OFFENSE

Attitude: Balanced/Aggressive/Conservative

This is fairly straightforward. Aggressive means that your offense will take more risks and try for more big high-risk-high reward plays. They might go for it on 4th down more often, and take shots downfield. Conservative is an offense that wont take many risks. They'll throw short passes with a higher percentage chance of completion, rarely go for it, etc. Balanced is obviously a mix of both.

Focus: Run/Pass/Balanced

This is basically the same thing as the run/pass mix. Do you want your offense to be more pass focused (good for a team with strong QB and WRs) or run focused (good for a team with a strong OL and RBs). Balanced is right down the middle.

Tempo: Very Slow, Slow, Normal, Fast, Very Fast

This is the same as the old one. Just pick how fast your offense will run plays (ie Very Fast means they run to the line and snap the ball right away without huddling, Very Slow means they'll use the entire playclock before snapping)

Passing: Short/Medium/Long/Balanced

This is the focus of your passing game. Do you want your team to keep the passes short, medium or long? Short passes (under 10 yards) are safer and easier to complete. But it's harder and takes longer to move the ball downfield. Deep passes (20+ yards) result in more big plays, but also are much harder to complete and are riskier. Medium (10-20 yards) is right in the middle of those two and relies a lot on tight ends running seam routes, etc. Balanced is just taking whatever the defense gives you.

I will clarify this in that if you choose Long, for example, it doesn't mean that your offense will attempt ONLY long passes. It just means that more plays will be called where the number one option is a deep pass. Your QB will still throw deep if you choose Short, it just won't be their biggest focus.

Pass To: Balanced/Outside/Tight Ends/Runningbacks/Over the Middle

Balanced: Plays will be called that ask the QB to pass the ball to whoever is open without any preconceived idea on what to look for first. Will spread the ball around. Good for teams with good players all over.

Outside: More plays will be called that ask the QB to pass the ball to the WR's. This is good for teams with a good QB and at least two good receivers who have either speed or size.

Tight Ends: More plays will be called that ask the QB to pass the ball to the TE's. This is good for teams with a good QB and more than one tight end who they expect to contribute in the passing game.

Runningbacks: More plays will be called with passes to the RBs out of the backfield. This is good for teams with more than one good RB who are fast and can catch the football.

Over the Middle: This is good for teams playing a spread or shotgun offense where they have a slot receiver on the field as well as a tight ends. The QB will make more throws over the middle that focus on exploiting linebackers in coverage.

Primary Receiver:

This only needs to be filled out if you want your QB to have a primary target, like a security blanket. A player they look to when they need a catch. Think Julian Edelman for Tom Brady, Julio Jones for Matt Ryan, etc. If you choose nobody your QB won't look for anyone in particular on plays, just whoever is open.

Running Focus: Inside/Outside/Power/From 3 WR sets/Draws/Balanced

Inside: Run plays will be more focused on attacking the interior offensive line. Most of the run plays will go up the middle, like a dive. This is good for teams with a strong interior offensive line (good guards and center) and a strong, powerful runningback.

Outside: Run plays will focus on attacking the outside edge of their offensive line. Most of the runs will be sweeps or off tackle runs. This is good for teams with good tackles/tight ends and a fast runningback.

Power: Run plays will run the power scheme, which often involves a fullback lead and a pulling offensive lineman. This is good for run-heavy teams who have a good offensive line, strong blocking tight ends and want to use their fullback a lot.

From 3 WR sets: Run plays will take place with three receivers on the field. This is mostly good for teams running out of the spread or shotgun offense. It spreads the defense around and forces them to have more defensive backs on the field, which in theory makes it easier to run. But you need a good offensive line as often times those 5 will be the only blockers.

Draws: This is good for teams who rarely want to run. And when they do run, they want it to surprise the defense. Offensive line will pass block so you need a good runningback. You also need to be a pass-heavy offense so that the defense is expecting a pass almost every play or else this will not work.

Runningbacks: Running/Blocking/Passing/Mixed

Running: Means your offense uses the RBs mostly as runners, dont throw them a lot of passes and don't keep them in to block often. On obvious passing plays, they generally will sub out for a receiver

Blocking: Means your offense will keep your RBs on the field in obvious passing situations, but will mostly ask them to stay home and block, like an extra offensive lineman. Wont get a lot of catches. This is good for teams who might not have a strong offensive line so it adds extra protection.

Passing: Means your offense will keep your RBs on the field in obvious passing situations, and will send them out on pass routes. This is good for teams with good RBs who can catch, as well as teams with a good OL, as there will be a lot of just five man protections (only 5 linemen blocking)

Mixed: Just the default, they might block, they might run pass routes, they might not play on passing situations.

Backfield: Committee/Bellcow

Committee: Will distribute carries between 2 or 3 RBs. Generally I've found that the top two backs get roughly 12-14 carries each, with the 3rd getting 5ish. This is good for teams with more than one good RB.

Bellcow: The top RB on the depth chart will get almost all of the carries. Usually around 20-25 per game. This is good for teams with one very strong RB who want to rely on them only.

Tight Ends: Blocking/Catching/Mixed

Blocking: Your tight ends will stay in to block more often than not. This is good for teams that have bigger tight ends who might not be as good at catching. Also good for teams with weaker offensive lines as it adds extra protection.

Catching: Your tight ends will run pass routes more often than not. This is good for teams that have tight ends that they want to get involved in the passing game.

Mixed: A mix of both.


DEFENSE

Attitude: Aggressive/Conservative/Balanced

Aggressive means your defense will take more chances. They'll blitz more, players will try to jump routes and make interceptions. But this also leaves your defense open to more big plays. Conservative means the opposite, very little blitzing and defense keeping everything in front of them. They will allow less big plays but also not make as many big splash ones (like sacks and interceptions). Balanced is right in the middle.

Focus: Run/Pass/Balanced

Run: Your defense will focus primarily on stopping the run. This means that your corners will be playing lots of one-on-one coverage and leaves your defense more open to passing plays.

Pass: Your defense will focus primarily on stopping the pass. This means that teams will be able to run the ball more effectively on you.

Balanced: Your defense will not focus on either thing more than the other.

Primary Coverage: Zone/Man/Mixed

Zone: Your defense will play mostly zone defense. That means rather than picking one player to cover, each defender will be responsible for an area of the field. This is good for teams with good, smart players at corner and safety and linebacker as it's harder to understand than man. You need to have good safeties to run zone. The downside is that zone defense is easier for a really good QB to beat.

Man: Your defense will play mostly man defense. That means each defender will be responsible for covering one player on offense. This is good for teams with really good corners as they will often be asked to cover the receivers without any help. The advantage is that you can play more aggressively and blitz more players since you're not trying to cover a bunch of areas on the field. The downside is that if a good receiver can beat the defender covering them, then they will be able to dominate as the quarterback will throw to them frequently.

Mixed: A mix of both, keeps offenses off guard.

Defensive Line: Pass Rush/Run Support/Mixed

Pass Rush: Your defensive line will be more focused on rushing the passer than defending the run. This will lead to more sacks and pressure on the QB but will also lead to easier running plays for the offense. Your team needs strong linebackers in order to make up for that in the run game.

Run Support: Your defensive line will be more focused on defending the run than rushing the QB. This means teams will have less success running the football, but will likely have an easier time throwing. Your team needs good corners and safeties as opposing QBs will have more time to throw and your defense will be asked to cover for longer.

Mixed: No focus on either specifically.

Linebackers: Run Support/Coverage/Mixed

Run Support: Your linebackers will be more focused on stopping the run. This is good if you have good corners and safeties since your linebackers will not be covering as much. Downside is that it will lead to tight ends and runningbacks having more success against you in the passing game.

Coverage: Your linebackers will focus more on covering than stopping the run. This is good if you have a strong defensive line that can slow the run on their own. Downside is that teams should have more success running the ball on your defense.

Mixed: No focus on either specifically

Player Radio:

Choose which player you want to have the radio in their helmet, which is used for the coach to call plays. Only a LB, FS or SS can have the radio. You want your best and smartest player to have the radio, as they will be responsible for calling plays. (I have no idea if this actually has any effect on the game, so I believe choosing any Player Character would be fine as they're all rated good).

Match CBs to WRs:

This is a yes or no question. This is basically the age old NFL debate on whether a number one corner should follow a receiver around the field. If you say yes to this, then your number one corner will follow the opponent's number one receiver no matter where they line up. If you choose no, then your number one corner, usually the LCB, will stay on the left side all game. For those familiar with the NFL, think Darrelle Revis for yes (always covering #1 WR) and Richard Sherman for no (stays at LCB almost all game)


So as an example, this is a possible strategy:

Offense

Attitude: Aggressive
Focus: Pass
Tempo: Very Fast
Passing: Balanced
Pass To: Balanced
Primary Receiver: N/A
Running Focus: Outside
Running Backs: Passing
Backfield: Committee
Tight Ends: Receiving

Defense

Attitude: Aggressive
Focus: Balanced
Primary Coverage: Man
Defensive Line: Pass Rush
Linebackers: Run Support
Player Radio: Keagan Davis-Brown
Match CBs to WRs: Yes