Re: Suggestion: DL and LB distinctions
Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2021 11:27 pm
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/121 ... -alignment
I've included a link to a brief article that could explain it better. But in short - outside linebackers are often better at pass rushing and coverage. And while my primary desire is for better AI to determine which linebacker plays what position, I thought the simplest way was to create a clear distinction between the linebackers. And in my defense, this isn't a novel idea because it's been used by every major American football game I've played for as long as I can remember.
I'm bringing this up for players like me who prefer the single player mode against the AI. I can easily rearrange the depth chart for my team if I choose but I'd rather not have to comb the the CPU's roster to make the decisions for them.
And I would like more input as to why this shouldn't happen. As it's been mentioned before, the game recognizes the difference between offensive linemen, even though those positions seem to be more interchangeable than inside and outside linebackers in real life. Why is this particular change so controversial?
And one of the good things this conversation has caused is for me to look a little deeper into the numbers in the game. I've learned DEs overwhelmingly get the sacks in the game! I've simmed 3 seasons so far and every season DEs are the only ones listed in the top 10. And the great passing rushing LBs of the NFL like T.J Watt, Khalil Mack, and Chandler Jones never had a season where they got more than 4 sacks (maybe because they all played MLB?). If realism in single player career mode is a top priority for this game, I think there's an opportunity here to improve in this area.
I've included a link to a brief article that could explain it better. But in short - outside linebackers are often better at pass rushing and coverage. And while my primary desire is for better AI to determine which linebacker plays what position, I thought the simplest way was to create a clear distinction between the linebackers. And in my defense, this isn't a novel idea because it's been used by every major American football game I've played for as long as I can remember.
I'm bringing this up for players like me who prefer the single player mode against the AI. I can easily rearrange the depth chart for my team if I choose but I'd rather not have to comb the the CPU's roster to make the decisions for them.
And I would like more input as to why this shouldn't happen. As it's been mentioned before, the game recognizes the difference between offensive linemen, even though those positions seem to be more interchangeable than inside and outside linebackers in real life. Why is this particular change so controversial?
And one of the good things this conversation has caused is for me to look a little deeper into the numbers in the game. I've learned DEs overwhelmingly get the sacks in the game! I've simmed 3 seasons so far and every season DEs are the only ones listed in the top 10. And the great passing rushing LBs of the NFL like T.J Watt, Khalil Mack, and Chandler Jones never had a season where they got more than 4 sacks (maybe because they all played MLB?). If realism in single player career mode is a top priority for this game, I think there's an opportunity here to improve in this area.