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07-10-2003, 07:42 AM
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#51 | ||
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College Starter
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Calgary
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How has LB Klea done since he signed for $90 million in 2010 and how did CB Gaines do this past season when he signed for $80 million? Have they paid dividends to their respective teams?
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07-10-2003, 08:04 AM
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#52 | |
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lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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Quote:
Very fair - worth a check-in. LB Jay Kley has stayed with Louisville for the three years since he left us, and has been their MLB starter that time, getting 46 starts in 3 seasons. He seems to be a very soild player for them - averaging about 100+30 tackles a season, and a few sacks (he had 7 sacks this year). He's mediocre in pass coverage, but a solid MLB who floats just below all-star level. I'd say they got what they paid for. (By my scout he is the 6th best ILB in the league, by current ratings) CB Scott Gaines in Kitty Hawk posted another very solid season. He had 6 interceptions and a PDPct of 20.7 both just about what he was doing for us in his last couple of seasons. My scout rates him the 4th best corner in the league, on current skill. And, for what it's worth: QB J.R. Newhart has been plagued by minor injuries, but has been pretty effective for Memphis. They don't ask him to pass 600 times a season like we did, but he has become a pretty effective precision passer for them -- with a TD/Int ratio of 37/16 in his 26 starts for the Kings. He got them into the playoffs in his first season, and then to the title game last season-- they were 10-6 and 8-8 in the two preceding seasons. |
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07-10-2003, 08:21 AM
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#53 |
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lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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Some Player Distribution Analysis
Now that my league is getting fairly “mature,” I thought I’d look at the distribution of players my scout likes – and see retroactively where they came from in the draft. I’ll use DE – a position where the obviously good players always seem to go pretty early, and certainly in the first round of the draft. Even without having archived each prior season – if I see a highly rated guy who was a 3rd or 5th round draft pick, I’ll know he was a breakout player (I wouldn’t miss a guy with big potential in later draft rounds, I’m always looking for DL). By my scout, the top players by current ratings were drafted as follows: 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 – DE Brock Campbell, KYH: played 5 years, has 39.5 sacks 1 1 1 1 1 1 undrafted – DE Edgar Newsome, KW: played 7 years, has 32.5 sacks 1 1 3 – DE Julio Bronson, PRV: played 9 years, has 79.5 sacks 4 – DE Lamar Kennedy, FtW: played 7 years, has 40.0 sacks 1 1 That’s 15 out of 19 players (I excluded the one guy who was from the original distribution pool) who was taken as a first round draft pick. The non-first rounders, with the exception of Campbell, all are best at stopping the run (which might not be valued as highly by the computer when evaluating DEs, I’d guess) I’ll so the same thing with the CB position – another area where apparent high-quality guys rarely slip from the fist round of the draft: 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 – CB Tom Wilkins, MEM: played 8 seasons, career 19.4 PDPct 2 – CB K.C. Nelson, MEM: played 6 seasons, career 20.8 PDPct 4 – CB Allen Logue, TIJ: played 8 seasons, career 20.0 PDPct 3 2 5 1 1 2 3 3 3 2 With these guys, I’m guessing that the trend is similar – I just don’t think that the game generates nearly as many superstar-caliber corners as it does DE. So, my guess is that those top seven guys, all from the first round of their drafts, were seven out of maybe 10 or 12 guys who looked like sure things—and when they pan out, they are the very best of the lot. The guys from rounds 2-4 just exceeded expectations – not necessarily by a lot, to become the next tier. There’s no obvious pattern to their skill sets (it’s not like all the round 2-4 guys are lacking in some particular skill). Any real conclusions here? Well – to the extent that you might be looking for all sorts of evidence of great sleepers in the drafts in this game, it’s coming up a little short. I’d say that DE Campbell from above is a certain case—he’s very well-developed, balanced, and productive, and as a 4th round pick is obviously better than he initially looked. On the CB side, there are probably some guys who are similar cases – but several of these top-20 guys have the look of typical second round players—good in some places, not so good in others. I find it tough to be certain that they are really guys that I’d never let get past me in that part of the draft. A better analysis, I recognize, would be to watch a series of players from one draft forward (I did a bit of this back with earlier versions of this game). That would help not only in spotting global trends, but also the specifics – what to the “disappointments” in the game look like up front, compared to those who live up to initial billing? More work to be done… |
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07-10-2003, 09:28 AM
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#54 |
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lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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Heh. I've never really paid attention to the "star rating" system before... but apparently this dynasty is only worth 2 out of 5. I can't argue with that, it's just news to me.
Nothing to see here... Last edited by QuikSand : 07-10-2003 at 09:37 AM. |
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07-10-2003, 09:34 AM
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#55 |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Fairfax, VA
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I gave it a 5. I think whoever gave you a low rating was just jealous of your post count.
 I think it will take a lot of work to really analyze the draft. From the sample you've given, it looks like a pretty reasonable distribution that might be slightly skewed towards the higher draft picks being a little too valuable IMO. I think to really make a determination you'd have to look at how many 1st round DE's or CB's have busted. That might be a lot more difficult to quantify though. Last edited by Bee : 07-10-2003 at 09:35 AM. |
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07-10-2003, 10:37 AM
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#56 | |
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College Starter
Join Date: Oct 2000
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Quote:
Don't let it shake you. I gave you a "5", and I think I was the first one to vote this morning. Someone came by later this morning and gave both your dynasty and my XCOM dynasty a "1", which pulled both of them down. Drive on! Last edited by Godzilla Blitz : 07-10-2003 at 10:39 AM. |
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07-10-2003, 10:50 AM
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#57 | |
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lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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Quote:
I am resolutely unshaken. |
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07-10-2003, 10:58 AM
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#58 |
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lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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2013 offseason
Okay, we’re heading into the third year under a new and exciting quarterback. He has shows the abilty to put up big offensive numbers. Now, we need to get him to settle down and be a bit more precise. That’s what happened with J.R. Newhart in his second full season in this system – and he got us rolling all the way to the big game. We don’t have any retirements from the squad this year, so the roster comes back pretty much intact, save for expired contracts (of which we have plenty). Both my scout and coach remain under contract, and I am not inclined to mess around there - I’m all set with them both. Our list of players without contracts follows: Code:
That list, sorted by my scout’s current overall rating, gives a fair flavor of what we have to do that (I like that as an info dump at this point for each season, I think). The trouble is – nobody on this list is asking for anything that I’d characterize as a pleasant surprise. Well, WR Mercury Moultrie is looking for less then $2 million – which I suspect I’ll give him. (I’ve never been disappointed by him yet) But all the top-tier players are seeking top-tier money, which will be tough. We have money to spend, but I’ll have to pay a premium to retain guys who have been with us a while. I like S Kenny reeves, and at about $6-7m a year, I think I’ll make an effort to keep him. I also like LB Marshall Hogenkamp, and we’ll pursue him—hopefully for a bit less than $10m a season. That’s all I see for my first round of offers – I might end up with a few other guys at some point, but that’s it for now. As usual, I will be scouring for free agents who I think can help without breaking the bank. LB Trevor Hylton is just such a guy – a serious impact player with mixed skills, he should be a great addition to our defensive front. He’d be good enough to take over a starting job for Hogenkamp is that’s necessary, but at worst he’s a great 4th LB. And for under $2.5m a year – he’s a steal. I’m pretty excited about 6th year RB Randall Almonte, a guy who has rushed for over 1,000 yards twice – and who isn’t asking for a ton of cash in free agency. I offer him about $3.2m a year, and if he accepts, he becomes a superb component for our offense. He’s been very effective in the passing game with Napa Valley, and could very possibly become our starter. It’s certainly possible we get outbid here, but if not, he’s a great find. Free safety Jason Connell has yet to really play much at all for Nashua, but my scout thinks he’d be a great fit in our system. A three year offer would give us a nice nickel back and possible starting safety with good man-up cover skills. We need a new starter at LG, since Rodney Houston is asking for the moon and stars. So, I find Lenny Logan, a solid journeyman seeking a deal for under $2 million. This might be a position to target in the draft as well. We should be okay at tackle, as Austin Hansen ought to step right in to start this season. I put in a bonus-free offer to C Derrick Yaros, mostly hoping he can painlessly switch to guard. If so, he’ll be a contributor for a couple of years. Finally, we try a deal for DT Preston Middleton, who could actually be a real contributor for us inside. I’m always looking for guys who can help with the run defense up the gut, and he might be a great fit as our #3 DT. Potential steal for under $2m a year. So, we start the FA process with 8 bids on the board, including some pretty big money for two of our own guys. Bt, I have FA backups for each position (S and LB), so if those go sour we can just focus on our new additions as starters, instead of backups. I’m comfy. DE Jamie Parry, the league’s all-time sack leader (though a mild disappointment for us), gets a monster offer right off the bat: $125 million over 7 years from Napa Valley. I have to imagine he’ll land that deal – wow. LB Marshall Hogenkamp is getting a slightly richer offer from Bermuda than we have for him – but I have a voidable year, which might make the difference. He does have low loyalty, so we’ll have to wait and see. S Kenny Reeves re-signs with us right away, which is pretty good news. We also manage to grab RB Randall Almonte right away, which is even better news. We release RB Brett Durham, who we signed for three years last season, but really didn’t fit into our system well at all last year. That helps free up some of the cap space we are putting to great use now. In week 2, we lock up G Lenny Logan and S Jason Connell. Both will be important contributors this year, taking pressure off a “need-based” push on the rookie draft. In week 3, LB Hogenkamp decides to stick around, and he accepts out offer. I’m pleased – even though this is an expensive deal, he’s a player that I have grown to like. At this point, with both LB Hogenkamp and S Reeves re-signed, we still have some real cap space left. And the most obvious thing left on our roster that’s missing is defensive end – we have Parry, Mangiafico, and Bred Turk all without deals. Parry is going to get huge money, it seems – but I need someone to play. I didn’t find anyone when scouring for “values” – but now that we have some cash, I’m a little more flexible. Dan Louichey, a former Monster, is available – and looking for about $4.5m a year. That’s not too bad, but I’m trying to spend a little less than that. I’d like to get a contributor for no more than $3m a season – even if only on a one year deal. (I’m expecting to draft a DE or CB early this season) Actually, Mangiafico and Turk look like they might be the best options available at around the price I want to pay. I don’t think of either one as starting material, but I might end up there like it or not. In week 4, DE Jamie Parry signs a deal with Athens, for $105 million over 6 years. G Rodney Houston got his deal with Fort Knox – a perennial playoff team. And we have landed one of our catches of the offseason, in LB Trevor Hylton. Two weeks later, we land DT Preston Middleton – and our target list is completed. P Courtney Westbrook got the rich deal he was seeking – he’s a darned good punter, but I just don’t feel I can pay a punter $2 or $3 million a year. That’s a defeatist attitude, in my mind. It’s week 9 of free agency, and the top rated QB remaining in the pool is none other than J.R. Newhart, our old buddy. He fleetingly had an offer, but the team withdrew it (perhaps it busted their cap space). He’s been very solid recently, and would do someone well—but he is asking for about $11 million a year, which is a pretty steep price tag. If he goes unclaimed, and settles in for a one-year cheap deal, some team might find themselves a keeper. As we move into the later stages of free agency, I’m still looking at the players sitting out there at CB and DE. CB K.C. Nelson is a multi-year pro bowler, but he wants some $12 million a year to play. DE Karl Walsh is looking for big money, too – but he did have 18.5 sacks last year. These guys look like impact players, but I went through this hassle before with DE Parry, and I am admittedly gun shy. But as we prepare to wrap up the FA process, I am surprised to have $12 million or so still sitting around, waiting to be spent. I guess I might have lured DE Jamie Parry back, but that’s no longer available. Now, maybe I ought to try a one year deal with someone? I hold off – and halfway expect that I’ll use some of that room to re-sign one or both of my free agent defensive ends, rather than plunge for one star player. We pick at #25 in the draft, and as it’s coming up, all the prospects I had eyes for are gobbled up, of course. I like CB Ross Okeafor, who would be a decent nickel back and excellent return man- but I feel this is an awfully high spot to take a utility player like that. Second round, he’d be great. DE Marc Groll seems to be the best at that position, I think – but I don’t see him being a real star by any means. Really, the best talent available here is at WR – a definite “non-need” position for us. With Solwold, Norm Shields, and Andy Riley all aboard, we have a perfectly satisfactory trio – with shield potentially being a future star. Does it make sense to use this pick to grab another potential star WR? Solwold’s deal expires after this season – maybe it would make sense to have an heir to his starting spot, since I probably won’t be able to re-sign him next year. We are a pass-happy team – it’s a position of real value to us. I make a deal with Sacramento, switching first round picks next year to move down to their second round spot this year. I still may take a WR there, but it’s probably a worthwhile trade for us. They use the pick to take WR Devin Tetreault, the guy I was teetering on selecting – so that plan is off the table immediately. Code:
Well, it wasn’t the draft we exactly would have forecasted – but we get some intriguing prospects in the lot. WR Cornell Pierce is a big, strong possession receiver, whom we will slot at the flanker – expecting him to probably take over the spot for next season. CB Okeafor is a return specialist, and immediately becomes our first option on both punts and kickoffs. My hope is that he will develop into a decent third corner as well. DE Sanders and Young are both projects – if either one works out to be a contributor, I will be pleased. The last three fill need slots, and hopefully will be decent reserves and special teamers. So, we have 45 players signed, and millions to spend. What to do? Despite the rookie additions, I feel the most pressing need is certainly at DE. So, we re-up with martin Mangiafico – this time settling on a three year deal with him, for $8m total. He is no star, but he can contribute – he will probably rotate around with the two rookies. We have to get a kicker and punter, so we strike cheap one year deals with the best we can find. I missed out on one excellent punter in the draft – just couldn’t bring myself to spend a fourth round pick there. We have nearly $8 million left in cap space. I don’t want to make any long-term commitments, but I also don’t see much point in leaving cap space unused. QB Ricardo Kidman went unclaimed through the FA process, and he’s only seeking a two year deal. That’s fine – I didn’t fill my third QB slot anyway, so we will pay to keep him around. I head to camp with money unspent – that’ pretty unusual for a mature team. But, I am just trying to be prudent – I avoided overspending on one of the star free agents at DE or CB—we’ll see whether I regret that later on. Code:
I get a tempting trade offer for WR Andy Riley – a 3rd round pick. He does have two years left, and is pretty solid – I decide against the deal. As we prepare for the season, our roster rating is 88, second only to Manhattan’s 100. We have a 74 power rating, the highest in the league. But our cohesion is fairly low: 84-76-80-82, with only our passing game and secondary above average. I’d suspect that we’re heading for another playoff berth, but I don’t know that the defense can play over its head again as well as it did last season. Even though I think our personnel is improved, I have trouble seeing us getting a lot better unless it’s due to a big improvement in offense and turnover ratio. |
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07-11-2003, 09:26 AM
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#59 |
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lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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2013 season
We come out of the preseason pretty banged up – our defensive front has already been reshuffled, and RB Spencer Bauer will miss a game or two. We get ready, and head into the season – hoping that some advancement in the passing game will help take the pressure off the rest of the team. Week 1: Lake Erie at Ocean City A great start, as we throttle the thrashers, 23-3. Randall Almonte, getting the call in place of the injured Spencer Bauer, gains 107 yards rushing – and Edgar Beyer is very sharp. The defense was “lights out” and we prevail easily on the road. Week 2: Lake Erie (1-0) at Thunder Bay (1-0) A 2-0 start is ours with a 20-10 win here. Edgar Beyer’ 3 TD passes have u up big early, and we hold on from there. Big, bad news, though – CB Donny Shifflett is probably out for the season with a really bad hammy. This could be awful – we need a complete reshuffling in the secondary. Tom Austin moves from safety to corner, and our third safety Connell moves in to start at free safety. I think we’ll be okay – but we are very thin now. Week 3: Tijuana (1-1) at Lake Erie (2-0) We get 5 TD passes from Edgar Beyer, who is now officially on fire. It’s a 52-24 win, as we outgun them – but our secondary gets pressed a bit more than I’d like. Hard to complain when we’re 3-0, but I’m not sure about us back there. Week 4: Lake Erie (3-0) at Niagara Falls (1-2) After giving up two early TD passes, the Monster Machine rolls on, and we roar back to win, 23-14. WR D.J. Solwold has 12 catches – and is clearly becoming a very prolific player in this offense – 484 yards in our first four games. Week 5: Wheeling (2-2) at Lake Erie (4-0) We keep things rolling on offense, with a 45-15 win, stretching to 5-0 on the season. On the season, Beyer has 12 TDs to 1 interception—and while that ratio is impossible to maintain, it’s a very good sign that he is figuring things out in this system. Week 6: Key West (1-4) at Lake Erie (5-0) A 27-16 win is another pretty routine day for us – Beyer is sharp again, with 3 more TDs to no picks. Bauer and Almonte are spreading the running back chores fairly well – I’m satisfied, even though we aren’t putting up huge numbers. After LB Godfrey had an early-season injury, he is now trying to battle his way back into the lineup – as free agent signee Trevor Hylton has played very well in his absence. Week 7: Lake Erie (6-0) at Manhattan (5-1) We’re made four point favorites on the road here, and the game lives up to its billing. It turns out to be a pretty defensive-minded game, and they hold a 19-17 edge through most of the fourth quarter, stifling each attempt we have to get back onto them. That’s the final margin, as our perfect record drops to 6-1. Week 8: Nashua (4-3) at Lake Erie (6-1) Nashua follows up with a great game, and they beat us at home, 23-14. They light up our secondary for 344 yards, as they come back from a 7-point deficit to take command in the second half. Through eight games, here’s the snapshot of the team so far: Code:
Offensively, we have been very good – obviously. Defensively – we are yielding a lot of passing yards, but we’re slightly above average in both run and pass efficiency. I’m not panicked— and that positive turnover margin is very good, too. We have 19 sacks through 8 games—losing Parry to free agency and now DE Ken Barnes to a season-long injury just undermine our pass rush – we don’t have anyone striking fear into opposing offenses at all. DE Mangiafico, a fill-in, leads the team with 4 sacks. Week 9: Ocean City (2-5) at Lake Erie (6-2) We drop our third in a row, and I’m worried. Bauer is out hurt again, and Beyer was pressing the ball – getting intercepted four times. Our stat keepers say he didn’t have any “bad throws” but I saw four of them get caught by the wrong guys, so I might differ there. Week 11: Lake Erie (6-3) at Louisville (6-3) Suddenly, we don’t look so hot anymore – and now the division is catching up to us. We go to some more trip-WR formations in this game, and it seems to pay off. Solwold is again the main target, but Riley and Pierce each come up with TD catches, and we get a 20-10 win. On defense, we get Ken Barnes back for next week – he’s trying to come back from a knee ligament earlier then expected. We need him! Week 12: Champaign (2-8) at Lake Erie (7-3) We get a solid 30-17 win here, and are staring to look formidable again. Not a great game for Beyer (only 20 of 43) but Almonte tops 100 yards again on the ground. Week 13: Lake Erie (8-3) at Fort Knox (6-5) Fort Knox is a perennial tough out – and they get us here, 22-17. Not a bad effort for us – it was just a tight game, and they got the last laugh. Week 14: Ypsilanti (6-6) at Lake Erie (8-4) At this point, Manhattan is marching to the top seed in the conference – but the #2 seed and a bye week are reasonable goals for us to set. We need to finish strong, though. A 34-26 win at home helps – our pass defense yielded a pretty big day, but we get the win nonetheless. SB Spencer Bauer is healthy again – but I’ve been impressed enough with Almonte that he will hold onto the starting job. Week 15: Louisville (6-7) at Lake Erie (9-4) Another pretty good game, and another win, 26-14. At RB, Bauer actually outshines Almonte in this game – maybe the competition is good for the two of them in the shared role. However the feeble Bauer gets hurt again, and will miss a couple of weeks. Week 16: Lake Erie (10-4) at Sault Ste. Marie (7-7) We’re in position for the #2 seed – we just need to keep winning. We get a hard-fought win here, beating the Lockmasters 31-28. We have the division title locked up – now it’s a question of seeding only. Week 17: Lake Erie (11-4) at Wheeling (4-11) A 27-7 road win gives us a nice strong finish to the season, and a solid 12-4 final mark. After losing three in a row at one point, we were worried – but overall, there’s a lot to like about what we did this season. Code:
Out +150 point split is the best in the league – and that potential showdown with Manhattan looms pretty large. And looming in the background, our deal to get Sacramento’s top pick in next year’s draft looks like a huge move, as they will be either #1 or #2 overall. Code:
Well, I had hopes that year three would be the breakout year for Edgar Beyer – and boy, did he deliver. Actually, his overall numbers are very similar to his from last season—with the huge difference of only 10 interceptions to 29. He also did the same amount of damage with fewer attempts – so his yards per attempt went up from 6.7 to 7.2 – a very meaningful movement. Great season for him – certainly worthy of some all-pro consideration. RB Spencer Bauer looks like he’s just done – he cannot stay healthy and productive. Almonte came at a good time, and had a nice year fitting our system well. No complaints there – he’s cheap, and he’s signed for two more years. At WR, we see the perils of Jim’s insistence on sorting by “targeted” passes. Shields had more passes thrown his way, but it’s perfectly clear who is getting it done here—D.J. Solwold. Solwold had the biggest season ever for our team, and sets himself up for a huge payday in free agency after the season. Shields is developing nicely, but is a notch below in productivity – expect in the red zone, where he already shines with his big body and playmaking ability. On defense, Tom Cummings and Marshall Hogenkamp continue to make a great team for our LB corps. Hylton was a nice addition as the weak side starter. The defensive line was wrought with injury – but did okay all told. 34 sacks on the season is weak, and it showed in our passing defense, which slipped below average. The DL has to be priority #1 for the offseason – that draft pick ought to land us a star pass rusher. Postseason wrapup: Divisional Playoff: Fort Wayne (12-) at Lake Erie (12-4) Our fans are screaming for Manhattan, but we need to get through this one first. Fort Wayne puts up a good fight, and it’s tight through three quarters, with our lead at 17-10. Fort Worth puts up a nice drive to tie the game in the fourth quarter, and in the final minute they top off another possession with a field goal. We’re stunned, as we take a 20-17 loss, and a quick exit from the playoffs. After such a promising season, it’s all over just like that. We couldn’t stop their passing game, and Edgar Beyer was picked off three times in the loss. Consistency is key—and even after a great season, we didn’t have it when we needed it. Manhattan edges Fort Worth to get their bid in the big game, and then they edge Providence 27-24 to get the win. That was their game all year – win close games. They do it here, and take their title—their second in a row. Code:
From this list, you get the sense that Lake Erie is a one-man team, with Edgar Beyer the only player of any consequence. I have to disagree with that, but regardless, we were only able to get so far. Beyer has three more cheap years on his contract, and right now, I judge that as a metric for where we ar financially. I suspect next season we’ll be relieved of Spencer Bauer’s huge contract as well—so we may have some money to spend. Stay tuned… |
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07-11-2003, 10:32 AM
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#60 |
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The boy who cried Trout
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: TX
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Ohhhh, so close! Go Monsters!
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07-11-2003, 11:01 AM
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#61 | |
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Pro Rookie
Join Date: Oct 2000
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Quote:
Now that seems like an unlikely mistake from the grammar king.  |
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07-11-2003, 11:51 AM
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#62 | |
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lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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Quote:
*blushing* Guilty, no doubt. Maybe it was the parentheses? *sigh* |
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07-11-2003, 12:37 PM
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#63 |
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College Starter
Join Date: Oct 2000
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Bummer that your season ended so suddenly, but with Beyer locked up for three more years, I like your prospects. Especially considering you'll be adding a #1 or #2 pick (nice move getting that Sacramento pick!) who might be able to make an immediate impact. Are you thinking DE or CB?
Sorry to see Bauer's career winding down. If you have a moment, could you_post how he ranks among your league's career leaders? Do you think he has a chance at the Hall? I'm getting a sense that the AI is much sharper in drafting, but do you get a sense that it is effective in acquiring free agents? I noticed in FOFa that the game was letting good free agents slip through the 20-step process. Is that still happening? Enjoying this a lot! Good work as usual! Good luck next year! |
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07-11-2003, 02:13 PM
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#64 |
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lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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2014 offseason
I thought we might have had all the pieces last season, but alas – we came up short in the playoffs. This year, there will be real pressure on us to giove Manhattan (or whomever) a real run for their money. We want to be a serious title contender. No retirements. The only guy I thought might be here was RB Spencer Bauer, but he marshals on. Almost a shame, because he’s past his best years, that much is for sure. My scout Deon Bridges is looking for a new deal. I’ll think twice – he is 58, has been with us for several seasons, and might not be the best option. After reviewing the field – he’s the best option after all – we re-up with him for three more seasons. As we start up the FA process, here’s the landscape of our players without contracts – sorted by current scouting evaluation: Code:
Well – we have two big free agency issues for this season. We’re already thin at corberback, and have our best cover man Shifflett coming off a major injury and seeking a new contract. Second, we have a superstar-level performer at WR (a big money position where we are prtty deep already) looking for a new deal. How we resolve those two issues probably guides us into the next season. $25m in cap space (really $14m to spend) isn’t that much – not enough to be signing two star-caliber players as free agents. I cannot find anyone who will take the contract of RB Spencer Bauer, and I simply don’t see how I can pay him $14 million this season. I’ much rather keep him than cut him – but my operational “house rules” don’t allow renegotiations. I think, though, that the spirit of my rules would be intact if I gave him an extension at the much-lowered price he seeks. It’s probably a better deal than he’d be able to get with any other team, at his reduced level of effectiveness. Right now, Bauer wants a 2yr extension worth a tad over $9 million. That would give him a cap number this year of about $7 million - $7m less than where he ranks right now. If I release him, he drops all the way to $2.4 – so keeping him around costs us a net of about $4.6 million. Pretty steep. If I wait him out, his demands will likely drop – but I wont have the cash available to sign other players. Tough spot. CB Donny Shifflett is only looking for about $8.5m over two years – that will be pretty affordable for a guy I wanted to pursue anyway. I’ll probably even try to lock him up longer term, if those are his demands. WR D.J. Solwold is similarly reasonable in his demands – only seeking about $5m a year. This despite his pretty impressive stats—over 3,500 yards in his last three seasons. I will definitely be trying to bring him back as well. T Roman Tyler is simply out of the question, asking for $12m a year or so. I expect that he will get it, but it’s just not conceivable that we could pay like that. So, I get in my offers to Shifflett and Solwold, and am prepared to go on from there. They would only take me for $9.3m this year – so I have more room to work than I had expected. Especialy if I can save some real money with Bauer, one way or the other. Manhattan made a very savvy move last year, swooping in and grabbing two solid veteran players from late free agency—DE Karl Walsh and CB K.C. Nelson. Both took one year deals, and both played very well for the season – and are back in free agency. Without those two stars, Manhattan will be looking to spend some money on defense this year, I’m sure. Those two are probably the two best defensive players available via free agency this year. I don’t find a ton of fascinating playes in free agency’s bargain bins, but there are a few to pursue. T Randall Sisson is a decent player, either a RT or a utility lineman. But with the relative dearth of great talent in the pool this season, I think I’m going to make the effort and keep RB Spencr Bauer. He can remain with us, probably sharing the starter’s role with Randall Almonte, and provide some team leadership. With that decision in mind, I work things out with him, and we will perhaps use some of the freed-up cap space to find a few cheap fill-in free agents. After the first week of free agency, I have the only bids in to Shifflett and Solwold – great news. Niagara Falls has signed DE Karl Walsh to a huge deal, and CB K.C. Nelson I listening to a comparable deal from Champaign. They will both get paid, I’m sure. Our three target players are all done and locked in by week 8 – so both Shifflett and Solwold will return. I’m pleased to see that, even if it means we won’t be adding a star player elsewhere. Meanwhile, our other free agents—DT Roush, T Tyler, C Briggs- are all cashing in big time for other teams. I pursue CB Morris Hanks, for a reasonable 3yr deal. I’m thinking thathe becomes our nickel back, and might even have to start for us after this season, assuming Melvin Shepard leaves. He’s a similar player to Shepard, decent skills, but not exceptional. DT Terrance Ortiz is still awaiting an offer – this is 12th year DT who is a superb run-stopper, and a solid pass rusher as well. A two-time all-pro, he still looks pretty solid – but he’s asking for about $9m a year. Even in his twilight, he can still be productive, but I am hesitant about getting stuck with a fat contract. Instead, I make a late move to pick up DT Kris Compton, another or my usual “pretty decent” defensive linemen, taking the place of the new multimillionaire Doug Rousch. And, after a little more poking around, another familiar name resurfaces: DE Brad Turk. He was a reserve DE for us from 2010-2012, and then played last season with Ypsilanti – netting 12 sacks for them. I put in a pretty affordable three year deal for him, too – just trying to get my defensive line backup to snuff a bit more. That gets us through the FA season, and we exit with 44 players and about $3.8 million in cap space. I’m tryig to manage responsibly, and we wre blessed with very reasonable demands from our two big free agents this season. As we head into the rookie draft, I’m very excited about having a top pick, at #2 overall. We have an opportunity to grab a potential monster impact player here. My inclination is to go with the best player at either DE or CB, but I’m open to other positions, if somebody blows my doors off. My current MLB Bob Cummings and both top tackles are up for contracts after this season, after all – so those would be fair target positions as well. Looking at the draft board, I see several players who look outstanding. T Rod Barlow is one of those guys you get and then build your team around. He’ll probably be an all-star left tackle for a decade. CB Chad Coles looks like a superstar in the making, too. DE Max Shields looks pretty good, but not the maxed-out genius that I’d be hoping for with a pick this high. My thinking is that I might drop down a spot or two, and still try to get one of my top two players. Once one of them goes off the board, I will pick the other. But I’d be thrilled with either LT Barlow or CB Coles. I get Wheeling’s second round pick to move down from #2 to #2 after a WR goes with the top pick. The only way this backfires is if both my top two go at #3 and #4. I’m rolling the dice that it won’t happen that way. Wheeling goes for the best DT in the draft, and then Memphios takes CB Coles at #3, I’ll grab my star left tackle, and will be happy with the pick at #4. Code:
I love Barlow, and expect a lot from him. CB Austin, picked at the top of round two, should be a potential starter, but more likely a nickel back and return man. TE Ronnie Harris should be solid for us, as our starter Shaun Meyer will probably depart after this season. P Sammy Noa is outstanding – and worth the high pick, I think. We fill in elsewhere, and get up to a full roster. I receive a somewhat interesting trade offer – Norfolk wants my young LB Kennedy Godfrey. He just sat on the benchmost of last year, after getting hurt and never regaining his starting job. But, a 4th rounder doesn’t seem like quite enough – and I turn them down. We head into camp, with a full roster and hopefully a good shot to get back to the top tier of teams in the league. Manhattan certainly lost a lot after their repeat title – I wouldn’t be shocked to see them drop off a bit this season. We’ll hope to be the team everyone is worried about playing. Here’s the roster as we exit training camp: Code:
Last edited by QuikSand : 07-11-2003 at 02:29 PM. |
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07-11-2003, 02:19 PM
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#65 | |
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lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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Quote:
In order: -Well, I was open to either DE or CB, but ended up with a standout OT. I'm just hoping that I don't regret this down the line - I have a feeling that CB Coles will be a serious star for a long time. -RB Bauer, still with us after some debate, has 8,468 yards rushing - placing him 9th on the career list (one spot ahad of Vernon rand of Ocean City fame). With about 450 yards this season, he can catch the next guy ahead of him - who has already retired. He's a lot further down in career rushing attempts (18th), so he'll get good marks for efficiency (as some guys just pile up the chances). Will he make the Hall? I'd say it's pretty likely, but not a lock. -My general impression is that teams are doing a much better job drafting, but are not doing much better in pursuing free agents. I'm still seeing quite a lot of very-high-quality guys sticking with very high demands, sliding all the way through the FA process, and then dropping their demands to almost minsal to sign for one year. I don't know what is the best way to deal with this, but it's a little weird to see, and indicates some imbalance to me. Last edited by QuikSand : 07-11-2003 at 02:22 PM. |
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07-11-2003, 04:19 PM
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#66 |
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lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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2014 season
After poring through our training camp results, I am struck with a bit of great news. My scout and staff have all agreed – we struick gold with free agent CB signee Morris Hanks. We thought we’d be getting a solid nickel back – instead, he came through camp looking like a champ, and easily winning a starting spot. (Translation – his ratings exploded, and he now looks like a topped-out stud) He’s a 7th year player who hasn’t really been given a chance – but he’s going to get it now. What a grea break for us! As we head into the season, we have the top roster rating in the league, with Little Rock next at 84. Manhattan has dropped all the way to 60, about tenth on the list. Our power rating is tops as well, at 74, ten points ahead of Tijuana and Providence. Week 1: Lake Erie at Louisville We start out fine, but collapse in the second half and let them get back into the game, and then beat us 30-27. Not the message we wanted to send here, exactly. Week 2: Athens (1-0) at Lake Erie (0-1) We have to scrape to get this win, 19-16. Our only TD comes on a kickoff return by rookie Trent Austin, and we edge this one out. We overcome Edgar beyer’s 5-int meltdown with great defense and some good luck. Week 3: Tulsa (2-0) at Lake Erie (1-1) We have to hold on desperately for another win here, as we allow another late rally. We do get the 34=29 win, but it should have been easier. Week 4: Fort Knox (1-2) at Lake Erie (2-1) Despite the poor start, Fort Knox is always good – and we need to be wary. We play well, and get our best win of the year, 27-10. WR Norm Shields, always the “upside guy” of the receiving corps, has his second 100+ game in a row, and is starting to show how good he can be. Week 5: Lake Erie (3-1) at Pensacola (2-2) We get into a major slugfest with the Panhandlers, but we manage to get a tying TD with 1:14 left. However, in a disappointing twist, our rookie kicker Rick Oliver misses the PAT, and we end up losing the game, 34-33. It’s his second miss in the game, and his third in 17 tries this season. Not getting it done. Enjoy working at Jiffy Lube, Rick. Week 6: Lake Erie (3-2) at Little Rock (3-1) On the road against a highly regarded team, we connect for a nice 28-6 win. We’re not the intimidating force that we seemed to be early last season, but when we play well, we are pretty tough. Beyer hits Solwold and Shield for 2 TD each here, as our passing game remains pretty effective all day. Beyer gets a minor injury but should be okay to play next week. Week 7: Ocean City (2-4) at Lake Erie (4-2) And just as things are looking up, we get stung and take a 24-23 loss at home. OC rolls past us with theitr running game – taking it right to us for over 200 yards. We also lose DE Ken Barnes for the year – that’s two straight lost seasons for him. Week 8: Fort Wayne (4-3) at Lake Erie (4-3) Beyer gets his groove back, and pitches it around for 4 more TDs as we win 35-21. Our running game is pretty spotty – Almonte is having atough go of it, it seems. We’ve lost WR Andy Riley for the year, too – so we’re hurting a bit at the skill positions. Halfway through our season, here are our key stats: Code:
Well, we have a fierce passing game, but nothing else is really working that well. We are totally ineffective running the ball, and the only other thing we’re doing well is slowing down the passing game. Actualy, the defense is playing okay – but not exceptionally well. I’d like to see that 3.85 yards per carry come down under 3.5, and get us back into the top ten there, if not better. We’re causing turnovers, but we are turning the ball over this year, too. Last year might have been a little unrealistic – but we need to do better there. Beyer has a 20/12 ratio – we’d prefer more like 3/1. Week 9: Lake Erie (5-3) at Wheeling (4-4) We need to be winning games like this if we’re going to be serious contenders – and we get the win here. A solid defensive effort, with a TD scored by safety Tom Austin on a fumble, and we win 23-7. We get a week off, and hope to keep things rolling in high gear. I don’t have much hope for the running game to get a lot better, but the defense can certainly play better and keep us from getting into these awful shootouts. Week 11: Louisville (7-2) at Lake Erie (6-3) Big game, as the division might slip away from us if we lose here. Louisville plays well, and they take a 34-24 win – and we are officially in trouble. They ground it out on us for 158 yards, and that was the real difference. Week 12: Lake Erie (6-4) at Mazatlan (2-8) Mazatlan is one of the curced franchises in this league – they never get good, no matter what. We face them without RB Spencer Bauer, who has beenplaying injured all year but is now listed as out. We crush them, 34-5. Beyer is a sterling 26 of 31 for 268 and 5 TDs, a this facet of the team remains pretty wel intact. Shields remains our #1 guy, with Solwold playing a solid support role. Week 13: Lake Erie (7-4) at Manhattan (5-6) I predicted a drop for Manhattan, but I didn’t expect them to slide out of the playoffs. We play this week without RB Almonte as well as Bauer, as both are listed as out. So, FB Hamilton gets his first start at tailback, with rookie Johnston in reserve. Ouch. Edgar Beyer actually runs in for 58 yards and two TDs on the day, as we get an odd 20-14 win. Week 14: Kitty Hawk (6-6) at Lake Erie (8-4) Now, Almonte is back, but FB Hamilton is out – we can’t win in our backfield. Fortunately, we roll anyway, winning 51-10. Almonte gets 115 yards, and Beyer is solid again. CB Morris Hanks, out late-blooming star, gets his 9th interception on the season, and hauls it back 54 yards for the score. Week 15: Wheeling (6-7) at Lake Erie (9-4) We have a one game lead in the division on both OC and Louisville, so we need tostay in there – and win division games like this one. We get the 35-16 win in good fashion, again holding onto a big early lead. Week 16: Lake Erie (10-4) at Bermuda (8-6) Another solid win, 26-16, and our late-season streak gets better and better. We get two defensiv scores on interceptions by Melvin Shepard and Tom Austin, which certainly help the cause. Week 17: Lake Erie (11-4) at Ocean City (8-7) The Thrashers get the season sweep over us, as they rattle Edga Beyer and score twice on intereceptions. I’m hoping this gets the bad game out of Edgar’s system, so we cal get into the playoffs with it behind us. Code:
We end up getting our bye week, even though w fell short of being the “intimidating” team that we sought to be this season. A week off will serve us well, though. By the numbers, that Providence defense looks pretty tough. 214 points allowed? Code:
Well, QB Edgar Beyer got the mid-seaso message. After the halfway point, his ratio was a much improved 15/6, and for the season he gets back up over 2:1. Wit so little run support, it’s a wonder we were able to do as much as we did – everyone had to be dropping back into coverage every play. Our line play was poorer than usual, too – that doesn’t help the case, either. Next season, though, we will move Rod Barlow in at LT, and hopefully see him settle in and really deliver. WR Norm Shields broke out ina big way this year, assuming the role of “top target” for Edgar. Solwold was still solid, but we saw his share decline. Our move to the 3WR set also brought Cornel Pierce in a lot more as a slot receiver. With that trio and Beyer all locked up through 2016, we’ll have some synergy opportunities ahead. Defensively, we made more big plays than before – 51 sacks and 32 turnovers are both solid marks. We pushed in our linebackers a bit more, and that helped churn out a few more QB drops. Cumming and hogenkamp again had ncie seasons – maybe Commungs will get all-pro recognition. CB Morris Hanks is now, suddenly, our centerpiece defensive player, with 9 picks and 67+17 tackles (!) from the CB position. Now, he ought to get selected. 10th in yards per carry, 8th in yar per attempt – that’s not too bad, either. Big plays and pretty solid stats – that’s the kind of result we want from our defense. We head into the playoffs with Almonte dinged but starting, and Bauer starting at FB and getting used as a utility player everywhere. Divisional Playoff: Pensacola (10-6-1) at Lake Erie (11-5) Edgr Beyer goes on another ofhis major tears, and has 4 TD passes in a 112 minute stretch of the first half. We almost blow it, letting them get within 35-26, btu hold onn for our first playoff win in some time. Beyer tops the 400-yard mark as we commit early and often to the air game. However, we lose MLB Bob Cummings for the playoffs, and also suffer two more DL injuries – we are putting a skeleton crew out there, it’s a shame, really. Conference Championship: Nashua (12-5) at Lake Erie (12-5) We bach back and forth early on, and they hold a 10-7 lead at the half. In the third, we score to lead, but they score twice to pull away to 20-14. We get into scoring position late in the fourth, with a title game berth on the line. We are stopped at their 17 yard line, and decide to kick a FG to get within 3 points. However, they keep the ball from there – we don’t get our chance to get it back and try to atleast tie. It’s 20-17 Nashua – and they move on to the big one. Providence wins the title game 24-19, stifling the league with defense, even as the best teams are routinely led by great offenses. Code:
I’m pretty surprised that Edgar Beyer is again lauded for his season, though his prolific numbers are pretty dominant. He and WR Shields get the trip to the pro bowl, and I’m surprised that it’s Hogenkamp who joins them, and not MLB Cummings – must have been a functionof the competition. Regardless – a solid season, but falling a tad short of our hopes. |
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07-11-2003, 04:59 PM
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#67 | |
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College Benchwarmer
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Connecticut
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Quote:
I've been reading quietly. Keep up the good work, this is great. One comment. I see that the tie problem wasn't fixed as well as Jim indicated. 4 ties this season. Bummer.
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GM of the Milwaukee Muscle Men of the ZFL. The 1st team in ZFL history to have a perfect losing season. I am on a quest to show that the Dolphins can win the Super Bowl. Or should I say Front Office Bowl, with FOF2K7. The revival of an old favorite, FOFC Wrestling Dynasty |
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07-11-2003, 05:01 PM
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#68 |
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The boy who cried Trout
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: TX
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I'm starting to feel like a Saints fan here...
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07-11-2003, 05:09 PM
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#69 | |
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Pro Rookie
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Illinois
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Quote:
It may also have been due in part to his 20 defensed passes - that's a pretty healthy number for a LB. Great read, as usual, QS! Last edited by Fonzie : 07-11-2003 at 05:09 PM. |
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07-11-2003, 11:40 PM
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#70 |
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College Starter
Join Date: Oct 2000
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Tough ending again, but solid entertainment as usual.
Interesting stuff there with Hanks. Not something that I think I've seen that much in previous versions of the game. Was he really a complete break-out player in his seventh season? Unless I'm mistaken, that would be a nice addition to the game; it seems in the past that players would pretty much break-out right away or not at all, but unpredictable break-outs would make for a much more interesting player universe. |
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07-12-2003, 12:46 AM
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#71 | |
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College Starter
Join Date: Oct 2000
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dola...
Quote:
It wasn't too hard to figure out, but it took me a bit here. Correcting the numbers might make it easier to follow. Last edited by Godzilla Blitz : 07-12-2003 at 12:46 AM. |
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07-12-2003, 01:54 AM
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#72 | |
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Pro Rookie
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Illinois
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Quote:
I'm pretty certain this is indeed a new feature for FOF4. In my current career (in my 10th season) I've had perhaps two "journeyman" players experience a breakout year several seasons into their careers. In neither case was there anything I'd noticed to indicate he was about to drastically improve, and I agree that it's a wonderful little feature that Jim added. It really captures the "lightbulb went on upstairs" phenomena that we see in some NFL veterans who, after many years, finally "get it." Nice touch, Jim! |
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07-12-2003, 05:52 AM
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#73 |
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lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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Yes, CB Hanks was a pure and simple mid-carer breakout. Duringf training camp, most of his ratings leapt from about 40-50 immediately to the 85-95 range.
And Fonzie's comments are right on. (Ayyyyyyyyy!) I've seen it happen a few times before - always right between the 5th and 7th year, for what it's worth. |
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07-12-2003, 08:21 AM
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#74 |
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lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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Lake Erie Monsters – 2015 offseason
We start up another season, and have one retirement to handle. RB Spencer Bauer has decided it’s over, after struggling to stay healthy for the last three seasons or so. He’s in the top ten in career rushing yards, and was a very solid all-purpose back for us for many years. As already discussed – he might have a case for the Hall of Fame. My front office staff are locked into contracts – I don’t make any changes there. We start off the free agency process, and here is the lay of the land for us: Code:
Well, from this list, there are a few things clear. Both our starting safeties are up for new deals, so getting at least one of them back would certainly help with continuity. My two starting tackles are up for new deals – and even though I have Rod Barlow presumably ready to step in at LT, that’s a point of transition. And MLB Bob Cummings – who has proven to be such a good fit for us, is probably the next most obvious target. I like TE Shaun Beyer, but his return depends largely on his demands. If he’s reasonable, I’d be glad to have him back. But we don’t go to the TE all that often, and I’m not going to overpay for the position. But with Rusty Hamilton both hurt and without a contract, we’ll need a solid player for the FB/TE slot somewhere. LB Cummings wants about $7m a year. Not ridiculous, but pretty steep. SS Kenny Reeves wants just about the same money – also pretty steep. In fact, on my first walk through my own free agents, I don’t see anyone who immediately jumps out as a good, solid value. My only offer on the table right away is a cheap deal for reserve guard Stan Patton – not exactly a team-changing move. However, WR Andy Riley is being pretty fair – seeking about $3m a year. He’s pretty good, and as our 4th receiver he will still get some work – he scored 6 TDs in his last full season, before missing most of last year to injury. I think he’s a good deal, and put in an offer. Even though I don’t think he’s a great value, I also put in an offer for S Tom Austin. He has very good cover skills, and has a career PDPct of 20.2 – which is very good for a safety. His offer sheet amounts to $5.4m a year. I do find my usual litany of solid free agents to pursue for modest contracts. LB Omar Lyon naturally plays the strong side (occupied by Hogenkamp for us) but could certainly play on the weak side, and would be very solid there. If we land him and lose Cummings, he’ll certainly cushion the blow and step in as a starter. S Sean Acree is a pretty cheap, but well-rounded safety. Tackles Willie Andrews and Tommie Mallard are lured by the chance to battle for the starting job at RT. CB Zack Booker looks like a pretty decent contributor – but is only seeking the veteran minimum. With that, I think we have the cash to make a real plunge after a top-level free agent. The obvious places to do this would be at DE (where we are just talent-thin) and RB, where Bauer’s loss leaves a real space. DE makes the most sense to me – and I take a closer look at the cream of the crop. DE Tommy McCaffrey, an 11th year player from Little Rock, is probably the best guy available. 97.5 sacks in his career is impressive, but he’s only played 16 games one time in his 11 seasons – and has played in 9,12,6,12,9,3, and 11 games in his last seven seasons. For top dollar, this guy seems to lack durability. However – he is clearly the standout in talent, the only guy I’d pursue for top dollar if I had to. So, where else to spend money? Well, LB Cummings is the fairly obvious thing to consider. He wants $7m a year – we ought to be able to handle that, as our cap situation is actually pretty good right now. I put in a reasonable bid for him. RB Vernon Rand, curiously enough, is the top free agent at that position. That would be odd—we once thought he’d battle with Spencer Bauer for the league’s top honors. Rand flashed brilliance, but couldn’t really keep it together. He does have over 9,000 career rushing yards, but simply isn’t the guy he once was. I decide to put in an offer to WR Marvin Pettway, a very solid veteran who is oddly seeking a modest deal. I’m used to seeing giant demands from receivers, so this is a pleasant surprise. We pass a lot, and having a quality guy like him around would be a nice safety net. So, we head into the FA period with money to spend, but not a terribly aggressive plan of attack. I will probably have some cash left over in the late stages, and might be looking for a bargain player to sign short term. We’re either the top offer or already done with all our target players after the first week –a good sign. We have company pursuing MLB Bob Cummings, but my offer seems best. My TE Shaun Meyer has signed with Little Rock, and RB Vernon Rand has signed with Key West. So, two guys I had my eye on are no longer around. After week 2, MLB Bob Cummings takes our deal, and will return. However, we lose out on WR Marvin Pettway, who probably was promised a starting job by Mazatlan. S Tom Austin signs with us the following week, so our big money guys are aboard. After week five, we are done with all our targets, losing out only on WR Pettway. DT Emmitt Robbins is looking for over $12m a year, but might be the best defensive player left out there. My real need is at DE (where Martin Mangiafico is out for the season already, and Ken Barnes will miss much of this season, and may not be healthy when he returns), but a standout DT wouldn’t hurt either, and implicitly might let my other guys slide outside for more work there. But $12 or $13m a year is pretty steep. S Kenny Reeves takes a big deal from Ocean City, and joins the Thrashers across the division from us. I liked him, but I just prefer guys with slightly better cover skills – I think we’ll be okay using that $7m a year elsewhere. In week 11, DT David Hargett gets an offer from Nashua, and I am moved to match them. In week 13, he finally decides to accept our offer, for three more seasons. In the late stages of free agency, I grab FB Rex Monroe, who will probably step right in and start for us. I like him as a blocker and not a ball carrier – what I prefer from my FBs, all told. I then decide that I need to spend my money, and ink DE Cary Wallace – by my reckoning, the best DE out there, to a one year, $6m deal. I may be overpaying him, but we need somebody to play out there. I fill in with C Broderick Armstrong, but will be looking for a center in the rookie draft, after letting Pete Roberts and his lofty demands take a well-deserved walk. We now head into the rookie draft, where we can fill in and top off the team. Picking #29, we have little hope of seeing a super impact player, but if anyone worthwhile at DE slips to us, I’ll be more than happy to grab him – that is our need position by far. Regrettably, it looks like an unusually weak draft at DE – wouldn’t you know it. By our pick, the DL has been pretty well picked clean. I decide that need really is atop my list of concerns here, and so I go after a linebacker Jerry Deloach – who seems to have the size (264 lbs) to make the switch over to become a pass-rushing defensive end. It’s a risky move with my first round pick, but I feel like I need a contributor right away there. Fortunately, he does switch over pretty well, and I might have something here. Code:
DeLoach might turn out to be a nice pick for us, if e can develop at his new position. Darrow should become a solid run-stopping linebacker, where we are gaining some formidable depth. DT Sullivan might have great upside – he’s one of those mixed-bag types, but his good areas are in key spots. We receive a trade offer that isn’t too bad – Sacramento wants DT David Hargett. The offer passes the fairness test, and I take it – getting a 2nd round draft pick for the decent utility lineman. We hit training camp, and get everyone on track for the season ahead. Code:
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07-12-2003, 03:57 PM
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#75 |
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College Starter
Join Date: Oct 2000
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*cough* running back *cough*
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07-12-2003, 04:44 PM
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#76 |
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Pro Rookie
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Illinois
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*cough* what GB said *cough*
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07-12-2003, 07:54 PM
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#77 |
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lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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Well, my plan had been to draft a RB in the 2nd or 3rd round this season - but there were simply no good candidates. The guy I got in the 7th round was the guy who had been atop my list since round two - and he isn't much to look at, really. So, we'll have to wait a season to upgrade at RB, I fear.
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07-12-2003, 09:28 PM
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#78 |
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lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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2015 season
As I figure it, we have two seasons left, this year included, before it becomes near-impossible to keep this offense together. So, we need to make these two years count. I’m playing with fire without a serious backup to QB Edgar Beyer, but one thing he has been is pretty durable – let’s hope that continues. After the preseason, we get some really good news. DE Ken Barnes is upgraded to probable, and he looks pretty close to where he was before the injury. Good news – I thought he might be gone for good. SO, if we get him back and healthy, that could really help our defense a good deal this year – and we hadn’t been counting on much of anything from him. Week 1: Wheeling at Lake Erie We kick off at home, and get a solid 23-6 win over division rivals Wheeling. We get bad news, though, as RB Randall Almonte is injured – and will miss about five weeks. That puts pressure onto young J.J. Johnston, who will step in to start for a while. Week 2: Lake Erie (1-0) at Sacramento (1-0) Sacramento, usually a walkover, looks tough as they beat us 24-6 here. We abandon the running game, predictably, and Beyer and Kidman in relief have 3 interceptions on the day. That overshadows a great game by DT Courtney Gilmore, with 11 tackles and 3 sacks. And my earlier bad news about DE Barnes is taken back. When I activate him, his new ratings become apparent – and he’s now worthless after all. Too bad. Week 3: Lake Erie (1-1) at Pensacola (1-1) We get drubbed here, 28-0 – and I am now truly worried about the team. We get crushed twice in a row, and this shouldn’t be happening to us. We really, really need the break that comes now – as we try to regroup and get ourselves together. I send DE Barnes to injured reserve, and sign a so-so free agent running back in Eddie Lowe, who will immediately get into the picture for us. He’s a decent receiver – and we need some help, for sure. Week 5: Lake Erie (1-2) at Cheyenne (1-2) We eke out a 16-13 win, and avoid a disaster. A 1-3 start might have sent us downward for good – but 2-2 seems recoverable. Our running game remains dormant, but we get over 300 yards from Beyer, and it’s enough. Week 6: Napa Valley (1-4) at Lake Erie (2-2) Okay – maybe the bumpy part of the ride is over now. With RB Almonte and WR Shields both back from injuries, we get rolling again, and a 34-9 win. Beyer connects for 368 yards and 4 TDs, and we look sharp for the first time all season. WR Andy Riley is now filling in for Cornell Pierce, but he has been on fire – with 478 yards in four games. Week 7: Tijuana (5-0) at Lake Erie (3-2) We trade FGs in the final minute – there is to tie us, and then we respond with the game winner, 23-20. Decent game, and we get a big win over a potentially top-level foe. Week 8: Lake Erie (4-2) at Tulsa (2-4) We get a 27-17 win, and seem to be back on track now. WR Norm Shields regains his sense as the #1 threat, with a 206-yard, 2 TD game here. But Randall Almonte is hurt again – and we need to reshuffle the RB slot yet again. Week 9: Ocean City (4-4) at Lake Erie (5-2) Ocean City gets a TD on an interception by Kenny Reeves – sweet justice for him, as we let him go there via free agency. That spells the difference, as they win it 25-17. Beyer threw for 472 yards, but had 3 picks along the way and we get the L. So, halfway through our season we have been up and down. Here’s where our main stats lie: Code:
We obviously cannot run the ball, and don’t even try. Our passing game is strong, but we are turning the ball over way too much. The defense is playing well, and we expect to have CB Shifflett back now, which ought to help also. We need to start causing some turnovers – only 5 in 8 games isn’t nearly enough pressure on the opposing offenses. Week 10: Lake Erie (5-3) at Wheeling (6-2) Wheeling dishes out a 24-14 win over us, and hurts our chances of staying in the real division hunt. They outrush us 152-40, and that’s a margin that’s very tough to overcome. RB Almonte, back from his injury to start here, is hurt again (his third injury already this season) and will miss a few more weeks. Ouch. Week 11: Lake Erie (5-4) at Louisville (4-5) We really need a win here, and for this to be the start of a turnaround. We deliver on the first half – as we get a 23-13 win, to get to 6-4 on the season. Missing basically three games due to injury, Norm Shields has really recovered—he’s already up to 931 yards on the season, including a string of six straight 100+ days, with 6 TD over that stretch. Week 12: Memphis (2-7-1) at Lake Erie (6-4) We inexplicably choke here and lose 24-6 – how? Four turnovers (three fumbles) and a lousy day overall from Edgar Beyer add up to an ineffective performance all around. Standing at 6-5, we are going to have to work hard just to get back into the playoff picture at all. Week 13: Nashua (6-5) at Lake Erie (6-5) We rebound with a 33-20 win, and that certainly helps. It’s a late TD by LB Hogenkamp that helps seal the deal – and we get a crucial win as we enter the stretch of the season. Week 14: Lake Erie (7-5) at Puget Sound (5-7) We actually get a little bit of a running game going, and we win this one 19-13. We have 124 yard on the ground, but plenty came from misdirection plays and the like. However, now we’ve lost CB Morris Hanks for several weeks – the injuries are just getting absurd. Week 15: Lake Erie (8-5) at Ocean City (7-6) Big game for the division standings, needless to say. With a hard-fought 13-10 win, we move to 9-5, and a game ahead of Wheeling for the division’s top spot. We need to keep it going – but these margins are not reassuring. Week 16: Death valley (7-7) at Lake Erie (9-5) A 45-27 shootout win gets us to 10 on the season, and keeps up our momentum. Defensive linemen Jerry DeLoach and Brad Turk both score TDs on fumbles in the cause. Week 17: Louisville (7-8) at Lake Erie (10-5) With a win here, remarkably, we’d be able to lock up a bye week. Key West has come from nowhere to roll to 14-1 and the top seed, but we’ll be right in there, especially with a win this week. But, we’ll have do go it without Randall Almonte, who is hurt again. We get our win 28-14, and wrap up the season at 11-5. After being very worried about making the playoffs at all, we again got onto a late season tear and secured a good spot. Code:
327 points is the lowest total we’ve managed in quite some time – we definitely slipped this season overall. But Key West certainly has risen quickly to look very tough. Code:
Edgar Beyer had another pretty solid season, but was a bit off his last two stellar seasons. A 27/17 Td/Int ration is okay, but not top-notch. The running game was clearly a mess – and its disappearance is obviously a major contributing factor to our struggles. WR Norm Shields had an unbelievable season – and recall, he only played in 13 games! In 456 pass plays, he managed to re-write our single season record book. Had he had three more full games, he might have topped 2,000 yards! Mitchell Pierce was hurt for much of the season, but Andy Riley did well filling in for both him and Shields. LT Rod Barlow got hurt mid-season, and our line had to be reshuffled. He looks fine for the postseason, and will hope to be ready to help a lot. On defense, LB Marshall Hogenkamp had another excellent year, as our standout (especially as MLB Cummings was injured on and off all year). DT Gilmore and DE DeLoach had 6 and 5 sacks, to help our diversified attack – which netted a mediocre 42 sacks. We simply did not cause enough big plays with this defense. 2nd against the run in ypc and 9th against the pass in ypa is very good – but we need a sprinkling of big plays to help things out, also. Divisional Playoff: Pensacola (9-8) at Lake Erie (11-5) Edgar hits early for two first quarter TD passes, and we go on from there for a 23-7 win. It’s our solid defense that keeps it working, and Edgar’s 396 yards passing. WR Norm Shields has his third 200 yard day of the season. And now, we head to Key West to take on the upstart Kingfishers, who are rolling like nobody’s business this year. Conference Championship: Lake Erie (12-5) at Key West (16-1) We bring CB Morris hanks back, and he will play hurt for this game. S Jason Connell is now out – meaning that our secondary is pressed super-thin. We are hobbled badly for this game all over – but we’re ready to play. The big issue is stopping reigning offensive player of the year RB Darrell McCormick. He’s their do-everything back, and had nearly 2,400 yards in total offense this season – probably sending him home with an MVP award. Now, we need to try to rein him in, somehow. In the game, McCormick bangs and bangs, and he breaks through our defense for 160 yards on 34 carries. They get a solid 21-0 lead in the first half, due to good running and capable offsetting passing. We rally in the second half, but our 12 points falls short, and this year’s juggernaut Kingfishers are heading to the big game. Key West gets nipped by Ypsilanti in the finals, 28-26, to deny them their obviously expected title. QB Brad Powell, a cheap free agent signee by Ypsilanti, earns the game MVP honors – and played a key role in leading them to the top this year. Code:
Well, WR Norm Shields certainly earned his all-pro berth this season, but nobody else gets a call. We see CB Scottie Gaines on the list this season, a former player of ours, as well as T Rufus Coffey – another one of our guys who got away. Pretty good season – but I probably erred by not spending sufficiently to shore up the RB position. That’s something we can be sure to fix for the season ahead, as this is the last year of QB Beyer’s rookie contract coming up, and I forecast big financial upheaval after the 2016 season. This is it, gang. |
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07-13-2003, 08:56 AM
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#79 |
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lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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2016 offseason
Well we’re in a tough spot now. We’ve been a solid playoff team for most of the last several years, but our one trip to the title game went for naught. The fans are understandably restless, and as I look at our contract situation, I feel like this season is perhaps our “last, best” chance to get there. We’ve been spared any retirements – so we have a full range of choices for the coming season. My coach, Bucky Gardner, is seeking a new contract. We re-up with him – he remains very solid, a great play-calling coach on game day. Code:
We have over $40 million in usable cap space, but we honestly don’t have a single “must have” player on our list without a contract. LB Trevor Hylton is very solid, and actually he might be better than Bob Cummings at this point—but Cummings is already securely signed, and Hylton is asking for a huge salary. S Jason Connell has been a solid reserve for us, and would be a potential starter – but he, too, is replaceable- and is seeking a big deal. DT Courtney Gilmore is probably the closest to a “must sign” player here, but even he is certainly replaceable. He wants a $10m/season deal, and is certainly not the kind of towering superstar that usually gets that kind of money, at least from our team. Admittedly, with not only Hylton but also Godfrey and Landry up for a new deal, we are going to need some additions at linebacker. But it doesn’t necessarily have too be any of these guys. We’ve got work to do – and money to spend. Looking around at the open FA market, I find some places to spend all this cap space. RB Nicky Dylla was a top-tier running back last season for Niagara Falls, gaining 1,253 yards rushing and another 972 receiving. Wow. He’s a very solid back – that will cost a fortune, but after last season, I think the value of having top-level production there is tough to argue against. I make him an offer of 2 years, $24 million. QB Billy Joe Mason hasn’t played much for Puget Sound, but we think he has serious potential. We offer him a three year deal, and target him for the backup spot behind Edgar Beyer. Very affordable. DE Riddick Borgerson is a positively fearsome pass rusher. He’s not a topped-out plauyer in ratings, but his remarkable 41 sacks in the last two seasons have gotten him to the pro bowl twice, and atop the league sack board. I will make a push to add his formidable presence to our largely-vacated defensive line. We make a 4yr, $35m offer. DT Eric Waggoner is a pass-rushing DT, who can also help with our pass rush. He’s not my prototype run-stopper, but might help get to the QB on passing downs. A 3yr deal, cheap. I get together a deal for DT Courtney Gilmore, for $30m over three years. I’m really not sure he’s worth it, but since we’ve had so much trouble at DT, I decide to suck it up and give him a deal. If nobody else pursues him, I may try to weasel it down to be more affordable – if he leaves, it’s not so bad. I also put in a fairly cheap deal for S Shawn Dugans, who has been a nice reserve for us, and is only looking for a shade over veteran minimum. Even with all those deals done (including $10m for Gilmore), we’d still come out of this with a little cash to spend. We’ll go in from here, and be on the lookout for more bargain buys as we go. After the first week of free agency, we have company in pursuit of RB Nicky Dylla, needless to say. We also do with DE Borgerson – SSM is trying to retain him, which might be a problem. I decide to make the last year of my offer to Borgerson voidable, in a further inducement. With Dylla, I decide to go with a slightly higher bid - $40m over three years, with a void if he tops 1,4000 yards next season. Risky, of course, but he looks like a very important piece to our puzzle, I think. I withdraw my offer sheet to DT Gilmore – he’s not being pursued by anyone else, so I back burner him, even though I suspect we’ll be the ones signing him in the end. RB Nicky Dylla accepts our heavy, incentive-laden offer, and we now have a new feature back. The fact that he nearly topped the 1,000/1,000 mark last year is very exciting to us—and we hope that he can deliver for us. At week four, DE Borgerson is still mulling over his options. Meanwhile, DT Courtney Gilmore has just gotten his first outside offer. I come in with 2yrs, $18 million – and will try to keep him around for the next two seasons this way – without a huge long term deal. Louisville, however, has a five year deal on the table. In week six, DE Riddick Borgerson accepts our offer – I’m thrilled. The next week, DT Courtney Gilmore spurns Louisville, and re-signs with us. Our defensive line is taking shape, though we could probably use one more journeyman type to help out if we suffer injuries. I’m still waiting for QB Billy Joe Mason, and decide to replace my offer with a slightly smaller one. We are his only pursuers – maybe he’ll get the message. He snaps up the new offer, losing about $1 million on the process of waiting for something better to come along. We have about $6.4 million in usable cap space – enough to grab a fill-in player or two, perhaps. DT Deron Newton looks like a good fit for us inside – a decent player for $2m per season. LB Gilbert Austin is also pretty cheap, and will fit us all right. I surprisingly lose out on LB Austin, but we do land DT Newton. With LB Godfrey and Landry still awaiting deals, I think I can probably re-up with one of them a bit cheaper, so I’ll hold on to a little cash here. We head into the rookie draft, with a slightly different situation that usual. We have a number of roster holes that will need to be filled—QB, RB, G, OLB. I have some flexibility with how we spend our top selection, but since we’re all the way down at #29, it probably will come down to what’s left to pick amongst. What’s left is not much at all. I decide to deal out of the first round – sending this pick and my 4th rounder to Napa Valley in exchange for their first rounder next year, a potentially pretty good pick. They accept. This will also free up a little dough for a free agent re-signing, like LB Godfrey, for example. Code:
In the second round, with an extra pick, we grab a couple of linebackers who look like they can be productive down the road. FB Guajardo might be a future starter for us – a great blocker and marginal receiver. RB Arbuckle will play backup this season, while RB Shello is a utility man – maybe even better suited to play at wideout. We work through our own roster – and I’m pleased to see that S Jason Connell is interested in returning to us. We work out a new 3 yr deal for the all-around utility man, a guy I do like. We also work out a new three year deal with LB Kennedy Godfrey, who will take some pressure off the new arrivals at LB. I do move RB Rex Shello over to flanker, where he will be our 5th receiver, and sometimes punt returner. Might be a pretty good value – after the switch he looks a little better. I fill in the remaining slot at QB with another knockaround guy, Dwight Reilly. He’ll be #3 on our depth chart for this year, playing for the minimum. This means goodbye to Ricardo Kidman, who stuck to his demands of about $3m a year – too much for a low-talent backup. I really want to sign RB Wade Michalske, who had a great year with Providence last season – but it just doesn’t work out – he want about $2.5 million, and without making a pretty serious cut, I can’t do it. Randall Almonte is also seeking pretty big dollars, and we’ll let him walk also. Well, I didn’t exactly sell off the future to get this team together (as I was thinking I might have to do) but I think we are better off now than before. We’re understandably excited about the addition of RB Nicky Dylla, who ought to help transform this offense. We filled in well on defense, and unless we get another horrid rash of injuries, ought to remain a serious force on that side of the ball. Here’s our after-camp situation: Code:
Very disturbing news, that DE Riddick Borgerson – fresh off a huge contract with us, seems to be a great deal lesser player than we had imagined. I don’t know if he was injured late last season or what – but the guy we have is not at all the guy we were pursuing in free agency. (4/5 run defense, 54/62 pass rush technique) Very disappointing – instead of getting a stud, we might have ourselves a dud. We’ll probably be pressing more on young DE Jerry DeLoach than expected – at least he is developing very nicely. Young LB Darnell Blankenship also looks like he will disappoint. He’s a shade lesser after camp than before – and typically that trend doesn’t reverse. Shame. I’m worried about the defense now – I don’t know what would be best for us to do. I guess we will rotate in DE Borgerson as planned, and hope that he is productive despite the decline in his ratings. We really needed an upgrade at DE, and we were counting on him to come through for us big time. Ouch. |
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07-13-2003, 11:57 AM
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#80 |
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Coordinator
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Maassluis, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
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What's Dylla's age?
I mean, he's a 6th year RB, that could mean he'll likely drop in skills and production after the contract or in the last year, if not already in the second year. Or are you hoping he's your Marshall Faulk? Was Borgerson in a terrible defense (and especially defensive line) last season? That could explain the big # of sacks. |
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07-13-2003, 01:39 PM
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#81 | |
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lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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Quote:
Dylla is 28 this year - so a decline is possible, but not necessarily imminent. If he plays well through our three years, he will be a bit riskier for another contract. But yes - Marshall Faulk is exactly what I have in mind for him, to be our main RB and also a major weapon in the passing game. He seems ideally suited for the task. Borgerson played for Sault Ste. Marie last season, and they were generally pretty weak on defense. That certainly could have something to do with his excellent production - though to get 20 sacks twoce, you have to be pretty good. Regardless, what happened to Borgerson after he signed with us is the real mystery-- all his ratings suddenly dropped by about 30-40 points. He hwas been rated about 85/90 in pass rushing technique, and that dropped to 54/62. His run defense rating similarly dropped from a mediocre 40-45 or so to a dreadful 4/5. So, the mystery is not how did he put up great stats with the lousy ratings... the mystery is what happened to his very solid ratings after we gave him a $7 million signing bonus? |
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07-13-2003, 01:40 PM
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#82 |
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lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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2016 season
We lead Ypsilanti 100-84 in the roster rating, a testament to the squad we have built. We are about sixth in the power ratings – a 59, while Ypsilanti is a 70. In the preseason, we get through with fairly few injuries. So, we head into the season, looking to exert some more offensive power with a rejuvenated running attack. Week 1: Ocean City at Lake Erie It’s not an overpowering win, but a 20-10 victory sets the right tone. Dylla has 63 yards rushing, plus 90 yards receiving and a score. Good debut – there’s every indication that he will be the all-purpose weapon that we lacked last year. Week 2: Norfolk (1-0) at Lake Erie (1-0) We’ve been a little shaky at home these last few seasons, and here we stumble, losing 20-17 to the Carriers, who are led by QB J.R. Newhart. It’s tough to single out the problem – Dylla ran for 90 yards and we played reasonably well on offense, but they held the ball and ground out yardage all day to beat us. We’be lose DE Jerry DeLoach for several weeks, thinning out our defensive front a bit more. Week 3: Lake Erie (1-1) at Cheyenne (1-1) We get an impressive 38-12 win here, as RB Nicky Dylla catches 3 TD passes from Edgar Beyer. So much for working up to some chemistry between those two – Dylla’s 118 yards almost puts him to 200 yards from scrimmage for the game. We also got TDs from Trent Austin (kickoff return) and Sean Acree (interception return). Sweet. Week 4: Lake Erie (2-1) at Niagara Falls (0-3) We edge them with a 30-27 win, but it’s still a win. It takes a tying FG with 16 second left, and a winning FG in overtime, but we escape the Falls with a W. Dylla has all 16 carries for our team (unusual) and Beyer rediscovers Norm Shields for 156 yards and a score. Week 5: Wheeling (2-2) at Lake Erie (3-1) We get off to a great start here, but then cough it away – Wheeling’s RB Darren Jefferson gets two fourth quarter rushing TDs, and they tie it, then win it in OT, 23-20. It’s not a terrible loss, but we are looking to open up this offense – and 20 points is shooting pretty low. Week 6: Key West (3-2) at Lake Erie (3-2) Need a win here – but we’re up against the defending conference champions. We come through all fired up, and win this one 40-7, sending the Kingfishers to a tough 3-3 start. Nicky Dylla catches his 7th TD pass in six games – he as scored in all but one of our games thus far. WR Pierce is out for a few weeks, but we have depth enough to move players around there. Andy Riley will get a few starts, and Solwold will stay in the slot. Week 7: Manhattan (2-4) at Lake Erie (4-2) Edgar Beyer has 5 TD passes, and leads us to a 38-28 win. WR Norm Shields has 154 yards and 3 scores – he is back on track for another very big season as well. Week 8: Lake Erie (5-2) at Nashua (3-4) Another pretty high-flying affair, as we win 34-21. 2 TD each from Dylla and Shields (who has 226 yards receiving), and we have the offense rolling like I had hoped it could. We also registered 7 sacks on the day – buoying our pass pressure, which I think is a key to the defense’s success. That gets us halfway through the season. Oddly enough, everyone else in the division stands at 5-2, so we’re far from home free. Let’s look at the numbers: Code:
Well, our running game has leapt forward more than I could have hoped. We don’t run the ball all that much, but Dylla has certainly helped us get something for it when we do so. And our passing game has never been more efficient, I don’t think. We’re rolling along on offense, looking very good. Defensively – blah. We remain tough against the pass, but are pretty easy to run against. MLB Cummings has been out for a while, and out DL situation remains murky – that’s certainly a factor. But we ought to be able to do better than this – that’s apriority. Incidentally, through 8 games, WR Norm Shields has 1,007 yards. The record is 1,870 – for what that’s worth. Dylla has 1,039 yards from scrimmage through the first half, and 10 TDs. Week 9: Lake Erie (6-2) at Ocean City (5-2) Down 13-0 early, we rally back with two TD passes from Beyer to Shields, and rack up a nice 17-13 win. And now, after our bye week, we will get DE DeLoach back – hopefully to add a new spark to our defensive attack. Week 11: Lake Erie (7-2) at Louisville (6-3) We thunder to a 34-17 win, with Edger Beyer very sharp again. Our team is actually in pretty good health all around – and we are playing well overall. Nice to see, actually. Week 12: Hawk Mountain (2-8) at Lake Erie (8-2) We take a break from our tough divisional schedule, and beat the Sharpshins 24-10. The bad news is that DT Courtney Gilmore is hurt, and out for the year. That could be bad news for us for the long term, too. Week 13: Pensacola (6-5) at Lake Erie (9-2) We put together a mighty effort at home, and trash the Panhandlers 38-0. Our three big offensive stars shine again—Beyer has 4 TDs, 3 to Shields, and Dylla has one rushing and one receiving. Week 14: Lake Erie (10-2) at Providence (7-5) Providence has the reputation of being a big, bruising team with a tough defense. And they beat us here 30-22 by playing their game – running for 166 yards and controlling the clock. We’ve now lost DE Brad Turk for the year – the DL situation is getting bleak again, with four guys listed as “out.” Week 15: Louisville (6-7) at Lake Erie (10-3) We gain a nice 41-13 win here, as we get MLB Tom Cummings back from his injury, and are able to switch LB Godfrey to play outside at the DE spot (where we are desperate for help). No big plays from the defense, but the offense was rolling anyway. Week 16: Lake Erie (11-3) at Texarkana (9-5) We gat a good 31-17 win here, and stay in the race for the top seed in the conference. This year, it’s Tijuana – and they are even with us at 12-3. I think we have them in conference record, but have to win to keep it secure. Week 17: Lake Erie (12-3) at Wheeling (10-5) With our top seed within reach, we roll the Dealers 21-3, and secure the top seed in the conference. Another very good game for us overall, with the defense carrying the big load. Code:
Norfolk looks pretty tough from the other conference, but we’ll have our hands full just getting that far, as there will be tough teams in our way, for certain. I am disappointed by the 9-7 showing of Napa Valley – I had hoped they would flutter in with 4 or 5 wins, giving me a top draft pick again. Code:
So, Edgar Beyer tops 40 TD passes, which is a new league record. He gets the new league mark in completions, yards, and TDs in this record-setting season. Actually, he breaks J.R. Newhart’s mark (from when he was with us) by over 500 yards, and now Lake Erie QBs have the top six seasons of all. RB Nicky Dylla just barely got his 1,000 yards rushing, and along with his mark in receiving – he’s the first back in league history to get the double-thousand mark. And his 18 combined TDs is pretty impressive as well. And of course, there’s WR Norm Shields. His season marks new league records for receptions, yards, and receiving TDs. He and Beyer each grab three league season record in this unbelievable outburst of a year. Interesting question, though—who gets the vote for MVP? Beyer, I suspect. Defensively, not a great year. Wed did post 61 sacks, which is pretty impressive – actually, it’s second only to Ypsilanti. In efficiency, we were okay - a little bit above average, actually. LB Hogenkamp played very well, yet again. And we got some help with pass pressure from our new additions Waggoner and Borgerson. LB Godfrey deserves special note for being a solid fill-in everywhere we needed him – first at MLB, then the weak side, and then as a pass-rushing defensive lineman. Not a stellar effort, but they didn’t fall apart and give our offense that much to worry about. We are vulnerable to a power running game right at us, but not that many teams have the discipline to stick with that, I think. Postseason Wrap-Up Divisional Playoff: Key West (9-8) at Lake Erie (13-3) Our top seed gets us out of playing Fort Wayne here, but we get a down-but-not-out Key West team that beat us in last year’s playoffs. This turns out to be no problem, as Edger Beyer is poised and sharp, and we get three TD passes from him to turn an early 3-3 split into a 24-3 final. WRs Shields and Pierce both top 100 yards, as we’re getting primed for the final games. Conference Championship: Tijuana (14-3) at Lake Erie (14-3) It’s a chilly 21 degrees – maybe this will be bad for the River Raiders, who are a warm-climate team, of course. Tijuana is the latest “strike it rich” team to come from nowhere, and like most – their formula is the same. They made a key pickup among the “no bidder” free agents, and rose from the ashes. They grabbed two defensive ends for about $1 million each, and now have both guys starting and together they have 26.5 sacks. For basically no investment, they have a fierce pass rush – for one year. Tijuana’s QB Kirk Cortez hits his top RB Marco Cunningham for two TD passes in the third quarter, and our early 21-7 lead is gone. We battle through the fourth quarter to a near standstill, but Cortez drives them into position, and with 25 second remaining, they kick the FG to lead 24-21. We get only a couple plays to try to rebound, but can’t get it going – and Tijuana again leaves us at the altar and goes on without us. In the championship game, it’s Death Valley (who upset Norfolk in their conference final), but they get nipped by Tijuana, 19-17. It’s the first time the title actually leaves the country – and the River Raders celebrate in high spirits. Code:
Well, all three of our stars get their first team honors – I’m actually surprised that Dylla did, since his rushing total was pretty modest. Hogenkamp and Acree get laurels for defensive play, which is a nice addition. Beyer has his third MVP in four seasons, but still has a hand without rings. And the season ahead will involve some pretty serious work on the team. I don’t know if this high-flying machine can stay together. What will it take to re-sign both Edger Beyer and Norm Shields, both coming off sensational record-shattering years? |
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07-13-2003, 09:48 PM
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#83 |
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College Starter
Join Date: Oct 2000
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Damn, I thought this would be THE year.
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07-14-2003, 04:07 AM
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#84 | |
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Coordinator
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Maassluis, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
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Maybe 2017 will be the year...
Quote:
Maybe Jim injected a code to make the ratings represent the stats in the FA period and represent the true skills after training camp? (I think that is what I would use in a text sim.) A coach who is bad in DL? He seems to have done his job pretty well, presuming you used him as a pass rush only DE, with 9.5 sacks and 13 hurries. Did the AC West trash the NC South 13-3, or something like that? |
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07-14-2003, 04:58 AM
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#85 |
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n00b
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Vienna, Austria
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I'd think that (B)orgerson is a simple case of 6th year bust. opposite to the 6th year breakout, that happened with the cb some seasons ago.
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07-14-2003, 06:26 AM
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#86 | ||
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lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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Quote:
While this conjecture is interesting, there's nothing to support this as a wholesale effect in FOF4. It's not something you see with any regularity. Quote:
Yup, that's my read, too. Seems to happen somewhere in years 5-7, with a pretty small share of players. They just get a wholesale readjustment of their skills - often for the good, but apparently not always. Last edited by QuikSand : 07-14-2003 at 06:26 AM. |
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07-14-2003, 09:21 AM
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#87 |
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lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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2017 offseason
Okay – the “window” has passed, and we are still without a title. We’ll see how this offseason progresses, and go from here. The list of league retirees is getting longer – but we are spared yet again. RB Vernon Rand is on the list – a name I recognize, as the longtime RB for Ocean City. I guess he does get the last laugh over Spencer Bauer (my guy), as he ends up with about 1,700 more yards for his career. I expect Rand will be a hall of famer, too. My scout, Deon Bridges , is 61 and looking for a new contract. He’s still the best guy available, and I re-up with him for another three year deal. I am deeply relieved to see that I had made a mental error. I had thought that WR Norm Shields was due for a new contract this season, and that we’d be in a heap of trouble trying to lock him up. Instead, I find that’s not true – Shields has one more year on his deal, meaning that we’ve got a little more going for us than I had imagined. And so, our focus can be on Beyer this season, while the other two parts of our newly-assembled “power trio” are already in place. Very good news. Here’s the roster situation: Code:
Okay – we have 13 spots to fill via free agency, and about $33 million to spend. And the first and foremost thing we will need to do is take care of our QB Edgar Beyer – we cannot go forward without him, end of story. Beyer is seeking $83m over four years – a shade more than $20, a season. I have no idea if he will get offers in that range— depends whether people see his performance as a function of our system or his talents. I just see a perfect fit, and a guy I need to keep around, at almost any cost. We’re very close to winning it all – can’t let that go away over a million here and a million there. I put in an initial offer of $92 million over four years – right about at his target level. I’m hoping that I’m alone in the bidding, and that we can work something out over the FA process. But I will not be blindsided and see him swept away without a good offer on the table. Next on the list of priorities is the CB position, where both of our starters as well as longtime veteran Donny Shifflett, are up for new contracts, and both Hanks ($16m) and Booker ($9m) are asking for pretty big money. This will be a tricky one – as there are rarely any truly cheap options at the CB position at any age. Hanks and Booker are rated #1 and #3 among the free agent corners, so I don’t expect any bargains. I start to forage around among the free agents. I find two cheap linemen: T Mike Shepherd and G Sam Briggs, who should be very nice pickups for us, at under $2m each. And DB Lonnie Schroeder, who is listed as a safety, but I plan to try out at corner – he could be a nice nickel guy for a very low salary, if he can make the switch. FB Rusty Hamilton is willing to play for only $1.6m a year, and he gets a new two year deal. At wide receiver, we have a problem. D.J. Solwold has been a nice player for us, but his demands for $6m a year are just well beyond what we can afford. WR Cornell Pierce also wants $6m a year, and it’s pretty unlikely that we can do that, either. So, we’re in jeopardy of really thinning out our WR ranks if we lose those two. Second year man Rex Shello might be ready to be our 4th or 5th, but not our 3rd receiver (who is basically a starter for us). We need to make a move of some sort here. WR Devin Tetreault is a guy I really wanted in the rookie draft (but got Cornell Pierce instead). Now he’s looking for a contract, after serving as a utility man for Sacramento. I leap at the chance, and make him a three year offer – he’s not asking for all that much, really. I think he’d be a great fit. I have six offers in, and am basically ready to go. If we get Beyer, it will be a squeeze everywhere else. If not, we’ll have money to spend to try to compensate. I am surprised that Edgar Beyer immediately accepts our offer, and is signed. Done deal. So, that wipes out $18.5m of our cap space – now, what do we do? Morris Hanks has cashed in, getting a 4yr deal from Fort Worth. And I’m pending for all my lower-tier players. After week four, we have S Lonnie Schroeder signed. Our scouts think he might be able to make the switch over to play cornerback, and maybe be a nickelback for us. He’s fairly agreeable, and we re-slot him. (He takes a hit, but not a terrible one) In week eight, we have the last of our target players signed. Everybody is on board. We have over $7m in cap space remaining, and around seven spots to fill. DE Borgerson is a troubling case in this mix, too. He’s making $8.75m this year, but his ratings are dreadfully poor now. Regardless, he tagged 9.5 sacks last season just playing part time – so he can still get it done a bit. On the defensive line, what choices do we really have? DeLoach is my only other signed DE, though we are okay on the inside. I take a cap hit of over $5m nest year if we cut Borgerson, which is almost as bad as having him at his salary. It’s tough. My first move is to try and re-sign DE Dana Sanders, who listens to a deal for just over $1m. That’s pretty good value, and he’s a passable 4th end. My problem is that right now, he might be our 2nd best guy. I’m excited by the possibility of one remaining re-signing. WR Henry Penrice is a 14th year player, but he’s the guy all over the WR record books. He has 812 career receptions, 12,736 receiving yards, and 78 receiving TDs. And he’s looking for a late-career contract to keep playing. We’re a WR-friendly offense if there ever was one, and I’m up for giving him a deal. He also wears two championship rings, and I’d love to see him get another one with us. He agrees to our deal – but this almost certain spells the end of our time with WR Pierce and Solwold, as we now have out top four spots all locked up. As the FA process is ending, I decide that I want to let DE Riddick Borgerson go. I’ll take a cap hit next season, but this frees up $7 million this year, and I think I have an opportunity to do better with that money right now. We make a 4yr, $27m offer to DE Dominick Smith, who has been in the DE rotation for Memphis for his four years in the league after being their 4th pick in the 2013 draft. I think he has real potential, and should give us what we wanted from Borgerson originally. And we head into the rookie draft with numerous holes to fill, and probably one or more cuts lying ahead – as we have stretched the budget to its limit, I think. We hold pick #29 in round one, and will certainly be lucky to grab an immediate impact player there. I’m always looking for DL help, and this year is no exception. However, the obvious thing for us is the desperate need at cornerback, where we currently have only two very untested players in residence. Some work is needed here, to be sure. If we can land a pair of playable guys at CB, that would be a godsend. So, I check out the CBs in the draft, of course. It’s a mixed group, overall. Nobody in there I’d consider a sure-fire star, but there are a few that I’d be happy to take in the late first round, considering my situation. I doubt that I’ll be able to get back-to-back quality guys, though. One possibility here is that we might end up changing the style of our secondary. I have been a predominantly man-up cover team, but if the best young corners we can acquire are better at zone or bump, we will be open to a switch. As the first round is unfolding, there are two guys who look intriguing. We just missed out on a pretty strong DE who might have lured me off the path, so now I’m really just looking at corners. CB Terrell George is a solid guy, with upsides of around 60-75 in most of the key coverage areas. His best rating is in man coverage – a good sign for my style – and he also has a good skill with interceptions, which I value, too. Solid prospect. The other guy is Harold Londesbrough, who is a much more “mixed bag” type of player. Not so great in man coverage, Londesbrough has some tremendous upside in zone defense and run coverage – he might prove to be a better all-around player in time, even if he’s not the skilled cover man that George looks to be. Another intriguing player – neat possibilities. (He’s also got a pretty solid punt return skill) I also should mention CB Graham Moseley, who is a bit on the lightweighted side when it comes to run support, but is otherwise a pretty highly regarded cover man. He might actually have more upside as a cover man than Terrell George, but he similarly has a low rating in play diagnosis. That makes three viable picks out there, as I am about ten picks away. CB Moseley foes with pick #21, and then Terrell George at pick #24. So, suddenly, our hopes at #29 are down to one guy – the most interesting guy on the board, CB Harold Londesbrough. Londesbrough falls to us at #29, and I decide he’s the guy to take here. We’ll have to wait and see the big picture before settling on a matter of philosophy, but he ought to be pretty ready to play right away, which is a plus for us right now. We make a draft-day deal with Memphis, and will end up switching first round picks with them next season. They get a draft upgrade this season, but I have hopes that it will benefit us next year. Code:
I’m intrigued by Londesbrough, who might be a real character. DE Beecroft looks better suited to play outside than inside, where he was originally listed. And my needs are greater at DE, so he switches. CB Elgar looks like he might be okay – but I don’t know if he can play now. We fill in with the remaining picks, and I feel okay about this draft. Manhattan steps up and makes a trade offer I cannot decline. They need an offensive tackle, and want Willie Andrews. I started him at center last season, but a first round pick is just too much weight for him – in his final contract year anyway. It’s a deal I have to take, and do. In our final stages of filling in the roster, I have a bit of cap space left – and have a few options. CB Donny Shifflett remains on the extended roster, without a contract. A 14th year player, he’s clearly past his prime – but with such shaky ground at CB, it would be nice to have him here to step in – maybe even to start. However, he simply will not sign for one year – he insists in getting a two year, bonus-heavy offer. I cannot see it, and break off talks. TE Ronnie Harris has developed into a tremendous talent – exploding from his one-time middling self. He’s now practically topped out, and I’d love to have him in the toolbox. But he’s demanding $5m a year long term – and that’s more of a commitment than I seek to make at the TE position, which is second tier on this team. So, I’m left with my wideouts – Pierce and Solwold. Both have been solid for us, but Solwold has dropped off a bit. I’d be happy to keep either one, but both are looking long term, and not interested in a short-term extension. As training camp looms, I finally decide to spend our last dollars on Donny Shifflett. I don’t know where he’ll be slotted, but he ought to help with cohesion in our secondary, and we’re going to need the boost. It costs us a pretty penny, but I hope he helps out. After camp, my last player cut is last year’s 2nd round pick, LB Blankenship. Bust city. Code:
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07-14-2003, 10:57 AM
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#88 | |
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Coordinator
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Maassluis, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
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Quote:
I guess it adds another twist to player signings over the early career bust/booms. That makes it even more interesting to get FOF4... Since you cut Riddiculas Borgerson, where did he end up? |
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07-14-2003, 11:34 AM
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#89 |
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College Starter
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Calgary
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RYA PYA PPGA Turnovers Result
2016: 13-3, 1602(11), 3929(24), 15.6(01), 24(23) - Lost in Conference Championship 2015: 11-5, 1552(05), 3848(16), 17.9(05), 26(17) - Lost in Conference Championship 2014: 11-5, 1690(15), 3784(19), 18.5(07), 32(06) - Lost in Conference Championship 2013: 12-4, 1516(05), 4046(30), 17.0(02), 31(12) - Lost in Divisional Playoff 2012: 10-6, 1600(10), 3373(01), 16.5(02), 18(29) - Lost in Divisional Playoff 2011: 07-9, 2010(29), 3514(08), 19.9(13), 26(16) - Missed Playoffs 2010: 13-3, 1649(07), 3745(23), 17.6(08), 27(16) - Lost in Divisional Playoff 2009: 14-2, 1547(04), 3749(24), 17.1(03), 33(04) - Lost in Conference Championship 2008: 09-7, 1478(03), 3694(22), 21.0(25), 28(15) - Lost in Superbowl 2007: 09-7, 1717(20), 3683(24), 18.0(15), 21(28) - Missed Playoffs 2006: 07-9, 1377(02), 3272(10), 17.4(12), 29(14) - Missed Playoffs 2005: 07-9, 1888(25), 3373(20), 17.7(04), 32(09) - Missed Playoffs 2004: 10-6, 1790(22), 3670(28), 17.1(19), 31(14) - Lost in Conference Championship 2003: 4-12, 2111(29), 3226(23), 18.6(25), 20(19) - Missed Playoffs ~~~~~ With the thought that defense wins championships, I thought I'd look over a cumulative presentation of your team defensive stats in an effort to spot any trends. All other things being equal: 1) When you stop the run consistently during the season, you are playoff bound. 2) Your passing yardage allowed has only cracked the top ten, three times. Ironically, in two of those years you still missed the playoffs, once because you were 29th in rushing yards allowed. 3) You consistently keep the score down. Only three times have you been outside the top 15 in points allowed. The past five years have been especially good. 4) You are not a big play defense. You've only once cracked the top 5 in turnovers produced. There was no record of sack ranking each year that I saw but that would have been interesting to see as well. Arugably your best defensive years were 2006 and 2012 but your record and final result doesn't correlate. These were the only years in which you combined a dominant passing and rushing defense. I realize your focus in on offense and keeping your trio of playmakers together, but maybe time should be spent on cover guys in the secondary who can make big plays? Just throwing this out there for analysis, trying to figure out why you haven't won it all yet. Last edited by Karim : 07-14-2003 at 11:38 AM. |
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07-14-2003, 12:06 PM
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#90 | |
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lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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Quote:
He remained unsigned, and sat the year out. Too bad... |
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07-14-2003, 12:08 PM
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#91 |
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lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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2017 season
Okay – so the season goes ahead, and it doesn’t really feel like we had to blow up the team completely. Obviously, I decided to take the big hit at CB rather than on offense, and I feel like our passing game ought to be just fine with the new players aboard. We are tied with Ypsilanti for the best roster rating – that’s down from last year, obviously. But we edge them out for the top power rating, 76-73. The stats love Ypsilanti – we’ll see if they can put together another good season. I look through the multitude of 1yr, $1.16m signings for this season – looking to see who might have struck gold with these cheap one-year free agents. Nashua got a great DE in Cedric Martin, and a lot of other players I don’t recognize. Sacramento added WR Cornell Pierce, whom I expect will do quite well. My other WR D.J. Solwold went to Napa Valley, who was also pretty active in the market this year. In the preseason, I’m primarily worried about injuries. RB Derek Arbuckle is first out, lost for the year. We want to sign RB Randall Almonte – who doesn’t have a team right now – but he wants almost $3m, and we cannot pony that much up. I end up with Lewis Castillo, a guy who played for us as our #3 last year. He may have to be #2 this year, though more likely we’ll rotate the fullbacks into the RB mix instead. Next up on the stretcher is WR Henry Penrice. We shuffle around at WR and returners, and are okay there. In the preseason, our defense and special teams are scoring like crazy (six TDs in four games) – that would be nice to see continue. Week 1: Louisville at Lake Erie And we stumble out of the gate, with a 21-14 loss at home. We really didn’t play badly, but we didn’t fire on offense quite the way we would have liked, and end up on the wrong side of this one. Week 2: Lake Erie (0-1) at Thunder Bay (0-1) We get back into high gear with a good 44-14 win on the road. Actualy, we get lucky from two interception TDs by Bob Cummings and Tom Austin, which help put this game away. Week 3: Lake Erie (1-1) at Tijuana (1-1) With DE Jerry DeLoach again on the sidelines, we still get a 23-17 win. We play fairly well, but are getting torched a bit on defense – as we might have expected. Week 4: Fort Knox (1-2) at Lake Erie (2-1) At home, where we have had some problems, we stumble again – losing 30-24 to Fort Knox. the Glitters just pound the ball up the gut at us – gaining 124 yards rushing, as part of their big day. We are having trouble stopping the run again – and are already having injury problems along the d-line. Week 5: Lake Erie (2-2) at Pensacola (3-1) We play a tough team here, and again look very solid. A 30-17 win looks good, and Beyer has his best game of the season. We don’t resemble last year’s titanic offense quite yet, but we are showing some good signs. Week 6: Lake Erie (3-2) at Little Rock (0-4) Despite a terrible lineup on the defensive line (with four guys already injured), we get a good 26-9 win over the inept Rollers. Week 7: Lake Erie (4-2) at Ocean City (2-4) Nicky Dylla has his best game as a Monster – with 177 yards rushing and 56 more receiving. Beyer throws three TDs as we get the 24-13 win. Week 8: Fort Wayne (3-4) at Lake Erie (5-2) We get DT Waggoner back from his injury – much needed. Beyer throws 4 interceptions, but we get six off of them, and take a 26-10 win. We get to the halfway point at 6-2, not too bad, considering the underlying data will undoubtedly show a dropoff from last year. Code:
About what I expected – we’re just an average team in most respects, who happens to throw the ball like crazy. Our big plus right now is causing turnovers, where we have been great. If we can gin up the offensive engines, then perhaps we can get things going at our higher level in time for the playoffs. So far: Beyer – 2,524 yards, 18/14 Dylla – 618 rushing, 554 receiving Shields – 775 yards, 6 TD Week 9: Wheeling (4-3-1) at Lake Erie (6-2) We get another solid defensive effort, and a 24-3 win. Dylla has another big game running with 147 yards – only his second 100+ yard game in a Monster uniform (not a single one last year, despite getting 1,000 for the season). Week 11: Lake Erie (7-2) at Louisville (3-5-1) We have lost LB Marshall Hogenkamp for the season – and that will really hurt. We will use Godfrey as a starter, and will have to rotate a variety of guys in as backups. We eke out a narrow 17-14, with the winning TD coming on a late pass to Norm Shields. We keep winning, but we are not cruising like we did or much of last season. Week 12: Champaign (8-2) at Lake Erie (8-2) Pretty big game, hosting another team with a very good record. And again, we get a nice close win, 31-28, winning with a FG at the buzzer. Beyer tops 400 yards passing, as our offense is showing some more signs of exploding. Week 13: Key West (5-6) at Lake Erie (9-2) We have problems at WR, as Penrice continues to suffer injuries, and now Andy Riley is banged up. But we win again, with defense, 15-3. Shields and Tetreault both go over 10 yards, as we put up big yardage, but just not big points. Week 14: Ypsilanti (7-5) at Lake Erie (10-2) Ypsilanti was much-hyped in the preseason, but are struggling just to stay in the playoff hunt. All four of our top receivers are listed on the injury report – we’re dying here! This one becomes a total shootout, but we get the win 41-33. We withstand a furious 16-point comeback to win by one TD. QB Edger Beyer has three TD passes, and WR Norm Shields gets his second rushing TD of the season. S Sean Acree has another TD off an interception – his second of the season, as he has become probably our best overall defensive player. Week 15: Lake Erie (11-2) at Wheeling (7-5-1) We get another solid, typical win on the road, 23-13. Nicky Dylla has another 100-yard game, and Shields has his first 200-yard game of the season. Both are again on pace for all-pro consideration yet again this year. Dylla has topped 1,000 yards rushing already, and is standing at 969 receiving – he may easily eclipse his impressive marks from last year, as we have two more games to go. Week 16: Lake Erie (12-2) at Sault Ste. Marie (6-8) Our big run comes to an end, as we get stung on the road, 26-20. We tie it up at the end of regulation, but they win it with an overtime TD pass. Big aerial circus here, with over 800 yards passing between the two teams. Week 17: Ocean City (7-8) at Lake Erie (12-3) We are atop the conference standings, but there’s a weird situation as the West division has three separate teams sitting at 11-4. Any one of them might conceivably catch us for the top seed – so we have something to play for here. But the bye week is a done deal. We lose our second straight, taking a tough 27-10 loss, and end the season on a slight down note. Hopefully the week off will rejuvenate our wounded, and help us going forward. Code:
The Western division was quite a race – I’ve never seen anything quite like that. Cheyenne pulls even with us at 12-4, and due to the conference record they take the top seed. If it goes that far, we’ll have to play at Cheyenne in the conference finals. Code:
And so, our trio of offensive stars again post MVP-worthy numbers. Our offense didn’t score as much as last year, but Beyer, Dylla, and Shields all posted outstanding numbers yet again. I think Dylla might actually get consideration for league MVP this season, with his second straight 1,000/1,00 year by an even wider margin than last year. However, his puny total of only 4 TDs probably deep-sixes that hope. It’s easy to overlook the OL when focusing on the team summary printout, but ours played very well this year. LT Rod Barlow led the way with 26/83 KRBs and only 1.0% sacks allowed. C Jimmy Eason also played well n his first year in the rotation. Defensively, we end up slightly better than average – even against the pass. LB Lyon stepped into the role as our most effective man in the LB corps, as Hogenkamp was felled by injury. We lost DE DeLoach for most of the year again, but DE Smith gave us a solid effort, with a 6.3 PRPct – not too bad. And in the secondary – safeties Acree and Austin both had very good seasons, helping out a lot. Donny Shifflett had a very adequate year as a full-time starter, getting a 20.2 PDPct and 4 interceptions. Rookie Harold Londesbrough posted solid numbers also – 3 int, 10 PD, and 19.8 PDPct. Pretty solid. Our sack total dropped to 39 for the year – but I have no particularly good handle on that from year to year. We played reasonably well – and that’s all we could ask from this group, especially with all the injuries we dealt with. Postseason Wrap-up Divisional Playoff: Fort Knox (10-6-1) at Lake Erie (12-4) We waste not time resolving this one, getting up 10-3 at the half, and then crushing them in the third quarter, and rolling up a 34-3 win. Edgar Beyer is in top form, with 378 yards, 4 TD, and no picks. Great effort by the offense in the second half to roll it up. Conference Championship: Key West (11-7) at Lake Erie (13-4) We luck out, to a degree, and get to play at home over the upstart Kingfishers. The downside here is that they have beaten us here before. Beyer is on a mission, it seems – he racks up five more TD passes, and leads us to another 38-20 win. 461 yards passing on the day – our passing game is really rolling. Superbowl: Bermuda (11-8) vs. Lake Erie (14-4) As far as we’re concerned, there’ no luster lost – just because we are playing our second straight Cinderella team in the playoffs. We’re so hungry for a championship that we can taste it… We get a punt blocked, and LB Kennedy Godfrey (starting this game at MLB, by the way) grabs the loose ball and hauls it in 28 yards for the score. However, we suffer a hug setback as Edgar Beyer gets nailed from behind, and is out for the game. Under reserve QB Billy Joe Mason, we drive on our next possession, and get a short TD pass to Andy Riley to lead 14-3 at the end of the first quarter. However, with our offense running overtime during the playoffs, everyone expects a huge explosion of points. Now, we look downright conservative by nature – Mason is still passing a lot, but we shorten up and keep it contained. We slow everything down, and our defense plays well to preserve the lead through the third quarter, as we are up 14-9. At that point, we just shut it down. Bermuda can’t even get more than one first down in the whole fourth quarter, and we simply coast home with a 14-9 win—getting our first Superbowl championship in thoroughly unexpected fashion. QB Billy Joe Mason, who has thrown something like 20 passes in his two seasons with us, acquits himself fairly well in the game (24 of 52, 235 yards, 1 TD, 2 int) – and oddly enough gets the game ball as the MVP. I don’t know about that — LB Godfrey scored a touchdown, and that made quite a difference. But it doesn’t matter. Code:
So, Dylla has to settle for second team – okay. All three of our top guns get honors again. I’m not sure Edgar Beyer deserves quite as much kudos this year as last, but regardless, we are pleased. Safety Sean Acree had a really good season, too. Well – the quest for a title has been keeping me interested for several seasons now. Where do we go from here? |
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07-14-2003, 12:32 PM
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#92 |
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lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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Karim - for some reason, this year our defense caused more big plays - turnovers, at least. I agree with you, this is a pretty big deal, and one of the things that this team has traditionally not been very good at.
Stopping the run is a mercurial exercise - I really try to get guys with strengths here, but getting a defense that's especially good against the run seems to be a tough thing to find and maintain. Good insights, there. I love how the FOF4 team summary information makes that so easy to do. |
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07-14-2003, 01:05 PM
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#93 | |
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Coordinator
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Maassluis, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
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Finally a Bowl victory, after so many seasons.
You're losing it, Sand... Quote:
Last edited by MIJB#19 : 07-14-2003 at 01:07 PM. |
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07-14-2003, 01:09 PM
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#94 |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Fairfax, VA
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Didn't Billy Joe Mason jump off the Tallahatchee Bridge?
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07-14-2003, 01:21 PM
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#95 |
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The boy who cried Trout
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: TX
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YAY!! Way to go, Quick! Now cut everyone and start over! Call it new ownership or something...
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07-14-2003, 02:05 PM
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#96 |
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lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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On a side note - i was offered a first round pick fo QB Mason pre-season. The offer faild my "fairness test," but I thought about it anyway -- thinking maybe a modified version of some sort might be sensible. (I add in a 3rd rounder or something)
Then, I decided that keeping Mason around made sense - I'd hate to lose a whole season if Beyer went down, since QB is so essential to our gameplan. Turns out that was the right way to go, I suppose (though he didn't exactly "win" the game for us, exactly). Anyway, MIJB. Maybe I am losing it... or maybe, just maybe, this game has a few added features that actually make it a shade more challenging than its predecessors. It's certainly a *very* different game than the one you play (FOF2, if I recall correctly) in that regard. |
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07-14-2003, 02:18 PM
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#97 | |
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College Starter
Join Date: Oct 2000
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Congratulations! Well done! Finally!
I say keep going. See how Beyer's career finishes out. Can he repeat? Or is it time for a little CM4? Quote:
Ah! But maybe... ...if he is playoff bound, he is winning often. Because he is winning often, he is playing with leads often. Because he is playing with leads, his opponents are playing catch up. Because he opponents are playing catch up, they are passing more and running less. Because they are passing more and running less, Quik's defense has gives up fewer rushing yards and more passing yards. So... Because he is playoff bound, he is stopping the run? |
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07-14-2003, 02:33 PM
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#98 |
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Pro Rookie
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Illinois
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Congratulations QS!
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07-14-2003, 03:57 PM
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#99 |
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lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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2018 offseason
Okay, we have our first offseason as league champions. Huzzah, huzzah. Considering the defending champs have gone 1 for 14 in defending the title, that’s no cinch. We have three retirements from the squad – and none come as much of a surprise. CB Donny Shifflett filled in for us at CB last year when we really needed him. Now, he gets his grand send-off, and the obligatory honor as the “legend of the game.” MLB Bob Cummings was a solid MLB, who was clearly in his twilight. Ha gave us several years in the middle, and was a central piece in a very solid defense over the years. WR Henry Penrice was a “rental” player – signed to help bring some veteran leadership to our squad. He had won it all before, and played a role in helping out our less experienced players. However, he had trouble staying healthy, and has let it go after getting his third championship ring. He also holds a 3-yard edge on Ethan Swope as the career league-leading receiver – and they both retired, so he’ll hold that one. We’ll eat some cap space for those three – but all told, I don’t regret any of those signings. I’m not making any front office changes, so we head right toward players’ free agency. Here’s free agent roster, sorted by current skill: Code:
And before I get too deep into this discussion about our plans for the season – I need to offer this: Edgar Beyer may be done. His injury in the Superbowl was pretty serious, and he’s currently listed as out for 16 more weeks with MCL knee surgery. When he is back to full health, it’s certainly possible that he is a completely different player than before the injury. So, for the season ahead—that fact dominates our thinking. I’ll be prepared to go into next season with Billy Joe Mason as our starter – but it’s simply not the same, of course. With that – we do need to maintain the other vital cogs of our offense, and that starts with WR Norm Shields. He’s asking for about $16m a season – and it’ tough to argue that he’s not worth it. I start off with a flat offer of $48m over 4 years – but I’ll do whatever it takes to keep him around. WR Andy Riley is looking for a huge deal – he wants $9m a year or more. I don’t see that happening, and I fear he may be on his way toward the free agent market along with Solwold and Pierce from last year. That would leave me with another hole to fill – but it’s not inconceivable that we could do that. With my starting linebackers Hogenkamp and Lyon both up for new deals, we are undoubtedly gong to be in transition there. Both guys want fat deals – and I suspect we might not retain either guy. That would mean an entirely new fleet of ‘backers in there this year, though it’s possible- even likely- that we’d just elevate Kennedy Godfrey to a starting role. Elsewhere, my recent LB draft picks are all flameouts, so we’ll have to sign some guys who can help. We had signed DT Courtney Gilmore to a short term deal, because I didn’t think he was really a $9m player. Well – he still seems to think that he is. That may prove tough – I may do better with two decent guys than by re-signing him for a fortune again. Even Sean Acree looks like he may be heading out – he, too, has decided he is a big, big star. He gave us a great season last year, and now he wants big bucks. I can’t hold this team together at all, it seems. Another thing to keep in mind for this season – we hold two first round picks this year, and they are at #3 and #15. So, we ought to be able to count on some real help from the rookie class, unlike many recent years. My preliminary look suggests that we will certainly be able to secure a future star at either CB or DL with that top pick, if we are so inclined (and I suspect we will be). The #15 is more sketchy, but it’s very likely that we’ll get another immediate impact player—perhaps at LB? We put in a few value FA bids, including a deal for P Sammy Noa, who came up with us for three years. We also pursue C Don Willis, a solid pass-inclined lineman who will play cheaply. A 3yr offer to LB Nolan Bustos is my best attempt to resolve our MLB situation fairly cheaply. He’s a developing player with Tijuana, but my scout thinks he could do well right away. CB Matt Duffy has been productive – and a playmaker – when he has played for Wheeling. We’ll try to get him aboard, potentially to become a starter for us at the corner. Our secondary is again under transition, so we could use a solid talent like him. G Dusty Whitfield is looking for a multi-year deal, and we think he might be our best fit to start at LG. A bit pricey (over $2m) but he looks pretty good, too. As we start out, my main plan is to wrap up WR Shields, and then focus on our target positions. I’m not planning to shell out top dollar for anyone anywhere – we’ll look for good fits among the relatively affordable players. I’d like to bring back LB Hogenkamp, but I won’t pay him $10m a year while he’s already declining. I’d be willing to go to about $7 or $8m, and will hope that he gets more reasonable as the FA process rolls on – assuming he doesn’t get snapped up by someone willing to shell out top dollar. Another player I’ll be watching is WR Cornell Pierce. After playing his one year deal last season, he’s only looking for about $4-5m a year – and that might be within our budget. I’d be glad to get him back, where he’d probably step right in to start again at the flanker spot. So, we start things off. In the very first week, WR Norm Shields immediately re-signs with us for our initial offer. Fabulous! LB Omar Lyon has the biggest offer of anyone - $97m over 6 years. He’d be a fool not to take it, and head to Nashua. Elsewhere – no surprises. P Sammy Noa agrees to return, and we look good elsewhere. After four weeks, we have our whole initial target list signed. Done – and we have $13.8m left to spend. We need to get about ten players for that much, of course, but that still leaves maybe $10m for 7 players or so. We can work with that. In week 8, LB Omar Lyon signs – but he spurns Nashua to sign with Ocean City – staying in the division with us. Also, WR Andy Riley finally got he deal he wanted, and has signed for $9m a year with Champaign. Now, DT Courtney Gilmore has an offer for more than $8m/yr, and I doubt that I’ll make any effort to match that. In week 10, DT Gilmore, S Acree, and G Harden all leave us for greener pastures. Winning it all certainly heightens the sense of cash for some of these guys. I find a defensive end, Mel Elliott, who looks like a pretty good value at around $3-4 million a season. With all the injuries we’ve suffered on the DL, having one extra solid player certainly cannot be a bad move. We offer him a 3yr deal. And I’m still waiting on WR Cornell Pierce. His price is gradually dropping – and I want to wait him out, until he’ll take $12m over three years. DT Oliver Boyd is another solid presence for our defensive line – and his price is only about $2m a year. I expect he can fill the shoes of Courtney Gilmore quite well, actually. His signing gives us 8 defensive linemen under contract – enough to feel pretty comfortable, even with the slew of injuries we seem to get every season. Well, we definitely won’t be able to keep LB Hogenkamp aboard – his demands are still around $8m a season, and I’m well past that mark. So, I need to look for somebody to play some LB for us this season, as I feel like I only have two starting caliber players on the roster right now. I cannot, however, find anyone who looks like a suitable player for our budget amount. I may have to depend on the draft to fill our need there – a dicey proposition, the way we’ve been doing with drafted linebackers. Facing that, I decide to put in an offer to LB Leroy Peterson, who I believe to be a bit better than my various backups on the team right now. Ideally, he’ll be a 4th or even 5th guy – but if we need a starter, he might be okay in a pinch. I break down, and make my offer to WR Cornell Giles – 3yrs, $13.2m. That’s enough to get him interested, finally – and we return one of our “fearsome foursome” back to the fold. Honestly – where is he going to catch more passes than right back here in Lake Erie? And now, we’re ready to head into the rookie draft. We have needs to fill all over the place, and fairly little money sitting about to spend unwisely. but with two pretty nice draft picks looming – maybe we can get some immediate help from the incoming class. |
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07-14-2003, 04:24 PM
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#100 | |
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College Starter
Join Date: Oct 2000
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Quote:
Such a bummer. And he didn't even get to go to Disneyland. |
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