What up guys, hopefully all of you are getting excited about the NCAA 11 Bowl Challenge Bonanza!
This week we will start the many of weeks of specific teams strategies from various playbooks. While on the subject, PSU will be getting things going on over at his strategy corner. I spoke with him not long ago and he is about ready to take off with some very nice material that he is willing to share.
But for this week you will get a look at one of my favorite and yet most underrated Ace formation called ACE SPREAD.This formation can be found in several books and I went through all of them and the Arizona Wildcat version got me real excited for many reasons.
First we need to examine the formation itself before we get into the actual scheme. This is an undercenter 4 wide look that spreads the defense east and west which is exactly what we want. The idea here is simple, you have heard this quote from me a thousand times. “Spread them East and West and then punish them North and South for expanding”Now, I am going to show you how using this playbook which in my opinion is one of the best.
ACE SPREAD
Formation Audibles
up-Slant Bubblert- Verticalsdn-HB Divelt- PA Slot Crosses
Now, we got 3 plays we need to utilize with the formation audibles at hand. You guys read my thread on formation audibles and scheming in this section? The 3 plays are,
1. Cornerstrike2. WR QK Screen3. Draw
The Draw is probably the least of importance because we already have an inside run within the formation auds. Draws are very good this year though. 3 plays to add means if we are going to be in this formation a bunch (no pun intended lol) then we are going to be putting 2 of these plays in our regular audibles while always coming out in the 3rd play.
Let’s go ahead with the above strategy and then if you guys do use this book, you can make the necessary changes from there. Plus, I want to discuss all 3 of those important plays.
We will go ahead say that we are going to put Cornerstrike and WR Quick Screen in our regular audibles and always come out with the Draw. Now, even though we may be in another formation and we check to Ace Spread we may not have the Draw but we still have a run play for when the defense is spread and the numbers are right in the box.
So we come out with the Draw Play. 2 things to remember about running the football from this formation. One, we have only 5 blockers and this means when the defense gives us 5 or less in the box we have the ability to run the football whether it be Draw or HB Dive. If 6 or more out of this formation we must go to one of our other options and we have many. The second thing to remember with this scheme is the fact that the formation audible up is the SLANT BUBBLE which looks exactly like the DRAW play! This is very nice and when we notice that the defense has put defenders for example outside backers into the box to stop the Draw, we can easily check to formation audible up SLANT BUBBLE. That’s a scheme in itself!
Lets say to the left side they have the slant bubble taken away and they have brought another defender in the box to equal 6. On the right side the outside backer is playing on the fence, kinda in the box and kinda off to watch slant or bubble. The corner on the right side is playing off of the WR and the defense is in zone. This when we could check to the WR QK Screen found in the regular audibles. This is an outstanding play and one of the reasons I chose the Wildcat Playbook. Remember this about Ace Spread, you gotta have “the play” in this set. “the play” doesn’t have to be a screen but a concept that the defense is very aware of and has to be thinking everytime we come out in this set oh no its “the play” and they have to be ready to defend it.”The play” in the Arizona Wildcat Playbook is the WR QK SCREEN.
So now lets look at the tally of plays for this set. We come out in a formation that spreads the field with a damn good run play in the DRAW. If 5 or less in the box we are going with the play called. If we want a quicker hitting run for whatever reason we can formation audible down to the HB Dive. Other scenario, we come out and there is 6 or more in the box and our inside slots on both sides are uncovered or one of them is uncovered. Now we have the ability to formation audible up to SLANT BUBBLE. Get the ball to one of our play-makers in space and roll.
Next scenario, and I might point out right now that the plays in this formation can be flipped and nobody knows any better! This is HUGE! Lets say to the left they have taken away the slant bubble but to the right we have them outnumbered and they are playing zone. Now we can check to the WR QK Screen to the right side in our example. Remember, we can flip the screen if we wish for whatever reason and nobody knows what the hell is going on. Good stuff here!
Moving on. But what if we are facing the dreaded press man coverage? We need a man beater. You got one, you got probably one of the best next to Mesh in CORNERSTRIKE! Remember, we put it in our regular audibles.
What a hell of a man beater this is and when you smart route it it happens even quicker. You can’t motion him and quick hike out of this formation but that’s ok, its still beats man press and you still can throw quick.
Another nice play vs man coverage and can be found in your Formation Audible left is PA Slot Crosses. This is one of PSU’S favorite pass plays from ACE BIG. I like to cancel the PA and keep the back into block. This is a deep route but against the right look it is very effective vs man and even zone.
Speaking of zone defense what about a down-field pass to beat zone coverage, we don’t want to always throw the screen everytime they are in zone or the slant bubble. How about one of the best zone beaters in the game in VERTICALS. WOW, if in man coverage throw corner strike, if in zone coverage throw VERTICALS and all at our fingertips! What can be said about Verticals that has not already been said about this great pass play. One thing to remember, you don’t always have to deliver the ball 30 yards downfield on this play. I have completed the Verticals pass play from 5 yards to 25 yards downfield. I like to hit my receiver when he has cleared the backers but still in front of the deep safeties, that little void.
Guys we just took 7 plays and developed a scheme in which we had an answer to whatever the defense had in store for us. WE were able to spread them east and west and punish them north and south for expanding. WE have “the play” in this great little formation that they have to bethinking about while we may be attacking somewhere else. We have a screen and a draw, we have the best man beater in the game, we have the best zone beater in the game. IF they take defenders out of the box we run it down their throats. If they start putting defenders back in the box to stop the run we can throw quick to every part of the field. W e have the defense stretched like a rubber band ready to snap. Guys I am excited about the Arizona Wildcat Ace Spread Scheme. I hope you guys will get as much enjoyment as I have working on this the last few weeks. I would like to hear from you.
Next week the Miami Hurricanes WEAK I CLOSE TWINS scheme that includes 2 of the best under-center passes in the game!
NCAA 11 may have been out since late summer but its just now starting here at the NCAA Strategy section of the Madden Lab!
-Irish

EA builds a powerful dynasty says Game Informer.

Tim Tebow is recognized as one of the greatest players to play college football and it comes to no surprise that he was selected as the NCAA Football 11 Cover Athlete. In this article on ESPN Tebow was interviewed and from the looks of it he is a big gamer.

He doesn’t even know football. He was a kicker

says Tebow about one of his friends.EA Sports also released a video about what Tim’s day was like at EA Tiburon.To see screenshots from his day you can go here.Below is another video of Tebow’s day.

EA Sports recently released that Tim Tebow was the NCAA Football 11 Cover athlete. In that article there was a video that had a few seconds of Tim playing the game and from that video we took a screenshot and we found out that ESPN integration was in fact in the game.As you can tell it is fairly simple to notice that the sports ticker is in fact ESPN’s own which they used in the bowl games. This doesn’t mean that presentation will be all out but it is a start from last year.

Part II: Breakdown of Pistol H Twins & Jumbo Wing* Pistol H Twins *Strengths of Pistol H Twins- Just like Pistol Ace Twins, this formation can allow you to read man/zone coverage of any 2 CB defensive formation right from the huddle.- Unlike any other Pistol or Shotgun formation, you have the treat of 2 RBs in the backfield. This is great help to the running, passing, and blocking to help out your offense.Weaknesses of Pistol H Twins- The major downside to this formation is that there are only 2 pages (8 plays) in the formation (most formations have 4-5 pages). So if you decided to break the huddle out of Pistol H Twins, I suggest the Twin HB package and Double Flares.Note: Keep in mind that we are coming out in Pistol Ace Twins Power Option and using our #1 audible, Pistol H Twins Triple Option to access all these plays.Triple Option – Audible #1The triple option is one of the best plays in college football and works great from this formation. If you see the defense is in zone and only 1 CB is on the left side of the field, slide protect left and after the snap give the ball to your FB. Now if you have the right side open, go ahead and keep the ball and utilize the QB/RB option. I like using the Aggressive slide protection if I don’t plan to hand off to the FB.Quick Drag – Quick Audible + UpThis can work against both man or zone defenses1. Hot route the FB to a slant rightRight from the snap, watch the FB and TE cross. Against man, the FB slant should be wide open. Next read, look for the TE and slot WR crossing over the middle. Then glance to the RB cutting up the flats. If nothing short is open, look deep or to scramble.X Flag – Quick Audible + RightThis play is better against zone but can work vs man too1. Hot route FB to a slant left2. Hot route slot WR to a streakWith this play, I like to sit in the pocket and watch the FB/TE over the middle for a second and then rollout left. The next read is the RB in the flats. Last, look deep at the streak/corner combo. What makes this play so effective against zone is “zone flooding” meaning there are routes at multiple levels on the same side which will allow someone to get open.HB Dive – Quick Audible – DownThe HB Dive from Pistol H Twins is almost the same as the Ace Twins version, except now you will have a FB lead blocking for you on the right. If the defense is spreading the DL or LBs out or in a DB favored formation, look to hit them with the HB DivePA Deep In – Quick Audible + LeftOnce you run the HB Dive from this formation a few times, the Setup % should increase which will make this play even better.1. Hot route far left WR to a dragImmediately after the snap, look for the FB hitting the flats. Next move to the corner route by the TE. Your next read is the WR and RB crossing short, hit the open guy. Lastly, look deep or for a scramble opportunity.Final Thoughts on Pistol H TwinsThe Pistol H Twins is a very good formation in the Nevada playbook however the lack of plays prevent it from being a base formation for an offense. If you mix in these few plays though a couple times a game, you should have success.* Pistol Jumbo Wing*Why the Pistol Jumbo Wing?- This is my “power” formation for short yardage situations. So this is not a formation to use often but in certain parts of the game such as 2nd, 3rd or 4th and short. Just like Pistol H Twins, this formation only has 2 pages of plays so there is not much depth of plays to use this formation often.Power Option – Audible #2When I want to run this option I read the DL & LBs and how they line up against the formation and run the play the oppposite way the front 7 are looking to defend the play. Also if the D is stacking the middle, go to the Power OptionHB Dive – Quick Audible + DownThis is the go to running play in short yardage situation. If you want to run the ball right, motion the right TE that side into the backfield. If you want to run left, motion the left TE (off the line of scrimmage) to the left into the backfield.PA Deep In - Quick Audible + LeftIf you see the defense heavily defending the HB Dive from this formation, this play might just get you a quick TD.1. Block the right TE (on an out route)2. Motion whichever TE you choose into the backfield to sell run.After the snap, read the defense if it is man or zone coverage. If it is man coverage, wait for your right TE on the post to cross under the streaking WR and he should be wide open. Next look for the RB short.Final Thoughts on Pistol Jumbo WingThis formation might not use many plays, but it is very good for the short yardage situations. Running the HB Dive or Power Option from Jumbo Wing in a short yardage situation will result in a 1st down the majority of the time. Then the Play Action can get a quick score after a couple successful short yardage HB Dives.Some other plays to check out from Pistol Jumbo Wing:- HB Counter- PA FL Stretch- HB Screen

How do you define a true fan? Is it a person who wears some article of clothing of there favorite team everyday? Or is it finding a way to support your team in a video game? If you do either of these then you are somewhat of a dedicated fan. In NCAA 2010 there is a new feature, Season Showdown, which allows you to earn points towards yourself and your school. Season Showdown is a four-month long competition where fans and gamers battle against one another to prove whose school is the beststyle I have found that this new feature is very interesting because it shows how many people across the nation support which schools and everyone wants their school to be looked at as the dominant. Some people choose the team that they are currently using online, but the diehard fans choose THEIR team.There are several different ways to earn credits for your school such as: playing the CPU, playing online, playing online vs. your weekly real life opponent, and trivia. Now, while in game the ways to earn points is by showing sportsmanship, using your season showdown team every game, winning as an underdog, and just having skills on the sticks. There are several ways to support your team and help them become the best Season Showdown. Also when you have an ESPN Classic game that helps your school as well. So not only do you have to have loyalty for your school you have to actually perform.All in all, Season Showdown is a great way to get gamers and fans to play the game all year around. It is best to get as many points as possible before and after the real regular season because when football times start, that’s when the big points are made. Season Showdown was a great feature because it helps gamers become even more involved with their favorite teams by using them more often and following them and their schedule on a week-to-week basis. If you were not familiar with Season Showdown before this write-up I hope this encouraged you to check it out, and if you are familiar with it I hope you fully understand what’s going on and that you continue to take part in this great feature. Also EVERYONE please support your team, and do not support the best teams because that’s the team you use. Find a way to use YOUR team.

How NCAA can compete with Madden. Now everybody knows one of the biggest video games is coming out on the 14th of this month, there is no avoiding that but for this week I am going to chime in on how we can get this much hype leading into the NCAA release and the months after.Now it has been over three weeks since the new game has been out and I am already seeing a dip in people playing the game and I wish that wasn’t the case this game is here and it is a great game but when Madden comes out people use this game as a coaster (a.k.a me last year) except for the diehards that will play all the years on their dynasties and get a whole team of road to glory players going pro.I started to notice that there are no real tournaments besides the one that might come to universities. I was lucky enough that three years ago since they would come to Tennessee but that is really kicking a lot of people out of these things that a lot of younger kids that are not in college and older that have already been in college and I do not think that’s right.Now I do have the luxury of being on a college campus and they do have tournaments in the college game but what needs to happen is some of these tourney directors might want to look at having NCAA during the madden season and that would bring a lot more people to play the game just as long as they Madden.The game plays great and is really challenging and a person good at madden wouldn’t mean he is good at NCAA and vice verse. So this would be a welcome edition to the scene. NCAA is not as balance as madden but it would still work and people wouldn’t leave the game so quick since there will still be a reason to play the game on a competitive level. So directors out there give it a chance it won’t fail. It is just another chance out there for kids to play another football game, and enjoy the atmosphere of playing live.

Part I: Introducing the Base Formation – Pistol Ace Twins

Why Pistol Ace Twins?- The great thing about this formation is the fact you can read if the defense is in man or zone coverage straight from the huddle in any 2 CB (4 DB) formation. From 4-3, 3-4, to 4-4, 4-2-5, etc…you can read the defense with ease (if both CBs line up over the WRs = man. If only 1 CB lines up on the WR’s side zone). Secondly, the balance of 2 WR, 2 TE, and a HB of Twin WRs keep a nice passing or running formation and the Pistol version gives a slight bit more time to read blitz than the Ace version. Lastly, to make any formation effective, it must simply have GOOD PLAYS and quick audibles.Type of Team to Use With The Pistol Ace Twins?- I think any team with 2 solid WRs and TEs, along with a quick pass catching RB is great for this formation. If you have a mobile QB, even better but pocket passers can work just as fine.The play I come out of the huddle in 90% of the time is Pistol Ace Twins – Power Option. However if you have a pocket QB, you might want to break the huddle with HB Slip Screen, Curl Flat Corner, PA FL Stretch, or some other play.Power OptionThe first thing to do is to read if the defense is in man or zone coverage. Now, if there are 3 or more CBs on the field, try motioning the slot WR and reading if the Nickel back follows him to the or just slides with him, the later being zone or a blitz from the NB. If it is man coverage with 2 CBs, I will run the option to the right and look to break a huge gain. Any other defensive formation, time to audible.Slants = Quick Audible + UPThis play can work against man or zone coverage- Man1. Hot route left TE to a streak2. Hot route RB to a streak3. Motion RB to the right and snap once he reaches the outside yard markerFirst roll out to the right and look to hit the right TE in the flats. Next watch the slot and outside WRs on the slants over the middle. Then glance deep to see if either the left TE or RB has their man beat deep. If none of the slants are open once they get to the other side of the field, tuck it down and scramble.- Zone1. Hot route RB to a slant right2. Hot route right TE to a fade3. Hot route far left WR to a slant left4. Hot route slot WR to a streakHere you have your streak/corner combo with the WRs. After the snap first look is the left TE to the flats and then the RB to the right side flats. Next move towards the WRs and see which WR the deep zone defender has chosen to cover. Lastly, look towards your right TE or dumb it off to the TE on the left sideline.Smash – Quick Audible + RightThis play only requires one setup that works against man or zone coverage.1. Smart route the right TEFirst read is your RB in the flats. Next look up towards your right TE on the mini corner route. Then move to the left and watch the streak/corner combo with the left TE and slot WR. If nothing else is open look to scramble or throw the hitch curl on the outside.HB Dive – Quick Audible + DownAfter you have made your opponent respect the Power Option from this formation, you can generally expect them to start using move 3-4+ CB formations such as Nickel 3-3-5, Dime, or Quarters thus leaving less LBs and DL to clog the middle. If you notice this, make them play with the quick audible down and follow the blockers.PA Deep In – Quick Audible + LeftAfter hitting the defense with a couple HB Dives, expect this Play Action to burn them for a deep gain.1. Hot route left TE to a drag2. Hot route left outside WR to a slant rightIf the defense is in any type of man coverage, first look for the left TE on the drag to beat his man or watch the RB and outside left WR cross over the middle. If nothing short is open, the slot WR should draw any deep safety away from the right TE on the post.If the defense is in zone, again look short for one of the underneath routes. The nice thing about this play is against a Cover 2, the deep left safety will follow the slot WR streaking every time leaving your right TE wide open once he gets past the hook/yellow zones.HB Counter – Audible #3This is where our first audible comes into play. Let’s say the defense is running a lot of zone coverage no matter what running plays you use and it is stopping the HB Dive and Option…it’s time for the HB Counter. Especially against a 2 CB formation, you’ll have a pulling Guard leading the RBs path along with the slot WR free to pick up a roaming LB or FS.Final Thoughts on Pistol Ace TwinsThese are the 6 basic plays I stick to with this formation and use according to the read I get from the defense. Keep in mind that if there are more than 2 CBs on the field, make sure to motion a WR and get the best read you can. What’s great though is that most of these plays can beat any type of coverage once the reads are learned.Some other plays to check out from Pistol Ace Twins:- PA FL Stretch- Curl Flat Corner- HB Slip Screen- Slot Under- Stick- Comeback- Posts