How good is your understanding of special teams in FOF2K4? Many players have special teams ratings, but there are only 8 total special teams slots listed in the depth chart:

Kicker
Punter
Long Snapper
Kick Holder
Punt Returner
Kick Returner
Gunner
Gunner

Most teams have players with outstanding special teams ratings that may not get placed in one of the above slots. Not all of the above are used in every special teams formation, either. Here are the special teams formations I can think of of my head...

Kicking Off
Kicking Off (Onsides Kick)
Punting
Fake Punts

Kick Returning
Kick Returning (Probable Onsides Kick)
Punt Returning
Field Goals and Extra Points
Fake Field Goals and Extra Points

Besides the guys you slot for each position, how does the AI decide who else plays in your formations? Do your starting offensive linemen have to play special teams?

For instance, on a Punt you have the following positions filled:

Punter
Long Snapper
Gunner 1
Gunner 2

That leaves 7 positions unknown. How does the AI fill them? With your best special teams guys?

How does the Special team rating translate into on field performance? Does matter more for kicking off and punting than it does for kick and punt returns?

I want to build a team with strong special teams, but aside from filling the known roles - what else can I do but try and get guys with high special teams ratings?

Interesting. I may end up having to get this some time. I keep putting it off.

As for the offensive line, with my UT Vols dynasty, I've slowly watched play by play and it appears the starting offensive line normally are in for the punt team at the least, and likely in for the fg and xp teams as well. This can be determined by the fact my starting linemen are making tackles downfield.

Kickoff teams for the Vols appear to be filled with DBs, WRs, and RBs.

Generically, special teams is important overall for field position, but I assume you knew that. As for what's more important; I'd say it depends on your defense. If you allow a lot of scores, kick return teams are probably more important than punt return teams. Likewise, if you're punting a lot more than scoring, you might was to strengthen the punt team.

Hope this is of use to you.

Jim said somewhere along the line that special teams are made up mostly from your backups.

Jim said somewhere along the line that special teams are made up mostly from your backups.

Might be. I haven't bought a FOF game since TCY. I do know in TCY starters are all over special teams.

It would be interesting to know what the Special Teams rating actually means and what it effects.

Also would be interested in knowing if you should put fast guys in the Gunner slot or guys with high Special Teams ratings there...

It would be interesting to know what the Special Teams rating actually means and what it effects.

Also would be interested in knowing if you should put fast guys in the Gunner slot or guys with high Special Teams ratings there...
my gut feeling is that special teams might as well be a "gunner" rating.

Let's say your Punt Team has the following:

2 starting Tackles
2 starting Guards
Long Snapper
Punter
2 Gunners

That leaves 3 positions unaccounted for...are these guys gonna be your remaining players with the best special teams ratings? Does a high special teams rating make you a better special teams blocker and special teams tackler? What if that guy happens to be your starting tailback? How do you keep him from being exposed to special teams injury risk?

Jim said the special teams are made up mostly from your backups. What I understand that to mean is those last three players in your example would be made up of your backups.

Jim said the special teams are made up mostly from your backups. What I understand that to mean is those last three players in your example would be made up of your backups.
And I wouldn't doubt if the game just grabs the best 3 "special teams" rated backups.

Jim said the special teams are made up mostly from your backups. What I understand that to mean is those last three players in your example would be made up of your backups. But which backups? The ones with the best special teams ratings?

What happens with the back up punt returner? Does he play on Punt Returns? Guessing not. I am assuming the backup kick returner stands back with the primary kickoff returner for kickoffs...

How do onside kickoffs and fake punts and kicks effect all of that?

As an aside, it would be cool if the next iteration of FOF had a depth chart for special teams formations...

But which backups? The ones with the best special teams ratings?

What happens with the back up punt returner? Does he play on Punt Returns? Guessing not. I am assuming the backup kick returner stands back with the primary kickoff returner for kickoffs...

How do onside kickoffs and fake punts and kicks effect all of that?

As an aside, it would be cool if the next iteration of FOF had a depth chart for special teams formations...

the backups with the best special teams ratings. I think you're right about the backup punt returner sitting out while the second kick returner stays back on kickoffs.

When the scout recommended gunners, I have noticed that he uses starters that are not in a starting role elsewhere in the depth chart, that have the highest special team coupled with high punishing hitter skills (for defensive players).

Two types of groups which are missing are the hands group, (onside kicks etc - people who can catch anything), and when doing a "normal" kickoff the players who act as the wedge (usaully the biggest guy who starts off next to the kicker and runs into people ;) )

Franco!

As an aside, it would be cool if the next iteration of FOF had a depth chart for special teams formations...Agreed. I also love the idea of specifying a "hands" team and a wedge buster.

that means you also need ratings for everything though, with the risk of having too many...

i should pay attention to this since I will be doing a lot of punting in IHOF :D

I did specify Kick Off Return (Probably on-side kick) as a formation. It would be interesting to see if the game loads up that team with WR and DBs...

Reading this made me think: to what extent does having WRs on your punt team, specifically gunners, increase your chances of completing a fake punt pass?

But which backups? The ones with the best special teams ratings?

What happens with the back up punt returner? Does he play on Punt Returns? Guessing not. I am assuming the backup kick returner stands back with the primary kickoff returner for kickoffs...

How do onside kickoffs and fake punts and kicks effect all of that?

As an aside, it would be cool if the next iteration of FOF had a depth chart for special teams formations...

That would be cool. It would also bring a bigger element of surprise to your season. You would need to constantly decide how many stars you want to risk on special teams. I know in Madden, sometimes when you play people online, they spend two freaking years making subs so that they can buff up special teams.