Another one of my findings is the CPU PlayCalling. Specifically, the constant use of long range throws, like 40+ yards everynow and then. I know this happens in the NFL as well (Todd Haley on 3rd and 4th and inches, deep posts coupled with screen passes, has been a particularly big offender. They worked as much as they failed.) but I've seen that every team that is a "West Coast" team does this at least once a game. Last time, I CPU vs. CPU'd a game Packers vs. Falcons. The very first play of the Falcons was a deep pass, and they threw it deep about twice per quarter after that in a losing effort. I decided to check the Coach Offensive and Defensive Philosophies to see what I could discover.
Dan Quinn, Falcons HC.
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Defense Tendencies:
50/50% Pass/Run Defense Ratio.
50 Defensive Aggression.
60/40% Pass/Run Offense Ratio.
53 Offensive Aggression.
This would make him a "West Coast, Shut Down Runs" coach. (I know that in game it would say "West Coast, Contain Passing" but I think EA Sports was going to hook up the Defense Pass/Run Ratio and Defense Aggression to the Defensive Philosophies seen on the menu, but, EA being EA, they didn't, or made it wrong and hooked up both offensive and defensive philosophies to Offensive Pass Ratio and aggression)
Mike McCarthy, Packers HC.
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Defense Tendencies:
50/50% Pass/Run Defense Ratio.
50 Defensive Aggression.
57/43% Pass/Run Offense Ratio.
53 Offensive Aggression.
This would also make him a "West Coast, Shut Down Runs" coach, which the Packers did in that game.
I though that I started to see a pattern emerge, but I needed more coaches to compare:
Mike Mularkey, Titans HC.
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Defense Tendencies:
50/50% Pass/Run Defense Ratio.
50 Defensive Aggression.
61/39% Pass/Run Offense Ratio.
53 Offensive Aggression.
This would make him a "West Coast, Shut Down Runs" coach.
Mike Zimmer, Vikings HC.
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Defense Tendencies:
51/49% Pass/Run Defense Ratio.
50 Defensive Aggression.
49/51% Pass/Run Offense Ratio.
53 Offensive Aggression.
This would make him a "Ball Control, Disrupt Passing" coach.
Bill Belichick, Patriots HC.
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Defense Tendencies:
51/49% Pass/Run Defense Ratio.
50 Defensive Aggression.
62/38% Pass/Run Offense Ratio.
53 Offensive Aggression.
This would also make him a "West Coast, Disrupt Passing" coach.
Jason Garrett, Cowboys HC.
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Defense Tendencies:
51/49% Pass/Run Defense Ratio.
50 Defensive Aggression.
52/48% Pass/Run Offense Ratio.
53 Offensive Aggression.
This would also make him a "West Coast, Disrupt Passing" coach.
Mike Tomlin, Steleers HC.
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Defense Tendencies:
50/50% Pass/Run Defense Ratio.
50 Defensive Aggression.
62/38% Pass/Run Offense Ratio.
62 Offensive Aggression.
This would also make him a "West Coast, Shut Down Runs" coach.
Notice the consistency?
All of these coaches have 50 in defensive Aggression and 53 in Offensive Aggression (Well, Mike Tomlin is the only exception here with a freaking 62).
What I wonder is, why all of these guys (Except Tomiln) have exactly 53 Offensive Aggression and exactly 50 Defensive Aggression. When I opened a vanilla franchise, I saw O and D Aggressiveness all over the scale. In vanilla, unmodded Madden 08 you have:
Falcons HC
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48 Defensive Aggression
51 Offensive Aggression
Packers HC.
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49 Defensive Aggression
49 Offensive Aggression
Titans HC.
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48 Defensive Aggression
50 Offensive Aggression
Vikings HC.
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47 Defensive Aggression
53 Offensive Aggression
Patriots HC.
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54 Defensive Aggression
51 Offensive Aggression
Cowboys HC.
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52 Defensive Aggression
53 Offensive Aggression
Steleers HC.
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46 Defensive Aggression
49 Offensive Aggression
So, why the consistent exact same setting when it comes to Aggressiveness?