Diamonds In the Rough

[tweetintoucan]

One glaring issue in every NCAA Football game, or any sports game for that matter, is the progression of low-rated players who step up. For example, in last year's game, I was at Northwestern and landed a 3 star athlete with 95 speed. I used him throughout the season as my WR/HB/Wildcat QB and he finished his career with several school and national records, winning the Heisman his Junior year. How ever, no matter how untouchable he was every game, he still had the same low 67 rating, eventually rising up to 77 overall by his Sr. year. I'm sure everyone has had at least one player like this. It's even more frustrating when you upload draft classes, since the player won't be included because of his low rating. I understand that you can go in and manually change ratings, but I feel like I'm cheating if I do that.

[NEOPARADIGM]

I don't change skill or athleticism ratings - you have to play the cards you're dealt in recruiting - but I do alter AWR ratings to correspond with how much time a player has seen, if it seems appropriate.

A redshirt junior with three years starting experience and an AWR rating that's lower than some freshman I just brought in simply doesn't make any sense.

[Abominatrix]

People can run Maryland I power sweeps as their offense 100% of the time and set rushing records with nobodies if they want to. A player's statistics shouldn't determine their attributes, IMO, unless it goes both ways. Only give the ball to one player? Make the rest of the team get worse.

[lhinds7]

If he's doing that well (records, Heisman, ect.) why would you be concerned with what the game thinks his overall rating is?

[TDenverFan]

Quote: Originally Posted by lhinds7

If he's doing that well (records, Heisman, ect.) why would you be concerned with what the game thinks his overall rating is?

Because he won't get drafted in Madden with a low overall.

[tweetintoucan]

Quote: Originally Posted by Abominatrix

People can run Maryland I power sweeps as their offense 100% of the time and set rushing records with nobodies if they want to. A player's statistics shouldn't determine their attributes, IMO, unless it goes both ways. Only give the ball to one player? Make the rest of the team get worse.

I agree with you that there are some plays out there that are unstoppable, or the cpu AI is just to stupid to figure it out, like if you hand off to the HB on a PA Sweep out of the wildcat. And I also agree with you on the stats. The 88 overall receiver that only gets a catch or 2 a game should definitely drop significantly in rating, but I also think that the O-line and QB's should improve as well when looking at my case. Fluctuating ratings would also help give teams a better identity as a passing/running team, defensive powerhouse, etc.

The ratings also come into effect if you ever would want to simulate a game. Let's say that you are Western Kentucky and have just gone on an successful run to start the season, knocking off 3 top 25 teams. Then you're next game is against FCS NW, or Akron and you decide to simulate. Even though you are 3-0 and probably close to a top 25 team by now, there is still only about a 50-50 chance of winning that game. I'm not one to simulate games, but I'm just saying...

As for the draft issue. I think it would be great if you could just save all outgoing players as the class of 2014 or whatever. Players rated 85-100 or so would be entered into the draft, and all other players could be signed as UDFA afterwards.

[joephillips03]

I don't mind low rated studs too much. Maybe they just play harder lol. And maybe that high rated QB with all the talent can't handle the publicity or pressure. I don't know maybe ratings are an indicator of potential and ability and not performance. Just because a guy has the talent to lead the nation in rushing doesn't mean he will ever do it! Just my personal view.

[jbrew2411]

The only time overall ever matters is for draft classes. In the OP's case his guy was not included in the draft file. Now flash forward to Madden 12 where you can edit the draft classes so issue solved. I like the guys who are college studs that don't make it to the NFL. Gives a real life feel.