Bengals F-chise

[ksbraswell]

Let me start off by giving you a bit of background about my experience in this game.

1. I have owned this game from day 1. Yep, bought it with the madden 09 and took me 2 days to throw madden away and just play this.
2. I have only started in preseason 1 time in this game, (right when the roster update came out with Favre on the Jets).
3. I have never played a full 15 year career.
4. I play this game religiously still .

So with that said. I needed a change. I decided to start in the preseason, and picked the Bengals for 2 reasons: 1)because I like Keith Rivers & 2) they can never get it together in real life!!
Their CB's are decent, they have a good QB and 2 good receivers. So they have a decent foundation, but they still need alot of help in the O-line, RB, TE, DL, LB, and safeties.

TJ is in the last year of his contract, so that makes it a bit more challenging as I know if I resign him, he will take up a good bit of cap.

Marvin Lewis will NOT be making an appearance in this game. I decided to keep the Bengals Vertical Passing Offense, and went with the traditional Tampa 2 defense.

I will sim the preseason and play out the regular season/playoffs with adambroski's sliders, calling the offensive plays, and allowing the D-Cordinator to call defense.

I started off with a 30 Approval rating, this may be harder than I thought.

Be back soon with the preseason results.

[ksbraswell]

So preseason so far isn't that bad. I signed Keith Rivers (5yr/16M) and Jerome Simpson (4yr/4.1Mill) to their deals. I looked to see what free agents were available, and not much there. I picked up Ty Law and Tony Bake. Was suprised to see Jordan Palmer in the game (he's not there from the offseason ).

I went 1-3 in the preseason and have my lineups set for the regular season.

Here are my preseason notable moves. I am setting some ground rules that I will list when the season starts.

Traded Ty Law for Atlanta 3rd rounder
Traded Regan Maui for Denver 4th and 7th rounder
Picked up Junior Seau from Free Agency in Week 3 of the preseason.
Picked up Mike Tolbert, Peyton Hillis and Deangelo Williams in the 4th week.

My preseason promise was to finish below .500 (-2% approval).

So my current approval is 31%, and I have the Jack English draft path (I know this is the easy path, I will have to set some strong ground rules now).

First game up is Baltimore Ravens. Hopefully the Flacco and Rice combo isn't ready to play yet.

[ksbraswell]

So here is my ground rules for playing. I hope this is challenging enough for me.

- Can only cut 2 players per year that still have contracts
- Cannot use Franchise Tag ever

Resigning:
- Any player 90+ Potential must be resigned to requested deal & signing bonus including incentives
- Any player 85+ Potential must be resigned to highest deal & signing bonus without incentives

Trade:
- Any player can be traded at any time, but can only chose the first offer from the team.
- Cannot trade for another team's player unless they initiate trade, and must give them what they ask for

Scouting:
- Cannot unlock GM scouting special skills

Coach Development:
- Can only replace coach/Gm 1x unless he leaves/retires
- Must develop all regular skills before purchasing any special skills
- Coaches that have Top 15 rank in category must be retained unless they decide to leave

Free Agency:
- Can only pickup FA if best player in that position's OVR is <80 (regardless of potential)

Draft:
- Can only dismiss GM suggestion 3x during any draft


Now, crossing my fingers to abide by these rules

[ksbraswell]

So with the preseason wrapped up, it's on to the regular season. I play Baltimore first, and scouting them, looks like they have Kyle Boller starting, and Deuce McAllister as their HB. Ray Rice is 2nd string, as McGahee is injured.

Bengals - 15
Baltimore - 20

Bonehead Player of the Game - Carson Palmer
Stud Player of the Game - Chad Ocho Cinco

I had no running game today, and didn't stop the run all day. This was not as close as it seemed. Good ol' Palmer started my first 2 drives off by throwing picks in the redzone. the 2nd pick was returned by Ray Lewis for a 99 yd TD.

My only offense in the first half was Carson throwing to Chad, and then Shane Graham kicking field goals. Halftime score 10 - 6.

Second half wasn't much better, we were giving up sacks like they were free wal-mart gift cards. It was 17-9 with 3 mins to go, we finally stopped them on a 3rd and 3 at my 39 yard line. They decided to go for a FG, and Stover kicked the crap out of ball, 54yds ... GOOD!

Now 20-9 with 2:18 to go. We still have a shot, as we have thrown the ball good all day. And let the sacks begin. We completed two 4th down conversions, scored with 41 secs left. I actually won the onsides kick too. Can this really happen, can i come back. NO! My lovely QB goes off to take 2 more sacks, and didn't throw another pass. Are you kidding me. Throw the ball away Carson. Baltimore had 9 sacks on the game!

Quick Stats

Bengals:
QB:
Palmer - 59% completion for 445 yds 1TD/2INT
Rushing - 15 attempts/19yds

Ocho Cinco - 14 catches for 244yds

Ravens:
QB:
Boller - 60% completion for 123 yds
Rushing - 28 attempts/130yds 1TD

Very disappointing start but my approval went from a 31 to a 78. Gotta love the Defining Moments aspect (as unrealistic as it can be).

[whoRweNATION]

Good read and I like the ground rules you've set for yourself.

[ksbraswell]

Week 2 - Tennessee Titans

After a tough week of practice, it's time to put that GamePlan to work.

Bengals - 13
Tennessee - 20

Bonehead Player of the Game - Bobbie Williams - RG - 2 sacks (stood their looking at Haynesworth, c'mon man BLOCK)
Stud Player of the Game - Keith Rivers (13 tackles, 1 TFL)

Not really what I had in mind. It was brutal, Lendale White ran all over me. 28/130 with 2 TD's. I have come to realize my interior linemen are not very good. They ripped my A gap for 5 sacks, 2 by Haynesworth at the end of the game.

Anytime they wanted to move the ball, all they had to do is hand off to White, and he got them everything they wanted. I still cannot run the ball at all. Will be glad when these HB learn the playbook.

Quick Stats

Bengals:
QB:
Palmer - 61% completion for 317 yds 0TD/1INT
Rushing - 21 attempts/23 yds 1TD

Titans:
QB:
Young - 68% completion for 82 yds 1 TD
Rushing - 34 attempts/147yds 1TD

My approval went up again, now at a 82!!! SAD, I KNOW.

Injuries are starting to show their head: Junior Seau is out 4 weeks

On a side note, the Redskins trade Santana Moss to the Dolphins for a 4th round pick. Next up the New York Giants.

[Kurt l o l]

Giants will be a tough one! Nice read and keep it up.

[ksbraswell]

Week 3

Bengals 32
Giants 35

Bonehead Player of the Game - DeAngelo Williams (can you please learn to run forward)!!!
Stud player of the Game - Marvin White - (5 tackles 1 INT)

I fell behind 28-7 with 10 mins to go in the 2nd. I thought it was going to be really bad. The team responded and started playing pretty well though. The game seemed to change on Marvin White's pick 6 at the end of the 2nd Quarter. It was 28-17 at the Half. I still can't run the ball, and Eli Manning torched me all game. Overall I am happy with the teams improvments, but still give up to many sacks and turnovers. As we keep learning the playbook, that should get better right???

Quick Stats

Bengals:
QB:
Palmer - 69% completion for 365 yds 3TD/2INT
Rushing - 14 attempts/12yds

C Henry - 13 catches 155 yds 1 TD

Giants:
QB:
Manning - 71% completion for 304 yds 3 TD/1 INT
Rushing - 17 att/73 yds

My approval dropped to a 77, and Keith Rivers is out for 2 weeks. I've got to get a win soon, or I will be gone. Next up the Cleveland Browns. This may be promising.

See ya tomorrow.