The Ace Garrison (English 2014) Draft

[ebongreen]

As promised, this is my attempt at an overview of the English path 2014 draft. All potentials listed are for Balanced philosophy. Not every player is listed, but I'm confident that 90+% of the players you would want to draft are included. If you feel like editing & expanding on the inclusions, please be my guest & repost, giving credit where credit is due.

Note the column of Knucklehead: this denotes players whose personalities, when known, may make it difficult to reach agreements on contracts or may prove otherwise disruptive to team chemistry.

In addition, a new column debuts with this sheet - the Notes column. I've included some statistics that you can't get before the draft, as well as some like player height that matter for certain positions (like CB and WR) for easy reference. When a stat is included, that's the player's maximum level short of Motivator or Game Changer intervention: for example, super-athlete safety Brock Williams can't cover in zone worth squat, and awe-inspiring LT Adrian Grant will never awe you as a run blocker.

I will be returning to my earlier drafts to add this information as my new career progresses. If there are specific things you'd like to see for specific positions in Notes, post your requests here.

Review: I'm underwhelmed by some players, specifically Ace Garrison, Adrian Grant, and Reggie Kenton. Garrison's learning is awesome, but he's not tough and his arm strength is low-ish for an "elite" QB. Grant can't run-block at a high level and he's not fast. Kenton is only 5'9"; given this game's love of "tall ball", receivers like Jamelle Lucas will eat his lunch all day in man coverage.

For my draft money, the best QB of the bunch is the Drew Brees from Tennessee: good personality, durable, and capable. The premiere tackle is actually [RT Connecticut], IMO, and he's just as good at either guard position if you haven't set those yet. [RT UCLA] is built more like a center than tackle at 6'2", and is definitely starter material there or at LG: at RG, the top tackles are likely to kick his butt. In corners, the best are [Holy Cross] and [TCU], both 5'11" and late-round sleepers; and [UNLV] at 6'2". [Wash St] is also tall, but his learning caps at around 80, so if you have a huge playbook he may never learn it.

The trio of running backs are an odd batch, but much more balanced. Scooter Chapman's the speed back, Tank Lockwood is the bruiser, and Markus Brooks is the balanced one (with a screwed up voice-intro - safety? really?). If I had the opportunity to draft one, it would be Brooks outside the top 10.

Nick Fallon is a TE that you can nab around the end of round 1, but there are better tight ends in earlier years. The biggest thing going for him is his height at 6'8".

There's also a competition at LE in round one between Lawrence Cross and Dan Scott. Cross' learning is higher and he's got better pass-rush moves; Scott is easier to sign and a better athlete. Were I given the option, I'd pick Scott: my hunch is that he'll cost less in the long run and perform as well or better. The only athlete worth a damn at RE is [Oklahoma], and with his learning he's best as a backup.

The OGs are all slow, and other than the tackles I've noted few are fast enough and smart enough to start. It's not an awesome year if you're looking for highly athletic starters on the O-line. There are a couple of fast centers, and one is quite talented, though both are knuckleheads.

Both fullbacks are underwhelming athletes and make their grade almost purely by learning. It's not a particularly good draft for safeties, either; if you want a long-term starter, I'd look at other years. The one standout linebacker is Delmar White, though his personality is off-putting; the rest are forgettable in at least one way, if not many.

In wide receivers there are a variety of candidates, but none as striking as earlier years. My choice for the best is [Connecticut] - what is it about UConn this year? - like the RT, he's a solid pick in every way and will perform well in most conditions.

The draft is more even than 2013 - depending on your needs, there are good players available throughout Round 1, a few in Round 2, and then a good batch on Day 2.

Players with Balanced POT >=90: 28

[ebongreen]

Of course, it would help if I attached the spreadsheet.

[ebongreen]

• Quarterbacks: Three QBs worth a first-day pick this draft: Garrison, [Tennessee] and [Kansas]. Ace Garrison is good but flawed: perfect learning, but only a great arm, not particularly elusive in the pocket and not particularly tough. Combined with his knucklehead tendencies and the high pick required to get him, and you're better off without. [Tennessee] can be had out of the top 10, is a Guru, and has all the skills you'll need to compete at a far lower salary, especially if you have good QB special skills by this point in your career. He's almost a copy of [2013 Brown] - and a cinch to re-sign if you want him down the line. [Kansas] is another good player, but also a PITA - not someone you'll want to start for you or plan to re-up in 2017-18. As always, [Ga. Southern] brings up the rear.
• Halfbacks: The Talented Trio are usually gone in the top 10 picks, if not the top five, but IMO none of them are worth the price paid. The POT of Scooter Chapman and Tank Lockwood (usually taken first and third of the halfbacks) is inflated by their high learning: Chapman is neither a workhorse or very tough, while Lockwood has only good speed and isn't a good receiver. Usually taken second among halfbacks (but still in the top five overall), Markus Brooks outperforms his LRN score, but I've never seen him drop into "affordable" territory, and more-or-less equivalent running backs can be had for a fraction of the cap. [N.C. State] is a first-day pick that isn't worth his price.
  The most cost-effective option in this draft is probably [S.F. Austin]: while a knucklehead, he's also big, durable, and an athletic home-run threat as part of a committee-back system. [UNLV] is a good athlete but not particularly durable, while [Texas Tech] has more LRN than POT and only good speed. [Richmond] is, as always, himself.
• Fullbacks: Both high-POT fullbacks can't pass-protect and are LRN differential examples - not seriously worth your time.
• Wideouts: Oh, how I miss wideouts from previous draft classes - this is not a group that plays to the particulars of HC09. [Syracuse] is only 6' with good CIT skills, while [Ohio State] is 6'1" with not-as-good CIT skills. The best-in-class award goes to [Connecticut], a 6' talent with good (not elite) durability) - but still, only 6'. Tall ball is not his strong suit, or really anyone else's in this class that you would want.
  [Auburn] can't outrun cornerbacks or even some linebackers (SPD 87). [Notre Dame] is a tall 1st-round near-bust. [Alabama] isn't smart enough to be more than a #4 WR in most systems, and neither [Columbia] nor [Alcorn St.] are talented enough to seriously dent an English-path roster. The remainder are short and/or can't make contested catches.
• Tight Ends: Nick Fallon is your best option in the class, available late 1st or early 2nd round. His best physical feature is his height, which caters to tall ball better than any TE in the English path yet. Even so, on my depth chart he's behind Cousins and Kirby because Cousins is a better overall athlete and player and Kirby is a much better blocker (and I had to pick someone). [Tennessee]'s POT is inflated by his LRN; you're just about as well off with [Delaware St.] who isn't a knucklehead.
• Offensive Tackles: It's not a good year at left tackle. Adrian Grant is huge with a great personality, but not a good run blocker and not fast. [Georgia] is a flat-out bust due to his poor LRN. The rest are all slow and/or not bright.
  On the right side there are several talented players, some of whom are better at other positions. [Connecticut] is a talented Commander: big (6'4" 325 lbs), speedy, durable, high LRN, and well suited to zone blocking. [Boston Coll.] is more of a prototypical power-scheme tackle, but not as fast and a knucklehead. [UCLA] is a Tobi Crisp-like Ally who's a better guard or (especially) center than tackle. [North Texas] is really fast, and also better at center, but not especially durable and a knucklehead.
• Guards: All slow/zone-scheme-only. RG [Michigan St.] is the best of the lot, and one of the few good ones whose POT is higher than his LRN.
• Centers: Other than the tackle-to-center candidates described earlier, the most talented guy is the speedy and undersized [Air Force], a knucklehead with questionable durability. [Texas] is a big fella who could be a good backup tackle, also burdened with a PITA personality. The remainder are backups only due to low LRN.
• Defensive Tackles: A talented group. Twan McKinley is a big mean SOB, a shorter thicker Quincy Sims. He can escape the top five, but his diva traits may make you look elsewhere. [Auburn] is a versatile mid-round talent: he's not really Kevin Williams, but he'll make your team and contribute both in run-defense and pass-rush situations for 4-3 and 4-4 based schemes. [Colorado] is an undersized nose tackle for 3-4 squads, or short run-stuffer for 4-3 teams - a pass-rusher he is not. [Hastings College] and [UTEP] are undersized penetrators for Tampa-2 teams or depth for others. [W. Michigan] is a poor man's Earl Whitaker: a big speedy pass-rush specialist. With his limited LRN, you can sub him in on nickel and dime defenses, but that's about it.
• Ends: The right ends are an awful, awful group: the best is backup-only [Oklahoma]. At left end, a pair of top-ten players, [UNLV], and crap. I described Lawrence Cross and Dan Scott up-thread.
• Outside Backers: The best candidates are on the left side. Knucklehead Delmar White is a capable starter and good value after pick 16. In the late-round/UDFA bin, [N. Arizona] is a fit for man-scheme 3-4 team who wants OLBs as dedicated pass-rushers. [S. Carolina] is a major bust with perfect LRN and awful ATH. On the right, [Georgia] is also limited athletically, while [Massachusetts] as a UDFA is like LOLB [N. Arizona] but not as talented. Overall another bad group.
• Inside Backers: I'm underwhelmed by this bunch as well. [Ohio State] can't cover man at all; the best may be [Iowa State], who though beat-up is at least durable and athletic.
• Cornerbacks: Here's some nice talent: at least three first-round guys plus sleepers. Reggie Kenton is short but awesome - if you play Tampa-2, he can Ronde Barber like the best. [Miami] is a good talent overall and a knucklehead. [Georgia Tech] is another talented guy, and a health risk, in the late first.
  Among the two tall mid-round corners, I thought [Wash St.] was the better option, but I checked [UNLV] for this review and my eyes got wide: I don't know whether he went through a Game Changer, was always a developmental guy or Ophamer bought Motivator in the preseason, but all of a sudden his potential stats are Through The Roof. If anyone else has an "unbiased" reading on him post-draft, please post it here. [Wash. St.] is a capable nickel or dime CB, with limited upside in coverage. With enough special skills, he can outperform his POT.
  The two sleepers are [Holy Cross] and [TCU]: both 5'11" zone- or man-cover studs. [Holy Cross] is marginally healthier and more durable, as well as stronger, a better tackler and a better learner; [TCU] is faster and a better catcher. It's tough to go wrong with either player on your depth chart.
• Safeties: Not a good class. Free safety class-headliner Brock Williams can't cover in zone at all, which... is what free safeties do 80+% of the time, right? Yeah, I don't know how that works either. [Kent State] is a PITA who isn't as good as he thinks. SS [Tulane] will similarly underperform, because he's not a good enough athlete to play SS: he's kinda... not strong, for one thing. As a nicer guy, you may consider shifting him to FS if you must have a safety this draft. You may have better luck on the free-agent market or in a trade.
• Kickers/Punters: Just say "no" to all the punters in this class. If you think you can develop him and pay his eventual price tag, [UL Lafayette] has sky-high potential as a kicker; [Buffalo] may serve you just as well, for a cheaper salary and without the drama.

Conclusions: If you're in the middle of a major roster makeover at this point in the English path, heaven help you - because drafts like this won't. It's relatively deep at halfback, right tackle, center (with a little work), defensive tackle, and cornerback. Its weaknesses are everywhere else: defensive end outside the top 10, quarterback outside the first day, wide receiver and tight end mostly anywhere, safety, and OMG the linebacker class... Another horrendous linebacker class - what is the deal with that?

Special skills in your coaching staff will help to make up the difference if you must - but dang, I hope you made your money as a GM in English 2009 and 2010. Those players should be starting for you and sustaining you through less-than-stellar drafts like this.

Players with Balanced POT >=90: 28

[ebongreen]

Quote:

Among the two tall mid-round corners, I thought [Wash St.] was the better option, but I checked [UNLV] for this review and my eyes got wide: I don't know whether he went through a Game Changer, was always a developmental guy or Ophamer bought Motivator in the preseason, but all of a sudden his potential stats are Through The Roof. If anyone else has an "unbiased" reading on him post-draft, please post it here.

And the answer is, Ophamer bought Motivator this year, so [UNLV] has been "doped". So unless I get fabulously motivated and redo the draft to pick up this one guy, someone else will have to provide the real skinny on him. :-,

[ebongreen]

Gentlemen (and any ladies out there), it's been a while.

I have (again) resumed playing our vintage little game, and (again) am working my way through the early English classes, completing the 2014 draft this past weekend. I came away with a few new conclusions and updates that I thought I'd share; at some point I'll even pick up my Big Thread with some further game-wide refinements and notions. But for now...

Nick Fallon is, essentially, a taller replacement for Karron Cousins if you didn't manage to sign him in 2013. The performance delta between the two, after considering the coaching special skills you've developed, will be pretty small, and the salary cap difference between Cousins' 2nd contract and Fallon's rookie deal will be significant: Fallon typically falls to the bottom of Round 1, which means a pretty low payday. So if you can't sign Cousins, it's not a big deal. Next year the trend continues with Teondre Mann being a slightly taller Storm Stewart.

I also got the straight dope on CB [UNLV]. First, he's not a starting press-technique corner (PRS 66). His cover ratings favor zone slightly over man (84 vs 80), he tackles well (66), and is pretty durable (88/88). So... if you play off-man, or a mix of man and zone, he's a capable #2 corner or a decent nickel back. If you've got a stud defensive coordinator or head coach with a capstone skill, he will naturally play out of his mind - but overall I prefer [Wash St] to fill out my roster, as he's just as tall and can press, though marginally less durable.

I'll update my English draft spreadsheets later this month. Happy playing!

[thedudescrew]

Quote: Originally Posted by ebongreen

Gentlemen (and any ladies out there), it's been a while. I have (again) resumed playing our vintage little game, and (again) am working my way through the early English classes, completing the 2014 draft this past weekend. I came away with a few new conclusions and updates that I thought I'd share; at some point I'll even pick up my Big Thread with some further game-wide refinements and notions. But for now... Nick Fallon is, essentially, a taller replacement for Karron Cousins if you didn't manage to sign him in 2013. The performance delta between the two, after considering the coaching special skills you've developed, will be pretty small, and the salary cap difference between Cousins' 2nd contract and Fallon's rookie deal will be significant: Fallon typically falls to the bottom of Round 1, which means a pretty low payday. So if you can't sign Cousins, it's not a big deal. Next year the trend continues with Teondre Mann being a slightly taller Storm Stewart. I also got the straight dope on CB [UNLV]. First, he's not a starting press-technique corner (PRS 66). His cover ratings favor zone slightly over man (84 vs 80), he tackles well (66), and is pretty durable (88/88). So... if you play off-man, or a mix of man and zone, he's a capable #2 corner or a decent nickel back. If you've got a stud defensive coordinator or head coach with a capstone skill, he will naturally play out of his mind - but overall I prefer [Wash St] to fill out my roster, as he's just as tall and can press, though marginally less durable. I'll update my English draft spreadsheets later this month. Happy playing!

Welcome back!!

Sent from my N9510 using Tapatalk

[JDStang]

and the head coach returnes.... glad to see ur back ebon

[MrMark]

Hello, do you have the spreadsheets for The Demetrius Covington (English 2016) Draft and beyond? Thank you in advance.