Read Option Research Thread

[jWILL253]

So, thanks to Calhoupe, and his update to his lateral hack, now any pitch or handoff can be interrupted at any time (and it also adds some other really cool stuff, too).

So, I downloaded the hack and started playing around with it, and I noticed a few things. I was running Shotgun sweeps, delays, and pitches in Practice mode, while canceling the actual handoff/pitch in each play. What I discovered is that it is definitely possible to run (read) option plays, but there were three problems:

1. The A.I. immediately keys in on the QB as soon as the handoff/pitch is aborted. So, unless the defense commits to the pass, or the run in the opposite direction, they are gonna be onto you almost simultaneously with the aborted handoff/pitch.

2. The blocking in each play did not account for the chance that the QB might fake the handoff/pitch. In fact, once the fake occurs, the blocking A.I. gets confused, and starts running in the opposite direction it's supposed to be blocking.

3. The neutering of QB running abilities (No "truck" ability whatsoever, fumbles like crazy) makes it hard to run the option without too many turnovers.

So, after a while, I went into Create-A-Playbook mode, and started messing around with the blocking on Shotgun runs. The results were remarkable. Just change a few things around, and you can have 100% pre-designed (read) option plays.

What I'm going to be doing here, is chronicling my further testing on option plays, and updating this thread with whatever I find useful to the implementation and execution of option plays.

If anybody would like to play around with the mod for a bit, it's been attached to the bottom of this post...

[Littleware]

Hey, Jwill253, I was also interested in playing the read option and went through each team's playbook. I logged every shotgun type run (inside, sweep, draw and delay) and as many play-action passes. There are only 75 plays but they vary pretty well. These might be what you need to get the read option going. I did notice that the Shotgun Play action passes may be where you want to start because they already have the fake hand-off already simulated. If you're play against the read option, how will the AI determine to either keep or hand-off for maximum gain? Also you may want to check out the NCAA playbooks Heisman Mod, their full of Spread and Pistol sets, with plays designed for the running QB. And as you mentioned they do not truck anyone and will slide to avoid taking the big hit no matter where they are on the field. Also check the "Trick Plays" playbook where there are lot's of double and triple hand-offs that keep the defenses confused and not key on the QB.

[Gerberfootball27]

Hey, Jwill253, I was also interested in playing the read option and went through each team's playbook. I logged every shotgun type run (inside, sweep, draw and delay) and as many play-action passes. There are only 75 plays but they vary pretty well. These might be what you need to get the read option going. I did notice that the Shotgun Play action passes may be where you want to start because they already have the fake hand-off already simulated. If you're play against the read option, how will the AI determine to either keep or hand-off for maximum gain? Also you may want to check out the NCAA playbooks Heisman Mod, their full of Spread and Pistol sets, with plays designed for the running QB. And as you mentioned they do not truck anyone and will slide to avoid taking the big hit no matter where they are on the field. Also check the "Trick Plays" playbook where there are lot's of double and triple hand-offs that keep the defenses confused and not key on the QB.

Hey where do you get these plays btw is the triple pass etc avbaliable on ncaa 14 if so which playbooks bcuz i want 2 brin them 2 PC

[jWILL253]

Hey, Jwill253, I was also interested in playing the read option and went through each team's playbook. I logged every shotgun type run (inside, sweep, draw and delay) and as many play-action passes. There are only 75 plays but they vary pretty well. These might be what you need to get the read option going. I did notice that the Shotgun Play action passes may be where you want to start because they already have the fake hand-off already simulated. If you're play against the read option, how will the AI determine to either keep or hand-off for maximum gain? Also you may want to check out the NCAA playbooks Heisman Mod, their full of Spread and Pistol sets, with plays designed for the running QB. And as you mentioned they do not truck anyone and will slide to avoid taking the big hit no matter where they are on the field. Also check the "Trick Plays" playbook where there are lot's of double and triple hand-offs that keep the defenses confused and not key on the QB.

Thanks, this is great info. I haven't been able to work on this due to school, but the quarter is ending soon, so I'll have some free time to dive into this research full time...

[Littleware]

Hey where do you get these plays btw is the triple pass etc avbaliable on ncaa 14 if so which playbooks bcuz i want 2 brin them 2 PC

These plays are stock from the original gamedata "Trick Plays" playbook. I am not sure if the triple option pass is in any of the Heisman playbooks, but there are several being used in the FF-FI XIII modded gamedata playbooks, as well as the Spread-Option playbooks located in the Playbooks Dump. The Triple Option Pass has burned me several times. I get caught chasing the hand-off(s), while a WR slips behind my DB's for a big gain!