Rank: Administration
Groups: Administration
Joined: 6/10/2008
Posts: 1,629
Location: Gilbert, AZ
|
Custom Plays
1) "Starters only". TE2+, WR3+, HB2+, FB2+ can only be designed into plays where the players ahead of them in the depth chart also appear. On 3rd down you may use a non starting HB.
2) For all non-special teams’ plays, OL must be T1-G2-C1-G1-T2 in that order from left to right.
You may only design Non-starter OLs into Special Teams’ plays.
Note: Only (Ts, Gs & Cs) on Offense and (DEs and DTs) on Defensive may be used on the respective Offensive and Defensive lines in Special Teams plays.
3) DEFINITIONS
3.1) The Box
The Box is defined as the area between the hashmarks in the play editor. When referring to the "backfield" of the offense, we are referring to the box.
3.2) Inside the Box
Having no more than 1 character of a player's position designation outside the hashmarks in the play editor, such that the player is recognized as "Backfield" by defensive man-to-man defenders. This latter part is the critical determining factor.
Regardless of the running back's actual position, he MUST be recognized as backfield by the defense in pre-shift position.
3.3) Outside the Box
Placed such that none of the two numbers (of a two digit number) is touching the hash marks.
4) OFFENSE
4.1) Initial Formation & Motion
The essence of the PNFL is to create a league that resembles real football.
To that end, the offensive line MUST have 2 offensive lineman and 1 ball-handler (WR, TE or RB) on both sides of the ball on the line of scrimmage (not set back) in the initial formation _and_ at the snap. **NO MORE, NO LESS**.
The ball-handlers on the LOS must be in an eligible position.
The two ball-handlers who are on the LOS (line of scrimmage) at the snap do not have to be the same ones who were on the LOS in the initial formation.
On plays with one Tight End, he must line up on the right in the pre-shift formation, either on or off the LOS.
On plays with two TEs, one of them must line up on the right pre-shift. All formations must be either balanced or strong right pre-shift as well. (In passing formations the strong side is the side with the most receivers on it.
That means there can be no trips left formations pre-shift.)
***Beginning in the 2016 season we will accept new Custom Plays with trip-left formations, and TE1s on the left side of the QB. These are common formations in the NFL, but for some unknown reason were not allowed by previous administrations***
4.1.1) Receiver Rules
For the purpose of these rules, TEs and WRs are the same.
WRs may not line up more than 4 yards deep behind the LOS. Doing so takes advantage of the "cushion" the DBs give the WRs in M2M coverage. This is a game flaw.
Two WRs may be stacked one behind the other so long as neither WR violates the 4-yard rule and that they do not run the exact same route.
A Wide Receiver (WR) may not line up or shift "Go in Motion & Stop and Get Set At" a position where he is in a three- point stance.
4.1.2) Quarterback Rules
The QB must line up either directly behind the center or in the shotgun in-line with the center.
If the QB is in the shotgun he cannot line up more than 7 yards behind the LOS.
When the QB is in the shotgun, no player may be lined up between the QB and the center.
The game will hike the ball "through" this player. This is unrealistic and also not a real formation.
The QB is not allowed to use any passing logic on any play where the QB's purpose is to run the ball.
Inside the box the QB may not drop back more than 12 yards behind the LOS. On roll out plays, outside of the box, the QB may not be more than 10 yards behind the LOS.
Roll-outs: the QB must end his roll out movement line 5 yards behind the LOS.
4.1.3) Runningback Rules
In the Shotgun, Running Backs (RB) may not be further from the LOS than the QB.
4.2) Running Play Rules
Definition: a running play is defined as any play in which the QB uses the logic "handoff/pitch to" after receiving the snap from center.
Hand-offs: All hand-offs must be recorded as a "hand-off" in the play.log file. Handing off the ball to a RB across the LOS is illegal. All hand-offs must occur behind the LOS. The RB who receives the hand-off may not have "look for pass" logic at any time.
All logic boxes that contain "handoff/pitch to" logic must be located inside the box as defined in the RB rules above.
This applies to both the QB and any subsequent player who may use this logic.
No play may be designed such that the reception of the "handoff/pitch to" is recorded as a forward pass.
The play-by-play log must record all such transfers of the ball with the phrase "gives to."
No player executing a "handoff/pitch to" may have "pass-check receivers" or "timed pass" in any of his logic boxes.
No eligible receiver other than the ball carrier or QB may have logic that goes backwards.
A Tight End (TE) may not line up, or shift, or go in motion and get set outside the widest WR, and may not touch, or line-up, or shift outside the field numbers for the purpose of Run blocking.
A Fullback (FB) may not line up, or shift, or go in motion and get set outside the widest WR, and may not touch, or line-up, or shift outside the field numbers for the purpose of Run blocking.
Both TEs and FBs may go in motion and continue until snap for Run blocking.
From under Center, the QB movement to the handoff or pitch Logic Box is restricted to five yards from the LOS and the Guards (G).
That is, the handoff or pitch Logic Box may not be outside the G1 or G2 alphanumeric of the Guards.
In addition, the Logic Box may not touch the yard line that is five yards from the LOS, on the Custom Play Editor Screen.
Also, in the handoff or pitch Logic Box the command "handoff/pitch to" must be the first command assigned to the QB.
4.3) Passing Play Rules
Definition: a passing play is defined as any play in which the QB uses the logic "pass-check receivers" OR "timed pass" after receiving the snap from center.
QB Separator Zone: No player with "pass check" or "timed pass" logics may move beyond the 15 yards line in the play editor when outside the box.
Note: a straight out movement by the QB will be only allowed on Goal Line Pass plays; this movement path may not extend beyond the T1 or T2 alphanumeric of the Tackles.
No offensive lineman (C, G, or T) may have a logic box or movement path that extends beyond the LOS in the design of any passing play. All OL logic boxes must at least touch or remain behind the LOS.
A receiver is not allowed to go backwards and then out on a route.
WRs are not permitted to “Pass Block” in any Drop-Back pass plays.
No player whose logic includes "pass-check receivers" or "timed pass" may have a logic box that touches or extends beyond the LOS.
Furthermore, he may not have any logic which includes any of the "run" (inside, left, to daylight, etc.) logic choices.
All passing plays must result in the play being recorded as a forward pass. The play-by-play log should record all such transfers of the ball with the phrase "The pass from....is caught by" or "The pass from....was incomplete."
On all passing plays, every player selected in the QBs "Pass - check receivers" logic must have "look for pass" somewhere in his own logic.
A minimum of 2 receivers must be checked on every passing play.
All passing plays must result in the QB throwing a pass to an eligible receiver when practiced in the play editor without a defense present.
Timing Passes: There is a strict limit of 15 yards on Timing Passes.
The Receiver of the pass may not have any logic past 15 yards. The "spot" of the pass is also limited to 15 yards.
In addition, the PNFL has elected to restrict the number of Timing Passes to no more than two per pass category, and may not represent more than 50% of the passes in that particular category.
8-man Blocking Schemes: It has been suggested that 8-man blocking schemes are AI busters or unrealistic because of the way they function in FBPRO. However, in real football many teams will use 8 man blocking schemes against opposing teams that blitz frequently. Therefore, in keeping with realism the PNFL will allow 8 man protection schemes.
All Timing Passes are also subject to this rule. The exception to the rule will be Roll Outs (see below).
Roll-Outs: the QB must end his rollout movement 7 yards behind the LOS.
There must be at least 2 receivers running routes on any Roll Out pass.
This is to prevent Roll-Outs with more then 8 men blocking. All Roll-Outs must occur with the QB under center.
WRs are not permitted to “Pass Block” in any Drop-Back pass plays.
One WR may Pass Block, on the playside, on Roll-Out passes.
For a pass play to be considered a Roll-Out, the QB must have a "Move To" line that extends beyond (not to, not on) the yard line numbers in the Play Editor. Half rolls and "moving pocket" pass plays are not to be considered Roll-Outs.
New Rule beginning in 2020:
In the Pass Short categories, only the Primary and Secondary receivers paths must stay within the zone, which does not stop a third, fourth, or fifth receiver from going longer. The latter three receivers just need to have "Look for Pass" logic before they cross 10-yards from the LOS, but their path can take them anywhere.
In the Medium Pass categories, only the Primary and Secondary receiver paths must stay within the zone, which does not stop a third, fourth, or fifth receiver from going longer. The latter three receivers just need to have "Look for Pass" logic before they cross 20-yards from the LOS, but their path can take them anywhere.
Note: All other receivers going longer than the prescribed zone must "Look for Pass" before 25-yards of the LOS.
4.4) Screens
Screens are a special type of offensive play and they merit special rules. The objective of any good screen is to trick an aggressive defensive rush into overpursuing the QB. The offense takes advantage of this pursuit and throws a pass to the flat which -with proper blocking- can result it good yardage for the offense. The trick in FPBRO is accurately representing these plays without adversely affecting the stats of the game or unbalancing the game.
Thus the following rules:
The QB may not drop back more than 12 yards from the LOS. The QB cannot move outside the hashmarks.
On screen plays the offensive linemen may have "move to" logic before any blocking logic on the perimeter.
All screen passes must be forward passes. This includes timing passes. When the QB releases the ball he had better be behind the person intended for the ball. There are no backward timing passes on screen plays.
All blocking logic must occur (or "start") behind the LOS. This rule allows for "block -lead to" logic in a screen play.
The blocking logic is the critical part of a screen play, but it is also the most susceptible to AI busting.
If an OL crosses the LOS before the pass it destroys the defensive logic. Therefore, there must exist a boundary, and that boundary is the LOS. These screen play rules are in effect only as long as they serve their purpose.
4.5) Other Offensive Rules
4.5.1 Fakes: The purpose of the fake play is to freeze one's defender to allow separation on a passing play.
That is the only acceptable purpose in the PNFL, therefore: On passing plays each receiver is allowed 1 fake per play beyond the LOS.
Fakes may not be thrown, by anyone, behind the LOS. Any skill player at or past the LOS (RBs/WRs/TEs) may not throw a fake within 5 yards of any other skill player. Also: a receiver may not throw a fake if the intent of the fake is to freeze a defender other than his own. Fakes, by any players, are not allowed on running plays.
4.5.2 The TE or FB positions may shift, or go in motion and get set anywhere outside the Box not deeper than four yards from the LOS for purposes of any valid Pass play. Inside the Box, they can set up at normal RB depths.
4.5.3 In the Shotgun, the QB may not roll for a Pass, nor move to pitch on a Run play outside the G1 or G2 alphanumeric of the Guards.
5) DEFENSE
5.1) Defensive Linemen: Each defensive play must employ at least 2 DL* and 2 LB or 3 DL and 1 LB or 4 DL.
* 2 DL plays will be stored in the R&S Defense folder.
5.2) Point Zone Logic: The axis/center of any zone may not extend into the backfield of the offense.
5.3) No "Starter Rule" for Defense, with only one restriction; all interior DLs must be DTs, in either a 3-, 4- or 5-man line.
In addition, the DLs cannot overload one side of the line; that is, one DL must be on either side of the Center.
You are not allowed to overload your defenders to one side of the ball. Having 3 DL and 2 LB's to one side of the center is not realistic.
Super Bowl Champions--Buffalo Bills--SBXXII, SB XXI, SB XX, SB XVIII, SB XVII
Super Bowl Champions--Atlanta Falcons--SB XI, SB X, SB IX, SB VIII, SB VII, SB VI, SB V
|
