Man-to-Man Coverage The Key to Stopping the AI QB in NCAA 09

[rhombic21]

Re: Man-to-Man Coverage The Key to Stopping the AI QB in NCAA 09

The fact that this is a viable strategy against the computer probably says more about how bad the CPU AI is than anything else. Nobody online plays man to man more than 25% of the time, particularly against teams like Florida or Missouri, because you'll get burned every single play.

[shttymcgee]

Re: Man-to-Man Coverage The Key to Stopping the AI QB in NCAA 09

LMFAO. You know nothing about defense...So you're telling me a guy is going to stick with his man the whole game even though in spread offenses they crossing routes and slants? If you wanna make Texas Tech work for their TD's you play zone...Playing man is doing them a favor...It would be almost too easy..In a zone wr's can't pick cb's and it's harder for them to get open...Plus not every zone is the same...There's something called zone blitzes where defenders are coming from anywhere and defenders are dropping in coverage...You just never know...There's nothing complex about man to man at all...If you run a normal offense than man to man would be the best choice if you have the athletes...but playing man against a spread offense will lose you your job.

Texas Tech does not run a spread offense, they run air-raid. There is a big difference in the type of schemes that an air-raid team runs and a more conventional spread team uses. Plays like mesh and shallow cross are designed to attack man-to-man, but they rely heavily on 5 and 6 man protections, which are suceptible to the zone blitz.

Most college teams run ONE type of coverage 75% of the time and mix in some zone blitzes. USC is just one example, they run a version of under/eagle defense and play man free, with the ss free vs regular sets almost all the time, and when they don't, their zone blitzing. They still run other coverages, but rarely.

The game always spot-drops into zones, where in reality, most teams run more of a match-up concept, with defenders responsible for receivers in specific areas, not to oversimplify. Now days, only pro teams exclusively spot drop, because their athletes can cover the necessary ground and they can run more coverages. But even in the pros, spot dropping is going by the wayside.

Because the game just spot drops into zones that are related to the defenders alignment, this further complicates the defense. The whole idea about zone coverage is to cover certain zones on the field, not the defender dropping back x amount of steps etc. A hook/curl zone is a specific part of the field, and if a defender has that assignment vs the pass, it shouldn't matter where he aligns, that is his zone in a spot dropping scheme.

One more thing and then I'll shut up. Some of the coverage schemes in the game just aren't coordinated with the fronts and when the offense gets into non-regular type sets, with the weird spot-dropping zones, it leaves large gaps of green, leading to easy completions. A good defensive structure is designed back-to front, coverage first, because the zone scheme determines what kind of front you can align in and still be fundamentally sound vs the run and pass.

[GatorFan1963]

Re: Man-to-Man Coverage The Key to Stopping the AI QB in NCAA 09

Texas Tech does not run a spread offense, they run air-raid. There is a big difference in the type of schemes that an air-raid team runs and a more conventional spread team uses. Plays like mesh and shallow cross are designed to attack man-to-man, but they rely heavily on 5 and 6 man protections, which are suceptible to the zone blitz.

Most college teams run ONE type of coverage 75% of the time and mix in some zone blitzes. USC is just one example, they run a version of under/eagle defense and play man free, with the ss free vs regular sets almost all the time, and when they don't, their zone blitzing. They still run other coverages, but rarely.

The game always spot-drops into zones, where in reality, most teams run more of a match-up concept, with defenders responsible for receivers in specific areas, not to oversimplify. Now days, only pro teams exclusively spot drop, because their athletes can cover the necessary ground and they can run more coverages. But even in the pros, spot dropping is going by the wayside.

Because the game just spot drops into zones that are related to the defenders alignment, this further complicates the defense. The whole idea about zone coverage is to cover certain zones on the field, not the defender dropping back x amount of steps etc. A hook/curl zone is a specific part of the field, and if a defender has that assignment vs the pass, it shouldn't matter where he aligns, that is his zone in a spot dropping scheme.

One more thing and then I'll shut up. Some of the coverage schemes in the game just aren't coordinated with the fronts and when the offense gets into non-regular type sets, with the weird spot-dropping zones, it leaves large gaps of green, leading to easy completions. A good defensive structure is designed back-to front, coverage first, because the zone scheme determines what kind of front you can align in and still be fundamentally sound vs the run and pass.

Dude, I think you just explained this perfectly. But if I can add one more point...my main gripe is essentially how the defenders react to the play when they are in zone. What I mean is that when a pass is thrown to a receiver that is clearly in their zone (or right in front of his face) the defender doesn't react until it's way too late. I was playing a dynasty game last night and literally watched the defender just stand there with the WR coming dead at him and the ball was thrown to a spot where the defender should have made a play. The WR of course caught the pass, but it was a TD and my defender tries to tackle him in the end zone. I'm like WTF? Why are you tackling a guy in the endzone when you should have made a play for the ball.

[The Chef]

Re: Man-to-Man Coverage The Key to Stopping the AI QB in NCAA 09

Dude, I think you just explained this perfectly. But if I can add one more point...my main gripe is essentially how the defenders react to the play when they are in zone. What I mean is that when a pass is thrown to a receiver that is clearly in their zone (or right in front of his face) the defender doesn't react until it's way too late. I was playing a dynasty game last night and literally watched the defender just stand there with the WR coming dead at him and the ball was thrown to a spot where the defender should have made a play. The WR of course caught the pass, but it was a TD and my defender tries to tackle him in the end zone. I'm like WTF? Why are you tackling a guy in the endzone when you should have made a play for the ball.

Ive seen that as well, it seems in zone the defenders wait for the ball carrier to come to them instead of attacking the ball carrier, or in your example the ball itself. Its irritating when they run a pitch, Im in Cover 2 and the corner is right there but wont attack the runner until he gets to him.

[NoleFan]

Re: Man-to-Man Coverage The Key to Stopping the AI QB in NCAA 09

It's also frustrating to see your guys watch the QB CLEARLY cross the LOS and not attack him allowing him to scramble for a crucial 1st down.

[mgoblue678]

Re: Man-to-Man Coverage The Key to Stopping the AI QB in NCAA 09

I am going to disagree for a couple of reasons. One being that when playing bump and run slants are easy money for the cpu and comeback routes against man are essentially broken. Watch the replay, unless your manually controlling the cb or playing bump and run the cb will literally stand behind the receiver a good five yards and not react at all until the ball is in the wr's hands.

Two being rushing 4 and not blitzing in the this game unless manually controlling a d-linemen is a recipy for disaster. The only way to get pressure is to blitz either in man or zone but the problem is the coverage normally breaks down by the time the pressure is applied. Basically as the developers have already said coverage will be patched because it doesn't work right.

Controlling the safety I can only do so much.

[likebuttababy11]

Re: Man-to-Man Coverage The Key to Stopping the AI QB in NCAA 09

I have had alot of success using the safety on the "open field" side,the computer LIKES to throw the quickout to the TE and the out to the HB so much(always a big play if not guarded),take these away and I literally seen the comp QB just stand around and get sacked or hurry a throw to a player that is well guarded,on a side note tho,I was using NC state vs SCU and I set the SCU QB up so well,it should of been a coverage sack but the only problem ,no1 from the DLINE could get loose to sack him,He just stood there for like a minute,then fired an incompletion,I was pissed bc NC State has a sick DE who should of been in the backfield all game long,should of took a pick of this crap but anyways heres what I do against the computer:
-Pick 2man under defense in whatever formation they come out in(nickle,dime,etc).
-Use safety on open field side of play.
-Run off the TE drag and HB play(most explosive) as soon as the computer calls hike,then play the middle of the field,the computer won't quick slant you to death and will sooner or later take a sack or throw a user pick into double coverage.

I use Padres Heisman sliders by the way if you wanted to know,computer HB is hard to stop if he gets on the edges.

[DrUrsus]

Re: Man-to-Man Coverage The Key to Stopping the AI QB in NCAA 09

What I do to stop the CPU AI is mix up my playcalling by calling zones and man to man. I mix it up with blitz and non blitz as well. I feel that mixing up playcalling is huge in this years game, especially to do well against robo qb on Heisman. I play Middle LB alot to stop short stuff in the middle. I find this year that if I switch to a DB on defense, I get too many INTs, so I try to avoid that this year.

[BlyGilmore]

Re: Man-to-Man Coverage The Key to Stopping the AI QB in NCAA 09

It's also frustrating to see your guys watch the QB CLEARLY cross the LOS and not attack him allowing him to scramble for a crucial 1st down.

well IMO more than any other game I can remember, you really need to take control of your players in this year's NCAA. If you expect to stand around and watch your players do the work you're going to have issues.

[cbc72]

Re: Man-to-Man Coverage The Key to Stopping the AI QB in NCAA 09

What I do to stop the CPU AI is mix up my playcalling by calling zones and man to man. I mix it up with blitz and non blitz as well. I feel that mixing up playcalling is huge in this years game, especially to do well against robo qb on Heisman. I play Middle LB alot to stop short stuff in the middle. I find this year that if I switch to a DB on defense, I get too many INTs, so I try to avoid that this year.

You are seeing a placebo effect. The devs have said that the game does not respond to your play calling tendencies. It calls plays based on down and distance. Your pattern of play calling in no way influences the CPU according to the devs.

BTW, I would not recommend using man-to-man D if you are Army. :-)

[NoleFan]

Re: Man-to-Man Coverage The Key to Stopping the AI QB in NCAA 09

well IMO more than any other game I can remember, you really need to take control of your players in this year's NCAA. If you expect to stand around and watch your players do the work you're going to have issues.

I'm getting that same feeling the more I play. Too bad too because the game is pretty good. I'll miss you NCAA 09.

As far as the man-to-man thing goes...I'm taking back what I said. I'm playing USF @ UCF (me) and at halftime USF's Grothe is 16-16 passing. This is with 2 CBs, a FS and a SS with MCV ratings of 95, 86, 87 and 84 respectively...on default All-American. But, I don't control my guys so I guess the ratings only matter when I do so. *shrugs*

[Sheik]

Re: Man-to-Man Coverage The Key to Stopping the AI QB in NCAA 09

You are seeing a placebo effect. The devs have said that the game does not respond to your play calling tendencies. It calls plays based on down and distance. Your pattern of play calling in no way influences the CPU according to the devs.

BTW, I would not recommend using man-to-man D if you are Army. :-)

Welp, that's all I needed to hear.
I'm done with my beta testing NCAA '09 Job, to hell with that..again...so disappointing.

[The Chef]

Re: Man-to-Man Coverage The Key to Stopping the AI QB in NCAA 09

I'm getting that same feeling the more I play. Too bad too because the game is pretty good. I'll miss you NCAA 09.

As far as the man-to-man thing goes...I'm taking back what I said. I'm playing USF @ UCF (me) and at halftime USF's Grothe is 16-16 passing. This is with 2 CBs, a FS and a SS with MCV ratings of 95, 86, 87 and 84 respectively...on default All-American. But, I don't control my guys so I guess the ratings only matter when I do so. *shrugs*

Thats weird, I dont control my secondary at all unless its to line up on a TE when the LB's are blitzing, other then that the CPU does everything for me and Ive gotten very good results doing this. Sure, there are times where the CPU seems to go nuts, but thats happened once maybe in the last 20 games and that was Sanchez with USC when I was ahead early in the 3rd quarter, so atleast it wasnt some complete scrub.

[Sheik]

Re: Man-to-Man Coverage The Key to Stopping the AI QB in NCAA 09

Thats weird, I dont control my secondary at all unless its to line up on a TE when the LB's are blitzing, other then that the CPU does everything for me and Ive gotten very good results doing this. Sure, there are times where the CPU seems to go nuts, but thats happened once maybe in the last 20 games and that was Sanchez with USC when I was ahead early in the 3rd quarter, so atleast it wasnt some complete scrub.

Well, I tried to man to man coverage thing....
after I first read about it.

First game, outstanding. My defense played up to what I had expected and recruited.
Second game, more of the same.
Third game...

Utah St. cut me up to the tune of 433 yards with a Redshirt Sophomore QB with an 82 rating.
It's no so much the end result, it's the point that you just CAN'T stop the CPU at times. There's no fix. My corners are rated 89 & 83 respectively, my safeties are 89 and 83
I have two impact players are linebacker at 91 and 89 and my line averages 85 across the front. I EXPECT a good stout defense that can cover the field. What I get

is Utah State shredding me with a Sophomore Quarterback and NO receivers rated higher than 78.

Just doesn't make sense.

10 min quarters on AA, and I HAD previously been getting very normal stats..

[The Chef]

Re: Man-to-Man Coverage The Key to Stopping the AI QB in NCAA 09

Well, I tried to man to man coverage thing....
after I first read about it.

First game, outstanding. My defense played up to what I had expected and recruited.
Second game, more of the same.
Third game...

Utah St. cut me up to the tune of 433 yards with a Redshirt Sophomore QB with an 82 rating.
It's no so much the end result, it's the point that you just CAN'T stop the CPU at times. There's no fix. My corners are rated 89 & 83 respectively, my safeties are 89 and 83
I have two impact players are linebacker at 91 and 89 and my line averages 85 across the front. I EXPECT a good stout defense that can cover the field. What I get

is Utah State shredding me with a Sophomore Quarterback and NO receivers rated higher than 78.

Just doesn't make sense.

10 min quarters on AA, and I HAD previously been getting very normal stats..

Thats unfortunate but I wouldnt throw in the towel just yet, maybe you just had one of those "what the ****" type of games and it will get back to what you were seeing previously. This game can be VERY frustrating at times, and in a lot of ways Im starting to find that I have to force myself to play instead of wanting to play like it has been in years past.