Using Known Formations

[Zee]

Supposition

I wanted to prove to myself how important it is to use Formations that your QB is familiar with. I assume there is a penalty, but how much? Perhaps there is some value for your team to using certain formations that fit your personnel, even if your QB is not familiar with it. There’s been plenty of discussion on the boards about using formation, but I couldn’t anything with actually data.


Test

To test this, I used the Rex to set my lineup and basic game plan. Then I selected 5 formations that my QB knew, and placed 20% usage into these for each of the Run and Pass options. I replayed the same match against the same average defense 6 times, and tracked the overall passing and rushing stats.

Then I switched the formations to 5 formations that my QB did not know. I made an effort to try to select normal formation that would balance between the two sets, and avoided the goal line and 5WR formations for either. I then played the same team matchup again, 6 more times.


Results

Below are the Average QB and RB statistics from both sets of trials.

Known Formations:

Passing
Att... Comp... Yards.... TD....LG... Int... Rate
34.5.. 23.7... 275.7.... 2.2.. 40.2.. .3... 110.5

Rushing
Att... Yards... Avg... LG... 10+... TD
29.3. 119.7... 4.1.. 22.5.. 2.2... 1.2

1st D.... Score... Opp... Record
22.5 .....27.3.... 18.7.... 5-1

Unknown Formations:

Passing
Att... Comp ...Yards ...TD ...LG... Int... Rate
38.2.. 16.3 ...185.7 ....3... 30.8.. .8.... 55.7

Rushing
Att ...Yards... Avg... LG ...10+... TD
21.5.. 59.2... 2.8... 17.5.. 1.5.... .7

1st D. ...Score ...Opp ...Record
15.2.... 11.5 .....20.7.... 1-5


Analysis

It was interesting that my QB actually threw the ball a little more with unknown formations, but it was the RB stats that really seemed to suffer. The RB’s ran 25% less often which I believe that can be explained because they had less opportunity, as they were constantly playing from behind. There were a third less 1st downs, and since they were behind, they tried to throw it more.

The QB’s completion percentage took a huge hit, from 69% to 43%, or also a drop of about 1/3 less. This is directly reflected in his total yards and the QB Rating as well. The overall QB rating was cut in half, from an average of 110.5, down to a pathetic 55.7.

I can’t explain why the RB average yards per carry was impacted by the QB’s lack of knowledge with the formation. All the QB has to do is hand off or pitch it to the RB, but the yards per carry dropped from 4.1 to 2.8. A drop of 32%!


Conclusion

I was hoping for a smaller percentage drop, something that might support using a formation that my QB didn’t know, perhaps in certain game situations. But I have to say, there is a significant impact to both the passing and running game when formations that are not known are used. A 33% reduction in both rushing and passing numbers really can’t be afforded.

So, what does that really mean? Clearly you need to look at the formations your QB knows, and use only those. That means you can’t just use the Rex to set game plans, you can’t download another game plan and just plug it in, and you can’t expect your backup QB to use the same game plan as your starter.

[aston217]

This is going to throw a big wrench into your study, but your QB will not run any formations he doesn't know.

If you specify him to, it still doesn't happen - it just gets automatically assigned elsewhere (how it's divvied up between the ones he does know, I don't know)

An easy way to check would be to load up the GP that exclusively uses formations he doesn't know, and check the logs. They won't be there as long as that QB is in.

QB formations are a bit simpler than you are thinking -- either he knows them or he doesn't. If he knows a very small number, then you're going to be extremely limited in what you can do on offense and will likely end up being quite predictable.

[Zee]

Confirmed. It appears that my study is seriously flawed. I had not watched the sims in Solevision.

When your Game Plan uses only formations that your QB does not know, it uses the Goal-Line 3TE almost exclusively. My QB does know that formation. It mixed in a handful of Strong formations (4 or 5 per game), which he does NOT know, and even fewer Single Trips WR, which he also knows.

So, it appears that all that I really proved, was that running the Goal-Line formation for the entire game is far less effective than mixing up the Game Plan. Luckily my team had a good TE and pass catching RB's, since I actually managed to score a few points despite the Game Plan.

[Nemesis]

Confirmed. It appears that my study is seriously flawed. I had not watched the sims in Solevision.

When your Game Plan uses only formations that your QB does not know, it uses the Goal-Line 3TE almost exclusively. My QB does know that formation. It mixed in a handful of Strong formations (4 or 5 per game), which he does NOT know, and even fewer Single Trips WR, which he also knows.

So, it appears that all that I really proved, was that running the Goal-Line formation for the entire game is far less effective than mixing up the Game Plan. Luckily my team had a good TE and pass catching RB's, since I actually managed to score a few points despite the Game Plan.

Interesting that it pushed Goal-Line and Strong on you. I ran the same test and it pushed Goal-Line and WeakNormal on me. WeakNormal being a formation my QB didn't know, in fact, he didn't know any of the Weak formations.

Which has me curious to know the course for which the game decides which formation to force your team to run, and why.

[aston217]

Huh, that's very interesting Zee. I did not know it was actually possible for a QB to run a formation he didn't already know.