Should have written this up earlier, but you can switch positions in this game. But there are some helpful tips on when it does and does not make sense.
To do it, you click on the player's name to open his card. Then click on "view." Then click on "change pos/#." It lets you change positions to those that might make sense, which is a broad definition. Basically, if you try hard enough, you can change any player to any position. But you probably don't want to. As you might have read in the chat, there are a few swaps that make sense. You can also view a player's stats at an alternate position by clicking the positions tab on his player card. Here are my thoughts on positions you can change.
Offensive line - they are basically interchangeable, except center. Center has the extra attribute of "short snapping." Otherwise, run block and pass block skills are interchangeable. It might take your player some time to get position experience, but it is generally safe to change an LG to LT, RG to LT, LT to RT, C to RG, etc. There is not much downside. The "peak" ratings might go down (or in some cases go up).
Defensive line - same thing. DT and DE can be switched around with no big deal.
Defensive backs - similar - I don't find any problem with moving corners to safety and safeties to corner.
Here are the ones that require more thought, but can and have been done successfully. Note: each player has a hidden attribute called body frame (which we don't know) which impacts drastic position switches, and their possible weight. Weight matters in this game. Heavier players are slower, but also stronger).
TE to OL - This can be done, but your OL will be smaller until he bulks up. Could take him years to get up to 300 pounds, or never. He might max out at 285 pounds. But you could take a slow TE with great pass/run block, who is useless as a receiver and get a good OL.
FB to OL - same as TE. It just depends on the player how he adjusts.
WR to RB - This is one of the most common. Your WR weight isn't that much different than an RBs to start and you can get a fast WR easier than a fast RB sometimes. The game SHOULD penalize you more for having less bulk and ball carrying experience, but it doesn't. I mean in real life, a WR changed to RB would probably get killed, but in this game, the positions are pretty interchangeable.
RB to WR - This works fine. See above.
TE to WR - This one depends. It depends on if your TE can lose weight and has good catching skills. Again, this depends on the hidden frame stats. But if you have a high speed TE with great catching, you could get yourself a good WR with a position switch.
QB to RB - Michael Vick? Yes, you can do the Michael Vick thing. Yes, teams have been successful doing this. No, sadly, no playbook has the halfback pass play.
LB to DE - The can be done also. It's similar to TE to OL in that your LB needs to bulk up to play the line.
DB to LB - I haven't seen this executed as well, but take a slower DB with good run stopping skills and hope the bulk up enough to play LB.
ALSO - you don't have to switch positions to use them at different positions. On your depth chart, you can assign any player to any position. So when Billy in the chat talks about having lots of TEs for roster versatility, he means that a player can be a backup at many positions. You can put your backup TE at TE, backup FB, backup WR, etc. The only difference is that if you don't do the position switch, they won't change their weight over time. They will stay a TE. So like I was saying on the OL, you can use just two backup OL and cover all the backup OL slots if you want. You don't need an RG to be backup RG. Same with DL. You can put a DT as a backup DE and so on.
Hope this helps as you fill out your roster and backups. Don't feel like you have to draft a safety - draft a CB and play him at safety if the CB is better. Or don't feel forced to draft a RT. Draft a guard and convert him to RT if the guard is better. Get the idea? Any questions, just ask.
And yes, teams have tried stupid stuff like putting a fat DT as their kicker. No it does not work, unless you like the entertainment value of missing every kick.
