A new GroupThink Challenge - Create a Spread Offense for FOF 2007

[QuikSand]

Just thought I'd toss out the idea, see if there might be interest.

In the past, it's been pretty entertaining to work together on an FOF career, and see if we could build a team with collaboration and time. That was a hotter topic back when MP was unavailable, but some variation could still be interesting.

I'm thinking that the avenue to explore is in gameplanning. There's a library of good offensive game plans out there, and I don't think that trying in public to improve on them is likely to catch fire. but what about taking one concept, even one we acknowledge to be sub-optimal in an FOF setting, and trying to work together (or competitively, if that gets more interest) to make something work?

To me, the most interesting variant would be to come up with something Tebow-esque, with a heavy run, controlled passing, and QB-running approach. I don't think FOF really acknowledges this sort of attack very well, meaning it would be a handicap in a way. And we could set up some sort of scoring system that rewards the harder to gauge stuff like QB rushing production, or whatever, to keep this from being a "who can stray closest to the better FOF systems" thing.

Anyway... tossing it out there. I'm not going to do a ton of work on this if there's no interest, but if this catches on I'd be interested in being part of it.

[Ben E Lou]

This is an interesting idea. The best way I've found to ramp up QB running is to use a lot of 5-WR, but using a lot of 5-WR forces more passing, too, so that'd mess things up. I guess you'd have to have a high scramble frequency QB with a lot of formations...

[Ben E Lou]

But in the sense that you say "spread," are you thinking mostly multi-WR stuff?

[QuikSand]

My thinking would be - lots of multi-WR formations, mobile QB, and maybe in the scorekeeping some sort of bonus for rushing yards by your QB and WR combined. Not sure what I want to replicate exactly, but since FOF doesn't seem to do any of these things especially well, it wold be a challenge into an area that few of us are really exploring much.

*shurg*

[Passacaglia]

This sounds interesting -- after watching the Broncos today, I'd like to try something like this. Can anyone point me to some gameplans made to get the QB more carries?

[QuikSand]

I doubt it.

[MacroGuru]

I was thinking of creating something like this, testing it out some more.

[Kozure]

Not to get philosophical but don't todays NFL spread offenses utilize just about any formation package? Patriots and Steelers run the spread out of two tight end sets.

FOF is definitely not made for this level of customization. Would be pretty cool if coordinators had a style of play which gave you bonuses to certain personal packages that are under that style. If a coordinator had a Spread style, maybe your team gains bonuses to formations that utilize multiple wideouts. Other styles for running and traditional offenses would be included too.

Just dreaming a little here...

[stevew]

Trying to get a youngish QB who is also "Long Passes" and knows the 5WR spread formation seems to be an insurmountable hurdle. I'd assume the ability to scramble drops as a player ages perhaps.

Anyways, I was able to get about 100 carries with my QB in a season. Going to keep training him up in training camp in order to get the 4 and 5WR formations.

[Ben E Lou]

My thinking would be - lots of multi-WR formations, mobile QB, and maybe in the scorekeeping some sort of bonus for rushing yards by your QB and WR combined. Not sure what I want to replicate exactly, but since FOF doesn't seem to do any of these things especially well, it wold be a challenge into an area that few of us are really exploring much.

*shurg*Playing with this right now, and I'm finding it nearly impossible to get WRs more than like 10 total rushes per year.

[Ben E Lou]

...and that's with a team that threw 369 and ran 552 total. QB got 61 totes, but WRs only 10 combined, with WR running turned up all the way and high on finesse in the multi-WR sets.

[Ben E Lou]

Humpty bumpty. This seems like it would be more interesting in the new version. Haven't tried it out yet.

[Nataris]

I'd be interested in this as well. Seems like a fun community thing.

My suggestion for a QB to target would be (obviously) high scrambling, screen passes, short and medium passes.

I think it would be far to difficult to find a great running qb that can also throw the long/deep pass. I would personally focus on a "move the chains" type of spread as opposed to longer throws.

Maybe even throw in a Sproles type RB with speed and catching ability.

[QuikSand]

So, if I were to pull together a save game file and post it... would there be interest in offering it up as a challenge career? Everyone take that exact team, and uses a game plan designed to maximize certain things - trying to max out on QB rushing in particular. Then post your results in one of the Excel-style templates after you have run and rerun the initial season 10 or more times.

Hmmmmmm...