How do you set up your team ?

[DougW]

How do you set up your FOF team ?

Do you have a gameplan and idea in mind, and acquire players that fit that scheme, or do you acquire the best talent you can get - and build the plan around them.

Does this strategy change from MP to solo ?

If you choose "option A" - what NFL team (past or present) is it most like ?

[DougW]

Solo - I build around a scheme. Most like the Redskins of the early 80s. Singleback, power guy, downfield passing.

I haven't played enough MP to answer for that - but I think it will be different than SP. With it taking longer to build; I get the feeling I'll build around players.

[MartinD]

I try to build around a scheme (normally West Coast-style short passing offence, but have been known to build power-running teams in the past - on defence, I usually run a fairly blitz-heavy 3-4, particularly if I have top-notch CBs I can leave in single coverage), but in the (all too likely) event that I don't have the players to run one of my preferred systems, I'll try to work out a system that makes the best of the players I have.

Martin

[Raiders Army]

I get the best guys available.

[abal1221]

I build around a scheme. 43 Defense and Power Running Offense, with defense being my priority

I spend the first couple seasons building both lines, picking up a stud MLB, a stud CB, and a stud S

[Izulde]

I get the players I like and let Rex figure out what scheme to run. :)

[Narcizo]

I do look out for players who will fit my scheme, particularly in the lower parts of the draft - normally this will mean linebackers (plus for coverage skills don't care about pass rush), running backs (don't care about receiving skills), fullbacks (don't care about them at all, but only looking at blocking skills) and safeties (zone) but won't let that me stop getting the best talent just because the player doesn't fit my scheme (apart from safeties and zone - I won't touch a safety who can't play zone). So that's sort of trouty I would think.

In SP I don't bother gameplanning so I just get the best talent.

I do have a different priority to what I consider important compared to the draft bias built into the game though, so maybe that counts as building a team around a scheme. (Tackles less important, inside O Line more important, linebackers less important, running back less important, safeties more important, quarterbacks more important, defensive tackles less important).