Example:
It's late in the game, 1:00 to go. You are up by a point. Third and one at mid-field and you only want to run the ball rather than take a chance at throwing an int or stopping the clock with an incompletion.
This is what you would do to ensure that would happen:
First, when you select your offensive plays, make sure that you only run (not pass) out of the I Formation in the 2-1-2 offensive set. Whether you select an inside run or and outside run is up to your preference. Of course, you can select more than one running play out of the I Formation, but that would possibly defeat the purpose of having a go to running play out of the I Formation. Note that there are other formations in the 2-1-2 offensive set in which you can exclusively pass if you want to both run and pass using the 2-1-2 offensive set.
Second, using rules, you can ensure that that the offense calls a running play at any point in the game under whatever circumstances you choose. In this case, we have previously set a rule that requires the offense to only select a running play when it is very late in the game, we have the lead and it's 3rd and short (you can even specify yards to go instead of the generic "short"). Furthermore, the rule we have created specifies that the offense will only call a running play out of the 2-1-2 offensive set. (You can, of course, add other offensive sets to the rule, but for our purposes in this example, we will limit our playbook to the 2-1-2 offensive set).
So now, it's third and short and by rule 100% of the time we are only going to call a running play using only the 2-1-2 offensive set. And when we selected our running play(s) in the 2-1-2 set, we only had the I Formation from which to choose.
But we're not done yet. When we set our depth chart, we used the override function to put our best short yardage running back on the field when the team faces a third and short yardage situation. It might be your starting RB, and if it is, hopefully he is not too fatigued to be in the game.
Therefore, under the circumstances described above, and barring injury or fatigue, the RB of your choosing, as designated in your depth chart to play on 3rd and short in the I Formation (even this rule can be flexible, depending on location on the field), will carry the ball. Because of the rule that was established, the offense will only call a running play late in the game on third and short and use the 2-1-2 offensive set. Finally, because the only play(s) that can be used in the 2-1-2-offensive set is (are) running plays, you are guaranteed only to call a running play using the 2-1-2 offensive set late in the game. Hence your practically guaranteed to have the RB that you choose carry the ball at this juncture in the game.
The example that I give is intentionally very focused and limited. But by using some semblance of this approach, you can give yourself a better chance of utilizing the players that you want to use when you want to use them. And it works with all other positions as well. I suggest that players use the override to intentionally give your best players a break rather than allow the AI to do so.
I hope I wasn't too confusing.
Last edited at 1/21/2016 9:07 pm