Medium Passing Test

[Dean-Atlanta]

The rule change Charlie proposed is a very modest change in the zone rules, it affects ONLY the second (yellow) receiver in medium passing plays, PML, PMM, and PMR. I modified a couple plays accordingly and tested them in 100 games and obtained the following stats:

play comp/att yards avg fum int sacks TD points
================================================================
JJ7BArHo 376/884 (42%) 5325 14.2 0 22 18 37 222
KC7BarHo 380/785 (48%) 5910 15.6 0 24 29 56 336

LAC8XSln 189/500 (37%) 4524 23.9 0 16 18 46 276
KC8XSln 171/494 (34%) 4455 26.1 0 5 21 48 288

The PML showed some improvement. All I did to change them was to extend the second checked receiver's route five more yards, from about 19.5 to 24.5 beyond the LOS.

This is a small change but it will lead to some new play development that is badly needed, especially in medium passing. Remember, Charlie was urging us to create new medium passing plays at the end of last season.

I think we should adopt this change and ALSO restrict 2-DL defenses to PRD and/or PL. Remember, for that to be effective, we need to put in rules a ban on using pass logic by DLs. Otherwise, we would get around the change in usage of 2-DL defenses by making 3-DL defenses with one of the DLs dropping back into pass coverage.

[Steve-LA Chargers]

We would need to further limit PL and PRD to fully ensure 2-DLs are rarely used, otherwise we change nothing. Some coaches here are smart enough to create PL 2 DL plays that work as well as the current PM and PS. They'd play PL every down and our current rules wouldn't stop them. Simple new rule if we limit 2-DL to PL and PRD:

PL - Can only be used in 10+ situations. Required on 3rd 10+ between O5 and DEF35.
PRD - Can only be used with less than 2 min in the half.

[Steve-LA Chargers]

I support implementing the XFBS rule for PM passes. We should let the secondary receiver go 5 yards deeper in the zone than the primary. Simply makes it easier to design too.

[Dean-Atlanta]

We would need to further limit PL and PRD to fully ensure 2-DLs are rarely used, otherwise we change nothing. Some coaches here are smart enough to create PL 2 DL plays that work as well as the current PM and PS. They'd play PL every down and our current rules wouldn't stop them. Simple new rule if we limit 2-DL to PL and PRD:

PL - Can only be used in 10+ situations. Required on 3rd 10+ between O5 and DEF35.
PRD - Can only be used with less than 2 min in the half.

This is a good point, this limit should also be used to ensure 2-DL defenses are not over used.