Spread Offense Help

[Deli]

I started a new dynasty with Troy and I am using University of Michigan's playbook because of the speedy QB and WR and I enjoy running the various option and read option plays. The first couple of games were fun however recently the CPU defense has completely taken the enjoyment out of it for me. Every time I choose an option play out of any formation they basically run a 4-3 engage eight on me and shift the LB's to the outside and bring them right up to the line resulting in me getting hit in the backfield every time. If I run a play action pass they blitz and I get sacked immediately after the fake. If I run any type of screen they drop into coverage and have multiple defenders waiting to intercept the pass. The only thing I can do is audible out of the option play to deep pass and then throw a quick deep pass to a wide open receiver since they still blitz after I audible. This has happened on every difficulty level I have chosen and against similarly rated opponents in my conference. Basically they ensure that I cannot run any type of option offense at all and it makes offense extremely predictable and boring. Anyone else having problems with this? Anyone have any tips?

[DonkeyBong]

Re: Spread Offense Help

This exact thing is happening to me man. This mixed with the impossible man coverage- I play online so sliders won't help- is somewhat ruining the game for me. 120 ways to win my a**. There is only one way to win and it's power running the football down peoples throats.

[yanks26ngoin]

Re: Spread Offense Help

I am not a big fan of the Michigan playbook. Its really not realistic to what Michigan ran last season. In my dynasty where I have Michigan as a spread team, I use Mississippi State's playbook, but I think I may look for another playbook soon.

[DonkeyBong]

Re: Spread Offense Help

Yeah I haven't been using JUST michigans playbook. The spread option offense is just plain difficult to run (probably due to the poor blocking schemes and slow hand off animations. Any tips for actually running the ball out of the spread would be appreciated.

[Deli]

Re: Spread Offense Help

Adding to the aggravation about half the time I audible and throw to the wide open WR he manages to drop it.

[tate09]

Re: Spread Offense Help

i've found 10 personnel (and the entire spread offensive system) to be a total waste of time if you want this game to actually resemble football....it's almost automatic that the CPU will bring the LB's off the edge, walk the safeties up and bring 7 or 8 man pressure.

i would love to play a ball control style of offense with a strong running game complemented by short, high percentage passes, but i'd be banging my head against wall trying to run on a 9 man box and throwing short when CPU DB's look to undercut every single route.

i can't even count the number of times i've converted 3rd and 20+ because the CPU brings an 8 man pass rush against an empty set.

[yanks26ngoin]

Re: Spread Offense Help

i've found 10 personnel (and the entire spread offensive system) to be a total waste of time if you want this game to actually resemble football....it's almost automatic that the CPU will bring the LB's off the edge, walk the safeties up and bring 7 or 8 man pressure.

i would love to play a ball control style of offense with a strong running game complemented by short, high percentage passes, but i'd be banging my head against wall trying to run on a 9 man box and throwing short when CPU DB's look to undercut every single route.

i can't even count the number of times i've converted 3rd and 20+ because the CPU brings an 8 man pass rush against an empty set.

I'm experiencing nothing like you are, and I run the spread option offense(Mississippi State's playbook). I run read options all the time, well, not all the time, but a good amount per game(I try to keep it at like 3 or 4 if its a long drive, but nothing more) and get a good mixture of losses and gains. If the LB lines up close to the line and diagonally on the outside of the DE on which ever side the HB is on, I read the LB. If he crashes down, I keep it. If he stays at home, I hand it off. If he does not line up there, I read the DE on the side that the HB is on. If he crashes down, I keep it. If he stays at home, I hand it off. Its all about finding lanes and hitting them. If you miss your lane, and cant cut back into it, you will probably either get hit for a loss, or only a gain of 3-4 yards. If you can hit the lane or able to get to the outside ahead of the defense, you can get a nice chunk of yardage. Occasionally, the option wouldnt work not matter what due to what you said. But, you cannot always call the read option. If you do, the defense will always go with the best play to blow it up before it begins. You need to mix in some passes and just some plain handoffs, speed options or triple options. Exclusively running the read option with a pass to get the 1st on 3rd down is a recipie for failure in this game and in real life.

[jeremym480]

Re: Spread Offense Help

The A.I. is actually adapting to your play style.... sounds like good news too me.

[DonkeyBong]

Re: Spread Offense Help

Thanks for the input bro I'll keep working at it. Go blue!

[goh]

Re: Spread Offense Help

I came up with my own style using the spread. The Vanderbulit rope-a-dope. I try to run the spread normally for the first half and due to the inept QBs there it mostly fails. Then in the 2nd half they start playing pass and I run all over them.

[Pogo27]

Re: Spread Offense Help

i would love to play a ball control style of offense with a strong running game complemented by short, high percentage passes, but i'd be banging my head against wall trying to run on a 9 man box and throwing short when CPU DB's look to undercut every single route.

In my online dynasty on All-American with adjusted sliders (basically all-American and a half), I'm playing as Syracuse. Through 4 games, I have 651 passing yards, 754 rushing yards. Just 2 passing TDs, but 13 rushing TDs. I'm about 70/30 run/pass ratio.

[tate09]

Re: Spread Offense Help

I'm experiencing nothing like you are, and I run the spread option offense(Mississippi State's playbook). I run read options all the time, well, not all the time, but a good amount per game(I try to keep it at like 3 or 4 if its a long drive, but nothing more) and get a good mixture of losses and gains. If the LB lines up close to the line and diagonally on the outside of the DE on which ever side the HB is on, I read the LB. If he crashes down, I keep it. If he stays at home, I hand it off. If he does not line up there, I read the DE on the side that the HB is on. If he crashes down, I keep it. If he stays at home, I hand it off. Its all about finding lanes and hitting them. If you miss your lane, and cant cut back into it, you will probably either get hit for a loss, or only a gain of 3-4 yards. If you can hit the lane or able to get to the outside ahead of the defense, you can get a nice chunk of yardage. Occasionally, the option wouldnt work not matter what due to what you said. But, you cannot always call the read option. If you do, the defense will always go with the best play to blow it up before it begins. You need to mix in some passes and just some plain handoffs, speed options or triple options. Exclusively running the read option with a pass to get the 1st on 3rd down is a recipie for failure in this game and in real life.

yeah, i know what you're saying about reading the overhang, but i'm not going to run the ball period when the CPU safeties are inside the box as well. against normal down and distance defenses, the spread running game works alright, the problem is that typically lasts all of 1 play each game then they start loading the box relentlessly no matter how many times i audible to pass and burn the blitz.

just to clarify, i'm having no trouble moving the ball or scoring pts, the problem is there is no strategy or offensive system involved when the CPU tries to cover my 5 eligible receivers with 3 defensive players.

i can't imagine the kind of stats guys that play with houston, texas tech, hawaii and all the air raid teams are putting up this year.

[Deli]

Re: Spread Offense Help

The A.I. is actually adapting to your play style.... sounds like good news too me.

Kind of...I ran the option frequently and once I do it to start the game they load up the box which is good. But they continue to do this the rest of the game no matter which play I call and if I ever audible out they continue stacking the box and leave my receivers uncovered for easy touchdowns.