The FOF2007 Grassy Knoll (Undocumented Under-The-Hood Changes)

[Ben E Lou]

I don't have any hard and fast studies to "prove" any of this, but here are a few perceptions of things so far.

COACHES
Am I the only one who gets the impression that the impact of motivation, discipline, and playcalling is more pronounced in this version of the game? In FOF2K4, I focused primarily on Injury Avoidance, never hiring anyone who was worse than "VG" at it, and the other stuff was just gravy. It seems that the better coaches tend get better performances out of their teams wherever they go now.

INJURIES
I've mentioned this earlier, and some recent comments from Jim indicate that there's been a change here. The number of injuries seems pretty similar to FOF2K4. However, I'm seeing FAR fewer career-ending and ratings-reducing injuries in this version.

MENTORS
Is it just me, or is it more difficult to develop a QB without a mentor in this version? It seems like when I have a mentor, my 25/65 QB makes it up to the 50s, 60s, and even 70s in development, but when I don't, there's a greater chance of him topping out in the 40s.

CHEMISTRY
This seems to be a little more important than in the last version. Specifically, I'm wondering about the combined impact of positional leadership, mentoring, and an affinity. It looks like there are some real learning opportunities in that arena.



Thoughts on these four areas in particular? Any other "under-the-hood" type things that haven't been discussed much or documented that you're noticing?

[gstelmack]

COACHES
Am I the only one who gets the impression that the impact of motivation, discipline, and playcalling is more pronounced in this version of the game? In FOF2K4, I focused primarily on Injury Avoidance, never hiring anyone who was worse than "VG" at it, and the other stuff was just gravy. It seems that the better coaches tend get better performances out of their teams wherever they go now.

Haven't played enough 2k7 to be sure if it has changed, but in 2k4 I ignored those other attributes at my peril...

[Vinatieri for Prez]

SD, you may be onto something with the injuries. I have no SP experience with this but I think my MP conversion experience bears this out.

Playing 2K4 MP in the USFL, I had a 75-rated DE go out with reconstructive knee surgery and a 62-rated WR go out with a ruptured achilles. Both were of the 30+ week variety. Now, in 2K4, both of these injuries were almost locks for career-enders. And I would say the odds of neither close to impossible.

Thankfully, those injuries occurred in the season prior to the conversion, because . . . .

The WR's ratings were unaffected and the DE only dropped to 58. We haven't gone to training camp yet so things could change but in 2K4, we would have seen huge drops right after the injuries healed. And since the DE did already drop (same timing as 2K4) I am thinking the WR got through unscathed. I'm crossing my fingers, but I am confident enough that I am going to drop a 6 million bonus on the WR right now to clear cap room.

[Narcizo]

COACHES
Am I the only one who gets the impression that the impact of motivation, discipline, and playcalling is more pronounced in this version of the game? In FOF2K4, I focused primarily on Injury Avoidance, never hiring anyone who was worse than "VG" at it, and the other stuff was just gravy. It seems that the better coaches tend get better performances out of their teams wherever they go now.


I've always thought that motivation was the most important attribute for a coach in 2004. I noticed a marked improvement in my team's ability to comeback with a high-motivation coach. I also like it so I can bump up the first option in the training camp (can't remember the name), which also reduces injury.

[daveroswell]

As far as mentors go, do the mentors have to be active on the roster, or can they just be on the team to help develop players? I can actually see digging in the well of free agency just to get a QB mentor. I just checked my current game; there is one currently available in the FA pool.

[cuervo72]

In 2k4, they needed to be active (as did the proteges). Don't know if anyone's tested for that in 2k7 or not.

[perez24]

I've unscientifically noticed the same results you have with the coaching and the injuries. I wish there were more career-ending or impacting injuries oddly enough.

I sign a lot of mentors so I haven 't noticed the mentor deal.

[QuikSand]

Nothing of substance to add here, I'm just glad to see a tradition live on...

[Toddzilla]

Nothing of substance to add here, I'm just glad to see a tradition live on...Cue Celine Dion...

[QuikSand]

Cue Celine Dion...

I'm all set, but thanks just the same.

[Ben E Lou]

Anyone getting the impression that as players get older, they become more injury prone?

[DolphinFan1]

I've noticed that older players sometime take longer to heal. For example, if a guy is listed as out for 5 weeks. The following week he is sometimes still out for 5 weeks. Then the next week it drops to 4 weeks. But then the next week it stays at 4 weeks. This isn't all the time, but I noticed it in some older guys.

[Carman Bulldog]

I'm starting to think that playing time actually may hurt the development of players who aren't quite ready to be playing regularly.

It seems that if I'm forcing a guy to play who isn't ready (ie. a 15/60 DE) that even through large amounts of playing time, not only will his improvement be minimal but also his potential will decrease (something like 18/52 by the next season) after starting all sixteen games for example.

I first came onto this theory with quarterbacks but feel that it may apply to all players. I'm not sure if this actually exists or what the cut-off point is (30 current??) if it does.

Anyone else had any similar experiences?