I have become aware of the use of WR @ TE and wonder how you all feel about it. Technically it's not against the rules but should it be? We previously had a poll about using WR @ RB which was voted down for the second time earlier this season. Given how you feel about that, I'm curious if this is acceptable to the majority, and if so, why.

Thinking about it, I feel this is worse than using a WR @ RB.

I was not aware of this, I just always hope everyone does the right thing! This is a **** no from
the old guy!

WR @ TE is complicated!!!

This version makes using 4 or 5 WRs almost impossible since those plays don't actually work for the most part.

If you use overrides to put a WR at TE then you are creating 4 WR formations when using 113 plays that work.

It allows owners to create mismatches in the passing game which helps mitigate the nerfing the code does to the passing game.

Unilaterally using a WR @ TE means they better have run blocking ability if you are plan on being lazy about it.

I voted yes but I have zero issues if this becomes outlawed. It means less passing offense league-wise and makes the league fair across the board.

If we are gonna make RBs be RBs & TEs be TE then FBs need to be FB/TE also to take away WR or even RB playing FB.

Then that opens the door to DE/DT & LB being exclusively DE/DT & LB to balance the limiting of offense.

It becomes a league admin headache in the end...everyone should follow the rules but there will always be someone that test the rules or makes a mistake.

If Greg is up for it then I say go for it!!! I have no problem following rules if everyone thinks it makes the game better.

Edit to add:

It's the same issue we had with version 4.5 and when we switched to version 4.6, we were all promised these issues were addressed!!!!..they weren't!!!!

Teams with 12 WRs & 14 CBs win because speed is the ultimate attribute in this game. Version 4.6 is almost exactly like version 4.5 in that regard with a few minor adjustments.

Edit to add (part 2):

I would love nothing more then to play this game where everyone plays absolutely no players out of position!

But all it takes is 1 owner to not follow that desire to ruin the competitive balance in a league. As long as no custom rules are in place, owners will do whatever they can to gain an advantage.

I simply lost the energy to parse through 16 games and 32 teams to make sure everyone was playing the game "straight" in my leagues once 4.6 was released.

Overrides make enforcing only TEs line up at TE extremely difficult to find and enforce. You have to physically watch each play a TE is used and check to make sure an actual TE is used!

To show how much WR at TE impacts teams, I've listed all 32 teams separated by playoff teams and non-playoff teams.

I've listed how many receptions true TEs had for each team, yardage by true TEs for each team and total passing yards for each team.

In parenthesis next to the teams name, I've put the percentage of receiving yards true TEs accounted for each team.



PLAYOFFS
Average 8.4% "TRUE TE passing yards which accounted for total passing yards.

8 of 14 teams below 10% and 13 of 14 teams below 20%

EXPRESS (17.6%)
48/475/2701

SABERCATS (2.6%)
29/82/3101

STORM (13.2%)
59/473/3590

OUTLAWS (0%)
0/0/3218

GAMBLERS (2%)
3/74/3827

SHOWBOATS (0%)
0/0/2693

PANTHERS (16.3%)
61/403/2475

RENEGADES (8.4%)
22/237/2835

BULLS (9.3%)
27/228/2440

VOODOO (1.5%)
10/73/4723

STEAMER (10.8%)
29/218/2024

MAULERS (0%)
0/0/3114

BELL
44/443/2205 (20.1%)

GENERALS (16.4%)
65/644/3928


NON-PLAYOFF

Average 19.8% "TRUE TE passing yards which accounted for total passing yards.

9 of 18 teams above 20% and 16 of 18 teams above 10%

HAWAIIANS (20.3%)
99/618/3030

SUN (32.8%)
98/831/2533

INVADERS (16.8%)
55/502/2990

WRANGLERS (18.9%)
59/493/2602

GOLD (13.2%)
49/355/2693

GUNSLINGERS (4.7%)
16/126/2666

THUNDERBOLTS (30.7%)
89/587/1912

WHEELS (28.9%)
105/1150/3982

BLITZ (24.5%)
77/626/2560

BLAZERS (15.1%)
60/491/3243

BANDITS (13.9%)
39/306/2205

FORCE (24.2%)
62/573/2368

STALLIONS (22.1%)
68/508/2298

FEDERALS (24.9%)
69/657/2637

HORNETS (12.3%)
40/226/1837

STARS BAL (17.4%)
34/306/1762

BREAKERS (8.9%)
23/148/1654

STARS NY (26.9%)
63/643/2394

If we take it to the next extreme and take the top 5 teams by record and compare it to the bottom 5 teams by record.

TOP 4 13-3 or better

Average 2.89%

OUTLAWS (0%)
0/0/3218

VOODOO (1.5%)
10/73/4723

MAULERS (0%)
0/0/3114

STORM (13.2%)
59/473/3590

RENEGADES (8.4%)
22/237/2835

BOTTOM 5 3-13 or worse

Average 20.82%

STARS BAL (17.4%)
34/306/1762

GOLD (13.2%)
49/355/2693

STALLIONS (22.1%)
68/508/2298

STARS NY (26.9%)
63/643/2394

BLITZ (24.5%)
77/626/2560

The only thing I will say is allowing the use increases the passing game. Which is severely lacking. Also it is available to everyone. I can see bans on such things like Flat Zone since not everyone has that play i.e. 3-4 playbooks.

But also if it is a rule, I will abide by it. But going down that road would seem to open the doors to CB's at LB and LB at DL.

Also the reason it is successful isn't necessarily due to the speed gain, but rather the fact the best plays in this version happen to throw to the TE. So in those formations I override my best receiver into that spot.

To be honest Smirt has no LB on his roster but that's not against the rules either. The only rules are no WR @ RB, no 2 way players, no tanking and everyone must use an actual K and P.

Like CJ said I don't have the willpower/desire to go through every single game looking for rules infractions. I don't do that for our current rules, rather I scan the league stats periodically looking for any WR in the rushing yards list. Any other rules violations need to either be brought to my attention by someone else or wait on me to stumble across it on my own.

This particular thing was brought to my attention today so I wanted the league's opinion. This poll is for a rule change, so a simple majority for "no" won't cut it. I want to see it be 2 to 1 in favor of making this a rule before I do it.

Now I'll share my opinions on custom rules and such from a player's perspective, forget I'm the commish for this post.

Personally I think anyone should be able to do whatever with their roster with one caveat...that physical mismatches matter.

The only reason people complain about underweight players wrecking things with speed is because there is no counter punishment like there is in real life. If MFN had that built into the code we wouldn't be discussing any of this.

The NFL often has size/speed mismatches and the results are often close to a coin flip rather than speed always winning. There are a lot of edge rushers that aren't all that heavy and players of all positions weights actually fluctuate rather than every WR weighing 191 lbs, etc.

A 191 lb WR playing TE should get destroyed by DE if he tries to block him straight up. In the NFL it only works when they cut or crackback block. Same thing with trying to pound a WR with 20 rushing attempts, they should get injured/wore down more frequently.

They don't though, so that leaves league admins two choices...make custom rules and drive yourself crazy trying to keep them enforced or have very few/no rules.

______________________________________________________________________________

Back to commissioner Greg now...

The no WR at RB rule was voted on for a second time and that had a clear majority that still do not want that in the USFL, therefore that rule stays.

If this WR at TE is allowed to continue as a result of voting, I would suggest everyone look into using it. I forget who said it earlier but this is available to everyone.

SHOWBOATS (0%)
0/0/2693

FWIW, my TE's are listed as running backs.

It's like listing all of your DB's as CB or LB's as WLB's.

Just trying to create a better match-up.

It's easier and lazier than creating a bunch of overrides.

All my TEs are FBs, but I will say that my thought is similar to Legends. I want the ball in my best player's hands, and way too many plays target the TE. Defensive plays will often have a FS/SS matched up against the TE giving another advantage to the defense if you use a traditional TE IMO.

In the current state of the game I would rather not restrict offenses anymore