WHAT IS SIM? - sim is a style of play the close resembles the real NFL. From playcalling to playing style. For example, the playing style of the baltimore ravens is to run the ball down your throat and bring alot of pressure. The playing style of the Tennesee Titans is to run the ball and play bend and dont break defense. The playing style of the dallas cowboys is to be balanced and bring good pressure. Every team has a certain style. Every person has something they do best as far as running or passing so plan your play calling accordingly and attack all areas of the field. Throwing in the flats or running hitches all the time is not offense. Working 1 formation but using all the plays in that formation is OFFENSE. Defensively there are 2 ways to play defense. You can either be really aggressive send alot of pressure or u can bend and dont break. Play madden the way it was intended to be played which is strategic execution.
General Gameplay Rules
1. Depth Chart Substitutions: Player substitutions may only be made at the beginning of the game or halftime. NO player may be moved from the position he plays to different position, with the following exceptions:
• HBs can play at HB only
• FBs can play any FB only
• LBs can play any LB slot (OLB, ILB, MLB)
• CBs can play any CB slot (LCB, RCB)
• Defensive linemen are interchangeable (DE's at DE, DT's at DT)
• FS/SS are interchangeable
• TE can play FB, IF he routinely plays that position in the NFL. Use good judgment here.
• WR: Your #1 WR can only play the #1 or #2 hole. You CANNOT put your #1 WR in the Slot in the depth chart.
• KR and PR, make it realistic! I dont want to see Reggie Wayne returning punts. If they dont do it in the NFL, they dont do it in the SIM section.
***packages are allowed but if u are found changing things around outside of packages u are in violation***
2. Unsportmanlike conduct will not be tolerated at all. It is a 2 way street though. Rude cruel language will not be tolerated. Trash talking is different. Cursing at your opponent and/or calling names is not sportmanship.
a) Running up the score is frowned upon as well. Running up the score means running your same offense and running the same defense after u are up 3 and/or 4 scores. Tone down your offense and defense. Run new things and try new things. Run the ball as much as possible without letting your opponent back in the game. Sometimes i know it is hard to tone down your defense if your opponent is throwing interceptions or your digital men cause fumbles and such. Just kick as FG's instead of scoring touchdowns if possible. This is a video game and people's feelings shouldnt be getting hurt for getting whooped but show some pity if u are up that much and try and end the game as fast as possible if they do not concede.
b) I expect you to know the rules before playing, so if an owner happens to break one, please let them know what they did, nicely. When I play, I try to have the rules in front of me for reference. If this is possible, try to do that as well.
3. COURTESY RULES:
a)Allow your opponent a couple minutes to set his depth chart and or audibles
b) Some of us have babies/toddlers we must watch while playing(wife law: you have time for madden, you have time for baby) if your opponent pauses the game, give him a few minutes as he may have to tend to something, be it a baby, the doorbell or Taco Bell acting up.
4. Players on IR will not be used during the NFL season. If the roster update puts a player out of the line up due to a season ending injury they must remain there until the end of the real NFL season.
Offensive Rules
1. As stated before what reall offense is multiple formation, multiple routes, and attacking multiple areas of the field. Under 10 yards, 10 to 20 yards and 20+ yards. Do not rely on money plays as your offense since this is not freestyle. READ COVERAGE.
2. DRAINING OUT THE CLOCK - in ranked games draining the clock really doesnt exist. But in the sim section we will have tournaments and we will run online franchises and we will run leagues so if the settings have accel clock turned off milking the clock is a violation. Keep the game speed up pick plays as fast as possible. You should not be hiking the ball under 20 seconds. at the 2 minute mark in the 2nd and 4th qt u can milk clock.
3. No huddle can be used sparingly to catch your opponent in a bad defense but do not make it your base offense. No huddle is disabled after a clock stoppage.
4. 4th DOWN RULE - Going for it on 4th down is a key topic in sim. aggressive coaches like bill belichek go for it on 4th down more often than any other coach in the league. Certain peoples offense makes u go for it to stay in the game if u feel u cannot stop their offense. SO...this is how it will go down for our purposes:
a) u may not go for it on 4th down on your side of the 50 unless u are down by 14 in the 4th qt.
b) u may go for it on 4th and 2 or less on your opponent side of the 50 (dont make this a hobby please just because it is a rule. we award good defense) ujnless down by 14 in the 4th qt.
c) u may go for it on 4th down if u are down by 21 at any point in the game.
5. AUDIBLES/HOTROUTES - Audibles, hotroutes, and formation shifts are allowed once the QB is under cent or set up in the shotgun.
a) U may not audible down to put a wr at halfback or at TE.
b) U may audible up.
c) U may not audible right out of the huddle
d) Continuous audibles and hotrouting will not be tolerated as it is annoying.
6. GOALLINE OFFENSE and DEFENSE - Goal Line offense or defense formations are only to be used:
• Within your own 10-yard line.
• Within your opponent’s 10-yard line.
• 2nd, 3rd, or 4th and inches
7. MANUALLY CONTROLLING WIDE WR's - User catching is an evolution of the game and an evolution of skills. Rocket catching is not allowed. Pure user catching is allowed. Throwing deep to big tall wr's and using their height is creative and is strategic. here is what u can and cannot do
a) u can not get control of your wr on a deep route and zig zag to draw off the defender.
b) u cannot get control of your wr and go out of bounds and bring them back in
c) In certain situation your qb might get hit while throwing a deep pass, if the ball floats like that it is not against the rules to turn your digital man around in a jump ball situation and catch the ball. But that is the only situation.
Subject: Rules & Guidelines for SIM (offense