I am definitely using more blitz packages this year and mixing up my coverages to take away the crossing routes. I am basically trying to force the CPU to beat me deep (which does happen time to time). Offensively when passing I choose to get my passes off quicker due to the increased pass rush (sliders). I know where I want to go to before I call the play and if I do not like what I see I have an audible ready to counter the defense. It also doesn't hurt to go through your progressions to give your receivers a chance to get open. I have to work on my running game for the nxt-gen, because I have not been as good at it as I have been in the last-gen CFB. I think that the running game takes patience and you are right MMChriss, you cannot rely on the speed to power your running game. I feel like for the first time in a long time I have to counter the defense of each team...esp those who have a strong D-Line.

And finally I love using the gameplanning Mechanic...I do think it is a Stellar feature when used in the right way...otherwise penalties will hurt you! lol

I can still pitch the ball accurately after my QB is hit. I was annoyed the first time I noticed it.

MMChrisS - I am completely already right there with u on all four points. I have figured that out, and definitely switchup my D, finding myself using man about 70% of the time, with different blitz packages. The blitz is VERY effective many a time and if I don't get the QB, he gets hurried and throws a bad pass of some sort but what I like is how the CPU learns from what u do and WILL start getting rid of the ball quicker and/or audibling.

On O, I just mix it up. Love slants even though, now, CBs jam WRs pretty damn good. I will either wait for them to free up or, if being rushed, hit either my TE or RB when feasible. I also find the Ace-Slot-TE Post one of my fave plays to hit the TE running a post in the middle of the field...Holy, I just ran back a kickoff for a TD and my teammates were actually celebrating as they ran along side me since I had NO ONE near me on defense - HOOOOOOOOOOOTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!

Anyway, best thing to do is just keep it varied and pay attention to the team u are playing against. Some teams have a tendency to run a lot, others pass a lot, some QBs are great against the zone or man yada.

Also, if u play on the D line, like me, use your hands up button when u can't get to the QB. Surprisingly very affective because it messes up the passing lanes and QBs become more inaccurate, I find. Can't think of anything else cuz I wanna get back into my FSU vs UNC game. I had to save that runback for a TD on kickoff. Woo, that was an incredibly nice touch to have the celebrating players BEFORE I even got into the endzone. Shweet.

What are line stunts?

I totally agree with your points. The stunts on the line help alot. I cant help but notice that the computer throws like crazy on me. I play on heisman but i still get freakin lit up in the secondary. Any defensive coverage pointers would help. Maybe ill try going will a little more man coverage like you said.

Marcoyl - line stunts are when one of the linemen circles around one of his fellow lineman. it is done to confuse the offensive lineman and hopefully cause miscommunication.

so lets say you have your right DE and right DT. your right DE will either fire straight out toward the LT, or he'll try and fire out toward the space between the LG and LT and get both to bite. The DT will then move to his right, around back of the DE and rush the passer from the where the LT should be.

You can do the same thing with the DT pushing toward the LT and LG with the DE circling around to the middle of the line and rushing there.

from what i've seen the Cover 2 is more effective now that you can get pressure on the QB with a very good front four.

That front four pressure has always been a central theme of the Cover 2 - hoping your lineman hurry the QB before the area behind the corners and to the outside of the safeties can be reached by a receiver. But its something that hasn't been viable in the past few NCAA's - really changing when and where you use the play.

I can attest to the running game being a lot different. After getting used to not holding the Turbo button down, my yards per game went up from 75 ypg to about 180 ypg. This playing on Heisman with Notre Dame against Big Ten teams (Iowa, Michigan, Ohio State). Blitzing is effective, especially in situations you know what the computer might do. Straight up the middle with my LB's on a pass play has been very effective, as has man coverage.

Boise State has given me fits in the passing game as well! No matter what defense I was running, they could complete a pass at will.. Glad to see I'm not the only one.

if you have fast DE's then you can get around the tackles many times to get to the QB, or if not then once the ball is snapped work the inside and use a finesse move to squeeze by the blocker. You will have alot of success doing this. Also, whenever you blitz, try doing different ones but all coming from one side and from relatively the same positions. Then on second and long either flip the package or try a corner blitz. You can also try just playing zone man coverage and just bend but dont break and then on once you force a third down do a seven man zone blitz with your coverage covering shallow. You will either sack the QB, bat down the pass or get an INT (but most likely you will get a stop). Of course they could also beat you deep then lol.

heres another strategy i use alot.. If the team you are playing tries to run the ball then shut down the run first.. how? always pinch your line when you want to defend the run, select a DT preferably your best one and when the ball is snapped, jump the snap and immediately do a power move to the side you see the run going. For some reason the DT's always break pasat their blocks on running plays in this ncaa. Once you do this a few times your whole DL should be hot and it will be easy for the rest of the game to stop the run. The CPU or person will start to pass the ball now so go into a 3-2-6 dime package and select from the plays in this package. The cover one robber is really good especially if you have a fast secondary. just mix in a blitz here and there to force a bad pass or get a sack. If you chose Multiple D to start the game then the dime 1-5-5 is probably the absolute best at defending the pass. I basically just switch between about 4 different plays, the cover 3 and cover 4 and i also do some zone blitz' once the QB starts getting comfortable.