End of the Year Discoveries, because why not

[Gotmadskillzson]

Alright lets get to it.

Illegal Block in the Back Penalty Slider- From my experience with testing it, it seem to act like more like an impact block slider. As in WRs, TEs, OLs look to seal their block more and look to block the next level of defenders. The higher it is, the better they block. You will also notice improved blocking on punt and kick off returns.

Trade off is obvious, you will get flagged from time to time.

Fatigue - This is a tricky setting. On default 50, the CPU AI plays better with their decision making, especially with running the ball and QB scrambling. When you raise it, you lose it. I think EA tied a lot of the decision making and abilities to fatigue level. Also notice more wear and tear on default then having it raised as well.

Face Mask - The penalty that is never called. One thing it does though like it did in years past is control how violent tackling is. The higher it is, the more hit stick style tackles and fumbles you will see. The lower I wouldn't say more wrap style, but more regular tackles with way less of a fumble chance.

Ball Security - Now this slider surprised me. You put it at zero and the CPU can run the ball and run it well. Even more surprising is, even at zero and User tackle at 50, you don't see a lot of fumbles what so ever. I thought for sure it would be a fumble fest, but nope it is not.

I didn't have to raise run block slider what so ever nor lower user tackle slider. Just put Ball security at 0 for the CPU.

But anyway, those 4 things is all I had to move around to have good games on All American against the CPU.

[Collegefbfan]

I have noticed in my last few dynasty games against CPU that block in the back is called a lot. I have been meaning to dial it down a bit but keep forgetting.

[Gotmadskillzson]

I have block in the back at 85. The benefits of it outweighs the few flags I might get from it.

[TarHeelPhenom]

Speed Parity Slider

On earlier builds you could adjust this slider to higher numbers and the game still felt great. You could still outrun people if you were faster and/or had a step on someone. You could still beat defenders to the sideline, while your passing windows were tighter all at the same time. I play/still play with the slider at 95 on the earlier builds.

Current build, since EA has been tuning the game, it's better left at default 50. Higher slider settings produce major warping, also makes the running game feel unnatural, and affects RAC.

[jello1717]

Quote: Originally Posted by Gotmadskillzson

I have block in the back at 85. The benefits of it outweighs the few flags I might get from it.

Wow!
85!
I had both holding and block in the back @ 53 and had to turn it down to 52 because 50% (this isn’t an exaggeration) of my runs outside the tackles (usually speed options or triple options) were called back for either holding or block in the back. It seemed to be about an even split so probably 25% of my outside runs had a block in the back called (I kept it @ 53 for about 4 seasons, so we’re not talking about a 2 or 2 game sample size, but rather 50 or so games).

[Gotmadskillzson]

No a discovery or anything but personal preference for me is to put kickoff power to 40 and punt power to 63. Punt power is mainly get the punt average distance to around real life for college, which is around 48 or 49 yards a punt. Also to give them room to return. Game by default has way too many fair catches. Same thing for kick off power, at 40, it keeps you from kicking into the end zone majority of the time and you actually get to see returns. IRL players would just run it out, even 7 yards deep. In the game however, if it is beyond a yard deep, they will never run it out.

[jello1717]

Quote: Originally Posted by Gotmadskillzson

No a discovery or anything but personal preference for me is to put kickoff power to 40 and punt power to 63. Punt power is mainly get the punt average distance to around real life for college, which is around 48 or 49 yards a punt. Also to give them room to return. Game by default has way too many fair catches. Same thing for kick off power, at 40, it keeps you from kicking into the end zone majority of the time and you actually get to see returns. IRL players would just run it out, even 7 yards deep. In the game however, if it is beyond a yard deep, they will never run it out.

I do the opposite with kickoffs as I wanna kick it into the end zone more often than on default as that makes it more realistic.

I’m not sure what teams you’re watching that return kickoffs from 7 yards deep, but that’s pretty rare. I checked the kickoff stats from 2024 and 50% of kickoffs are touchbacks and only 37% of kickoffs are even returned at all.

[Gotmadskillzson]

This season you had over a dozen players who averaged over 20 yards per a kick off return. So yeah I want to see returns. Touchbacks are just so boring to me. Like why even bother kicking it off, just give it to them at the 25.