Summary
There are few playing positions in sport as crucial as football’s quarterback. As the field general and on-field offensive coordinator, the success of a team’s attacking output depends on the QB’s ability to run plays, think quickly on their feet, and provide smooth passing to the receivers. Given it’s such an important part of football, it is naturally a very popular position to play for fans of theMaddenfranchise and the first collegiate-level game in over a decade,EA Sports College Football 25.
College Football 25is certainly designed for the diehard fans of the sport and the college level competitions, but it’s also user-friendly enough that players who don’t completely understand the rules or don’t have expertise in the game can still try it for themselves. For those wanting to try out a football game for the first time, or even those who could use some pointers to improve their game, thesebeginner tips for playing quarterback inCollege Football 25will get your career off to a strong start.
1Understand Passing Types
Don’t Just Bullet Pass It Every Time
There is more to passing inCollege Football 25, or any football game for that matter, than simply releasing the ball and hoping for the best. The game requires quite a lot of strategy, and not just from a route-running or defensive structure perspective, so the game requires quite a bit ofstudy to be successful. To maximize your chances of a successful play, make sure you understand how you can change the behavior of the ball on release.
The most common pass you’ll likely use inCollege Football 25is the bullet pass. These require more power, but will get to your receiver a lot faster, which lowers the chance of being intercepted. On the other hand, putting less power into a pass will result in the ball having more of an arc, which is ideal for receivers who have a height advantage in contested balls or those who are outside of the defending player.
2Pick The Right Pass For The Play
Delivery Is Just As Important As Route
Understanding the different passing types is one thing, using them in practice a thecollege or NFL levelis an entirely different matter. There is a plethora of different running routes your receivers will follow, and not all of them will be suitable for a bullet pass. Quarterbacks need to be quick on their feet and even quicker to act, including adjusting the power and shape of their throw to accommodate the receiver and give them the best possible opportunity to catch the ball.
When determining your play, make sure to not just have one passing option in mind, as the defender may have the advantage on the running route. One important consideration when choosing who will receive the ball is how it should be sent to them. If they’re 30 yards away and hugging the sideline, you’ll want to lob it, but if they’re running across the face of the defensive line, a quick bullet would be the best option to minimize the opportunities for the defense to react.
3Mix Up Your Offense
Keep The Defense Guessing
In every game situation, the coach will offer suggestions on which plays to use for the next down. In Road To Glory mode, you may not have a choice in the matter, depending onyour Coach Trust level, but in modes that allow you to take control of the offense, you can be more flexible.
While there is plenty of glory in executing complex trick plays and long passes, they are generally low percentage, and are best used as a last resort or for when you’ve got an insurmountable lead. In competitive game situations, don’t be afraid to vary your play between running and passing, or even consider a punt fake if you think you can get that crucial first down.
4Don’t Be Afraid To Play A Short Passing Game
Short Pass For Long Gains
Few plays in football will hype up fans more than a successful Hail Mary, but throwing these in regular game situations isn’t particularly wise, as they’re tough to pull off. While some passing options might seem counterproductive, players shouldn’t be afraid to go for the available receiver in close proximity, or even the one that is behind the line of scrimmage.
Receivers situated past the first-down line will, of course, reset the count for the team for the next down, but are less likely to gain much yardage due to the defensive set up. Getting it to someone closer to you, however, could have the potential for larger gains if the receiver is able to make use of blockers and effectively evade tackle attempts, which canearn you valuable XPif you’re playing Road To Glory mode. Of course, this won’t always work, which is why shaking things up from time to time can help keep the defense on their toes.
5Learn To Make Adjustments On The Spot
Always Have A Plan C, D, And E
There are plenty of quick-play options for more advanced players that allow you to quickly make adjustments if you don’t like how your offense looks in comparison to the defensive structure. These can be quite complex mechanics to wrap your head around, but there are some minor adjustments you may make as a beginner to build up the confidence to try the more advanced plays.
A big part of being a successful quarterback, aside frombuilding a strong supporting cast of players, is thinking quickly on your feet, so be prepared to make a sudden change if the play isn’t going as you’d hope. Even something as simple as taking the ball for a run yourself when you see a bit of space is a great strategy to make some extra yards and catch the defense off guard. If you enjoy a running game, even holding the ball during a running play will give you the opportunity to fake a RB route and take the ball in a completely different direction.
6Use Training Drills
Practice Makes Perfect
This one may seem a little too obvious, butCollege Football 25does a great job in making the training parts of the game pretty fun and engaging. There are multiple game situation scenarios you’re able to put yourself in for any of the major offensive positions, which will help you to hone your craft without full-sized defensive lines in your way orthe distractions of a Stadium Pulse.
For quarterbacks, the training exercises are perfect ways to practice high-pressure situations where you need to act quickly to avoid loss of yards or possession. There are opportunities to practice moving and passing, throwing on the run, evading potential sack scenarios, and improving your long passing game.
7Don’t Get Sacked
When in Doubt, Throw It Away
Another obvious one, but if you’re new to football or even football games, the last thing you want to do as an offensive team is have your quarterback sacked. The reason for this is that it can result in a significant loss of yards, meaning you’ll have to go even further to earn the next first down. Not only this, but getting tackled could result in the ball being fumbled, and, considering the quarterback is usually the furthest back on the field, it can leave your team vulnerable to losing possession or even conceding a touchdown against the run of play.
If the quarterback is in a position where there are no viable passing options, they can opt to run for the first down themselves if there is space to do so. If there isn’t, however, or if there’s a defensive player gaining on them, players can always choose to throw the ball away by clicking the right stick on their controller. This will make the quarterback throw it over the sideline, which counts as an incomplete pass and won’t result in any loss in yardage. This is a far better alternative to being sacked and having to work harder for the next first down.
