[Tovarich]

Yeah, psychic defense will means that by the time you fake to the FB, your QB is generally toast already. You either get tackled for no gain, or a loss, or you have to pitch it far sooner than any real QB usually would. This doesn't look much better. Maybe it's a slight improvement, but it's still broken. The load option and the speed option are still fairly successful, but another year of not having triple option is unfortunate.

First play-neither WR even makes it look like they considered maybe possibly thinking about becoming interested in attempting to block anyone. Not that this is anything new. No linemen pulled. The fullback I'm going to hope was attempting to sell this is a play to the far side of the field as the reason he didn't block anyone. Linemen didn't pull though, nor did they leave any defensive linemen unblocked. Then that FB might have had someone to block if that linemen pulled with the play. Then there only would have been 4 defenders in the QB's face instantly before he even had the option of pitching.

2nd play. Mainly repeat, but slightly better. One linemen did seem to almost sorta kinda get to something resembling the 'second level', but the only success of the play is because the QB manages to get by the member of the secondary who is somehow in the backfield because the WR's managed to not get a hand on anyone again...for about 15 yards. That guy went after the pitchman rather than the QB, and guessed wrong. Happens all the time. On that note, I find one blip of positive in this. One of the main problems has always been that WR's are attempting to block someone 20 yards away rather than someone right in front of them. They let someone go right by them because there is someone deeper to block rather than dealing with the more imminent threat. Again, no pulling linemen. The cut blocking is something though I guess.

3rd play-play action pass. QB can scramble because the psychic defense knows a pass play is called. The box should be loaded with 8 or so defenders worried about the option. That's why Georgia Tech threw so many long TD passes last year...if the QB could manage to hit someone. The QB scrambled because suddenly there was no one for 15 yards as all 7 dropped back to defend the pass. Those guys in the secondary who were ready to gang tackle the QB the instant he finished faking to the FB are suddenly defending every receiver perfectly. Surely EA can find a better way to make the CPU defense competent than having them defend each play perfectly.

4th play-the blocking back to the short side of the field is in perfect position to help the RG and RT cut off the defensive line and the linebacker from getting outside, giving the RB at least a little bit of open space...then he suddenly, cuts back into the middle of the line?? allowing the two defensive linemen to magically get off their blocks and hit the runner. It's easy to wonder if the CPU knew the LB on the outside of the defensive line as the secondary didn't rush in this time.

5th play-no pulling linemen kills the offensive play. The DE commits to the FB?????? Why? That's for the DT's and one of the LB's. The 2 DT's, who by the way are too fast, know that the FB doesn't get the ball before they should, and they get off the block and get outside. The DE who for no good reason gets sucked in committing to the FB gets blocked, allowing the QB to get outside, but if the DT's still magically know that the FB didn't get the ball (I suspect like the CPU secondary, they respond to buttons), then this is pointless. A pulling linemen would have gotten out in front of them to block, allowing the play to actually go somewhere.

I won't get into Brad's comment about the stadium rocking even though it sounds exactly the same.

Same reason the zone read type stuff doesn't work-someone is supposed to remain unblocked...someone who has no chance of being fast enough to stop the play is purposely left unblocked by a pulling linemen so that he can block someone who does have a shot at stopping it.

Until EA understands that leaving people purposely unblocked is necessary, the triple option will never look realistic. On Heisman, the CPU knows what play you call. This is overcome-able if the linemen will pull and leave someone unblocked. Lots of teams know Georgia Tech is going to run an option play, and save for an occasional counter or fake, ultimately a defender is forced to pick one or the other. That didn't happen there except for one play. If the WR's will let people run by to block someone who is further downfield, then outside rushing will have very few breakaways.

The triple option is still terrible, maybe it's only 2% less terrible though.