Profile Rule Changes

[Rich-League Officer]

I wanted to throw this out here for debate.
Keep in mind this is just a discussion and not something that could happen this season.

My basic premise is that, our plays are basically similar if not clones/dupes with small tweaks in all the categories.
For instance, what is the difference between a PML and a PMM or a PMR?
I believe there is no difference. In my mind PML=PMM=PMR
Same goes for PSL=PSM=PSR
If this is accurate, why the restrictions of having to call a PML on only 1st down?
Why only call a PMM on 2nd down?

My idea is to follow what we do on defense. It's basically much more wide open for defenses to call whatever they want.
We do have certain restrictions which I think should be eliminated as well.
For instance, 2nd down 6-10 we outlawed calling Pass Long defenses and I think RZDZ.
Why?
Is a pass long defense different than a pass medium?
A coach creates a play and decides in that moment, do I want this to be a medium or long and then boom its done.
It's not like a medium requires a certain personnel package and longs can have 11 dbs. The plays are similar.

Unless the play categories have a specific definition unique to themselves (which they don't) then why are we preventing coaches from calling whatever they want?

This also goes for running plays. Is a run middle different than a run right or run left?
Same players are on the field, same formations, same play.
So why the restrictions?

I believe to simplify our rules, I think offenses and defenses should be completely free to call whatever they want, whenever they want.
With certain restrictions...
Nobody wants to see Goal Line plays on 1st-10.
I think they should remain in short yardage situations and inside the 5.
Nobody wants to see nothing but Razzle dazzle bombs on 1st-2nd-3rd down as their entire offense.
They need to be restricted as well.
Maybe other categories that are not coming to mind.

But, I see no harm in a team wanting to throw medium middles on 1st down, who cares?
Those plays already exist in medium left folder renamed with a 4/7.
Other than goal line and razzle dazzle, defenses really should be allowed to call anything they want, whenever they want.
I think its time to free up the offense, make the profiles so much easier for coaches to manage.
So you want to go Run Right, Medium Right and Short Middle on first down, knock yourself out.

Perhaps you think we should at least make coaches call all the categories some place in the profile, fair enough.
But if a team continually tries to call only short lefts the whole game, defenses can prepare for that.
You already prepare for a teams short passes on all downs, those defenses will stop the short lefts too.
Because as I said, all the plays are the same!
Yet, I don't want to see a game where a team called just 6 pass plays because the computer got crazy calling 3 medium middles & 3 long rights since the coach went hard on those the whole profile.
Perhaps you need to keep calling all the categories we already do but you are not restricted by down.
You can mix it up as you wish.
This needs to be thought out carefully.

But, I am curious how you all think about this.
Maybe you think leave well enough alone, it's worked for 44 seasons.
I think it could be made easier, especially for new coaches.

[Dean-Atlanta]

I think the easiest way to "liberalize" if that is the right word, the profile rules is to allow the following:

In all situations where PSL. PSM. or PSR are allowed, allow any of these short passes to be used. But still requires SPR for 3rd and 2-5 as it is now. Also allow a setting of "pass short random" ikn situations where short passing is allowed, for the same reason. A coach that has 5 each of those categories might use "pass short random" to let the profile call from any of those 15 plays.

Do the same with the medium passing categories, keeping PMR mandatory for 3rd and 6-10 and allowing "pass medium random" where any of the medium passing is allowed.

Likewise, make RL, RM, RR interchangeable for the situations where any of those three is currently allowed.

Keep the current limits on PLR, PRDF, and goal line passing and running.

We do not use PLM and PLL. Any ideas about opening up the passing gam ecould involve proposed uses of those categories.

As Gordon Ramsey once said, "we must embrace change." I'm here for it.

[Dean-Atlanta]

And that would include allowing run random where RL, RM, or RR are allowed.

[James-Eagles]

I think the PSR,and PMR should be different that the others. They are third down plays and should have plays that are a little different them since I need at least to pick up at least 6 yards on PSR and 10 or so on PMR every time. The run plays are completely different though since we are a pass heavy league I think RR should be opened up more.

My thoughts on the pass are this
Merge the categories into Middle version. I think there is enough over lap that I don't think this hurts anything. Then have PSL, PML and PLL be more 2 minute offense plays no motion etc. Have them require 3 in each category if you use them. They can only be called in the final 5 minutes or if down by more than a 7 if call

[Matt-Jacksonville]

How about we eliminate profile rules entirely and keep the plan rules where IF you use a category you have to have a max of say 50% timers or no more than two roll out passes?

I'd be willing to try updates to the profile changes on a trial basis for a season and see how it goes. We can always save the current rules and reinstitute them a season later if it's a complete flop.

[Mitch-Oilers]

I like the debate because I often wonder why we keep the VPNFL profile restrictions on offense, but not on defense.

I could get comfortable if opened things up for offense more on 1st and 2nd down. I'm thinking PML, PMM, PSL and PSM can be used on 1st and 2nd, but not PMR or PSR.

If we did make it the Wild West and allow PMR/PSR on any down, I'd like a mandatory rule to have to use only of the following categories on 1st/2nd downs: PML, PMM, PSL, PSM

[James-Eagles]

IF we don't merger just hope up RR, PSL, PSM, PML, and PMM to all downs and distance.

[James-Eagles]

I know for the offense I want to run have RR on 1and 2nd down and 2+ to go would help a lot.

[Steve-LA Chargers]

I see the possibility for the passing plays, not the running plays.

Our rules currently give RR and RL clear distinction. RR requires 2 WRs. RL limits the move to between the field numbers. RM is more of a anything goes category.

o Run Left: High percentage run between the field numbers to get short-yardage gains (e.g. Ace or Jumbo Plays).
 At least one Player must be recognized as a ball carrier by the defense by being inside the Box in the initial pre-shift formation.
 The ball carrier's 'move to' route must stay between (not on or outside) the field numbers before crossing the LOS and can go anywhere after it crosses the LOS, but cannot exceed 5 yards from the LOS. Basically, sweeps outside the field numbers cannot be saved in this.
 No more than one Player (HB/WR only) can be outside or on the field numbers at the snap.
 Any Players executing run blocking logic must stay within 10 yards of the LOS.

o Run Right: Long-yardage running Plays disguised as passing Plays (e.g. Draw Plays).
 At least three Players must always start outside the Box in the initial pre-shift formation so that they are recognized as receivers by the defense. At least two of those Players must be WRs.
 The ball carrier's 'move to' route cannot exceed 5 yards from the LOS.
 Any Players executing run blocking logic must stay within 10 yards of the LOS.

[Steve-LA Chargers]

What I would like to see with the 3 PM and 3 PS categories is more of play type categorization.

For example:

PML = pocket pass checked receivers
PMM = rollouts
PMR = medium timed passes

PSL = pocket pass checked receivers
PSM = screens
PSR = short timed passes

Or some variation of this. This would give us greater control of what is called in certain situations.