NFL Simulation Sliders 1.0 from Valdarez (tuned for Slow Gameplay)

[IDaCoolGuy]

These sliders are working really well for me so far. I've been trying many of the other ones on this board and I couldn't find anything I liked until I tried these. I started a new franchise with the Buccaneers last night and played my first two regular season games. I'm at work right now, so I don't have the stats in front of me, but I lost to the Cowboys 35-21. It was a very close game throughout, and they returned a fumble for a TD w/ less than a minute left to seal it.

Game 2 I played the Bills and I was down 14-0 early, but fought back and took a 23-21 halftime lead. The 2nd half was a defensive battle as I scored the only TD and won 30-21.

A few random notes that I've noticed thus far with these:
- I couldn't run at all against the Cowboys. Cadillac and Ward averaged under 2 YPC.
- Complete 180 in the run game vs the Bills. Cadillac went off for 145 yards and 3 TD's.
- Cowboys game I had 0 sacks on defense, Bills game I had 6 (including a safety).
- I have yet to throw an INT. This is what I find somewhat troubling. With every slider set I feel that my QB is invincible. I don't run screen passes or throw into the flat because I feel thats cheap (based on how the CPU doesn't cover those routes). The majority of my passes are slants and curls to my WR's and TE's. Kellen Winslow is my leading receiver through two games with 10 catches for 160 yards or so. Do you have any thoughts or suggestions on the number of CPU interceptions? I know its a small sample size, but I'd like to hear your thoughts on this.

Anyways, I'm going to try and get a game in tonight when I get home from work before I watch my Yanks win the World Series. I can post stats from that game if you'd like.

Great work on these!

[Valdarez]

Quote: Originally Posted by IDaCoolGuy

These sliders are working really well for me so far. I've been trying many of the other ones on this board and I couldn't find anything I liked until I tried these. I started a new franchise with the Buccaneers last night and played my first two regular season games. I'm at work right now, so I don't have the stats in front of me, but I lost to the Cowboys 35-21. It was a very close game throughout, and they returned a fumble for a TD w/ less than a minute left to seal it. Game 2 I played the Bills and I was down 14-0 early, but fought back and took a 23-21 halftime lead. The 2nd half was a defensive battle as I scored the only TD and won 30-21. A few random notes that I've noticed thus far with these: - I couldn't run at all against the Cowboys. Cadillac and Ward averaged under 2 YPC. - Complete 180 in the run game vs the Bills. Cadillac went off for 145 yards and 3 TD's. - Cowboys game I had 0 sacks on defense, Bills game I had 6 (including a safety). - I have yet to throw an INT. This is what I find somewhat troubling. With every slider set I feel that my QB is invincible. I don't run screen passes or throw into the flat because I feel thats cheap (based on how the CPU doesn't cover those routes). The majority of my passes are slants and curls to my WR's and TE's. Kellen Winslow is my leading receiver through two games with 10 catches for 160 yards or so. Do you have any thoughts or suggestions on the number of CPU interceptions? I know its a small sample size, but I'd like to hear your thoughts on this. Anyways, I'm going to try and get a game in tonight when I get home from work before I watch my Yanks win the World Series. I can post stats from that game if you'd like. Great work on these!

Sounds like you had some great games. I'm surprised about the turnovers. Most of my turnovers come from tipped passes. Either from a lame duck throw while in the grasp, when it's tipped at the line, or when my WR doesn't catch it and it falls into in the hands of the CBs defending him. This is the only way I could get the INT count to be more realistic. If you need more of a challenge while passing, try the Madden Challenge (in the OP), or even hot route your HB so he's stays back to block and don't hot route a hot read. I do this on occasion to make it more challenging, especially in long yardage situations as it seems more realistic. Keep in mind the average turnover rate is roughly 2 turnovers per team / per game (that's fumbles and INTs).

I myself have struggled in the running game, and others have mentioned their carries are low. I'm working on getting it more challenging while keeping it realistic. It's a tight rope to walk though.

[IDaCoolGuy]

Quote: Originally Posted by Valdarez

Sounds like you had some great games. I'm surprised about the turnovers. Most of my turnovers come from tipped passes. Either from a lame duck throw while in the grasp, when it's tipped at the line, or when my WR doesn't catch it and it falls into in the hands of the CBs defending him. This is the only way I could get the INT count to be more realistic. If you need more of a challenge while passing, try the Madden Challenge (in the OP), or even hot route your HB so he's stays back to block and don't hot route a hot read. I do this on occasion to make it more challenging, especially in long yardage situations as it seems more realistic. Keep in mind the average turnover rate is roughly 2 turnovers per team / per game (that's fumbles and INTs). I myself have struggled in the running game, and others have mentioned their carries are low. I'm working on getting it more challenging while keeping it realistic. It's a tight rope to walk though.

One thing I failed to mention is that I'm using Ask Madden for all of my plays. I'm using Advanced play calling, so I have 6 options that are suggested by him (although some usually are the same play). I had never tried this method before because I wanted full control, but it makes the game more challenging, which is a good thing.

As for the INT's thrown by me, I'm playing around with that slider to find a happy medium for my style. I've had a handful of throws that hit the CPU defender in the hands, several of which were wide open. I feel that atleast half of those should have been picked, so I'm going play my next game with the CPU INT slider somewhere in the 30-50 range, just to see what that gives me. I'll let you know how it goes.

[Valdarez]

Quote: Originally Posted by IDaCoolGuy

As for the INT's thrown by me, I'm playing around with that slider to find a happy medium for my style. I've had a handful of throws that hit the CPU defender in the hands, several of which were wide open. I feel that atleast half of those should have been picked, so I'm going play my next game with the CPU INT slider somewhere in the 30-50 range, just to see what that gives me. I'll let you know how it goes.

One thing I've noticed is that momentum, or a QB's confidence (really not sure how it's programmed), seems to have a huge impact on their completion percentage and their INTs. I threw an INT (bad throw on my part) with Romo one game, and then I had 3 more INTs that were all tips, making for 4 INTs in one game, and that's on the current settings. I was playing around with a faster pass rush though, and that seems to throw the QB's off, even though the rush might not get to him. The proximity of the defenders to the QBs seem to affect the QBs accuracy, which in turn affects the WR's ability to catch the ball and the defenders ability to intercept it. What I don't like about the pass rush slider is that it seems to have an extra affect on LBs / speed, while the lineman pretty much play the same. Thus it's really hard to balance out the pass rush without making blitzes overly effective.

[justinjordan]

nfl is the best sports ever

[SilverChaosVII]

Since you said about playing with a good running team and seeing how it goes I wanted to try it. I used the Vikings.

NOTE: TO MAKE THE GAME REALISTIC YOU CANNOT EXPLOIT PROBLEMS. I DID NOT RUN ANY TOSS PLAYS OR POWER RUNS. THE DEFENSE IS UNABLE TO STOP THESE PLAYS NO MATTER WHAT. IF YOU WANT REALISTIC GAMES YOU CAN'T CALL THEM.

My biggest problem with past sliders was how easy I could run the ball with any team. I would average 5.0-7.0 ypc. These sliders so far have not given me those results... but lets see how things went with the Vikings against an inferior team.

Ok... well I'll let you know now I have some MAJOR complaints after this game... I don't mind losing a game... at all. I actually enjoy losing because I get so sick of winning... but this was absurd.

Final Score: 31-20, Jacksonville!

First off... I'm extremely happy that Jacksonville was able to run the ball better.... BUT, it was EXTREMELY UNREALISTIC... Maurice Jones-Drew is a beast... I love the guy... but he should not be trucking Pat Williams... and then about 4 or 5 other guys every single play. He rushed for 110 yards with 4.4 avg so it was realistic... but the way in which he did it was absolutely retarded... he also received for 113 yards! Why? Because when he caught it in open field it was IMPOSSIBLE to take him down... he was breaking tackles all over my *** lol.

Next: David Garrard: 81% completion rate, 327 yards, 2 tds, 0 ints...

Next: Adrian Peterson: 33 attempts, 83 yards, 2.4 AVG, 2 Tds, ZERO BROKEN TACKLES (Adrian Peterson is a freaking beast... I did not break ONE tackle... all game)

Favre looked right... 17-30, 183 yards, 1 int (desperation throw)

PROBLEM: Vikings = 7 DROPPED PASSES

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Needless to say this game was a tad frustrating. I enjoy losing every once in awhile... but not where it feels like I was just destined to lose the game lol. Absolutely nothing I did worked... AP kept getting stuffed for one yard gains... so I'd throw it... and every receiver would drop it. (It was 5 different receivers that accounted for the 7 dropped passes)

Maybe this game was a fluke... I'm not sure... (I'm using the updated adjusted sliders) I'll give another one a shot... hopefully I see different results.

[SilverChaosVII]

Ok, I'm not even going to finish this game...

Halftime:
Atlanta: 7
Buffalo: 21

I'm getting robo QB'd on again... and Marshawn Lynch is breaking every tackle...

... and Michael Turner... another top five running back is getting stuffed in the backfield every play...

My only TD came on a kick return

Edwards: 13-17, 174 yards, td
Lynch: 10 att, 63 yards, 6.3 avg, td

Turner: 10 att, 10 yards

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I'm going back to the original slider set... then I'll adjust it to help the running game slightly. I think that first set was much much better, just need some improvements for the CPU running game.

[Acrobat]

i played two games with these so far. lost both. i didn't save any stats or anything. i do like the sliders and the challenge they present, but the two things i noticed the most were:

- i had little to no time in the pocket in both games. maybe it's just that i need to get used to it, and be more decisive, so i'll see if i can start improving my play first before i say it's a slider issue.

- the CPU's running game is just destroying me. once again, maybe i need to improve my skills, but Marion Barber averaging 7 yds/carry against the Giants seems a little crazy. then again, he did gash them in real life earlier this year.


overall, i like the sliders, and we'll see if i can adjust to them (something i think too many people don't try to do before bashing sliders). also, i've been playing on fast and normal since the game came out, so maybe i need to adjust to slow speed too.

[Valdarez]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

CPU Broken Tackles
I'm surprised the HB's were breaking so many tackles on you. The Tackle slider was bumped up to 50 so the DBs could actually make tackles on the stronger HBs. I tend to play the FS / MLB though and make a lot of tackles myself, usually the first one on the HB. Are you playing an Safety/Linebacker and making tackle yourself or letting the computer try to make it? I honestly haven't had problems with the CPU rushing against me, and remember I have tried to tune the sliders for manual play.

Human Running Game
I agree the running games needs a little work. Going to work on it tonight. Need to make it where the strong HBs can break tackles, but not so much that they can't be tackled. I'll post updated sliders later this evening.

QB Completion Percentage
I haven't noticed the exceptionally high QB passing ratio, but I'll try to keep an eye on it. I can probably cut that down just a little by moving the reaction slider up a notch, just hope it doesn't increase the INT rate, which seems to be about right now.

Time in Pocket
I've tried to tune the time in pocket to give you 2 to 4 seconds on average. If you need more time, try play on 'very slow'. You don't really get more time, but it feels like it since the game is playing slower. The sliders work very well on the very slow rating, plus you'll get to enjoy better animations.

[simgameonly]

Valdarez I posted earlier about having the great results with your sliders.

Below is what you have and then what I have and why, if I have changed anything I will list in in parantheses, if not your number is all that will appear:
Human Slider Settings
PASSING
QB Accuracy: 30
Pass Blocking: 5(mine 10)
WR Catching: 25(mine 37)

RUSHING
Broken Tackles: 25
Run Blocking: 25(mine 35)
Fumbles: 65(mine 43 for bad weather, 42 for fair)

PASS DEFENSE
Reaction Time: 50
Interceptions: 0(mine 9)
Pass Rushing: 70

RUSH DEFENSE
Reaction Time: 0
Block Shedding: 0
Tackling: 50(mine 38)

CPU Slider Settings
PASSING
QB Accuracy: 65(mine 55)
Pass Blocking: 5(mine 10)
WR Catching: 25(mine 38)

RUSHING
Broken Tackles: 50
Run Blocking: 70
Fumbles: 75(mine 43 for bad weather, 42 for fair)

PASS DEFENSE
Reaction Time: 65
Interceptions: 0(mine 5)
Pass Rushing: 75

RUSH DEFENSE
Reaction Time: 50(mine 35)
Block Shedding: 35(mine 25)
Tackling: 70(mine 38)

Examining these is subjective as it will always be what works the best for each person. As you on our human and ai passing and pass blocking the numbers are pretty close. I have to be selective on my throws and I like the 60 percent or so accuracy stats I get from the cpu ai, these are NFl quarterbacks ya know. On the catching I have it at 38 because anything more than that too me seems to get into the 6 plus drops per team per game, and I feel thats a shade excessive. Mine and your pass defense for user and ai are very close, I have it bumped up a touch on picks, as at zero I see some really questionable drops. My tackling slider is lower as anything over 40 for me or the ai was resulting in never missing open field tackles, and flat out laying the wood when it was not really realistic. My fumble slider is just from experience I see fumbles at 42 occasionally, and maybe see 2 in a bad weather game with slider at 43.

Now when it comes to human rushing and ai rushing and where those sliders should be , I cant seem to find the right combination. With what I have posted I have been giving up about at 3.7 ypc avg with the Steelers defense, and I have really yet to crack the 75 yard back with Mendenhall/Parker duo that was against packers, ravens, chargers.

So any thoughts appreciated.

The games I have played have been mid 20 affairs, and all went down to the wire, and were amazing fun. No blowouts here, its Solomon Smith Barney and I at least have to eaaaaaaarn my wins, good times. Thanks again for posting these.