Special Teams - Yearly Rant

[ChicagoChris]

Here is my yearly rant on special teams. You know the 1/3 of the game that each year gets consistently ignored.

For all you guys that go to community events or get an advance preview, take a look at special teams.

I am all for the other stuff (tackling animations, new pass trajectory etc) but for once I just want to kick or punt and have the chance that perhaps a kick can get blocked or a kick returned.

Feel free to comment but remember..this is 1/3 of the game that is always ignored.

[LastExit]

I'm with you all the way on this, with the exception that I've returned a kickoff for a TD a few times (it's not easy....but it isn't easy in real life).

But the complete lack of punts and field goals/extra points being blocked is silly. In earlier iterations of the game you had a hope to block a game-winning field goal.....now it is impossible (or there's some secret way of doing it that I'm unaware of). I really miss this because being able to block a kick now and then adds to the realism of the game and it's not asking too much from the development team.

[prototype561]

Wel,l i can block a fg every few games on 12 so thats not a problem for me. I have had quite a few kick returns also even though its not realistic. Basically I run straight and my blockers knock every player down in front of me. I have only returned 1 punt return on this years game. Never blocked a punt. I think they don't address these issues because it must be hard to balance out. It seems like you can return to many kickoffs/punts or not any. These usually overdo things so i guess this is what we will have until next gen.

[Broncos86]

One major drill taught during punt and kick returns is how to run with a man and suddenly cut in front to block. That's a key component. In NCAA 12, the blockers would run down, then do this odd loop to get turned around and nobody would block. When I play, I ALWAYS take another man back to help block.

During the gameplay presentation, I noticed blockers getting this mechanic right: stutter-step, turn, block. When I saw that, I nodded. So I punts and kick offs will see some improved blocking.

[MathisJones]

I can block FG's easily - trick is to take the guy to the far left, jump the snap & you're golden. Make sure he has good acceleration.

I have returned plenty of kickoffs, too. Usually needs to be a kick outside the hashes, run straight, get your tight ends/fullbacks to get a block or 2 & you're off.

I have returned punts, but it takes calling punt block return. Keeps the opponent from gunning. Only problem with this is when you get called for clipping, the opponent will decline it every time you don't score a TD. Even if you get tackled at the one. So when I see the flag, I fall down.

I have blocked ONE punt in the 100 or so games I've played. All out punt block on the one yard line. My back up true freshman SS sneaked in & got it. Resulted in a safety.

I think special teams are pretty good, except I've never had a kick blocked on me. I've given up a few TD's on returns. Only issue is trajectory of field goals, but it's whatever as long as the results are realistic.

[MillsapsMan]

Its not even the lack of blocks that upsets me, its the fact that there is no variety in the special teams.

For instance Not every team in the country uses that same punt formation, many have now switched to the more spread out style.

I just wish for once they would address details, I know I'm dreaming

[ChicagoChris]

Good info...but one block every 100 games is not realistic. Also, how about punt blocks up the middle? I have blocked a few coming from the far left/right as well.

It's the variety that the poster above stated. There is just a lack of variety. Here's hoping 2013 improves on that.

[BenGerman]

What some people don't seem to understand is, while you may be able to block kicks and return them on a fairly regular basis, the CPU cannot. For me, that's a deal breaker. Anything the CPU can't do, I try not to do either. What EA needs to do is change the success rate of the blockers. About 1 in every 5 block attempts, someone gets through. Out of those who get through, about one in 3 actually make the block. That gives you about a 1/4 chance of having a blocked kick or punt in a game.