I like the first read to have the higher bump and route. Even the case of press coverage your qbs progressions will not get to muddled and timing for the next read should be more fluid. Generally the wr1 or cb1 follow this model with courage and accell. as well. Lots of the wr1 plays are shorter but the same could be said about the wr 2. He just gets that slant pattern ,here i like speed more for yards after the catch.
Having guys who can get seperation is so crucial, and as little as it may be this seperation or lack there of change reads a bit...same like pressure would rush a read.
FOV is a angle of veiw, so depending on the way hes facing makes a difference, but 4.4. and on have the dump off options higher than other codes, but it just because man coverage is way better. Really i am just speaking vs. a man under defense that uses blitzes.
I watch alot of games so when i see a qb almost auto targeting the same reciever no matter what i use that play accordingly. Like you said some longplays always dump it off. Eliminating those plays is the only way around it.But i do see some variation from time to time.
I try to plan some of those auto reads , which are successful, as blitz beaters or some sort of a hot read.
The qb algorithms were changed for 4.4 and arm strength calculations might not allow a guy to even make a good long ball throw. Especially with the long ball nerf to have the wide open guy drop it.
One of My best qbs throws pretty short for my plans, because his arm is only 80. He checks down alot but my fast backs beat guys in the flats. My slow wr 1 averages 8 yards a catch but my rookie wr2 has 16 tds on 38 catches and like a 25 average. My slow wr1 actually opens up deeper reads to my TE(playing at 222 pounds) who is decent at getting seperation at 80 sp 80 acc..
To me its all scheme but i passed well all throughout this code..most likely not vs. a playoff team playing a man under,but that area is so overpowered you got to get real creative.
I like to use low FOV guy to force passes into elite wrs. They seem to check it down less,but if hes slow and you remove all the checkdown options (5wr sets) sometimes he doesn't throw it or run it. You really see how tough coverage is when small fast guys are used on defense with a pass key.