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03-08-2001, 09:57 AM
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#1 | ||
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lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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Wyoming Wildfire, 2020
 This thread marks the progress of the Wyoming Wildfire, a franchise being operated under the GroupThink concept. This is the year 2019-year three of the fledgling expansion team's existence. If you'd like to read through the details from our earluier years, including some helpful background on the concept and the rules involved, here is a link: Wyoming Wildfire, 2017 Wyoming Wildfire, 2018 Wyoming Wildfire, 2019 The basic concept of GroupThink (a deliberately temporary name that seems to have stuck) is that we have several forum participants working together to manage an FOF 2001 franchise. Several people have defined roles, and some others are just ad-hoc contributors, which is welcome. The principal managers of the team are: Owner: QuikSand General Manager: TheRoyalOne Director of Scouting & Player Personnel(Veterans): RPI-Fan Director of Scouting & Player Personnel(Young): Daimyo Offensive Coordinator: FishFan Defensive Coordinator: Subby Special Teams Coordinator: TheDawgsAreOut Salary Cap and Financial Advisor: ez Director of PR & Marketing: Fritz We've had very helpful participation from a number of others, and welcome more. The job of the people listed above manage the various input, as it relates to their field, and to implement things into a sound strategy. We have sought to find one central location for the game files, but have instead seemingly settled on a one-step-at-a-time system, where each manager seems to post wherever it suits him best. I recommend searching through the most recently active threads in the main forum, where you will likely find a link. Important: By downloading the file. You are agreeing to play by our rules. Chief among them is no simming ahead. If you want to join in and comment, fine-but do not interfere with everyone's enjoyment by violating this concept. That said, we'll be having several different people manage their portions of the season, and we'll use this thread as a home for the reports and updates on our progress. Discussion and debate about team decisions and so forth will continue to be housed in the main forum, generally in threads labeled with the "WW:" or "GroupThink:" indicators. There are two standing links, where our Offensive and Defensive Cordinators have posted an ongoing annitated depth chart, which might help focus and spur discussion. You may locate them here: Wildfire Offense Wildfire Defense Feel free to read along, look around, and chime in-- your input is welcome… |
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03-08-2001, 11:41 AM
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#2 |
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lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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In the 2020 preseason, we have brought aboard a new professional scout: 51 year old Pete Buckley. His teams have a career record of 40-60, but have been to the playoffs twice, and have one SB title. Buckley takes a 5yr deal for $800,000 per year-a significant increase over our previous bargain basement scout. Buckley's reputation ratings are as follows:
Excellent: OL, P/K, LB Very Good: WR/TE, Young Talent Good: RB Fair: DL, DB Poor: QB We judged that since we already have a number of QBs on hand, including a young player we hope to be the starter of the future, that we can afford to have some shaky scouting there-the QB position tends to have a high amount of direct performance accountability, anyway. We make some overtures to a successful coach Gabe Pool, but he elects to re-up with Pittsburgh for about $10m a year-more than 6 times what we pay our coach at the moment, Dean Tuman (who has 3 years remaining on that deal). As we move into the period of free agency, we receive some phone calls from other teams. One of them makes it through our "screening" process, and is presented for our collective consideration: Oakland offers their 1st round pick (#33 overall) plus veteran WR Frankie Gordon for QB Marcus Preston At long last, I think we'll actually have a trade offer to really discuss and debate! - - - Prior to making any moves, here is our salary layout for the team:
Discussion will continue in the main forum preseason thread… |
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03-08-2001, 03:09 PM
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#3 |
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lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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We accepted Oakland's trade offer for QB Marcus Preston, and have acquired the #33 selection in this draft, along with a veteran WR who will probably be a contributor for us this season.
In free agency, we have landed a major impact player in [b]LB Ethan McConnell. He's been a force with Tennessee, developing into a terrific all-around defensive anchor. He signs with Wyoming for a 4yr, $36m deal-a real bargain, in my eyes. Look for him to become a centerpiece of the Big Angry in short order. In week 9 of the free agent market, bids come in for our two veteran fullbacks (Staubach and Moss) and both of them accept immediately, not giving us a chance to even match the offers. Moss gets $9m over 2 yrs, Staubach gets $9.6 over 3 yrs. Both were productive for us, but are not foundation-level players. In week 8, LB Roderick Erdahl receives offers from Minnesota and the Giants, the best of which is $25.9m over 3 yrs. That's a pretty steep price for a decent but not special linebacker, and I decide to wait. If he's still pending by week 11, we can openly discuss it. If not, c'est la vie. By week 11, LB Erdahl is still pending, with 4 teams in the bidding, topped around $9m a year. That's where we will leave things for now, as TRO will resume the simulation this evening. Let the discussion continue… |
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03-08-2001, 09:11 PM
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#4 |
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First I let go of a few players that are unhappy playing for the Wildfire, giving them a chance to test the Free Agent waters:
DT Renaldo Torres OG Irving Provo WR Quentin Harvey Next I sign up Herb Stevenson to a 4yr 28.65 million dollar deal. We extend DE Jeffrey Webster 3yr 23.10 million, this will save us 5 million each of the next 2 seasons compared to what he makes now. Sloan won't except anything I find reasonable. Instead we go after Pederson and save the Tag for Sloan. We re-up Pederson for 4yrs 29.47 million. We now have 22 million in room, 12 for the draft. To pursue the remaining Free Agents we want, we'll probably need a little more room. This means we'll pursue the young DE and hopefully cut Shockley. We pick up G Petherick for 4yr 32.33, by giving him more bonus money he liked the deal a little better than what else he was hearing. We sign TE Page to 3yr 13.36 in week 13 and Erdahl tries signing but the team went over the cap. We sign Campbell to a 4yr 15.44 million dollar deal and Cut Kurt Shockley. Much to my dismay, I cut Austin "Shot" Gunn whose 3 million dollar salary gives us enough room to fit in Erdahl who is the better player and higher on Subby's depth chart. Erdahl signs a 3yr 21.33 million dollar deal in week 20. We have just enough room to sign our draft picks and since we have 8 of them, that will put us to 54 players signed. We will have to make some tough decisions to take any extra rookies into camp. No trades make it to the board, one probably could have but our cap room was the issue. |
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03-08-2001, 09:24 PM
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#5 |
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I can't seem to get on the main board right now so I'll just post it here for now.
The draft so far: 1. Tampa Bay - Frisch, Vince, QB, Stanford 2. Washington - Schenk, Don, QB, San Jose State 3. Kansas City - Reilly, Norbert, DT, Louisiana-Monroe 4. New England - Guthrie, J.R., WR, Georgia 5. Greenville - Stoole, Kim, QB, Pittsburgh 6. San Francisco - Denby, Henry, DT, Virginia Tech 7. Carolina - Davidson, Clarence, CB, Texas A&M 8. Cleveland - Archer, Jared, DE, Illinois 9. Denver - Ditka, Carlton, LB, Arizona 10. Tennessee - Lassner, Arnold, QB, Alabama 11. Portland - Bessette, Andre, DE, Savannah State 12. Detroit - Moss, Max, DT, Air Force 13. Philadelphia - Bessette, Mike, RB, Florida 14. Pittsburgh - Porter, Ryan, S, East Carolina 15. Chicago - Nichols, Daryl, DT, Texas - El Paso There is still some pretty good talent waiting for us. Most notably two outstanding tackles: Devin Williams 38/89, 30/73, 74 Lionel "Train" Kimmel 24/70, 28/71, 76-Wyoming Tough call. |
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03-08-2001, 09:44 PM
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#6 |
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lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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I know that Daimyo was drooling over OT Devin Williams, who is the better of the two. Not to be ignored, though, is the fact that Lionel Kimmel is a Cowboy from Wyoming. Home town heroes go a long way in these parts.
We also could take the WR that we discused earlier. And only one LB is off the board so far, which is good news. We ought to come away with a pair of good players here (maybe three)... can't wait to see the battles over which ones. |
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03-08-2001, 11:33 PM
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#7 |
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College Starter
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Berkeley
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I vote strongly for OT Devin Williams... Fishfan has been asking (whining?)
 for a run-blocking LT for a while now. While the Wyoming kid will be a solid starter somewhere, Williams looks like a superstud and should quiet our displaced dolphin friend for a while. The defense was really close last year and should get much better with the addition of our new superstud LB and with another year of experience. Imagine how happy Fishfan would be if we got him a stud OT and a stud WR I (I think there are two left right now) in the same draft?? I think we've had some good drafts in our three years, but I'm really very excited about this one. If one of the many LB's I listed in the other thread drops to us in the second round (very likely judging by the first 15 picks!) it would just be gravy. |
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03-09-2001, 01:07 AM
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#8 |
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High School JV
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: parts unknown, weight unknown...
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with their ratings this close, if we don't go with the wyoming guy we might as well throw the "local" element of this concept away...
you guys are flying - i miss a few days (spring break = in-laws), and i miss everything. i hope you aren't wrecking my carefully protected salary cap.
__________________
"Holy mother cow, 86 weeks." |
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03-09-2001, 09:21 AM
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#9 |
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Lethargic Hooligan
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: hello kitty found my wallet at a big tent revival and returned it with all the cash missing
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I/m BACK (and hardly medicated.)
If it equates to run blocking, I say do it. With the monster LB we picked up in FA, our D should be good enough to hold if the O can get something going. We need to bolster the O. We need to bolster the O. We need to bolster the O. We need to bolster the O.
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donkey, donkey, walk a little faster |
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03-09-2001, 09:51 AM
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#10 |
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College Starter
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Berkeley
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Will be updated as picks are made... discussion is in the main forum.
1. Tampa Bay - Frisch, Vince, QB, Stanford [This message has been edited by Daimyo (edited 03-09-2001).] |
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03-09-2001, 07:57 PM
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#11 |
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We had a good solid draft with two first round picks this year but we're tight against the cap. Determined to give ourselves a little breathing room and to take on a little young blood we make a few cuts with the help of the coordinators depth charts:
RB Camacho LB Amos Meeks We bring on the following: S Braham(Returning) RB Hagan RB Jacobs TE Hayes G Donovan 4yr DT Dronett 4yr LB Zuniga 4yr S Schulz 4yr We head into training camp with much of the same plans as last year except we want to concentrate more on 3rd down practices. Before Camp: Position/Player Current Est Future Est Exp Sgnd After Camp:
OT Garrett, whom I have no idea where he came from as he wasn't signed by me, boomed. he is now potentially our second best tackle but only signed through this year. No other major surprises but I would like to know where this kid came from. File is up on geocities. ------------------ Wildfire Files Member of the Village Challenge II Cleveland Browns |
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03-09-2001, 11:21 PM
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#12 | |
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High School JV
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: parts unknown, weight unknown...
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Quote:
blech.  given where kimmel went, and the closeness of their ratings, it's inexcusable that we took williams. we'll re-sign riddols ad infinitum but pass on a local monster OT because his little green bar for run blocking is 19 points lower than another guy? blech...
__________________
"Holy mother cow, 86 weeks." |
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03-09-2001, 11:23 PM
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#13 | |
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High School JV
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: parts unknown, weight unknown...
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Quote:
blech. remember - this is our GM talking. slow down, guys...
__________________
"Holy mother cow, 86 weeks." |
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03-10-2001, 02:07 AM
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#14 |
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College Starter
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Berkeley
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Sorry, OT Garrett is my "fault." When I thought I had the go ahead to handle the URFA, my first move was to cut JT Hodges and his $1.9M salary and sign Edgar Garrett (he was simply the highest rated current OT available by our scout) to a one year $680k deal. Hodges currents were just barely higher than Garrett's currents and I was trying to free up money to bring back Subby's safety.
Right after I signed Garrett I saw your message telling me not to run the URFA. I mentioned this move in one of the threads, but I didn't think Garrett was going to be too important so I didn't even use his name (I think I just said something like, I signed a URFA scrub to replace Hodges). I didn't see him as anything other than a way to save a lot of money at the time... sorry for the confusion |
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03-10-2001, 06:24 AM
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#15 |
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lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: sans pants
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Nice mistake Daimyo
That's why you're the YTC - how many booms do you have now? And I dont remember us having any significant busts...
__________________
Superman was flying around and saw Wonder Woman getting a tan in the nude on her balcony. Superman said I going to hit that real fast. So he flys down toward Wonder Woman to hit it and their is a loud scream. The Invincible Man scream what just hit me in the ass!!!!! I do shit, I take pictures, I write about it: chrisshue.com |
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03-10-2001, 10:37 AM
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#16 |
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College Starter
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Berkeley
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I think I've only had one bust ever in my solo 2k1 playing days... I think because I always like asymetrical players (for reasons other than bust potential)... Actually I never even had a breakout player until the WLC...
who else boomed? Kevin Gunn I think TRO signed as a URFA so he deserves credit for that one. Edgar Garrett was a total, 100% "accident"... |
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03-15-2001, 09:41 PM
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#17 |
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lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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2020 season wrap-up
After making the team’s first now-for-later trade, dealing away journeyman QB Marcus Preston to Oakland for their late first round pick, the Wildfire went into the 2020 season with uncertainty at QB. That uncertainty remained all season, as the team never did get consistent play from the QB position. The debate over what we learned or gained from this season’s QB play may never cease. RB Andy Ellis had a fabulous season, and his strong bid to claim the league’s rushing title was only derailed by a late-season elbow injury, which caused him to miss much of the final two games. LB Ethan McConnell, as expected, stepped up and anchored the Wildfire defense with 95 tackles. However, the defense played less consistently than had been hoped. An injury that left DE Jeffrey Webster out of the team picture for much of the season hurt, and the long-term effects of that injury may carry on after this year. CB Ellis Alumbaugh had another shining season, but he remains the one true standout in the team’s secondary. The bottom line – a somewhat disappointing 6-10 record, and a spectator seat for the postseason again. Stat leaders: QB Ethan Montgomery: 1,233 yds, 49.7%, 6.19 ypa, 5/10, 56.7 QB Zach McCorvey: 1,036 yds, 50.2%, 4.90 ypa, 5/7, 58.4 QB Casey Csonka: 401 yds, 55.0%, 5.81 ypa, 4/7, 51.8 RB Andy Ellis: 323 – 1,648 yds, 8 TD (5.1 ypc); 11 rec – 78 yds, 1 TD RB Tony Morrison: 95-405 yds, 0 TD (4.2 ypc); 23 rec – 274 yds, 1 TD FB Leonard Winters: 30-111 yds, 2 TD (3.7 ypc) WR Isaac McGeorge: 60 – 678 yds, 2 TD (50.8%, 6 drops) WR Riddick Fonseca: 34 – 549 yds, 3 TD (41.4%, 7 drops) WR Harvey Solymos: 35 - 411 yds, 1 TD (51.4%, 9 drops) OL unit: 36 sacks allowed in 405 pass plays (just about 9%) G Randal Pederson: 33/97 KRBs (34.0%), 5 sacks allowed LB Ethan McConnell: 95 tackles, 3.5 sacks LB Wesley Sloan: 77 tackles, 6 sacks DT Wes Barton: 29 tackles, 9 sacks, 2 blocks, 3 hurries CB Ellis Alumbaugh: 48 tackles, 7 interceptions, 1 TD, 4 PD, 40.2 PDQ Rushing offense: 143.3 ypg (1st), 4.5 avg (3rd) Passing offense: 166.8 ypg (35th), 5.5 avg (t34th) Rushing defense: 102.6 ypg (17th), 3.7 avg (t18th) Passing defense: 207.7 ypg (11th), 6.1 avg (t8th) Atlanta upsets Detroit, and goes on to face Cincinnati in the Superbowl. The mighty Bengals, though, have the last laugh, as they win the title 16-13—foiling the Falcons’ efforts to repeat as champions. Cincinnati RB Emmanuel Freeman earns the SB MVP honors, and also gets an oddity—he garnered the league’s MVP award, though he did not make it to even the second team RB spot. Atlanta’s RB Andre Otero gets the top RB slot, as well as the OPOY. Wyoming’s only member of the all-league squad is G Randal Pederson, who is named to the first team. I’ll save the season end in a file for anyone to download and view in more detail. |
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03-16-2001, 09:19 AM
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#18 |
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lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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The files for th start of 2021, plus a complete 2020 save game, are located here:
http://129.105.195.109/groupthink/wwstart2021.zip (thanks to Daimyo for hosting) |
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03-17-2001, 09:45 PM
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#19 | |
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High School JV
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: parts unknown, weight unknown...
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Quote:
??? i see him leading the league in rushing (1648 yards). adrian covington was second with 1629 yards. also, our season-ending roster rating was 100; baltimore was second-best at 73... [This message has been edited by ez (edited 03-17-2001).]
__________________
"Holy mother cow, 86 weeks." |
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