EA Head Coach 09

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 12:36 pm

Bill posted his draft notes, looked good to me and is posting some second pre-season game impressions right now.

This is going to be a long week and a day.

dougb · Post by **dougb** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 3:14 pm

Danimal wrote:Bill posted his draft notes, looked good to me and is posting some second pre-season game impressions right now.

This is going to be a long week and a day.

Mine's pre-ordered. Guess I'll just have to blame you and Bill if it doesn't meet expectations!

Best wishes,

Doug

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Fri Aug 08, 2008 2:37 am

The interface is much more streamlined than last year and they pop up quick-hits to get you from task to task, but there are some real oddities. For instance, when I started a coach with Oakland, McFadden was nowhere to be found. It didn't matter how I started the rosters, McFadden was not there. Arman Shields, Tyvon Branch, and other rookies were, but no McFadden. I think I fumbled around for about 20 minutes before I finally just said "screw it" and advanced, and then I got a notification from McFadden that he wanted to negotiate his contract.

Some of the things like that aren't exactly intuitive, but they can certainly be learned.

On the field, though, it's pretty impressive. I've seen a lot of the fumble bug like Abner mentioned. Receivers dropping a lot of passes right after taking a step and getting hit, running backs coughing it up even though they only got 6 or 7 carries in preseason.

Thomas Howard and Kirk Morrison are dynamite for the Raiders. They combined for 3 picks in the first two preseason games (they combined for 10 last year in real life). Howard ran both of his picks back for 6.

Speaking of which, I've seen some of the "pick 6" results that you see in NCAA and Madden. Out of the 8 or 10 turnovers my Raiders have created so far in a Coach Now and Several Preseason games, at least 5 were returned for scores.

I'll post more information tomorrow when it's not so late and I can think better, but it appears to be extremely, extremely deep. There are options that I didn't even hit on, and my team seemed very under-prepared for San Francisco in the preseason. I was stomped 28-6. I played them in a Coach Now and hung 35 on them, so there is definitely a lot going on under the hood with your preparation and player training.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Fri Aug 08, 2008 12:22 pm

TCrouch wrote:The interface is much more streamlined than last year and they pop up quick-hits to get you from task to task, but there are some real oddities. For instance, when I started a coach with Oakland, McFadden was nowhere to be found. It didn't matter how I started the rosters, McFadden was not there. Arman Shields, Tyvon Branch, and other rookies were, but no McFadden. I think I fumbled around for about 20 minutes before I finally just said "screw it" and advanced, and then I got a notification from McFadden that he wanted to negotiate his contract.

Some of the things like that aren't exactly intuitive, but they can certainly be learned.

On the field, though, it's pretty impressive. I've seen a lot of the fumble bug like Abner mentioned. Receivers dropping a lot of passes right after taking a step and getting hit, running backs coughing it up even though they only got 6 or 7 carries in preseason.

Thomas Howard and Kirk Morrison are dynamite for the Raiders. They combined for 3 picks in the first two preseason games (they combined for 10 last year in real life). Howard ran both of his picks back for 6.

Speaking of which, I've seen some of the "pick 6" results that you see in NCAA and Madden. Out of the 8 or 10 turnovers my Raiders have created so far in a Coach Now and Several Preseason games, at least 5 were returned for scores.

I'll post more information tomorrow when it's not so late and I can think better, but it appears to be extremely, extremely deep. There are options that I didn't even hit on, and my team seemed very under-prepared for San Francisco in the preseason. I was stomped 28-6. I played them in a Coach Now and hung 35 on them, so there is definitely a lot going on under the hood with your preparation and player training.

Thank you!

This will be the first time I've ever bought a strategy guide.. after looking at some of it via a teaser, it's a must buy for me to study before I dig into the game.

http://www.easports.com/downloads/easpo ... SAMPLE.pdf

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Fri Aug 08, 2008 1:00 pm

MizzouRah wrote:
TCrouch wrote:The interface is much more streamlined than last year and they pop up quick-hits to get you from task to task, but there are some real oddities. For instance, when I started a coach with Oakland, McFadden was nowhere to be found. It didn't matter how I started the rosters, McFadden was not there. Arman Shields, Tyvon Branch, and other rookies were, but no McFadden. I think I fumbled around for about 20 minutes before I finally just said "screw it" and advanced, and then I got a notification from McFadden that he wanted to negotiate his contract.

Some of the things like that aren't exactly intuitive, but they can certainly be learned.

On the field, though, it's pretty impressive. I've seen a lot of the fumble bug like Abner mentioned. Receivers dropping a lot of passes right after taking a step and getting hit, running backs coughing it up even though they only got 6 or 7 carries in preseason.

Thomas Howard and Kirk Morrison are dynamite for the Raiders. They combined for 3 picks in the first two preseason games (they combined for 10 last year in real life). Howard ran both of his picks back for 6.

Speaking of which, I've seen some of the "pick 6" results that you see in NCAA and Madden. Out of the 8 or 10 turnovers my Raiders have created so far in a Coach Now and Several Preseason games, at least 5 were returned for scores.

I'll post more information tomorrow when it's not so late and I can think better, but it appears to be extremely, extremely deep. There are options that I didn't even hit on, and my team seemed very under-prepared for San Francisco in the preseason. I was stomped 28-6. I played them in a Coach Now and hung 35 on them, so there is definitely a lot going on under the hood with your preparation and player training.
Thank you!

This will be the first time I've ever bought a strategy guide.. after looking at some of it via a teaser, it's a must buy for me to study before I dig into the game.

http://www.easports.com/downloads/easpo ... SAMPLE.pdf

Yes. Thanks Terry . For these and the Madden impressions. You got me psyched.

and Mizz I dont ever buy em either...but...I think I might be joining you in getting that guide.

Diablo25 · Post by **Diablo25** » Fri Aug 08, 2008 3:26 pm

Because of the Head Coach impressions I may grab the CE edition of Madden just because HC comes in the package. I can always EBAY Madden if it disappoints.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Fri Aug 08, 2008 10:55 pm

Strategy guide in hand, anyone want to know anything in particular?

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Fri Aug 08, 2008 11:45 pm

Yeah Miz. Can you tell me if HC has a lot assist features where you don't have to go really in-depth and still have fun?

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 12:08 pm

Rodster wrote:Yeah Miz. Can you tell me if HC has a lot assist features where you don't have to go really in-depth and still have fun?

Yes, you can let your assistants handle just about anything you want. In fact, Bill mentioned that in one of his impression threads.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 2:24 pm

Bill might have found a nasty injury bug.. where players are not healing. Please say it aint so...

bkrich83 · Post by **bkrich83** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 2:33 pm

MizzouRah wrote:Bill might have found a nasty injury bug.. where players are not healing. Please say it aint so...

I did some testing of it, and it doesn't appear to be that nasty. Or depending on how you star your career, may not even exist.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 3:42 pm

bkrich83 wrote:
MizzouRah wrote:Bill might have found a nasty injury bug.. where players are not healing. Please say it aint so...
I did some testing of it, and it doesn't appear to be that nasty. Or depending on how you star your career, may not even exist.

Been reading your testing over at OS and that's encouraging.. would hate to spend all that time beginning my career and see this bugaboo pop up.

K_Mosley · Post by **K_Mosley** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 8:54 pm

MizzouRah wrote:Strategy guide in hand, anyone want to know anything in particular?

Is it out yet? I thought the release date for the HC Strategy Guide was 09/03? I woud love to pick up a copy...

Kevin

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 9:21 pm

K_Mosley wrote:
MizzouRah wrote:Strategy guide in hand, anyone want to know anything in particular?
Is it out yet? I thought the release date for the HC Strategy Guide was 09/03? I woud love to pick up a copy...

Kevin

Came out Friday.

K_Mosley · Post by **K_Mosley** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 10:04 pm

Awesome! I'll look for it tomorrow...

Thanks!

Kevin

Diablo25 · Post by **Diablo25** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 9:56 am

I am more intrigued with Head Coach than I am Madden. I don't think I'll be getting Madden.

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 12:02 am

When I started this thread in Feb I was hoping that this game would be what I wanted with the original to be, then as I learned more and more I had a hunch it was going to be a sleeper hit.

Never once did I think I would read these words from Bill Abner

Head Coach 09 is one of the most significant sports game releases in a long, long time. It's not perfect, it's got some flaws, but it is incredibly deep and entertaining and I HOPE that EA Sports sees this game for what it is -- a game that fills an important niche to its fan base. I hope is sells like mad and that EA looks to increase this series into other venues. NCAA Head Coach, NBA Live Head Coach, NHL Head Coach...I'd be down for all of that.

It's great seeing the praise it is getting and also seeing some of our cautious brothers here at DSP actually looking forward to the game. About an hour from now I plan to join the ranks and I figure I'll sleep tomorrow sometime around 9 am.

Here is hoping that this game gets the critical acclaim it apparently deserves and I look forward to reading every ones adventures in leading their respective teams to the Superbowl.

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 12:42 am

I'm standing in line right now and the wait is killing me. I'll be playing this and Madden til the wee hours of the night and all day tomorrow.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 1:02 am

ScoopBrady wrote:I'm standing in line right now and the wait is killing me. I'll be playing this and Madden til the wee hours of the night and all day tomorrow.

Sausage Fest 09

Diablo25 · Post by **Diablo25** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 5:43 pm

Got the CE version of Madden today so I'll be giving HC a try later on tonight

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 11:47 pm

Just played a "coach now" game vs Farve and the Jets.. won 31-21. FANTASTIC game and I'm really loving it so far.

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 12:54 am

I also played a coach-only game, which I loved, and then went through part of a draft just to goof around and learn the interface and some of the nuances. On the surface, it appears to be exactly what I am looking for.

I enjoyed a couple games of Madden as well. Hey, I'm a big 2K Football fan and miss it terribly, but what a GREAT day for football gamers this is!!!

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 10:27 am

Leebo33 wrote:I also played a coach-only game, which I loved, and then went through part of a draft just to goof around and learn the interface and some of the nuances. On the surface, it appears to be exactly what I am looking for.

I enjoyed a couple games of Madden as well. Hey, I'm a big 2K Football fan and miss it terribly, but what a GREAT day for football gamers this is!!!

See I told ya we were seeing closer to eye-to-eye. That's exactly how I feel. IMO the Madden Collector's Edition is a must have for fans of football.

I played a coach-only game and it went to overtime. I blew my play calling in the last 5 minutes of the game and squandered a 10-point lead. They won the coin toss and proceeded to march down field before I finally stopped them at the 30. It was definitely a makeable field goal but not a gimme. I was happy as hell when the kick came up short and I had new life. I proceeded to march downfield and made it into field goal position on a nice pass to Brandon Lloyd but he fumbled when he was tackled. Of course this lead to the 49ers marching downfield again and kicking the winning field goal with 4 minutes left in OT.

I played more Madden and then popped in Head Coach again last night to check out the career mode. Holy hell! It is everything I was hoping for and more. It has met the potential I saw in the original Head Coach and then some. I'm glad they took some time off before releasing this version because they used the time well. What a difference a couple of more years makes. I've already played my first 2 preseason games (I started in training camp instead of last offseason) and can't wait to play more. It reminds me of Civilization Revolution in the sense of providing the "Just one more day" addictiveness. I know I am not even close to doing everything I need to be doing but that didn't stop me from enjoying every minute.

I do have some questions though. How do you prepare your team better with the gameplan? For both games a comment was made with how unprepared my team was. How many focal points can you have per practice? Maybe that's what I'm missing. I've only been picking one of the options and the practice is only 2 hours. Is there a way to select multiple options for each practice? I really like the way you have to balance everything. Where the first Head Coach just kept giving you mundane task after mundane task this one really pulls you in. I can't wait to play more.

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 10:33 am

In my career, I went 2-2 in the preseason and moved on to the regular season. I had cut one of the players that the coaches asked me to get his playbook knowledge up (whoops!), so my Approval Rating suffered dramatically.

But when I went to face Denver, it seemed that they couldn't hang with my slot receiver. JaMarcus Russell ended up like 17 of 21, always shying away from Bailey and mostly hitting Drew Carter in man to man coverage. Janikowski missed an extra point, making it a strange 26-10 score, but then Denver goes on a rampage to take the lead 27-26 with 1:30 to go.

Shifting to playcalling based on knowledge>mastered plays saved the day. When you keep those in your back pocket, and break them out at the right time, it's amazing. Oakland drove the length of the field and scored with :15 left (and a 2-point conversion) to win it 34-27.

JaMarcus ended up with 371 yards passing (had 2 or 3 long bombs where Drew Carter was matched up on a linebacker and he took it), throwing it all over the field, but never at Champ (the one time he did, he was picked off. He never tried again).

The next week, Adam Schefter came on the mini-NFL Network TV and announced that Kansas City was "really working with their secondary to shut down the Raiders air attack", and I'll be damned if it wasn't true. Midway through the 2nd quarter, I had SEVEN yards of offense. I was relying on my big plays that worked against Denver, and I actually had one series that was 3 sacks in a row. I punted on 4th and 33. How's that for horrible coaching.

I trailed 10-0 midway through the second quarter, as Brodie Croyle kept throwing little dumpoffs to Johnson, who'd run over Stanford Routt and pick up 7 or 8 yards a clip. I decided to really alter the playcalling, because what I was doing obviously wasn't working. I swapped McFadden and Fargas back and forth and started running a lot of dives and blasts right up the gut of the KC defense. I drove the length of the field for a score just before the half to go into halftime down 10-7.

In the second half, I think I threw the ball twice. I ran it every down, and the Raider running game completely took over the game, which was amazing to see. JaMarcus finished 9 of 24 for 150 yards and a pick, but McFadden carried 26 times for 150+ yards and 2 scores, and Fargas added 15 for 80. Final score was a 24-10 win as I rattled off 24 straight points, and moved on to 2-0.

My approval rating is currently through the roof. Beating Denver and KC in the opening weeks does wonders for the approval of the owner, fans, and media. It's currently at 87, but will probably plummet as soon as I lose one.

I can't believe how deep it is, how in-game strategy can really be affected by your weekly preparation. I didn't focus on outside running plays against Denver and they broke off some big ones with Selvin Young, so I decided to really work on shutting down the running game against KC. I wanted to force Brodie Croyle to beat me, and he almost did. LJ did absolutely nothing though, with something like 19 carries for 27 yards.

Amazing, amazing game.

AJColossal · Post by **AJColossal** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:07 am

What's been the situation with fumbles? I know some have mentioned some issues with it. I only got to play a half in the rain and there were a combined four fumbles already.

I know some have said it can be a function of fatigue. Just curious what you guys have been seeing.