Example:

It's late in the game, 1:00 to go. You are up by a point. Third and one at mid-field and you only want to run the ball rather than take a chance at throwing an int or stopping the clock with an incompletion.

This is what you would do to ensure that would happen:

First, when you select your offensive plays, make sure that you only run (not pass) out of the I Formation in the 2-1-2 offensive set. Whether you select an inside run or and outside run is up to your preference. Of course, you can select more than one running play out of the I Formation, but that would possibly defeat the purpose of having a go to running play out of the I Formation. Note that there are other formations in the 2-1-2 offensive set in which you can exclusively pass if you want to both run and pass using the 2-1-2 offensive set.

Second, using rules, you can ensure that that the offense calls a running play at any point in the game under whatever circumstances you choose. In this case, we have previously set a rule that requires the offense to only select a running play when it is very late in the game, we have the lead and it's 3rd and short (you can even specify yards to go instead of the generic "short"). Furthermore, the rule we have created specifies that the offense will only call a running play out of the 2-1-2 offensive set. (You can, of course, add other offensive sets to the rule, but for our purposes in this example, we will limit our playbook to the 2-1-2 offensive set).

So now, it's third and short and by rule 100% of the time we are only going to call a running play using only the 2-1-2 offensive set. And when we selected our running play(s) in the 2-1-2 set, we only had the I Formation from which to choose.

But we're not done yet. When we set our depth chart, we used the override function to put our best short yardage running back on the field when the team faces a third and short yardage situation. It might be your starting RB, and if it is, hopefully he is not too fatigued to be in the game.

Therefore, under the circumstances described above, and barring injury or fatigue, the RB of your choosing, as designated in your depth chart to play on 3rd and short in the I Formation (even this rule can be flexible, depending on location on the field), will carry the ball. Because of the rule that was established, the offense will only call a running play late in the game on third and short and use the 2-1-2 offensive set. Finally, because the only play(s) that can be used in the 2-1-2-offensive set is (are) running plays, you are guaranteed only to call a running play using the 2-1-2 offensive set late in the game. Hence your practically guaranteed to have the RB that you choose carry the ball at this juncture in the game.

The example that I give is intentionally very focused and limited. But by using some semblance of this approach, you can give yourself a better chance of utilizing the players that you want to use when you want to use them. And it works with all other positions as well. I suggest that players use the override to intentionally give your best players a break rather than allow the AI to do so.

I hope I wasn't too confusing.

Not too confusing, I think you explained it very well. Thanks for taking the time to do that.

I guess what you are saying is correct, I have just always liked to have more variety in my playbook than would allow me to do something like this.

However, I may need to think about changing some of that.

Usually I try to have a balanced offense out of each personnel group so it won't be so easy to game plan against me. But, since we can't create rules based on formations, I may see if I can work that to my advantage.

I've had a lot of success in MFN, but I have never felt confident in my gameplanning skills. Maybe this will help.

Thanks

What I've done recently is try to figure out what plays trigger the opponents least successful defensive formations and drive up the frequency that I call those plays. I felt really clever coming up with that idea, but it hasn't been successful :(

Generally, unless they establish rules to the contrary, most GMs allow the AI to call their defensive formations. The AI usually (if not always) tries to match offensive personnel with a like kind of defensive package. For example, a 3 WR formation will be met with a nickel package of some kind, a 4 or 5 WR set will be met with a dime package, and so on. So there is some predictability.

But it still boils down to having the right personnel on the field for what you expect the offense to do. This is where understanding and utilizing the interaction of rules, defensive play selection (using rules) and depth chart can be really helpful.

Here are some examples:

Using rules, never use anything less than a nickel or dime formation on 3rd or 4th down and long, irrespective of the offensive formation. Especially if you have a "substantial" lead. In other words, don't let the AI allow you to call a goal line or other run oriented defense when your opponent lines up in a 2 TE formation under these circumstances. The only exceptions to this approach are (1) when you have scouted your opponent and he never passes in a particular offensive set, in which case, I would still only call for a neutral defense, or (2) you have faith that a standard defensive formation will give you match ups to get the job done, i.e., you LBs can cover receivers and/or blitz really well. Even if your opponent runs the ball, your defense will stop him short of the first down most of the time.

Also, at some point during the game, when you have a lead, you should use rules to play mostly pass defense. How big a lead and when you pull that trigger is up to you. This means using mostly pass oriented defensive formations and having your players play for the pass, no matter the formation (subject to the caveat above). It might also mean using your depth chart to insert you best pass rushers and defenders on 3rd and long situations and call only plays utilizing the formation for which you have set that depth chart.

I could go on, but I hope you get the gist of what I'm saying. MFN is structured so that you can really micromanage your game plan. I think many players are in so many leagues that they really can't attend to the game planning details that are available to their teams. For instance, my entire defensive game plan (I play in only one league) is based on rules that I have formulated. I leave nothing for the AI to do other than substituting for fatigue and injuries. And with regard to fatigue, I make a point to use my depth chart to rest even my best players (other than QB), by substituting them out from time to time. I also tend to use the lower end of the fatigue selection under game planning. That approach doesn't seem to be too harmful because by substituting liberally my best players generally don't get too fatigued anyway. Therefore, I never seem to have my entire second string on the field at one time and, most important, I seem to have my best players (for the skills I need on the anticipated offensive play) on the field when I need them.

Good luck.

P.S. Admittedly, it took some time and thought to setting up rules that govern my defensive play calling. But now that the rules are in place, I spend maybe an hour or so "tweeking" them (based on my scouting report) before each game. I tend to allow the AI more freedom to call my offensive plays, but I keep a tight reign on it as well. I will, by using rules, never go into a goal line set when I am behind in the score and it is late in the game.

P.P.S. It actually took more time to respond to this blog than it does normally to tweek my game plan.