[Joseph Smith]

Originally Posted by Andrew Schreiber

Emphasis mine.

That's the big key here, by having multiple ways to score it cuts the defense across a couple different people. In 2006 there were potentially 3 scoring robots and only 2 defending robots except potentially in the last period of play. Compare that with this year where exactly one robot is capable of scoring points for their alliance. This leaves 2 defenders on one robot by virtue of having nothing better to do.

I think the core problems with this years game stem from the lack of alternate ways to help your alliance. There are exactly two ways your robot can provide benefit to your alliance: 1) Manipulation of the ball. 2) Inhibit the opponent from manipulating their ball. Being as only one robot can do #1 the other 2 need to do SOMETHING.

3) Protect their alliance's scoring robot from defense.
I haven't seen much counter-defense played at the events I've watched, but there were times when an "inbounder" or "midfielder" robot were sitting there doing nothing while their scoring robot was getting hammered by defense. In situations like these, a bit of counter-defense could allow the scoring robot to finish the cycle and keep the game moving, where they would otherwise be blocked or keep missing shots due to defense.