Labeling this 09 may not be fitting as these might be bigger changes to look for down the road and gradually move toward than something that can be quickly adjusted for next year, but want to get some general feelings as we set out in new directions.
As mentioned, play calling is something that will be looked at further in enhancing and testing the game simulator further later this summer and we'll keep working on it to improve the results each year.
We added more strict rules on positioning last year but perhaps some room to go a little further. Some future enhancements might include more understanding of player's abilities to fit into different schemes but could be beyond changes I could make for next year or research that could be done on hundreds of players and then keeping up with updated profiles for that level of detail.
We will probably have to stick to more of the same player grading resource (although probably adjust our interpretation of it a bit), but start to build more of our own tools over time for more complex player grading to fit uniquely with our own intended game changes as we evolve.
09 Rules: Reality Elements
09 Rules: Reality Elements
Official Statement from the Commissioner's Office
Re: 09 Rules: Reality Elements
Really good information here on potential future modifications, but most not something for this year.
For example, we MIGHT be able to add some team settings in the depth chart for run/pass offense style preferences (that could impact what a team does in cases where the sim coach is indifferent to whether a run or pass called for) but we can't make the leap currently to tie individual players to systems that are better for them personally. That sounds like something cool later, so if signing a guy LONG-TERM this off-season perhaps keep in the back of your mind for later modification but not something we can account for this year. So whether a defender is a great fit for a 3-4 but not a 4-3 won't really matter this year, but COULD at some future date if you sign them to a 5-year deal or something.
When we move further away from Madden grades into our own grade determinations, the plan is to have a grade for Special Team impact also for backups who are great contributors on coverage or great long-snappers helping a kicker slightly, but not something for this year.
For example, we MIGHT be able to add some team settings in the depth chart for run/pass offense style preferences (that could impact what a team does in cases where the sim coach is indifferent to whether a run or pass called for) but we can't make the leap currently to tie individual players to systems that are better for them personally. That sounds like something cool later, so if signing a guy LONG-TERM this off-season perhaps keep in the back of your mind for later modification but not something we can account for this year. So whether a defender is a great fit for a 3-4 but not a 4-3 won't really matter this year, but COULD at some future date if you sign them to a 5-year deal or something.
When we move further away from Madden grades into our own grade determinations, the plan is to have a grade for Special Team impact also for backups who are great contributors on coverage or great long-snappers helping a kicker slightly, but not something for this year.
Official Statement from the Commissioner's Office