How about huge USER advantages?

[aarontab]

I think the CPU "advantages" (read: cheats...lol j/k) are pretty well documented, but what about things that you feel go your way pretty much whenever you need them to? Some things that work a lot for me are:

1. I always get sacks on 3rd down. Could be because i usually play the pass, but it seems like i get a lot of big sacks (sometimes too many) when i need them regardless of slider setting.

2. Kickoff returns. I take like 8 back a year, and in fact it sometimes is the main reason i win a game.

3. Fumbles seem to favor me in all but a few out of the ordinary games. My turnover ratios are ridiculous.

4. Four verts! (Just kidding, clearly a different kind of "advantage")

What about you guys? Anybody else have certain things that seem to work out your way consistently when you need it most?

[synjin]

Re: How about huge USER advantages?

I got a ton of sacks too, and I play with jump snap on aggressive for most of every game. Most of my first season, the top 3 sack totals in the nation were all my players, and was playing with North Texas. I used sliders to tone it down.

I return a ton of big kick returns now that I learned how to do them (lay off the juke stick!). It's mostly kickoff returns, but I have plenty of punt returns too.

I used to lead the nation in turnover margin all the time until I toned down interceptions with sliders. I usually play with big hits on aggressive, so I got a lot of forced fumbles. Unfortunately I also play against several option teams each season and the option is really gimped to the point where they will usually have at least 3 wild pitches per game that either end up in my hands or for a 10+ yard loss. Defense intercepts way too many pitches. It's mostly due to the fact that the CPU corners and safeties sell out on the run WAY too quickly and aggressively.

I also find the 3-3-5 defense WAY too overpowered vs. outside runs and shallow passes. Spread the LBs on a pre-snap call and you will blow up every outside run for a several yard loss unless the back breaks multiple tackles. Now spreading the LBs should help against outside runs, but I feel it's mostly overpowered due to the way the two outside safeties play up too far, even when they have a deep 3rd or deep half zone assignment. And like I mentioned earlier, the DBs jump the runs way too quickly and aggressively. Until I toned it down with sliders, I consistenly lead the league in run defense, even with a fairly bad defense.

[Special27K]

Re: How about huge USER advantages?

1. Sacks are a huge advantage for the USER, coverage sacks come in huge moments far too easy. While the CPU AI for QB's has gotten better there still are plenty of times where they don't actively seek to scramble. It seems like they take off out of nowhere or stand stone footed in the pocket. Though I do see sometimes they try and escape pressure, however they hardly do anything but get sacked in those scenarios it seems.

2. The CPU option and reads are still terrible in my mind, teams like Oregon and Georgia Tech are push overs as far as I'm concerned.

3. PENALTIES!!! They far far favor the USER, If I play a game it seems like penalties are like 10 for the CPU and like 4 for me.

[heelphreak]

Re: How about huge USER advantages?

i still get quite a few coverage sacks but have found that turning cpu rba up to 85 not only improves their run game in the traditional sense but the qb will take off at more appropriate times and make good runs that often pick up first downs.

[ViLLiO]

Re: How about huge USER advantages?

The CPU's overall play-calling ability sucks. They need to key in on players who are owning them, and take away our money plays. It's entirely too easy to run out of 3-4 WR formations. I average 200 yards per game just by running out of spread formations. It's pathetic.

[jello1717]

Re: How about huge USER advantages?

3. PENALTIES!!! They far far favor the USER, If I play a game it seems like penalties are like 10 for the CPU and like 4 for me.

I've seen the opposite. I've turned up holding/false start/clipping/roughing until I got a realistic # of each (I had to turn all 4 of those down because there were too many) and I almost always have more penalties than the CPU. My guys seem to hold and clip on too many big plays (which is probably why they were big plays) and my idiotic pass rushers nail the CPU QB too late about 10 times as often as they hit my QB.

[booker21]

Re: How about huge USER advantages?

1.- User Qb rarely overthrows as much as CPU QB.
2.- Penalties are always in favor the user team (most of the time)
3.-Never get call for offside.

[andrew17]

Re: How about huge USER advantages?

I get the feeling User players have an easier time winning awards / all american

[bccards13]

Re: How about huge USER advantages?

Kick returns are definitely in the users favor. If you have a guy with 90+ speed and just a little bit of break tackle (50-60) you can easily get to the 30 from the goal line. And if you have a running back returning, forget about it. Expect 1 TD per game with a HB anything less would be shocking.

The other advantage is the ease of getting past the O-line. An above average DE can get by most tackles with a rip move and even though he might not get to the QB for a sack he can at least make him hurry the throw which is always helpful.

The last advantage I say is that your DBs, pyschic or not :wink:, can usually make an interception on a catchable pass. I usually have one or two picks a game and in fact my safety in one game had 4 picks and only 1 swat. His catch rating was only 62 but he still was able to grab 4 picks out of my teams 6 that game.

[bc3po]

Re: How about huge USER advantages?

This was kind of stated earlier, and i suppose in a way its a user advantage, but when your playing a team with a stud WR, i feel the computer doesn't throw to him more than once a game. I played notre dame with michigan state this year, and floyd i think his name is, had like 1 or 2 catches for 15 yards. The computer should utilize their star players way more

[Joshua1207]

Re: How about huge USER advantages?

Computer always gives up on 4th down seemingly. By that I mean when you go for it, you'll ALWAYS make it.

[jkra0512]

Re: How about huge USER advantages?

2.- Penalties are always in favor the user team (most of the time)

Something always happens most of the time? lol

1. In my experience, the penalties go both ways. I've had games were the CPU has more penalties and visa versa.

2. I must suck on KO Returns because I rarely take one to the house.

3. Sure my QB doesn't underthrow or overthrow receivers all that much, but my WRs can't hold onto the ball when they do catch it when they are being hit. That's where my completion percentage takes a hit. I will gladly take overthrowing the ball in place of WRs dropping passes because they were hit one second after they caught it.

4. Again, I must suck or I'm waiting too long in the pocket compared to you guys, but the CPU sacks me about 3-5 times a game, ditto with my team against the CPU QB.

I think many of these perceived advantages are slider-based. I think the speed threshold slider will take care of the KO Return issue while the pass rush and pass blocking sliders take care of the QB sacks. However, the QB Accuracy sliders are weird and I'm not sure how well they actually work on overthrows and underthrows for the HUM.

[NDAlum]

Re: How about huge USER advantages?

User catching = any WR/DB turns into Larry Fitzgerald or Ed Reed

[Boris Le Tigre]

Re: How about huge USER advantages?

I've noted the turn overs too. A couple of years I've led the nation. Previous editions I had trouble staying on the positive side of the ledger.

[TheJustPull]

Re: How about huge USER advantages?

pardon my ignorance on this matter but this is the third or so thread I have seen something mentioned about the Four Verticals play issue.However I don't know what the issue is... I don't really call that play alot though I prefer crossing routes or mids..