PROPOSAL: Rewrite the definition of some defenses
Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2023 6:26 pm
I noticed there is some confusion and conflicting information between what is written in the Custom Plans page versus the Custom Plays page. This is what I am referring to:
From Custom Plans rules page:
Pass Short: New Pass Short plays will require a minimum of two DLs and three LBs. At least one of the two DLs must defend the LOS. As such, one DL is permitted to drop into pass coverage, but in any event, at least three players (DLs, LBs, and/or DBs) must defend the LOS.
From Custom Plays rules page:
D05: Defensive Player Formation Requirements
1. Each defensive Play must employ at least.
• 2 DL and 2 or more LBs; or
• 3 DL and 1 or more LBs; or
• 4 DL and 0 or more LBs.
o With 4 or more DLs, no LBs are required.
2. No defensive Play can have more than 7 DBs
3. The following restrictions apply to 2-DL Plays:
• RUN defense categories except RL must have at least 3 LBs (e.g. 4-3, 3-4, 3-3, etc.). Applies to Run Razzle Dazzle, Goal Line Run, Run Right, Run Middle.
• RL defenses must have at least 2 LBs (e.g. 3-2, 3-3, 3-4, 4-2, 4-3, 4-4, etc.).
• PASS defenses must have at least 2 LBs (e.g. 2-2, 2-3, 3-2, 3-3, 3-4; 4-2, 4-3, etc.).
What's confusing is the requirement of 3 LBs for a PS play in the Custom Plans page and 2 LBs in the Custom Plays page. I get that we were probably trying to make a distinction between Pass Medium and Pass Short when it comes to 2 DL plays, but I don't think violating the original D05 rule by adding a 3rd LB makes sense. Instead, I suggest it be a Safety. This aligns with D05 but makes it slightly distinct from a 2DL PM play. In addition, we don't allow 2DL on any run defenses so the first two bullets under number 3 make zero sense. We should also require at least 2 of the DBs on run categories to be safeties.
For the purposes of clarity and distinction and better realism, I propose the following rewrites:
Update on Custom Plans rules page:
Pass Short: All new Pass Short plays that have two DLs must have two LBs and one safety. At least one of the two DLs must defend the LOS. As such, one DL is permitted to drop into pass coverage, but in any event, at least three players (DLs, LBs, and/or DBs) must defend the LOS.
Update to the Custom Plays rules page:
D05: Defensive Player Formation Requirements
1. Each defensive Play must employ at least.
• 2 DL and 2 or more LBs; or
• 3 DL and 1 or more LBs; or
• 4 DL and 0 or more LBs.
o With 4 or more DLs, no LBs are required for PASS DEFENSIVE PLAYS.
o RUN defense categories except RL must have at least 3 LBs (e.g., 4-3, 3-3, etc.). Applies to Run Razzle Dazzle, Goal Line Run, Run Right, Run Middle.
o RL defenses must have at least 2 LBs (e.g., 3-2, 4-2, etc.).
2. No defensive Play can have more than 7 DBs
• Run category defensive plays must have at least 2 Safeties, as these are the hard-hitting, run-stopper DBs.
3. The following restrictions apply to 2-DL Plays:
• PASS defenses must have at least 2 LBs.
• PASS SHORT defenses must have at least 1 Safety
From Custom Plans rules page:
Pass Short: New Pass Short plays will require a minimum of two DLs and three LBs. At least one of the two DLs must defend the LOS. As such, one DL is permitted to drop into pass coverage, but in any event, at least three players (DLs, LBs, and/or DBs) must defend the LOS.
From Custom Plays rules page:
D05: Defensive Player Formation Requirements
1. Each defensive Play must employ at least.
• 2 DL and 2 or more LBs; or
• 3 DL and 1 or more LBs; or
• 4 DL and 0 or more LBs.
o With 4 or more DLs, no LBs are required.
2. No defensive Play can have more than 7 DBs
3. The following restrictions apply to 2-DL Plays:
• RUN defense categories except RL must have at least 3 LBs (e.g. 4-3, 3-4, 3-3, etc.). Applies to Run Razzle Dazzle, Goal Line Run, Run Right, Run Middle.
• RL defenses must have at least 2 LBs (e.g. 3-2, 3-3, 3-4, 4-2, 4-3, 4-4, etc.).
• PASS defenses must have at least 2 LBs (e.g. 2-2, 2-3, 3-2, 3-3, 3-4; 4-2, 4-3, etc.).
What's confusing is the requirement of 3 LBs for a PS play in the Custom Plans page and 2 LBs in the Custom Plays page. I get that we were probably trying to make a distinction between Pass Medium and Pass Short when it comes to 2 DL plays, but I don't think violating the original D05 rule by adding a 3rd LB makes sense. Instead, I suggest it be a Safety. This aligns with D05 but makes it slightly distinct from a 2DL PM play. In addition, we don't allow 2DL on any run defenses so the first two bullets under number 3 make zero sense. We should also require at least 2 of the DBs on run categories to be safeties.
For the purposes of clarity and distinction and better realism, I propose the following rewrites:
Update on Custom Plans rules page:
Pass Short: All new Pass Short plays that have two DLs must have two LBs and one safety. At least one of the two DLs must defend the LOS. As such, one DL is permitted to drop into pass coverage, but in any event, at least three players (DLs, LBs, and/or DBs) must defend the LOS.
Update to the Custom Plays rules page:
D05: Defensive Player Formation Requirements
1. Each defensive Play must employ at least.
• 2 DL and 2 or more LBs; or
• 3 DL and 1 or more LBs; or
• 4 DL and 0 or more LBs.
o With 4 or more DLs, no LBs are required for PASS DEFENSIVE PLAYS.
o RUN defense categories except RL must have at least 3 LBs (e.g., 4-3, 3-3, etc.). Applies to Run Razzle Dazzle, Goal Line Run, Run Right, Run Middle.
o RL defenses must have at least 2 LBs (e.g., 3-2, 4-2, etc.).
2. No defensive Play can have more than 7 DBs
• Run category defensive plays must have at least 2 Safeties, as these are the hard-hitting, run-stopper DBs.
3. The following restrictions apply to 2-DL Plays:
• PASS defenses must have at least 2 LBs.
• PASS SHORT defenses must have at least 1 Safety