Season Champs Guide - By CaptainMKirk - 2019

**Who to Pick:
-Pick fastest players available, helps to have a decent kicker that is full speed as well. Dont bother changing positions of the players, they are all max speed and it just wastes time.
-My roster:
Custom player - 4 blocking and running, 2 catching
Pablo (the GOAT)
Jerry
Barry
Dante
Pete
Luanne (as a kicker)
(Don't get Steve Young, this makes him the QB and his blocking isn't as good as Pablo or Dante, so not good for ideal offensive plays)


**Ideal Plays:
--Ideal offense play: run/pass combo play like paper cut. QB hands ball to RB then blocks if there is a blitz or runs out for a pass if otherwise, leaving your RB with a 1:1 blocker to defender ratio as long as they don't bring more than two blitzers, which hardly ever happens. NEVER throw the ball unless in the playoffs or cereal bowl and absolutely necessary.

--Ideal defense play: pick something with 3 blitz and either zone or man coverage like baggy dog or doggy bag. Take control of middle blitzer and instead use the kid as a QB spy (watch where you think the play is going and move the kid to make a tackle or defend the pass).

-Receiving/kicking doesn't matter, but try to remember to pick a punt return on defense when they're on 4th down.

**Ideal tactics for each game:
-Each game you will have two halves, one which you kickoff and one where you receive the kickoff. 
--First Quarter (if receiving): catch the ball and run around the defenders until the clock runs to 0, then run out of bounds as close to the touchdown as you can before the quarter ends.
--Second Quarter: do an ideal offense play and run the clock down to 0 then score asap. Next pick any play and throw the ball out of bounds asap.
--Third Quarter (if kicking): pick any kick then mash to kick as quickly as possible (distance doesn't matter much). Tackle returner then pick ideal defensive play. Try not to let them get a first down, this wastes time. Turn the ball over or make them punt, then try to run the clock down to 0 and run out of bounds as close to the touchdown as you can before the quarter ends.
--Fourth Quarter: do an ideal offense play and run the clock to 0, then run out of bounds or score if score is 0-0 or as needed in playoffs.

-The halves seem somewhat random in which you will get first, so just flip First quarter with Third as needed.

Tips:
--Usually at least 5 games a year the computer will have one or two kids on their team that are just as fast as your players, and these are the hard games. Try to utilize your blockers as much as you can, ie try to run so the defender gets caught up to by your blocker; this will delay the defender a seemingly random amount of time and give you space to maneuver. 
--If you get tackled just run another ideal offensive play quickly and go again. 
--Remember, you only really have to win 8 or 9 of the 14 regular season games to make the playoffs. So don't worry if things don't go to the ideal plan during the middle of a run. During my current WR I lost 3 season games. just remember it's faster to let the clock run down and lose than it is to try and score a last second touchdown to win.
--DON'T FOLLOW THIS TIP ^ IF IT'S THE PLAYOFFS OR CEREAL BOWL - you MUST win these games.
--The Cereal Bowl and sometimes even the semi-final are slightly more difficult then most games, don't be afraid to deviate from the ideal. Almost every cereal bowl game I've played the opponent team scores a touchdown and kicks the PAT, sometimes its a simple run up the middle that 4 of my players miss a tackle. Seems scripted, so don't be afraid to score early and maybe go for two.
--Also interesting to note that the Cereal Bowl field makes every kid faster. 
--Be adaptable, every game the PC player will have different rushers with different speed, sometimes the defender will never get by your blocker if you're lucky! Most of the time you have to adapt your play style and how ballsy you are with maneuvering around the defense. 
--If you are backed up deep in your own territory it might be a very rare exception to pass the ball (if absolutely wide open) or run the ball early instead of trying to avoid the tackle and run the clock down. This isn't optimal but it can secure decent field position and could save a headache, especially during the playoffs.
--Pay attention to which teams you are playing. Often times the teams with really fast kids that give you trouble will play you more than once in the season, and maybe even in the playoffs. This can at least give you an idea of how you might want to strategize on maneuvering or play-calling against a fast team/player.

CaptainMKirk

Backyard Football