Big Drop in Future Potential of QB in 2nd year-How to reverse it?

[GMO]

I drafted a good QB, with future potential about 72.
I used him sparingly in the 1st year because I had a good QB already who was in his 13th year.
I planned to use my new QB a lot more in his 2nd year.
Now in the QB's 2nd year, after training camp, my new QB now has a potential of only 50.

That's a large drop.

Did the big drop in future potential occur because I didn't use the new QB much in his rookie year?

Is there a way to get back to a higher future potential for my new QB?

Thanks.

[duckman]

Get a mentor. Sometimes you can reverse the potential drop if you have one, but you have to play your 2nd year quarterback too.

[Vinatieri for Prez]

There is also the possibility he is semi-bust and your scout just figured it out now. But play him and see what his stats are. That's all that really matters.

[EagleFan]

Could just be a bust, highly volatile ratings, change of scout?

[dbd1963]

I don't even think you can always go by stats. I had a QB rated something like 18/24 who I started as a rookie. He was a workout warrior so I hoped his ratings would improve as he played, but they didn't. He stayed right around those numbers for the three years I had him. In his first year, he played very well. I don't have the stats anymore because the gamefile corrupted, but he played like you'd expect a 60-70 guy would. He even won the championship and was awarded MVP of the game. But the next year, he played like his ratings. He threw interceptions left and right.. it was very disappointing. If I had just seen his stats from the previous year, I might have been tempted to pay him big bucks to run my offense. I kept him around another year as the primary backup, and he did play some -- once again, he played pretty good. I'd have kept him around, but he got disgruntled. When I let him go, no other team was interested in him at all so I don't think he really was better than his ratings to any great degree. He just slid into a very good team and had an outstanding year.

So the stats have to be read a little critically if you are looking at a young guy who has awful ratings. Look at the team he was on. If it was a great team, he may not play so well for you.

Anyway, such a guy really wouldn't get much playing time from the AI teams unless circumstances forced it. I guess the tentative thought I take from this is you might get a good season out of any player, but a string of good seasons only come out of bona-fide good players.

[Vinatieri for Prez]

My main point still stands. In a sim where stats are directly related to wins, I trust stats over ratings every time after the guy is 3-4 years in the league. So yes as far as a 1st or 2nd year guy, you have to be careful about relying on stats only.

[dj_morton]

Originally Posted by Vinatieri for Prez

My main point still stands. In a sim where stats are directly related to wins, I trust stats over ratings every time after the guy is 3-4 years in the league. So yes as far as a 1st or 2nd year guy, you have to be careful about relying on stats only.

I concur!