Luck runs out - KBLover's Blog

KBLover's Blog

Luck runs out

Posted on October 23, 2009 at 04:40 AM.

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Well - another close game, and this time, I'm the loser. Final Score, DEN 20, BAL 19.

It was looking like it was going to be UGLY. Denver got a TD on their first play. Ravens go 3 and out. Denver goes 75 yds on 4 plays - giving up their second long catch and run for a TD. 14-0 and the 1st quarter just got going.

But the Ravens battle back. They get 16 in the second quarter, capped by a Ray Rice TD run.

Nothing much happened in the third quarter. Ravens got 3 more, to make it 19-14.

But Denver put together their best drive of the game and would punch it in after a 10 play drive to take the lead. The 2pt conversion fails.

But then the Ravens couldn't get anything going. Flacco was off-target all day long, and a few bad drops by Clayton didn't help (about to ban him again...). The killer, though, was McGahee on a long run, but Dawkins hustles the whole way and strips McGahee from behind. One of the trailing Broncos scoops the ball and that would be the last time Ravens see the ball. Play was challenged, but upheld.

The Ravens had their chances, but, again could only get FGs. They were causing fumbles and recovering them. Someone just laid out Royal on a kick return and the ball popped out. Another Royal fumble on a kick return was caused by several defenders trying for the strip and finally got it out.

What's weird about the fumbles is I upped the CPUs fumble slider from 28 to 40 (since I'm not sure if they use the protect ball move), and it's like it didn't matter.

Orton was steady, 60% completion with 2 TDs and no INTs. Flacco had 38 passes, only 52% completion and 1 INT.

As far as adjustments to sliders, I'm upping run blocking a little and break tackles again. Finally started seeing some HB fighting off tackles or at least not dropping instantly (they'd push the pile or fight forward for some more yards before going down if they don't outright break the tackle). Now that's realistic. Only the top tacklers should get guys down immediately, and that was happening too. Defenders in good positions also made tackles fast. If the HB had a "head of steam" they seemed to break tackles/lean forward more often. The "jump off the block because you pushed sprint" thing happened, but it still let the HB push forward frequently and sometimes break the tackle. Hmm.... Ray Lewis got guys down fast (led team in Tackles with 7 solo), Gooden, Johnson - not so much. Likewise for the DBs (though Reed was solid enough). Suggs was worthless in this game. All he did was drop a would be INT. Bah.

Oh and Pryce got his obligatory 2 sacks. He's gotten 2 in every game so far. Exactly 2 each time.

For Rice - he got his job done in the passing game - 7 catches (led team) for significant yards. McGahee, again, had the best YPC (5.5) I don't know if it's just Rice's ratings or maybe he's tired faster because he's the starter? Rice. Again. 3.6 ypc. Constant if not great I guess.

Oh, and I'm turning injuries down. Just too many. Guess it's the fatigue factor. Also lowering FG accuracy more. 4 for 4 with Hauschka. Doesn't seem right.

Sliders so far:

Speed: Slow
Speed Thresh: 50
Injuries: 40
Fatigue: 100
Camera: Broadcast
Quarters: 15 minutes
Accel. Clock: 25 seconds
Penalties: All 10
Passing O (13):
QB acc: 20
Pass Block: 35
WR Catch: 45

Rushing O: (10)
Broken Tackles: 55
Run Block: 67
Fumbles: 28

Pass D: (14)
Reaction Time: 0
Ints: 0
Pass Rush: 85

Rush D: (20)
Reaction Time: 0
Block Shedding: 0
Tackling: 0

CPU:
Pass O:
QB Acc: 25
Pass Block: 35
WR Catching: 45

Rush O:
Broken Tackles: 55
Run Blocking: 77
Fumbles: 40

Pass D:
Reaction Time: 0
Ints: 0
Pass Rush: 85

Rush D:
Reaction Time: 0
Block Shedding: 0
Tackling: 0
Special Teams:
FG Power: 55
FG Acc: 20
Punt Power: 90
Punt Acc: 90
Kickoff Power: 50

Auto Subs: (OUT/IN)
QB: 40/55
RB: 71/76
WR: 71/76
FB/TE: 72/76
OL: 50/55
DT: 30/45
DE: 30/45
LB: 30/45
CB: 30/43
S: 15/20