Rabbit Hole Sports: EA Sports College Football Sonoma State Dynasty- Game Recap @ SMU

TUESDAY- WHAT IS THIS?!?!?! I know that's what everyone is asking themselves, and to answer your question, it's me picking back up something I thought I'd get in the habit of doing long ago...the Rabbit Hole Sports blog.

Its been a while since I last wrote one of these, and for that I apologize. I've had a lot of time to reflect on what I really want myself and you guys to get out of these. I've decided to make all blogs free, and have figured out what kind of content I'm going to write about. My hope is this helps me establish consistency amongst the responsibilities of life. With that being said, this blog series is going to focus on a dynasty I've been playing on EA Sports College Football 25.

Perhaps not the most exciting thing to many, but let me explain what I hope to accomplish through this series. Videogames has developed a reputation for being a distraction and a waste of time, but I believe they can be used as a tool to help us learn in ways that weren't available in the past, and therefore give us experience in ways we haven't considered before. The similarities in how I see videogames and sports make College Football 25, and really any sports videogame, the perfect platform to show both.

I've always loved football, but not in the sense that I just enjoy watching it on TV, I like to learn what teams are doing and why they are doing it, as well as what are the traits that separate good and great players. To me a discussion about what technique to play your defensive lineman in is highly fascinating. As someone who's not around the game in any other way, video games give me my best opportunity to continue to learn and try out ideas. Most of my time "playing" videogames I'm actually making playbooks and gameplans rather than playing, and my goal is to show there can be value in that.

If you've stuck around this long, I thank you, and hope you'll find the content interesting. Each entry will start with an introduction of each team and their overall rating. Then I'll get into our opponent's playing style, personnel strength's and the challenges that combination brings. Then I'll talk about what plan a came up with to combat those challenges, and finally recap the game, along with what worked and what didn't. Lets get into our first entry!

PREVIEW: N0. 6 Sonoma State (4-0, 85 Overall, 85 Offense, 86 Defense) at SMU (2-1, 85 Overall, 84 Offense, 86 Defense)

This week we were playing on the road at SMU, a Pac-12 conference game in this dynasty (I will be doing a YouTube series with this as well and will do a video where I go over the conferences and the layout for the dynasty in general). This is one of my least favorite situations for circumstances surrounding the game. With us being ranked much higher a loss would likely result in a decent drop in the rankings, while a win wouldn't do much to move us up barring teams in front of us losing, and SMU is the same overall as us, meaning there would be minimal advantages for us strictly based on skill, and likely a competitive game for all four quarters.

To make things more difficult, SMU runs a veer & shoot offense, which can be challenging for a couple of reasons. One of which is that the scheme typically is associated with a no-huddle, which in real life, and in the game, means you have to keep the same personnel on the field, a limited playbook to choose from, and obviously they are snapping the ball faster which means less time to make adjustments and get set. Another, is that they use a power blocking scheme with three and four wide receiver sets. This forces the defense to play in a nickel or dime set in order to matchup with their receivers. The problem is the offenses gap run scheme typically has strong physical lineman, and the defenses nickel and dime personnel is typically smaller and faster since it is designed to counter the pass.

The other problem is this offense plays their receivers in wider splits than other offensive scheme's, which creates a no-man's land of space between the last man on the line of scrimmage and the receivers (something made possible with college football's WIDE hashes). A picture here for my visual learners, the red space being the void I'm talking about.

Anyone lined up in that space has to essentially run straight to the box or the perimeter or else they've essentially taken themselves out of the play. This limits your ability to disguise certain looks, and makes it much easier for the offense to know what identify what defense is being played.

From a personnel standpoint things were made even harder, as they had a good core of fast receivers and highly rated, physical offensive lineman. This meant we had to choose between adding a safety into the box to give us an unblocked player up front, leaving our defensive backs in 1 on 1 matchups against the speed of their receivers, or give our backs help over the top, and hope we can consistently win in the run against their offensive line.

Defensively, SMU played a 4-2-5 with well-rounded personnel. The main advantage to this defense is the ability to consistently maintain some sort of advantage against the offenses personnel. By taking out a line backer for another safety, they have an advantage in the pass against two-receiver sets, and an advantage in the run against three receiver sets. With more offenses playing their base offense out of three receiver sets, the defense has become a lot more popular, particularly in college, as it provides a more natural match to offensive personnel.

GAMEPLAN:

Offense-

Keys to start-

1. Prioritize power runs and play action our of two receiver sets on 1st and second down.

This will allow us to use our best asset, our offensive line's strength, in a personnel grouping where we have an advantage against the run. The play action will either force them to think about adding another player to the box, or open up one-on-one opportunities for our receivers on the perimeter, as well as open windows across the field behind their linebackers.

2. Show a variety of run types and rpo's out of three-receiver sets.

Since they have a solid secondary, even with the mismatch of our slot receiver against their third safety, I think it's important to establish the run and force them into as many one-high safety looks as possible to give ourselves a chance at shots down the field later in the game. With the defenses advantage of a safety in the slot, options and RPO's will put that position in leverage, forcing them to have to create a true numerical advantage by moving a primary safety into the box as opposed to being able to beat us strictly through a personnel advantage.

3. Look for perimeter shots to receivers vs one-high looks on 2nd & medium & short.

The priority is the run, but if we can throw downfield often enough to keep them from selling out to the run, I'm confident we can be successful running the ball all game.

4. Target slot in three receiver sets on first and second down.

This will be our best matchup to throw the ball if they stay in their base defense against this personnel. First and second down is the situation this is most likely to happen

Adjustments if-

We are losing at the line of scrimmage in the run game-

1. Lean into designed QB run.

On designed quarterback runs the running back becomes an extra blocker.

Safeties and/or linebackers are beating us in the run game-

1. 1st & 2nd down throws.

If the guys are playing in the second and third levels are coming downhill fast in the run game, throw it.

2. Play action vs two-high safety looks.

If the safeties and LB's are causing havoc in the run while in two-high looks, their flying down hill and the linebackers are beating their blockers. Use the play action to get them to come up and throw behind them.

3. Seek all perimeter 1 on 1 opportunities for receivers.

If they are adding an extra player to the box there are one on one opportunities for our receivers on the outside. Look for them and force them to drop back into two-high.

4. Target slot on 1st & 2nd down.

If their third safety in the slot is being aggressive on the edge, target him in the passing game.

We are losing at the line of scrimmage in the passing game-

1. Target running back in passing game, both screens and designed concepts.

Losing at the line of scrimmage in the passing game means the ball has to come out quick. Our back has great receiver skills, and plays designed for him allow us to get the ball out quickly.

2. Block & release backs and tight ends on passing downs.

If our offensive line is struggling in pass protection, lets leave the back and tight end in to help longer passing plays develop.

Safeties & linebackers are impacting the passing game-

1. Draw plays

If the safeties and linebackers are reacting quickly to the pass, a draw is the perfect way to get them to bail by showing them pass and then giving it to your back with lots of space.

2. HB/TE screen game

Take advantage of the dropping backers by giving the ball to the running back and tight end with blockers in front.

3. Seek perimeter 1 on 1's.

If the safeties are making an impact in the middle of the field they are either playing 1-high or buzzing one down post-snap. Get them to stop doing that by testing their one on one coverage down the field.

Corner's are shutting us down downfield in the passing game-

1. Quick throws to receivers: slants, hitches, curls

If they are protecting overtop, take advantage of what's underneath.

2. Get backs and tight ends outside and receivers over the middle in passing game.

If their corners are holding us vertically in man coverage, get our receivers over the middle. If they are doing it by playing zone it will force them to choose between keeping their backers and safeties in the middle of the field to play our receivers, leaving our backs and tight ends open in the flats on the outside, or going into the flats to help on our backs and receivers, leaving our receivers open windows to work into in the middle of the field.

Corner's are shutting us down across the middle-

1. receiver sluggo's and double moves.

If they are playing the middle, run routes that give a move to the middle and then vertical.

2. seek all vertical perimeter shots.

If their corners are leveraging the middle there are opportunities to throw our receivers open downfield if we lead them away from their safeties.

3. Get backs and TE's onto perimeter in the pass game.

They have good speed in the secondary, so instead of trying to attack from outside-in, let's make their backers chase our running backs and tight ends from inside-out.

Defense-

Keys to start-

1. Match personnel

Since it is going to be hard to disguise our looks, matching personnel will give us the best matchups to prevent big plays.

2. Mix one-high and two-high coverage shells.

Limiting big plays is always a priority, so we want to show a decent amount of two-high looks to give help over the top. Not allowing them to cruise their way downfield in the run game is important too, so keep them on their toes by showing one-high coverage shells and giving help in the box.

3. QB contain on pass downs when playing man coverage

QB's that can run are always an issue. I don't expect a ton of option out of the gate, but the scramble could be an issue. By containing on pass downs that we are in man coverage we can keep him in the pocket when we don't have guys downfield watching the quarterback.

4. Play over the top leverage when in one-high look, inside leverage in two-high.

We are going to play one-high to help in the box on occasion. This means that we have our corners one-on-one, so lets keep them over the top and force them to dink and dunk underneath, or run into the middle where we have more help. Because of the wide splits of their receivers they are going to have a lot of room over the middle, so have our corners play inside leverage when we have safety help over the top.

5. Disguise cover 2 as cover 4, cover 3 as cover 4, cover 0 as cover 6 or 2 man, 1 man blitz as cover 0.

I'd love to give more of an annotation here, but this is primarily based on being able to disguise our defense in ways that the game doesn't have some ridiculous adjustment where someone ends up either not being covered in man, or someone lined up on one side of the field is playing a zone on the other side of it.

Adjustments if-

Running back is beating us in the running game-

1. 4-3 over front vs 11 personnel, Big Nickel vs 10 personnel on all 1st & 2nd downs, 3rd downs <5.

This will give us extra personnel to support the run game.

2. 1-high shell on all plays with <5 yards to go.

These are the downs they are more likely to run the ball in. Lets make sure we have the help we need.

3. Adjust coverage matchups by depth chart.

This will ensure that our best run defending slot player is always in the slot, he will be the defensive back with the best chance to help defend the run.

Quarterback is beating us in the option game-

1. Spy the quarterback on all run downs.

The quarterback is running on us, lets get eyes on him when it it most likely he'll have the ball.

2. 1- high shell on 2nd/3rd/4th & short.

We need to get extra bodies in the box to support the run.

3. Stay home adjustment on read options.

Have our unblocked end stay home to seal the backside instead of chase.

The quarterback is beating us by scrambling-

1. Contain d-line on all downs.

We already had one adjustment for this to start the game, but lets be more aggressive with it.

2. Spy on 2nd & 3rd downs.

On plays they are likely to pass lets get some extra eyes on the quarterback.

They are throwing over the top of us-

1. Two-high shell on all downs.

Lets make sure the top of our defense is sealed until they stop throwing deep.

2. Coverage matchups by speed.

The overall difference between their receivers and our defensive backs isn't huge/doesn't exist. Their biggest advantage is their speed so lets neutralize it as much as possible.

3. Over the top leverage on all coverages.

We have to stop big plays over the top.

They are throwing over the middle-

1. Disguise our one-high looks as two-high.

This will allow our safeties to buzz down and cut off routes over the middle.

2. Coverage matchups by speed.

For the same reason as above, just to run with them over the middle as opposed to over the top.

RESULT AND RECAP-

Sonoma State: 34 SMU: 20

KEY PERFORMERS:

SMU-

Lionel Cole, QB, 79 ovr: 18-20, 254 yds, TD, 18 rush, -16 yds

Brian Perrizo, HB, 81 ovr: 8 rush, 85 yds, TD, 10.6 yds/rush, rec, 3 yds

Ezekiel Eligwe, HB, 86 ovr: 10 rush, 62 yds, 6.2 yds/rush, Rec 19 yds

Diego Radway, WR, 80 ovr: 2 rec, 68 yds, 34.0 yds/rec

Gabriel Doctson, WR, 82 ovr: 3 rec, 61 yds, 20.3 yds/rec

George Willis, TE, 80 ovr: 3 rec, 31 yds, 10.3 yds/rec, TD

Terrell Compton, WR, 84 ovr: 4 rec, 27 yds, 6.8 yds/rec

Javier Contreras, WR, 86 ovr: 2 rec, 16 yds, 8.0 yds/rec

Greg Abreu, WR, 85 ovr: rec, 10 yds

Ben Siliga, LT, 88 ovr: 6 pancakes, 2 sacks allowed

Zach Smith, OLB, 85 ovr: 7 tackles, sack

Esteban Decicco, FS, 85 ovr: 12 tackles, 1 TFL, INT

team notes: 10 sacks allowed

SSU-

Nico Valoaga, QB, 75 ovr: 16-21, 293 yds, 3 TD, INT, 8 car, 46 yds

Nate McNutt, HB, 93 ovr: 23 car, 102 yds, fumble, 3 rec, 45 yds

Kevin Bighill, HB, 78 ovr: 3 car, 26 yds, 8.7 yds/rush, TD

Treyun Bell, WR, 87 ovr: 5 rec, 103 yds, TD, 20.6 yds/rec

Brian Meyers, WR, 80 ovr: 3 rec, 82 yds, TD, 27.3 yds/rec

Maverick Bentley, TE, 82 ovr: 3 rec, 47 yds, TD, 15.7 yds/rec

Isaiah Crowder, C, 85 ovr: 11 pancakes

Ben Laney, MLB, 84 ovr: 12 tackles, 3 sacks

Damian Greene, DT, 83 ovr: 4 tackles, 2.5 sacks

Alex Mintze, Edge, 81 ovr: 3 tackles, 2.5 sacks

team notes: 10 sacks

My thoughts and reflections: Can't complain about a win. Especially on the road against a similarly rated team. Offensively we were awesome. We established the run early and that allowed us to pick our spots to take some shots down the field. It helped that they played a lot of two-high safety defenses early, but even once they adjusted by adding a guy to the box we were able to keep the ball on the ground by adding in some option and run pass/run screen option plays. The passing game was able to pick up chunks of yards consistently, highlighted by a 80-yard or so touchdown on a hail mary from my roommate Peter when I went to be bathroom before halftime. Can't thank him enough for that!

Defensively we forced a three and out early, but as the game went on and they adjusted and started to get some of the chunk plays they were looking for. As expected with any team running up-tempo and utilizing wide-splits in this video game, it was a game of bending and not breaking. A philosophy that has certainly become the norm across football these days so it's hard to complain about a lack of realism. The saving grace when you're giving up big plays is to force turnovers, which we didn't, or be able to create as many negative plays as possible, and that we were able to do by getting 10 sacks. However the way we came about getting those sacks was atypical. I wouldn't say our front dominated in the sense that we were killing them with our pass rush, but actually we were just disciplined at staying in our rush lanes and keeping their QB in the pocket, so whenever our coverage held up, he seemed to work himself into trouble.

It's not too often you lose the turnover battle on the road and win. With a team of SMU's quality on the other side it becomes all the less likely, but our ability to consistently move the ball offensively, and stall out their drives by getting sacks defensively helped us do just that. It would have been nice to limit a few more big plays, but when the opponent has a speed advantage like they did on the perimeter it takes nearly perfect execution in order to prevent them.

Next Up: UC Santa Barbara at SSU- Next week we take on UCSB, our fake rivals in this dynasty, at home. They currently sit at 2-2, but are similarly rated to us, with the game giving us just a slight edge of 85 overall against 83, so we should be in for another tightly contested game. Can't wait to share with you guys what gameplan we cook up and how it goes. Until then, take care, love yourself and others, and thank you for joining me in this very peculiar section of the rabbit hole!