There seems to be some secret to advanced play-calling. I obviously don't know it and apparently I never will.

This is the 3rd consecutive year that I took a juggernaut USC team into the playoffs (in Warner), only to be completely schooled by better coaches. I've tried to learn what I'm doing wrong, I really have tried, but to no avail.

I have the 2nd best QB and two of the Top 15 receivers in all of Warner, yet somehow I cannot figure out how to get these WRs open. Once I get into the playoffs, my opponents are able to cover these two great receivers with linebackers. Linebackers!!!

If any of you are interested in taking over USC in Warner, it will be available. I am done with GD.

The roster is loaded and you will be primed for a championship run ... unless you are a "know-nothing" coach like me.

The QB will be the overall #1 QB in Warner next season. The overall #15 WR (this year's rank) will be back and he's "Sky's the Limit" ... he will be a Top 5 receiver next season. All of the running backs return next season. And only 4 players from the defense are departing, everyone else on D will be back next season.

Allow me some late-night venting here: I've coached against Armchair's teams, and I can definitely relate to what Coach is saying. For some time now, my sense has been that some coaches with software engineering or similar backgrounds are writing scripts or using AI tools to aid them in game planning, playbook building, etc. No rules against that as far as I know, but it does create a less-than-level playing field. I've also lost more than my share of valued recruits to SIM AI schools (a huge pet peeve of mine), and I'm over it. As I wrap up a very discouraging recruiting season, I'm thinking I may be among the next to leave the game. I know all of this will sound whiny to some, but the frustrations with the game are just outweighing the enjoyment of it.

Your loss to Texas wasn't X's & O's, it was Billy's and Joe's. Your roster is poorly constructed, I'm surprised it was that close.

For some time now, my sense has been that some coaches with software engineering or similar backgrounds are writing scripts or using AI tools to aid them in game planning, playbook building, etc. No rules against that as far as I know, but it does create a less-than-level playing field.

I am not sure how that playing field could be leveled. Maybe require standardized testing and deny the highest-performing candidates entry into GD.

A few years ago, I found out that a coach who was beating me consistently had a day job as an economics analyst for the European Union. He eventually got tired of beating everybody and moved on to more challenging activities.

Matt, you are one of the best coaches in GD and I am always genuinely eager to receive advice from you. What am I doing wrong with my roster construction?

According to the GUESS rankings, I had the best roster in all of Warner for the past few seasons. Though the GUESS rankings may be somewhat simplistic, I took my high standing as an indication that I was building a championship calibre roster.

If I am crippling my chances with faulty roster construction, please guide me on what I'm doing wrong so that I can fix it going forward.

Roster construction faults aside, my main gripe, and the basis for my original post, is that I cannot comprehend how a passing game featuring a top 2 QB throwing to two of the top 15 WRs can becompletely shut down, particularly by linebackers blanketing the WRs in coverage.

Also, I'm just venting out of frustration since this is the 3rd straight season in which I played the toughest schedule I could, including 4 great human opponents, and I took a perfect record into the playoffs only to lose early in the playoffs.

Posted by JimTake2 on 9/11/2026 3:28:00 AM (view original):
Allow me some late-night venting here: I've coached against Armchair's teams, and I can definitely relate to what Coach is saying. For some time now, my sense has been that some coaches with software engineering or similar backgrounds are writing scripts or using AI tools to aid them in game planning, playbook building, etc. No rules against that as far as I know, but it does create a less-than-level playing field. I've also lost more than my share of valued recruits to SIM AI schools (a huge pet peeve of mine), and I'm over it. As I wrap up a very discouraging recruiting season, I'm thinking I may be among the next to leave the game. I know all of this will sound whiny to some, but the frustrations with the game are just outweighing the enjoyment of it.

If you're losing recruits to SIM AI then you're doing it wrong. This is easy to make sure it doesn't happen.

My two pieces of nonsense, first "ArmChair" I know you're a great coach and beat the **** out of me many times. In my honest opinion, I don't think anyone is writing script for GD, and if they are, that's sad-LOL. I can think of a way better use of my time coding than writing mods to say I won :/. I really think it comes down to what the "value" the engineers placed on particular stats in their original algorithm. Does GI + Tech + FI / 3 = average better than the sum or average of the opposing def. player in coverage? This is a generic example, but again, I hear your frustration. You're way too good a coach to throw in the towel.

Thanks for the kind words. Just to clarify, I don't think other coaches are using AI to game plan. Or even if they are, I don't think that's why I'm struggling.

I think the reason I'm struggling in the playoffs is that the other coaches (1) are better coaches than I am, and (2) have figured out the ways to game the game engine.

I feel like there is a secret sauce to use to take advantage of quirks in the game engine. It seems like knowing that secret sauce is a huge factor, and I definitely don't know it.

ADDENDUM: Also flaws in my roster construction as Rice pointed out.

Still, it seems that knowing or not knowing the secret sauce ("cheat codes") is a decisive factor. I hesitate to liken it to "cheat codes" because that kinda implies that it's cheating ... it's definitely *NOT* cheating. It's just using knowledge that you've gained. But not having that knowledge leads to incredible frustration for coaches like me who think other coaches have some inside secret/cheat code/secret sauce that we don't have and that might be why we just can't get over the hump.

Armchair, I remember you started not too long after I did, and I enjoyed beating you in the beginning. Then with your analytical approach you started beating me and even offered me some pointers along the way. You're a class act! If you do decide to leave, you will be missed :(

Thanks, Transwarp

I'm just at a level of frustration, combined with the realization that I'm spending far too much time on GD, that I think I need to step away for a bit. But it's difficult to walk away because most of the time I really like the challenge ... and I have severe FOMO. Like, if I leave the job at USC, what could I have been accomplishing at USC if I didn't walk away?!?

Posted by Armchair on 9/11/2026 6:58:00 PM (view original):
Thanks, Transwarp

I'm just at a level of frustration, combined with the realization that I'm spending far too much time on GD, that I think I need to step away for a bit. But it's difficult to walk away because most of the time I really like the challenge ... and I have severe FOMO. Like, if I leave the job at USC, what could I have been accomplishing at USC if I didn't walk away?!?

At first glance I think I could win a national championship with your team. Let me throw it into my spreadsheet and see how it compares to what I consider a "NC winning team". I will post again in a few.

At first glance, you carry too many WR and TE. Not enough OL, LB, or DB.

Posted by Armchair on 9/11/2026 6:58:00 PM (view original):
Thanks, Transwarp

I'm just at a level of frustration, combined with the realization that I'm spending far too much time on GD, that I think I need to step away for a bit. But it's difficult to walk away because most of the time I really like the challenge ... and I have severe FOMO. Like, if I leave the job at USC, what could I have been accomplishing at USC if I didn't walk away?!?

If I absolutely aced every game planning for every game I could maybe make the national championship with this team. More likely I view it as a guaranteed 3rd round or a final 4 team.

DEF formation IQ: good enough
OFF formation IQ: a little lower than I would want

QB1 - good enough
RB1 - a little low
WR1 - I don't know, I don't use them
TE - I don't know, I don't use them
OL starters - athleticism low, technique low
DL starters - athleticism low, game instinct low, technique really low
LB starters - game instinct low
DB starters - athleticism low, game instinct low

Armchair, I feel your pain. If I do step away from GD, there are certainly things about it that I will miss. But, like you, I've lost my share of playoff games in which I've had a roster very comparable/competitive to my opponent's and gotten blown off the field. I've had instances where I've taken a very highly rated QB with a talented group of receivers and an All-America caliber RB and been shut down as if I had fielded an offense of unproven stiffs. Have I been out-coached in some of those games? Absolutely. But some of the results have defied logic, to the point where I'm convinced the other side has to know something I don't, or is using knowledge or technology that I either don't have or chose not to use. It could simply be that they have a more acute understanding of the engineering values and algorithms at play here. But I do believe "cheat codes" are a thing, and scripts and AI are being used, even at the DIII level.