Scrye 14 - 63 - Donruss: Feature - Red Zone Optional Rules
LIMITING THE TIGHT END
This has been probably the greatest
source of email questions. People are having a
tough time stopping the +1 yard to the Tight
End (TE) side. Some players have sent us their
deck design of a 70-30 "Wishbone Deck" run-
ning attack from a double TE set.
Yikes! You should still be able to
stop this by designing a run
defense deck or gearing up your
own running game to match your
opponent's deck.
If players prefer, here are
some other options to negate the
TE advantage:
1. The TE only gets a +1 to runs to
the outside (with the exception of
the Reverse). The second set of
four running plays (Off Tackle,
Sweep, Counter, and Reverse) are
the plays to the outside. The TE
would only be able to add his +1 to running
plays directed to the outside. Thus, only the Off
Tackle, Sweep, and Counter would have the +1
(Reverses can't be run to the TE, and even if
they could, he can't block for himself!).
2. The Linebacker (LB) may be played oppo-
site a TE to neutralize the +1 (see below).
3. Defensive Linemen (DL) may shift over
and cover the TE with the aid of a
Defensive Back (DB)/LB. This
would not only eliminate the TE's
+1, it would give the defense the
opposite modifier of -1 to any of
the outside running plays to that
side. However, when a DL shifts to
the outside in this way, running
plays up the middle on the side of
DL shift would now gain the +1.
This has been probably the greatest
source of email questions. People are having a
tough time stopping the +1 yard to the Tight
End (TE) side. Some players have sent us their
deck design of a 70-30 "Wishbone Deck" run-
ning attack from a double TE set.
Yikes! You should still be able to
stop this by designing a run
defense deck or gearing up your
own running game to match your
opponent's deck.
If players prefer, here are
some other options to negate the
TE advantage:
1. The TE only gets a +1 to runs to
the outside (with the exception of
the Reverse). The second set of
four running plays (Off Tackle,
Sweep, Counter, and Reverse) are
the plays to the outside. The TE
would only be able to add his +1 to running
plays directed to the outside. Thus, only the Off
Tackle, Sweep, and Counter would have the +1
(Reverses can't be run to the TE, and even if
they could, he can't block for himself!).
2. The Linebacker (LB) may be played oppo-
site a TE to neutralize the +1 (see below).
3. Defensive Linemen (DL) may shift over
and cover the TE with the aid of a
Defensive Back (DB)/LB. This
would not only eliminate the TE's
+1, it would give the defense the
opposite modifier of -1 to any of
the outside running plays to that
side. However, when a DL shifts to
the outside in this way, running
plays up the middle on the side of
DL shift would now gain the +1.
DB
DB LB DL LB DL
WR RB OL OB OL RB TE
The players would end up looking like
the above layout in a DL shift to the TE side.
To recap, in the above defensive maneuver,
outside running plays (Off Tackle, Sweep, and
Counter) to the right-hand side would be at -1
yard. Inside running plays (Quarterback Keep,
Fullback Dive, Trap, and Draw) to the right
would be at +1 yard. Passing plays to either the
Running Back (RB) or the TE on the right
would be unaffected.
If a DL and a LB are playing opposite a
TE, the modifier remains at -1 yard.
DB LB DL LB DL
WR RB OL OB OL RB TE
The players would end up looking like
the above layout in a DL shift to the TE side.
To recap, in the above defensive maneuver,
outside running plays (Off Tackle, Sweep, and
Counter) to the right-hand side would be at -1
yard. Inside running plays (Quarterback Keep,
Fullback Dive, Trap, and Draw) to the right
would be at +1 yard. Passing plays to either the
Running Back (RB) or the TE on the right
would be unaffected.
If a DL and a LB are playing opposite a
TE, the modifier remains at -1 yard.
SITUATIONAL SUBSTITUTIONS
This has become a widely adopted rule.
Instead of drafting a 13-man team, coaches
may now draft a 20-man squad (13 starters
with a back-up at every position). Prior to the
start of every play, the offensive coach may
bring in players from the bench and substi-
tute them for players on the field. At the end
of any substitutions the coach must still have
a normal 13-man team (e.g., one Quarterback
(QB), two Offensive Linemen (OL), two RBs,
and two WRs/TEs).
However, the composition of your team
and their skills may be changed. For example,
in a short-yardage situation you may want to
bring in a TE instead of a WR.
Or you may want to do the
opposite, as at 3rd and long it
would be better to have two
WRs available.
After the offense has
made any substitutions, the
defense is free to substitute. If
they need a strong-run-support
DB to blitz, they may bring
him in now.
This has become a widely adopted rule.
Instead of drafting a 13-man team, coaches
may now draft a 20-man squad (13 starters
with a back-up at every position). Prior to the
start of every play, the offensive coach may
bring in players from the bench and substi-
tute them for players on the field. At the end
of any substitutions the coach must still have
a normal 13-man team (e.g., one Quarterback
(QB), two Offensive Linemen (OL), two RBs,
and two WRs/TEs).
However, the composition of your team
and their skills may be changed. For example,
in a short-yardage situation you may want to
bring in a TE instead of a WR.
Or you may want to do the
opposite, as at 3rd and long it
would be better to have two
WRs available.
After the offense has
made any substitutions, the
defense is free to substitute. If
they need a strong-run-support
DB to blitz, they may bring
him in now.
After the offense and
defense have substituted,
both coaches select a play. The
offense may then go into any
motions it wishes (e.g., moving the RB from
the left to the right). The defense
may then adjust any of its on-
field players (no substitutions
may be made). Then the plays
are revealed.
Summary
1. Offense may make any substi-
tutions.
2. Defense may make any substi-
tutions.
3. Both coaches select a play.
4. The offense may move any of
its players.
5. The defense may move any of its players.
6. Both coaches reveal their plays.
Substitutions create a simpler way to
handle injuries. If a player is injured, a coach
may bring in the drafted back-up.
defense have substituted,
both coaches select a play. The
offense may then go into any
motions it wishes (e.g., moving the RB from
the left to the right). The defense
may then adjust any of its on-
field players (no substitutions
may be made). Then the plays
are revealed.
Summary
1. Offense may make any substi-
tutions.
2. Defense may make any substi-
tutions.
3. Both coaches select a play.
4. The offense may move any of
its players.
5. The defense may move any of its players.
6. Both coaches reveal their plays.
Substitutions create a simpler way to
handle injuries. If a player is injured, a coach
may bring in the drafted back-up.
Some leagues have suggested
drafting any combination of 20
players (e.g., not necessarily one
back-up at every position). They
then agree on a set of common
players who are generic substi-
tutes if a player position is
injured. For example, a team
drafts 20 position players but
does not take a back-up QB.
Because the league voted on
Trent Dilfer as the generic
back-up, Trent Dilfer became
the players' new QB automati-
cally. It is thus conceivable in
this arrangement that the
"Trent Dilfer" may be used
by two teams because the card
is intended to represent the back-
up QB, not Trent Dilfer.
With this "Situational
Substitution" rule in place, we
can add a number of new rules
based on Substitutes.
Canceling the Tight End
The defensive coach may now bring in an
extra LB and replace a DB on defense. The extra
LB may play opposite the TE and cancels the
TE's +1 yardage gain. There is no change to the
LB's ability to cover a TE. If a LB ends up cov-
ering a WR, the offense gains a one-color grade
advantage on every pass play directed to that
WR. If a LB is on the play side of a running
play and is opposed by a WR, then the offense
loses 1 yard from that running play.
drafting any combination of 20
players (e.g., not necessarily one
back-up at every position). They
then agree on a set of common
players who are generic substi-
tutes if a player position is
injured. For example, a team
drafts 20 position players but
does not take a back-up QB.
Because the league voted on
Trent Dilfer as the generic
back-up, Trent Dilfer became
the players' new QB automati-
cally. It is thus conceivable in
this arrangement that the
"Trent Dilfer" may be used
by two teams because the card
is intended to represent the back-
up QB, not Trent Dilfer.
With this "Situational
Substitution" rule in place, we
can add a number of new rules
based on Substitutes.
Canceling the Tight End
The defensive coach may now bring in an
extra LB and replace a DB on defense. The extra
LB may play opposite the TE and cancels the
TE's +1 yardage gain. There is no change to the
LB's ability to cover a TE. If a LB ends up cov-
ering a WR, the offense gains a one-color grade
advantage on every pass play directed to that
WR. If a LB is on the play side of a running
play and is opposed by a WR, then the offense
loses 1 yard from that running play.
Thus, a TE has a +1 yard advantage over
a DB, and a LB and a TE cancel each other.
Finally, a LB has a -1 yard advantage over a
WR, but the WR has a one-color grade advan-
tage on pass plays.
Nickel Package
The defense may bring in a third DB and
place him on a RB. This will have the effect of
bringing a better pass defender against a RB.
However, all running plays
directed toward a RB that are
opposed by a DB automatically
gain +1 yard.
3 Wide
The offense may bring in
a third WR and have only one
RB. This may result in a WR
being covered by a LB, in which
case the WR will have a one-color
grade advantage over the LB (see
"Canceling the Tight End" above).
a DB, and a LB and a TE cancel each other.
Finally, a LB has a -1 yard advantage over a
WR, but the WR has a one-color grade advan-
tage on pass plays.
Nickel Package
The defense may bring in a third DB and
place him on a RB. This will have the effect of
bringing a better pass defender against a RB.
However, all running plays
directed toward a RB that are
opposed by a DB automatically
gain +1 yard.
3 Wide
The offense may bring in
a third WR and have only one
RB. This may result in a WR
being covered by a LB, in which
case the WR will have a one-color
grade advantage over the LB (see
"Canceling the Tight End" above).
For example, let's assume
the extra WR is in the LRB's
position. All pass plays directed to the LRB
now go to the WR in his position. Note that
all running plays to the LRB go the RRB, but
the play side remains unchanged (e.g., the
RRB would be running to the left
on a Draw [LRB]).
