Category Archives: Mark Zarb

“Yards per Catch Calculator”

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After all these years and many, many requests it is time to release the calculator for my YPC innovation. The spreadsheet has the tab for the calculator itself, another tab with instructions, and a third tab with some sample YPC results that you can try to reverse engineer.

I would like to thank Greg for doing the QA/QC on the calculations and the instructions. The calculator has some minor tweaks from the original, but the differences will be immaterial to what has been previously published or posted.

Hopefully you all find it easy to use. Post questions on ABTL or here or via private email. I will not address the calculations (they are not hidden in the spreadsheet) but will happily answer questions regarding the process.

Enjoy,

P.S. Make sure to read the YPC Instructions that have been previously posted in the add-on section. I include a link to that in the spreadsheet.

ZARB YPC CALCULATOR (GB)

Defensive Play Calling based on Score and Time Remaining

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Greg and I have been using essentially the same method of play for quite some time. Part of the method of play included a defensive play calling chart for Neutral Downs (Fletch67) and then situational downs. You can find the chart here… https://oguard62.net/method-of-play/. The play calling chart is on page 14.

For years, I have always used the defensive play calling chart throughout the entire game regardless of score and time remaining and most of the time it worked well, but admittedly it always felt wonky (is that a word) when a team was trailing or leading by a wide margin late in the game. I then came across this post on ABTL, https://forums.delphiforums.com/apbabtl/messages/?msg=71460.468

Mark Dergarabedian asked Greg the very question I had been thinking about and it seems my Brother had been holding out on me and was actually using the situational down chart when a team had a two score lead with 5:00 minutes remaining in the 4th quarter. That motivated me to come up with an expanded version of Greg’s idea and came up with the following:

The * defensive alignment being referred to is 3rd/4th down and >=8 yards and ** defensive alignment refers to the 3rd/4th down & 1 yard to go on the situational downs chart. If using the Master Game the reduction rule is also triggered on the * defensive alignment. All audibles, blitzes and keying as described in the Method of Play are in effect. When calling defenses when down, essentially playing to stop the run, ignore the QB Sneak audible unless it is 3rd/4th and 1.

In all situations it is assumed that the trailing team will be calling a pass on every down, and the leading team will run on every down. The audible system would take care of any counter plays, like draws or screens. If you choose to play without the audible system then it is recommended to revert back to the Fletch67 system otherwise you are just, well, “playing with yourself”.

I hope you all find this useful, and I am sure many of you will come up with modification based on your own method of play. The goal here was to give a guide to dealing with playing calls based on score in the 4th quarter.

Automated Penalty Charts

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Mark Zarb has created charts to accurately represent the various types of penalties, infraction yardage, and enforcement notes to assist with stat keeping for seasons ranging from the late 1950s to modern day.  To prevent an excess of individual season charts, Mark has created three automated files for rapid callup for the following eras:

  • Pre-1974
  • 1974 – 2004
  • Modern Era

Under the Penalties tab in the “Modern Era” spreadsheet, I’ve inserted notes in the Penalty Table section referencing the year the penalty came into effect to assist the replayer. For example, Chop Block (2016), Illegal Blind Side Block (2019), etc.

These charts were designed to work in conjunction with his Penalty innovation. To use without having the applicable season ratings, it’s a simple two-step process:

The below files have been added to the Add-ons section under Mark Zarb:

Pre-1974 Automated Penalty Chart

1974 – 2004 Automated Penalty Chart

Modern Era Automated Penalty Chart

“Trick Play” Formula

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Mark Zarb was kind enough to allow me to release his “Trick Play” formula into the public domain. I’ve had the pleasure of using it for the past 12 replays and absolutely love it. I’m always amazed at how nearly each teams trick play attempt is accounted for. Traditionally, it’s the head coach that has the final say if a trick play is called and it’s no different on my tabletop. For example, if a “Fake Punt” comes up and the situation is unrealistic (backed up deep into my own territory, 4th and long situations, etc), I simply ignore it. The best part is that all trick plays are randomly selected to eliminate “gaming of the system”.

Step-by-step instructions are listed in the below standalone file. I hope that you enjoy this system as much as I have.

Trick Play Formula

“Thanksgiving Memories”

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As my 2015 NFL replay gets ready for the Thanksgiving slot of games, I couldn’t help but think of the wonderful day my best friend, Mark Zarb, and I had together watching those games, enjoying Becky’s turkey and having a few drinks. It was a treat to be able to grill out a “cowboy cut ribeyes” on Black Friday but unfortunately I had to cut the trip short and fly down to Florida to deal with my ailing mother. The below picture was from the previous Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving (Mark and Greg)

Full Circle – 1968 AFL/NFL Replay

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It seems like yesterday that I was searching EBAY for some APBA Football cards only to come across a listing for a 1968 AFL/NFL APBA card set compatible with the modern football game created by some gentleman named Mark Zarb. Of course, being a life-long New York Jets fan, I couldn’t believe my luck. Upon receiving the card set, I noticed Mark Zarb’s contact information at the bottom of the introduction letter and reached out to him. How would I know that I just found my brother from another mother? We both are life-long, die-hard, suffering New York Jet fans with a passion for the realism of APBA Football.

https://oguard62.net/article-authored-by-g-giordano/

While Mark was still selling cards, I purchased and eventually replayed the 1967, 1974, and 1981 seasons. When he got out of the business, he took a hiatus from the hobby for a couple of years but not from our friendship. We routinely communicated and eventually I convinced him to come visit me down in Huntsville, Alabama in March, 2014.

https://oguard62.net/2014/03/17/apba-football-brothers/

That visit was pivotal because it brought him back into the fold as a card maker and a replayer. Since then, he has carded and replayed the following seasons: 1972, 1981 (revised from original) and 1978. In addition, he carded and is currently working on replaying the 2010 campaign. In between numerous Thanksgivings and Iron Bowls, Jet games, innovation discussions, fine-dining, and countless Crown Royal and Tanqueray’s together, he found the time to card me 1985, 1969 and 1998 seasons for my replaying pleasure.

I find it only fitting, that my tenth full-season replay will be the 1968 AFL/NFL season. Just for clarification purposes, this will not be conducted with the original set that I purchased all those years ago. This is a brand new set based off of “lessons learned” from the eleven football seasons that Mark has carded and well over a 1,000 play-tested games which have validated the innovations and methodology that we employ.