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IV. Wide Receivers/Tight Ends - WR/TE
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Star: Go To Guy
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The star icon represents the best players in the NFL. These players have the
skills and attributes to fit into more than just one weapon category.
The Go To Guy is a receiver with the hands and speed to make him a threat
running any type of route. These players are the favorite targets of their QBs
and can beat the defense in a number of different ways. It most cases it takes
more than one defender to cover a Go To Guy and this can open up the field for
the rest of the team.
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Foot with Wing: Deep Threat
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The speed icon indicates that this player has exceptional speed for his
position.
The Deep Threat is a receiver who is able to get behind the defense and get
open using his speed. These are some of the fastest players in the NFL and
defenders are forced to play off of them out of respect for their uncanny
speed.
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Hand: Possession Receiver
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Possession Receivers are known for having reliable hands and making big catches
when their team needs them. They may not be blazing fast but precise route
running and the ability to shield defenders usually make them the favorite
target of their QB.
These players are best at running routes that are designed to trick the defense
or create passing lanes. Speed routes are not as effective for these players
since they lack the ideal speed to get behind the coverage.
Unfortunately there seems to be a little redundancy in the description of the Go-To Guy and the Possession Receiver, with both descriptions stating that they will be the favorite target of the QB. Other than that, what I gather from these descriptions is:
Go-To Guy:
*QB will target this receiver a greater proportion of the time than they would without this designation(?)
*AI defense will attempt to double/triple cover this receiver a greater proportion of the time? At least, that's what I'm gathering from the description
Deep Threat:
*Affects the AI defense's strategy to prevent against this receiver getting behind the coverage? How would this manifest itself in the game?
*Might influence how often the defense uses certain Man or Zone formations?
*Might influence what type of subpackages (Quarter, etc.) the AI uses?
*Might influence which DB is assigned to which receiver?
*Likely to affect average receiving yardage by this receiver(?)
Possession Receiver:
*QB will target this receiver a greater proportion of the time than they would without this designation(?)
*"Reliable" to me indicates that catching ability is important to the programming of this Role in some way
*Possible in-game adjustment made to Catching or Awareness of the receiver in certain situations by the AI?? Awareness in particular could lead to more precise route running
*The "Game Manager" QB role increases both Throwing Accuracy and Awareness on 3rd Down passing plays, is it possible that some kind of analogous attribute manipulation could be occurring with this role?
I wish that the descriptions were a little more concrete with how the programming is affected by these roles. Does anyone else have other interpretations for how these roles would affect both offense and defense decision-making by the AI? And based on that interpretation, can you provide a list of certain NFL players who you think would affect opponent's strategy the most in Madden 08? For example:
Go-To Guy (Influences both offensive? and defensive strategy in a specific way)
Deep Threat (Influences defensive strategy in a specific way)
DeSean Jackson
Julio Jones
Jordy Nelson
Mike Wallace
Possession Receiver (Influences offensive strategy in a specific way?)