**NFL Head Coach 09 Developer Q&A Thread**

[Josh_Looman]

Quote: Originally Posted by DLaren

Josh, I'm extremely pleased that you're taking a moment to speak with members of this forum, thank you. My question is related to QB play. My biggest issue with the original HeadCoach was that it felt like the QB that I was coaching never really followed the progressions that I had setup for him (that may have been because my QB was Aaron Brooks though ), which made me feel like I had very little control over his decision making process. It was frustrating for me to tell my QB to look for the quick-out first, only to have him immediately focusing downfield once the ball was snapped; even though his first read was open in the flats. Can I look forward to my QB being more responsive to the progressions that I setup for him? Thanks.

The great thing about this game is that we let you set the progressions for any play using the in-game play creator. You can set the primary receiver, secondary, on down the line.

[Josh_Looman]

Quote: Originally Posted by JRod

Does the AI coaches change their playbook around to suit their team? Meaning one of the biggest problems I see with HC right now is how the CPU will address losing talent and draft picks. Let's take Denver right now, year's ago they were a rushing team with a west coast offense. Their run support has dried up but they have aerial weapons like Marshall and Stokely. So here's the question, does the CPU add or take away plays to fit its team. Or are the CPU coach's playbook the same every year regardless of the talent or strengths and weaknesses of the team. How dynamic is the CPU coach's playbook? And does the CPU design it's own plays.

Yes. Each coach has his own unique playbook and philosophies that match that style of play. If a college coach who runs the option comes into the NFL, he's going to want a fast QB to run his offense.

The other cool thing is that when a coach leaves a team for a new job (which ambitious personality type coaches will do), he will take a piece of his old team's playbook with him and he spreads that around the league.

And...CPU teams will download plays that the community creates and use those in their playbooks against you. The first time I saw that in-game was a great feeling. It's almost like a Spore like feature in a sports game.

And...at the end of every game, as long as you have good coordinators, you will be able to steal plays from their playbook that they successfully ran against you. That way you can grab some of the cool plays other teams are running with.

[Scott]

Quote: Originally Posted by Josh_Looman

Yes. Each coach has his own unique playbook and philosophies that match that style of play. If a college coach who runs the option comes into the NFL, he's going to want a fast QB to run his offense. The other cool thing is that when a coach leaves a team for a new job (which ambitious personality type coaches will do), he will take a piece of his old team's playbook with him and he spreads that around the league. And...CPU teams will download plays that the community creates and use those in their playbooks against you. The first time I saw that in-game was a great feeling. It's almost like a Spore like feature in a sports game. And...at the end of every game, as long as you have good coordinators, you will be able to steal plays from their playbook that they successfully ran against you. That way you can grab some of the cool plays other teams are running with.

Wow thats really cool...

[Josh_Looman]

Quote: Originally Posted by DSpezzano

Are there contract hold outs. Can you change a coordinators system (ier switch from Cover 2 to 3-4 for example) How exactly does practice work? Do you need to watch every play like last version or do you simply pick what your team will game plan for that week?

There are holdouts in the sense that contract talks can break down numerous times and players can inform you that they will not be re-signing with the team once their contract is up.

You can change any system.

We never wanted people to have to sit and watch practice for hours at a time. You pick a gameplan and move on to the next day. If you want to see your team on the field, you can go into play creator at anytime and try any play against any defense, seeing what works for you or doesn't.

But we don't force you to do that.

[BrianFifaFan]

Man, Josh. I'm sold! Now the only question is whether I'm getting Madden with it.....

[poster]

Thanks Josh, this sounds amazing! Welcome to OS.

Also thanks to everyone who posted questions, good stuff!

I am hoping this does well enough for you guys to continue making the game.

[DLaren]

In real-life there are certain risks associated with signing a guy with known character issues. Will that be reflected in the game?

If there are player personalities in the game I'd like to see the benefits of managing to put together a team full of players and coaches who all get along. Is there any kind of 'team chemistry' guage that will play a role in the success of the team?

Thanks.

[Flamehead]

Quote: Originally Posted by Briankingsfan

That's great stuff. I will be getting this game. Another question, eventually could this game be "fused" together with Madden to make it a fully functioning stand alone Franchise Mode where we could do things such as contracts and depth charts and export to Madden? This game is just so deep it would be awesome to have this game be the Franchise Mode and have the draft and everything done here and play the games in Madden, which has always had a fairly shallow Franchise Mode.

I'd be interested in knowing this as well.

[Altimus]

Quote: Originally Posted by Josh_Looman

Yes. Each coach has his own unique playbook and philosophies that match that style of play. If a college coach who runs the option comes into the NFL, he's going to want a fast QB to run his offense. The other cool thing is that when a coach leaves a team for a new job (which ambitious personality type coaches will do), he will take a piece of his old team's playbook with him and he spreads that around the league. And...CPU teams will download plays that the community creates and use those in their playbooks against you. The first time I saw that in-game was a great feeling. It's almost like a Spore like feature in a sports game. And...at the end of every game, as long as you have good coordinators, you will be able to steal plays from their playbook that they successfully ran against you. That way you can grab some of the cool plays other teams are running with.

That sounds really good. It is looking to be a great summer of football.

Welcome to OS!

[Spin]

Will headcoach offer the same uniform fixes and alternates as in madden 09?