I've been staring at the RB1/RB2 Slider for a while. From everything I've seen, it is worthless if we are talking about making the CPU use 2 backs in the game. The only methods I know that allow that to happen is create formations subs for each back, or use Sub Out/In so that the backs swap out when they are tired. Then I turned to the Sim Engine. From what I read, this slider determines the HB1/FB carries. It was certainly interesting. I started to look around for older Maddens, and on one slider setup, the writer recommended making the HB2 be the starting FB, and the FB be the FB2. I decided to test this and see if I could get realistic rushing totals using this method. Using the original 07 roster, I fired up a franchise. I decided to use the Dolphins for this test, since they had dynamic duo Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams. So, with Ronnie Brown as HB1 and Ricky Williams set up as HB2 and FB1, I simmed a season with the RB1/RB2 slider set at 70% RB1/30% RB2, followed by a season with the slider set at 50% RB1/50% RB2.
70/30:
- Ronnie Brown: 1079 yards on 281 carries.
- Ricky Williams: 504 yards on 135 carries.
The total for the Dolphins Running Backs is 1583 yards on 416 carries. Out of these, Ronnie Brown got 67.5% of the carries and 68.2% of the yards, whereas Ricky Williams got 32.5% of the carries and 31.8% of the yards.
50/50:
- Ronnie Brown: 1099 yards on 242 carries.
- Ricky Williams: 658 yards on 175 carries.
The total for the Dolphins Running Backs is 1757 yards on 417 carries. Out of these, Ronnie Brown got 58% of the carries and 62.5% of the yards, whereas Ricky Williams got 42% of the carries and 37.5% of the yards.
So, on the 70/30 test, we had both HB1 and HB2 faking as the FB1 taking a roughly 70/30 spread of the carries. On the 50/50 test, we had both of the backs getting more a 60/40 spread, but it got the idea accross. So, let's say you are running a franchise and want teams that aren't yours to have realistic rushing averages? Take control of that team or those teams, switch their FB1 on the depth chart for the HB2 (Or the guy you want to take the other carries), and set up the Coach Slider to the rough split you want. And whenever you are going to face that team on a live game, go to their depth chart and switch the real fullback back on his real position, remembering to revert the change after the game is done.
