[NawlinsFan]

I know, damn 8 just came out why are you throwing crap out about 9 or later versions. Let's just say I am thinking out loud and interested in seeing what this mob thinks and what types of changes would you want/like that would add even more to the game. So to begin with, a few of the things that have I have come up with:

(1) Staff Draft: A couple of points I wouldn’t mind seeing rolled in.

Head Coaches: Head coaches can only be poached if both teams agree and the signing team gives up a 2nd round draft pick in the upcoming draft.

Other staff: Any other staff that is poached but “not” offered a head coaching position comes with a cost:

Assistant head coach: 3rd round draft pick in the upcoming draft.
Offensive/Defensive Coordinator: 4th round draft pick in the upcoming draft.
Strength coach: 6th round draft pick in the upcoming draft.

These draft picks cannot be traded and must be utilized by the gaining team in the upcoming draft.

Why? IMO there is an inherent disparity in the game staff draft system today. The rich get richer in that they have every opportunity to improve their staff every season while those struggling to put a franchise together suffer due to their lack of fund raising abilities and are often left with “next best”. This seems to amplified in long running leagues in that owners come and go and most inherit a team that has a number of issues, one being their finances. At least with the “cost” outlined above the team losing staff has additional opportunity to build from and improve their franchise which may translate into and aid in improving finances.

(2) Practice squad: Implement a 10 player practice squad addition to a team roster. This will allow a team to contract players that may develop but more so it will provide additional depth to aid injury coverage. This may reduce the need for commissioners to have to run or receive mid-week requests that allow owners to fill rosters due to injury.

(3) Goal line/short yardage plays: To be able to incorporate a Jumbo option in which we can bring in an offensive or defensive lineman as a tight end, fullback or running back.

(4) Single Player: Add the possibility of starting various careers and/or career paths.

GM: You function as the outright GM, only. Hire/fire head coach, player contract negotiations, engage with staff in draft decisions, initiate trades. You must satisfy an owners objectives; make the playoffs in 3 years, win a super bowl in a certain period of time, etc. The GM will not engage in game planning or assigning starters.

Head Coach: You hire/fire staff. Satisfy a GM/Owners objectives. Assign position players and starters, support creating game plans. Identify needs to the GM. After a successful career have the possibility of being offered a franchise GM role.

“New Twist”: Start a career as a coordinator; either offensive or defensive. Support the head coaches objectives; top ranked offense or defense, etc. Create specific game plans supporting your player capabilities against the upcoming opponent. At the end of the season each coordinator is ranked and depending upon career standings and 1) upon meeting assigned objectives retains their job or 2) may be extended an offer to become a head coach in another franchise. This career path option should be difficult enough to require a series of consistent quality seasons where you are ranked in the top 5-10 league coaches.

(5) Would love to see the solevision and scoreboard screens combined into one screen displaying most, if not all of the same data. For me the scoreboard lacks the stat feedback and solevision loses out on the game field and play calling options.

(6) Defensively to have the ability to create defensive packages that would reflect coverage options for specific offensive packages. Including personnel package options for each.

(7) Being one that enjoys screwing around with the visuals would be to have more flexibility in modding the game screens. It has come a long way from earlier versions but is still difficult to manipulate. Tried altering the font size settings the other day using reshack from 8pt to 10pt. The alteration seemed to take fine in reshack but the game wouldn’t run which is likely a Steam configuration control issue.