I need help running the ball

[Blade]

Just got done beating the Falcons 27-17 in my franchise. Another tough game.

The first half ended with me up 10-3, I drove 73 yards in 1:34 to go ahead, otherwise the teams were just going back and forth w/o scoring much.

First half rushing stats:

Lesean McCoy - 5 rushes for 19 yards
Michael Turner - 11 rushes for 38 yards

Second half was tough but more scoring. I got the ball to begin with, drove down to the 25, and then hit a FG, 13-3. Matt Ryan then drove the falcons down to bring it to 13-10. I get the ball back one more time, drive down and get another TD right when the 3rd qtr ends. 20-10.

4th qtr, Falcons take 6:30 drive to score, 20-17. This is where things get interesting. I have just over 5 mins left, to put this out of reach. So I start mixing in play-action on first downs, to throw off the Falcons, but gain about 35 yards on rushing with McCoy and Weaver. Scored on a fluke play with 17 secs left in the game. 27-17

I have to describe the fluke play, the damn replay cutoff. So to take up time, I started running the ball with 1st and goal on the Falcons 7. Got nothing on 1st down, so I decide to playaction on second, and get sacked. 3rd and goal on the Falcons 13, I grab Shotgun, 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 RB and modify Desean's to a Slant pattern over the middle. Too bad he was covered, so I throw a desperation to Celek, who grabs the ball, gets jacked up, drops the ball, but Desean somehow dives and catches it!! WOW. God I wish the highlight function didn't get jacked up on this play, otherwise, it woulda been sweet one to upload.

Final stats:

McNabb: 23-35/268 yds/3 TDs
Ryan: 13-23/158 yds/2 TDs

McCoy: 16 rushes for 80 yards, Longest = 45 yards
Turner: 24 rushes for 93 yards, Longest = 24 yards

Twigg, as you can see its a pain to run even with a good RB like McCoy. His only weakness is AWR, otherwise he has almost copycat moves and ratings as Westbrook. I had similar stats against the Bears D with Westbrook. Also, like I said, you just keep pounding and you will get a long one once or twice in a game. I think I should run more inside though, instead of swingin outside so much.

Also, you HAVE to make adjustments at the line. Even in the NFL, adjustments and motions occur on almost every down, thats how you can spring a HB on a play. There is no way, you can run with the same exact play drawn up. And yea, guys blow blocks in my games too, but upon further inspection, its just someone like Urlacher or Petersen(ATL) who are great against the run, making good plays.

Hell my guys make crappy RBs look terrible and put up a fight against the likes of D.Williams, Turner, Forte, Barber and Jacobs. They all have averaged atleast 80 yds against me, except for DWill, and thats because I was using the default sliders.

In previous games, I would not be worried about any RBs, now I actually have to gameplan. Its fun.

 

[GridironWarrior]

I’ve tried pinching the line, having the line fire off aggressively, sliding as well and I’m always getting nailed in the back field. I see the holes and know where to run but the D sheds blocks way too fast and gets crazy penetration. I’m not even hitting Turbo. I know the Steelers have a bad O-line but even against Bad Defenses they don’t block. I think I’m going to take block shedding down. Sustaining running blocks and getting sacks are pretty hard in this game. QB throws the ball away right before Harrison or Woodley gets near them all the time.

 

[Derrville]

Pinching and sliding for me just makes the linemen more retarded than they already are. They dont block anyone, watch players go by, spin around like morons, and just act completely retarded.

 

[DSpydr84]

The Sim Guide is your friend.

 

[Twigg4075]

The more and more I play this game the more I hate it. I can't stand how busted the running game is and it almost seems like it's just with me. I actually watch replays of every running play and it's the same thing...missed blocks over and over again. I just had a play where somehow two of my lineman, who were double teaming defender, let him through to get the tackle in the backfield. Yet again Forte is averaging less than a yard per carry. It's a fucking joke! I want to scream!

Yest I watch the CPU, using the Seahawks, and they are making their blocks just how the should. God Forbid, but ACTUAL HOLES ARE OPENING UP! Gasp! But to add insult to injury Julius Jones also looks like Adrian Peterson, breaking tackles left and right. They just ran a play where they got great blocking and Jones broke at least one tackles heading into the secondary. Once he hit the secondary FIVE of my defenders converged for a gang tackle. What happened? He broke all of them and went 60+ yards for a TD. I shit you not.

And another really weird thing I've noticed. It seems when Kevin Jones is spelling Forte my team actually blocks. It makes no sense, I know. But Jones is averaging over 5.0 yards per carry and has a couple TD's and he hardly ever touches the ball!

I'm sick of hearing "You need to do this and that." "Don't hit speed burst until you hit the hole." :Shift your lineman." I've tried everything and the fact is that my lineman DO NOT BLOCK!. I wish I had a capture card so I could show you guys this bullshit.

 

[Twigg4075]

Wow, Collinsworth just summed things up perfectly. I try to run up the gut and, HUGE SURPRISE, the defender sheds the block in a millisecond and hits Forte in the backfield. This after I ran three straight successful long passing plays. So I'm so sure the defense was expecting a run. Esecpecially with time expiring before the half.

After I get stuffed Collinsworth says "Look, I would never want to have to block a defensive lineman and I'm not going to even pretend I know what that's like, but at least stand in the guys way." Amen Collinsworth!

 

[Twigg4075]

I'm seriously thinking of selling this game as soon as this franchise I'm in is over. I'm beyond frustrated with the running game. It's almost like there is something wrong with the game that only effects the Bears. Hell, maybe wven Forte. It's like he's running in sand. Blockers never block. He gets tackled from behind and gets pulled down when I do actually see a hole in the line. He never breaks tackles.

But then Kevin Jones seems to do fine. I watch the replays and the lineman actually block for him for some totally unexplained reason.

That coupled with the comeback AI that I've been noticing and how the CPU only seems to score on long breakaway plays makes me want to break this disc in half.

At least there is still NCAA.

 

[Twigg4075]

The Sim Guide is your friend.

Your Sim Guide is great, no doubt about it. But the problem is that if/when I was playing on Pro I shouldn't have to go so in depth with play calling and reading defenses. I should be able to run the ball and have my blockers show some semblance of fucking blocking.

 

[Twigg4075]

I've said it countless times but I wish I had a capture card so I could record an entire game and just show how fucking retarded my blockers are.

 

[adembroski]

Don't use sprint... and when I say that, I'm not saying "hold off until you see the whole. I mean don't fuckin' use it until you are running away from the defense. If there's still chance for contact, stay off it.

Second, the only right stick you should use up (when going head on with an opponent) and back (at the sideline when an opponent is coming from the side)... otherwise, right or left juke, stiff arm, or spin, should only be executed AFTER contact. Try not to use juke as a change of direction, it's too slow, you're better off using the right stick. (that specifically I only mean when running... in the open field, juke is very useful for getting by defenders, but in traffic, you're not trying to beat one guy, but several).

 

[Twigg4075]

I'm kinda with you Twigg. I can't seem to run for shit with Forte and the Bears.

I need to try another team (Atlanta or the Vikes) to see if its better with someone else.

I tried the Vikings, albeit only for one game. At first it seemed like I was getting decent runs with AP but then it seemed like it went back to the same shit.

Don't use sprint... and when I say that, I'm not saying "hold off until you see the whole. I mean don't fuckin' use it until you are running away from the defense. If there's still chance for contact, stay off it.

Second, the only right stick you should use up (when going head on with an opponent) and back (at the sideline when an opponent is coming from the side)... otherwise, right or left juke, stiff arm, or spin, should only be executed AFTER contact. Try not to use juke as a change of direction, it's too slow, you're better off using the right stick. (that specifically I only mean when running... in the open field, juke is very useful for getting by defenders, but in traffic, you're not trying to beat one guy, but several).

I thought juke was with the right stick???

 

[Twigg4075]

Just for shits and giggles I fired up a rematch from Sunday between the Texans and the Titans, me using the Titans. Now I know Johnson is a freak of nature but still, this is a bit more like it.

I ended up 33 attempts, 212 yards, 6.4 avg and 4 TD's.

I ran the shit out of him so there were definitely a few 1 yard clunkers in there but over all I felt like I was running how I should be. Holes were opening up, lineman were actually holding blocks, and...***gasp***Johnson actually broke a tackle or two. The capping run was a 77 yard TD jaunt for the first play in overtime. He had two 20+ runs and 123 fucking yards after first contact. He also had three broken tackles. I'll be lucky if I get ONE, yes ONE per game with Forte.

I checked the ratings:
Forte- 89 speed, 76 strength, 91 accel, 84 truck, 85 elusive, 92 vision
Johnson- 99 speed, 66 strength, 98 accel, 69 truck, 89 elusive, 85 vision

I also lineman ratings for each team;
Chicago- FB 82, 82/79, LT 85, LG 77, C 87, RG 80, RT 76
Tenn- FB 86, TE 83/77, LT 97, LG 74, C 95, RG 88, RT 92

It looks like Tennessee has a better line but nothing that should result in the glaring differences that I'm getting.

 

[Blade]

You also might want to verify the Run Block stats of each lineman. The Eagles line is way better at Pass Blocking than Run Blocking.

 

[adembroski]

I tried the Vikings, albeit only for one game. At first it seemed like I was getting decent runs with AP but then it seemed like it went back to the same shit.


I thought juke was with the right stick???

Yeah, I meant left.

 

[Mogriffjr]

I'm going to try the speed burst thing adem because i almost instantly use it.

 

[Derrville]

The speed your playing at has alot to do with how well you run. I can play on slow and not get shit, but i turn it up to normal and fast ill have a much more consistent running game.

 

[Twigg4075]

The speed your playing at has alot to do with how well you run. I can play on slow and not get shit, but i turn it up to normal and fast ill have a much more consistent running game.

I was thinking about switching that. Every time I watched a You Tube video of someone beasting a run in this game it seemed like the game speed was turned up a bit. I'm going to try that and see what happens.

Thanks.

The only problem is that by default the game is on slow which means I'll still get fucked in my leagues.

 

[Twigg4075]

You also might want to verify the Run Block stats of each lineman. The Eagles line is way better at Pass Blocking than Run Blocking.

FB- 82
TE- 57/55
LT-90
LG-82
C-90
RG-81
RT-79

Not the greatest but hot terrible either.

I just tried changing the game speed and it was the same shit. Forte averaged .5 yard a fucking carry! Unbelievable.

 

[Twigg4075]

I saw that there is also a Run Block Footwork rating so I subbed in two guys that had better ratings on the O-line. Still no difference.

Then I checked my oppositions (the Packers) run block ratings because they were running all over me with Grant. Especially on toss plays their lineman were blocking like it was going out of style. I check the ratings and they have lower ratings then my players.

Fuck this game.

 

[Epidemik]

Do you at least mix up your play calling when playing the CPU??