Trouble with the Passing Game

[bama2032]

Anyone have any suggestions to improve on my passing game. I completed 10-39 passes in the last game and that was on the varsity level. I'm having no propblem running the ball. Mu receivers are dropping balls right and left.

[seanmac]

For starters, I would try using the pump fakes.

I've been experimenting with these, and I think it's going to do a lot to open up the passing game. The pump fake is now directional- you push left or right on the right stick to fake in that particular direction. By using the pump fake, I've been able to either freeze the safety or get him going to wrong way, then come back across the field and throw into single coverage.

[PhilIvy16]

If you're never ordered the VG Sports Playbook before, I highly recommend pre-ordering the 2005 edition for NCAA. My guess is you just need help reading defensive coverages. If you buy this book, you'll be reading D's just like a college QB would and knowing where the weaknesses are. You'll learn to go through progressions instead of just having one goto reciever, you'll know how to get everyone involved. This years game is extra tough on offense, so you'll really have to learn to do this in order to survive. Just for starters... know when you're looking at a man defense or zone. If you can't tell by the alignment, put a guy in motion and see if his defender follows him across the field. Against man, look for mismatches, like a LB lined up on a slot WR. Then try to use quick timing routes to move the ball. If it's a zone, learn to read the safeties (this is important in man too of course since a lot of man coverages still have deep zones). If there's 2 safeties deep, that's usually some type of Cover 2, they're each responsible for their deep half. Try to split them with posts or send 4 guys on vertical routes and you should be able to find some open guys deep against a Cover 2 zone. Against Cover 3 (3 guys covering deep thirds) look for the side where the linebacker is responsible for the flats. One of the safeties will usually rotate in this coverage, to take away curl/flat area, throw opposite his side. You should pretty much have a 1 on 1 matchup on the other side and should be looking for hitches, curls, or out routes. I'm not real sure where you're at...sorry if this is stuff you already know, just trying to help...or if it's too confusing then you could learn a lot from purchasing the guide. When you can read coverages, you can understand the design of some plays, like when a deep route is meant to occupy a safety so that you can throw short underneath...when you can understand all that, it's a beautiful thing and it really makes playing this game a blast.

[LBzrule]

Well, I just had a game where I finally beat FSU 38-10 where I had a few big plays in the passing game. Ended up going something like 12/27 for 277 yds and 3 TD's. But most of my catches were user controlled. Also I just dropped back 3 or 5 steps and just threw it as soon as I set my feet. And finally the bullet passes don't seem to work very well at all. But I'm going to give the pump fakes a try.

[mad_bomber]

If you're never ordered the VG Sports Playbook before, I highly recommend pre-ordering the 2005 edition for NCAA. My guess is you just need help reading defensive coverages. If you buy this book, you'll be reading D's just like a college QB would and knowing where the weaknesses are.

I just finished taking screenshots of the various coverages to show what they look like after the snap and explaining what the strengths and weaknesses are. Phil hit it on the head about going through your progressions. Passing the ball in this game requires you to process lots of information very quickly in order for you to make good decisions on where to throw the football. When attacking zones your timing must be perfect as those windows are small and they close very fast.

[bama2032]

thanks for the help!

[Equalizer]

If you're never ordered the VG Sports Playbook before, I highly recommend pre-ordering the 2005 edition for NCAA. My guess is you just need help reading defensive coverages. If you buy this book, you'll be reading D's just like a college QB would and knowing where the weaknesses are. You'll learn to go through progressions instead of just having one goto reciever, you'll know how to get everyone involved. This years game is extra tough on offense, so you'll really have to learn to do this in order to survive. Just for starters... know when you're looking at a man defense or zone. If you can't tell by the alignment, put a guy in motion and see if his defender follows him across the field. Against man, look for mismatches, like a LB lined up on a slot WR. Then try to use quick timing routes to move the ball. If it's a zone, learn to read the safeties (this is important in man too of course since a lot of man coverages still have deep zones). If there's 2 safeties deep, that's usually some type of Cover 2, they're each responsible for their deep half. Try to split them with posts or send 4 guys on vertical routes and you should be able to find some open guys deep against a Cover 2 zone. Against Cover 3 (3 guys covering deep thirds) look for the side where the linebacker is responsible for the flats. One of the safeties will usually rotate in this coverage, to take away curl/flat area, throw opposite his side. You should pretty much have a 1 on 1 matchup on the other side and should be looking for hitches, curls, or out routes. I'm not real sure where you're at...sorry if this is stuff you already know, just trying to help...or if it's too confusing then you could learn a lot from purchasing the guide. When you can read coverages, you can understand the design of some plays, like when a deep route is meant to occupy a safety so that you can throw short underneath...when you can understand all that, it's a beautiful thing and it really makes playing this game a blast.

Nice post!

[kmonier]

I am loving this site. I have gained a new perspective on this game. I used to be the kind of guy that opened the game and started playing. However, the game has gotten so advance that you really need to invest more of yourself and time into understanding the intricacies of the game. PhillyIvy, you really broke down what you should be looking for when it comes to passing. I have played ranked guys that are on line and this is the deeper understanding of the game that helps them dominate. All you guys at VG good looking out.