Below is a Copy/Paste from a Thread I started on MFN-7... but I open this question to all, especially those who have been with MFN since the Start.

I mark a clear break in the change of pace for Sacks in my League (I was wondering what the Rookie Sack Record was, so I researched). Below were my findings, which lead to something very interesting being observed that I wasn't actually looking for, but it was so glaring that I couldn't ignore it.

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Actually, this was WAY easier to figure out than I thought... and it brought to my attention something I wasn't aware of.

I had ASSUMED Big Sack Numbers were ALWAYS part of MFN... turns out, no so much.

Here is the List of "Top 5 Sack Leaders" in every MFN-7 Season. The Names listed are Rookies. With the possible exception of 2014, in which I 'assumed' ages 21-22 as Rookies, though obviously 22 COULD be a 2nd Year Player (guys come into a First Draft with 'experience'). The Year is followed by the Number of Sacks for the Top 5, then a list of either "No Rookie" or the Names of the Rookies in that section are listed. Of Note, we had a SS finish 2nd in Sacks one Season. :D

2022: (37, 34, 31, 29, 29)
No Rookies.

2021: (41, 37, 34, 29, 25)
No Rookies

2020:
No Rookies (39, 39, 33, 29, 27)

2019:
No Rookies (42, 38, 35, 33, 32)

2018: (19, 18, 18, 16, 15)
1st William Larochelle
5th Robert Douglas

2017: (16, 15, 15, 14, 14)
1. Philip Newcomb

2016: (15, 14, 13, 13, 12, 12, 12)
2. Christopher Dillard

2015: (17, 17, 16, 16, 15, 15)
1. Joseph Whitaker

2014: (20, 18, 17, 14, 14, 14, 14)
2. Kenneth Guerrero (22 Years Old)
4. Cory Eakes (21 Years Old)

So what we see is a few things. Our Single Season Sack Record is 42, Set in 2019.
Our Rookie Single Season Sack Record is 19, Set in 2018 by William Larochelle.

The 'Era of the Sack' began in 2019 with an EXPLOSION of Sacks in the Top 5. In 2018 the Top 5 managed 86 Sacks, while in 2019 the Top 5 brought 180 Sacks. Also the 5th Place Finish for 2019 was 32 Sacks... 13 more than the 1st Place Finish in 2018.

Which leads me to ask... what the **** happened after 2018?

Until that Point, Sacks were largely realistic. 20 had only been hit once... in the first Season where numbers can be expected to be skewed... and were largely in line with actual 16 Game Seasons.

Now... Sacks are on Arcade Levels.

So... what happened?

This does mean the Phillip Bolden is on course to be the Rookie Single Season Sack Record Holder as he is 1 Sack away... and means that the Sack Record of 42 set in 2019 is at risk of falling (to multiple people) in our year of the Lord, 2023.

Any vets around that can explain what happened?

Different league, but this guy had 50 sacks as a rookie https://fakepigskin.myfootballnow.com/player/6109
and he only played in 12 games

How many Seasons into the League was that? Because something shifted... drastically... over a One Year Break in MFN-7.

Awesome, though! 50 Sacks and as a Rookie! My guy (and the guy I'm tied with, who is not a Rookie) are on Pace for the MFN-7 Record (42) with 48. If one of us has a big game after keeping pace, we might catch your 50!

Probably was the switch to the 0.3.3 game engine that year.

"Now... Sacks are on Arcade Levels."

Same as punt return for TD's have been. Brings up a good question... "Do you want arcade level results & stats, or more of a simulation?".

I personally don't care about the stats because I don't compare them to the NFL. I treat MFN as it's own game world with it's own rules. I enjoy the game not because of the stats but because of the authenticity of the roster building, management, and game planning experience, as well as the mostly well-designed game engine. The competition is also fun and exciting.

Stats are fun because they allow you to compare your players against others. Absolute conformity to the real world isn't required.

Didnt say "absolute conformity", only "simulation". Basically a matter of preference, and to what degree you would like the game to simulate the NFL, which for all intents and purposes is the only real pro football league. 32 teams, the US cities used for the game are the same other than custom league, on and on.

I feel if I build my defense around have a strong core of pass rushers I should be getting sacks, also against the better competition in this game your pass defense is typically going to get torched if you can't get to the QB.

There are many effects around that engine. I think both were unintended because the was i see the main contributer was caps on speed. I noticed a balance of speed at all postions but around that time QBs DTs and OLine got slower in general. For sacks there was acombo plate of fast DEs sacking QBs who dont run.

Speed did the same to PRs. The gunners only play on the outside for punt team. The ST blockers fill out the inside. Pre slow oline men did a decent job covering punts, but with 17 speed guys in there a lane the size of the mississippi opened up. Coincidently, the numbers did also.

A fix is in for both so...