Defense and Special Teams...

[RamblinWreck21]

Seeing the new Zone Coverage defense has gotten me very excited and I started thinking about changes needed in GAMEPLAY that would make the game reach the next level and honestly two things popped in my mind: Defense and Special Teams.

Defense: It doesn't matter what sliders you use, eventually you get used to the sliders and offense becomes too easy. Sliders can help create more realistic gameplay, but it seems defense is ALWAYS weaker than the offense. I hope and think the new zone coverage system will help this, but I want the Defense to be able to stop me. When I have a 70ish QB and I play a defense like Alabama, I should struggle to score points, regardless of sliders. Simply put: Offense is always too easy. Obviously they need a good balance because the offense ball sells and they want offense to be fun, not extremely frustrating. I honestly don't know how to find the perfect balance, but they need to try.

Special Teams: Not so much the actual kicking FGs and Punting(it could use some improvements, but its not a glaring issue), but the return game and coverage sucks. Its not impossible to take a kick-off to the house on NCAA 11, but its extremely rare, which isn't bad, but it seems like I either score a TD or get anywhere from the 20 to 25 yard line. We need good return guys to actually get to the 40 and 50 a little more often. The punt return is garbage. I don't think I've returned a punt to the house on anything above varsity. We need bigger and better returns for punts, but again, we dont want that too easy. It needs a perfect balance of great returns, good returns, okay returns and bad returns, just like real football. Another problem I have is I have NEVER seen a FG or Punt blocked since like NCAA 07. We need more blocked punts and kicks. Again, we don't need a block a game, but it would seem reasonable to have it happen occasionally and if there is CC, Special Team specialists like Frank Beamer should boost the chances for these things to happen for their teams.

I think if these things are fixed, whichever NCAA they are fixed on, will be the best NCAA yet.

[ViLLiO]

[UMhester04]

Quote: Originally Posted by ViLLiO

speak for yourself, bro. Special Teams is something that absolutely needs to be looked at as it is the third phase of football. It is just as big as offense and defense and it gets ignored every year.

[TDenverFan]

I agree. If I'm Bama vs FCS Northeast, my PR sould not be stopped at the 20 every kick! And I'd like to block the occasional kick, too...

[ViLLiO]

Yeah it's basically the same thing we've been preaching for months now, but you must remember that EA tends to overdo it sometimes. One minor tweak and field goals might be impossible to make because of how easy they are to block.

I agree wholeheartedly regarding the defense.

[poopoop]

I have a theory that special teams will never play a prominent role in these games.

First I believe EA intentionally minimizes special teams in this game. They're trying to fit realistic scoring into 5 minute default quarters so more drives end in touchdowns. It's too easy to score. If I play NBA2k and set it to 12 minute quarters I'd end with realistic scores and stats. If I put NCAA on 15 min qtrs I'm scoring over 100.

Special teams aren't nearly as important in a game that's built to facilitate scoring and scoring often. Instead of things like field position battles.

Second EA is too shook to make things like kick/punt returns or blocks possible because if they do someone might find and exploit and do it every time.

[blkrptnt819]

Quote: Originally Posted by poopoop

I have a theory that special teams will never play a prominent role in these games. First I believe EA intentionally minimizes special teams in this game. They're trying to fit realistic scoring into 5 minute default quarters so more drives end in touchdowns. It's too easy to score. If I play NBA2k and set it to 12 minute quarters I'd end with realistic scores and stats. If I put NCAA on 15 min qtrs I'm scoring over 100. Special teams aren't nearly as important in a game that's built to facilitate scoring and scoring often. Instead of things like field position battles. Second EA is too shook to make things like kick/punt returns or blocks possible because if they do someone might find and exploit and do it every time.

Have you played NCAA 09? I think that's the reason they minimized punt and kick returns. And I think 07 had block punts and kicks.

[1GATOR FAN]

Lol sense Bama won the title a year ago with a good defense everyone uses them as a reference to defense....

And I agree I hope it's hard to score on a good defense, and special teams is very important heck look at Floridas and Bamas championship run season?...

2006 Florida had to Block USC's game winning kick to stay alive, And for Bama vs. UT blocked a game winning kick. Special teams can change games in a heart beat