One Regular Season Down, and pretty happy! (Analysis/Long!)

[pokerplaya]

I remember a prior thread like this, and unfortunately, it went away...SO!

I just completed the first regular season of my Connected Careers last night, and I'm fairly happy, so I figured I'd take the time to go through a breakdown of some things and what I loved, and what I didn't.

I used a Gameface coach, and because I was basically starting just after launch and had heard I needed to play Online CC at that point, its an online, solo CC. So, Jay Jackson took over for Jim Schwartz, and away we went.

Now, even though pre-existing injuries don't work correctly, I was able to just keep Jahvid Best rostered all year without him getting into a game -- but it wasn't ideal as at one point I needed to sign players to actually PLAY because of injuries, so it did hurt. This is one of the biggest things to me for at least minor editing, or the ability to edit before starting a CC. No one in Detroit thinks Jahvid will ever play again. I also didn't play Leshoure until Week 3 to simulate his suspension.

Other than my gaudy 15-1 record, I had some really competitive games that I definitely could have lost. I barely won in OT against the Texans on Thanksgiving, and I did drop that one contest to the Packers at Lambeau. Completely default All-Pro, except CPU interceptions were toned down to 25. (EDIT: FG Power is at 65. I've got Hanson hitting the crossbar at 56 yards, this seems about right now. It was pretty gross early in the year but he finished above 75% on FG at worst.) (ANOTHER EDIT: I should mention, about ten games were at 12 minutes, accelerated to 20 seconds, and then I went to 13. It fit my pace and I'm going to do an in-depth look at the first season stats to see if I need to tweak any further, but it felt nice on both accounts.)

Stafford threw for around 4,800 yards, 31 TD/18 INT, and he and Calvin and the O-Line were some of the only ones to avoid the injury bug at some point. Calvin nearly broke the yardage record, and was close on the TD record as well to win Receiver of the Year. Rodgers was again the MVP, and I was Coach of the Year.

In "average young guy who is now going to develop" news -- rookie Bill Bentley played himself into a Pro Bowl year, I believe he had 5 picks and 2 returned for TD's. He started the year as my nickel corner, but did have quite a few starts due to injuries to Chris Houston and Alphonso Smith at different points.

I hate that this guy is wearing #20, but I was forced to pick up a SS after Sean Jones got broken... I could have had him back for the playoffs, maybe, but I wanted to get a starter on his level -- so I picked up Josh Barrett. The man has been an absolute stud since I picked him up in for week 12. Four interceptions, forcing fumbles, just a rock against the run and amazing in safety help -- he was by far the best performing free agent I've just scoured off the wire in a LONG time in a video game.

The Lions going 15-1 is doubtful, but surely not impossible after a 10-6 year. I did NOT have a great year rushing the ball, as can be expected. I had 600 yard goals for both Leshoure and Kevin Smith, and they did both meet their goals. I'm not at my PS3, obviously -- but Leshoure had around 130 yards in the final game against the Bears to MAYBE give him 800 for the year, and I essentially had to make sure I got Smith a few carries in the finale to get him above his 600 yard Level 4 goal.

As far as that RB platoon with, Smith was the starter and backed up by Harrison and Logan while Leshoure "served his suspension" (He may have got in on Special Teams, but he did NOT have a touch until Week 3.) Even though he was a lesser rating, I wanted Balanced HB's so I changed my scheme and went with Mikel. The starting job went back and forth as both backs did deal with minor, lingering injuries all year long. Harrison didn't have many touches out of the backfield, but if his contract is up I'd definitely consider keeping him around.

I'll look up my receiving and defensive stats later, but other than tackles being low because of assisted tackles not registering, nothing really was making me go "wow, that's horrible." Not a huge number of takeaways, but I did do well with interceptions. The balls I picked I felt I should have in almost every occurrence.

I got the first-round bye, and I've advanced through to where I'm ready to practice for my Divisional Round Matchup. We're hosting the defending Champs. Dallas/Green Bay is the other NFC Matchup. I know the Patriots murdered the Jets in the Wildcard round, but I am currently drawing a blank on their opponent and the other AFC Divisional Matchup right now. I am thinking that the Pats play the Titans, but don't quote me.

I *LOVE* the scouting and the draft storylines, but I must say that I thought there were more in each draft, unless maybe my first class is a "lesser" draft. Please don't release any future draft class spoilers, but here are the storyline players (in spoiler tags) that I am seeing in my Class #1:

Spoiler

Storyline players: Tindle Bree (QB), Dexter Smithson (LT), Tucker Riley (RG), Graham Ellis (CB), Tramon Sears (FS), Bernard Lloyd-Peete (HB), (Not positive on first name but last name is) POLK (MLB).

I don't want to spoil the storylines I've seen, again I just expected MORE talk on each storyline. It seems its one update a week, and without a transaction history to keep me busy, at least tweet more.

Please, if you are having a negative impression or experience with Connected Careers in Coach Mode, save your flames for another thread. I am strictly going over what I have seen, and will continue to update throughout my playoffs, and offseason to really give a solid look at the mode. I am well aware of the longstanding issues, I am a person who plays around them and do not wish to dwell on them here. Thank you.

[pokerplaya]

My Pro Bowlers:

QB Matt Stafford, WR Calvin Johnson, LE Cliff Avril (tied for new sack record with Clay Matthews with 24), DT's Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley (I think Fairley outplayed him), CB's Chris Houston and Bill Bentley (R).

Seven Pro Bowlers for a 15-1 squad... they did that right.

[RajonRondo]

What difficulty are you playing with? all-madden, custom, etc...

[pokerplaya]

Quote: Originally Posted by pokerplaya

Completely default All-Pro, except CPU interceptions were toned down to 25. (EDIT: FG Power is at 65. I've got Hanson hitting the crossbar at 56 yards, this seems about right now. It was pretty gross early in the year but he finished above 75% on FG at worst.) (ANOTHER EDIT: I should mention, about ten games were at 12 minutes, accelerated to 20 seconds, and then I went to 13. It fit my pace and I'm going to do an in-depth look at the first season stats to see if I need to tweak any further, but it felt nice on both accounts.)

intheop10char

[Ninjas N Grits]

God, with FG power at 65 I feel like I would be close to a 70ydr with Carpenter in my dolphins online CCM. Lol.

****Everybody knows Jackie Robinson was #42****

[ZoeK35]

Great season and your stats seem to be pretty realistic. Good luck in the playoffs

[pokerplaya]

Quote: Originally Posted by Ninjas N Grits

God, with FG power at 65 I feel like I would be close to a 70ydr with Carpenter in my dolphins online CCM. Lol. ****Everybody knows Jackie Robinson was #42****

Well, that is the first place its felt realistic... I was missing even 49 yarders much lower than this... It could be an actual happy medium between 60 and 65, but its been tested to what I know Hanson's range is after 21 years of watching him.

[thebizarrojerry]

Cool write up, good read. Thanks.

I'm not a Lions fan but started playing them because they're a young team with of course one of the best young WR's and QB's that's going to be fun to build around. I just started my 2nd go around with them in CCM with the new rosters and patch. But my 1st was some of the most fun I've had in a video game in a long time. Went 8-7 my first year, just missed out on the playoffs by 1 game.

2nd year signed Danarilo Alexander as a 2nd top WR, and dominated the NFC, getting 2nd only missing out with the Saints for top NFC spot in a tie breaker. Won some blowouts to make it to the Super Bowl where I barely beat the Colts 17-10 I believe. 2 of my TE's were injured so I picked up a free agent TE the last few weeks of the season and he was Super Bowl MVP with over 150 yards and 2 TD's. Johnson got top receiver and Stafford went to the Pro Bowl.

3rd year go a few nice draft picks and had to sign a replacement RE for the retired Vanden Bosch who went out on top with a ring for his last year. Today I decided to hang up the towel on that CCM and just started a new one, week 1 here I come! Right now I'm practicing and simming pre-season to get XP points and planning what I'm going to do to replace the aging offense and defensive lines. It was kind of a mess my last franchise mode having to shell out big money for a RE.

Jahvid Best is on the PUP list, so are you sure the Lions don't expect him to play this year? I started him season 2 and he was a solid small quick back, a great combo with Smith