06-28-2021, 10:32 AM
(This post was last modified: 06-28-2021, 10:33 AM by IsaStarcrossed.)
6. Write 800 words or more on something about anything in the league that interests you. It could be related to statistics, a league issue that you take seriously, or a niche part of history that doesn’t fit neatly into either of the above categories. This must be directly related to the league, so don’t wax 800 words about your team’s participation on a Werewolf server or something.
I think it is time that we have a discussion on the strange mystery that is the Colorado Yeti defense and how it seems that sim team balancing may have swung things in a major way for not only this roster but the league as a whole. Keep in mind this is not to insult or rag on the sim team at all, but simply an observation of a chain of even that started when we moved sims.
In season 27 the Colorado Yeti barely slipped into the playoffs and only did so with some late season heroics. A big part of that was their defense which while didn't look that good on paper, was statistically one of the best in the league. They were top half in the league in every stat that mattered. Tied 7th for tackles for a loss, fifth in sacks, they led the league in turnovers with 22 interceptions and 14 fumble recoveries, they led the league with defended passes at 129, and they managed to pull together six defensive touchdowns. It was a dominant effort by a defense that made the big plays when they were needed. They tended to give up a ton of yards through the air, but overall they were sixth in yards allowed and when they really needed a play, they would show up. They did this by running an electric 3-4 defense with the blitz ratio set to 100.
Then after that season for some reason the sim team decided to nerf the blitz ratios. No real reason was given to why, but they felt like the blitz rations made 3-4 too good. Despite our defense getting better in that offseason with several big name signings and our entire defensive side max earning, the next season was an absolute wreck. This team went from being top half of the league in every defensive stat to being bottom half in almost all of them. We continued to try to run 3-4 because that is what our defense was build for, but then we were dead last in tackles for a loss with only 12, we were last in turnovers with our interceptions down to only 7, a third of the previous season totals and our forced fumbles were cut in half. Our PDs were ranked 10th and we only managed one defensive touchdown. It was clear that the blitz ratio being dropped from 100 to 80 had a dramatic impact on the Yeti as they played identical to the season before. The big difference was this team was not capable of making the big play anymore. We missed the playoffs despite our offense setting records through the season.
Due to this, I decided the be selfless for our team. I wanted back in the playoffs and it was pretty clear that the defense simply was not going to work if we continued to play 3-4. I once wanted a full linebacker career after spending my first player at defensive tackle, but now volunteered to play at defensive end so we could mix 4-3 into our defense. The impact was dramatic as the Yeti cam second in sacks, were fifth in fumble recoveries, and ranked up 15 interceptions for double the season before. The defense returned to scoring with their four defensive touchdowns and once more the team lead the league in passes defended. The when you look at yards and points allowed, the Yeti dramatically improved in both and had the best defensive season they'd had in the new sim. Ranked third in both points allowed and total yards allowed made it pretty clear that this Yeti defensive had made dramatic strides in the right direction and we didn't change personnel at all aside from picking up a 300 TPE Bubba Thumper to play backup. The only change was that now I was playing defensive end so that the Yeti could play 4-3.
Obviously this is a small sample size and it could ber very easily boiled down to luck, but the Yeti don't change players often. Our roster stays consistent and so the only real difference in our play tends to be through the strats and it is clear that for the Yeti, 3-4 is no longer efficient. Having our top TPE player on our defense playing out of position to play a formation the team wasn't built around in order to win games should not be how things work. I think the nerfs to the blitz ratios were too harsh overall and may have made 4-3 the clear favorite as far as efficient defensive play is concerned. We went from testing incredibly well running only 3-4 to barely being able to win games and now we're forced to use 4-3. This all happened with nothing in our personnel changing. I'm not sure why the league decided to nerf the blitz ratios, but it had a profound impact on a team in its prime and lost them a season where they could have made a championship run. I hope we don't see further nerfs or buffs to strats without data and legitimate reasons provided.
WithTheMoose in SHL
I think it is time that we have a discussion on the strange mystery that is the Colorado Yeti defense and how it seems that sim team balancing may have swung things in a major way for not only this roster but the league as a whole. Keep in mind this is not to insult or rag on the sim team at all, but simply an observation of a chain of even that started when we moved sims.
In season 27 the Colorado Yeti barely slipped into the playoffs and only did so with some late season heroics. A big part of that was their defense which while didn't look that good on paper, was statistically one of the best in the league. They were top half in the league in every stat that mattered. Tied 7th for tackles for a loss, fifth in sacks, they led the league in turnovers with 22 interceptions and 14 fumble recoveries, they led the league with defended passes at 129, and they managed to pull together six defensive touchdowns. It was a dominant effort by a defense that made the big plays when they were needed. They tended to give up a ton of yards through the air, but overall they were sixth in yards allowed and when they really needed a play, they would show up. They did this by running an electric 3-4 defense with the blitz ratio set to 100.
Then after that season for some reason the sim team decided to nerf the blitz ratios. No real reason was given to why, but they felt like the blitz rations made 3-4 too good. Despite our defense getting better in that offseason with several big name signings and our entire defensive side max earning, the next season was an absolute wreck. This team went from being top half of the league in every defensive stat to being bottom half in almost all of them. We continued to try to run 3-4 because that is what our defense was build for, but then we were dead last in tackles for a loss with only 12, we were last in turnovers with our interceptions down to only 7, a third of the previous season totals and our forced fumbles were cut in half. Our PDs were ranked 10th and we only managed one defensive touchdown. It was clear that the blitz ratio being dropped from 100 to 80 had a dramatic impact on the Yeti as they played identical to the season before. The big difference was this team was not capable of making the big play anymore. We missed the playoffs despite our offense setting records through the season.
Due to this, I decided the be selfless for our team. I wanted back in the playoffs and it was pretty clear that the defense simply was not going to work if we continued to play 3-4. I once wanted a full linebacker career after spending my first player at defensive tackle, but now volunteered to play at defensive end so we could mix 4-3 into our defense. The impact was dramatic as the Yeti cam second in sacks, were fifth in fumble recoveries, and ranked up 15 interceptions for double the season before. The defense returned to scoring with their four defensive touchdowns and once more the team lead the league in passes defended. The when you look at yards and points allowed, the Yeti dramatically improved in both and had the best defensive season they'd had in the new sim. Ranked third in both points allowed and total yards allowed made it pretty clear that this Yeti defensive had made dramatic strides in the right direction and we didn't change personnel at all aside from picking up a 300 TPE Bubba Thumper to play backup. The only change was that now I was playing defensive end so that the Yeti could play 4-3.
Obviously this is a small sample size and it could ber very easily boiled down to luck, but the Yeti don't change players often. Our roster stays consistent and so the only real difference in our play tends to be through the strats and it is clear that for the Yeti, 3-4 is no longer efficient. Having our top TPE player on our defense playing out of position to play a formation the team wasn't built around in order to win games should not be how things work. I think the nerfs to the blitz ratios were too harsh overall and may have made 4-3 the clear favorite as far as efficient defensive play is concerned. We went from testing incredibly well running only 3-4 to barely being able to win games and now we're forced to use 4-3. This all happened with nothing in our personnel changing. I'm not sure why the league decided to nerf the blitz ratios, but it had a profound impact on a team in its prime and lost them a season where they could have made a championship run. I hope we don't see further nerfs or buffs to strats without data and legitimate reasons provided.
WithTheMoose in SHL
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