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Main - General MFN Discussion

Is anything going to be done about TE production?

By lellow2011
12/13/2016 11:07 am
The receiving production for TEs in this game is downright pathetic... Why is it that QBs refuse to throw the ball to TEs? Are they just not considered one of the primary targets on basically any play?

Case in point: Atlanta in MFN15 https://mfn15.myfootballnow.com/team/view/29
701 Pass Attempts / 403 Pass Completions for 6,898 yards

How much of that went to TEs you ask?

82/93 Default Rating TE - 30 Catches / 390 Yards
56/56 Default Rating TE - 15 Catches / 256 Yards
53/53 Default Rating TE - 3 Catches / 78 yards
Which totals up to 48 Catches / 724 Yards

So 11.91% of my teams completions went to TEs when I have an Elite TE,

As it stands now there is 0 point in putting any resources into the TE position because the QB simply refuses to throw them the ball...

Re: Is anything going to be done about TE production?

By mardn72
12/13/2016 12:59 pm
If think it depends on sets used/plays called. Both my teams make what I consider decent use of the TEs:

MFN-15: 295/525, 4,303 yards
TE: 35 catches, 413 yards

MFN-66: 144/274, 2535 yards
TE: 25 catches, 352 yards

They are not putting up the same numbers as my top WRs, but I wouldn't expect them too. Other than the occasional freak in the NFL, TEs don't do that IRL either.

I know your WRs in 15 are also studs, so it's not like your QB is passing up for TE for bad WRs.

Re: Is anything going to be done about TE production?

By lellow2011
12/13/2016 1:10 pm
mardn72 wrote:
If think it depends on sets used/plays called. Both my teams make what I consider decent use of the TEs:

MFN-15: 295/525, 4,303 yards
TE: 35 catches, 413 yards

MFN-66: 144/274, 2535 yards
TE: 25 catches, 352 yards

They are not putting up the same numbers as my top WRs, but I wouldn't expect them too. Other than the occasional freak in the NFL, TEs don't do that IRL either.

I know your WRs in 15 are also studs, so it's not like your QB is passing up for TE for bad WRs.


For over 4k yards passing only having 35 catches and 400 yards is pretty poor for a decent TE.

The leading TE in MFN15 had 600 yards receiving, in the NFL you usually get at least 2-3 TEs that break 1k receiving yards. My point is that elite TEs should do SOMETHING.
Last edited at 12/13/2016 1:11 pm

Re: Is anything going to be done about TE production?

By Brrexkl
12/13/2016 3:19 pm
Trust me, I felt the exact same way. I built my Offense in MFN-7 Denver my first Season around Leon Arana, a TE I took #7 Overall. Ended up moving both Leon and Phillip Sergio from TE to RB and giving up on it there.

But in MFN-73... it's a different story. My TE1 is James Shepard, and he finished this Season with 79 Receptions for 1,019 Yards Receiving and 3 TD at 12.9 YPR. He finished #3 on my Team.

My TE2 is Steven Chaplin, and he accounted for 63 Receptions for 999 Yards and 7 TD at 15.9 YPC. He was 4th on my Team.

My TE3 was Hipolito Figueroa, and he finished with 23 Receptions for 297 Yards and 1 TD at 12.9 YPC. He finished 6th on my Team.

My 3 TEs accounted for 165 Receptions and 2,047 Receiving Yards and 11 TDs at 12.4 YPR out of the Total 492 Receptions (34%) and 6,442 Yards (32%) and 36 TD (33%)... which includes 6 WRs and 2 Backs. I had 2 TE in my Top 4 in Production, and my '2nd Tier' of Production (Sub 50 Receptions, Sub 500 Yards) was lead by my TE3 (over 3 WRs and 2 RBs).

Of the 11 Targets I had, my #3, #4 and #6 were TEs.

Now, I still can't 'target' them to create a 2 TE Offense like New England, but at least I can get them the **** ball now. LMAO!

Re: Is anything going to be done about TE production?

By Brrexkl
12/13/2016 3:25 pm
MFN-73 again, Carolina has a rather unique TE. He's the #1 Receiving Yards TE despite only having 46 Receptions. He's 17th in MFN-73 with 1,219 Receiving Yards... and 13 TD for a 26.5 YPR.

Not sure what he's doing to make it happen, but he's turned his TE into a Bomb Catching Machine.

My TE, Jamie Shepard is T-18th in Receptions... with another one of my WR and behind my Top WR (who lead MFN-73 in Receptions).

So it's not just my guys showing up on the 'front page' of the Receiving Stats as a TE.

Re: Is anything going to be done about TE production?

By setherick
12/13/2016 7:05 pm
I didn't have any problem coming up with a game plan for a TE in this league: https://cust17.myfootballnow.com/team/view/2

TE1 - 141 - 1376 - 11
TE2 - 71 - 683 - 10
TE3 - 25 - 119 - 0

Through 8 games, my TE1 actually had 90 catches, but then I tweaked the game plan.

I achieved this through targeted passing plays AND special position overrides. My TE2 played the slot in the 113 because he was my best third receiving option anyway. He also dropped to the FB position in the 203 split backs with my TE1 flexing to the slot. Finally, my TE2 dropped to the FB2 in the 311 sets.

I actually took a lot of what I learned in this experiment and applied it to my other game plans, and now I'm getting good TE production across leagues.

---

In 19, McGraw has 46 catches through 11 games and he's slow, but serviceable: https://mfn19.myfootballnow.com/team/view/10

Scott Smith who is my TE2 / utility player has 25 catches.

I move my WR1 around a lot in that league so he ends up being targeted the most.

I have other examples if you want them.
Last edited at 12/13/2016 7:11 pm

Re: Is anything going to be done about TE production?

By Brrexkl
12/14/2016 2:12 am
Yep, I have TEs in the WR3, WR4 and even WR5 Slots when they are better than my actual WRs.

But it's hard to get them to produce at the actual TE Position. That's what I was trying in MFN-7 with Cleveland... a 2 TE Offense that focused on hitting actual TEs that were actually playing TE. :D

Oh well, this way is working pretty well.

Re: Is anything going to be done about TE production?

By setherick
12/14/2016 6:56 am
Brrexkl wrote:
Yep, I have TEs in the WR3, WR4 and even WR5 Slots when they are better than my actual WRs.

But it's hard to get them to produce at the actual TE Position. That's what I was trying in MFN-7 with Cleveland... a 2 TE Offense that focused on hitting actual TEs that were actually playing TE. :D

Oh well, this way is working pretty well.


I don't have problems getting production out of them at the TE position. I don't usually flex them out. Just in the one league I have two great TEs, so I might as well get them on the field. Most of my TEs have been catching 60-90 ***** in a season from the TE spot.

Re: Is anything going to be done about TE production?

By Acecody
12/20/2016 5:07 pm
What is the progression order of the QBs?

Is it all WR, then TE, then RB?

Trying to figure out this whole TE thing.

Re: Is anything going to be done about TE production?

By setherick
12/20/2016 5:10 pm
Acecody wrote:
What is the progression order of the QBs?

Is it all WR, then TE, then RB?

Trying to figure out this whole TE thing.


It depends on the play call. The route distance and routes run determine which WRs get targeted first.