BigPoppa, not a great question for me since I rarely run ... but it sounded to me that the design of this offense is to basically just run the ball as "throw away" plays designed to tire out key players on the defense. So if that was the plan, it would seem to make sense to use your worst guys? I always just try to get my best guys out there (assuming I'm playing a close game).

I get so nervous running the ball. I feel like each run play has a roughly 3-4% chance of a fumble and passing with a high formation IQ QB has almost 0.

Anyway, I understand about putting your best DL/LB in the outside spots to stop outside runs and vice versa... do the secondary starter spots matter as much?

Bit of a disconnect here. Let's start with the formula for Outside Runs. CB's are the most important defensive player for an outside run. Here is the Dev Chat:

On an inside running play, who is involved in blocking at the LOS for the offense and defense? Who is involved on an outside running play? (slid64er - Hall of Famer - 6:44 PM)

This varies as the play goes because the location will change, but for demonstration purposes here is an example. Note: the partial value depends on position and current location of the play. This information is available on the formations page in the blocking section
OFFENSE (using IFormation as example)
INSIDE RUNNING PLAY: OL2, OL3, OL4. Partial influence: RB (if blocking)
OUTSIDE RUNNING PLAY: OL1, OL5, TE (if blocking). Partial influence: RB (if blocking)
DEFENSE (using 4-3 as example)
INSIDE RUNNING PLAY: DL2, DL3. Partial Influence: DL1, DL4, LB1, LB2, LB3, SS, FS
OUTSIDE RUNNING PLAY: CB1, CB2 Partial Influence: DL1, DL4, LB1, LB2, LB3, SS, FS

This is probably why you typically see better results from the outside run than the inside run. Typically people do not pay attention to STR/TKL for their DB recruiting.

I've just worked under the assumption (with no data) that the effectiveness of your DE's would basically be determined by the average of the 2.

You are correct, but let's change the position (this applies to all contests by the way). The average of your two CB's will be used as the primary factor.

So for example to stop an outside run, I would move my two best LBs to OLB and my 2 best DL to DE, but I interpreted your post to only move 1.

Sorry to give that impression. You need to move your best 2 TKL/STR DB to CB, your best 2 TKL/STR LB to the OLB position and your best 2 TKL/STR DL to the DE positions. Hopefully this is clear? Sorry for any confusion. All defensive groupings (there are seven) are taken as a group and not individually.

Another question: Do you view a players Stamina (the 0-100 rating in the game log) as a modifier? Just as an example ... a player with a Role Rating of 80 and a Stamina level of 90 would perform like a 72 rated player for that play?

I believe low stamina (not the attribute, but the in game stamina) impacts a player's attributes negatively in the game. For example, my GD rated 100 RB will perform as a 100 RB until his stamina goes below X. I am not sure what X is and it is probably a scale. I do not play players under 85% stamina FWIW.

Hope this makes sense.

nitros (James)

Question I may have overlooked here...do you guys rotate your OL on run/pass plays? Or just try to get your best 5 out there all the time (and sub out as they get tired)?

I rotate pass vs. run. I also rotate inside run vs. outside run. On run plays, you want your best run OL in the right spots. IR = OL1, OL2 and OL3 and OR = OL4 and OL5.

Careful not to get too crazy or your FIQ will go to crap.

nitros (James)

P.S. Sometimes you just have a stud(s) OL with high stamina. I tend to keep that player (those players) in the game as much as possible.

Interesting stuff ... thanks for sharing Nitros.

Hey Nitros,

One more question for you!

Regarding moving LB's down to the line, and what we talked about re: the average of both starters at D(or any position, CB, etc.).

I know you recommended moving a LB to the line (basically moving from a 4-3 to a 5-2 with 3 DE's). But if that LB is actually worse in the key DL stats (however anyone values them) does it actually help at all to move him down there? Or does it hurt by lowering the DE averages? I think I've seen you talk before about the "volume" bonus being negligible.

Posted by nitros on 12/3/2019 8:36:00 PM (view original):

Question I may have overlooked here...do you guys rotate your OL on run/pass plays? Or just try to get your best 5 out there all the time (and sub out as they get tired)?

I rotate pass vs. run. I also rotate inside run vs. outside run. On run plays, you want your best run OL in the right spots. IR = OL1, OL2 and OL3 and OR = OL4 and OL5.

Careful not to get too crazy or your FIQ will go to crap.

nitros (James)

P.S. Sometimes you just have a stud(s) OL with high stamina. I tend to keep that player (those players) in the game as much as possible.

"I rotate pass vs. run. I also rotate inside run vs. outside run. On run plays, you want your best run OL in the right spots. IR = OL1, OL2 and OL3 and OR = OL4 and OL5."

Is this correct? My formations page shows OL 1 and 2 designated to block "out" and OL3, 4, and 5 designated to block "in".

Posted by OHinTN on 4/14/2020 8:57:00 AM (view original):

Posted by nitros on 12/3/2019 8:36:00 PM (view original):

Question I may have overlooked here...do you guys rotate your OL on run/pass plays? Or just try to get your best 5 out there all the time (and sub out as they get tired)?

I rotate pass vs. run. I also rotate inside run vs. outside run. On run plays, you want your best run OL in the right spots. IR = OL1, OL2 and OL3 and OR = OL4 and OL5.

Careful not to get too crazy or your FIQ will go to crap.

nitros (James)

P.S. Sometimes you just have a stud(s) OL with high stamina. I tend to keep that player (those players) in the game as much as possible.

"I rotate pass vs. run. I also rotate inside run vs. outside run. On run plays, you want your best run OL in the right spots. IR = OL1, OL2 and OL3 and OR = OL4 and OL5."

Is this correct? My formations page shows OL 1 and 2 designated to block "out" and OL3, 4, and 5 designated to block "in".

I want my best OL playing T (which is OL1 & OL2) when running outside.

I want my best OL playing G/C on inside runs (which is OL3/OL4/OL5).

I personally think having a good blocking TE helps on outside runs while a good blocking FB helps on inside runs. I'm sure other coaches have different opinions regarding TEs and FBs in the running game.

Having a great blocking TE is critical on outside runs in my humble opinion. He is basically another OL and he averages into the OL calculation for outside runs I believe. Nitros will know that part more then I do. In my opinion, if you don't have a great run blocking TE....don't run outside.

Thanks guys for reminding me why I enjoy D3. As much as I like GD, and even in days of WFH and quarantine, I don't have the energy to put into learning this kind of game planning.

Posted by ekatzen on 4/16/2020 3:21:00 AM (view original):
Thanks guys for reminding me why I enjoy D3. As much as I like GD, and even in days of WFH and quarantine, I don't have the energy to put into learning this kind of game planning.

Ditto. I keep my toe in the water trying to learn or “Coach” as some call it, but I see D3 as a different game entirely. Less time(aka flexibility/strategy, etc.) is required, but the competition is great for a much simpler game.

I am taking nothing away from the big boys playing the higher levels, quite the opposite. I just see D3 as a different game and experience completely.

My playbooks are set it and forget it at this point. I only swap playbooks in my gameplan screen if I feel the need to do so. Once you have them setup, you really don't have to play around with them much. My depth charts are all set to work within my playbooks and don't need to be changes either. Some people may disagree but it works alright for me as I don't want to pour through my settings at all either. So I cna certianly see the appeal of D3 for that.

I love it

So my question if you are pretty sure they are running outside on 1st down do you set the run% to 100? I've seen with the passing game doesn't matter if you play 100% pass defense, teams are still going to be successful throwing the ball.

So many things influence successful defense. Number 1 is the talent of your defense vs that of the offense.
Certainly anticipating whether it is pass or run should help. Where your lb's are playing ; on the line or in cover. Are you blitzing or not blitzing.. In case of run tackling rating.