of the other teams more to see how different talent plays out better. I only played one game with Alabama last night and it seemed MUCH easier to stop VT (well, VT kinda sucks so there is that) than Ohio. I only monkeyed around with Oregon for a bit to try out their playbook but force TXAM to punt, which I've barely been able to Ohio to do.
Haven't figured out playing D yet, as running same stuff I did in NCAA13 has not worked out real well against O-lie-o.

[Big Blue]

I'm not looking at the names. I'm looking at the numbers because obviously the names aren't right and can't be due to the likeness suit. And yes, I thought it interesting that they swap the names every game like that.

In real life:
#38 on UM is Thomas Rawls.
#28 on UM is Fitgerald Touissant.

Fitz, when he's healthy, is a better RB than Rawls. Rawls will not be the starter at UM this season, other than first couple snaps of first game if Fitz isn't fully healed from his leg break last season or if Derrick Green isn't deemed experienced enough to start. Hell, Daveon Smith could pass up Rawls on the depth chart if Justice Hayes and Drake Johnson haven't already.

I think Toussaint will start the first couple and then Derrick Green will over take him. I feel bad for Justice Hayes though, I feel like he has a ton of talent but whenever he gets his chance the blocking is sub par.

[Body15]

I will be uploading Skills Trainer later today. Here is Oregon vs Texas A&M

[AustinWolv]

I think Toussaint will start the first couple and then Derrick Green will over take him. I feel bad for Justice Hayes though, I feel like he has a ton of talent but whenever he gets his chance the blocking is sub par.

Very likely regarding Fitz and Green. Don't be surprised to see Drake get short yardage carries also, as he's been the most productive in the redzone coming out of the spring.
Hayes......3rd down, change of pace back. Hasn't shown ability to be productive on regular carries as he isn't a physical runner. But he might get lost in the shuffle as Norfleet is a guy you want to get in space on the field as well. Wouldn't be surprised in the least to see Hayes on 3rd down in the backfield as well as moving out to slot at times as he has the hands and also apparently pass blocks well. Better natural pass catching than Fitz for example. Norfleet, although smaller, is more physical than Hayes is. If Hayes emerges, it will because of finding him a role catching passes somewhere or on non-conventional running game.........he isn't a downhill runner out of the I type of guy.

I don't see anything out of Rawls and won't be sad to see him stay on the sidelines.

[PDuncanOSU]

I went through some of the skills trainer and played 2 games. I struggled in my first games as OSU v scUM but was mostly trying to find some of the new option plays rather focusing too much on the game itself. I struggled with the read when I tried the Inverted Veer and Midline Read plays, I think just because they weren't covered specifically in the skills trainer and were new to me. The Read Option and Veer Read Options worked typically worked well for me, but on the plays where there was a TE who lined up off the line then would act as a lead blocker if the QB kept, the TE would run right by the OLB who was the most dangerous defender for the QB.

I played as Oregon v aTm for my second game. I was getting better at the reads for the new option plays. It was a small sample size, but it seemed like the D took the HB almost every time and left the QB to run wild. I ended up with in the range of 175 yards running with Oregon's QB.

One thing I liked when playing as OSU and Oregon is the amount of play-action screens to the WRs. Bubble screens to the slots and quick screens to the outside receivers are a big part of the spread-to-run game in keeping the D from focusing on the inside run. The outside blocking by the WRs was noticeably better on the screens than it was in NCAA 13.

[JBHuskers]

I use right stick to get off, either going left or right usually works for me.

[psusnoop]

[Big Blue]

Very likely regarding Fitz and Green. Don't be surprised to see Drake get short yardage carries also, as he's been the most productive in the redzone coming out of the spring.
Hayes......3rd down, change of pace back. Hasn't shown ability to be productive on regular carries as he isn't a physical runner. But he might get lost in the shuffle as Norfleet is a guy you want to get in space on the field as well. Wouldn't be surprised in the least to see Hayes on 3rd down in the backfield as well as moving out to slot at times as he has the hands and also apparently pass blocks well. Better natural pass catching than Fitz for example. Norfleet, although smaller, is more physical than Hayes is. If Hayes emerges, it will because of finding him a role catching passes somewhere or on non-conventional running game.........he isn't a downhill runner out of the I type of guy.

I don't see anything out of Rawls and won't be sad to see him stay on the sidelines.

I agree with you on Rawls and Norfleet but I think the goal linebacks will either be Derrick Green or Daveon Smith. They both have great power and overall better talent than Drake.

[AustinWolv]

I agree with you on Rawls and Norfleet but I think the goal linebacks will either be Derrick Green or Daveon Smith. They both have great power and overall better talent than Drake.

On paper, I agree. Won't know until fall practice starts and they prove it. Drake was said to make big strides at the end of last season. He was getting a lot of run at 1st string in the spring with Fitz out. While I doubt he beats out Green or Smith in the long run, and if Fitz doesn't return to 2011 form, Drake could be getting some early run for a while as he was the best "all-around" back out of the spring.

[Big Blue]

On paper, I agree. Won't know until fall practice starts and they prove it. Drake was said to make big strides at the end of last season. He was getting a lot of run at 1st string in the spring with Fitz out. While I doubt he beats out Green or Smith in the long run, and if Fitz doesn't return to 2011 form, Drake could be getting some early run for a while as he was the best "all-around" back out of the spring.

Yea, either way the backfield has a bright future in Ann Arbor!

[souljahbill]

So funny seeing Michigan guys type "Ohio" and Ohio St. guys type scUM. I live in LSU country and all do is call every opponent "Tiger Bait."

[AustinWolv]

Don't forget "O-lie-o", since that is how they duped the NCAA into a hand slap.
It was masterful job so give them credit for that.

[Big Blue]

So funny seeing Michigan guys type "Ohio" and Ohio St. guys type scUM. I live in LSU country and all do is call every opponent "Tiger Bait."

[GatorfanStovy]

Man I just love the feel of this game. I wanna play all day long.However, I got to study my math asvab ugh... Killing me not being able to play this demo right now. I

I played another game last night this time Ohio State vs Michigan: It was tough for me to get anything going for because the other team defense was just too good at stopping the run. I could get a few passes here only on seem routes or slants.

I did decide to switch sides at half and play with Ohio State . It was fun running there option attack it felt like old They ran it really well along side with the passing / option run game. When I was using Ohio State I pick apart really easily on All American settings. However, I did throw a pick using bad read by my self , then I gave up a fumble scrambling with QB from Ohio State I think I tried to stiff arm and it fumbled i dunno why? Oh well it was still a blast with this new engine and game play.

It will be a fun year in this game it has a lot of upsides it just really need sliders worked on bad so it gets even out some what. I'll be waiting for some sliders from you guys!!

Hopefully I can squeeze in another game today.

[starter]

Still stuck at work.......

Can anyone speak to the defense? Are there any new formations, fronts, alignments, coverages, blitzes... anything new to get excited about? Or is it just the same as NCAA13?

[SCClassof93]

my bad

[AustinWolv]

Still stuck at work.......

Can anyone speak to the defense? Are there any new formations, fronts, alignments, coverages, blitzes... anything new to get excited about? Or is it just the same as NCAA13?

Defense is pretty much the same. I don't recall "over plus" being in the '13 4-3 or 3-4 playbook, so there are some new formations. Haven't been able to dig too much else to see if there is anything else.

[Big Blue]

Still stuck at work.......

Can anyone speak to the defense? Are there any new formations, fronts, alignments, coverages, blitzes... anything new to get excited about? Or is it just the same as NCAA13?

To me it feels VERY different. Run game feels great, physics and new animations make everything look new and fresh. Footplanting is very nice but could be better. Players feel like they have more weight to them. In my opinion, the game looks much better with the brighter colors but some people don't like it. I have seen a couple new formations and a lot of new plays. But I haven't seen any new coverages, blitzes or alignments. Ai seems to be much more adept in the run game. I think it is a huge step forward.

[MC1]

I'll have to buy extra controllers b4 it drops because it's stick intensive and I'll need to work on my skills in the tutorial. Finally, I can play less online (hopefully) and not run into those cheating cheesers online. The AI feels solid, the running backs are a little draggy, but this is a demo, so you're gonna run into a few bugs. I'm very please with what I've seen so far. 1st day buy 4 sure, and because my wife bought me the "Season Ticket" 4 Fathers day, July 5th can't get here soon enough!