Which FOF LB position do you think is most important (in a 4-3)?

[Dutch]

Curious.

[PiemasterUK]

In a 4-3 or a 3-4?

[Narcizo]

43 by the looks of the options available.

In 2004 it was SLB then MLB then WLB.

In 2007 I don't really have much of a feel for it and it all seems pretty interchangeable. In a 43.

[Dutch]

Oops, sorry, 4-3 is my standard defense so that's how I think.

Comments on 3-4 would be welcome however, since I play that when injuries force the issue. Scratch that--in FOF2k4. I think there is a penalty in FOF2k7 for switching between the two often.

[Raiders Army]

MLB/SLB. I let the coach set my defensive game plan and my WLB doesn't start all my games and never has more tackles than the MLB or SLB. I go cheap on my WLB, RG, and RT. For some reason I always run to the left or up the middle a lot more than I run to the right...even if I have a stud RG and RT. I try to save money on those three positions.

[Narcizo]

The in-game AI is hugely biased to running to the left.

[Landshark44]

The in-game AI is hugely biased to running to the left.


is the left generally the strong side, or the weak side?

[DolphinFan1]

The in-game AI is hugely biased to running to the left.

Just to clarify this a little. The reason the AI is biased to the left or middle is USUALLY most OT and OG are your more talented OL. Just to give you a little info. In my current dynasty, my left side is much better than my right. We run to the left most of the time. However, during my current preseason, I have rested most of my good starters during the 1st two games of the preseason. So all of my OL are about equal. In those two games, we have run up the middle and the right side more than the left.

[timmynausea]

I've always thought it was the SLB. He is pretty important against the run, in coverage and blitzing. The MLB is probably slightly more important against the run but less so in the other phases. (This is based more on 2k4 than 2k7.)

[Raiders Army]

is the left generally the strong side, or the weak side?

Generally the weak side. In a traditional QB, FL, SE, TE, TB, FB, T-G-C-G-T formation the Tight End normally lines up on the right, making the left the weak side.

[PiemasterUK]

Generally the weak side. In a traditional QB, FL, SE, TE, TB, FB, T-G-C-G-T formation the Tight End normally lines up on the right, making the left the weak side.

Only on the O and X diagrams. I played the game for 6 years and in both teams I played for, both played could (and would) be called on both sides completely symetrically.

[fantastic flying froggies]

I went with MLB and SLB both, because they are the ones staying on the field every play.

[Carman Bulldog]

I went with MLB and SLB both, because they are the ones staying on the field every play.

Well that depends. I have a great WLB who has phenomenal pass coverage and good pass rush skills. He's only average at stopping the run though. My SLB is great at stopping the run and he too has above average to good pass rush skills. However, when we move into passing formations, my WLB moves over to the SLB slot, so the SLB isn't necessarily on the field all the time. It just depends on how you opt to configure things.

[dj_morton]

MLB for sure..I like a run stopper

[Vinatieri for Prez]

Generally the weak side. In a traditional QB, FL, SE, TE, TB, FB, T-G-C-G-T formation the Tight End normally lines up on the right, making the left the weak side.

While this is true, it is opposite in FOF. Look at your formations screens.

[Raiders Army]

While this is true, it is opposite in FOF. Look at your formations screens.

Are you talking about play calling? There's a button to decide Strength=Left or Strength=Right. The game I brought up had the Strength=Left highlighted by default. Since I don't call my plays I never noticed this.

[zlionsfan]

Just to clarify this a little. The reason the AI is biased to the left or middle is USUALLY most OT and OG are your more talented OL. Just to give you a little info. In my current dynasty, my left side is much better than my right. We run to the left most of the time. However, during my current preseason, I have rested most of my good starters during the 1st two games of the preseason. So all of my OL are about equal. In those two games, we have run up the middle and the right side more than the left.
This does make sense. In my current season, across the league, there is about a 2:1 ratio for running left to running right ... but most of the teams with a significant bias also have a significant difference in quality between LT and RT.

My RT is a much better run blocker than my LT, so we tend to run to the right more often. :)

It's hard to say because I have so little experience and because I don't yet have a feel for the data I need to use to identify these things, but it seems as though in the running game, a weaker MLB will make more plays than a stronger OLB, so it seems as though quality would be more valuable at MLB.

[Vinatieri for Prez]

Are you talking about play calling? There's a button to decide Strength=Left or Strength=Right. The game I brought up had the Strength=Left highlighted by default. Since I don't call my plays I never noticed this.

That's another indication that the left side in FOF is normally the strong side, at least how one normally thinks of it in real life. But I meant another screen. I made a mistake calling it the formations screen. I meant the personnel screens. It always has the TE to the left of the LT. Under the personnel screen, you will see that the weak formation differs from the strong formation by moving the RB around. While I could be wrong, I just don't think Jim would go through setting up those screens like he did if it wasn't for that reason. If you look at the screens, you can easily see why most runs go left.

I'm open to other suggestions, but this is the only way that adequately explains the left run bias.

I think this from the help file pretty much explains it:

I Formation varieties - the running back lines up behind the fullback, who lines up behind the quarterback. This formation is geared toward the run.

Pro Formation varieties - the running back and fullback line up on opposite sides of the quarterback. This formation is geared slightly toward the pass.

Weak I Formation varieties - the same as the I Formation, except the fullback moves a little toward the weak side (opposite the tight end). This is a neutral formation.

Strong I Formation varieties - the same as the I Formation, except the fullback moves a little toward the strong side (with the tight end). This is a neutral formation.

Single-Back Formation varieties - the fullback is replaced by a receiver, and the running back lines up behind the quarterback. This formation is geared slightly toward the pass. This formation is the one most often used with the quarterback in shotgun position.

[Vinatieri for Prez]

Hmm, now I found this also from the playcalling help file. This is getting confusing.

When putting a play together, you need to select the formation and the strength of the formation. The strength is generally the side the tight end lines up on. But if two receivers are on one side and just one tight end lines up on the other side, the strength is with the receivers. The halfback and fullback do not affect the strength of a formation.

This seems to contradict my above post. Both portions are from the help file on play calling.

[Vinatieri for Prez]

Man, I've just realized that the playcalling screen itself has a wealth of information related to this. I'm going to have to take some time to digest it.

Edit: Ok, it looks as if I'm mixing up what the formation is called and where the strength is. Placement of the fullback in relation to the TE determines whether you have an I, weak, or strong, or pro formation. Placement of the TE (or multiple receivers) determines what side is strong or weak in any particular formation. Thus, I will reverse myself by saying that I no longer cling to the idea that the personnel screen has a say in this.

[zlionsfan]

Man, I've just realized that the playcalling screen itself has a wealth of information related to this. I'm going to have to take some time to digest it.

Edit: Ok, it looks as if I'm mixing up what the formation is called and where the strength is. Placement of the fullback in relation to the TE determines whether you have an I, weak, or strong, or pro formation. Placement of the TE (or multiple receivers) determines what side is strong or weak in any particular formation. Thus, I will reverse myself by saying that I no longer cling to the idea that the personnel screen has a say in this.
That's right. In Weak and Strong, the backs form an I with the FB offset toward (strong) or away from (weak) the TE; vertically-aligned RBs form an I and horizontally-aligned RBs form a pro set.

But yes, "strength" refers to the TE's location. (I didn't know about the multiple-receiver thing. I think of a 3-WR, 2-RB formation as "slot left" or "slot right".)