Heisman 101

[StudiousSquid]

First off I'd like to thank Playmaker and his pre patch sliders for giving me a base to work off of. http://www.sportsgamer.com/forums/nc...9-sliders.html

I just made a few personal tweaks and have had a fun time at Heisman. I do run a more traditional offense with I formations, and single back sets with at most 3 wide outs.

I only run shotguns on 3rd and longs and only then with at most 4 WR's.

My point is that I don't know how these would run for someone who runs a 4 or 5 wide receiver spread all game long. I've heard the cpu AI is very stupid in covering the spread, so maybe no sliders can compensate for this. But you can give these a try if you want.

I just recently made the jump to Heisman a few days ago after having played All American for so long. So I am a beginning Heisman player, hence the title Heisman 101.

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UPDATED: January 6, 2009

Heisman 7 minutes
Bold= changes

* Home field Advantage= ON I didn't notice any major turnover increase with it on. On or off is your own preference. Either way works.

First off here are the new Heisman sliders. Changes are noted with an *

Offense

QB acc: 50/50*(Up from 45)
Pass block: 50/0
WR catch: 20 (up from 15)/35* (up from 10)
RB ability: 45/60* (up from 55)
run block: 60*(down from 95)/95* (down from 100)

Defense

awareness: *10 (up from 5)/*50 (up from 5)
Knock downs: *90/90* (down from 100)
int: 0/0
break block: 50/50
Tackling: * 55 (up from 50)/*25 (up from 20)

Special teams

FG power: 0/0
FG accuracy: 20/20
Punt Power: *20/*20
Punt Accuracy: 70/70
Kick off Power: *60/*60
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Penalties developed by Playmaker

PENALTY SLIDERS
Offsides-95
False Start-95
Holding-100
Facemask-100
Off Pi-100
Def Pi-95
KR/PR Int-100
Clipping-95
Int Grounding-100
Roughing Passer-100
Roughing Kicker-100

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Settings developed by Playmaker

SUB OUT/SUB IN

Offense
QB-75/90
RB-85/100
WR-75/90
FB/TE-85/100
OL-60/75

Defense
DT-85/100
DE-85/100
LB-80/90
CB-75/90
S-75/90
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One more thing. I know all players are different so here I offer some "slider packages", in case you don't like the final ones.

If you find the cpu pass offense too potent then try lowering cpu WR catch

CPU WR catch: 35(default)---------Lower to 25------If still not enough lower to 15

If you don't like the CPU's run game you can tame it with CPU running back ability.

CPU running back ability: 60 (default)-------------Lower to 55

Or you can also try lowering the CPU's run blocking

CPU Run block: 95(default)---------------lowered to 90

If you want to increase your human run game you can increase human run block

Human run block: 60 (default)-----increase to 75----not enough?------increase to 85-----need more?-----------increase back to 95

I hope this helps folks who might not like the default sliders.

[buckeye cntry]

I have tried every difficulty level except freshman. I have been in between varsity and AA in the past. I decided to try heisman prepatch and liked everything about it except the high completion % by CPU and the high interceptions on both sides of the ball. I have specifically tried playmakers sliders and liked what I saw.

I have tried your version and I like it. Too early to tell about the interceptions. What is your opinion on this? Thanks

[StudiousSquid]

Quote: Originally Posted by buckeye cntry

I have tried every difficulty level except freshman. I have been in between varsity and AA in the past. I decided to try heisman prepatch and liked everything about it except the high completion % by CPU and the high interceptions on both sides of the ball. I have specifically tried playmakers sliders and liked what I saw. I have tried your version and I like it. Too early to tell about the interceptions. What is your opinion on this? Thanks

When I played on AA I would get about 4 or 5 picks a game with a rebuilt Texas A&M secondary. I had two All American corners with 80 awareness and 75 and 72 for hands! They kept jumping routes all game and would give me 14-21 points a game on defense, needless to say the game became too easy.

I noticed the majority of these games came while at Kyle field. I soon suspected that homefield advantage scripts alot of big defensive plays for me. So when I went to Heisman I turned off homefield and noticed the cpu's turnovers, specifically pick 6's became toned down a great bit.

Also someone in the online dynasty I ran mentioned that its not wise to lower CPU QB acc to anything less than 45. His reasoning being that the cpu program knows it can't throw as deep well, so it keeps everything as slants and short yardage throws, which leads to the DB's jumping routes.

I bumped the accuracy to 45 and the cpu had more zip on the ball and threw it deep on me a few times. Also on All American I had wr catch at 5, which cut down robo QB, but led to many picks.

With wr catch at 15 on heisman I see the cpu wideouts fight for the ball more, resulting in less of my DB's able to jump the routes for int's.

I think the main factor is awareness. I see alot of folks sliders have high human awareness. High human awareness leads to a crippled cpu offense. Having awareness at 5 opens up the deep pass game and running game for the cpu, also lessens the picks.

In short the key factors are:

-Turn off homefield advantage
-Keep human awareness low
-Make sure CPU QB acc doesn't go lower than 45
-WR catch will determine how hard the cpu wideouts fight for the ball.

[buckeye cntry]

What are you getting for CPU passing percentages?

I just played a game with Michigan Vs LSU and had a great game. I increased the Michigan roster ratings to be able to compete with the bucks, so the Michigan was about the same as LSU. I lost the came by two points. The CPU only threw 1 interception, however his passing percentage was 65%. The CPU QB for Michigan had a rating of 89thp and 84 acc. I wouldn't mind his % being a little lower, but I can't evaluate this over one game. I also agree that lowering QB accuracy will affect the interceptions. I have been frustrated because I haven't even started my dynasty yet due to the fact I can't find the right sliders. I am in the process of creating my own when I saw yours. I think these are it.

[StudiousSquid]

The cpu QB percentages are anywhere from 55-75% average. If they're having a really good game it might be 90% but thats rare.

I think part of these percentages lay in the way EA has programmed their game. They've made almost all the teams run a west coast/spread style offense.

Most of the time the cpu will throw alot of short passes, which lead to high completion ratings. Also EA in their "wisdom" (sarcasm there) decided to go with a "wide open gameplay" and dumb down the awareness ratings of almost every defensive back.

So there's two options of dealing with this. One is to lower WR catch to lead to more cpu drops, also human defensive awareness gets raised. This leads to more simulation style QB percentages. The only problem is the cpu ceases to be competitive as it throws 3 or 4 picks a game.

Unfortunately after playing my dynasty for a few years on AA I realized it was either fun competitive game play, or have realistic QB stats while beating the cpu 50-10. Thats why I moved to Heisman.
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Theres two schools of thoughts on sliders.

One school of thought is to make defense tough on both the cpu and human players. This works for awhile, except for the fact that no matter how tough we program the cpu defense to be, it will eventually be beaten. As humans we eventually adapt to the defense and beat it, the same cannot be said of the cpu, as it merely gets shut down and the result is blowouts.

On Playmakers sliders you'll find that he states he doesn't think the awareness needs to be high on Heisman. I agree with him on this. At 5 awareness the cpu can run the ball well. As such the cpu uses the run more and doesn't abandon it as easily. The result is that the cpu has a good time of possession.

So on third and short the cpu can either have its highly accurate QB throw for a first down, or it can run the ball and get the 3 yards to keep its drive alive. So these long drives chew up clock and keep our offense off the field. Thereby keeping the games and scores competitive.
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In the end it really all comes down to play style and ones own house rules. By nature I love running the ball and having a balanced offense. I run a lot of I formations, single backs, and occasional shotguns when needed.

I don't manual motion players, most of the time if I do hotroute to a playaction pass out of a run its not for a huge gain, since I have tight ends matching up with linebackers, instead of receivers with line backers.

I also don't change the routes of my receivers with my right stick. I also don't run spread all day and either scramble or throw.

A few years ago college football was all about I formations, triple options, and play action pass. Now its all about spread football. This game was originally programmed with stopping traditional offenses. That's why I'm having fun on these sliders, since I run a traditional offense.

[buckeye cntry]

I agree, I am having fun with this and they are providing the most realism that I have seen yet. Thanks for sharing your input on these sliders.

[jalbin]

Well, after searching through all the threads and trying to find some sliders that would make the game better... I tried yours. I've only done one game, and it was in my dynasty year one where I'm playing as Baylor. I played against Washington State, whose rated far better than Baylor (I believe they're over 80 and Baylor is something like 67) Early on the game was going great, I was ahead 14 zero at the end of the first quarter.

It didn't feel easy getting those 14 points though, I had a dropped pass, and a pass that was almost picked off... had I not taken control of the receiver and practically tackled the CB, well, it might have just been a pick 6. Second quarter Washington State scores 17 unanswered. Now, through the first quarter I was doing a great job against their offense, but their first TD came off of a short pass that went for 80 yards. I don't blame the sliders, or bad animations or AI, or anything like that. It seemed more realistic in the way that the coverage broke down, and I missed a tackle with my MLB and that's how they scored.

So I get the ball back and am moving down the field, and go for a screen pass, but stupid me... I waited too long to make the throw and the LB from Washington State picks it off. It wasn't a pick 6, which was good, but it did give them a shot to tie the game... which they did on a 20 yard pass. It's hard to say how much of the passing success for Washington State was from my bad play/coverage audibles, and how much was the sliders not being right... I think it was a little of both. But I'm going to give these a couple more shots and see what happens.

The best though, was they got down at the goal line near the end of the first half. Down there they went for a run, I stop it twice, bringing up third down... where I promptly stop them, but get a facemask call because I pressed the A button (XBox 360) instead of just going for the tackle. So now it looks like they're going to go ahead by a touchdown, now that they have three more chances to score... but on three fantastic plays (fantastic in how it played for me) I stop them, and it felt realistic in how it happened. But the second half started, and it turns into a blow out. They score 21 in the 3rd, and I only score one touchdown, they score 21 in the 4th, to my 14 points... and it ends 59-35 Washington State.

I kept getting close, getting to within 10 points with three minutes to go. Washington State was down ready to score another TD, but they run the option and as the QB tosses to the HB, I hit both (CPU controlled the linebacker, I controlled the lineman) and forced a fumble which I recovered. Now it looks like I got a chance, so now I march down the field, get great plays, great runs, great passing plays... get to the goal line, and promptly toss an INT that goes back 100 yards for a TD. I don't really think that the 4 INT's I threw were unrealistic, or the game cheating against me. Two were dumb mistakes where I waited just a little too long to make the throw and paid for it. One was at the end of the first half where I thought I'd just toss it up to see what happens, and it got picked (but the half was over so they didn't get a chance to run a play,) and the final one was with a few seconds left, just tossing it up and having it picked.

The problem I did have with this game, was that the CPU was passing against me WAY to easy. Now some of their big plays were probably because of me calling a bad coverage audible, but not all of them.

Gary Rogers (QB for Washington State) went 21 of 24 for 358 yards and 6 TDs, with zero INTs. He did fumble on that one play though. I got one sack against him and he averaged 17 yards a pass.

Kirby Freeman (QB for Baylor) went 26 of 50 for 319 yards, 4 TDs, and 4 INTs. I was sacked 4 times and averaged 12.2 yards a pass.

Rogers ran 8 times for 2 yards, Kirby ran 7 times for 62 yards and a TD. I don't think me running the ball, in the way that I did, was unrealistic, or cheating or anything. I never just come out and run right away, all my receivers were covered and their was a big opening to run for the first down, so I'd take it.

Dwight Tardy (HB of Wash. State) had 16 carries for 90 yards and a TD. He broke a 24 yard run on me near the end of the game.

Jacoby Jones (HB Baylor) had 16 carries for 101 yards and a 35 yard run. No fumbles, but no TDs either.

Defensively I only deflected one pass, had zero picks, and forced and recovered a fumble. Also had one sack, which was on a corner blitz.

One thing I have found with these sliders, is that the CPU and HUM seem to have bigger kick return and punt returns. Averaging 30 yards a return for both teams, seemed a little high.

I enjoyed the game, to a point, but I do think... provided the next couple of games I play are like this and are not better. I may have to ask for your advice on how to keep the CPU from getting so many yards and such a high completion percentage against me.

WOW, I don't expect anyone is actually going to read everything I just typed... but if you did, I commend you.

-Jason

[StudiousSquid]

Jalbin remember there is no "one size fits all" when it comes to sliders. I would recommend raising human defensive awareness 10 points, so that the awareness becomes 15.

Do that and see if your guys defend more to your liking. If it does then you got yourself a game.

Just keep raising the cpu awareness 10 points till you find what you like. When the day comes that you build a powerhouse defensive team go ahead and reduce the awareness back down to 5 or 10.

Then again you do have to consider the fact that your team is Baylor. Your team is 13 point less than Washington State overall, your defensive guys are probably poor defenders. So the fact that you lost shows that maybe the sliders are on track.

I think everybody puts up 60 some points on Baylor at some point in dynasty.

[jalbin]

Quote: Originally Posted by StudiousSquid

Jalbin remember there is no "one size fits all" when it comes to sliders. I would recommend raising human defensive awareness 10 points, so that the awareness becomes 15. Do that and see if your guys defend more to your liking. If it does then you got yourself a game. Just keep raising the cpu awareness 10 points till you find what you like. When the day comes that you build a powerhouse defensive team go ahead and reduce the awareness back down to 5 or 10. Then again you do have to consider the fact that your team is Baylor. Your team is 13 point less than Washington State overall, your defensive guys are probably poor defenders. So the fact that you lost shows that maybe the sliders are on track. I think everybody puts up 60 some points on Baylor at some point in dynasty.

Yeah, the fact that it's Baylor is probably the biggest reason But thanks for the advice. Right now I'm playing UConn, and they're marching up and down the field on me... but they're 10 points better than my team, so it's to be expected I guess.

-Jason

[ARobb21]

Well I just used these sliders. I'm nearly at the half in a game between WVU (me) and Cincinnati (CPU), and up to where I am, Noel Devine currently has 214 yards and 3 touchdowns. That's not all.

It's from just 14 carries! That is more than 15 yards a carry.

The score is 28-21 WVU, and the defenses are playing terrible, likely going to up the awareness for both teams, as well as lower my run blocking. Other than that, it's good, although there have only been two incomplete passes in the game combined, both by Cincy, but I have mostly been passing to the 6'8" guy in the slot. Not because I'm a cheeser, but because I have never used WVU before.

E: Alright, I finished the game. Final score was something like 45-28 or something. Devine had 31 carries, 366 yards, 5 touchdowns, mostly off outside runs. My QB (the back up, Pat White was injured on the first play of the game) only threw 3 incompletions (although he only threw it 14 times), mostly to Devine and the 6'8" guy. At the half, I upped the sliders, and as you can see, Devine's started to get less yards, but he does have like 97 speed and 99 acceleration or whatever, so it is understandable that he burnt the defense. I may use these sliders again, I don't know. I feel I got more realistic stats on default sliders (50 everything) apart from the interceptions. Incompletions were still really low, so I'll lower the QB accuracy as well.