NCAA Football 14 Impressions Thread

[hazelhood19]

Quote: Originally Posted by MrMBrown

Because it's an EA product and they're gonna find a reason to complain.

Don't get me wrong. I understand the complaining. It just doesn't make sense to me that every year people complain about things that are wrong with the game, that have been wrong since the start. There's things that I don't like about the game either, but I knew it would be like that going into it.

[RnRexpress3423]

I keep telling myself that EA is finally going to put it together this year, year in and year out. I'm still waiting and have been waiting for a long while.

The game has its pros but Damn from the grey face mask issue and the dB glitch still sticking it's ugly head out this game does feel incomplete. Why would EA let us play the season ticket version the way it is w no patch is beyond me. Do they want to lose people as customers because they lost my money last year and will not be getting a dime from me this year.

As many have said, if a day one patch is implemented, then great. If not, it's back to The Show and The Last of Us multi-player which is pretty Damn cool if you ask me.

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[jeremym480]

Quote: Originally Posted by jaredlib

BenG, JeremyM, or anyone using a heisman offense AA defense hybrid, please advise I love the idea of a split set but after one game I worry this feature is not working as intended I had been on AA for both, so what I did was leave the sliders that relate to CPU offense (users defensive and CPU offensive) on the AA settins and then put the sliders relating to user offense (user offensive and CPU defensive) to default 50, except user QBA at 5, which is where I wanted to start on heisman Well, I played am exhibition vs Michigan and it felt terrible. It felt like the whole thing was on default AA. I averaged 12 yards a carry and went 12/14 before turning it off. Are you playing in exhibitions or dynasty mode? Is the way I'm setting the sliders up for a hybrid set wrong?

I'm playing in Play Now. I have seen some of the wide open running game. Particularly in the Clemson/GT Tech game. I ran for 130 yards with their RB, but I just chalked that up to a good offense. In my next game Louisville (me) vs Florida. My starting RB had 92 yards on 20 attempts. He had a long of 22 yards, so if it weren't for that one long run he would have only averaged 3.69 YPC. Passing wise Bridgewater went 16-22 (73%), for 226 yards and had 2 TDs and 1. Which seems like a high completion %, but since he completed 68% it's not too high, in my opinion.

Florida's passing offense was terrible though. Driskel only completed 6-14 passes for 41 yards. I even called Zone for much of the game, so you can definitely shut down the CPU's passing game on AA. Their running game and D kept them in the game though and in the end I was able to squeak by with a 24-21 win.

So despite in flaws I had another close, competitive game.

Quote: Originally Posted by Quint75

I have played 7 full games and have not seen a fumble. I know most others are not experiencing this so I don't want to panic, but this is getting ridiculous. I always cover up when I am the ball carrier and I rarely use the hit-stick on defense, but in the past versions of the game I have always had a decent number of fumbles while playing this way. If this is an anomaly, it's a pretty damned nasty one.

I've seen a couple of fumbles through my first 6-7 games. I've fumbles three that I can recall. One was riding my RB... He was tried and I was trying to give him on last carry before I spelled him and he fumbled. The other two were both by WR's. One was running a slant and got nailed coming across the middle and the other was a screen pass where the WR caught the ball, took half a step, then got drilled by the safety.

Now that I think of it I've fumbled two more times, but those were on manual dives. I wouldn't advise diving in the middle of the field with your QB

The CPU has fumbled the ball a few times as well. Once their QB made a bad pitch on an option. I've also seen the QB fumble on a scramble, but they recovered.

[seanhazz1]

I see a lot of people complaining about the lack of D in 14 and I'm not really seeing it, especially after practicing D and playing online.

I'm here to defend the D.

I see it (perceived lack of D) more of a game-speed/momentum engine unfamiliarity from us. The ability to drive a lineman back into the quarterback or to perform lineman moves to get to or disrupt the QB, that actually work is great....even bumping that go-to tight end at the line results in a timing disruption now. You don't win them all but you do make more of a non-cheesy difference on D at the line than years past, and all without actually having to hit the QB (though its still great to do). The right stick+turbo in the right situation is great weapon at the line. Now, you also have to make the correct line blocking assignments or get hammered by better teams/game play.

Playing against Alabama's D-line is distinctly different than playing against Florida Atlantic's D-line.

The new D-line play and infinity engine, makes that pocket so much more dynamic and unpredictable now and a shrinking pocket DOES affect the QB and the offense (rushed releases, deflected passes, "tuck rule" types of hits, scrambles, etc.). The right stick moves feel natural and with certain players is almost OP IMO if anything. As a D-lineman, I've busted through the line on Heisman (using Syracuse) and almost taken the hand-off myself from the QB against the read option, pushed the QB into the ground with his own lineman, swim moves, spin moves, bull rushes, swatting passes, containing read-option running lanes, covering tight ends, covering RBs, forcing the pocket in a direction opposite of the designed play, blowing up lead blockers,

Press covering and bumping receivers has never been more satisfying. In some instances, they don't get off the line at all before the play ends because of battling with a good/superior CB and good defensive scheming. If anything CB user pick is OP, but i think its just me being used to doing it.

I think people expected to be handed the usual easy AI wins out of the box by using the same gimmicks on D that they used in the past, and they simply don't work as reliably as in years past. All of the complaints seem to be slider-fixable unless someone tells us the sliders aren't working.

I don't think you can just sit in the secondary now as a super MLB, or jump snapping(I know not in this year) DL all the time, expect the AI to pick up their slack and be successful, you have to mix it up and play the situation yourself correctly or get beat.

The read-option/triple threat is definitely not OP when running the right D against it.

Playing against a top QB is not at all like playing against a lower tier QB in accuracy, decision making, accuracy speed, etc. Blocking was improved last year, but wasn't done very good compared to this year. This year with improved blocking its perceived as OP. Its not, its the flavor of the week.

Deep/jump fades are much harder because the D can battle for the ball, by bumping, posting-up, pushing out of bounds, so having the correct player in coverage is also now more important instead of just the fast guy. You can now play the big bump coverage corner that's a true lock-down cover guy.

Overall I think the EA NCAA 14 team did a great job and the franchise is headed in a great direction on O, and on D game-play. It has a small issues here and there with recruiting and presentation, but definitely not deal breakers by any means.

[hazelhood19]

Quote: Originally Posted by seanhazz1

I see a lot of people complaining about the lack of D in 14 and I'm not really seeing it, especially after practicing D and playing online. I'm here to defend the D. I see it (perceived lack of D) more of a game-speed/momentum engine unfamiliarity from us. The ability to drive a lineman back into the quarterback or to perform lineman moves to get to or disrupt the QB, that actually work is great....even bumping that go-to tight end at the line results in a timing disruption now. You don't win them all but you do make more of a non-cheesy difference on D at the line than years past, and all without actually having to hit the QB (though its still great to do). The right stick+turbo in the right situation is great weapon at the line. Now, you also have to make the correct line blocking assignments or get hammered by better teams/game play. Playing against Alabama's D-line is distinctly different than playing against Florida Atlantic's D-line. The new D-line play and infinity engine, makes that pocket so much more dynamic and unpredictable now and a shrinking pocket DOES affect the QB and the offense (rushed releases, deflected passes, "tuck rule" types of hits, scrambles, etc.). The right stick moves feel natural and with certain players is almost OP IMO if anything. As a D-lineman, I've busted through the line on Heisman (using Syracuse) and almost taken the hand-off myself from the QB against the read option, pushed the QB into the ground with his own lineman, swim moves, spin moves, bull rushes, swatting passes, containing read-option running lanes, covering tight ends, covering RBs, forcing the pocket in a direction opposite of the designed play, blowing up lead blockers, Press covering and bumping receivers has never been more satisfying. In some instances, they don't get off the line at all before the play ends because of battling with a good/superior CB and good defensive scheming. If anything CB user pick is OP, but i think its just me being used to doing it. I think people expected to be handed the usual easy AI wins out of the box by using the same gimmicks on D that they used in the past, and they simply don't work as reliably as in years past. All of the complaints seem to be slider-fixable unless someone tells us the sliders aren't working. I don't think you can just sit in the secondary now as a super MLB, or jump snapping(I know not in this year) DL all the time, expect the AI to pick up their slack and be successful, you have to mix it up and play the situation yourself correctly or get beat. The read-option/triple threat is definitely not OP when running the right D against it. Playing against a top QB is not at all like playing against a lower tier QB in accuracy, decision making, accuracy speed, etc. Blocking was improved last year, but wasn't done very good compared to this year. This year with improved blocking its perceived as OP. Its not, its the flavor of the week. Deep/jump fades are much harder because the D can battle for the ball, by bumping, posting-up, pushing out of bounds, so having the correct player in coverage is also now more important instead of just the fast guy. You can now play the big bump coverage corner that's a true lock-down cover guy. Overall I think the EA NCAA 14 team did a great job and the franchise is headed in a great direction on O, and on D game-play. It has a small issues here and there with recruiting and presentation, but definitely not deal breakers by any means.

I agree with all of this. There's a reason the read option is such a popular offense to run these days. It's because it provides match-up problems, and simply put, IT IS hard to stop. So I'm glad it's hard to stop on the game. You have to stunt the line, bring pressure, etc. I like the difficulty.

[Flightwhite24]

Quote: Originally Posted by hazelhood19

Come on now. When's the last time the penalty sliders worked in any EA game? Nobody should buy this game expecting there to be penalties in it. As sad as that is, it's true, and everyone here should know that going into buying the game. I don't totally get where all the hate for this years game is coming from. It's like all the previous NCAA games, only a little better. Now it's up to you decide if that's good enough for you or not. It is for me. I'm having lots of fun with it so far, and will only enjoy it more once the rosters come out.

All the versions I've played in years past there were holding calls. I think some of you don't know the difference between complaining and pointing out issues

Its necessary to bring up bugs that are found so that a possible fix/patch is done. Thats not complaining, its making EA aware.



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[jeremym480]

Quote: Originally Posted by FLIGHTWHITE

All the versions I've played in years past there were holding calls. I think some of you don't know the difference between complaining and pointing out issues Its necessary to bring up bugs that are found so that a possible fix/patch is done. Thats not complaining, its making EA aware. Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

Penalties definitely need to be addressed. I've seen a couple in my first 6-7 games, (2 offensive pass interference, one holding and a couple of false starts) but that's about it. In real life that wouldn't even be one games worth of penalties.

Anyway, on one of the offensive pass interference's I saw something that I never had seen before. I was running a WR screen. The one where the WR screen is towards the middle of the offensive line. Before the play I hot routed the WR on the other side to a streak. When the play started the WR running the screen was covered so I tossed it up to the one running the streak. He jumped up and grabbed it over the CB, but a penalty was called. I was thinking that maybe he interfered with the CB, but when the penalty came up on the screen it was pass interference on the LT. Upon further review, the Tackle was called for interference because he was blocking down-field on a forward pass. Pretty cool.

[muggins]

I don't believe I played NCAA last year, so if this is old please forgive me, but the Nike training thing where you do all the drills is dang cool and a great way to waste time until rosters are released.