Not So PC
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
I'm still passing on NCAA 10 for now but may reconsider if the sliders are patched AND work well. I still want the old camera back but there is a near 0% chance of that per Greg Heddleston on NCAA Strategies. Too difficult to patch. Too bad the EA dev team thinks it's a good idea to remove options rather than have simply allowed us the choice of two gameplay cameras in the first place.
Friday, June 19, 2009
I feel like a giant yo-yo this year with regards to NCAA 10. Some times I feel good about the game and others I’m upset over what Madden is getting and NCAA isn’t. The last day before the demo came out was weird. I was feeling good until we found out the sliders were broken. Then I was extremely ticked off and swore off buying NCAA 10. Then positive impressions of the demo come in and the EA team announces a patch to fix the sliders. I feel good again. And then I play the demo.
Let me first say that it’s awful hard to get a real good impression for a football game with 2 minute quarters. It’s just too hard to get into a flow. Plus a demo is often limited to a small size and doesn’t have all the bell and whistles of a retail copy. This is clearly the case with this demo. I played two games; one with OU and one with Florida and both went into double OT. It usually takes me at least 5 full games at 7 minute quarters to start to get a good feel for a new game. No way can I make real judgments on NCAA 10 based on my play time but I’m unhappy about quite a few things.
DEMO RESTRICTIONS
The graphics in the demo (PS3) are mediocre. I had just played a couple games of NCAA 09 before the demo and played a game afterward. The demo is a small step back in how crisp the players look. The sound is very poor. The crowd chants are awful. Where were these recorded? The band music is missing and the overall presentation is extremely blah. I have to assume this is related to demo size as ’09 was better imo. If this is how the retail version is, I won’t understand it at all.
There are a couple tackle animations that happen over, and over, and over. This was confirmed to be fixed for the retail copy but it doesn’t make the demo look that good.
Lastly, you can’t adjust the sliders in this demo. Most demos don’t allow you to do that but when I compare the demo to my adjusted ’09 copy, I preferred the ’09 version without a doubt. It’s an unfair comparison – like buying a new suit off a rack without alterations and comparing the fit to the old one hanging in the closet.
GENERAL FEEL
The game feels very similar to ’09. I didn’t notice a big difference in the player movement. The differences are small if any and the players still lack too much weight and momentum. I can understand why many reviewers said the game feels just like ’09. It’s because it does! The subtle AI difference might be there but the feel is still similar.
POSITIVE COMMENTS
I’ll start with this short list. Again, very limited playtime but I did like the fact the cpu QB went deep. So nice to see. Over the shoulder grabs looked really good too. The corner routes may be a bit too easy to complete but the return of the deep ball on both sides was nice to see.
I’ve missed the r-stick DL moves since ’06. Barely used it tonight but I’ll just include this as I know I will like it once I get more playing time with it.
NEGATIVE COMMENTS
I don’t like the new camera. As soon as I started playing I hated it and this was one of my biggest annoyances while playing initially. As time went on I adjusted but I don’t like it. Plus it seems to pan and zoom during play a little more than I like and the transition doesn’t always seem so smooth. Why couldn’t the NCAA team add the old camera as another option? At least they could say they offered two camera angles. It does pan out a bit more to see the flats but the camera angle is too low imo. I like a higher view. I do think I will adjust but I think this is a step backwards.
I really loved the idea of the player lock camera when I first read about it. I thought this would be great on defence but I didn’t like this either. The camera is constantly panning around and moving making it very hard to either control your player properly and/or see the play well. I actually think its best if you are a DB but if the play is away from you, you can’t see anything. I would much rather prefer a fixed, defensive third person camera at this point.
Not much from either running game. Still early but without sliders, it's hard to tell if the cpu will be able to run effectively this year. The 2 minute quarters makes it extremely hard to judge as both teams are in hurry up most of the game. The running animations are still poor.
Shorter, bullet passes seem too fast. Not a big deal but I did notice it.
Not much of a pass rush on the cpu QB but I didn’t really have a chance to take a good look at this. Without replay, how do you really tell? I’ll have to defer to the OS videos.
Still not enough momentum for players but the least of my worries right now.
Why does the cpu still choose to receive in OT if they win the flip? They did this last year and it’s flat out wrong. You choose defence first in college OT.
Defensive playbooks appear unchanged.
OVERALL IMPRESSIONS
Not impressed with this demo. I was hoping to like it but instead came away disappointed. At this point I really don’t think I will buy this on day one. I’m no longer dependent on my football gaming and there are enough good games to play for now. I might just wait until Madden comes out before I decide or just keep playing NCAA 09 and deal with its flaws. Other than the improved cpu deep ball, I just don’t see anything significant here that warrants an upgrade – certainly not a $60 one.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
It was a really good game. I lost 28-24 as Murray lost his second crucial fumble in the ball game with less than two minutes left as I was leading 24-21. Tebow converted a 4th and short on my 35-yard line into a play action TD pass. He completed 51% of his passes on the day for 326 yards, 4 TDs and 2 INTs. Only 10 yards rushing though on 11 carries. One of his picks was returned for a TD and I also got a kickoff return for a TD to start the second half. My passing skills were rusty early and losing Iglesias to an injury at the end of the second quarter didn’t help.
Despite the “wide-open gameplay” people complain about, my sliders and skill set actually didn’t see too much of this. No deep balls by either side and Florida punted 6 times in the game. I only punted 4 times but when you turn the ball over 6 times you don’t tend to punt too often. Bradford was actually 30 for 45 for me but no TD passes. Both running games didn’t do too much. The game was close throughout and ended up being a great game with a greatness score of 1215 (#3 all time for me).
The lack of the deep ball in the game was the greatest glaring error along with no QB scrambles by Tebow (looks to be an issue in the NCAA 10 videos still). Of course the pass rush wasn’t too bad with slider tweaks unlike the demo I’m about to play Thursday night. We’ll see how the two games stack up but with only 2-minute quarters (I play with 7) and no sliders, I don’t expect to have a great experience. I love playing with sliders and so not getting them will dampen that a bit. Still, I'm hoping to see some nice improvements.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
inFamous is a great game. I loved the demo and bought the game. If you do all the side missions, collect the blast shards and get the dead drops it takes a long time. I've probably played around 20 hours and am only 43% done! I’m slow though as most people think you can finish off the game in about 20 to 25 hours if you rush. Collecting things like blast shards aren't just useless hunting expeditions though. They actually aid you in your ability to get more powerful.
This is a sandbox game - an open world environment that features many missions and an overall story (not bad, not great) that ties it together. I don't want people to think it's similar to GTA IV. The style of the game may be (missions, open world) but I was bored with GTA IV and regretted buying it. This game has a completely different gameplay system since you play as a comic book hero/villain. It makes the entire feel of the game unique. You don't drive a car or use guns. You are an electrically powered super hero or potential villain.
If you played the demo first, you may be frustrated by your lack of powers to start the game. This game has a clear RPG style where you have to complete missions, gain experience and learn new powers. XP can be used to upgrade your powers. While annoying at first, the quest to improve yourself keeps you coming back for more. Your power will grow but so will the quality and variety of your opponents as you work your way through the three different islands.
This game forces you to play as a Hero or as a Villain. There is no in between as power upgrades force you to achieve certain levels of karma. Some of the many powers and upgrades that Cole acquires are different depending on your status. There are also 15 unique side missions that pertain only to good or bad characters adding even more replay ability to this game. Of course, you will have to play through the game twice to see these different missions and powers. People on the streets will praise you or stone you depending on your Karma Level.
The character, Cole McGrath, actually has the ability to acquire many different powers and abilities. Some require more energy than others so you can’t just rush in, expend all your energy with a mindless set of shock grenades thrown in every direction and expect to do well. inFamous is not a brainless button masher where you can just jump into a massive battle with the bad guys and kick butt. You have to know your limitations, conserve power at times, and get some cover. Sometimes you just have to turn and run. Cole is not Superman. He's more like Spiderman, which I think is a great thing. If you want a nearly indestructible character that just wants to go destroy stuff, this game might not be for you. Your missions will make certain areas of the islands safe while other areas remain dangerous. I visit the dangerous areas some times for a good battle but keep your head on a swivel and be prepared to die if you get too cocky. Death comes easy in this game. Having to run to a nearby power source (ex. Light post) to re-energize and heal yourself is a good thing imo. Games that come too easy bore me.
This game keeps sucking you back in. I’ve never played a game that was this addictive and took so much of my time. Check out the demo for a great feel for the game and then go out and get this game based on that experience.
Friday, June 5, 2009
The guys that want companies like EA to adopt a bi-annual release for their sports games are just wasting their time. EA makes a ton of money releasing Madden and their big sports games every year. Sure going to a bi-annual release might make for a better game every two years but it will never happen!! These companies are about making money first! Reducing consumer spending and decreasing profits are hardly the goal of the CEO unless you work for GM.
Let’s try DLC!! Just download or buy a game and just purchase digital add-ons every year! Again, this is wishful thinking to bring down costs for the consumer. If EA and other companies could make more money this way they would. Making more money doesn’t usually translate into breaks for the consumer. A developer on OS already said that if they could release a game like World of Warcraft, where they could charge heavy monthly subscriptions, they would. The fact that they haven’t indicates that the subscription market does not exist.
The common complaint is that next year’s edition is just a small improvement. Guess what? It’s been that way in each console generation for the last 15 years. Developers build a base engine and then tweak that engine until the new game comes out. It’s more of a product of the quick changing hardware cycle than the developers. Even a great game like the Show wasn’t that much different this year. There is a limit to evolution and we will see less of it over time, not more. Only so many new features can be added as we have complicated games already. We will never have the type of revolutionary changes we had when going from an Atari to the NES. Those days are gone so stop waiting for them. Bring on NCAA 09.5! Bring on NBA 2K9.5! Label it any way you want but the new games will be better and many people will have fun.
Last but not least, many of us like buying a new game every year. And a new disc with a new case! I don’t want to play the same game for two straight years. I don’t want to buy giant external hard drives to store HD games or movies. And why do people think $60 is such a huge chunk of money for the amount of time we spend with the game? What kind of ticket would that get you at Yankee Stadium for a three hour baseball game? How much does dinner and a movie cost you on the weekend? Plus I can trade that game in before the next game comes out and my cost is even cheaper.
If you don’t like the current format, don’t support it! Don't buy the new game every year. Wait two years and you can have your own personal bi-annual cycle. But I’ll still head over to EB Games when I want to play the next great game and I won’t need a USB cable to get it.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Kevin and Pat Williams along with three Saint players tested positive for a banned substance. The NFL sought to suspend them for four games under their policy. The players are not fighting the substance wasn’t in their bodies. Case closed right? Nope. It turns out the players took an over the counter supplement by Star Caps. The problem is that Star Caps did not list the banned substance on the ingredient list. How are the players to know at all times what goes in their bodies if the manufacturers lie on the ingredient list? Furthermore, the NFL drug hotline for players apparently told the players this supplement was not on the banned list. How much more can we ask of the players?
It gets better. The NFL knew this supplement secretly contained a banned substance and chose not to let the player’s union know. They didn’t inform their own hotline which is supposed to educate the players. Why wouldn’t they strive to inform their players? It’s like a cop that knocks over the speed limit sign and sits behind the corner looking to nail you.
Ultimately players are responsible for what goes in their bodies. The judge ruled against the players based on that notion. But Star Caps and the NFL clearly share a lot of blame here. More than the actual players in my opinion. Couldn’t some common sense be used here and reduce the suspension to two games? Instead these guys get lumped in with Shawne Merriman who took an actual steroid, got suspended four games and was allowed to play in the Pro Bowl. This makes sense.
Goodell and the owners can do whatever they want. There is no arbitration panel. No second set of eyes to lend common sense. The only current recourse for players is to sue or ask Goodell to reconsider (yeah right). But this nature of the NFL fits perfectly with everything else they do. Scrap 2K’s football game. Who cares if kids like it – we can make more money this way. Limit the NFL Sunday Ticket to Direct TV. Who cares if people without Direct TV might want it? This makes us more money. Let’s play 18 games. No great reason to play more games in a brutal sport that destroys players physically but it can make us more money. Remember that the NFL used to only play 14 games. Now we have rumours of an overseas Superbowl. If it can somehow line an NFL owners’ pocket with money you can bank on it no matter what people in the United States think. Dare I even mention all the public money that goes towards these expensive stadiums built all around the country? If a city won’t pay for them, the NFL will move your team out.
My love for the NFL has waned over the last few years and I’ve grown to love College Football more. The rivalries and passion of college football are great. The kids play for the love of the game. But the NFL is ALL business and a perfectly run dictatorship as well. Fidel Castro is jealous.
Friday, April 24, 2009
FINAL MOCK DRAFT
1. Detroit Lions – QB Matthew Stafford.
The Lions need major help in many spots but it looks like Stafford is close to being signed. Stafford is not a sure thing as he’s thrown at least 10 INTs in all three years in college. He does have good athletic ability, has started for three years and a rocket for an arm. He will need to develop better touch on some of his passes but having played behind a bad line at Georgia last year, he should be ready for the Lions who haven’t have a great quarterback in my lifetime.
2. St. Louis Rams – OT Jason Smith.
The Rams need to replace Orlando Pace. They need a lot of help as well but grabbing a good LT is always a good move.
3. Kansas City Chiefs – OT Eugene Monroe.
Aaron Curry would seem to fit a big need for Kansas City. However, Pioli has never really drafted linebackers high at New England and just signed Zach Thomas as well. He drafts a tackle to pair with Brandon Albert to strengthen the OL and get great value for the pick.
4. Seattle – LB Aaron Curry.
Seattle was really hoping to grab one of the top two tackles but take the next best thing in Curry. Mark Sanchez is a possibility.
5. Cleveland – WR Michael Crabtree.
The Browns need someone to catch the ball and Crabtree will be a stud. Winslow was traded, Stallworth will be going to jail and Edwards is likely to be traded or leave after this year. This team may consider a NT like Raji or a pass rusher like Orakpo since they only had 17 sacks last year. I do think Orakpo is more of a true 4-3 DE and not a great fit here.
6. Cincinnati Bengals – OT Andre Smith.
The laughing stock of the combine as he showed up out of shape, didn’t work out and disappeared without telling people. Some people felt he could fall out of round one. Please. The guy might have been the most dominant tackle in college football. He has a soft body but will be a road grading RT and can play LT or be moved inside.
7. Oakland Raiders – WR Jeremy Maclin.
Al Davis is obsessed with speed and playmakers. Given the fact he’s spent first rounders on a punter and kicker, don’t be shocked at how high he may value Maclin’s return ability. Al may even take him over Crabtree, if he slips, who doesn’t run as fast.
8. Jacksonville – DT B.J. Raji.
While Jacksonville may move down in a trade while someone comes up and drafts Sanchez, they want to get bigger and stronger again. Raji does that in spades and he will be gone by #13 if they swap with Washington. If Raji is gone, they will try to move down.
9. Washington (projected trade with Green Bay) – QB Mark Sanchez.
Snyder is reportedly smitten with Sanchez and swaps spots with Green Bay who gladly will move down and take extra picks.
10. San Francisco – OT Michael Oher.
The 49ers need to add a long term QB and may go with a pass rusher as well. But Singletary wants to run the ball and adding an OT is necessary even if it’s a little early for the inconsistent Oher.
11. Buffalo Bills – DE Brian Orakpo.
The Bills need a LT to replace Jason Peters and also need pass rush help. Orakpo slides right into the Bills laps here and fits in nicely as a 4-3 DE. If Oher is still here, he will get strong consideration.
12. Denver Broncos – DE/OLB Everette Brown.
The Broncos would love to add Raji and will also explore moving up for Sanchez. But both are gone so they go with the pass rushing OLB in the new 3-4 scheme. Tyson Jackson at DE could be a possibility as well.
13. Green Bay (from project Washington trade) – DE/OLB Aaron Maybin.
They are moving to a 3-4 and want to draft a pass rusher. Maybin should be able to make the transition. Beware of GM Ted Thompson though. He picks based on value and will not reach for a need. Anything can happen here.
14. New Orleans Saints – DB Malcolm Jenkins.
The Saints need secondary help and Jenkins can play CB or possibly S. There is some concern about his speed but he has decent size and will get early playing time. A linebacker is also a concern here but expect to see a defensive player drafted either way.
15. Houston Texans – LB Clay Matthews.
They had the #3 offense last year but their defense was in the bottom third of the league. The Texans need defensive help and it appears they will simply stick to grabbing the best one available. I don’t think they get great value for this pick and would be better off trading down.
16. Philadelphia Eagles (through projected trade with San Diego) – RB Knowshon Moreno.
The Chargers want to move down and draft OT Eben Britton and the Eagles don’t want to take a chance that the Jets or Broncos might take Moreno. He’s a tremendous talent who will fit in perfectly behind Westbrook and eventually replace him.
17. New York Jets – TE Brandon Pettigrew.
The Jets want Sanchez but aren’t hot on the raw Josh Freeman. So they help their offense out and grab Brandon Pettigrew who helps in both the run and passing game. A two TE set with Dustin Keller would be very good.
18. Denver Broncos – DE Tyson Jackson.
Tyson Jackson slips due to his lack of pass rushing skills and Denver grabs him. A good 3-4 DE that some experts have going in the Top 10.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – DT Peria Jerry.
Tampa Bay needs a lot of help in the front seven and they take a good DT in Jerry who can get after the passer. Detroit, Atlanta and Indianapolis would all like to have him.
20. Detroit Lions – MLB Rey Mauluga.
The Lions really hope either Peria Jerry or Rey Mauluga are here and get the MLB they badly need.
21. San Diego Chargers (with trade with Eagles) – OT Eben Britton.
The Chargers could certainly use a LB but they also want an upgrade at RT. Britton lacks the quickness to play LT but can start at RT right away.
22. Minnesota Vikings – WR Percy Harvin.
The Vikings wanted Britton and could use a CB as well. But Harvin is very talented and they help fix their offense with this boom or bust pick.
23. New England Patriots – LB Clint Sintim.
The Patriots are old at LB and after getting rid of Vrabel, Sintim is the ideal 3-4 OLB and played in that scheme at Virginia. Could move up for Britton and would have to move up to #20 with the Lions to make that happen.
24. Atlanta Falcons – LB Brian Cushing.
The Falcons need a strong side LB and Cushing is tough and will fit in nicely.
25. Miami Dolphins – DE/OLB Larry English.
Larry English is a great small school player that fits the hybrid 3-4 teams perfectly as an outside pass rusher.
26. Baltimore Ravens – CB Vontae Davis.
This team needs to start getting younger on defense and Ozzie takes a chance on an extremely gifted player with issues that drop him to late in round one.
27. Indianapolis Colts – WR Darrius Heyward-Bey.
The Colts want a DT (Peria Jerry would be perfect) or a WR here. With Harrison gone, they add another weapon for Peyton in the big and fast Heyward-Bey.
28. Buffalo Bills – OT William Beatty.
The Bills need to replace Peters and take the talented but inconsistent Beatty. Questionable desire but has the tools to play LT.
29. NY Giants – DT Evander “Ziggy” Hood.
The Giants need a WR and I still think this pick could be sent to Cleveland for Braylon Edwards. There isn’t a WR available here that would help them like Braylon so they wait until round two and grab the best DT left. Hood isn’t a big DT but he’s quick and can get after the QB.
30. Tennessee Titans – CB Alphonso Smith.
The Titans could use both a CB and a WR. They might also consider a DT to replace Haynesworth. They seem to reject the thought of drafting WRs in the first round and decide to upgrade their secondary since they play against Peyton Manning twice a year. Smith may be short and a little slow, but he’s a playmaker that can contribute right away.
31. Arizona Cardinals – RB Chris Wells.
I think it’s very questionable that Chris Wells lasts this long but if he does, the Cardinals would be extremely excited to take him.
32. Pittsburgh Steelers – C Max Unger.
The Steelers will look to upgrade the OL and take the best available player here. Unger is versatile and can play almost anywhere.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
From the moment Sony invited OS members out to preview the game, OS had fallen head over heels for the Sony Show team. If you make any critical comments about the game in the Show forums, be prepared for the attack by the Legion of Show defenders. If it’s not about your actual comments it could be about the tone you used. You heard me right. The way you phrase your comments can incite bigger criticism. I guess we turned into a bunch of women around here.
There have always been posters that go overboard. They might be overly critical or dramatic and often they are newbies. This happens in every forum. But those people are rejected with extreme prejudice in the Show forum. And then about ten guys will pile on using the applauding emoticon to make sure that poster never comes back. The Show forum is full of mature people but it’s evolved into an elitist forum. It’s almost snobbish at times. Much like Frasier went from drinking beer at Cheers to sipping brandy in Seattle, the Show forum is no longer for the average poster. Better check the requirements at the door to see if you are worthy to join.
I used to think the arguments between the 2K5 and Madden fanboys were the worst. Now I find the constant chirping of people who say anything negative about the Show without being constructive enough to be most annoying. You can just ignore some of these comments without making it a big deal people! Just like you can ignore this blog if you don’t like it.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
I’ve been critical of the direction of the NCAA team this year with the exclusion of things like the new QB ratings system Madden is implementing. It seems like the Madden team is making a tremendous effort at producing a true football sim that may be the best NFL game ever created. Who knows how the final product will turn out but it’s very clear from Ian Cummings’ blogs that he is very serious and making tremendous strides in this direction. But is a pure sim really that much fun?
When NCAA ’06 came out, many criticized the game for overly productive impact players, excessive juke moves, an overly fast game speed, a deep ball that was too easy to complete and other non-sim elements. All of that may be true but it was so much fun. The presentation was great as well. I started to wonder if I really wanted a true sim. I do think you need to exaggerate things at time to make a game more fun. I love the big juke move to get by a defender. I don’t want a 300-pound guy pulling off the same move but college football is exciting and I want to feel that while playing. I like hitting the deep pass and would rather see the game be easier than harder in this area (although NCAA ’06 was too easy). The neutered deep ball in next gen, particularly by the cpu, has hurt the fun factor the last couple years.
There will always be the debate as to how much strategy versus stick skills should matter in a video game. I maintain that stick skills are very important to keep the user interested rather than a game feeling scripted. Some may prefer more strategy and are thus dubbed the “sim” players. Others who like a heavy reliance on stick skills may be labeled “arcade” even though their football knowledge may be every bit as good as the sim guy. All I know is that I want a game to resemble the real thing but most importantly I want it to be fun. A nice mix of both worlds is best for me.
If Madden is truly the better sim and NCAA more arcade like, that won’t deter me from buying the game and is not necessarily a knock on NCAA. In fact, I may prefer it this way. I actually want the game to play faster and see the deep ball brought back. The game that is the most fun to play is what I’m interested in. I’m not ready to give up on it this year. Hopefully both games will be great and different at the same time.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
From past experience, you can expect offensive tackles and pass rushers to be drafted high, regardless of how valuable they really are. While people have speculated that Andre Smith could slip outside the Top 10 and that Michael Oher will go in the bottom half of the first round, expect these players to go earlier than expected. Just look how the Falcons jumped up to draft Sam Baker at #21 last year despite not carrying a first round grade by most draftnicks. Jason Smith, Eugene Monroe and Andre Smith will all go in the Top 10 and Oher won’t fall that far behind them. The draft is strong at tackle.
There are three premium pass rushers in this draft: Brian Orakpo, Everette Brown and Aaron Maybin. As they come off the board, expect teams to trade up to get them, as there is a real drop off after that. They are all undersized 4-3 defensive ends that could also play as a rush linebacker in a 3-4. None of them played OLB in college though so the transition could be tough (ask Vernon Gholston). Maybin would probably be best suited to be a 3-4 OLB due to his lack of size. He ran slow at the combine so will probably be picked last among the three.
Aaron Curry may be a great football player but he hasn’t proven to be a great pass rusher in college (not his role) and teams will shy away from him in the first couple picks just because they don’t want to make him the highest paid, non pass rushing LB in the draft.
Running backs seem to be the position teams feel they don’t need to draft high anymore. Despite the fact that Adrian Peterson was incredible as a #7 pick and how much of an impact Chris Johnson made last year (I criticized that pick – doh!) we have two first round running backs in Knowshon Moreno and Chris Wells. I think Moreno is a stud. He is a tremendous RB who only lacks in the long speed as his 40 time was pedestrian at roughly 4.55. Wells is the big thumper of a RB who gets nicked up too much but is productive. Moreno is quicker and can make more things happen and with most teams going to two running back systems, I expect Moreno to be the first drafted. He will probably slide too far in this draft but be a stud!
There is a deep group of big and fast wide receivers to pick from. Michael Crabtree is the number one guy but the fact he never ran a 40 time, measured shorter than he was listed at Texas Tech and played in a goofy offense might hurt him. His foot injury is largely considered to be minor but may affect his draft status. Not a single wide receiver was taken in the first round last year but expect Crabtree to go high and a run to happen late in the first round on these guys.
This is a weak crop of defensive backs. Don’t expect many to go too high or in the first round as only two or three are expected to make their way into the first round.
When will the NFL learn that defensive tackles are almost as hard to project as quarterbacks? So many busts or disappointments at the top of the draft the last few years that teams should stick to drafting kids in the later rounds and develop them. Glenn Dorsey, Jonathon Sullivan, DeWayne Robertson all come to mind. B.J. Raji is a nice fat body with boobs that can play the nose or the big DT in a 4-3. He will probably go in the middle of the round. Peria Jerry will fit the pass rushing DT in a 4-3 defense and will go late in the first round.
MOCK DRAFT 1.1
1. Detroit Lions – QB Matthew Stafford.
The Lions need major help at QB, DT, MLB, CB, DE and a host of other areas. They could certainly pick another OT but it looks like they will go with the quarterback. Stafford is NOT a sure thing as he’s thrown at least 10 INTs in all three years in college. He does have good athletic ability and a rocket for an arm. He will need to develop better touch on some of his passes.
2. St. Louis Rams – OT Jason Smith.
The Rams need to replace Orlando Pace. They need a lot of help as well but grabbing a good LT is always a good move.
3. Kansas City Chiefs – OT Eugene Monroe.
The first surprise of the draft! Aaron Curry would seem to fit a big need for Kansas City. However, Pioli has never really drafted linebackers high at New England and just signed Zach Thomas as well. He drafts a tackle to pair with Brandon Albert to strengthen the OL and get great value for the pick.
4. Seattle – LB Aaron Curry.
Seattle was really hoping to grab one of the top two tackles but take the next best thing in Curry. New coach Jim Mora wants to upgrade the defense and after signing Houshmanzadeh, will pass on Crabtree.
5. Cleveland – WR Michael Crabtree.
The Browns have already traded away Kellen Winslow and are looking to move Braylon Edwards. Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn need someone to throw the ball to! The defense needs pass rushers so taking Brian Orakpo here would also make sense. This pick does seem to depend on whether Edwards gets moved on draft day (Giants anyone?).
6. Cincinnati Bengals – OT Andre Smith.
The laughing stock of the combine as he showed up out of shape, didn’t work out and disappeared without telling people. Some people felt he could fall out of round one. Please. The guy might have been the most dominant tackle in college football. He has a soft body but will be a road grading RT and can play LT or be moved inside.
7. Oakland Raiders – WR Jeremy Maclin.
Al Davis is obsessed with speed and playmakers. Given the fact he’s spent first rounders on a punter and kicker, don’t be shocked at how high he may value Maclin’s return ability. Al may even take him over Crabtree who doesn’t run as fast.
8. Washington Redskins (through Jacksonville) – DE Brian Orakpo.
The Jags really want one of the top two receivers and are disappointed both are gone. Orakpo is too good to slip any further and Washington jumps up to nab the best pass DE in the draft ahead of Green Bay. Buffalo may be in the mix for a trade up as well (Note this is a projected trade and is severly impacted by Cleveland at #5).
9. Green Bay – DE/OLB Everett Brown.
They are moving to a 3-4 and want to draft a pass rusher. They are in a great position to get one of the top three players without having to trade up.
10. San Francisco – QB Mark Sanchez.
This is the trendy pick for the 49ers. They need a long-term answer at QB and they take the local kid. He should be available and as long as the 49ers like him, this makes sense.
11. Buffalo Bills – DE Aaron Maybin.
They need pass rush and DL help. Maybin is the last good pass-rushing end on the draft board so they snatch him up. I wonder how well Maybin will fit in as a 4-3 DE and he may fall to a 3-4 team later on in the first round. He may slide.
12. Denver Broncos – DT B.J. Raji
They are moving to a 3-4 and want a nice fat nose tackle to help solve their run defense problems. Tyson Jackson could fit in here as well.
13. Jacksonville Jaguars (from projected Washington trade) – OT Michael Oher.
They reach for Oher a little bit but Del Rio wants to upgrade his line and will draft a wide receiver later as there should be plenty at the top of round two.
14. New Orleans Saints – DB Malcolm Jenkins.
The Saints need secondary help and Jenkins can play CB or possibly S. There is some concern about his speed but he has decent size and will get early playing time.
15. Houston Texans – RB Knowshon Moreno.
The Texans only have small but speedy Steve Slaton in the backfield and take one of the best players in the draft. Moreno will add instant offense to this team. They need some defensive help but this surprise pick will not disappoint at all.
16. San Diego Chargers – LB Brian Cushing.
The Chargers need more depth at LB and Cushing can play inside or outside for them. He should step in right away. Tyson Jackson at DE would be a really good fit for their 3-4 as well.
17. New York Jets – DE Tyson Jackson.
The Jets offense needs some help but their 3-4 defense can’t pass on Tyson Jackson who falls into their laps. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Jets even went RB here.
18. Denver Broncos – DE/OLB Larry English.
They need to help their pass rush. They got their NT in Raji and now reach a little to fill a rush LB spot in their 3-4 defense.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – WR Darius Heyward-Bey.
It’s time to breathe some life into this offense with playmakers and this is a big guy with speed. They may take a strong look at Josh Freeman at QB here.
20. Detroit Lions – ILB Rey Maualuga.
The Lions have badly needed a MLB the last few years and now can add Rey to a defense that upgraded with Julian Peterson in the offseason.
21. Philadelphia Eagles – TE Brandon Pettigrew.
They would love it if Knowshon Moreno fell here as he would fit their offense extremely well and be the replacement for Westbrook. Chris Wells is not a good fit for their offense so they go with the best TE in the draft.
22. Minnesota Vikings – WR Percy Harvin.
Brad Childress will love finding ways to get this guy the ball. An explosive player that will help take the pressure off of AP.
23. New England Patriots – LB Clay Matthews.
The Patriots are old at LB and after getting rid of Vrabel, Clay Matthews will fit in nicely.
24. Atlanta Falcons – DT Peria Jerry.
They need to help out Jonathon Abraham on the pass rush and while the good outside rushers are gone, Jerry will provide a nice push as a pass rushing DT.
25. Miami Dolphins – OLB Clint Sintim.
The Dolphins need a CB more than anything else but Parcells won’t take the prima-donna Vontae Davis. They also need a pass rusher and a WR. Sintim is a perfect OLB for the 3-4.
26. Baltimore Ravens - CB Vontae Davis.
They get younger at CB with a tremendous physical specimen in Davis. Is hard to coach and his attitude allows him to fall here.
27. Indianapolis Colts – OT Eben Britton.
The Colts usually do whatever it takes to keep Peyton happy and the offense clicking. They could go with a WR to replace Harrison but keeping the OL strong is also important.
28. Philadelphia Eagles – WR Hakeem Nicks.
The Eagles would like to take an OL with one of their first picks but don’t want to reach. Getting more targets for McNabb is never a bad thing.
29. New York Giants – WR Kenny Britt.
They could trade for Braylon Edwards but the loss of Plaxico in the playoffs illustrated the need for more weapons for Eli.
30. Tennessee Titans – CB Alphonso Smith.
The Titans have never felt the pressure to draft a WR early on despite the need. They could use some help at CB and Smith is a great player even if he’s short. Could see a trade for Chris Wells here if still available.
31. Arizona Cardinals – RB Chris Wells.
They love the fact that they need a RB and one of the two best ones in the draft falls to them. Wells is a bit injury prone and doesn’t have a lot of wiggle but is big, fast and productive when healthy. If Wells does slide this far, expect some teams like the Browns to try to move back up to the first round and take him with the Titans pick.
32. Pittsburgh Steelers – C Max Unger.
The Steelers will look to upgrade the OL and take the best available player here. Unger is versatile and can play almost anywhere.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
But then I started to play some games in the National League in the Show on my PS3. While the pitchers still kill rallies, the late game strategies add a lot to the game. There are few late game strategies with using your bench and managing your hitters in the AL. You set your lineup card and it doesn’t change. You might pinch hit for a specific batter-pitcher match-up in the late innings but that’s about it. In the NL, you have to decide how long you keep your starting pitcher in. Do you take him out early or leave him in to pinch hit? Do you try to squeeze another inning out of him knowing he’s due to bat the next inning or do you take him out a little earlier with a double switch? Players that can actually play multiple positions suddenly have more value. Using the double switch and managing the depth on your bench and in your bullpen offers a ton of late game strategy in the NL simply unseen in the AL.
Typically, fans tend to prefer the rules as they are for their respective leagues. In some ways I like the uniqueness of both leagues. At the very least, the host team during inter-league play should use the other league’s rules. As a Tiger fan, I want to see NL rules when Milwaukee comes to town. Let Pittsburgh use the DH when the Tigers go there. Expose the fans to the different styles of play. That would be more interesting than the status quo. I’m not sure if the DH will ever be removed but I’m leaning towards eliminating it.
Monday, March 30, 2009
q Terrible cpu running game. The cpu just never ran the ball well and the sliders were watered down to the point that it was impossible to fix correctly.
q No cpu deep passing game. The computer just dinked and dunked its way down the field and never threw deep. The cpu QB still threw too many interceptions. After having major problems the last two years in this area, I am concerned with how this will be addressed this year.
q Suction blocking. The blocking engine in the game is still poorly done. This requires a lot of work and I won’t be holding my breath.
Now as the new year began and I hung up my video football cleats, Ian Cummings and the Madden team have blown me away with their desire to create a true football sim. I haven’t purchased a Madden game since ’05 and everything they have said sounds great. We’ll have to wait and see about the execution but so far so good.
This is where the NCAA team has failed badly. Many of the new enhancements that Madden is getting won’t be found in NCAA and I’m bitterly disappointed. Here is the laundry list of features that Madden has and NCAA does not.
q New QB Ratings! Quarterbacks have always been done poorly but in an effort to create a more unique and diverse experience, the Madden team have created five new ratings to improve the way quarterbacks play. Accuracy ratings have been split up to short, medium and deep ball accuracy. Quarterbacks are also rated on how well they execute play action and throw on the run. Yes!! I’ve always wanted this to really get virtual quarterbacks to emulate their real life counterparts. But the NCAA chose to spend their time elsewhere. On what I ask? I’m still waiting. HUGE mistake.
q Ian Cummings has been very active on the forums and blogs giving us unprecedented access and insight for Madden. The NCAA team has been slow to provide good info and their hyped Community Day didn’t even allow anyone to talk about the game resulting in further frustration.
q NCAA will not be using the weight and momentum system Madden is implementing this year. Don’t know why but given the Madden team’s desire to create a pure football sim, this doesn’t sound good for NCAA.
q No defensive matchups. This is a feature more suited to the NFL so it doesn’t bother me as much with NCAA but its still a missing feature.
q The fact the developers believe Supersim minimizes the need for in game saves. Wrong! Some of us want to actually play our games but don’t always have an hour or more free time in a row to do so. Even if Madden doesn’t have it, the explanation given by the NCAA team ticks me off. I don’t want to sim the game. Baseball games have in game saves so no excuses.
q No refs on the field. The sidelines and refs have been added to Madden. Not a big deal to me but just another point for the Madden team.
q Fluff Focus. The NCAA team has added windsocks and Season Showdown features that appear meaningless to me. The focus just seems to be on the wrong things.
q New Camera – I will give the NCAA team props for designing a new camera angle system. The one benefit for the NCAA team I see so far.
Friday, March 20, 2009
The evolution of the FB position has basically left that position as useless other than in short yardage. The 1990s saw the block only FB emerge. Guys like Lorenzo Neal were featured in the backfield. Darrly "Moose" Johnston could catch the ball but he was viewed as a lead blocker. In my opinion, these type of players devalue the position. They aren't dangerous or feared in any way. They only block so why not just use another OL? Can't we get more production out of that spot? Guys like Csonka and Kevin Mack provided that.
What we have seen is the trend towards the two TE set. This balances the field as there is no longer a strong or weak side of the field. The second TE can be put in motion and is also closer to the line of scrimmage and is a greater threat in the passing game. But does any NFL team really have a dangerous second TE? Not really. Just the "blocking" TE. These guys aren't adding a whole lot to the offense either. Teams with three WR sets like Arizona get a lot of bang for their buck at the last spot on offense, even if it's tradionally a passing set. Teams should start putting their best player in the 11th spot. If it's a FB or a TE or a WR or even an OL, use that as your base. Nobody said everyone has to employ a traditional pro-set offense as your base.
NFL teams don't want to put two great HBs on the field at the same time since one HB is deemed a blocking liabity. Yet almost every NFL team wants two good running backs on their team to provide a change of pace and protect against injury. Why not try to find a good power back and turn him into a traditional but effective FB? That solves two needs with one stone. NFL teams rarely think out of the box. The Dolphins last year showed they would do whatever it takes to win and they used the Wildcat. Now other teams are following suit. Could the all purpose FB make a successful return to the NFL?
Jacob Hester of San Diego could be one of those guys. Big running backs get labelled as "one backs" rather than all-purpose FBs. Nobody wants the star HB to block anymore so when the FB gets the ball, NFL teams see this as a waste. Why not have Hester in the backfield with LT and actually use misdirection as a weapon? Why not use the inside trap and find ways to get more offense?
It's funny how the NFL can change over time and then change back when things start working again. I'd like to see some more unique players like the true fullback make a comeback but I doubt it.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
1. Fighting is Entertaining
Hard to argue this point. Who doesn’t love a good fight? There’s a good reason why Boxing and UFC are so popular. People like blood and fists of fury. Just think how much greater football would be if Terrell Owens squared off against Donovan McNabb as they met on the field during a change of possession? The stadium would be on its feet and everyone would love it! Don’t kick them out of the game though since we would be punishing the fans. Just put them in a box where they have to sit out one possession and can play later. Furthermore, we need to teach our young kids that fighting can be a good way to settle a dispute. Losing your temper should be more encouraged after all these years of teaching our kids to become sissies.
2. Fighting Keeps the Dirty Play in Check
Who hasn’t heard of offensive lineman like Conrad Dobler poking guys through the facemask? Is it really fair that a defensive player only gets a 15-yard penalty and possible fine for a late hit on the QB? What about that defensive back that’s holding longer than the allowed five yards? Referees can sometimes miss these calls so we should encourage the players to police the game and take justice into their own hands. The next time I see a quarterback get hit late, his offensive line better punch the lights out of the player who does it. 15 yards my ***! He needs to get whooped and just sit off for a short time on the sideline and get cheered by the local fans. Little Johnny, whose watching the game, needs to know that it’s the players who are in charge of the game, not the referees or league officials. Justice is best served with your fists. It’s by far the best way of keeping dirty play in check.
3. Protect the Stars and Open up the Game
We all like offense. It’s good for the game and attracts fans. Hockey uses fighters to ensure that players can’t hit or bother the star hockey players on the ice, particularly the little ones. Those pesky defenders who are trying to stop the star from scoring should not do too good a job, even if it’s legal. The threat of a punch in the face helps give the star player more room. Football should adopt this to allow its star players more freedom to score on the field. Any Pro Bowl quarterback like Peyton Manning should have more time to throw. If a defensive end keeps sacking or hitting him legally, Peyton’s teammates should come to his defense. We need to expand the rosters to allow a designated goon. The next time Peyton gets sacked just send in the goon and have him kick the defender in the groin. He’ll think twice about sacking him next time.
There you have it. We can use the same great reasons to keep fighting in hockey to also add fighting in football. And this just isn’t for professional football. This needs to be integrated all the way down to the amateur level. How can a player be taught to fight properly in football if he’s not fighting in junior high? He can’t. When you see parents in the stands at a Junior C hockey game cheering on two 16 year olds fighting each other, everything feels right in this world. Fighting will help take the NFL to the next level of fan interest.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Each pitch type is unique among pitchers. A slider just isn't a slider. A change up just isn't a change up. They all depend greatly on the pitcher who's throwing them. For example, Bonderman throws a really hard slider that has a lot of break but doesn't dip much. Galaragga throws a slider but it is slower without as much break and also dips more. The break and velocity of each pitch is unique for many of your pitchers. Trying to sneak a 90 mph fastball by a great hitter is far more difficult than one traveling 98 mph. You really have to learn each of your pitchers and know how each pitch behaves. Its one reason I think many people struggle initially with pitching in the Show. They don't know their pitchers well enough. As your season goes along, you will probably see improvement.
Pitch location also affects the amount of break on a pitch. The further away from your body you throw a sweeping type of breaking ball (slider, sweeping curve), the more break it will have. For example, a RHP trying to throw a slider on the inside corner to a RHB won't see a lot of break on the pitch. You only need to back the cursor off the plate a little. But if you are trying to nail the outside corner to a RHB, you better start the cursor on the inside part of the plate because it will have twice as much break to it. Just be careful you don't hang it. In that situation, accuracy can be tough so err on the side of a ball and not a meatball. Furthermore, don’t just pound the same location over and over and over. The cpu will key on that so make sure to mix it up. Some chin music never hurt anyone. Don't forget that the ball marker is the breakpoint and not the final destination on pitches.
The Show also ranks the pitcher's pitches in a counter-clockwise manner. Their best pitch is X (normally a fastball). The next best pitch is O, then Triangle, Square and R1. Even though your pitcher may have five pitches, you shouldn't be using them equally. Stick with your bread and butter stuff for the most part. Mix in your 4th and 5th pitches once in awhile to keep hitters off balance but don't use them in crucial situations. You really need to pitch to your pitcher's strengths rather than stick to the same routine no matter who is taking the mound that day. There is a reason major leaguers throw a lot of fastballs - it's because they are effective and reliable. Don't try to throw a big curve with three balls on a batter - try to stick to pitches that you have a little more control over.
The Show also throws users another curveball in how they differentiate throwing from the Mound vs. the Stretch. Not a big deal for Classic Pitching but it adds a totally different timing system for Meter. It ties the speed of the meter to the individual pitching animation and you better learn it or suffer the consequences. Some players have quicker deliveries than others.
We also have to realize that we can't just throw "get it over pitches" if we want to succeed on the higher difficulty levels. Walks happen in real life because pitchers don't want to give in to hitters and not just because they lack control. You don't just lay one in to David Wright because it's 3-2 and you don't want to walk him. It's better to try and hit your spots against almost any batter than just serve up a meatball to avoid a walk. This year's game features a more potent cpu offense that really takes advantage of mistakes.
Lastly, the confidence meter is important. Both from an overall standpoint and an individual standpoint. When the overall confidence is low, use a mound visit to see if you can regain confidence as low confidence really hurts your accuracy. Try to avoid throwing pitches that are low in individual confidence as well. Throw your weak pitches to weaker hitters in early counts to build a pitch back up. Stick to your good stuff in tough spots. Fastballs are less likely to lead to wild pitches as well, particularly when your confidence is down. If you are struggling and you go with the 4th pitch curveball in your repertoire, don’t curse the TV when you see a wild pitch. Blame yourself.
Overall there are a lot of great things that deal with pitching in the Show. From the strategy to the execution, the Show is excellent in this regard.
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