New Player - Looking for some basics / help overview

[svendraconian]

I'm in season 5 now. My first year I went 12-3 and made it to the NFC title game, since then I've been .500 (7-9, 8-8, 9-7 [no playoff]) and I'm sitting at a woeful 4-6 this year.

My strategy was to build my defense first (ratings are approximate)
DE - 70
DT - 75
DT - 60
DE - 50

OLB -50
MLB - 50
OLB - 56

CB -60
FS - 65
SS - 65
CB -55

This unit is..... very average. It should be good, a lot of early draft picks and FA on the roster, no obvious weakness and strong backups (50 CB, multiple 40 DL, 2 40 LB). I've made my own gameplans with some success, I've Rex'd with some success.... but I never am better than 10-15 in ppg / ypg (usually high in turnovers at least).

Offensively:
QB - 42
RB - 65
FB - 45
TE - 70
WR - 65
WR - 55
T - 35
G - 43
C - 50
G - 55
T - 35

With a pair of backup WR in the 40s. Rookie QB is developing.

The QB has had huge success, and while I did lose a WR he has a QBR in the 60s with a ton of picks.

I know he tackles are an issue (both are 55+ future potential 3rd year players, just are developing very slowly), but I've had a similar roster structure for 3 years and haven't been better than average. Before this year I had a big weakness at MLB (guys in the 40s ) and LB in general, but that was finally patched up this year.

Is OL just THAT much more important then I realized?
Is my lack of "star" power the problem?
Just not emphasizing the right positions?

[stevew]

Load up on pass rush technique and good things will happen for you.

[garion333]

Is OL just THAT much more important then I realized?

Yes.

Cohesion may play a role also.

[Julio Riddols]

OL may be more important to an offense than anything. In the FOOL I was unfortunate enough to have to start 2 terrible OL for a couple seasons while I tried to build other positions, and in those 2 seasons my RB (Who had led the league in rushing for his first 3 seasons) struggled mightily, especially on 3rd downs, which are his specialty. Last season I managed to cobble together a much stronger line and the results speak for themselves.

Here are his career 3rd down conversion numbers, see if you can tell which 2 years I spent with a couple bad offensive linemen tainting the group:

1: 37/64 converted (57.8%)
2: 35/57 converted (61.4%)
3: 31/53 converted (58.5%)
4: 19/49 converted (38.8%)
5: 13/44 converted (29.5%)
6: 36/55 converted (65.5%)

[Nemesis]

OL may be more important to an offense than anything. In the FOOL I was unfortunate enough to have to start 2 terrible OL for a couple seasons while I tried to build other positions, and in those 2 seasons my RB (Who had led the league in rushing for his first 3 seasons) struggled mightily, especially on 3rd downs, which are his specialty. Last season I managed to cobble together a much stronger line and the results speak for themselves.

Here are his career 3rd down conversion numbers, see if you can tell which 2 years I spent with a couple bad offensive linemen tainting the group:

1: 37/64 converted (57.8%)
2: 35/57 converted (61.4%)
3: 31/53 converted (58.5%)
4: 19/49 converted (38.8%)
5: 13/44 converted (29.5%)
6: 36/55 converted (65.5%)

Was it #1 and #3? :D :lol: :devil:

[stevew]

OL may be more important to an offense than anything. In the FOOL I was unfortunate enough to have to start 2 terrible OL for a couple seasons while I tried to build other positions, and in those 2 seasons my RB (Who had led the league in rushing for his first 3 seasons) struggled mightily, especially on 3rd downs, which are his specialty. Last season I managed to cobble together a much stronger line and the results speak for themselves.

Here are his career 3rd down conversion numbers, see if you can tell which 2 years I spent with a couple bad offensive linemen tainting the group:

1: 37/64 converted (57.8%)
2: 35/57 converted (61.4%)
3: 31/53 converted (58.5%)
4: 19/49 converted (38.8%)
5: 13/44 converted (29.5%)
6: 36/55 converted (65.5%)

Tend to strongly agree with this even though I don't have exact results. A stud line really pumps up the running game, whereas a meh line can really destroy a back's season.

[Julio Riddols]

Tend to strongly agree with this even though I don't have exact results. A stud line really pumps up the running game, whereas a meh line can really destroy a back's season.

And in return, a strong run game makes an average QB way more effective.

I also want to say that I think a QB means more when it comes to avoiding sacks. A good OL will slow down some of the hurries, but you really see the dividends of a good OL in the run game. Keep that offense on schedule though, and everything works better.