Official NCAA Impressions Thread (360, PS3)

[Teddy_Long]

btw, anyone getting a ton of interceptions? I am shutting down almost every opponent?

[countryboy]

Quote: Originally Posted by Teddy_Long

btw, anyone getting a ton of interceptions? I am shutting down almost every opponent?

no I am not seeing a "ton" of interceptions. I am playing on default Heisman. I probably see an average of 2 - 3 a game, if I were to average out all the games I played.

[peteykirch]

I had perhaps the funnest game I played yet yesterday and I never did a quick write up about it;

Just finished up the Orange Bowl a 26-21 win using Rutgers over FSU.

Weatherford 21-31 262 2TD/3INT (Picked him off on the first play of their comeback drive)

Antoine Smith 15-57
Preston Parker 3-10

Jonathan Hannah 5-45 TD
Corey Surrency 3-58 TD

Graham Gano 0-1 Missed a 49 Yarder Wide Right

Mike Teel 28-40, 269, 2TD/INT

Kordell Young 16-56 (I couldn't run to save my life against FSU)

Kenny Britt 6-99
Tim Brown 4-30-TD
Dan Campbell 2-8-TD

San San Te 1-2 Long of 46

Some random RU Defense stats

Glen Lee 9 Tackles, INT (Sealed the Game)
Ryan D'Imperio 8 Tackles, INT
Courtney Greene 8 Tackles, INT
Alex Silvestro 3 Tackles, Sack
Gary Watts 1 Tackle, Sack, Safety

Team Stats FSU/RU

First Downs 16/16
Total O 316/305
Rushes - Yards - TDs 22-55-1 / 20-36 (Got sacked a ton)
Comp - Att - TD 21-31-2 / 28-40-2
Passing Yards 261/269
3rd Down 3-8/3-11
4th Down 2-2/2-2
Red Zone TD FG 3-3-0/ 2-2-0
Turnovers 3/1
Fumbles 0/0
Interceptions 3/1
Penalties 2-15 / 2-15
TOP 10:37/ 13:26

Scoring Summery

FSU 7-0-7-7 21
RU 0-14-7-5 26

[Teddy_Long]

Quote: Originally Posted by countryboy

no I am not seeing a "ton" of interceptions. I am playing on default Heisman. I probably see an average of 2 - 3 a game, if I were to average out all the games I played.

country, how is the heisman level--particulary the cpu/AI passing game?

[ehh]

I finally played my first full game, Penn State at Michigan. The running animations are so odd and it feels like NFL2k5 a bit in terms of difficulty controlling the players w. the L-stick.

I was playing 5-min quarters on NJPapi's Heisman sliders and won 24-17 but it felt kinda bland, I dunno. This game definitely had me concerned, I'm not sure I'm going to wait for the patch on this game.

[countryboy]

Quote: Originally Posted by Teddy_Long

country, how is the heisman level--particulary the cpu/AI passing game?

Heisman level is my preferred level. I find that the cpu will play to your defense, meaning that if you are continously running zone, they'll flood it, it you are playing man, they'll run slants and curls, and if you continously blitz, they'll throw quick hitters.

Its a learning curve to understand how to manuver your players to keep them in position on defense to best stop the cpu passing game. Knowing when to switch a DB to man, making sure your LB isn't matchup on a WR, making sure you double receivers when necessary. You are forced to play your opponent and try to take away their strengths. Load up the box when against dominant running backs, double a game changing receiver, and even sometimes just play a bend but don't break defense(which is what I do with UofL because we have so few playmakers on defense) Also jumping the snap & using the run/pass commit feature are recommended for best results.

I have seen the cpu throw deep, throw screens, run draw plays on 3rd and 8's and catch me off guard, use the run to setup the pass, use the pass to setup the run, and honestly they call a good game in my opinion.

I have several posts in this thread about games that I have played on the Heisman level and what some of the key stats were.

Any other questions, ask away.

-CB


I have blown out, blown out the cpu, had some close games and even some sloppy games.

[Rockamakis]

I haven't yet expierenced a lot of the problems that others have. The only one I have expierenced is my defender tripping on a blade of grass while in pursuit.

I'm playing with UM and haven't had any problems getting to the quarterback. My corners are picking off passes. I mainly with MLB or OLB.

I've played several games that have been defensive battles. Haven't had any shootouts yet. Usually if it isn't a tight game I blow them out.

[chia51]

After playing for a while now, the things that I see that are the real problems of the game 1) lack of defensive speed 2) special teams in general.

If these two things were to be corrected then the game is probably the best NCAA to date.

1) The lack of defensive speed makes you play a soft zone b/c you can't play man at all. I have found that playing Press Cover 2 is the only man denfense in the game that actually works.

2) Special teams is horrendous! On punts your blockers hold blocks for a godlike 10 seconds on the o/d line. The spread of the gunners is atrocious, two jukes and your gone! Kickoffs don't let me start about that, the thing I noticed are that the outside runners run straight up the field then inwards at a 90 degree angle instead of going after the ball carrier.

I haven't seen the problems that alot of people are spazzing over, I can get a pass rush, I average around 3-4 sacks a game and give up just as many as well. So dunno about that. And thats on Heisman 35pass 40catch 45PassBlk 60Run 65RunBlk 35DAware 100Knkdwn 0Int 50BrkBLk 35Tkl

[StormJH1]

I've said this a million times before, but the problem generating a pass rush is less about AI sliders and more about the fact that we have half as much control over defensive lineman as we did 4 years ago.

Pop in a copy of Madden 2005 or 06 on PS2 or XBox. You have several weapons at your disposal on the D-line:

1) If you have a strong lineman, you have a button ("X" or "A") that would push the O-lineman back. This allowed you to disrupt the line on running plays and create lanes for linebackers on the blitz. Sometimes, you could almost bullrush a guard back into the QB--it was a lot of fun.

2) You had direction specific buttons that would tell a lineman to swim left or swim right while engaged. This was crucial b/c when the play started, you might end up being pushed in one direction, and you needed to respond by moving to the opposite direction.

In NCAA '09, you get 2 buttons: Power move and finesse move. But before you can even do anything, a precanned animation jerks your lineman in the direction the play tells him to go (you can't control it). After about a second, your guy locks up with a lineman, but you can't tell him which way to try and evade the blocker, nor can you truly "push" the lineman like you could in 05/06. Your only chance of getting around him was if one of the two "auto-dekes" you select frees you from the blocker, so that you're free to use the L stick again.

Line play has taken a huge step back from last-gen, and I want the old system back. Playing defensive line used to be fun.

[JB_BE]

Just had my best game of 09 yet! Thanks to firktaf for his great Heisman sliders. It was the first game of my Cal dynasty, against Michigan State and it was exciting to the finish, I didn't play very well but it was a close game which made up for it.

Some stats:

MSU at CAL: 27 - 17 Final

Team:

CAL: 15 First Downs, 218 YDS OFF, 2 Turnovers, 0 Penalties, T.O.P. 17:53
MSU: 16 First Downs, 304 YDS OFF, 0 Turnovers, 2 Penalties, T.O.P. 14:12

Individual:

Passing:

CAL: Longshore: 15-30 (50%), 125 YDS, 1 TD, 2 INT, 0 Sacks, Avg. 8.3 YDS, Long. 17 YDS
MSU: Hoyer: 16-27 (59%), 200 YDS, 2 TD, 0 INT, 2 Sacks, Avg. 12.5 YDS, Long. 35 YDS

Rushing

CAL: Montgomery: 15 ATT, 64 YDS (4.2 YDS AVG) [Injured]
CAL: Vereen: 12 ATT, 24 YDS (2.0 YDS AVG), 1 TD
MSU: Ringer: 24 ATT, 106 YDS (4.4 YDS AVG), 1 TD

In conclusion, a really great game with very realistic CPU play. No strange animations, running out of bounds etc. On defense I play safety for the entire play, for the entire game, no switching.

I was actually in control 17-10 when my RB got injured... and he was running so well too

I got behind after that, had two chances to tie it up late but I missed a 52 yard field goal and my receiver got blown up on 4th down on the next drive... he had the ball in his hands damnit!!!!! Very cool animation though!

EA SPORTS World: NCAA Football 09 Video

MSU then added the last TD after I threw the ball in double or maybe even triple coverage on 4th down on my very last drive.

One false note at the end though: MSU kneeled to run out the clock and then the clock just stopped at 0:01 while the play clock kept running down. I had to pause and resume to get the game to end. Strange. That's the sort of thing that immediately snaps you right out of a great game.