Player Levels

Player levels are another relatively unknown aspect of the game that can have a significant impact on the game. Check your player levels pre snap to see what players are. Cold(blue), neutral(white), warm(orange), or on fire(flashing orange). To see levels hold in RT and press down on the right joystick. Using your levels is an art and a science. On offense players get hot from making big plays, scoring touchdowns, etc. Players get cold from throwing picks, fumbling, and from being on the wrong end of the hit stick. On defense players get hot for making big plays, like picks, sacks, fumbles, and big hits. It is rare for defenders to get cold, but it is possible. In order to use these levels to your advantage look to build up your players confidence early. For example when using QB's with less than great passing ability such as Pryor or Chiles, I will look to run the ball with them a lot at first, and just try to hit some easy passes to the TE or RB in the flats. Their levels will slowly build up and I always try to get that first tug with a running TD from your QB. This will almost always raise their level to warm or on fire. This strategy of building up your players works with any position. Look to control your DE at first and get him a sack or two, his level will build and later he will be warm with the CPU control. Perhaps just as important as QB levels is the level of the WR's. WR's that are warm or on fire will get open and make that game changing catch for you.