The Ladder 2013 Season Thread (Transition to NCAA 2013)

[Eaglesfan27]

USC started off the Navy game with a kickoff return for a TD by Lilly to jump to a 7-0 lead. Then Navy, responded by slowly marching it down the field with their option. I've never seen it run so well in this game. Their QB is fast and their FB was powerful. We barely stopped them outside the endzone for a FG. Our passing game was rough all day. I don't know if playing NCAA 13 threw off my timing or it was something else, but I was making horrible throws. A bad pick was followed up by their QB surprising me with a deep throw (when I had 8 men in the box) for a 83 yard TD. Down 10-7, I ran it more and got into FG range to tie it at 10 at the end of 1.

2nd quarter was scoreless as they missed a FG after a long drive and I couldn't move it well at all

3rd quarter was all Navy. Suddenly, I was down 17-10. They made it 20-10 early in the 4th.

With 16 seconds left, they ran up the score with a great pitch to their FB for a 37 yard TD run. We got our 2nd kickoff return for a TD as that was our only effective scoring. We lose 27-17. One of the most satisfying games (to see the option run with some decent results) and frustrating games (my passing game being so ineffective.)

[cartman]

Kodos, just a heads up that I'll be out of the country from July 20th to July 30th. I'll be able to do my recruiting via the website, but if I have a game holding things up, feel free to sim it.

[Kodos]

Originally Posted by cartman

Kodos, just a heads up that I'll be out of the country from July 20th to July 30th. I'll be able to do my recruiting via the website, but if I have a game holding things up, feel free to sim it.

Thanks for the heads up.

[Kodos]

We're on to Week 6. Here are the matchups.

Arizona State (1-1) at #18 USC (2-2)
Arizona (2-0) at #21 USF (4-1)
SMU (1-3) at Rice (1-1)
Connecticut (3-0) at Buffalo (1-1)
Indiana (2-0) at Purdue (2-1)

[Kodos]

Indiana slams Purdue in West Lafayette, 38-0. Eat that, Boilers! And let me add, I am quite proud of this headline...

[MacroGuru]

Ugh a 56-44 loss to U-Conn who had a bowling ball for a RB....

We managed to throw for 600+ yards, had 4 WR's with over 100+ yds receiving and a running back with over 100 yards rushing and still managed to lose this game because my defense couldn't stop their running back.

[gstelmack]

I will be out of town July 28 - August 4. I won't be able to play any games, but with any luck one of my open weeks will fall then. Recruiting will depend on web access at the hotels.

[chesapeake]

On paper, Texas Tech turns out to be on the same level as Duke and I ended up with an easy win. They did me a huge favor by passing most of the game. I can defend the pass pretty well, but the 3 drives where they ran the ball ended up in easy touchdowns. I need to find some guys that can tackle.

They laugher play of the game was when Texas Tech snapped the ball to the upback in punt formation on 4th and long. He was slow as molasses in February, but that didn't really matter. There were 4 missed tackles on a 20+ yard gain. The 5th tackler held him just long enough for the entire defense to get there to take him down.

[gstelmack]

A 28-7 cruise control victory over Arizona. We never really got on track on offense, but got enough going for the 4 TDs. They had far more success running than passing, but didn't run enough.

[Eaglesfan27]

Arizona State couldn't get any offense going against us. Their only points came when we threw a bad pick and gave them a short field. We win 33-7.

[Kodos]

Looks like we are almost ready to advance.

[chesapeake]

I'll try to get my recruiting done tonight.

[Kodos]

Here are the games this week:

#24 Kansas State (3-0) at #18 USC (3-2)
Clemson (1-2) at #19 Duke (2-1)
Oregon State (2-1) at #21 USF (5-1)
Indiana (3-0) at Army (3-1)
Rice (2-1) at Louisville (3-3)
Buffalo (1-2) at Northern Illinois (3-2)

[cartman]

I'll get this week done today, then I'm out until the 30th.

[gstelmack]

Bad loss to Oregon State. I'm not surprised I gave up 27, although I'm a bit disappointed in the last TD drive I gave up that cost me the game. I am disappointed that we only put up 20, thanks in part to stalling at the goal line and having to kick a FG, but mostly because my QB suddenly couldn't hit open receivers. He overthrew a pair of sure deep TDs when my receiver had the DBs beat, and missed twice on wide open 3rd down conversions to kill drives and make me punt. My QB also fumbled on an early game scramble that they scooped up and ran back for a TD. Sigh.

[MacroGuru]

17 - 7 win over Northern Illinois. Their defense stopped my passing attack and was quick on outside runs.

I lost my starting RB Evans for the season due to a blown out shoulder. Ingram came in and resumed his form from last season.

I am 2-2 and happy to be at .500 for the first time since taking over UB.

[Kodos]

[Kodos]

Reminder: Deadline is tonight.

[Eaglesfan27]

USC was in a dog fight, but we beat previously undefeated Kansas State 21-10.

[Kodos]

We're on to Week 8.

#15 USC (4-2) at #12 Nevada (4-0)
#16 Duke (3-1) at BYU (2-4)
#25 Indiana (4-0) at Northern Illinois (3-3)
USF (5-2) at Miami (2-2)
Southern Miss (5-1) at Rice (3-1)
Buffalo (2-2) at Army (3-2)

For the first time, my Hoosiers are ranked! We're sure to lose this week now!

[gstelmack]

*phew*

Built a big lead, then watched Miami nearly take it all back in the 4th. I understand their RB being a human pinball, but QB Tate Forcier was much harder to take down than I expected. But our offense cruised for much of the game, and we got a critical kick return TD. We did lose our only decent RB for 6 weeks, but we weren't running the ball well anyway.

Recruiting is going well, filled nearly all my key roles, have a 4-* HB in house, a 4-* WR on the ropes, and some other 4-* and perhaps a 5-* or two that we might land before it's all over. We could really use some better linemen, though, that may be our achilles heel.

[MacroGuru]

Cats were chasing each other and wrestling, caught themselves up in my cabling and unplugged the power strip while I was playing and I almost lost my new TV.

I was close to trying some good cat dishes here in the next couple of nights. I won't be able to play and finish my game until Thurs.

[Eaglesfan27]

USC with a big week recruiting. We got a 4 star CB, QB, and WR as well as a 3 star C and DE who we feel will all be very good players for us.

Now, to play a tough Nevada team.

[Kodos]

Our recruiting is not going nearly as well.

[Eaglesfan27]

We jumped on Nevada early thanks to a pick 6 and another interception by our top CB that helped us build up a 28-7 lead early. We used our running game to control the clock and won 49-14.

[Eaglesfan27]

Originally Posted by Kodos

Our recruiting is not going nearly as well.

I am surprised how dynamic recruiting pitches are in this game. I always ran a USC dynasty that started with high pitches, so I didn't realize there is a great deal of improvement from low pitches after winning big.

[gstelmack]

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27

I am surprised how dynamic recruiting pitches are in this game. I always ran a USC dynasty that started with high pitches, so I didn't realize there is a great deal of improvement from low pitches after winning big.

Except for coach reputation (or whatever it is). I finally got up to a "C" on "Championship Contender", but remain a "D" on "Coach Reputation" and "D+" on "Television Exposure" despite 2 bowl wins, one a BCS Bowl, all of 2 losses in 2 seasons, and making my way up to the Big East.

I think the Coach Reputation one is a bug, if you look at coach records in-game all the humans have a fraction of the wins they should, and I don't remember if the bowl wins show at all. It's not counting all the games we actually play.

[Kodos]

I've noticed that the 2013 website works better, at least for recruiting. Maybe stuff like coach records will work better in the game as well.

[Kodos]

Originally Posted by Kodos

For the first time, my Hoosiers are ranked! We're sure to lose this week now!

Called it. Just a miserable game. We could do no right, they had big play after big play scores. Their kicker nailed three 50+ field goals. Our QB decided to complete a third of his passes and threw 4 picks. Repeated injuries to key players. Big conversions wiped out by holding calls. I swear once a season the CPU decides I am going to lose no matter what.

[MacroGuru]

What a battle with Army.

They ended up bringing it even with 2 minutes left in the game and having to kick off to me. I received the kick off and had a goal of marching it within field goal range. I was trying to run out the clock but they gave me the path wide open to the end zone with 27 seconds remaining.

I scored, kick off and it goes out of bounds! I am thinking OMG, they are going to draw it even again.

We stuff them on the next two plays and on 3rd down with time expiring we get a pick 6 and secure the win!

We are now 3-2 and have a winning record now, the first time since I took over Buffalo.

[Kodos]

Congratulations, Macro!

[MacroGuru]

Originally Posted by Kodos

Congratulations, Macro!

Thanks!

Let's hope the win converts some of those recruits that were trying to debate between UB and Army to us.

[chesapeake]

That was a bleeping bleep of a game against bleeping BYU. They stink, but we stink worse. Ultimately, it came down to the usual -- an inability to tackle or stop the run. A BYU receiver broke a tackle on an out route and ran 60+ yards for a TD with 17 seconds left. My TE dropped the tying score as the clock ran out.

[MacroGuru]

Originally Posted by chesapeake

That was a bleeping bleep of a game against bleeping BYU. They stink, but we stink worse. Ultimately, it came down to the usual -- an inability to tackle or stop the run. A BYU receiver broke a tackle on an out route and ran 60+ yards for a TD with 17 seconds left. My TE dropped the tying score as the clock ran out.

You lost like I did to them....It hurt's doesn't it...

[Eaglesfan27]

Congrats Macro!

[chesapeake]

Originally Posted by MacroGuru

You lost like I did to them....It hurt's doesn't it...

Yes...yes it does.

[cartman]

Not sure how that happened, but I won the game 49-3. No way my defense should have played that good, but I'll take it!

[Kodos]

Sheer dominance!

[Kodos]

Here are the match-ups this week.

Western Kentucky (0-7) at #25 USF (6-2)
Rice (4-1) at Washington State (4-1)
North Texas (1-4) at Indiana (4-1)
Missouri (4-1) at Duke (3-2)
Buffalo (3-2) at Marshall (3-2)

[MacroGuru]

Originally Posted by cartman

Not sure how that happened, but I won the game 49-3. No way my defense should have played that good, but I'll take it!

The players liked the fact their coach was in Costa Rica, the break they received was amazing...

[MacroGuru]

OMG....

Lost my starter for the game and my backup QB for a qtr, the 3rd qtr turned into a colossal screw job as I managed to throw like 400 interceptions and allow Marshall back into the game and stomp my ass.

This game pissed me off and I honestly think I will cut the 3rd string QB at the end of the season if the freshman I bring in is better.

HOWEVER...I do have a gripe. I didn't have the Super jumping LB's on this one, try.....DT's....that is right, they would drop back in the zone, I would lob over their head and they would jump to the top of the stadium to catch the pass and kick my ass........that is when I got really pissed.

[cartman]

That game was more like it. My defense couldn't stop them at all, and my QB seemed to forget which jersey to throw to. A close game at halftime was blown open in the 3rd quarter when my QB threw picks on 3 straight passes.

[Kodos]

Glad I'm not the only one who has bad games sometimes.

[Kodos]

Managed a close win over North Texas, who I believe beat us last year. 5-1 now. If we can finish strong, maybe we'll actually move up a rung...

[gstelmack]

I am back in town and will meet the deadline. I'll try to play tonight, but no promises.

Glad to see the 4-* WR came to his senses and signed. Now just a few more...

[gstelmack]

An expected yawner over Western Kentucky, 37-0. We put the backups in for the fourth quarter and still kept them scoreless.

[Eaglesfan27]

I know all I have is recruiting, but I need an extension until tomorrow morning if possible. Had a very rough week with my grandmother passing away a few days ago. She was my last living grandparent, and one who did a lot to raise me. Today would have been her 83rd birthday, so had a big all day family gathering celebrating her life. I'm just absolutely wiped out now but would do the recruiting early tomorrow.

[Kodos]

We can hold, no problem. I'm very sorry to hear of your grandma's passing. May she rest in peace.

[Eaglesfan27]

Thanks. Recruiting is done.

[Kodos]

Here are this week's games:

Air Force (3-3) at #12 USC (5-2)
#18 USF (7-2) at Wake Forest (7-1)
Ohio (3-4) at #23 Duke (4-2)
Central Michigan (2-4) at Rice (4-2)
Louisiana Tech (1-5) at Indiana (5-1)
Buffalo (3-3) at Idaho (2-4)