I have decent TE I want to use in the passing game but I am not sure how to get him the ball more often.  Do I chance my passing game to be more conservative?   

This is  a question we have asked many times, and I for one do not know the answer. The engine seems to always look at the WR first, and that makes it hard to get Gronk the ball.

THere are guys on here that have done it, though, and hopefully they know how to tell you. I have been unable to figure it out.

By setting the aggressiveness for a play to Very/Conservative, you have a better chance of getting the ball to the TE.  However, the WR is always the first look so your TE may or may not an increased number of passes thrown his way. 

This inability of not being able to choose who the first look will be is one of the highest priority items Norbert will implement for the release due out later this year.

Personally, I've found that the best way to get my TE involved is to throw out of the ND Box. Have him listed first on the depth chart.

Posted by peanutjets on 2/3/2012 10:18:00 AM (view original):
Personally, I've found that the best way to get my TE involved is to throw out of the ND Box. Have him listed first on the depth chart.

I agree.  Also, as silly as it may sound, play your worst WR as WR1.  Then throw balanced out of ND Box.  Your TE1 will get more catches this way.  I am not saying it is a good strategy, just saying it will get him more looks.  (I try stupid things in blowouts!)

Ive tried throwing some out of the WB and just like above, the WR gets the first look.  I'd prefer the short passing game with my TE then my RBs gettting catches, but it does not appear to work that way.  It does get spread around, but the WR gets the most looks.

So, in short...I'm no help!!!  

I always assumed a conservative passing attack would give the TE and RB more looks?

I too have found that a Vconservative pass will get the TE more passes.

Posted by ibstrummin on 2/3/2012 10:22:00 PM (view original):
I too have found that a Vconservative pass will get the TE more passes.

Out of what formations?  And what kind of % of the passes go to the TE in those?  

Posted by partyrock on 2/3/2012 5:53:00 PM (view original):
I always assumed a conservative passing attack would give the TE and RB more looks?

In theory, yes. I'm not sure it actually works like that though. It may just have to do with how "deep" the routes are and the relationship of the probabilities to each other.

In other words, the VA setting might mean they throw to an area where the probabilities are less in the favor of the offense as compared to a VC setting. Does that make sense? I'm not sure it does, but that is the way I view it.

So basically, the receiver has no less looks in VA or VC, it's just in VA he will get thrown to more because the threshold for minimum probabilities is lowered. If he is the first look in both VC and VA, it will just depend on the defensive players around him.

Posted by caesari on 2/3/2012 11:24:00 PM (view original):

Posted by partyrock on 2/3/2012 5:53:00 PM (view original):
I always assumed a conservative passing attack would give the TE and RB more looks?

In theory, yes. I'm not sure it actually works like that though. It may just have to do with how "deep" the routes are and the relationship of the probabilities to each other.

In other words, the VA setting might mean they throw to an area where the probabilities are less in the favor of the offense as compared to a VC setting. Does that make sense? I'm not sure it does, but that is the way I view it.

So basically, the receiver has no less looks in VA or VC, it's just in VA he will get thrown to more because the threshold for minimum probabilities is lowered. If he is the first look in both VC and VA, it will just depend on the defensive players around him.

I believe that this is the way the engine works.  I can't tell for sure, but this appears to be the correct viewpoint.

Posted by harriswb3 on 2/3/2012 10:26:00 PM (view original):

Posted by ibstrummin on 2/3/2012 10:22:00 PM (view original):
I too have found that a Vconservative pass will get the TE more passes.

Out of what formations?  And what kind of % of the passes go to the TE in those?  

Didn't dig that much into it.  When in passing VC, my TE got more passes this season.  Maybe because he was the third highest rated player in Stagg 1AA.  Maybe my #1 and #2 were being covered better?

There was a whole lot of things this season, that made no sense; like my 8 OT game with a SIM who had 36 total yards at halftime. 

Nuff' said, turning the page.