VG Sports - NCAA Football 2005 impressions

[VG_Bert]

If Fed Ex delivers according to plan, mad_bomber, me & Kobra should have our hands on the retail release version of NCAA Football 2005 sometime around 12 noon tomorrow (Friday)

Besides things like team & player ratings (we'll do some of this but not a ton) what kinds of things do you guys want to know about? Especially, what types of screen shots do you guys want to see? Do you want game play, dynasty stuff, online? We'll make a full report on the site over the weekend.

Thanks,

Bert

[orlandoPace]

id like to see a couple screenshots of the run blocking, with a running back shooting through the gap, in action...

because i felt this was something that really hurt ncaa 2004, i thought the run blocking was terrible

and maybe an in depth review of the new dynasty mode, ill figure the online part out on my own.

[rhombic21]

Here's my checklist, for what it's worth I couldn't give 2 *****s about screenshots of uniforms or stadiums, or ratings, I'll find those things out soon enough.

1) Check out the custom playbooks. How customizable are they, how big are they, and can you use them online?

2) Check out the formations to see if there are any new formations, and also look around on offense AND defense, and see if you notice any new plays which look good.

3) Practice running the option and off tackle from Power Run sets (Maryland I, Wishbone Tight, etc....), to see if the defenses do a little better of a job containing to the outside. In other words, look to see if the CB's and OLB's still get sucked in to the TE, giving up the perimeter EVERY time. It's IMPERATIVE that you test this against MAN defenses. Also test this out with I forms and such, to see if the defense does a better job of containing the off tackle, counter, and option game.

4) Run an option pass play versus Cover 2 zone. See if it's still a GAURANTEED TD, because the SS freaking rushes the QB from 20 yards out, instead of getting back in coverage (after the QB drops back to pass). Also, look to see if man-man defense actually defends the run here. Last year, the defense wouldn't come up to stop the option, and so you could essentially call option pass with no intention of running it, and gain unrealistic yardage, due to the way that the LB's played the QB (as if he was a passer, and not a runner).

5) Run a PA pass play that DOES NOT have the FB on a pass route, and see if he actually stays in to block this year.

6) Test out Dime defenses versus the run (ie dime fire 2 and other blitzes, with the line piched), to see if they are still overly effective.

7) Test out Cover 2 zone coverage to see if it actually covers the flats. Test out Cover 3 coverage to see if it covers ANYTHING this year. Look at zones in general to see if they are more effective this year. Do the guys generally cover their designated area well? Do defenders still let WR's and TE's come and sit down right in front of their zone, or do they play more aggressively to take away the curls and outs? Is there more variety in terms of coverage options, with regard to different blitz packages and such?

8) Test out man-man bump and run, from a Cover 2 man defense, to see if it's still impossible to beat the defense consistently (ie does the WR ever beat his man on a quick slant or crossing route).

9) Test out the QB spy plays to see if the LB plays them any better, and also to see if the OL blocks them right (the C should double on one of the DT's, instead of being occupied by the LB, who isn't rushing the QB).

10) If you could, show a screen/video which demonstrates any improvements in the inside run game, particularly with OL, FB, and TE blocking.

11) As was previously mentioned, look to see if the option pitch situation has been fixed any. Do 15 yard pitches through traffic still hit the HB in the hands perfectly.

12) Try some draw plays from under center (Ace forms in particular), to see if the OL blocks them any better this year. Last year the OL essentially pass blocked, which often left no hole for the HB to run through. Also, call a draw play from under center against any zone defense. See if the WR's actually run routes this year, instead of dropping back and PASS BLOCKING, as they do this year against zone defenses.

13) Test the HB draw from Shotgun formations to see if it is still IMPOSSIBLE to stop with a man-man non blitzing D (such as a Cover 1 spy play, or a Cover 2 man play). It should still be effective, but a team with superior DT's, LB's, and Safeties should be able to contain the draw play without having to blitz 6 and 7 guys.

14) Try to analog blitz, and see if EA has removed this annoying flaw. To analog blitz, here's what you do: Take control of your desired defender (usually a LB or S), and move him near the LOS in position to shoot through a gap, or around the edge of the OL. Press Triangle to bring up "Coverage audible". Now hold Circle (or whatever the Xbox equivalent of that is) and press slightly down on the Analog Stick. You'll notice that your guy doesn't move from his spot, don't press down too far, or he will. Now when the ball is hiked, if AB still works, your guy will look like he was shot from a cannon, and will be in the backfield in less than 3 secs (sometimes he'll get to the QB right when the SG snap arrives). I really hope that this is gone this year, as it put a bad flavor on online play.

15) Are the mobile Qb's still able to make 50 and 60 yard throws on the run to recievers who then go up and win jump ball situations, or do you see more realistic scenarios where the ball floats and 4 and 5 DB's circle around to deflect/intercept it?

16) Try to speed rush with a very fast DE against a talented OT, and see if it's any less effective.

17) Call a play where you've got a Safety gaurding either a HB, FB or TE, who stays in to block. See if that guy still blitzes, or if he stays back in coverage.

18) Look to see if blocking FG's and Punts is any better. Also, look to see if the FAKE Field goals are any better. Last year you couldn't call any of the fake FG plays (even when your opponent was basically moving guys in such a way that they would be inceridlibly vulnerable to a fake), because the holder took so long to even stand up, and got tackled before he had a chance to do anything most of the time. Also look to see if the Punt Safe (Punt Fake) defenses are any better. Last year you could run the up back versus Punt Safe and still gain 4-5 yards relatively easily.

[mad_bomber]

We'll be checking all of those things out. I personally plan on going through the game with a fine tooth comb. My review will be very, very, detailed from an X's and O's standpoint. I'm most curious about the custom playbook feature. We've yet to here anything on this.

[hobbs2324]

rhombic21 could you add some more, a little thin on material, JK, I'd like to hear how much the home field advantage really helps or hurts a team, blocking and passing hot routes, and options available for audibling such as being able to flip plays without resetting the formation, do we still have the same hot routes for passing, can the HB on a passing route be able to be hotrouted in more situations then last years game

[TOBIAS1]

I would definitely like to see if the AI is any better at covering the flats in the cover2, I can't tell you how many times I wanted to throw my cintroller because my outside corners are 15 yards down field in the cover2!!!

Check to see if the offense chooses some kind of trips formation if the defense still staggers on the weak side and always get caught in the block if ran to that direction. Menaing how the corner will drop back 10 yards and generally always come straight down into the FB or the TE coming out to block!! Stay on the line dammnit!!!!

How is the passing Accuracy due to the rating of the QB??? Does it comply to the rating??? Is it realistic or is someone with a 84 or hirer THA still overthrows people, (even when there is no pressure) by like 10 yards!!!!

How much does the composure, matchup stick thing really play a part in players of equal talent????

Try rushing hard with on of your DE's straight down and see if the OT is as retarded as he was in 2004 and just kind of forgets and looks forward even if knowone else is rushing that slot!!!!

Try scrambling ouside of the pocket with a decent QB and pick a defense with fairly good outside corners, meaning descent awareness, speed etc... and see if they peel off of their respective assignments and come after the QB EVERYTIME, try zone as well as man, instead of shadowing an area. I could see if some of the younger less experienced DB's did this due to lack of knowledge, but even the best corners in the game give up on the assignments and just go banzai for the QB time ans time again.

What is this whole AGILE RUNNING SYSTEM about??? is it THAT affective????

If you happen to get really deep into the franchise mode let us know what the skilled player positioning system is all about, meaning how does a tight high school QBslashWRslashHB fair at the QB position or vice versa, same with corners to recievers or even safeties to linebackers.

is there going to be some kind of minicamp mode like maddens in the off season where you can manually enhance the players you choose through drills??? or are we just to assume that the ABILITY FAIRY waives her wand at that redshirt sophmore and he has a breakthrough :eek: Never liked that.

Sorry lots of thoughts here :cool:

[Farmer]

How well does the new schemes work?? I'm talking about the 3-3-5 and the 4-2-5.

Oh what about QB containment??



-Farmer

[mad_bomber]

The cpu defense does seem to be a tad tougher. I can tell you this now it's probably in you best interest to manual catch the ball. I just got the XBOX version of the game about an hour or so ago. So I need to play some more to get a better feel for everthing. I'm going to write my very initial impressions soon. I'll have to wait until Monday before I get the PS2 version.

[mad_bomber]

On the XBOX version I think the slower gameplay is contributing to lower scores. Receivers don't seem to have that extra gear it take to get away. I have to admit I'm looking forward to the PS2 version in hopes that its not as slow as the XBOX version. The slower pace is great for the running game.

The HFA and controller vibration you have the option of turning that off. The HFA does rattle your team. I just played a game on Heisman default at Washington's Husky Stadium. I was Houston. My offense was backed up on the three yard line and the crowd was going bonkers. The controller was shaking as my offense came out in the Ace Big Twins formation with HB Read run play called. I noticed their defenders were creeping up closer to the line of scrimmage so I tried to audible. I audibled to a pass play within that same formation, but apparently my players didn't get it. At the snap half the guys look like they were trying to run block and the other half didn't seem to know what on earth they were doing. Needless to say my quarterback got nailed for a safety. So far I've been having a tough time moving the ball with Houston on Heisman default although their offense is rated a B+.

[VG_Bert]

Here's our first round of thoughts:

http://www.collegefootballtips.com/ncaa2005review.html

[rhombic21]

Sounds good man. MY only two complaints are the issues with the tight formations, which I'm hoping might be able to be counteracted with some more effective zone defenses from 5-2 and 4-4, as well as the 4-2-5 and 3-3-5, and the fact that the AB is still in the game. I've also heard that custom playbooks are not available online, nor are any D2 or classic teams. Can you confirm this when you get a chance?

I worry that because almost ALL of the improvements on offense are centered around creating a more realistic running game, that more people will turn to a balanced or run heavy offense. What worries me is that people who can't play defense, or who use teams with weak front 7's, will just resort the the AB in order to stop the run, and that the AB will see an EXPLOSION in popularity due to the increased emphasis on the run game by most users. Hopefully the reputation thing will help limit that type of behavior, or at least give some warning of it before the game starts.

Can you maybe go into the lab (practice mode), and see if you see any zone defenses that look to be effective (and hopefully realistic,) in defending the power run formations (without using the AB). There are over 30 QB's in the game with a speed rating higher than 80 (compared to 5 last year), so we can expect this tactic to be popular in online play (all those Nebraska guys have to go somewhere, right?)

[D-Mac]

....Million dollar question: Is Mike Williams on the game?

[Farmer]

....Million dollar question: Is Mike Williams on the game?



There is a WR on USC's roster that's wearing #1, but he's not a starter and what's more funny is that he's the highest overall rated WR on the game.




-Farmer

[VG_Bert]

He's there, but not included in the depth chart. You can of course put him as your starter if you want.

OVR 99, SPD 90, AWR 95, CTH 99, JMP 99

[Farmer]

He's there, but not included in the depth chart. You can of course put him as your starter if you want.

OVR 99, SPD 90, AWR 95, CTH 99, JMP 99

The above #'s are the exact reason why he'll be my #2 or #3 reciever. ;)



-Farmer

[DookieMowf]

Thanks for the impressions guys. Since you have went online with the xbox can you check one thing out for me and im sure a lot of us Xbox users want to know. Someone said that a guy at the IGN boards said he entered roster names and they didnt show up (like they do for PS2) is there anyway you could find out. Just name like one player on whatever team, go online with that team and see if the player name shows up> Maybe he had it where only numbers are shown instead of names and maybe it does show up. I would just hate that xbox users get screwed, gameplay is slower then PS2, although PS2 looked pretty fast from the movies.


Just a dedicated gamer in need of an answer..lol


Thanks
Brandon

[VG_Bert]

I'm pretty sure I remember seeing them when I played yesterday. I named by Gators and it did seem like I saw them online as well.

I'll do another test later for sure.

[DookieMowf]

I'm pretty sure I remember seeing them when I played yesterday. I named by Gators and it did seem like I saw them online as well.

I'll do another test later for sure.


I really appreciate it man. I would hate for it to be on PS2 online and not xbl.

[mad_bomber]

Sounds good man. MY only two complaints are the issues with the tight formations, which I'm hoping might be able to be counteracted with some more effective zone defenses from 5-2 and 4-4, as well as the 4-2-5 and 3-3-5, and the fact that the AB is still in the game. I've also heard that custom playbooks are not available online, nor are any D2 or classic teams. Can you confirm this when you get a chance?

I worry that because almost ALL of the improvements on offense are centered around creating a more realistic running game, that more people will turn to a balanced or run heavy offense. What worries me is that people who can't play defense, or who use teams with weak front 7's, will just resort the the AB in order to stop the run, and that the AB will see an EXPLOSION in popularity due to the increased emphasis on the run game by most users. Hopefully the reputation thing will help limit that type of behavior, or at least give some warning of it before the game starts.

Can you maybe go into the lab (practice mode), and see if you see any zone defenses that look to be effective (and hopefully realistic,) in defending the power run formations (without using the AB). There are over 30 QB's in the game with a speed rating higher than 80 (compared to 5 last year), so we can expect this tactic to be popular in online play (all those Nebraska guys have to go somewhere, right?)


I've been practicing against the Wishbone tight triple option with the 3-3-5 Stack Mid Blitz. I control the FS and use the strafe button to get into position. It allows me to flow with my FS to either direction relatively easy. I set up an option playbook with all of those tight formaitons and played a game against the cpu. I was able to hold the cpu's running game in check, especially when the when to Maryland I and Wishbone Tight. I'm going to be logging on to XBOX Live later tonight (when my gf goes to bed :D) and try to find someone that uses the Wishbone TIght offense. You guys will notice that you can really give the cpu offense fits on the default levels below Heisman.

[seanmac]

I know I'll cringe when I get the answer, but what is an analog blitz? (Can you tell I've got an Xbox?)

[mad_bomber]

Heres the answer.

Analog Blitz (http://www.vgsportsinc.com/forums/showthread.php?p=64229#post64229)

[DookieMowf]

Anymore impressions since you guys have had more time to play? More positives, more negitives?

[DookieMowf]

Question: Could you play as a team like baylor, Duke, some of the weaker teams and see how HFA works for them( of course not as well as OU, USC etc) but just wondering. Also, could you control OU or UT, sim to the Red River Shootout and see how HFA is handled in that game? Or even in bowl games?

im real intersted to see if the crowd gets hyped for both teams in games like that and if HFA even works or what? Maybe play as the away team and home team, maybe it works for both in games of that nature?


Thanks

[mad_bomber]

The crowd does try to get into the game in the smaller stadiums, but the HFA is nowhere near as good as it is in the big time college stadiums. The most glaring thing I've noticed about the XBOX version of the game deals with the passing game. There seems to be an over abundance of dropped passes, even if you try to manually catch the ball.

[TrojanNole]

Many people consider the AB blitz cheesy, so be selective when using it.

[hobbs2324]

tough to get AB Blitz to work with Xbox, the sprint button changes which player you are controlling prior to the snap, at least in my config.

[TrojanNole]

Why are there so many dropped passes for? Was EA trying to tone down the passing game? Is there a new way to manual catch passes this year, like a new button u mash.

[kbell97]

I already thought in NCAA 2004 the dropped passes are realistic enough, I agree with Trojan with why is there a need for more dropped passes, I already get mad enough when reciever drop passes, not it sounds like it happens to much.

[mad_bomber]

I've only noticed this on the XBOX version I'm interested in seeing how it is on the PS2 version. I'll be interested in reading you all's comments as you get the game.

[hobbs2324]

2004 xbox version with the initial rosters, I was having passes dropped all the time. Once I recruited better recievers the problem went away. It could be just an xbox thing at the beginning of the dynasty and it will go away as you recruit better players
Just a thought

[orlandoPace]

i have the xbox version for 2004

i did notice a lot of dropped passes at the beginning, but i think it was becasue the game was new and i didnt lead my faster better receivers

and i have also noticed that they sometimes catch the bullet pass a lot better than the lob, which sometimes bounces off of them

and i played a season in my dynasty where i had a qb with Pass accuracy at 75 and my 90 rated receivers could catch it even if it looked like it was right to them, so i think it depends on qb too

[kbell97]

My impression, and I will be brief cause I got to get back to playing.

Offense- love the running game, very awesome, especially out of the one back sets, I played with Virginia and used ACe Big, like the HB Read play, with what looks like to me the Oline zone blockin, I manual catch everything, if you have one on one with a db with bad composure and your receiver is decent it is an automatic TD, I am having trouble with screens - seems like they dont work like last year, mainly the HB screens, need to figure how to beat cover 2, I really need to improve my passing 6-16 one game, 4-12 the next, 7-17 the next,

Defense - love the new DE's and blitzes/zone blitzes, cover 2 is unstoppable so far, big hits are good especially for DB hitting a reciever about to try and catch a pass


other - I don't undersand the tipped ball, its like a tip drill except the ball just hangs in the air so long and keeps getting tipped around until a defender picks it off, loved playing in the swamp even though I lost, got to get to the lab to beat cover freakin 2.


screens against cover 2 suck- with the corner playing the flat, you really have to be patient for a lineman to get their and block him, if not the play is dead because the corner just sits their. talk to you soon