Backups getting playing time

[SirMichaelJordan]

I have some depth defensively and some of my DLineman are complaining about playing time. As the GM I am unable to make any adjustments. It would be cool to see the AI become smart enough to start to rotate players at some of these positions during the game. This is also a trend in the current NFL. Rarely does a DLineman (DB’s & LB’s) play every snap like they are currently doing in the game.

[Tigerman]

I agree on this.

[ZootMurph]

A few things to think about...

1) Is playing time a big issue to them? If so, AND you don't like the complaining, don't sign a guy to be a backup if he's a player that wants a lot of playing time.
2) Instead of finding guys that are the same type of player, find differing types of players... pass rushers and run stoppers. The AI will use each in different situations.
3) How many players do you have on your roster? If your coach is mostly a 3-4 defense players, why in the world would you have 4 or 5 DTs on your team?
4) Look for players with low endurance. Low endurance players will need to be switched out more often, and thus more rotation.
5) What kind of contract do they have? Did you promise them a starting job, then put them in as backup? I personally sign guys based on where they are likely to be on my depth chart... I sign backups as backups, etc. If a backup becomes a starter, then the starter will complain, but if he's not a starter, why pay him starting money? Cut or trade him and move on.

Overall, I have seen this and it hasn't really affected anything for me. Backups are a dime a dozen, depth or no depth... so if a guy's unhappy and doesn't want to resign... who cares, there are 10 guys to sign to take his place.

Another thing I've found that cures this problem is simply winning. Just win baby, then guys don't care as much about playing time... and if you are getting blowout wins, the backups WILL get playing time. Guys will get upset faster if your team sucks and you never win.

Finally, I think you sign players to do a particular job. If a guy doesn't like his job, trade him or cut him and sign someone who is happy in that job. So, sign players for the job they will do, and they will be happy. Cut or trade guys that aren't. OR, deal with the messages about unhappiness and move on.

[SirMichaelJordan]

I’m less concerned about the complaints and more concerned about the realism. I have a well balanced team with backups good enough to not have starters play every snap.

Sure, I can get rid of backups who complain but at some point it becomes a work around to the problem of AI not playing it’s backups...

[AKH]

viewtopic.php?f=303&t=30486&p=212116#p212116

how do I resolve this?

[brooks_piggott]

The easiest way to get rotations is to set up multiple depth chart packages and set equal weights to them. The game logic will put in backups if you're winning by large margins, but having multiple packages where you swap out Olinemen or Dlinemen or other positions will help with the playing time issue. Unfortunately the AI doesn't really use this technique... we'll have to look at that in a future version.

[SirMichaelJordan]

Thanks for the response.

That’s my main issue, the AI not really taking advantage of the package system. Looking forward to see it work in future versions.