How many players in franchise mode actually play important reps?

[SouthernWarrior]

I do franchise mode by simulating every game, and Im beginning to think I draft too many of the same position players and some of them never see the field in regular season games.

tell me where I'm off. I play a 4-3 defense and a vertical power run offense (BUF offensive playbook, SF defensive playbook if that helps or not at all).

Excluding obvious positions like QB, FB, Punter etc..
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HB: 2 (Is there any way to change % of reps each player gets? Typically my main RB gets 80% of carries, and RB2 gets 15-20% but hogs up the TD's even though I have my #1 RB as the specialist for 3DRB and Power back).. will sometimes end up with RB 1 around 1,000 yards and 6 TD's and RB 2 at 300 yards and 12+ TD"s despite the specialist not being any different..

WR: .. 2 WR's mainly? The 3rd WR barely gets any stats ever and in general gets close to about 100-150 yards a season.

I find the slot WR ends up getting better stats than the #2 WR even if I have them on the depth chart at #4.

TE: 2 (One TE gets about 80% of stats, other TE gets 15% of it or so and hogs up the TD's)

Oline: All 1... potentially only needing 1-2 Oline backups and no more.

LE: 1
RE: 1
Back up DE's: I find only end up with at most maybe 3 sacks all season.
DT's: 2.. same deal with backup DT's. the only one who ends up getting any stats is the 3rd DT and even that's minimal.

Rush LE/RE: Don't see any significant change in placing anyone in this spot unless its a total backup in which case their stats increase by maybe 25-30%.

Rush DT: Putting my #1 DT OR a backup DT for whatever reason seems to REALLY increase their stats like the Slot WR. No idea why.

Same with OLB and MLB besides MLB2 who gets fairly starter worthy stats.

CB: .... 2? Like WR, I find only my first 2 CB's get any worthwhile stats, while CB3 barely touched the field (which doesn't seem accurate to real life).

Slot CB: Tends to get the most tackles and on some occasions outperforms CB2 stats wise.

FS: 1
SS: 2 (I find the 2nd SS gets really good stats which is surprising considering all the other backups get maybe 15% or so of the stats, compared to the backup SS who tends to get closer to 40% of the stats compared to the starting SS at 60%)

Sub LB: If it's a safety like the slot WR I feel their stats are really overinflated.

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So where am I off? Or need explaining on basic football fundamentals?

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Thank you in advance for the help: Also wondering if there is a place where I can manipulate which position player gets more reps? Is that substitutions/fatigue or is that unimportant when simming?

Sorry if this is complicated or I didn't explain it clearly.

[Madden09operationFan]

Re: How many players in franchise mode actually play important reps?

If I remember correctly, years ago in Madden 05 or 06 or somewhere around then, there would be sliders for percentages on how often you would like to run/pass, and things like that. I believe HB1/HB2 carries may have been one of those sliders. They came in very handy, say for instance your star HB was injured a couple of weeks, you can up the slider to 90% pass until he returned. Sadly, like many other features, this was removed.
I run a similar system as you and have also noticed the same results in positions over the years. At the end of each season, I like to take a look at the downs played in the stats section, and this has made me aware of the positions I feel see enough of the field to be important. I used to spend a lot of time to micromanage the complete roster but now I just make sure I have a halfway decent guy in these backup positions: QB2 (basically only in case of injury), HB2, HB3 (only to complement HB2- if HB2 is a power back, my HB3 must be a scat back), WR3, TE2, LT2 (pass protector), any one agile backup OL, one balanced end (left or right), DT3, one balanced LB, CB3, CB4, CB5 (I believe depth is very important here), one balanced S (free or strong). I also like to have a main kick returner that is NOT a starter or backup, to be WR4 and a punt returner to be HB4.
So basically, 2QBs, 4HBs, 1FB, 4WR, 2TE, 7OL (including 2LT), 3DE, 3DT, 4LB, 5CB, 3S, 1K, 1P= 40 main players. I like to always maintain a 53 man roster so I'll just rotate drafting the other 13 positions in lower rounds, never resigning them when their contracts expire, unless I hit on a gem.

[SouthernWarrior]

Re: How many players in franchise mode actually play important reps?

If I remember correctly, years ago in Madden 05 or 06 or somewhere around then, there would be sliders for percentages on how often you would like to run/pass, and things like that. I believe HB1/HB2 carries may have been one of those sliders. They came in very handy, say for instance your star HB was injured a couple of weeks, you can up the slider to 90% pass until he returned. Sadly, like many other features, this was removed.
I run a similar system as you and have also noticed the same results in positions over the years. At the end of each season, I like to take a look at the downs played in the stats section, and this has made me aware of the positions I feel see enough of the field to be important. I used to spend a lot of time to micromanage the complete roster but now I just make sure I have a halfway decent guy in these backup positions: QB2 (basically only in case of injury), HB2, HB3 (only to complement HB2- if HB2 is a power back, my HB3 must be a scat back), WR3, TE2, LT2 (pass protector), any one agile backup OL, one balanced end (left or right), DT3, one balanced LB, CB3, CB4, CB5 (I believe depth is very important here), one balanced S (free or strong). I also like to have a main kick returner that is NOT a starter or backup, to be WR4 and a punt returner to be HB4.
So basically, 2QBs, 4HBs, 1FB, 4WR, 2TE, 7OL (including 2LT), 3DE, 3DT, 4LB, 5CB, 3S, 1K, 1P= 40 main players. I like to always maintain a 53 man roster so I'll just rotate drafting the other 13 positions in lower rounds, never resigning them when their contracts expire, unless I hit on a gem.

interesting, so only two backup Olien (LT and OL)..
and even in a 4-3 only one backup DE and DT? That's surprising but will consider it.

Also in a 4-3 you're only mainly aiming for one backup LB who covers all 3 LB spots?

Been having major defensive issues in sims once I hit the playoffs, so it could be the reason is my CB depth is bad. I seem to have two stud CB's and one backup CB in the 75+ range, but minimum FA's after that. Will try getting 2 more backup DB's.

Is there any way in scouting to figure out how to get a good KR PR specialist?

[Madden09operationFan]

Re: How many players in franchise mode actually play important reps?

I would only have one important backup OL if not for my scheme needing a pass protecting LT and the rest of the line agile (I only keep 8 OL total). I like to draft fast pass rushing and coverage linebackers and slide one as the backup DE, so I feel safe there at linebacker. That backup safety is very important, he always seems to get a lot of playing time.
I wish there were a way to scout for kick returning. I just keep on drafting WRs in later rounds who had a great combine (ignoring height, strength and jump) and keep rotating them at WR4 and WR5 until I hit on one with a great KR and then utilize him until he wants too much money Lol.
I used to try to get the deepest competitive team until I started getting into cap troubles and not being able to resign starters, all because I resigned backups who were too good and, like you, I noticed did not see the field enough to justify paying them.

[Madden09operationFan]

Re: How many players in franchise mode actually play important reps?

For what it's worth, I once drafted a MLB in the 7th round (70ov) and converted him to be my LE1 (69ov) and also as my Rush RE. In his rookie season, he recorded 10 sacks and won defensive rookie of the year. His next season also registered 10.5 sacks. For some lame reason (I guess wanted to see how LOLB Lorenzo Carter would do as the Rush RE), I then removed him as the Rush RE and he only recorded 2.5 sacks. This is now the final year of his contract but I just drafted another MLB who is a 75ov and moved this new guy to be the LE1/RRE. I'm debating whether I should resign the original guy (now a 75ov). He may want some good money and that would go against all my rules but would be purely sentimental! (I even started watching Liberty games this fall because that's where he went to college Lol!)

[SouthernWarrior]

Re: How many players in franchise mode actually play important reps?

I would only have one important backup OL if not for my scheme needing a pass protecting LT and the rest of the line agile (I only keep 8 OL total). I like to draft fast pass rushing and coverage linebackers and slide one as the backup DE, so I feel safe there at linebacker. That backup safety is very important, he always seems to get a lot of playing time.
I wish there were a way to scout for kick returning. I just keep on drafting WRs in later rounds who had a great combine (ignoring height, strength and jump) and keep rotating them at WR4 and WR5 until I hit on one with a great KR and then utilize him until he wants too much money Lol.
I used to try to get the deepest competitive team until I started getting into cap troubles and not being able to resign starters, all because I resigned backups who were too good and, like you, I noticed did not see the field enough to justify paying them.

think I use a power scheme that includes LT and RT as pass protect, what is your offensive and defensive scheme? and playbooks?

and yeah, I've noticed at LB and DT and DE and WR I have guys who are solid players not playing any snaps at all. Usually starts to become an issue in year 7-8 or so

[ParaAut]

Re: How many players in franchise mode actually play important reps?

The main reason for unrealistic roster needs is the lack of injuries. Very rare guys are out because of injuries with standard settings, so you basically never use your full roster.


If you want the realistic feel (but a much higher challenge too!!), increase injury sliders to the level where you get at least 10-15 guys on your roster on IR, then using backups and forming a competitive deep roster really matters.



So if you like the challenge, I'd propose to try that. Otherwise 35-40 guys and some fillers for 53 rosters are more than enough

[RogueHominid]

Re: How many players in franchise mode actually play important reps?

The main reason for unrealistic roster needs is the lack of injuries. Very rare guys are out because of injuries with standard settings, so you basically never use your full roster.


If you want the realistic feel (but a much higher challenge too!!), increase injury sliders to the level where you get at least 10-15 guys on your roster on IR, then using backups and forming a competitive deep roster really matters.



So if you like the challenge, I'd propose to try that. Otherwise 35-40 guys and some fillers for 53 rosters are more than enough

Do you have specific INJ settings in mind here? Would love to know your thoughts on the best settings to provide a real incentive for CPU and HUM teams to draw on their depth.

[Madden09operationFan]

Re: How many players in franchise mode actually play important reps?

always thought about increasing the injury slider, but have been reluctant because I feel as though I may have a better set of backups than the rest of the teams in the league. As much as I don't retain top backups that aren't starter material when their contracts expire, I also feel that I'm a better drafter than the CPU and routinely outsmart them in later round picks. I also feel like I make better choices in setting my depth charts. I'll keep a good balanced end to back up both sides, whereas the CPU teams may have a 65ov backup LE and a 56ov backup RE, so their 56 will be starting when injury strikes. When I look around the league, I feel that these instances would cripple other teams much more than mine. Maybe I'm wrong though, how has your experience been? I'm very curious!
And for SouthernWarrior, I run a vertical zone run offence and base 4-3 defense. After my fourth draft, I'm now 100% scheme fit on both sides of the ball (I wonder if that matters, other than in individual cases?) and my current playbooks are NYG Judge off and LV Gruden def. My aim was to draft a top CB in an early round in each of the first three drafts and was fortunate enough to have a good one for me in each. I've been mediocre for my first three seasons, always on the brink of the playoffs but never in. Hopefully that'll change this season as everyone is maturing!

[Madden09operationFan]

Re: How many players in franchise mode actually play important reps?

Oh, and I don't touch any free agents. I feel as thought the draft provides plenty of talent, plus in a way I don't feel comfortable bringing in players who are in reality on other teams. I always start as the NY Giants, so I roll with who they provide me. Am sticking with the basic young core of Daniel Jones, Barkley, Gallman, Slayton, Shepard, Engram, Thomas, Hernandez, Peart, Lawrence, Carter, McKinney, Love and Peppers. Would love nothing better than to see them get a Super Bowl.

[cjhawk03]

Re: How many players in franchise mode actually play important reps?

always thought about increasing the injury slider, but have been reluctant because I feel as though I may have a better set of backups than the rest of the teams in the league. As much as I don't retain top backups that aren't starter material when their contracts expire, I also feel that I'm a better drafter than the CPU and routinely outsmart them in later round picks. I also feel like I make better choices in setting my depth charts. I'll keep a good balanced end to back up both sides, whereas the CPU teams may have a 65ov backup LE and a 56ov backup RE, so their 56 will be starting when injury strikes. When I look around the league, I feel that these instances would cripple other teams much more than mine. Maybe I'm wrong though, how has your experience been? I'm very curious!
And for SouthernWarrior, I run a vertical zone run offence and base 4-3 defense. After my fourth draft, I'm now 100% scheme fit on both sides of the ball (I wonder if that matters, other than in individual cases?) and my current playbooks are NYG Judge off and LV Gruden def. My aim was to draft a top CB in an early round in each of the first three drafts and was fortunate enough to have a good one for me in each. I've been mediocre for my first three seasons, always on the brink of the playoffs but never in. Hopefully that'll change this season as everyone is maturing!

a potential way around this is to manually adjust cpu rosters after the draft to balance out their roster. i.e. they have 2 good LT but a terrible RT, edit one of the LT to RT. Could use this same logic to balance backups out. They have couple good back up LOLB but no good back up ROLB. Move a back up from LOLB to ROLB.