120 ways to win my fanny

[pdiehm]

I've been tinkering with different styles such as the navy option, oregon's spread, nevada's pistol, hawaii's run n shoot, PSU's multiple offense...

They have royally screwed up the assignments for the lineman on every type of option offense imaginable.

Eastern Michigan is my guinea pig...that I play against.

Navy. 41 carries 97 yards. Why? The freakin BACKSIDE DE and DT are ALWAYS on me by the time I make my read. I give to the FB, they instantly collapse...I keep because the playside DE crashes down, the backside DT and DE are up my poopshoot instantly.

Nevada has the pistol read...same freakin thing. The backside DT and DE are instantly on you if you make the right read and keep if the playside DE crashes down. Nevada had 39 carries 105 yards

Oregon. I lost this freakin game 31-17. Oregon had 61 yards on 43 carries vs EMU because just as with Navy and Nevada, the backside DE, DT and LB are always on you if you make the right read and keep...if the DE stays home and you give to the TB, the backside DT and DE are up his poopshoot.

Seems like the only styles that actually have correct OL assignments are Pro and Air Raid. The ONLY way I can actually run the option where I get proper OL reads is when I have CPU run D down to 20, and my run blocking up to 80. The backside DT and DE are no longer an issue at that juncture.

I'm amazed at how god awful EA screwed up the option in this version of the game. Last year it worked pretty damn good (at least Oregon's offense and Navy's triple option)...this year it just seems the OL assignments are all F'd up.

[Bronk_Bonin]

Re: 120 ways to win my fanny

Actually I couldn't agree more. The option in the game is TERRIBLE. Everything else is pretty spot on except for maybe the special teams. Georgia Tech the most prolific running team in the country is pretty much useless in this game along with the other option teams you mentioned.

[Card-me]

Re: 120 ways to win my fanny

Yes, it is bad. What makes matters worse is the CPU's recruiting, which has been widely discussed. Go about 4 years into your dynasty and look at Georgia Tech. They will most likely be well under .500 with a pocket passer in at QB. I'm playing Georgia Tech right now in year 4 of my dynasty, and here are the ratings of their starting QB (a junior, so one of the first recruits by the CPU):

6'3", 184lbs
OVR 82
SPD 69
STR 53
AGI 69
ACC 68
BCV 67

Somehow they're 5-5 right now and currently 4th in the nation in rushing, but I would imagine that's a product of the computer simulations placing emphasis on prestige and overall ratings, because after the first quarter I've held them to 0 points, 9 rushes for -4 yards. All I did was set QB contain to conservative and blitz my OLBs (I run a 3-4) and I'm good to go. What's worse is here are the stats for their backup QB (a redshirt senior, mind you, backing up a true junior):

OVR 82 (SAME FREAKING OVR RATING AND A SENIOR. HELLO?)
SPD 83
STR 67
AGI 85
ACC 90
BCV 71

So yeah, the flexbone option is basically useless for the CPU. I've actually had a bit more luck with it myself in the limited time I've used it than you had, but it's still not great. The real problem is that their "Real Assignment AI blocking" is just poorly managed man blocking. Even if you use zone blocking plays, they rarely work properly, especially if there's a blitz. You'll watch as a guard will just run up to block a safety and run right by the blitzing LB despite the LB being in his zone, all because the AI decided before you snapped that the safety was that guy's "man to block."

[Segagendude]

Re: 120 ways to win my fanny

Why would anyone wanna try to win "your fanny"????

[Cornwallus]

Re: 120 ways to win my fanny

Especially with 120 ways to win your fanny.... ewww

[silkysmooth]

Re: 120 ways to win my fanny

Pretty much. The CPU cannot defend the pass and makes zero adjustments to do so. However, if you try to run an option play, you quickly find out how pointless that is. Every once in a while you can get a decent FB gain or maybe get one outside with the QB enough to get some yards, but it's mostly a 1-3 yard gain. I've gone so far as to bump up my sliders up so I have a fighting chance. I'd say at least 50% of plays that I don't give to my FB my QB gets nailed by at least two players and sometimes more before I can even think about finishing the option play. If my line can't even keep a block for longer than a second, what is the point of 120 ways to win?

The fact that I've played some games with teams like Ohio St. and could barely move the ball is proof that the option is broken on this game. The CPU players have 99 awareness when it comes to stopping option plays. They read it perfectly every time and have awesome pursuit against it. Never once does the CPU get caught off balance on an option play like you would normally see in real life. It's really disappointing that all the option has turned into is a slow developing run play that has little chance to succeed.

[novadolla]

Re: 120 ways to win my fanny

I've seen guys online run the option to perfection, to the point where you basically want to pull your hair out. You guys are the only ones i've ever heard complain about the option not working well, because if the option worked any better online play would be even more dreadful, stop complaining before EA goes back to the drawing bored and make the option even more overpowered than it already is. all we would see against humans is (wishbone tight power options/ace twin tE slot speed option)

Also i know a guy who runs GT PB to perfection, and i have been able to run the read option pretty well, out of spread flex.

[rudyjuly2]

Re: 120 ways to win my fanny

I've seen guys online run the option to perfection, to the point where you basically want to pull your hair out. You guys are the only ones i've ever heard complain about the option not working well, because if the option worked any better online play would be even more dreadful, stop complaining before EA goes back to the drawing bored and make the option even more overpowered than it already is. all we would see against humans is (wishbone tight power options/ace twin tE slot speed option)

Also i know a guy who runs GT PB to perfection, and i have been able to run the read option pretty well, out of spread flex.

Many guys still play against the cpu. Online vs. offline impressions can be drastically different. Why don't you respect the impressions of the option game for offline?

The cpu runs it poorly and I agree that if they want to market 120 ways to win they need to make sure all of those offense types should have an equal chance to be successful. If you watched the Michigan game this past weekend you would NEVER see the cpu run that offense in this game that well. It just doesn't happen. They are far more successful running pro style offenses.

[pdiehm]

Re: 120 ways to win my fanny

The CPU can't run the option, and since the OL assignments on the option are very very poorly designed in the game, the human can't either, not without making the sliders extremely in favor of the human.

I tried it a little bit on Slow this morning and it was better...not good, but better. On Normal speed, it's impossible because if the DE that you read crashes, the QB keeps...and he's invariably stopped from behind by the backside DE and DT who should be down blocked or cut.

If the DE stays at home, you give to the FB, but the DT's go from taking outside moves to changing direction at the drop of a dime and stopping the FB for 2 yards.

Once in a blue moon you'll pop one where the QB will break the tackle, and that seems to be the only way for the human to run the option successfully and get yards.

I think the game plays wonderfully, but the option (all types and formations) is bunk...the coding for the assignments are all wrong, specially on the backside of the play where the OL should be down blocking or cutting the DL guys.

I actually went to a replay, and saw this...

the DE crashed down, my read is to keep the ball. Upon review, the LG and LT, didn't even block the DT or the DE backside...they went to the 2nd level for LB's and a safety, which allowed the DE to chase the QB from behind. Not did this happen just once, it happend on 18/21 option plays....the OL guys are blocking like they would in a pro-style offense, which leads me to believe even more that the only offenses that you can run against the CPU are pro-style or the air raid.

[KG]

Re: 120 ways to win my fanny

The CPU can't run the option, and since the OL assignments on the option are very very poorly designed in the game, the human can't either, not without making the sliders extremely in favor of the human.

I tried it a little bit on Slow this morning and it was better...not good, but better. On Normal speed, it's impossible because if the DE that you read crashes, the QB keeps...and he's invariably stopped from behind by the backside DE and DT who should be down blocked or cut.

If the DE stays at home, you give to the FB, but the DT's go from taking outside moves to changing direction at the drop of a dime and stopping the FB for 2 yards.

Once in a blue moon you'll pop one where the QB will break the tackle, and that seems to be the only way for the human to run the option successfully and get yards.

I think the game plays wonderfully, but the option (all types and formations) is bunk...the coding for the assignments are all wrong, specially on the backside of the play where the OL should be down blocking or cutting the DL guys.

I actually went to a replay, and saw this...

the DE crashed down, my read is to keep the ball. Upon review, the LG and LT, didn't even block the DT or the DE backside...they went to the 2nd level for LB's and a safety, which allowed the DE to chase the QB from behind. Not did this happen just once, it happend on 18/21 option plays....the OL guys are blocking like they would in a pro-style offense, which leads me to believe even more that the only offenses that you can run against the CPU are pro-style or the air raid.

I havent played post-patch 3 but before that the DTs and backside DE's were way too quick off the ball and their ability to chase down much faster players caused a lot of grief in running out of the gun.

[nb27]

Re: 120 ways to win my fanny

I have had pretty good success running more traditional option offenses (Georgia Tech, Navy) but haven't done as well using the shotgun offenses like Oregon. In large part I think that is because the read option plays dont work very well (the DE can basically make a play on the QB or the RB), but the defense always seems to be in the backfield quickly when I try the option offense.

When I run the flexbone or the wishbone though, I've had a lot more success. As long as I change up the plays enough, I usually get some really nice drives going.

The CPU is terrible at running the option though. Whenever I play a game in a dynasty against an option team, I usually just turn my tackle slider down and bump un the computer running game a bit.

[Rebel10]

Re: 120 ways to win my fanny

I agree with most of this. The 120 ways to win thing is such an ironic gimmick this year. Sure, they've tried to accurately capture dozens of different styles and every team really does feel different... like you feel like if you have a bad passing game you HAVE to run with specific teams, but, with the glitches that the game suffered from especially after Patch #2, I found myself using a handful of plays and styles in every game, and that's it. On defense especially. I thought like "120 Ways to Win... except on defense, where only 2 plays are effective and the rest are crap."

bUt then Patch 3 came out and defensive play has been pretty solid.

[jello1717]

Re: 120 ways to win my fanny

My experiences have been different. I haven't run flexbone offenses, but I've had quite a lot of luck running the spread option against the CPU, but I get stonewalled when I try to run it against users in my OD.

Now, I have Denard Robinson and Devin Gardner as my QBs to run the option and I mainly use Mississippi State and Oregon's playbooks, but running the read option, load option, speed option, and triple option I usually average between 4-6 YPC for my backs, 2-4 YPC for my QBs, depending on how many sacks they eat, and 6-12 YPC for my receivers.

This is on AA with adjusted sliders.

[silkysmooth]

Re: 120 ways to win my fanny

I have far more success with the option when I run a more balanced pro style offense and mix in a few deceptive option plays a game. Trying to run a whole offense based on it doesn't really work too well.

I've had the CPU have a ton of success running the ball. I've given up 100 yard games to a variety of different HBs. The draw/delay game from any formation kills me from any formation. I've also given up decent gains on speed options and zone read plays where I either overpursue the QB or they run to a side where they have more blockers than I have defenders. They don't really base an entire offensive scheme off of this though. Even option teams I face pass way too much and abandon the running game far too quickly.

They need to redo how the CPU controlled players react to option plays. Right now there is no leeway. They aren't fooled at all no matter what. The only way to have a good option play is to catch them in man coverage and motion people around to run away from their secondary. In reality, there is a very real period of chaos on option plays where not every single defensive player knows immediately where the ball is.

[Johnny "Too Tall"]

Re: 120 ways to win my fanny

I have far more success with the option when I run a more balanced pro style offense and mix in a few deceptive option plays a game. Trying to run a whole offense based on it doesn't really work too well.

I've had the CPU have a ton of success running the ball. I've given up 100 yard games to a variety of different HBs. The draw/delay game from any formation kills me from any formation. I've also given up decent gains on speed options and zone read plays where I either overpursue the QB or they run to a side where they have more blockers than I have defenders. They don't really base an entire offensive scheme off of this though. Even option teams I face pass way too much and abandon the running game far too quickly.

They need to redo how the CPU controlled players react to option plays. Right now there is no leeway. They aren't fooled at all no matter what. The only way to have a good option play is to catch them in man coverage and motion people around to run away from their secondary. In reality, there is a very real period of chaos on option plays where not every single defensive player knows immediately where the ball is.

Agree with everything you said, but particularly with whats highlighted. This goes for online play as well. I played a guy about a month ago who was using Gtech and tried running the option the entire first half. I stuffed him continuously. It was so easy I was actually upset and disappointed that he wasn't able to have any success with it. I actually mixed in some option plays myself running a balanced pro offense, and ended up having more success with it than he did. The second half he basically gave up on it and started passing.

That was the last time Ive played someone who tried running an option offense exclusively..... I wanted it to be a good game and for him to have success. I have no problem with losing, but it gets boring when people have to resort to the same ol stuff just to have any success because of stuff like this.