EJ Manuel talks NCAA Football 14's Gameplay

[RaychelSnr]

EJ Manuel has played NCAA Football for years with his friends, so when it came time to work with EA Sports on NCAA Football 14, the former Florida State signal caller was excited about the opportunity.

I recently got a chance to talk with Manuel, who led Florida State to a 12-2 record and an Orange Bowl victory this past season, about NCAA Football 14 and how its gameplay is stacking up versus what you see on the field in the real thing on Saturdays in the Fall.

Manuel was down in Orlando giving the development team pointers on how real college offenses work, including the zone reads Florida State commonly ran last season with him at the helm. He also got a tour of the EA facilities down in Orlando.

"I had a great time down here with these guys," Manuel said.

Read More - EJ Manuel talks NCAA Football 14's Gameplay

[roadman]

That doesn't mean the game is overpowering to the offense though. Manuel said he felt the game was much smarter when it came to how defenders react to the ball and what you are doing, citing the DBs ability to jump routes as just one example of this improvement on the defensive end.

Another visual addition to the gameplay will be the different looking line play up front.

"The line play is a lot more violent. These guys aren't just standing there like before. I think they call it the waltz around here? These guys are really hitting each other up front, it looks better."

Good article.

The waltz = pattycake?

Good deal if that is gone.

[DeuceDouglas]

Hopefully this is in Madden and they designed some sort of spacial awareness, rather than assignment, to the blockers. Nothing is worse than running a WR screen and having three blockers go out and just stand there dumbfounded as the corner runs through them all untouched to pick off the pass. As well as having a guard pull and run right past a guy rather than chip or block him.

[soonermagic88]

Yup, im officialy riding first class on the hype train!!
Baring any horrific showings during some long gameplay videos, this year is looking promising. If they have fixed the d line too, then im sold.

[jmik58]

Hopefully the speed burst through an open lane isn't some arcade boost. IRL it's just a runner going at about 50-75% and then kicking it in to full speed -- nothing above their actual ability.

[BLACKjersey53]

What?! Linemen blocking down field?! More violent line play? Having been an offensive/defensive lineman for 10+ years, this has me riding first class on the hype train.

[XxJustAguessxX]

I just hope the game is as good as it sounds. Please fix the night lighting and I'm happy lol.

[DJ]

Quote: Originally Posted by jmik58

Hopefully the speed burst through an open lane isn't some arcade boost. IRL it's just a runner going at about 50-75% and then kicking it in to full speed -- nothing above their actual ability.

I wonder how that will work if you use Auto-Sprint?

The OL interaction that Manuel describes sounds too good to be true. Hopefully we get to see what he was talking about soon.