Strange/Interesting Happenings In The Game

[TarHeelPhenom]

So, yesterday I played in the CFP Playoff Semifinal. My team (#2 Maryland) played against #3 Oregon. I came in at 13-1 and they were 14-0. The game had them as about 4 points better overall than my team. No big deal because I face that in the Big 10 all the time.

The game begins and I notice something, my starting running back, who is a 1st All-American, Doak Walker Award winner, the nations leader in rushing, and one of my star/impact players all year had his star removed. This while coming off of a big game in the Quarterfinal. The star was given to my 2nd string running back. Now my 2nd stringer is good, but not as good as my starter. I didn’t really think anything of it until the game got started and my starter was playing very average for his standards. I mean he couldn’t beat anyone to the outside, his agility wasn’t there. He wasn’t the same player for whatever reason. It just seemed random.

The next thing I noticed was that my QB couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn. I mean the most basic of throws he was sailing, overthrowing and underthrowing. This lasted for like 2 and a half quarters. I was like what is going on. I mean dudes wide open on the plays we’ve run all season. I’m like is the moment too big? We were in the Natty last year. Don’t get no bigger than that.

Next thing I noticed was that on offense after we snapped the ball my team would move slow. Like all of my wide receivers and tight ends were moving slow off the ball and breaking their routes slow. This was also contributing to passes not being completed. I’ve never experienced that. It was very frustrating.

Now Oregon had several impact players on their team, but again nothing more than we have faced while playing Michigan, Ohio State, or Penn State, and none of these things happened like this in those games.

My team managed to fight through all of the “adversity”, after being down by 3 scores going into the 4th quarter to tie the game up with a minute left. Oregon got the last possession, drove the ball down, and kicked a walk off FG to win 51-48. I wasn’t really mad at the end because I knew that was my last game at Maryland. I’ve taken them as far as I can. So this isn’t a cry over spilled milk and I’m proud we kept fighting in spite of what seemed like the odds being stacked against us. Believe you me they felt stacked lol!

Anybody else gone through anything like this?

[Joey323]

I've experienced the slow players on defense moreso in the playoffs. I will user the MLB or even the safety, and the RB's will consistently beat me to the outside and leave my guys in the dust as they run in mud.

I'll also use my OLB's in zone pass coverage sometimes and there are some games where the ball will be snapped but it will not allow me to run anywhere with the player. He will be frozen in defensive position and they will throw it over him for a big gain.

Often times I lose these games when it happens, so I think it is the CPU cheating which ended up killing my early love for the game.

[sherrane]

Quote: Originally Posted by TarHeelPhenom

Next thing I noticed was that on offense after we snapped the ball my team would move slow. Like all of my wide receivers and tight ends were moving slow off the ball and breaking their routes slow. This was also contributing to passes not being completed. I’ve never experienced that. It was very frustrating.

I have had this experience in several games. I am not sure if it is a bug or what factors are present that create this anomaly. While it mostly happens (or is more noticeable) in big games and playoffs, it will sometimes happen in regular season games. Last night I had a speed back (96 speed, 94 acceleration) who could not get out of the backfield and was constantly getting caught from behind by EDGE players. He averages 5 -- 6 yards per carry and had 3 yards on his first 7 carries. I ran a stretch play to the right, held speed burst, and he was still caught from behind by the DE coming from the left side of the formation for a 2-yard loss (who had 78 speed).


There are also times where my LBs seem to be running about half speed even after I take over control and speed burst does not seem to have any influence. I have given up several big plays because the offensive player seems to take 2 strides for every stride my defensive player makes, so my angle is woefully incorrect.

Quote: Originally Posted by TarHeelPhenom

...my starting running back, who is a 1st All-American, Doak Walker Award winner, the nations leader in rushing, and one of my star/impact players all year had his star removed...

Did you notice if he was missing from the Impact Players presentation that happens before the 2nd possession of the game (your first time on either offense or defense)? I had a RG that was one of the two Impact Players for the first half of the season who was replaced on this display by my QB and the RG lost his star. He did not regress nor was he injured, but he was much more susceptible to a bull rush. On the first series his star was gone, he was thrown into the backfield and the DT tackled my RB for a loss.

[TarHeelPhenom]

Quote: Originally Posted by sherrane

I have had this experience in several games. I am not sure if it is a bug or what factors are present that create this anomaly. While it mostly happens (or is more noticeable) in big games and playoffs, it will sometimes happen in regular season games. Last night I had a speed back (96 speed, 94 acceleration) who could not get out of the backfield and was constantly getting caught from behind by EDGE players. He averages 5 -- 6 yards per carry and had 3 yards on his first 7 carries. I ran a stretch play to the right, held speed burst, and he was still caught from behind by the DE coming from the left side of the formation for a 2-yard loss (who had 78 speed). There are also times where my LBs seem to be running about half speed even after I take over control and speed burst does not seem to have any influence. I have given up several big plays because the offensive player seems to take 2 strides for every stride my defensive player makes, so my angle is woefully incorrect. Did you notice if he was missing from the Impact Players presentation that happens before the 2nd possession of the game (your first time on either offense or defense)? I had a RG that was one of the two Impact Players for the first half of the season who was replaced on this display by my QB and the RG lost his star. He did not regress nor was he injured, but he was much more susceptible to a bull rush. On the first series his star was gone, he was thrown into the backfield and the DT tackled my RB for a loss.

I’ll have to go back and watch to see. It just seemed so random and they gave the star to my second string back. As for the other stuff, I don’t know…maybe it is a bug. But, if t was the first time I had experienced any of that and I had played in many big games before. Maybe it was the games way of trying to simulate “adversity “???

[sherrane]

Quote: Originally Posted by TarHeelPhenom

So, yesterday I played in the CFP Playoff Semifinal. My team (#2 Maryland) played against #3 Oregon. I came in at 13-1 and they were 14-0. The game had them as about 4 points better overall than my team. No big deal because I face that in the Big 10 all the time. The game begins and I notice something, my starting running back, who is a 1st All-American, Doak Walker Award winner, the nations leader in rushing, and one of my star/impact players all year had his star removed. This while coming off of a big game in the Quarterfinal. The star was given to my 2nd string running back. Now my 2nd stringer is good, but not as good as my starter. I didn’t really think anything of it until the game got started and my starter was playing very average for his standards. I mean he couldn’t beat anyone to the outside, his agility wasn’t there. He wasn’t the same player for whatever reason. It just seemed random. (removed content) Anybody else gone through anything like this?

I just remembered something similar in a very early version. I don't know if this is still valid.


Did you replace / hire a new OC? I went to a Pro Style from a Spread with a new OC hire during the playoffs and my 95 overall 3rd down back dropped to a 78. A new scheme from a new coach might still impact the ratings.

[TarHeelPhenom]

Quote: Originally Posted by sherrane

I just remembered something similar in a very early version. I don't know if this is still valid. Did you replace / hire a new OC? I went to a Pro Style from a Spread with a new OC hire during the playoffs and my 95 overall 3rd down back dropped to a 78. A new scheme from a new coach might still impact the ratings.

Na, I have the same OC and DC I hired when I first took the Maryland job. You mentioned earlier version. I am playing on the 1.0.0.9 build. I wonder if this happens on the more current builds.

[IlluminatusUIUC]

Quote: Originally Posted by sherrane

I have had this experience in several games. I am not sure if it is a bug or what factors are present that create this anomaly. While it mostly happens (or is more noticeable) in big games and playoffs, it will sometimes happen in regular season games. Last night I had a speed back (96 speed, 94 acceleration) who could not get out of the backfield and was constantly getting caught from behind by EDGE players. He averages 5 -- 6 yards per carry and had 3 yards on his first 7 carries. I ran a stretch play to the right, held speed burst, and he was still caught from behind by the DE coming from the left side of the formation for a 2-yard loss (who had 78 speed). There are also times where my LBs seem to be running about half speed even after I take over control and speed burst does not seem to have any influence. I have given up several big plays because the offensive player seems to take 2 strides for every stride my defensive player makes, so my angle is woefully incorrect.

Is this a Wear and Tear / Composure issue? I've noticed sometimes that W&T can have huge effects on stats, and if composure and W&T are being combined then it might be massive.

[sherrane]

Quote: Originally Posted by IlluminatusUIUC

Is this a Wear and Tear / Composure issue? I've noticed sometimes that W&T can have huge effects on stats, and if composure and W&T are being combined then it might be massive.

Those were 1st quarter observations. I rotate a lot of players into games and usually have 3 of 4 RBs with at least 1 carry before halftime. I usually remove a player for a few plays when I get the "he's dinged up" notification where you see his attributes sliding. I'm loving the daylights out of the 85 man rosters and hope we will eventually have 100 -- 105 player rosters even if they keep the distributed roster at 85.