The Ladder 2012 Season Thread

[Kodos]

We're on to the 2012 season! Nobody has a game this week, so let's try to get the recruiting in quickly so we can get back to playing the games!

[cartman]

Wow! I got six insta-commits, one of them a 4* guy. That definitely helps in recruiting going forward!

[Kodos]

Reminder: Deadline is tonight.

[Kodos]

I'll get the schedule up later, but we are on to Week 2 now. Good luck in the new season!

[gstelmack]

Nice win over Central Florida. Two TDs came off broken coverage, one when my WR broke the jam at the line while the safety collapsed to the middle, and my QB actually hit the receiver in stride for once (I love that with our sliders, I actually noticed the improvement of my QBs accuracy skill during the offseason). The other was a slant on a blitz where my QB threaded it between the blitzing LBs just after the WR beat the safety coming up in coverage. Had a third TD set up by a deep completion off a tipped ball. Take away those three plays and this was a VERY tight contest. So I'm happy for the three plays...

[chesapeake]

I pounded Carolina until they were broken and whimpering on the turf. Suck it, Tarheels!

I've been having a chronic problem with getting an unreadable disk error after initiating a game and selecting a playbook but before the pre-game animations start. It shows up as a restart and is a major pain in the backside because the game takes so long to load. The disk, itself, is in pretty good condition, so cleaning it doesn't seem to have any effect. If anyone has any thoughts on a solution, I'm all ears. Or eyes.

[MacroGuru]

I was doing well against BYU until the 2nd half then they opened up on me...it sucks, I was getting excited that I was holding a team down.

[gstelmack]

Originally Posted by chesapeake

I've been having a chronic problem with getting an unreadable disk error after initiating a game and selecting a playbook but before the pre-game animations start. It shows up as a restart and is a major pain in the backside because the game takes so long to load. The disk, itself, is in pretty good condition, so cleaning it doesn't seem to have any effect. If anyone has any thoughts on a solution, I'm all ears. Or eyes.

Have you installed the game to your hard drive? Options may include doing the "delete" to clean up any cached files, whether or not it's installed, just don't delete the profile bits when you do (should be an option during delete, but the default delete game from HD won't wipe the profile part), and then installing the game so everything comes from the HD. Then the only thing it goes to disc for is the copy protection.

Still takes forever to load, but not quite as forever as disc.

[chesapeake]

That does seem like the obvious solution, doesn't it? I'll do that tonight.

[gstelmack]

Originally Posted by chesapeake

That does seem like the obvious solution, doesn't it? I'll do that tonight.

Well, a key part is deleting the game first to clear the cache, these types of errors can happen if a cached data file gets corrupted. "dirty disc" is a generic "failed to read" error.

[Eaglesfan27]

We had an easy time with this tune up game. A 42-7 win as we pulled our starters and took it easy late.

[Kodos]

We did not have an easy time in Minnesota. Trailing 34-28, an interception of an ill-advised Marqueis Gray pass in our territory with under 2 minutes left gave us one last chance, and backup QB Gary Maddox made the Golden Gophers pay, leading the Hoosiers to the game-winning TD on a 16-yard pass to TE Wade McGill with 20 seconds left. McGill had a monster game with 9 catches for 147 yards and 2 TDs, and Maddox is officially our new starter after replacing Mr. Interception (Dan Frederick) in the second half. It wasn't easy, but it was a win on the road. Go Hoosiers!

[Kodos]

Week 2 Results:
Indiana 35, Minnesota 34
Kansas 52, Kansas State 42
USF 28, UCF 10
Rice 26, UTEP 21
BYU 68, Buffalo 13
USC 42, San Diego State 7
Duke 31, UNC 10

On to Week 3.

Looks like Cartman has our only game this week, as Rice visits UNC.

[cartman]

Another down to the wire game. Got a long TD with 2 seconds left to win the game! My freshmen wideouts came up big in the game.

[gstelmack]

My favorite part of the website overhaul EA has done is how when I go to look at my RECRUITS page, it's rarely the list of recruits for my team anymore, and I'm pretty sure it may be for another league entirely (no way SDSU has already signed like 8 guys...)

[MacroGuru]

I will get my recruiting done today...Sorry had a bit of a rough weekend.

Just an FYI, Online Recruiting isn't working for me, so I will have to wait until I get home tonight to finalize it. Which will be about 930 - 10 pm EST.

[gstelmack]

Looks like all recruiting is done.

[Kodos]

Week 3 result:

North Carolina 38, Rice 34.

============


On to Week 4! Here are this week's matchups. It's all road trips...

USF at Wyoming
USC at Hawaii
Duke at NC State
Indiana at Illinois
Kansas at ECU
Rice at Kentucky

[gstelmack]

38-0 over Wyoming. It was nice to put my second string in for the fourth quarter and hold the shutout.

Does anyone know: if I promise a recruit "significant playing time in first season", does he just need to be on the field, or do I actually need to get him some stats?

[Kodos]

Total guess, but I would guess he needs some decent stats.

[chesapeake]

I've only made that offer with wide receivers I knew could probably slip into the 3rd or 4th WR spot and get some catches or where I knew I'd have a hole where the freshman would be the top backup.

[Kodos]

Indiana beats the Illini 16-7 to move to 2-0 against the Big Ten. Got a nice blocked-punt-safety in the first quarter. Fun game. Maddox was decent for us at QB in his first start.

[cartman]

In the week 3 game, I threw a pick in the end zone with less than a minute left.

[cartman]

Picked up another +5000 commit in recruiting, and held off Kentucky for the win. I obviously didn't pay too much attention to the make up of my defense last year in my recruiting. My D this year is simply horrible.

[Eaglesfan27]

USC crushed Hawaii 52-3.... in the first half. Final score of 59-17.

[MacroGuru]

I will be home by 8 / 830 tonight to finish recruiting.

Sent from my HD7 using Board Express

[Kodos]

Week 4 Results

USF 38, Wyoming 0
USC 59, Hawaii 17
Duke 38, NC State 35
Indiana 16, Illinois 7
Kansas 61, ECU 27
Rice 31, Kentucky 28

[Kodos]

A small slate of games this week:

Kansas at Kent State
Buffalo at New Mexico
Rice at Houston

[MacroGuru]

Wow, ass kicked by New Mexico...I was doing well until I had 2 quick mess ups in a row and then my team decided to get pushed around.

I allowed a quick pass for a TD (Sometimes I hate when I am going in for a hit and the QB throws it and it switches players on me as I mash the wrong button, taking my DB out of the play)

Got the ball back a quick 4 and out and then we gave up a punt return for a TD, although I meant to rewind the replay and take the snapshot of the block in the back that did not get called. (I thought it was cool)

Positive is our running game picked up 160+ yards on the ground with our JUCO RB. Negative is he went down in the 3rd and was out for the rest of the game.

I threw a couple of pics in the middle and the super jumping LB's were the ones that managed to get the pick...so that pissed me off. Oh well, I am starting to get the interest from 3 and 4 star recruits that may and should help turn this horrible UB program around.

[cartman]

My QB was gawdawful in the first half, going 10 for 27 with a pick 6 and fumble. We battled back in the 2nd half, but the pick 6 ended up being the difference.

[Kodos]

Adjusted sliders starting in Week 6:

All-American
Time: 8 min.
Game Speed: Slow
Speed Threshold: 25

Offense (HUM/CPU)
QB Acc. 15/25
Pass Block 50/50
WR Catch 45/45
RB Ability 45/80
Run Block 20/60

Defense
Pass Coverage 40/50
Pass Rush 25/15
INT 25/30
Rush Defense 10/55
Tackling 15/15

Special Teams
FG Power 45/45
FG Acc. 30/35
Punt Power 50/50
Punt Acc. 40/40
Kickoff Power 50/50

[Kodos]

Week 5 Results

Kansas 69, Kent State 21
New Mexico 42, Buffalo 21
Houston 30, Rice 23

[Kodos]

Week 6 features a showdown between undefeated USF and Kansas. Who will come out on top?!

#12 USF (2-0) at Kansas (3-0)
#5 USC (2-0) at Minnesota (1-1)
Duke (2-0) at Wake Forest (2-1)
Indiana (2-0) at Purdue (1-2)
Rice (2-2) at Army (1-0)
Buffalo (0-2) at Marshall (2-2)

[gstelmack]

To Kansas: Sunday through Thursday, my best time is to start a match between 8:30 and 9:30 PM Eastern. I can go later on Friday / Saturday, up until 10:30. There may be nights I can play as early as 7, but they are rare (work is very busy right now). What's your schedule like?

[Eaglesfan27]

USC jumped to a 31-7 lead behind a Heisman like day from Underwood with over 300 yards passing and close to 100 yards rushing, but then Underwood's remote Heisman chances ended when he suffered an abdominal strain that will keep him out 2-3 weeks. We held on for a 38-22 win as our back-up had a sub par game.

[cartman]

As bad as a start I had least week, this week was even worse. I took the opening drive down inside their 5, then my QB threw a 100 yard pick 6. On the first play of the ensuing drive, the QB was sacked and fumbled. It was 28-0 before the end of the first quarter.

But the epic comeback began. My starting QB got injured right before the half, and my backup did his best Frank Reich impersonation. On his first play he threw a 35 yard TD, to make it 35-14 at the half. We battled back, and tied the game at 42 with a couple of minutes left. Army got the ball into iffy FG range, and tried one more play to get the ball closer. They did get closer, and almost scored a TD, but my D got the tackle and the clock ran out before the play finished.

I started with the ball in OT, and drove in for a TD. On defense, we started with a sack, then held Army to three straight completions, to get the 49-42 win.

[MacroGuru]

And we get a WIN! Marshall goes down off of a 39 yard FG! Our first win ever was great as this young team scrapped for the win.

It was a wet sloppy game that saw my WRs falling down all the time. Only 1 int for our QB.

The win also was solid with 3 recruits visiting.

Sent from my HD7 using Board Express

[Kodos]

Congratulations, Macro!

[gstelmack]

Kansas beats South Florida 35-31 in a very hardfought battle. We each broke some big plays, but the strategy felt very back-and-forth. I had to keep adjusting on both offense and defense constantly. I think the key difference was Kansas forcing a pair of fumbles, one of which they returned for 6. They also forced us into a 4th-and-inches near the goalline that we had to settle for a FG on.

Great, fun game, and a well-deserved win for TRO and Kansas.

[TRO]

Certainly enjoyed that one. Back and forth with us both holding the lead multiple times in the game.

The 2 fumbles were definitely the difference. The first coming on your opening drive after the big kick return. You were moving the ball well and lost it inside the 20.

Bottom line, it was the most enjoyable game I've played to date. It seemed every time one of us found a rhythm, it wouldn't last more than a couple of series.

[Kodos]

We had our yearly meltdown game at the worst possible time. All sorts of recruits were visiting, and now all sorts of promises have been broken. Fuck.

[Kodos]

Week 6 Results

Kansas 35, USF 31
USC 38, Minnesota 22
Duke 20, Wake Forest 13
Purdue 62, Indiana 40
Buffalo 27, Marshall 26
Rice 49, Houston 42

[Kodos]

USC climbs to #4 and travels to Purdue to avenge IU's loss in Week 6. Please.

#4 USC (3-0) at Purdue (2-2)
#20 USF (2-1) at Army (1-1)
Duke (3-0) at Cincinnati (1-1)
Indiana (2-1) at Western Michigan (2-3)
Buffalo (1-2) at Western Kentucky (1-3)
Rice (3-2) at Temple (1-3)

[Kodos]

Just for good measure, my 360 froze up during recruiting. Not a fun night of NCAA 2012.

[gstelmack]

Squeaked a win over Army. At one point their RB was rushing for 28.3 yards per carry after busting two long ones. We absolutely could NOT tackle, he had an 80 yard run after bouncing off 3 tacklers. We had one case where a guy hit the QB while the QB was jumping over a lineman and still did not get the tackle, 3rd guy in finally did it. We only slowed them down when we started getting 3 or 4 guys on the ball carrier at once, and that led to a busted coverage for their last TD (I still don't know where the deep safety was on that play).

We also lost our starting RB about halfway through that slowed our running game. Luckily we were able to throw the ball well and eeked out the win.

[MacroGuru]

You know, when the computer decides his running back is a brick wall, there is nothing you can do about it.

1st half of the game my guys just bounced off of his RB as he broke out 3 long runs for TD's.

I still made it respectable...but we lost.

[cartman]

Finally had a game that wasn't a nailbiter. Easy 42-7 win over Temple, and I actually was able to run the ball successfully.

[Eaglesfan27]

Kodos, you get your wish. We missed our star QB, but our back-up did just enough behind a strong running game and a solid defense. We beat Purdue 31-14.

[Kodos]

Week 7 Results

USF 31, Army 28
Duke 34, Cincinnati 7
USC 31, Purdue 14
Rice 42, Temple 7
Western Michigan 44, Indiana 42
Western Kentucky 38, Buffalo 29

Welcome to Week 8!
Remember to visit dynasty.easports.com to publish your own stories.

=============== Indiana Hoosiers (2-2) ===============
Last week, Indiana lost 44-42 against Western Michigan (3-3).
This week, the Hoosiers will host Marshall (2-4).
In recruiting news, the following Indiana targets have announced their decisions:
- (****) FS Robert Charles has committed to Notre Dame
- (****) DT Ben Utley has committed to Virginia Tech
- (***) CB Kyle Thomas has committed to Illinois

=============== #23 Duke Blue Devils (4-0) ===============
Last week, Duke won 34-7 against Cincinnati (1-2).
This week, the Blue Devils travel to West Lafayette to face the Purdue Boilermakers (2-3).
In recruiting news, the following Duke targets have announced their decisions:
- (***) LE Tim Turner has committed to Navy
- (***) SS Matt Stovall has committed to Duke

=============== #24 Kansas Jayhawks (4-0) ===============
Last week the Jayhawks were idle.
This week, the Jayhawks will host Missouri (1-5).
In recruiting news, the following Kansas targets have announced their decisions:
- (***) LG Steve Stegall has committed to Texas Tech
- (***) LT Andrew Broussard has committed to Baylor
- (***) WR Phil Ross has committed to Minnesota
- (***) WR Rashad McGuire has committed to Kansas State
- (***) HB Steven Jackson has committed to Michigan State

=============== #19 South Florida Bulls (3-1) ===============
Last week, South Florida won 31-28 against Army (1-2).
This week, the Bulls travel to Fresno to face the Fresno State Bulldogs (4-0).
In recruiting news, the following South Florida targets have announced their decisions:
- (****) HB Bryan Brown has committed to UCF
- (***) DT Tyson Brown has committed to NC State
- (***) P J.J. Williamson has committed to Oklahoma
- (*) FB Matt Wesley has committed to South Florida
- (***) DT Tony Robinson has committed to South Florida
- (***) RE Stephen Whitaker has committed to South Florida

=============== #3 USC Trojans (4-0) ===============
Last week, USC won 31-14 against Purdue (2-3).
This week, the Trojans will host Cincinnati (1-2).
In recruiting news, the following USC targets have announced their decisions:
- (***) RT Cameron Johnson has committed to UCLA
- (***) SS David Wilson has committed to Cal
- (***) LT Chris Woods has committed to USC
- (****) TE Matt Hodges has committed to USC
- (****) QB Lamar Shaw has committed to USC

=============== Rice Owls (4-2) ===============
Last week, Rice won 42-7 against Temple (1-4).
This week, the Owls travel to Fort Collins to face the Colorado State Rams (5-0).
In recruiting news, the following Rice targets have announced their decisions:
- (***) WR Cedric Jones has committed to Kansas State
- (***) C Ahmad Atkins has committed to Navy
- (***) DT Seth Herron has committed to Oklahoma State
- (****) CB James Jennings has committed to Houston

=============== Buffalo Bulls (1-3) ===============
Last week, Buffalo lost 38-29 against Western Kentucky (2-3).
This week, the Bulls will host Western Michigan (3-3).
In recruiting news, the following Buffalo targets have announced their decisions:
- (**) MLB Ross Hills has committed to Northern Illinois
- (***) RG Calvin Sims has committed to Syracuse
- (**) SS Jordan Austin has committed to Boston College
- (***) LOLB Danny Triplett has committed to Minnesota

[Kodos]

Here's what we have in Week 8.

Cincinnati (1-2) at #3 USC (4-0)
#19 USF (3-1) at Fresno State (4-0)
#23 Duke (4-0) at Purdue (2-3)
Marshall (2-4) at Indiana (2-2)
Missouri (1-5) at Kansas (4-0)
Western Michigan (3-3) at Buffalo (1-3)
Rice (4-2) at Colorado State (5-0)