I formation base defense till i die

[Mjphillips]

I am a fan and have been since 2002 came out (the reason to own a playstation 2) I form iso, blast, option with some ace bunch. I do use the SG to run out of but like you guys always say PRACTICE. It is really difficult for me to pass on this game. I played my first dynasty season with Texas and caught 53 passes with my boy from our old high school in H town Tony Jeffery. I then moved to Heisman with some ai adjustments (still tough) but i have squeaked out 2 NC with after switching (4 tot years) last one with FSU. i have only lost 3 games in the past 3 years on this dynasty, but my problem is that i average about 200 yards a game (95 in da air and 105 on the ground) only scoring about 2 touchdowns a game. oh yes i play 5 MINUTE QUARTERS. does that have anything to do with my offensive production. I am really tired of hearing "Florida state comes into this game struggling to get anything going on offense" but i am 9-0 for the season
i like the power spread and rns offenses and respect them but i believe in the traditional run it down your throat and controlling the time it takes to get to your gut. i can get the passes over the middle the running back streaks after motioning.. i maybe just rambling but it so frustrating sometimes. i want my yards i want the heisman i dont have time to play 8 minute quarters but i used to do reasonably well with four minute quarters and loved it on 2002 i won the heisman with a few guys but now you have got to be kidding.

i love ncaa 2005 but help me one high note i got a freshman kicker for Fsu that was leading fpr the Groza award until we got shut out by my former UT team (which the game actually made reference to on SI cover) not the kicker but the team. I almost won the Groza loll 20 for 23 31 PATs

[btspm]

You are not alone bro. This year's version is significantly more fickle about the passing game.

Two things that have worked for me:
1. Against man coverage, clear out one side of the field and run a short in pattern (hot route). The 5-yd in is very difficult for all but the best corners to defend if you get the ball out on time. You can routinely turn upfield after the catch for big YAC.

2. The AI likes to play a lot of cover 2 this year, so look for route combinations that open up the deep middle. Some of the real geniuses on this board have written great discussions about this concept, but in summary, look for a shallow crossing route that Mike will hopefully bite on with a post route going over the top. With a little touch, you can consistenly place the ball in the void in the coverage.

I don't know about the FSU playbook, but try it in practice mode with USC. Ace Bunch formation, 'Quick Cross', and motion the inside bunch receiver over to the other side of the formation. Run it against cover 2 and watch the huge open area created when Mike jumps the underneath route.

Good luck.

[mad_bomber]

Whatever offensive system works for you by all means go with it :). I'm more into the one back offense, but I can appreciate a good I formation offense as well. Have you ever considered going with at least 7 minute quarters for your dynasty? I actually play 8 and 9 minute quarters and I generally get realistic offensive stats on Heisman default.

[Fluff E Bunny]

I feel your pain. One thing, I turned off the announcers. Too annoying and repetitive.

I'm running my FSU dynasty (also 9-0 currently with NCSU and UF to go) with 6 minute quarters. Up until the Duke game (77-0, and should have been in the 80's), my offense was ranked around 117. I think the simulations give way too much credit to team offenses. I'm averaging over 400 yards total offense per game, which should at least put me mid-tier in real life. Anyway, the Duke game bumped me up into that range anyway.

Part of the problem is my defense (ranked 1st in nearly every category) just doesn't give up yards. In the Duke game Duke had 6 yards. Vs. Maryland the game before they had 39. So, often I get the ball with a short field, and when I score I'm not getting a lot of yards.


But I digress, I am using FSU's default playbook though I would prefer Clemsons or Hawaii's. The FSU book while not the most whide open, does offer you good smashmouth sets and good spread sets. Ace normal is what I start with usually (hey its on the first page :) and usually the halfback dive play (ahem, also on the first page ;). Usually from that I can start to guage what will be available for me against the D. Unfortunately, #3 Washington is out for me for the rest of the season, and Booker #28 isn't a bruiser, so the inside runs take a lot more patience and set-up.

Against Maryland, I had a LOT of success with the I-slot (?) formation in that playbook (which I pretty much never used before). I'll be using that more frequently, normally I just use the I normal.

As I have said on this board before, the shotgun spread formation is by far my favorite running formation, and FSU has it and the right backs to make it work (albeit not the best QB). For me, it all starts with two things. 1) hitting a quick slant for whatever yardage, doesn't matter. 2) and more importantly, getting the speed option going.

The slant makes the D keep itself spread and really the reason I use that is because it has a higher % success rate for me than any other pass, you may find something better for yourself. The option gets the D to start shifting, and thats when you can have fun.

Run audible for the speed option really works well if they shift to the RB side. If they don't of course, you're generally gonna get 5 yards outta the speed. Then you start calling the QB choice, and just go with what the defense leaves you. Don't hesitate to get that QB running right up the gut from that play, it works.

Then you add in the direct snap. This is really deadly I have found if the defense shifts to the RB side. No audible needed, just take the RB in the opposite direction he is supposed to run and rack up the yards. Only if the line is spread will they have a chance to stop it to the outside, and then you can try to take it up inside, but I usually only get 2-3 yards with that.

Ah, but the bigdog play is that weak off tackle run. Once you've got 'em guessing that play tends to go for massive yards. Don't abuse it, just whip it out when you've got them off kilter and you'll go gonzo on the D.

And, of course, once you've got the run going, PA passing is rediculously effective. I think I threw ten passes vs Maryland and half were PA, and they all went for big yards.

Now who's rambling?!

[djwill13]

i play 8 minute quarters with a created school. i find my offensive stats to be extremely high. i score about 48+ ppg. i'm averaging 650+ a game on offense

my problem is i can't get my defensive stats high enough. i punt sometimes on 2nd down just so my d can get the ball. this past season, my MLB (99 OVR) had 144 tackles (40 Tackles for loss), 8 sacks and 3 INT's. i had to work at it to get it

[Air Raid]

Like DJ I run 8 minute quarters....I'm playing with my WAZZU Cougs right now, running a power spread offense that consists of mainly spread formations (SG Bunch, SG Spread, SG Trips, SG Y-Trips, Ace Spread), but also includes a couple power sets (I-Formation Slot, Ace Normal, Ace Big Twins, Flexbone Normal).......

....I'm getting 45+ Points per game with 325 yards rushing and 165 yards passing per game.....I'm about 75% run/25% pass right now.....

....I too believe in the power running game and controlling the clock (my time of possession goes up and my plays per game go down when I play a human opponnent because I like to control the clock against them more than against the CPU).....

....the I-formation running game can really work nicely in this years version if you can build momentum and get your O-Line and Backfield playing well....you can really start to notice them start to dominate the defense and it is a fun thing to see :) ......I like to go to this type of power game late in the game when I'm up a few scores and I want to really wear down the clock...

....As far as passing goes...there are a lot of great posts on this board that have great tips and ideas so I won't go over all of them again, but I will say that crossing patterns, In routes, slants and drag routes are the highest percentage passes this year so use them in your passing game and you should increase your production.....

....however, this years game is a little tougher (defensively) than last year so you won't be able to rack up the yardage like in years past without mixing it up and using a nice selection of plays......since I don't play 4 minute quarters I'm not sure what my production would be, so I can't give any quick fixes to your problem....one tip, when you are running the ball out of the I-formation, lay off the speed burst until you get past the line of scrimmage...it helps and you will be able to pick up a few extra yards per rush on cut-backs and following your blockers.....

[Mjphillips]

thanks fellas
i think i am going to try to play longer quarters and see what happens. i am working to get those cross, slants, and in routes working better for me. I usually play about 7 out of 12 season games and sim the rest so 6 or 7 minute quarters is going to take a lot longer for me to play. ill let you guys know how it turns out.

[DRM]

After using 5 minute quarters since I started playing this game (and madden) I just switched to 7 minutes and I wish I would have done that years ago, I may even bump them to 8 minutes.

I'm using Georgia with my option offense (Ace Normal, Ace Spread, I Form Tight, I Form Twins, I Form Y Trips, Flexbone Normal, Wishbone Normal, SG Ace, SG Bunch) and I'm not having problems putting up points or yards, I'm just having trouble deciding who gets them.

No matter which playbook you use go into practice mode and get to know the whole playbook. I done this when I was setting up my playbook to decide which formations worked for me and which ones didn't and after I finally settled on the formations I made sure that there were no plays in the playbook that I didn't know how to run, because there is nothing worse than picking a play and saying well that looks crazy, lets see if it works :o

As for the passing game... Wait for your routes to develop and throw in front of your reciever... Hit the high % passes early to get your QB and recievers going... Don't forget about your TE's and RB's, I usually throw to them more than I do my WR's... those are my tips but I'm more of an option guy than a passing guy so read some of the other threads on this board its amazing what some of these guys know and no matter what kind of offense you plan on running you can pick up some things that will help you and that you can put into your offense, I use some of COG's run n shoot philosophy in my option offense.