adembroski
All-Inclusive!
Imagine, if you will, buying NCAA Football and finding out when you get home that the QB couldn't throw the ball. Or that receivers couldn't catch. Or that backs couldn't run.
How long would you keep the game?
Now, I am one of the few hardcore sim guys on here that generally doesn't complain a lot. But there are bugs, there are glitches, and there are game killers. When a position refuses to perform the most basic functions of their position, that is a game killer.
Allow me to illustrate.
All of these pictures are from the same play, but they illustrate a recurring issue that happens on virtually every play run in zone.
Here is the presnap look.
Note the Sam backer, lined up directly behind the defensive end, head up on the inside tight end.
The play is going to be a zone slant to the side I am taking pictures of. The outside tight end will attempt to block our linebacker, while the inside TE takes the DE.
Here we see the linebacker taking what we call a "read step"... he steps up strongly, checking the backfield for tell tale signs that the play is a run. He might key on a guard, watching for the pull, the back, watching for a certain kind of step out of his stance, or, commonly, the quarterback to turn his back.
Here we see the play from the defensive perspective. Clearly, the QB has turned his back to the line of scrimmage, indicating a likely running play. Now, it could be play action, but if you look back at the previous image, you'll note the linebacker stepping up against the run, the safety dropping back into coverage. As neither can be sure 100% of pass or run, both are taking on the appropriate responsibility. Linebackers play the run, Defensive backs play the pass.
So, what in the sam hell is this?
Where is the linebacker going?!?! The QBs back is still turned to the line of scrimmage, he's still moving toward the runningback, who's clearly looking to receive a hand off. All evidence to this point points to a run play. Where on earth does this linebacker think he's going?!?!
Oh, it gets worse..
Yes, the ball has been handed off, the QB at this point (though not picture) has already given up all pretense of still having the ball, and yet, our brain dead linebacker has continued to fall into his zone responsibility. Could it be a halfback pass? Sure, but are you going to bet on this 10 yards from the endzone? Or any play?
I didn't take any more pictures, but suffice it to say the HB scored... he cut upfield immediately and went right down the middle of the defense. That linebacker was blocked mid-back-peddle and driven into the endzone.
Fact: The job of a linebacker is to play the run, first and foremost. It's their #1 responsibility. They fail to do this in this game, and that is the epitome of a game killer. I can live with flawed logic, but total lack of it I cannot.
How long would you keep the game?
Now, I am one of the few hardcore sim guys on here that generally doesn't complain a lot. But there are bugs, there are glitches, and there are game killers. When a position refuses to perform the most basic functions of their position, that is a game killer.
Allow me to illustrate.
All of these pictures are from the same play, but they illustrate a recurring issue that happens on virtually every play run in zone.
Here is the presnap look.

Note the Sam backer, lined up directly behind the defensive end, head up on the inside tight end.
The play is going to be a zone slant to the side I am taking pictures of. The outside tight end will attempt to block our linebacker, while the inside TE takes the DE.

Here we see the linebacker taking what we call a "read step"... he steps up strongly, checking the backfield for tell tale signs that the play is a run. He might key on a guard, watching for the pull, the back, watching for a certain kind of step out of his stance, or, commonly, the quarterback to turn his back.

Here we see the play from the defensive perspective. Clearly, the QB has turned his back to the line of scrimmage, indicating a likely running play. Now, it could be play action, but if you look back at the previous image, you'll note the linebacker stepping up against the run, the safety dropping back into coverage. As neither can be sure 100% of pass or run, both are taking on the appropriate responsibility. Linebackers play the run, Defensive backs play the pass.
So, what in the sam hell is this?

Where is the linebacker going?!?! The QBs back is still turned to the line of scrimmage, he's still moving toward the runningback, who's clearly looking to receive a hand off. All evidence to this point points to a run play. Where on earth does this linebacker think he's going?!?!
Oh, it gets worse..

Yes, the ball has been handed off, the QB at this point (though not picture) has already given up all pretense of still having the ball, and yet, our brain dead linebacker has continued to fall into his zone responsibility. Could it be a halfback pass? Sure, but are you going to bet on this 10 yards from the endzone? Or any play?
I didn't take any more pictures, but suffice it to say the HB scored... he cut upfield immediately and went right down the middle of the defense. That linebacker was blocked mid-back-peddle and driven into the endzone.
Fact: The job of a linebacker is to play the run, first and foremost. It's their #1 responsibility. They fail to do this in this game, and that is the epitome of a game killer. I can live with flawed logic, but total lack of it I cannot.
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