The Drop Back/Rollout Rule Explained Further

by Kris_06905 | 3 years ago | 0 Comments

The drop back and rollout rule is going to be a point of emphasis this season as mentioned at the kickoff of season 3.  The main principle for any of the rules of this league are to ensure that game flaws are not manipulated so as to create an unfair advantage for anyone by exploiting those flaws.  Football strategy is what we want to drive the gameplay in the SFL.  The flaws in Madden create issues that we all could take advantage of if we choose, but then we might as well just play MUT or in any of the thousands of other leagues that are fine with videogame football.  The SFL is for people who want more from Madden than 1 play TDs or stat padding ridiculousness.  Admittedly, our league isn't for everyone and it wasn't designed to be.  It is for people who love football and want to replicate that in a competitive outlet that emphasizes realistic strategy over manipulation of flawed game mechanics.  

In a discussion of the league's dropback rule, I was accused of attempting to create rules to favor my style of play.  That is not what our rules are designed to do at all.  Specifically, because I user the defensive line players the majority of the time, the accusation was made that the dropback rule is to benefit me.  Perhaps the explanation of the reason for the dropback/rollout rule wasn't very clear before so I will attempt to clarify the reason for the rule and how not abiding by the rule is a clear advantage to the users who violate it or push it to the limits.

The reason for the rule is simple and rooted in the same principle that all our rules are.  To ensure that football strategy is used in playing games over videogame strategy that benefits from game flaws to win.  The argument made that regulating the deep drops is designed to benefit a play style can just as easily be used the other way and far more accurately.  By not abiding by the rule, a team is benefitting their play style.  The difference is that the argument that the defensive line users create instant pressure thus benefit by limiting the drops isn't true to the point that the offense has multiple counters for defensive pressure.  Yes, if a player can shed a block and create pressure it is a benefit, but a benefit based in football strategy.  

The pressure created by a D-line user can be countered with several in-game options involving solid football strategy.  A user on offense can choose to double-team the D-line player.  They can also slide pass protection, or leave a RB/TE in to help block.  They can use the shotgun or pistol formations more frequently.  All of those options are available to the offensive user to counter even the best D-line user.  And the only real threat by the D-line is from usered XF and SS players.  There is almost no defensive line pressure placed on a QB from any D-line AI controlled players regardless of abilities (and that is with a reduced pass block slider setting of 20).

The defense has no options to counter an unrealistic drop/roll by the offense.  Offenses create passing concepts based on drop backs tied to the distance of the drop.  3-5-7 step drops are used for the various short, medium, deep passing concepts.  When every drop is a deep drop regardless of the route concept the defense is at a disadvantage that can't be countered with in-game adjustments.  It's a flaw in the game and that is why the rule exists.  It isn't to benefit a particular game style or player.  Defensive pressure has an impact on the QB's throws that is part of the game.  Deep drops avoid any benefit the defense gets from putting pressure on the QB and thus create an advantage that actually does favor the deep drop style of play.  The excuse of using deep drop backs regardless of pressure simply because a defensive user was able to get pressure at some point in the game is not a valid reason to ignore the spirit of the rule.

The in-game drops/rolls accurately reflect how passing game concepts should work in real football.  If offensive users would use the designed drops without user input they would avoid most complaints of rule violations.  The counters available to the offense are more than adequate to allow for succesful gameplanning around even the best D-line user.  The lack of similar or any counters to illegal drops/rolls to the defense is why the rule exists.  Trying to get a flawed game to replicate real football isn't easy, but THAT is the reason for our rules and NOTHING else.