CEFL Photo Essay: Chapter IV – The Big Twelve Conference

The Big Twelve turned out to be a relatively straightforward conference. It was all about 2 teams: Nebraska and Colorado. Colordado opened the season with a loss to Navy. At the time it seemed that Colordao might be a weak sister in the Big Twelve, but as it became clearer and clearer each week that Navy had a strong team, that loss became less discouraging.

Nebraska was 3-0 after its first 3 games. In fact, Nebraska was the #1 ranked team in the CEFL Nation because it was winning big and holding its opponent’s offense in check every time it played. Nebraska was set to play Army in Round 4.

Like two heavyweight fighters, Nebraska and Army traded blows with their power rushing attacks all game long. Neither team would let up, so the game went into overtime, with each team getting 3 plays to generate as many yards as it could. By the last play of the game, Army had the ball and needed 5 yards to secure a victory. Army set up in a power rushing formation and Nebraska brought up its safties to shut down the coming attack.

The board was turned on for the first movement. Nebraska’s defense had Army’s two running backs wrapped up and in trouble. It looked like Army’s QB might have a hole developing, so the QB scrambled for daylight. It was Army’s only chance and it was going to be close. As all unengaged players dashed for the middle of the offensive line, the hole opened up and Army’s QB squeaked through for the victory!!!

The final Big Twelve game of the season was for the title. Nebraska played Colorado, each was 3-1. Each dominated the other Big Twelve teams. Colordao ended up winning 14-7, with 120 rushing yards and 10 passing yards. Colorado’s players gathered around the Big Twelve Banner to celebrate: Colordao was CEFL’s Big Twelve Champion!!!

The only remaining question is….who will be the PAC Ten Champion? Find out in CEFL Season III: Chapter 5 – The PAC Ten Conference.

[Silverhorse 228]

Wow! I like your board and the players are sweet! Did you paint the board yourself? Pretty cool!

Thanks Silverhorse. Unfortunately I have not been blessed with artistic talent like that. Bruce Watts made and painted the board.

[Butch Carter]

Great board, where can I get one? I have not been playing just painting. I know this may sound stupid, but could you explain, what is on the bottom of the DB bases and what does it do? I would guess it's for pass defense? I'm sorry I really haven't played in about 15 years or so.

You'll need to contact Mr. Bruce Watts (a.k.a. Meggawattz).

The bottom of the DBs base is a thin magnet. DBs and Linebackers have the option of beginning the play in a stationary position so that they can survey how the play develops before deciding when and how they want to attack.

I think I’ve seen pictures of what looked like professionally manufactured magnet bases out there, but I use the poor man’s homemade approach to make them.

#1: Find a thin flexible refrigerator magnet.

#2: Cut out a base-sized rectangle from the magnet. Allow for a little extra margin on each side. You can always trim it off after the last step.

#3: Find some double sided sticky “mounting tabs.” Put tabs on the plastic side of the magnet.

#4: Place a base that has all prongs removed on top of the sticky tabs.

#5: Trim away any portion of the sticky tab or magnet that extends beyond the side of the base. Presto.

...but Krazy Glue works too! I basically use that kind of base on my TTQB and stationary QB. We use 1 magnet guy here in the MW, but we usually just place a square mag under the real base then release him after the catch or after the RB gains at least 10yds. If you work with your TTC bases you can find a few that will drift straight back at a snail's pace with the dial turned all the way backwards or you can "spin" in a zone. Also, TTCs without the dial can be used as dropback QBs.

[Butch Carter]

Thanks for the great info. Ok, so after the LB's and DB's take their read steps do you remove and let them get after it? I know I'm asking a lot of questions, but if I'm goinig to compete I want to learn all I can. I'm a head varsity football coach at the high school level, and I want to learn all the tricks so I can practice my EF team. I would never enter a Friday night without being prepared and I want to make sure my EF team will be prepared also. I think I will start a new thread asking for new tips. What do you think?

Bulldawg21, I think starting a new post to ask is a good idea. I've enjoyed reading posts on this board and the Miggle board about different styles of play and there are coaches out there who have spent a lot of time on this subject. As far as I can tell there is no uniform style of play for solitaire leagues, so solitaire coaches play with whatever system is most fun for them. Coaches AB and DM have some great posts with diagrams that came out a while back that are really sharp.

The way I've enjoyed playing in my solitaire league is to have the offense set up first. There are basic running and passing formations. The QB can either start with his running base or his stationary base. The QB may also line up in shotgun formation no more than 10 yard behind the line of scrimmage. After I set up the offense, I line up the defense. At least 5, but up to 7 guys can line up opposite the o-line (including TEs). Safties, CBs and LBs can start with stationary bases if they want, but have to be at least 5 yards behind the line of scrimmage or at least 10 yards if they are in the tacklebox if they are on magnets.

On running plays, I usually go with 2 safeties 10 yards behind the line. However, if the defense has been containing the offensive line in the tacklebox, I might move one or both of them up to the line. Having the extra guys at the line really increases the defensive line strength. But if a running back or QB does get through a hole, there is a good chance for a big gain with no safety protection, especially if the safeties that came up to the line get engaged by an offensive lineman during the first movement.

If the defense has a guy or two coming in on a blitz, the offense then decides whether it wants to use one or more blockers. If the offense goes without a blocker, there is a decent chance that the QB will get sacked by the blitz. However, if the blitzers don't run straight enough, the offense will have a chance to pass and may have a good chance of getting a receiver open in a space with no defensive protection, since the blitzers are usually the safeties.

If the offense moves a receiver or running back into blocking position, they have to use a stationary base and cannot convert to a regular base for the rest of the play. The board moves for 5 seconds. If the QB is on a magnet and is touched by the defense at any time the play is over and it is a sack. If the play is a running play, the offense may choose which back has the ball based on their position after the first movement. All unengaged players may then pivot and any defensive players on magnets can shift to their regular bases. If a defensive player is in a good stationary position and wants to let the play come to him before switching, I allow him to shift to a regular base at any time even if it means stopping the board again on a running play, but that rarely happens.

If the play is a passing play, the QB decides whether to pass the ball, convert to a base and run the ball forward, stay stationary, or convert to a regular base and scramble (usually to a side parallel with the LOS or sometimes back toward his endzone). Then, all unengaged offensive eligible receivers may pivot. Then unengaged defensive players may pivot. Defensive players on magnets may switch to regular bases and pivot. Finally, unengaged offensive linemen may pivot.

The board then runs for 5 more seconds. After the second movement, the QB may pass if he has not been sacked. If he doesn't pass, any defensive players still on magnets may switch to regular bases and pivot. The board then runs for 5 more seconds. After the third movement the QB must pass the ball if he is still in bounds or he is automatically sacked.

Any time a pass is complete (or intercepted) all unengaged players may pivot and the board runs again.

For me it's fun trying to decide how to play the safeties and linebackers. Depending on how fast/straight the WRs run, the safeties may line up deep or shallow. After the first movement, sometimes they switch to regular bases and drift back in coverage in anticipation that a receiver is getting open, or try to run forward toward an open receiver to knock him off his route. That's risky, though, because if it doesn't work, the receiver may get wide open and behind the safety coverage.

Deciding how to pivot the WRs is fun too. Going deep has the potential for a play if you can get beyond the safeties, but the longer the pass, the lower the likelihood of completion. Running short routes is easier, especially if the WR can get into a passing lane so that the QB has a straight shot.