Wednesday, August 1st, 2007...5:20 pm...by Jared
The sliders fix the INT problem…but it may be at a cost
I’ve tried out Bill Abner’s Heisman sliders, in an attempt to try and find a way to get the passing game right. When testing sliders, I usually try a game with a powerhouse against a minnow, to see if one team can feel dominant against another. Then after that, i try powerhouse v powerhouse, to see if it generates an even game. To start, I took Florida vs. Florida International. I won 49-26 (though the score was a bit misleading, as I got two late scores on option plays trying to run out the clock). How did the FIU QB perform?
Fraites 26-32 (81%), 299 yards, 1 touchdown, 2 INTs, sacked 9 times.
Playing the same game with default AA sliders in an 61-21 win, here was the line for FIU’s quarterback:
Fraites 19-30 (63%), 286 yards, 3 touchdowns, 6 INTs, sacked 4 times.
This is an extremely small sample size, but it’s clear that the interceptions went down severely. However, this was at the expense of a highly accurate FIU passing attack. With Fraites on Heisman with 100% QB accuracy, he was shredding my defense. The only thing that stopped him was blitzing (hence the large number of sacks).
Now granted, this is only one game. But I am afraid that the interception problem may be only fixable by disturbing the balance in other parts of the passing game. So increasing QB accuracy while dropping defensive awareness may give you a normal number of interceptions…but this may be at the cost of weak quarterbacks completing 80% of their passes against decent defenses. Drop QB accuracy, and the interceptions increase. Has anyone, using any set of sliders, had a game where the CPU quarterback had a normal completion percentage AND a reasonable number of interceptions in a game?
2 Comments
August 4th, 2007 at 8:59 am
I’ve played a bunch of good games in a row on All-American with CPU pass blocking and WR catching at zero (you’re not going to get many drops anyway and I set the human WR at zero too), QB accuracy at 100, human knockdowns at 100, and awareness/interceptions at zero. I usually get 1 or 2 picks a game and QB percentages at 55-65% (that is as good as it’s going to get). I just played a really fun game as Florida hosting Vanderbilt. At one point late in the 3rd I had the Vandy QB well below 50%, but a little bit of robo QB put them at 60% at the end. A CPU impact player returned a punt on me and I had a lot of turnovers (all my fault except one seemingly random fumble). Plus, I scored a long TD on a hook-and-laderal play that I don’t recall picking…very cool to watch though.
Early on during my time with the game I noticed a *ton* of fumbles…but now that I have learned to use the coverup and pick and choose my spots for special moves I only get 1-3 total fumbles in a game. What’s odd is now that I fumble less the computer does too which tells me there is some funky logic in there somewhere.
August 4th, 2007 at 10:39 am
I’ve had success on All-American limiting the interceptions to 1-2 per game with the adjustments below. The CPU will always complete 55-65% of the passes, but I don’t see much higher. At one point in a game this afternoon as FLA I had Vandy’s QB at 9/20 after 3, but they got “hot” against my soft zones protecting a lead to end up with 60%.
CPU Zero: pass blocking, WR Catching
CPU Max: Accuracy
Human zero: awareness, interceptions
Human max: knockdowns
I got these through mostly random matchups with even teams or at least teams within the same conference, so they may not hold up against the cupcakes but that’s something I can live with.
The rest of the sliders are pretty much user preference as they seem to work as intended. I have absolutely no trouble with *my* offense with some small tweaks to default (and interceptions at zero, of course). I also bump up the CPU rushing attack and lower my tackling/break block by a few clicks.
I also bit the bullet and only play 7 minute quarters. I prefer 8, but have a house rule that I never run out the clock unless it is the last minute of the game.
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