Digital Sportspage Blog

Some more Head Coach impressions…

* I am still loving the draft, as I’ve played it over a few times to see some of the variation. However, I’ve encountered one problem. First, if you offer to trade up and make it to the negotiation screen, it seems like the CPU will always take an offer from one of the other teams (if you don’t make an offer). You can wreak havoc on the draft order if you keep asking to trade up after every pick.

* After the draft, you have the opportunity to sign five undrafted rookies (another great addition). In addition, you end up with a lot of camp invitees as well, all signed to near minimum contracts. Since you essentially no nothing about them, their overall ratings are highly inflated. For example, Geno Hayes who was scouted as a 57 overall shows up as a 77 overall. This is not a problem for the human user, as they realize that these ratings are inflated and will change as the pre-season continues. But the CPU doesn’t no this, and you can trade these players for high draft picks. I offered to trade an “86″ rated offensive lineman who wasn’t drafted, and got offered a second round pick from a few teams.

* I really wish the graphical engine was the same as in Madden. Not that I’m a graphics wonk, but there are fair number of issues with tackle animations not linking up well, or other oddities (spying linebackers seem to be having an epileptic fit on the field). However, playing from one of the far camera angles, this is much less of an issue. And watching the game up close, I absolutely love seeing a quarterback go through his progressions.

* Playbooks give me mixed feelings. It’s great to have a penalty for adding new plays/playbooks. But really, do professional football players need to learn a nickelback blitz all over again? Since I still haven’t made it through a full pre-season yet, I’m curious to see how playbook knowledge affects regular season games.

Although it needs a little polish, I am still having a LOT of fun with the game.