Hello everyone! I hope you had a wonderful holiday season (if you celebrate).
Well, we've made it. This is the final large-scale writeup for the Season 34 Balance Patch that we will be producing. Today's episode is on the Tight End and Cornerback positions!
TIGHT END
Vertical Threat
Remove Trait: Athlete
Add Trait: Deep Threat
Why?
The Vertical Threat Tight End is meant to be that sort of player that can be played all over the field for the offense and create mismatches with their size and speed. The Deep Threat trait provides a similar after the catch speed boost as the Athlete trait does, but Deep Threat provides an added bonus of making the Quarterback more likely to target the player if they are running the deepest route. Giving this trait to the Vertical Threat further cements their place as the deep shot, big play Tight End that doesn't do much more than catch the ball. With the new playbooks that utilize more targets for the Tight Ends, adding this trait gives them more chances to make long receptions.
Blocking TE
Attribute Changes
Speed Max: 80 -> 85
Hands Min: 35 -> 45
Hands Max: 75 -> 80
Agility Max: 80 -> 75
Size Changes
Height: 75 -> 76
Why?
Since Season 27, the Blocking Tight End has been one of the least-represented archetypes in the entire league, and currently there are zero players who have opted to create as one. The intent behind the Blocking Tight End is to be not only a strong blocker who does the dirty work in the trenches, but also to be a capable receiver who can make the clutch catches. Unfortunately, due to the original design, the Blocking TE was simply not strong enough of a receiver, with a yards per catch ceiling well-below that of its counterparts. Being shorter and having lower hands compounded their issues as a receiver, as they were receiving less targets and converting less into catches.
The updated design for this type of Tight End makes them a much more capable receiver - though still not as strong as the Possession and Vertical Threat TEs - but making them shine in the blocking game. The end goal for these players is to not just be a one-dimensional, "6th offensive lineman" but also to be a real receiving threat. At similar TPE levels they will be outpaced by the other two archetypes because of their lack of access to traits, but they can make up for it with what they bring to the offense.
In one test, we set every Tight End in the league (and added Tight Ends to teams that did not have any rostered) to a completely maxed-out version of the same archetype and recorded the average performances of each, as well as their impacts on both the running game and defenses.
As always with these sort of tests, these numbers are meant to be taken only as guides, not as a rule of fact. There will always be outliers in both directions.
![[Image: unknown.png]](https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/761069791867568189/925075399413751898/unknown.png)
As you can see from the above chart, these changes to the archetypes do a great job of differentiating the three archetypes form each other. The Vertical Threat is very much what the name implies, a receiver first and a blocker second. The Possession TE gets the more targets, has the best catch rate, and is also a capable blocker. The Blocking TE can be a very capable receiver - averaging over 500 yards a season, but they dominate the other two in terms of blocking. Looking further down the line, having that extra capable blocker can do wonders for an offense, as they provide a nice boost to running back performance, and can also help slow down pass rushers.
Cornerback
Physical Corner
Attribute Changes
Intelligence Max: 85 -> 90
Size Changes
Height: 74 -> 76
Weight: 210 -> 215
Cover Corner
Attribute Changes
Strength Max: 70 -> 75
Size Changes
Height: 70 -> 72
Weight: 190 -> 200
Slot Corner
Attribute Changes
Strength Min: 45 -> 50
Strength Max: 75 -> 80
Competitiveness Min: 35 -> 45
Competitiveness Max: 75 -> 80
Size Changes
Height: 73 -> 74
Weight: 200 -> 210
Why?
As a whole the Cornerback position is fairly even when it comes to performance. In order to create more of a rock-paper-scissors game between offense and defense, the size changes to the Cornerbacks were implemented, mainly to combat Running Backs being played at Wide Receiver. The Slot Corner was in an interesting spot as being touted as a tackler and playmaker for CBs, and by increasing not only their size and strength, but also their Competitiveness, the archetype has its niche further cemented.
Well, we've made it. This is the final large-scale writeup for the Season 34 Balance Patch that we will be producing. Today's episode is on the Tight End and Cornerback positions!
TIGHT END
Vertical Threat
Remove Trait: Athlete
Add Trait: Deep Threat
Why?
The Vertical Threat Tight End is meant to be that sort of player that can be played all over the field for the offense and create mismatches with their size and speed. The Deep Threat trait provides a similar after the catch speed boost as the Athlete trait does, but Deep Threat provides an added bonus of making the Quarterback more likely to target the player if they are running the deepest route. Giving this trait to the Vertical Threat further cements their place as the deep shot, big play Tight End that doesn't do much more than catch the ball. With the new playbooks that utilize more targets for the Tight Ends, adding this trait gives them more chances to make long receptions.
Blocking TE
Attribute Changes
Speed Max: 80 -> 85
Hands Min: 35 -> 45
Hands Max: 75 -> 80
Agility Max: 80 -> 75
Size Changes
Height: 75 -> 76
Why?
Since Season 27, the Blocking Tight End has been one of the least-represented archetypes in the entire league, and currently there are zero players who have opted to create as one. The intent behind the Blocking Tight End is to be not only a strong blocker who does the dirty work in the trenches, but also to be a capable receiver who can make the clutch catches. Unfortunately, due to the original design, the Blocking TE was simply not strong enough of a receiver, with a yards per catch ceiling well-below that of its counterparts. Being shorter and having lower hands compounded their issues as a receiver, as they were receiving less targets and converting less into catches.
The updated design for this type of Tight End makes them a much more capable receiver - though still not as strong as the Possession and Vertical Threat TEs - but making them shine in the blocking game. The end goal for these players is to not just be a one-dimensional, "6th offensive lineman" but also to be a real receiving threat. At similar TPE levels they will be outpaced by the other two archetypes because of their lack of access to traits, but they can make up for it with what they bring to the offense.
In one test, we set every Tight End in the league (and added Tight Ends to teams that did not have any rostered) to a completely maxed-out version of the same archetype and recorded the average performances of each, as well as their impacts on both the running game and defenses.
As always with these sort of tests, these numbers are meant to be taken only as guides, not as a rule of fact. There will always be outliers in both directions.
As you can see from the above chart, these changes to the archetypes do a great job of differentiating the three archetypes form each other. The Vertical Threat is very much what the name implies, a receiver first and a blocker second. The Possession TE gets the more targets, has the best catch rate, and is also a capable blocker. The Blocking TE can be a very capable receiver - averaging over 500 yards a season, but they dominate the other two in terms of blocking. Looking further down the line, having that extra capable blocker can do wonders for an offense, as they provide a nice boost to running back performance, and can also help slow down pass rushers.
Cornerback
Physical Corner
Attribute Changes
Intelligence Max: 85 -> 90
Size Changes
Height: 74 -> 76
Weight: 210 -> 215
Cover Corner
Attribute Changes
Strength Max: 70 -> 75
Size Changes
Height: 70 -> 72
Weight: 190 -> 200
Slot Corner
Attribute Changes
Strength Min: 45 -> 50
Strength Max: 75 -> 80
Competitiveness Min: 35 -> 45
Competitiveness Max: 75 -> 80
Size Changes
Height: 73 -> 74
Weight: 200 -> 210
Why?
As a whole the Cornerback position is fairly even when it comes to performance. In order to create more of a rock-paper-scissors game between offense and defense, the size changes to the Cornerbacks were implemented, mainly to combat Running Backs being played at Wide Receiver. The Slot Corner was in an interesting spot as being touted as a tackler and playmaker for CBs, and by increasing not only their size and strength, but also their Competitiveness, the archetype has its niche further cemented.
![[Image: lip-chap.jpg?width=383&height=468]](https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/461498035348701185/777250920941223966/lip-chap.jpg?width=383&height=468)
![[Image: k4AYgU9.gif]](https://i.imgur.com/k4AYgU9.gif)
