GroupThink - Little Rock Rollers, 1996 offseason

[primelord]

Just as an FYI at the rate we are going I can just about garauntee that bug will not be fixed by the time we hit the 2002 season. Lets just make sure we have lots of 2nd and 3rd round picks when we import the TCY draft

[Bee]

I'd like to propose a new house rule...We can't have any draft picks in 2002.

[cthomer5000]

Originally posted by Bee
I'd like to propose a new house rule...We can't have any draft picks in 2002.

I was actually seriously considering proposing the same thing. Maybe we should limit ourselves to 1 first round draft pick and trade everything else for future picks.

[cthomer5000]

Originally posted by primelord
Just as an FYI at the rate we are going I can just about garauntee that bug will not be fixed by the time we hit the 2002 season. Lets just make sure we have lots of 2nd and 3rd round picks when we import the TCY draft

I might have stumbled upon an ILB bug too, so you can draft 3 or 4 starting ILB's in the 6th or 7th round!

[primelord]

Originally posted by cthomer5000
I might have stumbled upon an ILB bug too, so you can draft 3 or 4 starting ILB's in the 6th or 7th round!

A bug in the game in general or just with TCY imports?

[cthomer5000]

Originally posted by primelord
A bug in the game in general or just with TCY imports?

TCY imports.

I posted it in the bug thread on the other page, but the computer teams took 30+ OLB's before the first inside linebacker was selected. They were taking bums before first-round talents, even when ILB was their top need. I need to run a few more drafts to make sure it is a bug and not some weird one-time affair.

[wade moore]

what would be the odds of jim hacking some sort of corrected 2002 draft file that could be distributed? Like... generating one from WITHIN fof or something?

[primelord]

Originally posted by wade moore
what would be the odds of jim hacking some sort of corrected 2002 draft file that could be distributed? Like... generating one from WITHIN fof or something?

Heh I can ask, but I wouldn't hold your breath.

[Anrhydeddu]

Btw, A, if you're reading this, I love that you are reading this.. I wish more people did honestly.. it makes it that much more fun when we have people following it..

Thank you and yes, I have read every single word so far (glossing over the stats though). Reading this dynasty has been the highlight of my day. As much as I am critical of FOF4 and the direction it took, the way you guys are playing it and most importantly, the critical decision-making process makes it worthwhile.

Btw, in our sim last night with the OOTP5 GroupThink, we went through a similar process when we lost one of our key SP in May. We had our pitching coach, minors coordinator and bean counter (me), along with our GM all on AIM evaluating and agreeing on the best course of action. Being in a chat was a different dynamic than what goes on here, but the decision-making process was still the same, and just as fun.

[QuikSand]

I'm with Anrhydeddu on critical thinking process - that is the key. We'rte making some tough decisions, even if the amount of variance in our end result isn't as much as I'd like - I still feel like when we make a mistake, we feel it.

We'll continue the draft momentarily... drum roll, please.

[QuikSand]

Here is the draft, up to our next pick. I'll post the update files, and we can talk in earnest about where to go from here.

Well done so far, gents. I like the way this has turned out, actually.

- - -

16. Mazatlan - Palmer, Deion, WR, Vanderbilt
17. Sacramento - Young, Jeremy, CB, Mansfield
18. Thunder Bay - Guthrie, John, DE, Washington
19. Hawk Mountain - Gulbrandsen, Fernando, CB, Tulsa
20. Niagara Falls - Williams, Levon, CB, Florida
21. Fort Wayne - Heuring, Luther, OLB, Purdue

22. Little Rock - Ellis, Bert, DT, Kentucky

23. Texarkana - Washington, Kendrick, G, Pittsburgh
24. Louisville - Harrison, Richie, T, Morgan State
25. Napa Valley - Hitchcock, Andrew, WR, Ohio State
26. Athens - Bryant, Brett, QB, Morgan State
27. Key West - Burns, Norman, DT, California
28. Death Valley - Richard, Wendell, CB, Baylor
29. Sault Ste. Marie - Feeney, Carl, G, Stanford
30. Texarkana - Coles, Tyrone, C, South Carolina
31. Wheeling - DeNeff, O.J., OLB, Virginia
32. Providence - Legg, Clarence, QB, Indiana
33. Kitty Hawk - Strong, Willie, DE, North Carolina State
34. Tijuana - Ross, Dusty, G, Brigham Young
35. Texarkana - McConnell, Jeremy, T, Tennessee
36. Nashua - Bernstein, Norman, G, Wisconsin
37. Tulsa - Yoon, J.R., DT, Florida
38. Norfolk - Dorash, Pat, T, Tennessee
39. Ypsilanti - Burnett, Robert, G, Wisconsin
40. Cheyenne - Kemp, Edward, DT, Ohio State
41. Memphis - Ogden, Brandon, RB, Toledo
42. Puget Sound - England, Melvin, C, Michigan
43. Bermuda - Battistone, Benjamin, S, North Carolina
44. Ocean City - Caleca, Fernando, G, Michigan State
45. Pensacola - Murry, Marlon, WR, Ball State
46. Lake Erie - Jolly, Scott, DT, Southern Utah
47. Manhattan - Lea, Charles, T, Missouri - Rolla
48. Mazatlan - Niles, Robbie, RB, UCLA
49. Sacramento - Murphy, Ernie, RB, Arkansas State
50. Norfolk - Rayburn, Mario, QB, Jackson State
51. Hawk Mountain - Apotsos, Benjamin, QB, SW Texas St.
52. Niagara Falls - Austin, Brian, DE, North Carolina
53. Fort Wayne - Nichols, Lincoln, ILB, Murray State
54. Fort Knox - Kopp, Corwin, T, Arizona
55. Cheyenne - Shepard, Roy, DE, Michigan State
56. Louisville - Hastings, Brett, DE, Texas A&M
57. Napa Valley - Duffy, Rich, DE, Clemson
58. Athens - Rochelle, Kendall, DE, Nebraska
59. Key West - Kleman, Andre, DE, Robert Morris
60. Death Valley - Winters, Teddy, DT, Temple
61. Sault Ste. Marie - Prescott, Shane, CB, Texas A&M
62. Texarkana - Elliott, Marvin, OLB, Illinois
63. Wheeling - Hudson, Shane, S, Rhode Island
64. Providence - Eckert, Morris, DE, Virginia
65. Kitty Hawk - Carr, Freddie, CB, Elon College
66. Tijuana - Rubble, Sean, CB, Boston College
67. Texarkana - Lorenzen, Rondell, OLB, Auburn
68. Nashua - Brewster, Neal, C, Cal. - Sacramento

[QuikSand]

Here is the first file:

[QuikSand]

Second file attached

[primelord]

I really like WLB James Becker at this pick. I think we are going to need someone to replace Harden next season and he seems to have the skills to do so. He is too small to move positions so if we take him he is stuck as being a WLB, but that is what Harden plays anyway so I think that pick makes a lot of sense here.

[QuikSand]

I sense another "difference in philosophy" in our midst...

I am stuned that DE Adrian Brewer is still here, and would consider him pretty seriously. But, I think we may need to think about imediate needs more than overall value, and perhaps OLB is a more pressing need.

Even at OLB, I prefer Gabe Rosian to Becker. I'm pliable here, though.

[cthomer5000]

I won't have game access until this evening, but things are turning out very well. I think we definitely need to go defense here, so wherever the best marriage of talent & need can be found, let's get it.

[Bee]

Since my dream of getting C Coles is gone, I'm ok with going with another defensive player.

[primelord]

Here are a couple of thoughts...

To be honest I assumed Brewer would be gone by this point too so I forgot all about him. He does have that Kent Wolfe look about him which is very intriguing and even if he isn't a major breakout his pass rushing skills look like they should be above average anyway.

However we should keep in mind that he is already idolized by the fans. So if we bring him in it's probably for the long haul and big $$$'s down the road. If he breaks out like Kent Wolfe did that isn't so bad. If he develops to his current potential (which shoulod be solid, but not spectacular) then I am not sure if we want that kind of cash tied up in him, and if he busts like Howard Hammond did well....

If we go OLB I like Gabe Rosian too, but I would still prefer we took James Becker. He just looks better than Rosian to me. But I wouldn't be crushed if we took Rosian instead.

So where does that leave us? We have capable DE's now. But Brewer does look like he could be one of those monster break outs. We don't have much depth at OLB now and it is likely Harden will be leaving after this season.

To be honest I am kind of leaning towards Brewer because I just love the upside potential. But I want Quik to agree that way I can blame him when we are shackled long term to a scrub if he busts. The safe pick here would be a OLB (I think Becker) however that could result in the most success for us if he breaks out is Brewer. So I guess my vote is Brewer but I will be happy with Becker. (Or Rosian I guess )

[QuikSand]

primelord,

Conceptually, we're pretty close here. I honestly don't know how good DE Brewer might be, but he does have "that look." Indeed, "that look" is essentially where we seem to differ.

My problem with LB Becker lies in the intangibles that I have discussed elsewhere. I smell in him a modest bust - and so, when you speak of him being the "safe pick" I would simply suggest that he has all the signs of not being safe at all, but indeed being a disappointment waiting to happen. I don't think Becker is a major bust, but I don't think he will ever develop to a rating of 76 in run defense, but rather his upside there is more like 55, maybe 60. Similarly, I think all his green ratings are overstated, as tipped off by his "static" ratings (as I have frequently referenced).

On the board I think we have three defensive players who all show the signs of being solid, if not breakouts. One is DE Brewer, who currently looks like he could be an adequate player, with pretty good pass rushing skills. The others I see are two outside linebackers, Rosian and the somewhat less impressive Gary Lane.

Thing is, we almost certainly get only one bite at this apple. After this pick, we wait until the end of round 6 to select again, where we won't see players of this quality, to be sure.

That's why as optimistic I might be about DE Brewer (and I am), I might be inclined to go with a linebacker here - because our current roster is getting more than a bit thin there, as we have lost LB Alan Martinez already, and have four out of five of our current linebackers out of contract after this season. I think Rosian is the guy to take, but I've said my piece- and will yield to the will of our coordinator and any other level of consensus that emerges from the participants.

[primelord]

Well I will say on advantage to Rosian is his size gives us more options with him. We can essentially just plug him into any starting LB spot if we need him. Where as Becker's size limits him to only the WLB position. Again I will point out simply because we usually forget to check that Rosian is a Fan Favorite. So we may be stuck with him whether we want him or not if we take him.

I am starting to hate the idea of passing over Brewer at this point though. Let me throw something out there. Could we explore the possibility of trading for the next pick so we could take both Brewer and Rosian? I would just really hate to see Brewer just develop into a monster and no we passed on him.

[cthomer5000]

Originally posted by primelord
Well I will say on advantage to Rosian is his size gives us more options with him. We can essentially just plug him into any starting LB spot if we need him. Where as Becker's size limits him to only the WLB position. Again I will point out simply because we usually forget to check that Rosian is a Fan Favorite. So we may be stuck with him whether we want him or not if we take him.

I am starting to hate the idea of passing over Brewer at this point though. Let me throw something out there. Could we explore the possibility of trading for the next pick so we could take both Brewer and Rosian? I would just really hate to see Brewer just develop into a monster and no we passed on him.

We're already down a 2nd rounder next year, so we should definitely be careful about giving up any more future draft picks. I think i'd be in favor of just selecting 1 and moving on.

[cthomer5000]

well, ive got the team names under control, but still not the cities. So here is one more file request. Can someone who has the correct city names please post

frfoot.fcy from the universe directory?

[primelord]

What about a second rounder two years from now?

[cthomer5000]

Originally posted by primelord
What about a second rounder two years from now?

As long as you believe in this guy, I think we should do anything within reason.

Since we're in the 3rd round now, how about a proposal like this to whoever has the next pick:

1998 3rd rounder
1997 4th or 5th rounder

I think at that price we could easily justify the move.


edit: clarified and added thoughts.

[cthomer5000]

better yet. How about proposing a 1998 3rd rounder and this years 6th and/or 7th rounder? That way we can pick up guys who have the ability to have an impact at minimal expense, and not have to mire around in the bummy portion of the draft...

It probably won't take all that much to swing a deal for the next pick, we'd be offering fair value.

[QuikSand]

Okay, I love it when a plan comes together. We trade our 5th round pick next year, plus our 3rd round pick in 1998, to get Norfolk's pick right after ours, This gives us two players that we want here, and will let us have an intriguing side-by-side experiment as the years go on.

From the input we've gotten, I think we take DE Brewer and LB Becker here, and we'll see how we do with them. Since LB Rosian is already a fan fave, under our rules I see that as a big demerit, even though that doesn't seem realistic. (I'm a big believer in "set your rules, then play all-out within them")

So we go from there:

69. Little Rock - Becker, James, OLB, Texas
70. Little Rock - Brewer, Adrian, DE, Purdue

71. Ypsilanti - Witt, Cornelius, T, Mississippi State
72. Cheyenne - Lacy, Nate, S, Kent
73. Memphis - Rice, Arnold, DE, Arizona
74. Puget Sound - Burton, Eugene, WR, Purdue
75. Bermuda - Brill, Carlton, DT, Temple
76. Ocean City - Williams, Everett, S, Texas Christian
77. Pensacola - Pierce, Austin, G, Fresno State
79. Manhattan - Downs, Nathan, WR, Mississippi State
80. Mazatlan - Ackley, Bernie, WR, Missouri
81. Sacramento - Race, Ted, S, Missouri
82. Thunder Bay - Barker, Jake, C, Duke
83. Hawk Mountain - Rosian, Gabe, OLB, Iowa
84. Niagara Falls - Kuiper, Ian, DT, Northern Illinois
85. Fort Wayne - Schroeder, Bert, CB, Miami, Florida
86. Fort Knox - Ned, Kenneth, CB, West Virginia
87. Champaign - Joyner, Kent, WR, Oklahoma State
88. Niagara Falls - Patton, K.C., OLB, Tennessee Tech
89. Napa Valley - Jones, Kendrick, S, Temple
90. Athens - Carlton, Ray, G, Nebraska
91. Key West - Nolan, Alan, DE, Oklahoma State
92. Death Valley - Finch, Jerry, RB, Texas
93. Sault Ste. Marie - Norton, Byron, DE, Nebraska
94. Champaign - Sinclair, Willie, T, Oregon
95. Wheeling - Bronson, Perry, T, Mississippi State
96. Providence - Burnham, Irving, CB, Alabama
97. Kitty Hawk - Vance, Blaine, FB, Tennessee
98. Tijuana - Sheets, Richie, S, Southern Mississippi
99. Texarkana - Holecek, Patrick, RB, Buffalo
100. Nashua - Stromberg, David, FB, Virginia Tech
101. Mazatlan - Lane, Gary, OLB, Indiana State
102. Kitty Hawk - Drake, Archie, CB, Michigan State
103. Ypsilanti - Hayes, William, FB, Notre Dame
104. Cheyenne - Farley, Kenyon, OLB, Buffalo
105. Memphis - Corbitt, Donnie, DT, Maryland
106. Puget Sound - Finister, Ralph, CB, Cincinnati
107. Bermuda - Kwan, Grant, OLB, Oklahoma State
108. Tulsa - Cobb, Hugh, DE, Indiana
109. Pensacola - Tom, Jimmie, CB, Northwestern
110. Lake Erie - Sawyer, Wayne, FB, Tulsa
111. Manhattan - Brooks, Stephen, S, Ohio State
112. Sault Ste. Marie - Burke, Courtney, TE, Iowa
113. Sacramento - Dillon, Brad, WR, Washington
114. Thunder Bay - Borders, Kennedy, CB, Middle Tenn. St.
115. Hawk Mountain - Burton, Walter, RB, Bowling Green
116. Niagara Falls - Morris, Don, DT, Stanford
117. Fort Wayne - Kenyon, Randal, RB, LIU/C.W. Post
118. Fort Knox - Adams, Gary, RB, Kansas State
119. Champaign - Burkhardt, Glenn, DT, Indiana
120. Louisville - Blood, Louie, C, Georgia Tech
121. Napa Valley - Husted, Warren, G, Iona
122. Athens - Lofton, Joey, TE, Oklahoma State
123. Nashua - Purnell, Donovan, DE, Auburn
124. Death Valley - Odum, Timothy, OLB, Notre Dame
125. Sault Ste. Marie - Winslett, Scottie, K, Purdue
126. Fort Knox - Andrews, Erik, WR, Pittsburgh
127. Athens - Guliford, Carlos, WR, North Carolina State
128. Providence - Benton, Norm, T, Vanderbilt
129. Kitty Hawk - Tatum, Rufus, DE, Marist
130. Tijuana - Watson, Les, WR, Vanderbilt
131. Texarkana - Godfrey, Mel, G, Louisiana State
132. Nashua - Westbrook, Drew, CB, Maryland
133. Tulsa - Farrell, Kelvin, G, Wyoming
134. Norfolk - Graybill, James, DE, South Carolina
135. Kitty Hawk - Robertson, Frank, RB, Washington State
136. Cheyenne - Lenhardt, Duane, T, Illinois
137. Memphis - McMahan, Josh, S, Purdue
138. Puget Sound - Reynolds, Mark, TE, Minnesota
139. Bermuda - Strickland, Butch, ILB, West Virginia
140. Ocean City - Pirtle, Amos, TE, Notre Dame
141. Pensacola - Jordan, Trevor, TE, Rhode Island
142. Lake Erie - Noisy, Charlie, WR, Michigan
143. Manhattan - Jacobs, Jesse, OLB, Oklahoma State
144. Mazatlan - Jefferson, J.R., OLB, Nebraska
145. Sacramento - Richard, Mario, G, Houston
146. Thunder Bay - Kramer, Xavier, CB, Tx. A&M - Commerce
147. Hawk Mountain - Everett, Carlos, T, Miami, Florida
148. Niagara Falls - Borders, Sherman, G, Oregon State
149. Fort Wayne - Prescott, Corey, S, Indiana
150. Fort Knox - Cote, Antonio, WR, Wayne State (Neb.)
151. Champaign - Houghton, Luther, ILB, Houston
152. Louisville - Durham, Jay, TE, Weber State
153. Napa Valley - Nobles, Lester, DT, Texas A&M
154. Athens - Traylor, Gino, DT, Southern California
155. Key West - Dellinger, Ed, CB, Alabama
156. Death Valley - Ripken, Wade, G, N. Carolina Central
157. Sault Ste. Marie - Basham, Patrick, S, Fresno State
158. Fort Knox - Shaw, Trevor, S, Georgia Tech
159. Wheeling - Zorich, Lamont, G, Washington
160. Providence - Kirkland, Tracy, G, Mississippi
161. Kitty Hawk - Buie, Lamont, DT, Cincinnati
162. Tijuana - Adams, Myron, ILB, Houston
163. Kitty Hawk - Devine, Percy, DT, Texas Tech
164. Nashua - LeTourneau, Ernie, DE, UNLV
165. Tulsa - Stacey, Dominic, OLB, Florida State
166. Norfolk - Fields, K.C., CB, Minnesota
167. Ypsilanti - Dennis, Marlon, TE, Virginia Tech
168. Cheyenne - Jacobs, Skip, T, Georgia
169. Tijuana - Battle, Bennie, S, West Virginia
170. Nashua - Maloney, Conrad, G, Notre Dame
171. Bermuda - Woo, Henry, OLB, Auburn
172. Ocean City - Blades, Lee, RB, Indiana
173. Hawk Mountain - Clemons, Ty, RB, Temple
174. Lake Erie - Barnes, William, WR, Colorado State
175. Manhattan - Kirchner, Dennis, G, Georgia Tech
176. Mazatlan - Fewell, Clay, T, Pittsburgh
177. Sacramento - Sanderson, Kevin, T, Illinois
178. Thunder Bay - Marr, Rod, T, Minnesota
179. Hawk Mountain - Sutton, Chris, OLB, Duke
180. Niagara Falls - Cobb, Kurt, FB, Kansas State
181. Fort Wayne - Crase, Alfred, DT, Air Force
182. Fort Knox - Lanham, Renaldo, OLB, Maryland
183. Champaign - Akers, Richie, G, Fresno State
184. Louisville - Lake, Matt, FB, Stanford
185. Napa Valley - Prescott, Adrian, FB, St. Cloud State
186. Athens - Stone, Allen, WR, Tennessee State
187. Key West - Martin, Don, CB, Washington State
188. Death Valley - Godfrey, Gabe, OLB, Arkansas
189. Sault Ste. Marie - Minnis, Billy, WR, Georgia

[QuikSand]

We only have one pick left, but I couldn't find a real standout, so I'm sharing the files... here's the first:

[QuikSand]

Here's the second file.

I may be out a while, so if there is a consensus, please go on ahead... I have no strong feelings on this stuff from here on out. Feel free to move on to training camp, if anyone gets the whim.

[QuikSand]

Corey, here's your city file:

[cthomer5000]

Originally posted by QuikSand
Corey, here's your city file:

Quik,

you are a scholar and a gentleman.

[QuikSand]

I'm here to help.

[cthomer5000]

For what it's worth we have 2 picks left, a 6th and 7th rounder.

guys who look worth a shot to me (haven't completed looking at everyone)

CENTER
Lonnie Ancheta - well liked
Adam Nash
Antonio Scherer

GUARD
LG Perry Dillon
LG Jake Nickell


we can also make a long-term upgrade at kicker if we want to.

[primelord]

I don't see very much on defense that interests me. Wade what do you think of RB Tom Murray? Not a star by any means, but seems like he would make a capable backup were our new stud to go down with injury.

Or maybe a guy like C Charlie Wiggins

[cthomer5000]

Originally posted by primelord
I don't see very much on defense that interests me. Wade what do you think of RB Tom Murray? Not a star by any means, but seems likehe would make a capable backup were our new stud to go down with injury.

Or maybe a guy like C Charlie Wiggins

Wiggins looks like he could be a bust, those 66/66/67 ratings...

at RB Murray looks decent to me, What about fellow RB Butch Burk, think there's a chance for some sort of breakout there?


here's everyone I would consider drafting or signing after the draft:

RB
Tom Murray	
MIke Harrison
Butch Burks	breakout potential?
Ty Haynesworth

CENTER
Lonnie Ancheta	- well liked
Adam Nash
Antonio Scherer

GUARD
LG Perry Dillon
LG Jake Nickell

KICKER
Cole Murray	- recognized by fans
Mario Shields	- fan favorite

D. END
LDE Bryant Porter	
LDE Sean McCarthy

INSIDE LINE BACKER
WILB Charlie Crum

SAFETY
FS Keith Dombrowski

[wade moore]

Tom Murray would be a nice pickup, but he may get so mired in the guys we have that he might never see a play..

Wiggins looks nice, but I think Ancheta is a safer bet, Wiggins sure seems to have a ton of green..

Dillon wouldn't be a bad pickup, but I think I like the C's better than him..

I kind of like the idea of picking up a K.. Mario Shields seems to be the best, but if we're playing to maximize our rules, he is a fan favorite.. so it's possible that we'd be better picking up Cole Murray... He could be a great long term addition to our team, particuraly with a Kicker who is pretty poor.. at this point, this seems to actually be the most significant contributor we could pick up here..

[cthomer5000]

I agree with basically everything you said wade. I prefer the centers over the guards as well, but included the guards because we currently need a 4th one. We currently have 2 centers under contract.

I could justify either going kicker now and seeing what's left, or taking an O-lineman now and seeing if one of the kickers is there in round 7.

[cthomer5000]

well, I'm heading out for the night, feel free to move on without me.

If you want to do me a favor try to pick up as many of the guys I targeted as undrafted free agents.

[Anrhydeddu]

Well I will say on advantage to Rosian is his size gives us more options with him. We can essentially just plug him into any starting LB spot if we need him. Where as Becker's size limits him to only the WLB position.

Does this really make any difference in the game or is this one of those 'pretend that it does to add realism' thing?

[primelord]

A,

Just like in FOF2001 there are weight restrictions on switching positions. Becker only weighs 214 lbs so unless we want him to play safety or corner he can't switch to a different LB position.

Wade if I get a confirmation on who you want to go with here I will make the pickups.

[oykib]

I think that you should aim for an idolized crappy running back with your 7th rounder or undrafted FA. There is always the chance that he could be better liked than Crawford. And if you're going to cut Crawford, this would be the year to do it.

[wade moore]

My vote is for K Cole Murray..

[QuikSand]

I like Butch Burks better than Tom Murray at RB, personally. oykib's idea is a good one, but since Crawford's popularity is at 98, it's a real longshot to make it work. It might, however, be possible by getting an URFA - where we can sort by popularity before signing a player. Something to consider - very clever, oykib.

I could also be quite hapy with K Cole Murray here - he looks very solid.

Maybe QB Omar Conley has some breakout potential... probably not a guy to draft, but perhaps a worthwhile URFA pickup? If he breaks out, the upside is very high.

Among the OL being discussed, I think C Ancheta is the most promising, Plenty of sure busts on the list of yours being thrown around, though.

[cthomer5000]

Originally posted by QuikSand
I like Butch Burks better than Tom Murray at RB, personally. oykib's idea is a good one, but since Crawford's popularity is at 98, it's a real longshot to make it work. It might, however, be possible by getting an URFA - where we can sort by popularity before signing a player. Something to consider - very clever, oykib.

I could also be quite hapy with K Cole Murray here - he looks very solid.

Maybe QB Omar Conley has some breakout potential... probably not a guy to draft, but perhaps a worthwhile URFA pickup? If he breaks out, the upside is very high.

so our list of finalist seems to be:

C Ancheta
RB Burks
K Cole Murray
QB Conley

which will still be there in round 7?

Plenty of sure busts on the list of yours being thrown around, though.

i thought so, I just don't have the FOF4 scouting experience you guys do. This is the most I've played the game since buying it.

[Anrhydeddu]

primelord, a clarification please. Are you saying the game prevents you from switching undersized players?

[Bee]

Originally posted by Anrhydeddu
primelord, a clarification please. Are you saying the game prevents you from switching undersized players?

yes it does. A player's size determines which positions he can be moved to, so for example a 220 lb WLB can only be mvoed to safety or cornerback - not SLB or ILB. Once you move him, it's also likely he can't be moved back to WLB because of his size.

[QuikSand]

I htink QB Conley will be there after the draft... and I wouldn't really advocate picking him here - I'd just suggest we take him as a roster filler, and keep an eye for a possible jump in ratings during training camp. If it happens, then he needs to make the team, and probably be re-signed for next year.

[QuikSand]

Here is the conclusion of the draft:

190. Little Rock - Murray, Cole, K, Virginia
191. Wheeling - Strickland, Jay, WR, Oklahoma State
192. Providence - Lincoln, Edgar, G, Vanderbilt
193. Kitty Hawk - Knight, Mel, WR, Kansas
194. Tijuana - Baxter, Walt, WR, Alabama
195. Texarkana - Neel, Lewis, S, Vanderbilt
196. Nashua - Chance, Joe, TE, Oregon
197. Mazatlan - Stephens, Roy, WR, Arizona State
198. Norfolk - Judkins, Gus, ILB, Kentucky
199. Ypsilanti - Holmes, Shannon, OLB, Mississippi State
200. Cheyenne - Shields, Mario, K, Memphis
201. Memphis - Hoskins, Luke, WR, Mississippi State
202. Puget Sound - Evans, Wesley, ILB, Minn. - Crookston
203. Bermuda - Sherman, Kris, T, South Carolina
204. Ocean City - Dombrowski, Keith, S, Texas - El Paso
205. Pensacola - Whiting, R.J., WR, Washington State
206. Lake Erie - Crum, Charlie, ILB, Virginia Tech
207. Texarkana - Onnen, Levon, S, Colorado State
208. Mazatlan - Gunn, Jimmy, K, Michigan
209. Sacramento - Stewart, Tracy, OLB, Northwestern
210. Thunder Bay - Morrison, Barry, S, Iowa State
211. Hawk Mountain - Schneider, Deion, K, Alabama A&M
212. Niagara Falls - Derrick, Harvey, TE, SE Missouri St.
213. Fort Wayne - Still, Tim, FB, Michigan State
214. Fort Knox - Pitt, Lance, OLB, Arizona
215. Champaign - Mazur, Donny, OLB, UCLA
216. Louisville - Small, Jesse, WR, Oregon State
217. Napa Valley - Hatton, Ben, OLB, Washington
218. Athens - Pickett, Joey, OLB, Lock Haven
219. Key West - Harrington, Daniel, S, Iowa
220. Death Valley - Roundtree, Damon, DT, Brown
221. Sault Ste. Marie - Schwartz, Kelly, P, Central Washington

222. Little Rock - Burks, Butch, RB, Western Illinois

223. Wheeling - Dillon, Perry, G, Tulsa
224. Providence - Peterson, Dwayne, T, Thomas More

We manage to get C Lonnie Ancheta and RB Tom Murray in the after-draft URFA pickups, which gives us some flexibility.

I'm going to continue filling in the roster, and will post revised game files shortly.

[QuikSand]

After my first round of URFA signings, we work out a new deal with WR Matthew Morrell - he will clearly be the centerpiece of our air game for the next few years, a nice step up for the former fifth round selection.

We now have a logjam at flanker - and probably need to move someone over to play split end (to start). Usually, the youngest guy makes sense, but I don't know if we want to mess with Morrell, who has developed very quickly. Maybe Perea - move him over, take some hit, and have Hill get a fair amount of playing time at split end this year?

With Morrell re-signed, and 52 players on the roster, we now have just about $5.6 million remaining in cap room - just enough to fill in, and maybe re-sign one or two more of our own players.

[QuikSand]

By the way... when you get the game update, have a quick look at DE Russel Austin. Did this guy have some weird kinf of hug breakout since we signed him to a contract? I don't remember him looking anywhere near this good when he was in teh FA pool. Weird, man, weird.

Look at this guy in your current game before you open the new files... maybe we can isolate when this boom happened.

[QuikSand]

First updated file: