Alright, so I finally got my hands on NCAA 25, spent some time messing around with it this past week. You know how it is, new game, gotta try out all the bells and whistles. One thing I really wanted to get a feel for was the stiff arm. Saw it in some clips, looked pretty impactful, way better than just trucking sometimes.
So, first thing I did? Jumped straight into a game. Got my running back into the open field, saw a defender closing in, and just started mashing the stiff arm button. Like, hammering it. What happened? Got tackled. Immediately. Didn’t even look like I tried anything. Happened a few more times. I’m thinking, okay, maybe this isn’t just a button-mashing thing like in some older games.
Figuring it Out in Practice
Took it to the practice mode. Decided I needed to actually figure out the timing. Spent maybe a good half hour just running plays, specifically looking for chances to use the stiff arm. Here’s what I kinda stumbled upon:
- Just pressing the button early does nothing. Zip. Nada.
- Pressing it too late means you’re already getting wrapped up. Waste of time.
- There’s like a sweet spot, right when the defender is lunging or just about to make contact.
- Seems to work better on smaller guys, like cornerbacks, than huge linebackers. Makes sense, I guess.
So it wasn’t just if you press it, but when and who it’s against. I started trying to anticipate the tackle, hitting the button right as the defender committed. Still wasn’t perfect. Sometimes my guy would just do this weak little shove, other times he’d whiff completely and look like an idiot. Got frustrating, not gonna lie. Felt like I was just guessing half the time.
Making it Work (Sometimes)
Then, finally, it clicked. Had a breakaway run down the sideline. Saw the safety coming across. Timed it just right, hit the button, and BAM. My running back fully extended, planted his hand right on the defender’s helmet, and that poor guy just peeled off and hit the turf. It was beautiful. Felt super satisfying, you know? Like I actually did something skillful.
Now I’m trying to use it more in actual games. It’s still hit or miss. Sometimes I nail it and feel like a genius, other times I mistime it and get stuffed at the line or lose yards. It’s definitely not an automatic ‘get out of jail free’ card. You gotta pick your spots. Trying to stiff arm a big defensive tackle head-on? Yeah, probably not gonna work out well. But against a defensive back in the open field? It’s definitely worth trying.
It adds a cool dynamic, makes the running game feel a bit more involved than just following blockers and hitting the sprint button. Still practicing, still getting the hang of it. But yeah, that’s my journey with the stiff arm so far. It’s tricky, but when it works, it really works.
