Miami Dolphins Franchise

[TeamBuilder]

http://espn.go.com/videogames/featur...en10?teamId=12

Now that the ratings are out... Here is my game plan for franchise mode. Players I plan on keeping beyond my first year are listed in parenthesis after the position description.

QB- Chad Pennington is the starter, but not for long. If I can get some good value in terms of draft picks I will not hesitate to deal Pennington. Chad Henne and Pat White are the future here. Henne seems to be the immediate replacement but Pat White might surpass him in a year or so. (Henne and White)

HB- Ronnie Brown will be my starter for the next 3-4 years but I will look to upgrade in the backfield through free agency. Maybe I'll look to add Edgerrin James (and bring him back to Miami) to form a 1-2 punch. Ricky Williams will be dealt for future draft picks. (Brown)

FB- Louaska Polite will be rarely used until I pick up a qualtiy fullback in free agency or the draft. Then things will get more exciting because I like to utilize my fullback in the passing and running game. (None)

WR- Ted Ginn and the 6'5" Rookie Patrick Turner will be my starting wide receivers. Apart from those two, I will definitely look to upgrade in the off-season. The only wide receiver likely to survive until year 2 is Davone Bess as my slot receiver. (Ginn, Turner, and Bess)

TE- Anthony Fasano is a beast of a run blocker and an average receiver. Although I will try and upgrade in the off-season I still plan on keeping Fasano as a 2nd or 3rd string TE. (Fasano)

OL- Tackles Jake Long and Vernon Cary, guards Justin Smiley and Donald Thomas, and center Jake Grove will all stay on my team in year two. But I do plan on trying to sign Levi Jones and Kendall Simmons and play one of them at right guard, using Thomas as a key backup. (Long, Carey, Smiley, Grove, and Thomas)

DL- Ends Phillip Merling and Kendall Langford will be fixtures for the next decade. I will move Randy Starks to nose tackle and look to trade Jason Ferguson for future picks. I am also eyeing free agent former #4 overall draft pick Dwayne Robertson as a backup nose tackle and second defensive tackle in a 4-3. (Merling, Langford, and Starks)

LB- This is the interesting part of the defense. Channing Crowder is a fixture at one ILB spot. The other might be Akin Ayodele or I may pick up Nate Webster or Napoleon Harris as free agents and give them a shot. On the outside I have options, I could start a lethal combination of Joey Porter and Jason Taylor, or I could trade Porter for some high draft picks and start Taylor in his place. That would leave the LOLB position to Matt Roth, a good run stuffer. But I may also sign Kabeer Gbaja-Biamilia to start as an OLB pass rusher. Paired with Jason Taylor he could potentially wreak havoc on the opposing quarterback. Of course a lot can change depending on if Cameron Wake is in the game or not. (Crowder, Taylor and Roth)

CB- This part of the defense is oozing with potential. Rookies Vontae Davis and Sean Smith will start for me from day one. Both possess excellent press corner skills. Davis could develop into a pure lockdown corner and Smith will be able to cover bigger receivers with his 6-4 height. Will Allen will either bring veteran leadership from the nickel, or he will be traded for picks and I will sign the former Dolphins Dynamic Duo of Sam Madison and Pat Surtain to hold down the nickel and dime spots. Former 1st round pick Jason Allen will be moved back to safety. (Davis and Smith)

FS/SS- Both safty spots are in great hands with Yeremiah Bell and Gibril Wilson. Both are sure tacklers that will help againts the run and receivers over the middle. Jason Allen will be the backup at the FS position. (Bell, Wilson, and Allen)

K/P- Carpenter and Fields are both average so I may look to upgrade in the off-season.

Top 5 positions to upgrade in the off-season...

1. Wide Receiver- Looking to add a game changer.
2. Linebacker- More youth with high draft picks.
3. Tight End- Receiver with speed at the position.
4. Fulback- Multi-threat option out of the backfield.
5. Halfback- Someone to split carries with Ronnie Brown.

[TeamBuilder]

Ohh I should also state, this is for offline franchise.

[FOREST007]

i lol'd at this thread, i thought i was the only one planning on what i was gonna do when the game launches.

im gonna sign chris mcallister, marvin harrison or amani toomer, and derrick brooks for the falcons

[Spanky]

TeamBuilder. couple of questions:

1. Have you determined who you will schedule in the preseason, assuming they reinstated the customize preseason schedule option?

2. Have you determined which games you will wear the aqua jerseys and which games you will don white? Also, are you planning on breaking out the orange jersey for a game or two, perhaps one of the Monday Night Games, vs. the Colts or the Jets?

[Cryolemon]

Quote: Originally Posted by Spanky

Also, are you planning on breaking out the orange jersey for a game or two, perhaps one of the Monday Night Games, vs. the Colts or the Jets?

Can't speak for him, but I know I will. They've never lost IRL when wearing that jersey, and I think it looks cool.

[TeamBuilder]

Quote: Originally Posted by Spanky

TeamBuilder. couple of questions: 1. Have you determined who you will schedule in the preseason, assuming they reinstated the customize preseason schedule option? 2. Have you determined which games you will wear the aqua jerseys and which games you will don white? Also, are you planning on breaking out the orange jersey for a game or two, perhaps one of the Monday Night Games, vs. the Colts or the Jets?

I would love to answer these questions...

1. If I can schedule pre-season games they will be against...

Patriots- No better feeling in Madden than sacking Tom Brady and seeing him not get up.

Eagles- Team that I think will win the NFC, should pose a challenge.

Colts- One of the toughest teams to play against. One time, I was down by 5 points with 8 seconds and I got tackled at the 1 yard line with no time outs left and couldn't get another play off. It was very similar to the Rams/Titans superbowl.

Cardinals- I used to role with the Cardinals back in Madden 06. I would take John Navarre who at the time I think was rated 65 OVR and make him into a Pro Bowl player. That was back when progression was every 4 games so if you played well you could progress. Anyway, always been my favorite NFC team.

2. I'll definitely mix it up with the jerseys, no gameplan yet as to which games will bring out which colors... but i'll keep you posted.

[TeamBuilder]

Quote: Originally Posted by FOREST007

i lol'd at this thread, i thought i was the only one planning on what i was gonna do when the game launches. im gonna sign chris mcallister, marvin harrison or amani toomer, and derrick brooks for the falcons

Planning it all out is the only thing that keeps me sane while I wait for release. The first off-season is my favorite part of the game, because then you can mold the team the way you want to.

[Lucicren]

Very interesting read, I actually really enjoyed this, put a lot of thought and effort into I think, you should do one for The Bears