Off-Season: Position Changes

Multiple players have mentioned they want to change a player's position leading up to the playoffs.  Position changes must be approved before a player can move.

There are two reasons:
A.) Changing a player's position dramatically lowers their Awareness, and thus drops their rating. Moving them back doubles the effect making the player undesirable for others if you decide to cut them when they don't work out.
B.) We have to follow the sim aspect of the game. So Chad Ochocinco will not be moving to RB like the old ESPN Madden show nonsense (can't believe I admit to watching that).

QB's and WR's will not be allowed to change positions in any capacity.  Everything else will be reviewed. If I approve it, you can make the move. If I deny it, ignoring my ruling will get you booted straight from the league.

Rough expectations of what might be allowed:
Incredibly slow RBs to FB.
FB to TE are likely interchangeable.
TE to FB likewise to be interchangeable.
OL to OL.
3-4 DE to DT if changing to a 4-3.
4-3 DE to OLB if changing to a 3-4.
4-3 DT to DE if changing to a 3-4.
3-4 OLB to DE if changing to a 4-3.
4-3 OLB to MLB if changing to a 3-4.
3-4 MLB to OLB if changing to a 4-3.
Aging CB to S if their speed has dropped dramatically.
S to CB.

Documented proof of the player's real life counterpart moving to a position will bode well. Even if they're a QB or WR.

And since it already came up:
Here's a basic generalization of a 4-3 vs 3-4 DE.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

UPDATE: This is what Madden allows. Not necessarily what we allow. It shows which ratings are hit by changing player positions.
QB can change to: HB, FB, WR, TE
-AWR will drop.

HB can change to: FB, WR, CB, FS, SS
-AWR will drop (around 10-15 points)

WR can change to: HB
-AWR will drop (around 10-15 points)
-CARRY will drop (10-15)

WR can change to: TE, QB
SPD, ACC, AWR will all drop by ~10 points

TE can change to: WR, FB
-AWR will drop ~10points

OLINE can change to different OLINE spot
-AWR drop (10-15) to change positions, but no drop if flipping from 1 side to the other (eg LT to RT)

DE can change to: DT, OLB
-AWR drop (10-20)
-BSH drop (10-20) if moving to DT

DT can change to: DE
-AWR drop (10-15)

OLB can change to: MLB, DE
-AWR drop (10-15)

MLB can change to: OLB
-AWR drop (10-15)

CB can change to: FS, SS, HB
-AWR, PRC drop (10-20)
-TAK drop (10-20) if moving to safety

FS/SS can swap or change to: CB
-AWR drop (10-15)

P can change to K with no change in ratings

K will become useless if changed to P (huge KPW drop)

My Position Change request is CB Charles Tillman to SS. His speed has dropped from 89 to 87, and while not a dramatic drop, he would only be my 3rd or 4th fastest safety at the moment.

The Bears have debated for the past few years whether he should move to safety as is. I'm biased, of course I would approve this deal, and plan to do so. But for transparency, I was sharing it to see if anyone had any objections.

If we are goi g real life, I cant think of one cb getting up in age that moves to SS. FS yes but SS? I would love an example

I am requesting my OLB Hali move to LE where he played ALL YEAR. He weighs 277 lbs with 91 str and high 70s speed. Chiefs have already spoke about this move since they have D.Ford as an OLB. Wouldnt mind getting a league vote if this is an issue

mission8 wrote:If we are goi g real life, I cant think of one cb getting up in age that moves to SS. FS yes but SS? I would love an example

I pictured Tillman in the role Charles Woodson had with the Packers. He started out at SS in GB before moving to FS with Oakland I believe.  In Big Nickel, he could still play the slot from time to time a la Woodson.

Antrel Rolle for the Giants was a CB who transitioned to SS as well.

mission8 wrote:I am requesting my OLB Hali move to LE where he played ALL YEAR. He weighs 277 lbs with 91 str and high 70s speed. Chiefs have already spoke about this move since they have D.Ford as an OLB. Wouldnt mind getting a league vote if this is an issue

As we were discussing a bit in the chat, Hali fits the 3-4 OLB or 4-3 DE mold. As you use a 3-4 defense, it wouldn't fit to kick him inside. As a great pass rusher, 3-4 defensive playbooks are built to allow the pass rush specialist OLBs to function as a pseudo DE in Nickel and Dime formations.

He shouldn't have been playing 3-4 DE all year as it is and I didn't see it until the playoffs. But you're not the only player in this situation. Illmatic's defensive depth chart needs defined as well. If he's going to be a 4-3 or 3-4 has to be decided. If a 3-4 base D, Clowney needs to be in his actual OLB spot where he won't be subbed in at DT in Nickel and Dime looks, and manually placed in at DE of 4-3 looks.  Ghost had a speedy OLB at 3-4 DE as well, that will need to be corrected.

Please provide me with an actual argument as to why Hali would fit in as a 3-4 DE in any 3-4 team's scheme? He wouldn't. And having depth is a blessing and a curse. But playing a player way out of position isn't the solution. Either accept the depth, or perhaps find a trade partner.

There are twelve players currently on AALoA teams with 3-4 rosters that are under 280 pounds. Why? Because 3-4 DE need to be big run stuffers to clog blocks and free up LBs.  Nine of those twelve players are designated as 4-3 DE players, and one Hybrid scheme player, and none of them are starting quality, they're roster fillers. You pointed out the Jets moving Coples to DE. I assume they're moving to a 4-3, but we won't know until the season starts. He's also a 290 pound mammoth that could realistically hold his own at DE in any scheme, and even DT in a 4-3.

Move Hali back to OLB where he belongs.


Since I did the work, here are all the 3-4 DE's on rosters at the moment:

Team	POS	Name	Weight	Notes		Team	POS	Name	Weight	Notes
Chargers	LE	C Geathers	340			Titans	LE	R Pitoitua	298
Colts	RE	A Jones	337			Titans	RE	M Martin	298
Browns	LE	P Tayler	335			Colts	LE	R Jean Francois	297
Redskins	LE	C Baker	333			Falcons	LE	T Jackson	296
Steelers	RE	C Thomas	330			Jets	RE	S Richardson	294
Saints	LE	A Hicks	324			Saints	LE	T Walker	294
Titans	LE	D Jones	322			Chiefs	LE	K Ramsey	293
Browns	LE	J Hughes	320			49ers	LE	R McDonald	290
Chargers	LE	L Guy	318			Jets	RE	Q Coples	290
Chiefs	LE	A Carriker	315			Texans	RE	J Watt	289
Jets	LE	M Wilkerson	315			Chiefs	LE	A Bailey	288
Redskins	RE	J Jenkins	315			Steelers	LE	C Heyward	288
Browns	LE	D Bryant	310			Texans	LE	K Browner	288	4-3 DE Scheme
Packers	RE	J Boyd	310			Cardinals	LE	E Stinson	287
Redskins	RE	F Kearse	310			Saints	RE	C Jordan	287	4-3 DE Scheme
Eagles	RE	C Thornton	309			Eagles	LE	B Bair	285
Steelers	LE	N Williams	309			49ers	RE	J Smith	285
Colts	RE	F Moala	308			Packers	LE	D Jones	285
Titans	LE	A Woods	307			Saints	RE	G Foster	285	4-3 DE Scheme
Chiefs	RE	M Devito	305			Texans	LE	J Crick	285
Falcons	RE	C Peters	305	4-3 DE Scheme		Eagles	RE	T Hart	281	4-3 DE Scheme
Titans	RE	J Casey	305			Eagles	RE	V Curry	279	4-3 DE Scheme
Packers	LE	K Thornton	304			Titans	RE	K Klug	278	4-3 DE Scheme
Steelers	LE	S Tuitt	303			Falcons	LE	M Goodman	276	4-3 DE Scheme
49ers	LE	T Jerod-Eddie	301			49ers	RE	D Dobbs	275
Browns	RE	B Winn	300			49ers	LE	T Carradine	273	4-3 DE Scheme
Cardinals	LE	C Campbell	300			Cardinals	LE	K Martin	272	4-3 DE Scheme
Chargers	LE	K Reyes	300			Saints	RE	R Johnson Jr	272
Chargers	RE	C Liuget	300			Jets	RE	M Catapano	270	4-3 DE Scheme
Eagles	LE	F Cox	300			Falcons	LE	C Matthews	268	4-3 DE Scheme
Packers	RE	M Daniels	300			Browns	RE	A Bryant	265	4-3 DE Scheme
Redskins	LE	J Hatcher	299			Jets	RE	J Cunningham	255	Hybrid Scheme
Chargers	RE	T Palepoi	298			Texans	RE	D Moch	255	4-3 DE Scheme
Chiefs	RE	B Arnfelt	298

Chiefs decide to move to a 4-3. We will need to make following changes-
3-4 OLBs T.Hali and D.Ford to DE
3-4 MLBs Z.Gooden and J.Mays to OLB
All my 3-4 DEs to DT

mission8 wrote:Chiefs decide to move to a 4-3. We will need to make following changes-
3-4 OLBs T.Hali and D.Ford to DE
3-4 MLBs Z.Gooden and J.Mays to OLB
All my 3-4 DEs to DT

I will approve the changes, as long as you are aware that you are sacrificing major attribute drops on the players by moving them. Hopefully this doesn't mess up how you scouted the draft, assuming you were looking for 3-4 players all season.

Make sure you decide whether Justin Houston or Dee Ford works best as a DE or OLB in your new 4-3 scheme.

Can the changes only be made now in the off-season before the draft? Depending on FA & Draft I may wanna make this change: 

Packers FS Micah Hyde --> CB

Plusch24 wrote:Can the changes only be made now in the off-season before the draft? Depending on FA & Draft I may wanna make this change: 

Packers FS Micah Hyde --> CB

I think position changes lock out once the Pre-Season begins, but I cannot promise anything on that front.

Hyde to CB would be ok.

FAIR WARNING ON POSITION CHANGES:
Moving Charles Tillman to SS caused his Play Recognition and Awareness to drop 20 points each.

Moving player positions shouldn't be done just because. It will have a major impact on the player's effectiveness.

I would like to move CB Champ Bailey to FS. Since he's getting older now and C-Wood has retired. He be perfect to replace that spot. Makes sense to me.

the_EDJ wrote:FAIR WARNING ON POSITION CHANGES:
Moving Charles Tillman to SS caused his Play Recognition and Awareness to drop 20 points each.

Moving player positions shouldn't be done just because. It will have a major impact on the player's effectiveness.

After seeing this, I will pass on moving my players. Hali took a big hit moving him back

xHaVoC83x wrote:I would like to move CB Champ Bailey to FS. Since he's getting older now and C-Wood has retired. He be perfect to replace that spot. Makes sense to me.

Approved.

Eagles request the movement of 6'3, 270 lbs. ROLB Trent Cole to 3-4 DE, playing RE opposite Cox. I believe he fits the mold and frees up space in my LB core to bring younger guys up. I think Cole still has the ability to be a successful pass rusher with 96 PMV and 85 BSH so I'd like to utilize that on the line.

FS Jimmie Ward to SS. Bethea is getting old, Reid is a beast, and I'm really happy with the way Ward played in Reid's absence in the postseason.

THE_GHOST_1NSIDE wrote:Eagles request the movement of 6'3, 270 lbs. ROLB Trent Cole to 3-4 DE, playing RE opposite Cox. I believe he fits the mold and frees up space in my LB core to bring younger guys up. I think Cole still has the ability to be a successful pass rusher with 96 PMV and 85 BSH so I'd like to utilize that on the line.

Denied. Refer to the table above that I posted last year with the Hali at DE stuff. There's no 3-4 DE that small. Cole is an effective pass rusher, that's why he's still a viable 3-4 OLB. But he's not intended to be a big inside presence.

SquirrelHunter wrote:FS Jimmie Ward to SS. Bethea is getting old, Reid is a beast, and I'm really happy with the way Ward played in Reid's absence in the postseason.

Approved with warning.
Position moves destroy Play Rec and Awareness in the secondary. Charles Tillman lost 20 points in both in his move.

the_EDJ wrote:Denied. Refer to the table above that I posted last year with the Hali at DE stuff. There's no 3-4 DE that small. Cole is an effective pass rusher, that's why he's still a viable 3-4 OLB. But he's not intended to be a big inside presence.

 
My bad, I mixed up the infographics for each one, reading the 4-3 vs. 3-4 above it. I was looking at one and thinking he would be a good fit, but it's 4-3. I see now below each one it specifically states it, and I feel like a turd haha. Now, for future reference, if I were running a 4-3, would he be a good fit for a position change then? It's not under consideration, though; just wondering.

THE_GHOST_1NSIDE wrote:

the_EDJ wrote:Denied. Refer to the table above that I posted last year with the Hali at DE stuff. There's no 3-4 DE that small. Cole is an effective pass rusher, that's why he's still a viable 3-4 OLB. But he's not intended to be a big inside presence.

 
My bad, I mixed up the infographics for each one, reading the 4-3 vs. 3-4 above it. I was looking at one and thinking he would be a good fit, but it's 4-3. I see now below each one it specifically states it, and I feel like a turd haha. Now, for future reference, if I were running a 4-3, would he be a good fit for a position change then? It's not under consideration, though; just wondering.

Technically, yes. A team with a 3-4 OLB moving to 4-3 would work with that OLB at DE. But the caution goes that moving players destroys their ratings.

Ghost also provided this link, which is a huge help for showing position changes. I put the details above in the first post. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

ROLB 72 OVR Action Bronson Dixon to LOLB

Plusch24 wrote:ROLB 72 OVR Action Bronson Dixon to LOLB

Approved.

DE Santario Harrison to LOLB
LOLB Faitele Kearse to ROLB