GAME PLAN REQUIREMENT PROPOSAL:

[Steve-Buffalo Bills]

On offense, I propose that we require 5 plays for RM, PRD, PLR, RL, RR to align with the required amount for the other categories.

These changes standardize things and make it easy to remember. Doesn't make sense that we only require 4 PLR, PRD, RL, and RR on offense when we require 5 for all the PM an PS offensive categories. Reducing RM on offense from 10 to 5 makes room for the extra plays required in these other categories and also gives us more flexibility to go beyond 5 plays for the PM & PS categories. I left the goal line plays at 3, but I'm open to reducing them to 2.

OFFENSE

REQUIRED
5 RM (reduced from 10 to 5)
5 PML
5 PMM
5 PMR
5 PLR (increased from 4 to 5)
5 PSL
5 PSM
5 PSR

IF USED
5 RL (increased from 4 to 5)
5 RR (increased from 4 to 5)
3 GP
3 GR
5 PRD (increased from 4 to 5)

On defense, I propose we require 6 plays for PRD and RRD (if used) to align with the required amount for the other categories.

These changes standardize things and make it easy to remember. Doesn't make sense that we only require 4 PRD and RRD (if used) on defense when we require 6 for the PL,PM, PS, RL, RM, and RR categories. Reducing RM on offense from 10 to 5 makes room for the extra plays required in these other categories and also gives us more flexibility to go beyond 5 plays for the PM & PS categories. I left the goal line plays at 3, but I'm open to increasing them to 6 as well.

DEFENSE

RUNS
Left = 6
Middle = 6
Right = 6

PASSES
Long = 6
Medium = 6
Short = 6

The following categories can be used but are not required. If used you must have a minimum of:
GOAL LINE
Run = 3
Pass = 3

RAZZLE DAZZLE
Run = 6 (increased from 4 to 6)
PASS = 6 (increased from 4 to 6)

Bring on the hate.

[Steve-Buffalo Bills]

Please disregard the repeated statement "Reducing RM on offense from 10 to 5 makes room for the extra plays required in these other categories and also gives us more flexibility to go beyond 5 plays for the PM & PS categories" in the DEFENSE portion above. Yeah, I copied and pasted. Forgot to edit it out.

[Steve-Buffalo Bills]

Reposting so the mistake I made in the original post is removed.

On offense, I propose that we require 5 plays for RM, PRD, PLR, RL, RR to align with the required amount for the other categories.

These changes standardize things and make it easy to remember. Doesn't make sense that we only require 4 PLR, PRD, RL, and RR on offense when we require 5 for all the PM an PS offensive categories. Reducing RM on offense from 10 to 5 makes room for the extra plays required in these other categories and also gives us more flexibility to go beyond 5 plays for the PM & PS categories. I left the goal line plays at 3, but I'm open to reducing them to 2.

OFFENSE

REQUIRED
5 RM (reduced from 10 to 5)
5 PML
5 PMM
5 PMR
5 PLR (increased from 4 to 5)
5 PSL
5 PSM
5 PSR

IF USED
5 RL (increased from 4 to 5)
5 RR (increased from 4 to 5)
3 GP
3 GR
5 PRD (increased from 4 to 5)

On defense, I propose we require 6 plays for PRD and RRD (if used) to align with the required amount for the other categories.

These changes standardize things and make it easy to remember. Doesn't make sense that we only require 4 PRD and RRD (if used) on defense when we require 6 for the PL,PM, PS, RL, RM, and RR categories. I left the goal line plays at 3, but I'm open to increasing them to 6 as well.

DEFENSE

RUNS
Left = 6
Middle = 6
Right = 6

PASSES
Long = 6
Medium = 6
Short = 6

The following categories can be used but are not required. If used you must have a minimum of:
GOAL LINE
Run = 3
Pass = 3

RAZZLE DAZZLE
Run = 6 (increased from 4 to 6)
PASS = 6 (increased from 4 to 6)


I don't want to hear lazy rebuttals like "it's a solution looking for a problem" or "why change anything." This is a serious proposal. I think we can make it easier to track game plan category counts with this proposal and we free up more slots on offense. There is no real need to require 10 RM offensive plays. If 5 plays per category for the PM and PS offensive categories provides sufficient variety to prevent coaches from gaming the game, then all offensive categories should have this requirement (with the only exception goal line). Thus why I think RL, RR, PRD, and especially PLR should require 5 plays as well. Same situation on defense. If we require 6 plays for most categories to prevent coaches from gaming the game, then PRD and RRD should both have this requirement as well if used. And remembering 5 per category for offense and 6 per category for defense is so easy to remember. Heck if you want to make it 5 per category on offense and defense, I'm good with that too if it keeps things super simple going forward.

[Charlie-49ers]

Well, Steve, I think most people are focused on reducing their teams and who they are going to select in the Draft, which would account for the lack of responses, but I have given it some thought. My biggest problem is the "required" part, which for some teams, takes out the flexibility you are looking to achieve. As an alternative, I would suggest the following for discussion.

Leave the majority of the Offensive rules unchanged with only a couple of minor (baby step) exceptions:

1) Lower the Offensive Goal Line Pass requirement (if used) from 4 to 3;
2) Raise the Offensive Pass Long Right requirement from 4 to 5; and
3) Lower the Offensive Run Middle requirement from 10 to 8 freeing up two spots for other categories.

For the Defensive, I have no problem with requiring six plays in each category

[Steve-Buffalo Bills]

So rather than my big proposal make it small? On offense only focus on the ‘required’ categories. On defense, make my suggestions because it’s only two categories. I prefer the big proposal but at this point I will take what I can get.

Offense
-Require 5 PLR (increase of 1 from 4)
-Require 8 RM (decrease of 2 from 10)

Defense
-Require six plays in each category (including PRD, RRD, GLR and GLP if used)

[James-Eagles]

I think lowering play requirements is only going going to widen the gap between the top teams and the bottom teams. I think this would be a move in the wrong direction.

[Dean-Atlanta]

I favor this but with one amendment, require 15 total run plays, regardless of which categories are used. So one could use 5 each of RM, RR, RL, or of not using RL and RR, use 10 RM, 5 GLR or maybe 11 RM and 4 RL, etc. Then we don't have the issue of a team calling just 5 RM plays for a heavy percentage of plays per game.

[Steve-Buffalo Bills]

Lowering requirements? Not if we go by my last post.

Increasing the PLR requirement by 1 and lowering the RM requirement by 2 is a net -1.

Requiring 6 on all defensive categories (except goal line) increases the requirement by 4 (2 PRD + 2 RRD if used).

[Shawn-Giants]

Well, Steve, I think most people are focused on reducing their teams and who they are going to select in the Draft, which would account for the lack of responses, but I have given it some thought. My biggest problem is the "required" part, which for some teams, takes out the flexibility you are looking to achieve. As an alternative, I would suggest the following for discussion.

Leave the majority of the Offensive rules unchanged with only a couple of minor (baby step) exceptions:

1) Lower the Offensive Goal Line Pass requirement (if used) from 4 to 3;
2) Raise the Offensive Pass Long Right requirement from 4 to 5; and
3) Lower the Offensive Run Middle requirement from 10 to 8 freeing up two spots for other categories.

For the Defensive, I have no problem with requiring six plays in each category

Well stated Charlie, Anxiety inducing topics, but if we must, I agree to this less radical overhaul of the play requirements. The game rarely calls, if ever, call all 10 plays of RM category even in a run heavy profile it will call maybe 6/7 out of the 10 plays, and within the 6 or 7 called, some of those called multiple times.

So freeing up 2 from that category to add to Lowering/Raising for the others, I would agree to these minor baby step wrinkles.

[Steve-Buffalo Bills]

Yes. Important that we make reasonable improvements to the rules.

This one is small.

Require:
8 RM
5 PLR

On defense:
Require 6 PRD and 6 RRD if used (same number as other categories)