I suspect the latter is a bit of an outlier, boosted by the 56 yard TD run, it also had four plays where there was a tackle for loss.

With regards your first point, it's very subjective and doesn't take into account down and distance, the score, field position, and time on the clock. Yes, theoretically, run more and be more successful but, players will then scheme to stop the run, the yards dry up and you find yourselves in 3rd and long too often struggling to sustain drives. It's a balance and backs up my point that BETA adds a whole new depth over 4.5 where player personnel (and attributes) and gameplanning are more important.

Yes, we have had teams take the power run option and be very successful but not to the point that they can't be beaten.

Without the long run, the play is still averaging 6.87 per carry through 31 carries.

If game planning is so much more important, why are these beta-experienced owners committed to running two plays that obviously don't work — the HB Blast and GL HB Pitch Weak — 110 times in one week, for an average of 3.78 per carry. (Take away the long runs, and the average drops to 3.42.) I guess I'm no good at game planning, since I would be inclined to use the 18 plays that produce 4.5 yards per carry instead.

Who knows why people select particular plays. I'm not a big fan of HB Blast but have Leagues where it works well and others where it doesn't, generally I avoid it.

I wasn't criticising you or your gameplanning ability by the way - apologies if it came over that way. I suspect the majority have neither the time or the inclination to really study play selection, what works and why - and if it doesn't work, can I make it work (or at least improve it) with player attributes.

All this data is interesting but looking at plays and game data is dependent on many variables to include individual player weights, gameplanning, roster construction, etc etc..

I just look at team stats for full seasons to see where BETA is currently. From what I see in MFN-1, League of Legends and Victory Football (I will exclude the roster only league) is the following for each stat. I list the 16th ranked followed by the top ranked for each category. I added stats for a 4.5 league (USFL) and the real NFL.

PASSING YARDS PER GAME

MFN-1
2053.  148.6 (16th) 240.3 (1st)
2052.  138.5 (16th) 202.4 (1st)
2051.  154.2 (16th) 198.4 (1st)

LOL
2110.  161.9 (16th) 238.9 (1st)
2109.  160.4 (16th) 232.5 (1st)
2108.  162.3 (16th) 220.2 (1st)

VIC
1986.  159.4 (16th) 235.6 (1st)
1985.  169.3 (16th) 239.3 (1st)
1984.  157.4 (16th) 250.1 (1st)

USFL
1995. 240.2 (16th) 369.3 (1st)
1994. 219.3 (16th) 349.3 (1st)
1993. 235.4 (16th) 351.6 (1st)

NFL
2020.  243.0 (16th) 301.9 (1st)
2019.  235.0 (16th) 302.8 (1st)
2018.  239.8 (16th) 320.3 (1st)

SUMMARY

4.5 is in line for the average (16th) passing yards per game but 30-70 over for the top ranked teams.
BETA is 60-80 yards per game under the NFL average and between 50-100 under the top rankings.

RUSHING YARDS PER GAME

MFN-1
2053.  117.9 (16th) 202.9 (1st)
2052.  128.0 (16th) 200.3 (1st)
2051.  109.6 (16th) 185.3 (1st)

LOL
2110.  113.3 (16th) 225.1 (1st)
2109.  119.3 (16th) 218.6 (1st)
2108.  117.3 (16th) 231.6 (1st)

VIC
1986.  122.9 (16th) 194.5 (1st)
1985.  120.0 (16th) 179.0 (1st)
1984.  122.2 (16th) 188.9 (1st)

USFL
1995. 92.3 (16th) 146.2 (1st)
1994. 100.1 (16th) 133.7 (1st)
1993. 99.7 (16th) 138.7 (1st)

NFL
2020.  112.8 (16th) 192.1 (1st) 161.2 (2nd)
2019.  107.9 (16th) 204.8 (1st) 153.5 (2nd)
2018.  111.4 (16th) 154.9 (1st)

SUMMARY

4.5 is about 10-20 yards per game below the NFL average and 10-20 yards per game below the top ranked teams. I added the 2nd for the NFL because the top ranked rushing team for 2020 and 2019 are the Alltime record holders because of Lamar Jackson rushing for 1000 yards and thier unique offensive style of rushing.
BETA is about 10 yards over for average rushing and over 20-75 yards for the top rushing teams. Even if we use the Baltimore record setting rush numbers from 2019 and 2020, BETA is anywhere from 20 below to 20 over the top rushing teams.

SACKS

MFN-1
2053.  2.4 (16th) 4.1 (1st)
2052.  2.2 (16th) 4.4 (1st)
2051.  2.6 (16th) 4.6 (1st)

LOL
2110.  2.3 (16th) 3.9 (1st)
2109.  2.4 (16th) 3.9 (1st)
2108.  3.1 (16th) 5.4 (1st)

VIC
1986.  2.7 (16th) 4.6 (1st)
1985.  2.9 (16th) 4.9 (1st)
1984.  2.9 (16th) 4.9 (1st)

USFL
1995. 0.8 (16th) 1.6 (1st)
1994. 0.8 (16th) 2.5 (1st)
1993. 0.8 (16th) 2.2 (1st)

NFL
2020.  2.2 (16th) 3.3 (1st)
2019.  2.6 (16th) 3.4 (1st)
2018.  2.5 (16th) 3.2 (1st)

SUMMARY

4.5 is a full 2 sacks per game below the average and 1-2 sacks per game among the top ranked teams.
BETA is close to the NFL average but over by at least 1 sack per game among the top ranked teams. Consider that the 1984 Chicago Bears hold the record for sacks in a season with 72 or 4.5 per game, BETA's top ranked teams broke that record 5 of the 9 seasons I listed.

YARDS FROM SCRIMMAGE PER GAME

MFN-1
2053.  268.6 (16th) 375.0 (1st)
2052.  270.9 (16th) 390.5 (1st)
2051.  259.9 (16th) 378.7 (1st)

LOL
2110.  271.9 (16th) 417.0 (1st)
2109.  273.6 (16th) 418.7 (1st)
2108.  276.8 (16th) 431.0 (1st)

VIC
1986.  277.6 (16th) 408.5 (1st)
1985.  300.8 (16th) 358.9 (1st)
1984.  283.6 (16th) 359.0 (1st)

USFL
1995. 321.3 (16th) 482.8 (1st)
1994. 323.6 (16th) 467.7 (1st)
1993. 341.4 (16th) 458.1 (1st)

NFL
2020.  367.3 (16th) 414.7 (1st)
2019.  346.8 (16th) 431.5 (1st)
2018.  357.6 (16th) 418.5 (1st)

SUMMARY

4.5 is actually 20-40 yards under the NFL average per game while 30-60 yards above the top ranked teams.
BETA is 50-100 yards under the NFL average and anywhere from 0-80 yards under the top ranked teams.

CONCLUSION

4.5 is close on average for passing but slightly under on average for rushing and total yards while sacks are way down. If JDB can tweak sacks in 4.5 so defenses can get at least 1 more a game, this should lessen passing and maybe force more rushing. On average, 4.5 is close to the NFL but the top owners are getting way more out of the passing game.

BETA is way under in passing with sacks at a record level but rushing is thru the roof with record setting totals. If he gears back the pass rush, limits the rushing numbers and opens up passing some...we would be close.

Good stuff CJ, Out of interest did you run the comparisons for the 4.5 Leagues you iniatiated with the side rules regarding weight and roster limits in specific positions?

If that is producing numbers more in line with the 'ideal' then that's something that JDB should be aware of.

GM LEAGUE (4.5 WITH STRICT RULES

PASSING YARDS PER GAME

GM LEAGUE
2024.  213.9 (16th) 345.2 (1st)
2023.  220.0 (16th) 338.2 (1st)
2022.  228.4 (16th) 327.2 (1st)

RUSHING YARDS PER GAME

GM LEAGUE
2024.  106.7 (16th) 155.4 (1st)
2023.  99.8 (16th) 159.3 (1st)
2022.  84.9 (16th) 138.1 (1st)

SACKS PER GAME

GM LEAGUE
2024.  0.8 (16th) 1.9 (1st)
2023.  0.8 (16th) 1.6 (1st)
2022.  0.8 (16th) 1.6 (1st)

SCRIMMAGE YARDS PER GAME

GM LEAGUE
2024.  333.6 (16th) 500.6 (1st)
2023.  321.1 (16th) 497.4 (1st)
2022.  304.3 (16th) 452.3 (1st)


With strict rules to close common exploits, passing is down slightly and closer to NFL production.

Rushing is really close to NFL numbers but slightly lower.

Sacks are even lower than standard 4.5 leagues and needs to be fixed.

Total offense is down from standard 4.5 which already was down from the NFL on average but the top numbers are even better than standard 4.5 which was already ahead of the NFL.

If he can somehow incorporate weight restrictions and increase the sack numbers in 4.5....he might have a better version to jump too. How he does this....I haven't a clue!!!

My idea is another position needs to be created.

A defensive end is typically 270ish...seals the edge on the run and gets some pass rush. Picture Derek Wolf.

A pass rusher or edge rusher position needs to be created...typically 250 pounds with 40 times in the 4.4 to 4.5.

They would have higher speed and acceleration but tend to be softer against the run in general. Picture the Bosas or TJ Watt.

Teams would have to mix and match DE and pass rushers and if you get 2 elite pass rushers on a team....the run game becomes more important.

Right now in 4.5....nobody fears the pass rush unless you throw long every down!!!

It would be nice if size/ST mattered so there was some value in playing heavier guys inside (and a punishment for playing lighter players inside).

I don't care what we call the positions — just don't make them one-size-fits-all, where every player must weight the exact same. An easy fix: Let them stay the same weight as when they are drafted. A preferred fix: Allow owners to set an ideal weight for each player on the roster.

This why I played LBs at DE. The problem is that the game mechanics for acceleration are broken. A 237# player will always out accelerate any heavier player regardless of AC score.

Last season in GM2 I had the number one scoring defense in the regular season at 158 points allowed and I didn't run a blitz the entire season. Sacks/blitzes need to be tuned up a little in 4.5.

I also don't like that only a few plays are really viable and/or a few plays are SO viable people just run them non stop. I admit in some leagues I do the same but it's the only way to stay competitive with an average roster. Maybe the new UI/interface will have a different way of setting the roster to force players into roles, as we do with the "siderules" in our leagues. Also injuries should be more realistic, tied to weight on a given play... also season/career ending at times.