Can't User Catch?

[infemous]

Is anyone else struggling to user catch on deep balls?

I find it nigh on impossible.

On Madden 11 if a ball was lobbed deep it was often a contest between the WR and the CB as to who can attack it higher. User catching often involved holding L2 and then hitting triangle. Your WR would turn and locate the ball and do his best to bring it in. This meant that slower but bigger WR with high catch ratings had use.

Currently whenever I do this on Madden 12 the WR does not turn around and just feebly sticks their hands forward, even on balls behind them. This allows DBs to make plays on the ball and is incredibly frustrating.

I've tried coming back to the ball but often the WR runs in a circle or something peculiar and doesn't get near the ball.

Does anyone have any tips on how to successfully attack the ball at it's highest point in Madden 12?
Anyone else having this problem?

[CerebrumMusica]

Re: Can't User Catch?

One of my favorite parts of this years game is the user catching. To me it is the closest to the way is was on ps2. I feel like I have a good amount of control. It really depends on what player you are using, and I may be wrong, but the "plays ball in the air" trait also has to do with whether they jump or not.

I would recommend going into practice mode and doing it over and over until you get the timing right. I have user caught deep bombs, jump balls, sideline catches, and tipped passes. It definitely gives you an advantage once you get the timing down.

It all depends on what angle you are moving at in relation to the ball target.

Keep practicing, you'll get it!

[infemous]

Re: Can't User Catch?

So it is possible?

Isn't the 'plays ball in the air treat' for DBs?

I can user INT with the same ease as before (although a DE dropping into coverage won't stick his hands up if the ball is aimed AT him...) but with regards to user catching it's been nigh on impossible.

The strafe feature doesn't work anymore, so on an under thrown ball, I can have my WR stand still, come back to the ball and jump... incredibly frustrating...

I'm going to practice now...

[KCsFinest5]

Re: Can't User Catch?

I know what you mean...

The "not being able to attack the ball at it's highest point" issue has rendered receiver/DB height pointless. I know they took this out to contend with the "rocket catch issue", but at what cost to the user? An unusable WR control?

I don't think it was worth it.

[infemous]

Re: Can't User Catch?

I know what you mean...

The "not being able to attack the ball at it's highest point" issue has rendered receiver/DB height pointless. I know they took this out to contend with the "rocket catch issue", but at what cost to the user? An unusable WR control?

I don't think it was worth it.

EXACTLY what I feel.

Now there is zero benefit to a big WR unless he's Megatron, or Andre, and even then they don't attack the ball consistently.

I don't agree with removing things to combat cheese, when it punishes the sim player. They should fix the warp issue, which seemingly has been fixed and keep Strafe on offense and the ability to attack the ball.

Sounds like laziness on EA's part, or just very poor decision making.

Are there any work arounds?

[Yeah...THAT Guy]

Re: Can't User Catch?

I just let the AI catch the balls for me because for some reason, the AI WRs can stop and jump up to catch the balls but AI CBs can't, but user WRs can't stop and jump up to catch the balls but user CBs can. Really confusing.

[frankstallone83]

Re: Can't User Catch?

If you're just playing the cpu you can turn user wr catch slider to 51 or above and you can use the old L2 offensive strafe catch. (to me it's only a "rocket catch" if you use it unrealistically)

I don't do this b/c I don't want to get in bad habits for online play but I do miss it even though I understand why they took it out. It'd be nice if they could find some kind of balance with it.

[twimstaxs]

Re: Can't User Catch?

When doing a lob it depends on how far the ball is being lobbed. If you lob it to the receiver and the ball is still moving past him as he runs his route he will not turn around because he is assuming the ball will continue on. The reason I have come up with why you cannot user strafe with the WR is because it takes out the unfair play between computer and human. If I could strafe with the WR I would just lob it every time bc I am good at user controlling the WR and catching the ball. I have my sliders set at hum/com 55/100 on everything and I find a good balance when catching the ball. The lob is only thrown when the receiver is one on one with a little room in front. IF you are just lobbing the ball all the time it is not going to be effective.

[ECPackers]

Re: Can't User Catch?

user errors. i have no problems laying out for diving catches, sideline catchers, or attacking the ball at its highest point...in fact, with megatron i just last night caught a jump ball in the middle of charles woodson, nick collins, and someone else...triple coverage...mega just jumped up and grabed that when i pressed Y,


also for deep balls...make sure you guys play with AUTO STRAFE off...otherwise you cant pick when to look back for the ball.

also, if the ball is thrown too far, when you get to the outer edge of the circle (where the ball is supposed to land) you have to HOLD dive...not press it...if you hold it, you lay out for this amazing looking diving catch.

[Yeah...THAT Guy]

Re: Can't User Catch?

user errors. i have no problems laying out for diving catches, sideline catchers, or attacking the ball at its highest point...in fact, with megatron i just last night caught a jump ball in the middle of charles woodson, nick collins, and someone else...triple coverage...mega just jumped up and grabed that when i pressed Y,


also for deep balls...make sure you guys play with AUTO STRAFE off...otherwise you cant pick when to look back for the ball.

also, if the ball is thrown too far, when you get to the outer edge of the circle (where the ball is supposed to land) you have to HOLD dive...not press it...if you hold it, you lay out for this amazing looking diving catch.

I have auto strafe off, but I still cannot use LT to stop my WR.

It's weird though. When I throw it up, my AI controlled WR's will stop and jump for it (but I can't do that myself), but on defense, my AI controlled CB's will NEVER stop and jump for it (but I CAN do it). Weird.

[Coast]

Re: Can't User Catch?

I feel as if the control the user has when the ball in the air has been limited on this installment.

I find it difficult not only catching the ball myself with a wideout, but also defensively as a cornerback. I used to be good with cb catching using strafe, not it feels as if he doesnt even pay attention when im using him. The cb will just stop and wander off a yard away from ball leaving the receiver open to catch it.

[MCNABB51BOI]

Re: Can't User Catch?

I know its to cut down rocket catch cheese but man. having a big WR is a waste . they all do the same jump over the shoulder catch you might as well have all fast quick route runners because a big WR cant use his size at all. the catch animations in general are off , like one guy said WR wait for the ball when really your taught to attack it .

[infemous]

Re: Can't User Catch?

I've been letting the AI make the catches and it's been working much better.

This is a huge culture shock, but vs human players I'm screwed because they will user INT it every single time.

I normally only ever lob certain touch throws, but for everything else bullet it so that users can't react and get in position to INT. I'd rather miss or get batted by bullet passing than get picked off all the time.

User INTs are still quite easy, especially on lobbed balls. I feel that it is much more related to the player you're using for user INTs... with the Redskins I once got 9 INTs because of Hall, Wilson, Atogwe and Landry. About 6 or 7 were user INTs.

I find that the swat button is still kind of flawed, but works better than it did in M11.

I can maybe live with the offline relying on the CPU to make catches, but online this is ruinous...

Anyway this can be patched in?

As I said before, why remove something that benefits sim players to stop cheese? The cheese shouldn't exist anyway, and warping still occurs on user INTs anyway, so they need to level the playing field!

[twimstaxs]

Re: Can't User Catch?

I've been letting the AI make the catches and it's been working much better.

This is a huge culture shock, but vs human players I'm screwed because they will user INT it every single time.

I normally only ever lob certain touch throws, but for everything else bullet it so that users can't react and get in position to INT. I'd rather miss or get batted by bullet passing than get picked off all the time.

User INTs are still quite easy, especially on lobbed balls. I feel that it is much more related to the player you're using for user INTs... with the Redskins I once got 9 INTs because of Hall, Wilson, Atogwe and Landry. About 6 or 7 were user INTs.

I find that the swat button is still kind of flawed, but works better than it did in M11.

I can maybe live with the offline relying on the CPU to make catches, but online this is ruinous...

Anyway this can be patched in?

As I said before, why remove something that benefits sim players to stop cheese? The cheese shouldn't exist anyway, and warping still occurs on user INTs anyway, so they need to level the playing field!

Everything you are describing is not a patch fix or a problem. It is just the way you play man. I have sliders that cut down all of my interceptions and I am able to user catch with no problem and also Strafe with a DB. The way I play offline is much different than I do online because I know what works and what doesn't. You just have to understand the coverages. If you can explain to me an instance where you are trying to user catch I could explain to you why it is not working the way you are wanting it to. Nothing in this game is a huge problem for me because I have figured out the best sliders for my liking and I do not throw the ball and try to USER catch every single play. Play a game and when you throw a pick or try to user catch look at the replay to figure out why it didnt work. The game is not going to allow you to stop the receiver in full stride to turn around and catch the ball. That is not how it is in the NFL. If they are running a route the QB throws into their route.

[infemous]

Re: Can't User Catch?

Everything you are describing is not a patch fix or a problem. It is just the way you play man. I have sliders that cut down all of my interceptions and I am able to user catch with no problem and also Strafe with a DB. The way I play offline is much different than I do online because I know what works and what doesn't. You just have to understand the coverages. If you can explain to me an instance where you are trying to user catch I could explain to you why it is not working the way you are wanting it to. Nothing in this game is a huge problem for me because I have figured out the best sliders for my liking and I do not throw the ball and try to USER catch every single play. Play a game and when you throw a pick or try to user catch look at the replay to figure out why it didnt work. The game is not going to allow you to stop the receiver in full stride to turn around and catch the ball. That is not how it is in the NFL. If they are running a route the QB throws into their route.

Don't want to sound rude but I know lol

I'm talking about specifically, bombs in which you throw the ball 40 yards downfield and the ball is hanging in the air. 6,5 WRs can turn around, locate the ball and attack it at it's highest point. I'm not saying they need to catch it every time, but attempting to would be great. Instead, due to the ommission of the strafe for offensive players, my WR will put his hands out feebly infront of himself, or, overrunning the ball, they turn around and put their hands to their hips, trying to let the ball drop into their hands. This allows DBs to make plays on the ball.

I'm not complaining about offline so much, because it's not a challenge. The issue is online in which sliders won't work (specifically franchise) and the fact that a human can make plays on the ball.

The crux of the issue is that defensive players still have free reign to make plays on the ball using strafe and the possible warping and 'rocket catching' issues that people complain about, while offensive players are handicapped.

Obviously this is unfair and also renders WRs like Colston useless in the vertical passing game. He's too slow to get behind CBs and can't jump and grab balls in traffic.

It's ridiculous and it should be patched because it's a removal of something that wasn't broken. Something I'm seeing too often with this Madden. For every good introduction they take 5 good (seemingly insignificant) or well executed elements of the game out. You then add this to the multitude of bugs and you come away with an unsatisfactory experience. Especially online.