NCAA Football 2010 (game)- how it might/might not relate to reality

Submitted by michiganfanforlife on
**Edit** I realize that this is fake. My point here is to discuss some things that happened while I was playing this year's game, and whether you think they might apply to the team this year. If you don't think that a game can raise interesting questions, then please don't bother to post that. It's pointless.**

These are a few things that I have experienced playing the up-in-coming season out a few times in the NCAA 2010 game. I thought that some of you will would find this interesting. If you think that this game has no bearing whatsoever on real life, you should save yourself a few minutes and go on to something else.

In the game, both Carlos Brown and Brandon Minor are really good and injury prone at the same time. This kind of follows what's happened in real life, and in every version of the up-in-coming season, neither of them played all the games. In most instances one or the other was hurt and not both. However, you need at least a couple guys during the course of a game, and the 2nd string guy will get some good looks.  This makes me wonder who will be the #3 running back this year, and it really highlights the important role he will play for Michigan.  Who do you think the #3 guy will be?

Tate vs. Denard -- I went to the spring game, and as a result I am all about Tate. When I started playing the video game, I started Tate without hesitation. He is a more accurate passer in the game (probably in real life as well) but a considerably slower runner.  The thing is, when you are playing a really tough defense you need some big plays to sway the outcome. I found myself putting in Denard on some key plays to run the option, or just buy some extra time to get someone open.  Denard seems to get himself into some big collisions while scrambling, and if I run out of bounds and try to slide he's ok.  All in all both QB's are great for true freshman, and I am happy to be able to cheer for both this year.  I am now confused about who should really start in real life.  Tate offers better throwing skills, but Denard has a much better ability to make really big plays in the air and on the ground. RR has got his work cut out for him deciding who will start.  Who do you think will start the majority of games this year?

Tay Odoms is a pimp. I came away last year feeling like all Tay did was fumble and get blasted, and every once in a while he showed flashes of brilliance. In the game, it is extremely apparent that he is the biggest playmaker on the team. Out of every weapon that Michigan has to use this year, Tay is head and shoulders above the rest. He needs to get his hands on the ball as much as possible, and any play can become a big one when he's involved. I still don't know if he should return punts, but my confidence in him has grown as a result of really getting into this year's roster.  Do you see a bigger playmaker in this offense?

The defense will be fine. I spent some time playing the 4-3 under with Stevie at the WLB, and he makes plays on the backside because he is so fast. However, when a team lines up and runs right at him he gets blown back, and so I ended up using Evans, Mouton and Ezeh at the LB spots.  I actually like to play with Craig Roh at the "quick" - he is a playmaker. Brandon Smith (how many Brandons are there on this team?) is really good in the game, and I hope he is half as good in real life. Donnavan Warren will break out this year. He will have multiple INT's this year, and I bet he will return one for 6 as well.  Every game I play Donnavan makes big plays that change things. Obi Ezeh still has trouble with intermediate routes, but scheming can help support that. I really think GERG has a bettter idea of how to hide weakness and play to the guys' strengths.  Will Campbell should start from day one. He is big and inexperienced, but playing him beside Mike Martin is deadly. He might as well get thrown right in and learn quickly, because he is really athletic for his ginormousness. (like that word?)  Do you think the defense will show improvement from last year, or will they struggle with a 3rd scheme in as many years?

The schedule - The opener is a tough game, but WMU ends up not being able to keep up after a half of close play. Notre Dame is really good, but if we can shut down the run and double Golden Tate we can win this one handily. It really helps that this game is in Ann Arbor.  MSU is easily defeated, and I don't think they will be half as good as the media portends.  Really, there are only three games that are tough as nails to win. Illinois, Penn State, OSU. I really think that Michigan will go 9-3 this year. I think that they will win one of the three tough games, and lose one of the easier 9 games. I think that Tate&Denard will both start, get nicked up, make it through the season, and win games for us. Call me crazy, but I'm sticking to it until I see the team in person on Sept. 5th. I Can't wait, and at least this game is helping me deal with the time as it passes. Go Blue!!!!!!!

Comments

MichTits

August 4th, 2009 at 1:55 PM ^

Why is everybody so down on this guy for this diary? Obviously the game is not going to give an accurate representation of what will happen during the season, but it can offer a place to start. It was meant to stimulate discussion about the real season, provide a little optimism, and discuss how the game is realistic/unrealistic. What parts of the game could be true to life, and what parts are way off base? Obviously if someone bases their life off of something that happens in a video game, then they need a reality check, but I don't think that anybody was trying to do that. It is just fun to imagine an alternate reality temporarily. that is what video games are all about anyway...

jrt336

July 30th, 2009 at 10:27 AM ^

Why don't you try playing on Heisman. You will go 0-12 and then think this team will not be so good. Video games have no bearing on real life. Example: In Madden I threw 60 TDs with Vince Young in one year.

jrt336

July 30th, 2009 at 11:41 AM ^

Yeah, but this guy is different. When you make a diary posting how sick your guys are, that means you probably win almost every game, which mean you're not playing on Heisman.

BlockM

July 30th, 2009 at 10:29 AM ^

It's a rough simulation of college football for dozens of reasons, but still interesting. This was much better than the posts shouting, "On the first play of my first game we fumbled OMG WTF RUN AWAY!!!"

While I think 9-3 is pushing it, it's possible. I'd be curious what level you're playing on, as if the settings are turned down it probably isn't nearly as accurate.

robertzurbuch

July 30th, 2009 at 10:34 AM ^

I agree in my first season of playing this game North Carolina won the National Championship. They played Colorado in the BCS Championship game. If that is not the farthest stretch of reality then I do not know what is.

Anonymosity

July 30th, 2009 at 10:42 AM ^

I gave you a minus point for not being a believer.

If the game designers at EA think Tate is an accurate QB, he must be accurate in real life.

If the game designers at EA think Odoms has mad playmaking skills, he must have mad playmaking skills in real life.

And so on. DUH, it's YOU who needs the forehead smack.

michiganfanforlife

July 30th, 2009 at 10:37 AM ^

All the online games are played on this difficulty level. I guess my 9-3 prediction has more to do with optimism and my maize and blue glasses. I can't seem to take them off, though...

Bryan

July 30th, 2009 at 10:48 AM ^

The O-Line is pretty terrible in my experiences with '10 thus far. Last night I played Ryan Mallet's return to Michigan Stadium and Brandon Graham sacked RM in the end zone for a safety. D-Warren will be good and Minor was well, if we are basing real like off the game.

That's about the extent I want to talk about the game, but dude, that's a lengthy of analysis of players for a video game.

Durham Blue

July 30th, 2009 at 12:18 PM ^

that the game has enough "resolution" (if you will) on speed and elusiveness. Linemen and linebackers are nearly as fast as WR's, corners, dual threat QB's, etc. There is no way, even with an angle, that a 290-lb lineman should be able to run down Denard or Tate. Shoestring tackle, maybe. It seems like when I'm surrounded in the pocket I can never escape when in reality these guys will escape probably 7 times out of 10. Maybe it's just my low skill level, IDK.

It's a fun game nonetheless. I beat up on Western Michigan last night 65-14. The D was on Hiller like white on rice. The thing I love about the game is it is very realistic from a momentum standpoint. Once the D got rolling, WMU couldn't get anything going. The QB gets rattled and starts throwing bad passes. Good stuff. I was getting negged for unsportsmanlike play. I put up 35 points in the 3rd quarter. It was beautiful.

Shalom Lansky

July 30th, 2009 at 11:07 AM ^

Where in Michigan's playbook are the read options plays and other Rich Rod favorites? Have people had success running the spread in the game? Please list some of your favorite plays and formations, I just bought the game and haven't figured it all out yet. Thank you.

Blue in Yarmouth

July 30th, 2009 at 1:28 PM ^

I know we aren't supposed to just write LOL and things like that but you had me on the ground after I read this one bro! I am just picturing Tate hopping around and getting creamed....SHIT, I hope this isn't a forecast of next season!

*Edit* I am pretty sure it is the same button you snap with to hand the ball off to the runner (X on the default options).

PaulVB

July 30th, 2009 at 11:21 AM ^

I'll be pissed if this year's team is like NCAA2010 because it'll be doing well going into the second quarter and freeze. That would be kind of awkward for everyone involved.

save_me_forcier

July 30th, 2009 at 11:28 AM ^

I would have to say the frequent injuries to Minor and Brown are a flaw in the game rather than a propensity for them to get injured.

I say this because about once a game a quarterback (be it Tate, Denard, Pryor, Mccoy, or basically any other qb) will run up the middle, proceed to be tackled by a LB, and said LB will be injured.

I submit that the injuries in NCAA football 2010 are unrealistic rather than an indication of Minor Rage/Brown being especially injury prone in the game.

zinzarin

July 30th, 2009 at 11:33 AM ^

It does seem like there are a lot of minor injuries in this edition of the game. I'll see three or four players get hurt during the game, but it's never worse than "will return soon." I think I've seen somebody out for the game once, and never had anyone get hurt for any longer than the current game.

Blue in Yarmouth

July 30th, 2009 at 1:29 PM ^

video games have little to do with real life I think the fact that Minor and Brown get banged up on a regular basis in the game is more an argument in favor of its relevance than against. Real life experience over the past 4 years shows that they are injury prone.

Again, that being said, I don't think this game does a great job as a premonition for the 2009 season. I went 12-0 on the Heisman difficulty, won the NC and Denard Robinson won the Heisman Trophy as freshman......Don't see this happening in reality, too bad for us.

*Edit* It may not accurately forecast the upcoming season but it is helping me enjoy the offseason a little more for the time being.

MichiganStudent

July 30th, 2009 at 11:42 AM ^

There are parallels from the game to real life, but I wouldn't bet on it. Tate may be good in the game, but who knows how he'll react to playing in front of 100,000+ people.

Who knows whats going to happen. I'm just excited to wait and watch it happen.

Oh, and this off season is the longest in history.

jamiemac

July 30th, 2009 at 11:45 AM ^

...it's a video game. Until I see a pie looking being gobbling up dots and monsters around my neighborhood, I will continue believing that video games have no bearing on actual lives.

CPS

July 30th, 2009 at 1:09 PM ^

**Edit** I realize that this is fake. My point here is to discuss some things that happened while I was playing this year's game, and whether you think they might apply to the team this year. If you don't think that a game can raise interesting questions, then please don't bother to post that. It's pointless.**

No, this diary entry is pointless, for the very reason that what happens during a game does not apply to real life.** It may be the dead of the offseason, but looking at MGoBoard there still seems to be a million other things to talk about that are more relevant than whether or not a video game might apply to the team this year. But short answer -- it doesn't. It's a computer game, not Skynet (which is real and alive!).

Here's some other helpful tidbits:
- Grand Theft Auto did not raise any interesting questions about whether I could outrun cops with a truck full of coke right after a gun fight if I just held them off for 5 more seconds or ran into the nearest auto paint shop followed by 5 minutes with a hooker.
- Guitar Hero did not raise any interesting questions about whether I could play guitar as well as Slash. (Note: my air guitar is a different story.)
- Halo did not raise any interesting questions about the possibility of future cybernetic soldiers battling aliens bent on exterminating humanity.

In short, what happened during your game has no bearing, relationship or powers of prescience over what will happen this season. Period. If you want to talk about what you think might happen, then talk about what you think might happen. Just don't base it off of a damn video game.

I leave you with Picard facepalm:

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**Really? A diary entry? For this?

michiganfanforlife

July 30th, 2009 at 6:00 PM ^

There is no real news right now, and I thought I could generate some discussion on Michigan football. I know you think my post is pointless and a waste of space, but I thought it would be fun to talk about. Do you honestly think Carlos Brown & Brandon Minor will be healthy for 12 games? Do you think Denard's speed could make him a better option for the starting QB? These are simply questions brought about by my gaming experience and guess I should make sure my future posts are something you think is "worthy of this website."

MRG

July 30th, 2009 at 1:23 PM ^

...to try and get a feel for how this whole Afghanistan war thing is going to turn out. Note to US Armed Forces: If push Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, B, A start before the war, you're basically invincible. Just don't tell the Taliban the code, or they'll be invincible too.