Miami on the move: 2015 Dolphins (M16 CFM, 360)

[freddies33es22]

Hey everyone, this is my first dynasty report, usually I just play behind the scenes. However, I wanted to at least attempt to do one, after reading all the really good ones. I will prolly need everyone's help in the setup and presentation of it, but I am learning how to do it as I go.

I am a Cowboys fan, but I rarely use them in CFM because I always expect them to win by a lot and have unrealistic expectations. I have always liked the Dolphins' uniforms in the past, but not their most recent ones. That being said, I wanted to see if I could relocate them somewhere with a similar color scheme, so that's the plan for this franchise.

Also I am going to change them from a 4-3 to a 3-4 and also to a Power Run scheme b/c that's the way I like to play, so I may try the 4-3 this year but slowly transition to the Base 3-4.

The schedule and depth chart are upcoming.

[freddies33es22]

Here is the first preseason offensive roster. I do want to convert to a Power Run, so I will roll with Lamar Miller for the last year of his contract, then see if free agency has anything better. Also need an offensive line upgrade, will take a look at the trade block and free agency for some depth or a good starter.

This is what I will be looking for as far as attributes for my positions going forward:

QB – MAC, AWR
HB – AGI, ELU, SPM, JKM, AWR
FB – RBK
WR - #1’s & #2’s: height, SPC, JMP
#3’s: CTH, SPD, RTE
TE – RBK, CTH, RTE
OL – RBK, AGI, IBL

Preseason Offensive Roster
#	OFFENSE	POS	AGE	HT	WT	COLLEGE
17	Ryan Tannehill (85)	QB	27 (3)	6-4	220	Texas A&M
8	Matt Moore (72)	QB	31 (8)	6-3	220	Oregon State
3	Logan Thomas (68)	QB	24 (2)	6-6	250	Virginia Tech
16	McLeod Bethel-Thompson (68)	QB	27 (4)	6-4	230	Sacramento State
26	Lamar Miller (83)	RB	24 (4)	5-10	225	Miami (FL)
33	Jay Ajayi (72)	RB	22 (R)	6-0	228	Boise State
38	Jonas Gray (72)	RB	25 (2)	5-10	225	Notre Dame
34	Damien Williams (71)	RB	23 (2)	5-11	224	Oklahoma
40	Rajion Neal (65)	RB	23 (1)	5-11	220	Tennessee
27	Raheem Mostert (63)	RB	25 (R)	5-11	190	Purdue
14	Jarvis Landry (81)	WR	24 (4)	5-11	202	LSU
85	Greg Jennings (81)	WR	31 (10)	6-0	198	Western Michigan
10	Kenny Stills (80)	WR	23 (3)	6-0	198	Oklahoma
11	DeVante Parker (72)	WR	22 (R)	6-3	218	Louisville
18	Rishard Matthews (71)	WR	25 (4)	6-0	217	Nevada
83	Matt Hazel (64)	WR	23 (1)	6-1	198	Coastal Carolina
87	Deon Long (63)	WR	24 (R)	6-0	192	Maryland
84	Jordan Cameron (90)	TE	27 (5)	6-5	260	USC
80	Dion Sims (78)	TE	24 (3)	6-4	268	Michigan State
86	Jake Stoneburner (67)	TE	26 (2)	6-3	250	Ohio State
76	Branden Albert (89)	LT	30 (8)	6-5	320	Virginia
74	Jason Fox (68)	LT	27 (6)	6-6	310	Miami (FL)
63	Dallas Thomas (69)	LG	25 (3)	6-5	315	Tennessee
51	Mike Pouncey (84)	C	26 (5)	6-5	305	Florida
65	Sam Brenner (72)	C	25 (2)	6-2	310	Utah
66	Jacques McClendon (69)	C	27 (4)	6-3	320	Tennessee
77	Billy Turner (77)	RG	23 (1)	6-5	302	North Dakota State
75	Jamil Douglas (66)	RG	23 (R)	6-4	304	Arizona State
70	JaWaun James (72)	RT	23 (2)	6-6	318	Tennessee
72	Jeff Linkenbach (71)	RT	28 (6)	6-6	317	Cincinnati
61	Donald Hawkins (62)	RT	23 (1)	6-4	310	Texas

[freddies33es22]

Here is the first preseason defensive roster. Not much quantity or quality at LB, and I will soon try to start converting to my Base 3-4.

Defensive attributes needed:

DE – AGI, BKS
DT – BKS, AWR
OLB – PUR, ZCV, PRC
MLB – PUR, PRC, TCK
CB – MCV, ACC, PRS
S – PUR, TCK, PRC

Preseason Defensive and ST Roster
#	DEFENSE	POS	AGE	HT	WT	COLLEGE
91	Cameron Wake (96)	LE	33 (7)	6-3	270	Penn State
79	Derrick Shelby (77)	LE	26 (4)	6-2	280	Utah
50	Olivier Vernon (87)	RE	24 (4)	6-2	275	Miami (FL)
78	Terrence Fede (79)	RE	23 (2)	6-4	278	Marist
95	Dion Jordan (77)	RE	25 (3)	6-6	275	Oregon
93	Ndamukong Suh (99)	DT	28 (6)	6-4	320	Nebraska
94	C.J. Mosley (79)	DT	32 (11)	6-2	315	Missouri
90	Earl Mitchell (78)	DT	27 (6)	6-3	310	Arizona
97	Jordan Phillips (63)	DT	22 (R)	6-5	329	Oklahoma
96	A.J. Francis (60)	DT	24 (2)	6-5	330	Maryland
55	Koa Misi (82)	LOLB	28 (6)	6-3	256	Utah
58	Chris McCain (65)	LOLB	23 (2)	6-5	245	California
52	Kelvin Sheppard (74)	MLB	27 (5)	6-2	249	LSU
49	Zach Vigil (63)	MLB	24 (R)	6-2	240	Utah State
53	Jelani Jenkins (78)	ROLB	23 (3)	6-0	243	Florida
42	Spencer Paysinger (76)	ROLB	27 (5)	6-2	250	Oregon
46	Neville Hewitt (67)	ROLB	22 (R)	6-2	235	Marshall
21	Brent Grimes (86)	CB	32 (9)	5-10	185	Shippensburg
24	Brice McCain (74)	CB	28 (7)	5-9	190	Utah
29	Will Davis (71)	CB	25 (3)	5-11	190	Utah State
30	Zach Bowman (68)	CB	30 (8)	6-1	210	Nebraska
22	Jamar Taylor (65)	CB	24 (3)	5-10	195	Boise State
36	Tony Lippett (59)	CB	23 (R)	6-3	200	Michigan State
28	Bobby McCain (59)	CB	22 (R)	5-9	195	Memphis
25	Louis Delmas (81)	FS	28 (6)	5-11	208	Western Michigan
31	Mike Thomas (71)	FS	26 (3)	5-11	201	Stanford
35	Walt Aikens (71)	FS	24 (2)	6-1	208	Liberty
37	Jonathan Dowling (65)	FS	23 (2)	6-3	190	Western Kentucky
41	Cedric Thompson (63)	FS	22 (R)	6-0	208	Minnesota
20	Reshad Jones (87)	SS	27 (6)	6-1	218	Georgia
32	Jordan Kovacs (72)	SS	25 (2)	5-10	208	Michigan
#	SPECIAL TEAMS	POS	AGE	HT	WT	COLLEGE
3	Andrew Franks	K	22 (R)	6-1	205	Rensselaer
4	Matt Darr	P	23 (R)	6-1	220	Tennessee
92	John Denney	TE/LS	36 (10)	6-5	255	BYU

[freddies33es22]

Game Options

Game: Madden 16 (XBox 360)
Quarter Length: 11 minutes (15 sec Acc Clock)
Difficulty Level: All-Madden

SLIDERS (a combo of Charter04, JoshC, and Jarodd21):
QB Accuracy: 6 USER/36 CPU
Pass Block: 25/44
WR Catch: 43/45
Run Block: 5/31
Fumbles: 38/38

Reaction Time: 5/5
Interceptions: 43/45
Pass Coverage: 5/31
Tackling: 38/38

SPECIAL TEAMS (User and CPU are equal)
FG Power: 50
FG Accuracy: 30
Punt Power: 55
Punt Accuracy: 80
Kickoff Power: 45

OTHERS
Injuries: 60
Fatigue: 50
Threshhold: 1

I will be tweaking these throughout the preseason, but so far, except for maybe a bit too easy computer ground game, everything works really well.

[freddies33es22]

Here is the 2015 preseason schedule:

Miami Dolphins (Preseason) 2015 Schedule
DATE	OPPONENT	RESULT
Aug 13	at Chicago
Aug 22	at Carolina
Aug 29	ATLANTA
Sep 3	TAMPA BAY

I will report on all of these at once, with a few notes from each.

[freddies33es22]

Here are the preseason cuts and what week they took place:

WEEK 1
RB Damien Williams
RB Rajion Neal
WR Matt Hazel
TE/LS John Denney (no reason to waste a roster spot on a long snapper)
DT Earl Mitchell
K Andrew Franks
P Matt Darr

WEEK 2
NONE

WEEK 3
QB Logan Thomas
WR Deon Long
TE Jake Stoneburner
RT Donald Hawkins
DT A.J. Francis
MLB Zach Vigil
CB Bobby McCain
FS Jonathan Dowling

WEEK 4
QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson
WR Rishard Matthews
TE Dion Sims
CB Zach Bowman
CB Jamar Taylor
CB Tony Lippett
FS Cedric Thompson

A lot of these players were released due to them not having the attributes I like in a player on my roster. The cornerbacks were especially an issue, they didn't have very good MCV or PRS ratings, and other attributes weren't enough to make them stick around. I am going to keep the offensive linemen I have for now, and work on that in the NFL Draft if necessary.

TRADES AND FREE AGENTS ON THE WAY!

[freddies33es22]

Here are the trades I made and free agents I picked up in the offseason.

TRADES
--MIA trades FS Louis Delmas AND a 2016 5th round pick to DAL for RG Mackenzy Bernadeau
--MIA trades RE Terrence Fede AND RT JaWaun James to NYJ for FS Antonio Allen

TRADE NOTES
--Louis Delmas was traded because he was in the last year of his contract and didn't fit into future plans. In return, I get a very good run blocker from the best offensive line in the real life NFL. With me being a Cowboys fan, I will try to pick up former Cowboys who fit my scheme, kind of like NFL personnel does when they switch teams.

--I realize I did trade a FS and then trade FOR one, but Allen is a nice OVR with decent AWR and good ballhawking skills than can fit into a 3-4. Because its hard to get a pass rush with defensive linemen anyway, I traded one away, even though I would have rather traded Derrick Shelby.

FREE AGENT NOTES
--I picked up Ta'ufo'ou because I figured you need to have a FB on the roster like you did in past Maddens. If I am wrong, someone let me know, I can just slide Hartsock in that slot. Hartsock was chosen because I wanted my 2nd TE to be primarily a blocker.

--I picked up Trueblood to get a better RB on the outside, and to replace JuWaun James, who was part of my 2nd trade.

--Whitehead was the last FA pickup I made late to get another KR to go with Mostert.

Preseason Free Agent Signings
45	Will Ta'ufo'ou (81)	FB	29 (6)	5-11	247	California
88	Ben Hartsock (77)	TE	35 (10)	6-4	265	Ohio State
68	Jeremy Trueblood (73)	RT	32 (9)	6-8	320	Boston College
13	Lucky Whitehead (68)	WR	23 (R)	5-9	180	FAU
#	DEFENSE	POS	AGE	HT	WT	COLLEGE
54	Brandon Spikes (86)	MLB	27 (5)	6-2	255	Florida
--	C.J. Wilson (74)	LE	28 (6)	6-3	306	East Carolina
25	Sanders Commings (72)	CB	25 (2)	6-0	223	Georgia
--	Jerome Murphy (68)	CB	28 (6)	6-0	200	South Florida
92	Ricky Havili-Heimuli (68)	DT	23 (1)	6-4	314	Oregon
#	SPECIAL TEAMS	POS	AGE	HT	WT	COLLEGE
3	Connor Barth (74)	K	29 (8)	5-11	200	North Carolina
2	Brandon Fields (82)	P	31 (8)	6-5	249	Michigan State

[freddies33es22]

Miami Dolphins (Preseason) 2015 Schedule
DATE	OPPONENT	RESULT
Aug 13	at Chicago	Lost, 27-21
Aug 22	at Carolina	Lost, 13-6
Aug 29	ATLANTA	Won, 45-24
Sep 3	TAMPA BAY	Won, 28-21

The preseason went pretty well, a few too many big plays given up in the running game, and my passing was way off trying to get used to the sliders, they do indeed work differently in Play Now as opposed to CCM.

I did not realize you could not go back and look at preseason box scores once the regular season starts, so I will just list some highlights and remember that for next time.

The best players in preseason were for sure:
RB Jonas Gray (5.5 YPG)
WR Lucky Whitehead (KR TD vs. TB)
DT Jordan Phillips (played well against the run and actually shed some blocks)
ROLB Neville Hewitt (4 TFL)
CB Will Davis (2 INT)
FS Walt Aikens (good tackler)

Players who struggled:
QB's (less than 50% completions, including 6-22 vs. ATL)
WR DeVante Parker (not a great route-runner)
OL basically the whole right side
ROLB Jelani Jenkins (no BKS or PUR skill shown)
FS Antonio Allen (bad preseason finale)