Roster Limitations

[Art01]

For everyone who is creating or modifying NCAA Rosters, following are some basic Roster data and limitations:

1. In a Depth Chart within the game, there are a total of 88 Roster Slots. 72 of these 88 slots are players slots (QB through Punter). The other 16 slots are Specialist Slots (KOS, PR, KR, LS).

2. These Specialist Slots are not found in the Edit Rosters option within the game. These slots are filled with players by the game software during the setup of a game.

3. There are a total of 69 Roster Slots available per team. When 69 players have been assigned, the Roster is Full. Any attempt to add another player to a Full Roster will result in a message which states that the Roster is Full and that no additional players can be added.

4. Since there are 72 Basic Roster Slots in the Depth Chart, but only 69 Roster Slots available, there are 3 Depth Chart Slots which the software will auto-fill when a game is set up. Depending upon which positions in the Depth Chart are not full, the players assigned may have some of their base ratings, such as Awareness, significantly altered (usually reduced). If one of those players rotates into the lineup during a game, that player will frequently not perform very well when he is "Out of Position".

My suggestion to everyone who is either creating or editing Rosters is to be aware of these limitations and to make sure that each position has at least 3 players designated for that position in each of the 21 base positions.

Having at least 3 designated players in each position will prevent the software from populating most positions with other players. The positions which are populated will be the deeper positions and, hopefully, the out-of-position players will have less chance of being rotated into the game during game play.

I realize that, for people like Playmakers and TommyCoa who have invested considerable time in Roster development, to go back into those Rosters to redistribute players for every team would be an onerous chore. However, I also believe that this situation is one of the ways in which the software manipulates the game during play. I have seen numerous examples of out-of-position players being inserted into a game (particularly for the CPU Team) with the result that their inept play alters the course of a game.

Comments on this post are welcome.

[kmorton]

I've found one way to help with this -- but not eliminate the problem, especially in-game -- is to use the "Reset Depth Chart" feature in the Dynasty Editor. It at least sets the depth charts properly, but doesn't stop the CPU from making many poor in-game substitutions.

[khaliib]

In the Team Tab, there is a field labeled NCDP (it think) and is set at 75.
This might have something to do with that 75 you mentioned, don't know.
I assumed that this was "number capped dynasty players", but have not tested to verify.

I will be offline for some time as I am moving, so hopefully this turns out to be something.


If we can find out what is corrupting an edited Game Install, we will have access to positions stuff that you mentioned. I've pulled it out and ran it through the editor process.

[Art01]

Quote: Originally Posted by khaliib

In the Team Tab, there is a field labeled NCDP (it think) and is set at 75. This might have something to do with that 75 you mentioned, don't know. I assumed that this was "number capped dynasty players", but have not tested to verify. I will be offline for some time as I am moving, so hopefully this turns out to be something. If we can find out what is corrupting an edited Game Install, we will have access to positions stuff that you mentioned. I've pulled it out and ran it through the editor process.

The number 72 that I mentioned in my original post is the total number of slots for positions QB through P, as counted when I viewed the Depth Chart within a game. The in-game Depth Chart also contains 16 additional special slots distributed among KOS, KR, PR, and LS.

We would benefit by finding a way to increase the base Roster size from 69 to 72 players, so that we can populate each position in the Depth Chart with a properly-designated player.

[jackster802]

I don't understand why you are warning us about the depth charts because most (I'm willing to bet that every person does) people editing rosters also edit the depth charts. I'm not sure what roster you are using, but I find it weird that the depth chart isn't adjusted. (And by "adjusted", I mean they went through and filled all 88 slots with the correct players and back ups).

Also, not all teams use every position (4-2-5 defense has no LOLB, Spread offense has no FB, ect.) so the 3 players per position thing is kinda silly. Especially since very few teams run a pro style offense.

[Art01]

Quote: Originally Posted by jackster802

I don't understand why you are warning us about the depth charts because most (I'm willing to bet that every person does) people editing rosters also edit the depth charts. I'm not sure what roster you are using, but I find it weird that the depth chart isn't adjusted. (And by "adjusted", I mean they went through and filled all 88 slots with the correct players and back ups). Also, not all teams use every position (4-2-5 defense has no LOLB, Spread offense has no FB, ect.) so the 3 players per position thing is kinda silly. Especially since very few teams run a pro style offense.

Try this approach. Open any Roster of your choosing in the Edit Rosters Menu (under the Team Management Menu at the Main Game Screen). Count the total number of players assigned to any team - you will find that the total number of players assigned is 69 if all slots are filled. If there are 69 players assigned to a Roster, try creating a player and adding it to that Roster - you will find that you cannot add a player. Thus, the maximum number of players which can be assigned to a Roster is 69.

Now, open the Depth Chart under the Team Management Menu. Count the number of players assigned to each position. You will find 72 players assigned in the base positions (QB through Punter) and 16 more assigned to the four Specialists positions. You will find players assigned "Out of Position" up and down the Roster, in order to fill out the Depth Chart. At this pre-game screen, you will not see any altered ratings for out of position players.

Now, start a game and look at the same Roster's Depth Chart within the game. You will see altered ratings (frequently reduced Awareness, and other ratings as well) for out of position players.

With only 69 Roster slots available and 88 Depth Chart slots needing players, there is plenty of opportunity for the software to assign players to positions for which they are ill-suited, lower their ratings during a game, then rotate those players into the game.

[bigbob]

We know there's a 69 limit, that's been known for years.

Also, playing out of position SHOULD decrease your stats.

Why should a team that uses no full back have three? Why should a team that runs a 4-2-5 have LOLBs? They shouldn't. It's pointless and doesn't affect the game.

[Art01]

Quote: Originally Posted by bigbob

We know there's a 69 limit, that's been known for years. Also, playing out of position SHOULD decrease your stats. Why should a team that uses no full back have three? Why should a team that runs a 4-2-5 have LOLBs? They shouldn't. It's pointless and doesn't affect the game.

I can agree with your two examples. However, every team has defensive and offensive linemen, tight ends, safeties, kickers and punters. When the software assigns out-of-position players to those positions in the in-game Depth Chart, those players ratings are adversely affected, which does impact the game.