CFM: Best of the Best Players (SPD/ACC, STR, Size) [Madden 25]

[Robrain]

I think we've all realized this by now, SPD and ACC are EXTREMELY expensive to upgrade, as is STR.

Need to raise Awareness? Cake-walk. Play-Recognition? Super cheap. Catching? Easy.

Taking this into account, the easiest way to train up some godly players would be to start with the best building blocks, the best underlying structure.

And that's SPD/ACC for most positions, though STR seems to me to be the way to go for O-line (and maybe DT).

Some quick notes (my opinion):

1) Minimum STR you want on O-line is 90. However, I'd say the best-of-the-best has ABOVE 95 STR. I believe the O-linemen with above 95 STR number less than ten.

2) The majority of DT's seem to have 90 or more STR. This is why it's a must for your O-line to have Elite (95+) STR. Similarly, the DT's that I find worth their salt are those who also have 95+ STR.

I skimmed the rosters at the start of CFM, and these are the players that have stood out to me (I mainly was looking at defense). The real key here in most instances is to look for 90+ ACC.

DE:
[RE] SEA - Bruce Irvin - 90SPD/94ACC [6'3" 248] [70STR / 84AGI] [AGE:25]
[RE] MIA - Dion Jordan - 85SPD/94ACC [6'6" 248] [67STR / 86AGI] [AGE:23]
[LE] CIN - Carlos Dunlap - 84SPD/88ACC [6'6" 289] [81STR / 81AGI] [AGE:24]
[RE] CIN - Michael Johnson - 84SPD/92ACC [6'7" 267] [72STR / 83AGI] [AGE:26]
[RE] DET - Ezekiel Ansah - 83SPD/93ACC [6'5" 271] [84STR / 85AGI] [AGE:24]

For reference, J.J. Watt is (77SPD/90ACC/97STR). And 24 years old.

For reference, Ravens RE Haloti Ngata has 98STR, but with just 68SPD/81ACC/70AGI at 6'4" / 330 lbs, and he's 29 years old.

I included Michael Johnson here primarily because I did a franchise trying to make the biggest/fastest LB corps. Wanted them all 6'5", 6'6", or 6'7".

Note: Michael Johnson is a bitch to trade for. Bengals want a TON for him.

Conversely, Carlos Dunlap usually gets put on the trade block by the Bengals as soon as the initial regular season begins, and I believe can usually be had for a 6th Round Pick while he's on the block (or maybe a 6th and 7th, make a separate MANUAL trade offer until you get him, do NOT make an offer via the trade block "Action" screen - if your trade offer from the trade block screen is declined by the CPU, another team's offer will instantly be accepted for the player, whereas via the Manual Trade you can make unlimited offers until the CPU accepts your offer).

Bruce Irvin I think can be gotten for real cheap during the initial preseason. Maybe a 6th, or a 5th, or a pair of 5ths, I forget.

These two guys get an honorable mention because they're freaking 6'8", lol:
[LE] CIN - Margus Hunt - 85SPD/89ACC [6'8" 277] [88STR / 78AGI] [AGE:26]
[DT] TEN - Ropati Pitoitua - 62SPD/74ACC [6'8" 315] [88STR / 62AGI] [AGE:28]

You can actually move them to linebacker during the offseason, if you ever wanted to have two 6'8 Outside Linebackers for some reason, lol.

LB:
[ROLB] TEN - Zaviar Gooden - 90SPD/91ACC [6'1" 234] [74STR / 87AGI]
[AGE:23]
[MLB] TEN - Zach Brown - 88SPD/91ACC [6'1" 242] [63STR / 90AGI] [AGE:23]
[MLB] SD - Donald Butler - 84SPD/93ACC [6'1" 248] [76STR / 84AGI] [AGE:24]
[MLB] NYJ - DeMario Davis - 87SPD/92ACC [6'2" 235] [83STR / 88AGI] [AGE:24]

I didn't include guys like Brian Orakpo (84SPD/92ACC/91STR) because he's 27. I wanted this list mainly to be players that you could build a franchise around for a long time.

DT is a mixed bag because you tend to either have the strong, slow fat guys, or the lower weight weak fast guys. Not a lot of in-between that I've found.

A few notable standouts, imo:

DT:
KC - Dontari Poe - 73SPD/85ACC [6'3" 346] [96STR / 75AGI] [AGE:23]
DET - Ndamukong Suh - 72SPD/87ACC [6'4" 307] [96STR / 82AGI] [AGE:26]
CAR - Star Lotulelei - 61SPD/79ACC [6'2" 311] [96STR / 72AGI] [AGE:23]
CHI - Stephen Paea - 63SPD/77ACC [6'1" 300] [98STR / 54AGI] [AGE:25]
BAL - Terrance Cody - 45SPD/70ACC [6'4" 349] [97STR / 54AGI] [AGE:25]
SD - Cam Thomas - 55SPD/78ACC [6'4" 335] [96STR / 57AGI] [AGE:26]

Those are pretty much ALL the DT's with above 95 STR...Dontari Poe is a VERY nice size/speed/strength blend at DT.

For reference, Vince Wilfork is 6'2" 325lbs, 96STR, 61AGI, 56SPD/79ACC, and 31 years old.

STR is really the only truly relevant stat to me for O-line:

[RT] BAL - Michael Oher - 98 STR - [6'4" 315] [AGE:26]
[RG] DAL - MacKenzy Bernadeau - 98 STR - [6'4" 308] [AGE:27]

[LG] SF - Mike Iupati - 97 STR - [6'5" 331] [AGE:26]
[C] SD - David Molk - 97 STR - [6'2" 288] [AGE:24]

[RT] MIN - Phil Loadholt - 96 STR - [6'8" 343] [AGE:27]
[LT] BAL - Bryant McKinnie - 96 STR - [6'8" / 360] [AGE:33]
[RT] CIN - Andre Smith - 96 STR - [6'4" 335] [AGE:26]
[LT] PHI - Jason Peters - 96 STR - [6'4" 328] [AGE:31]
[LT] OAK - Jared Veldheer - 96 STR - [6'8" 315] [AGE:26]
[LT] STL - Jake Long - 96 STR - [6'7" 317] [AGE:28]
[LG] TB - Carl Nicks - 96 STR - [6'5" 343] [AGE:28]
[RG] BUF - Kraig Urbik - 96 STR - [6'5" 324] [AGE: 27]
[RG] DEN - Louis Vasquez - 96 STR - [6'5" 335] [AGE:26]
[RG] NO - Jahri Evans - 96 STR - [6'4" 318] [AGE:30]

NYG RG Michael Jasper gets an honorable mention for being 375 lbs (94 STR).

That's it. 14 O-linemen in the entire NFL with over 95 STR.

C David Molk is the only one under 26 years old, unfortunately. Which means if you put together a group of the above linemen via trade, they won't have a significantly long lifespan before they hit their decline phase.

Funny enough, C David Molk consistently gets cut during the preseason by the CPU. I believe he's available to sign as a FA usually during Week 4 of the preseason.

So when I tell you that storyline draft player DeAndre King has 99 STR as a DT for his good storyline after lifting that car, now you know how rare that is.

Ransford Blake (non-storyline draft player) is an O-line player (I think a guard) who has 98 STR.

If I've missed a player, reply to this thread and add 'em here!

If you encounter a player with Elite stats (STR/SPD/ACC) that fits this mold, add 'em here!

Note: I didn't list the top STR DE's because I felt a speed combo was more important usually with that position. But if someone wants to take the time and list all the 95+ STR DE's, feel free.

[Trelocke]

Some nice work there. Would be cool to add this kind of information for draft classes too.

However, I will say that it's not necessarily the best route to take for all schemes. For instance, zone blocking and read-option offenses are going to want faster, more agile OL, rather than ones based purely on STR. Not that they will be useless by any means, but if you don't you'll often find yourself out running your blocks and getting dumped in the backfield. I have found this with my McFadden/Wells combo that I have set up in my most advanced CFM right now. On sweeps and pitches McFadden will often be out ahead of his blocks, having to cut back inside to make any positive gain. Wells is a lot slower than McFadden and still seems to have a better time with the outside plays and breaking long runs because his speed allows his block to develop. This is true with FBs and TEs too. Faster ones with good agility and run blocking will work better with a fast RB or zone blocking/read option offenses. For pocket passing and power running, STR is absolutely the best stat to start with though.

Madden 25 really does let you tailor your offense. As much as some of the game play annoys me sometimes, this part of the game is actually pretty solid in my opinion.

[Herbn]

Awesome work. I agree with Trelocke with regards to draft classes. I'll try and keep an eye out on that myself too.

I did a fantasy draft for my CFM, and I actually have Irvin, Suh and Poe all anchoring my line (with Robert Quinn at the other end). Suh is pretty much unstoppable, but Poe has seriously underachieved (maybe it's because Suh has heavily overshadowed him). I've been debating trading Poe and grabbing this freak DT in the upcoming draft, but I may reevaluate now. I lost Irvin for 8 weeks, but he came back and dominated. He had 3 sacks in the SB for me.

Zaviar Gooden is also one of my starting LBs. Never looked too closely at those stats for him, but it explains why I'm so successful with edge rushes on blitzes when I take control of him.

Loadholt is the only one I have on my O-line, and most of my outside runs go through him.

[Robrain]

BTW, Ropati Pitoitua usually gets cut during the Preseason, and is available to sign as a FA either Week 3 or Week 4 of the preseason. If you, you know, want a 6'8" defender.

I like to have him and that other 6'8" guy as the bookends on my D-line, playing LE/RE.

[trigger378]

95+ STR D.E.
Adam Carriker - LE - 96 STR
Ahtyba Rubin - LE - 95 STR
Red Bryant - LE 95 STR

J.J. Watt & Haloti Ngata also belong in the list above.


There's about 17 other D.E. that have 90 or above Strength as well. If anyone is interested, I can post those as well.

[nharris1114]

I have a titans franchise going and a lot of the players mentioned in this thread are originally on my roster. I have converted this to a 34 defense. Here who is standing out:

I have Z. Brown at MLB with Z. Gooden as ROLB and 2nd MLB. These guys are all over the field.

I have R. Potitio at a DE. Absolute monster!

One player I like is Tommie Campbell. Complete beast when I moved him to FS. His physical skills are out the roof but needs work with awareness and play recognition.

A disappointment has been J. Casey. Can't get productivity from him anywhere!!! Not sure if it is because of the lack of strength?

[josefrees]

Just a little problem with this your DTs need to be super strong. This really depends on how you want it. I have been playing with pass rushing DTs with as high strength as I can get BUT valuing agility and acceleration more. In the 4-3 this makes find DTs so easy in franchise because most of the DTs in the drafts are pass rushers. For instance a guy like Marvin Austin who has only 81 strength but high agility and acceleration. Simming he gets sacks. Playing, he is quick enough that once he has some work he might be better than a big strong DT because he move a lot faster once he gets off the block.

It should be also mentioned that as you go along in franchise mode, the top athletic players disappear. There are very very few draft players that have 90s speed, agility and accel. And very few strong available OL.

[ghmjfgk]

I think we've all realized this by now,