NCAA 14 Youtube "Schemes", an actual scheme, and a few games

There are, apparently, thousands of videos breaking down "schemes" for NCAA 14; many of them have useful information, but that information is often buried beneath a ton of unnecessary talk and is rarely the actual focus of the video.

A scheme isn't just a collection of "money plays" in a certain formation or personnel package; it is a set of complimentary concepts that generate playcalling momentum. A lot of the videos online now just pick a formation, praise it, then show a bunch of plays in it, with no context or reasoning, but with lots of "this absolutely murders man coverage" or "this is a zone killer". Also, a lot of gameplay that includes the "money play" getting stopped by unadjusted defensive AI, then the commentator saying "weird, I threw a pick, but don't worry, this is a 100% guaranteed man-beater".


So here's a tiny scheme I'm using. Maybe I'll do videos soon.

We're working out of Pistol Weak Twins, and only has three plays: Lead Read Option, TE Drag, and HB Slip Screen. The scheme starts with the read option, which is what I'll call to the line whenever I'm in this formation. The read option is a great way to establish the running game, because you can nearly universally pick up positive yardage: if you read the key defender correctly, you are guaranteed some degree of space. Obviously, you are still susceptible to a defender blowing up a blocker or an aggressive blitz; you can't do anything about the former, but we'll deal with the latter in a moment. This formation's version of the read option has the advantage of springing the QB to space; if the "read" defender is the DE, and there's no other defender to the outside, then you are in great shape. This play also has a lead blocker (the up-back), which enables you to pick up huge gains if you use that blocker right.

If the defense is zone-aligned, and as a result has an extra defender or two outside the read defender (like a LB, CB, or walked up safety), I will quick audible to a deep pass, which gives me TE Drag. This play is an absolute zone killer...jk. So here's something that most Youtube schemes sorely lack: a progression for your QB.

First read is the slot receiver releasing to the flat (circle in the illustration); if it's zone coverage (no defender follows the slot) and there's no flat defender (the outside corner is backpedaling and the inside defender is in a hook zone), throw it immediately to the slot. If the slot is covered either man-to-man or by a flat defender, just move your eyes up to the outside WR (square in the illustration); this progression works great because in the time it takes you to read the defense in the flat/on the slot, the outside WR will be just about to break inside. If he is man covered, this second cut (the "in" cut) will generate good separation; if it is a zone, he'll come free right as he cuts anyway (in cover 2, 3, and 4 the deep zone will be backpedaling and/or outside the pattern). BUT maybe he is covered because the defensive AI is messed up this play, or maybe your opponent adjusted his defense to fill the gap; no problem. Third read is the TE on the drag route, which, once again, will be coming free just as you finish the second read, and will be coming free in the same visual area. I rarely throw this ball to the TE; the outside WR (square) is very rarely guarded on that second cut, but it's good to know where the ball is going if he IS covered.

So call the Lead Read Option; if the defense is giving you the edge, snap the ball. If the defense is playing zone, or otherwise has the edge covered, audible to the TE Drag. What if the defense is hard to read, or adjusting already to the TE Drag, or maybe just blitzing? Quick audible to the PA pass, which gives you the HB Slip Screen. You can definitely run this straight up, though it has the same problems HB Screens always have: the HB outruns the blockers. A nifty trick I picked up last year, and I've already seen in some videos this year, is to switch the primary receiver for the screen. Namely, put the up-back (triangle in the illustration) on a swing pattern to the right, and then hot route the HB to block (or run a go route). Because the up-back is lined up away from the screen blockers, it gives the blockers more time to get out in front of the play and set up their blocks.

So there's a three play scheme, with an explanation of how to deploy it in games. It's not about every play being money all the time, it's about recognizing what defensive keys should trigger an adjustment from the offense, then designing adjustments that make sense. It's also about progression in the passing game, so every play you run has a system of reads and decision making, not just a certainty that the play will "murder man coverage".


Game 6
Opponent: KOBEKEVIN2435
Record: 3-7 (I think)
Team: LSU

I was up 21-0 midway through the second, got a quit. I had over a hundred yards running and passing, all operating out of the scheme described above. Simple, simple stuff.

Game 9
Opponent:DaggaSwagga 1
Record: 9-6 (or so)
Team: Wisconsin

I won this game 28-27, a rare actually completed game. We had similar days on the ground: we both ran 18 times for about 60 yards each. It was the passing game that told the story. I was 23 for 25, he was 10 for 16; I was 4 for 4 on 3rd down, he was 1 for 4 on 3rd down (and 2 for 2 on 4th down). These stats tell me that this game wasn't as close as the final score. Obviously, every game is a tiny sample of plays, so small happenings can make a huge difference. If either of his 4th down conversions fail (and both were sort of forced throws), then the scoreline reads 35-21. I threw the ball super efficiently, and had no problems scoring the ball. Ten for sixteen isn't a bad day, but it's not video game numbers.

My record is now 6-3; all three losses were a result of lost connections. Sad face.

NCAA 14 Has Arrived (to my apartment)

So I am back from Florida and have finally picked up NCAA 14. I spent most of yesterday in the tutorials and playbook editor, putting together some formations and concepts I like to use, and then I spent today on the practice field before finally playing my first online matches this evening.

Some quick thoughts on the game. The physics engine feels and looks pretty smooth, though there are frequent odd configurations of players (many players end plays stacked liked linkin logs). The playbooks have been reworked quite a bit; a lot of draw plays have been taken out, and a lot more read-option stuff has been inserted.

On that note, the work the designers did on the option offense in all its forms really shows in the gameplay. I've loved the read-option for a few years now, but so far it looks like the read-option will be a chief staple of my offense. Mainly because I can't throw the ball yet.

Game 1
Opponent: Xxepickiller3Xx
Record: 3-7
Team: LSU

Took me a while to realize this guy was an Epic Killer, not an e-pick iller. Also, he has either killed 3 epics, or he is three times more epic a killer than the usual killer. It's not clear.

Anyway, he only ran Shotgun Ace: TE Cross or Shotgun Ace: HB Draw all game (by all game I mean all 1st quarter). He did not punt, only ran his play again. It was weird. I was up 14-0 at the outset of the 2nd quarter when he quit.

But seriously, I can't throw the ball. Threw two picks, one completion, and ran for 37 yards (remember this guy didn't punt).

Game 2
Opponent: squirrelballer
Record: 1-0
Team: Oregon

Playing someone who is 1-0 is always a little nervewracking. They might be awesome, but just starting out. Squirrelballer was not awesome; but he might get there one day. He seemed to be running Oregon's offense, more or less, but gave up on the run almost immediately. Then he threw 8 INT's.

I had 11 completions on 11 attempts, and only 2 of those completions were to the defense! Hurray! More importantly, I had 139 yards on the ground, and 105 from my QB; the read-option really works. You've just got to pick your spots. Throw to put the defense in man, then run against it (because man coverage is especially susceptible to read-options, as it makes assignments really easy to figure out. If the defense is in zone or even just blitzing, it can throw off your reads and your offensive line's blocks.)

We played the whole game, ended 28-6.