Why is it that Free Safeties apparently can't tackle an opposing ball-carrying Running Back if there is also a Strong Safety playing? The post-game stats show that they generally do not.

In "real life" football if a Running Back got past a Strong Safety then, at least some of the time, a Free Safety further up the field might then have a chance of making the tackle. Why not in this game?

Which also raises the question of just what it is that Free Safeties actually do contribute to a team's defense.

LucaF wrote: In the simulation, against the run, defenders are in three "lines" (DLs, LBs and SFs). Safeties are the 3rd line of the defense, and SS have priority on FS for tackles against the run. I think that only a single player from each line can attempt a tackle, so if a SS misses the tackle, no other tackle is attempted. FSs play against the run if no SSs are available on their side, and attempt the 2nd tackle against the pass ( together with MLBs and SS/L, SS/R).

Yes, I fully agree with your assessment that this does seem to be the case. I believe that you are most likely correct. But do we know for sure?

And may we also ask, "why should it be this way?". Why should it be that only a single player from each line can attempt a tackle? Even though a Strong Safety gets priority to attempt the tackle why can't a Free Safety then have a chance when/if the Strong Safety misses? Wouldn't a Free Safety essentially constitute a 4th line of defense, as it appears to be on the screen when you set up your lineup? That is how things would work in "real life" American football. So, is it merely a case that such a level of "realism" simply isn't duplicated by this game engine's algorithms? If so, shouldn't that be made known to managers?

Because ... as it stands now then, using a Free Safety along with a Strong Safety is practically useless against a team that runs all the time, as many teams now do. Does using a Free Safety without a Strong Safety automatically give a ball-carrying Running Back more yardage before a tackle is attempted? Furthermore, if only one player from a line can attempt a tackle is there really any benefit to using more than one Middle Linebacker, or more than one Strong Safety? Does it actually make any difference if a team uses five Defensive Linemen instead of only four? Just how much does defensive position alignment really matter in how a game plays out?

I think these are aspects of how the game functions that all team managers, and especially newer ones, would benefit from having openly, clearly, and concisely explained more fully in an easily accessible manner. I suspect that many managers, even experienced ones, may not generally understand, or may not even be aware of, some of these important practical limitations all that well.

Llama Coach wrote: LucaF wrote: In the simulation, against the run, defenders are in three "lines" (DLs, LBs and SFs). Safeties are the 3rd line of the defense, and SS have priority on FS for tackles against the run. I think that only a single player from each line can attempt a tackle, so if a SS misses the tackle, no other tackle is attempted. FSs play against the run if no SSs are available on their side, and attempt the 2nd tackle against the pass ( together with MLBs and SS/L, SS/R). Yes, I fully agree with your assessment that this does seem to be the case. I believe that you are most likely correct. But do we know for sure? And may we also ask, "why should it be this way?". Why should it be that only a single player from each line can attempt a tackle? Even though a Strong Safety gets priority to attempt the tackle why can't a Free Safety then have a chance when/if the Strong Safety misses? Wouldn't a Free Safety essentially constitute a 4th line of defense, as it appears to be on the screen when you set up your lineup? That is how things would work in "real life" American football. So, is it merely a case that such a level of "realism" simply isn't duplicated by this game engine's algorithms? If so, shouldn't that be made known to managers? Because ... as it stands now then, using a Free Safety along with a Strong Safety is practically useless against a team that runs all the time, as many teams now do. Does using a Free Safety without a Strong Safety automatically give a ball-carrying Running Back more yardage before a tackle is attempted? Furthermore, if only one player from a line can attempt a tackle is there really any benefit to using more than one Middle Linebacker, or more than one Strong Safety? Does it actually make any difference if a team uses five Defensive Linemen instead of only four? Just how much does defensive position alignment really matter in how a game plays out? I think these are aspects of how the game functions that all team managers, and especially newer ones, would benefit from having openly, clearly, and concisely explained more fully in an easily accessible manner. I suspect that many managers, even experienced ones, may not generally understand, or may not even be aware of, some of these important practical limitations all that well.

It is the same for CBs. To my knowledge they have zero affect on the running game. So both FS and CB are basically useless when defending the run. This has been a complaint of mine for many years because it is ridiculous and nothing like real football. Many of us realized a long time ago that nobody is listening to manager complaints to make this game better.