FOF solo-play: young player you are most happy with right now

[Darkiller]

In your current solo careers (FOF and/or TCY), who is the one player you drafted (or recruited if TCY) that has you fired up, that excites you the most when you open up the game to play a bit ?

For me right now, there is this young LB from Vanderbilt, Norman Levine, who is entering his 5th pro season with the San Francisco 49ers.
I drafted Levine with the #9 overall selection four years ago, and this is the highest pick I have even spent on a LB (and I am currently in year 2055). Clearly, I felt some pressure doing so but today, I'm ecstatic.
Levine is total stud, plays MLB, has had his stats grow up with each new season and in his 4th year, earned All-League honors.

He is now entering his 5th year and he should be a perennial contender for All-League & Defensive Player of the Year honors.

2052: 13 starts - 49 tackles
2053: 16 starts - 67 tackles - 1.0 sack
2054: 16 starts - 90 tackles - 1.0 sack - 1 INT
2055: 16 starts - 122 tackles - 2.0 sacks - All-League 2nd team honors

[Julio Riddols]

I have a DT named Nolan Reynolds going into year six who is capable of putting up linebacker-like tackling numbers depending on his supporting cast. His numbers were down last season with a better Left End and Right DT helping out, but he still had a tackle percentage over 10 percent, which I consider quite high for a DT.

I just wish FOF tracked Tackles For Loss.

His first 5 seasons:

Rookie: 16G,16S, 46 tack, 29 ast, 6.5 sacks, 4 blk, 7 hurr, 3.1 PR%, 7.9 TK%.

2: 16G, 16S, 57 tack, 18 ast, 5.5 sacks, 2 blk, 14 hurr, 3.9 PR%, 8.2 TK%.

Season 3 was the season he finally started to come into his own-

3: 16G, 16S, 67 tack, 31 ast, 7.0 sacks, 5 blk, 16 hurr, 4.7 PR%, 10.7 TK%.

4: 16G, 16S, 90 tack, 25 ast, 7.5 sacks, 5 blk, 23 hurr, 6.2 PR%, 12.5 TK%.

5: 16G, 16S, 75 tack, 27 ast, 8.0 sacks, 4 blk, 9 hurr, 3.8 PR%, 10.9 TK%.

He was "leagues strongest man" in year 4, first team all-pro as well, and second team all pro last season. He should also have a lot more work this season with a rookie QB learning on the other side of the ball. Can he break 100 tackles?

[yabanci]

I have a SLB named Tyrell Kranchick out of LSU drafted 1.17 in 2008. Defensive rookie of the year. Rated 88/88 in his fourth year.

2008: 16 starts, 75 tackles, 20 assists, 3.0 sacks, 1 block, 1 hurry, 3 int (1 for td), 3 defensed, 3 forced fumbles

2009: 13 starts, 54 tackles, 19 assists, 4.5 sacks, 0 block, 0 hurry, 1 int, 7 defensed, 0 forced fumbles

2010: 16 starts, 79 tackles, 27 assists, 5.0 sacks, 2 block, 4 hurry, 1 int, 6 defensed, 1 forced fumble

2011: 16 starts, 113 tackles, 24 assists, 0.0 sacks, 4 block, 9 hurry, 3 int, 21 defensed, 1 forced fumble

The 21 passes defensed in 2011, that's the most I've seen for a linebacker (at least that I can recall).

[Vince]

I don't play FOF solo, but MLB Quentin 'Bones' Sherry is my favorite young guy at the moment :)

[Julio Riddols]

I just simmed the first game of the preseason in Reynolds' 6th season.

He now has a compound leg fracture, which should cost him all of this season, and most of next. There is fear in the front office that his career may be over, and our defense is in bad shape without their main producer..

Damn.

[johnnyshaka]

I just simmed the first game of the preseason in Reynolds' 6th season.

He now has a compound leg fracture, which should cost him all of this season, and most of next. There is fear in the front office that his career may be over, and our defense is in bad shape without their main producer..

Damn.

Hate to say it, but Brian Westbrook had the same injury for me and was a scrub when he got back. Hope that isn't the case with your guy.

[RedKingGold]

I just simmed the first game of the preseason in Reynolds' 6th season.

He now has a compound leg fracture, which should cost him all of this season, and most of next. There is fear in the front office that his career may be over, and our defense is in bad shape without their main producer..

Damn.

The bigger question is why would you play such a stud in the preseason...in his 6th year?!?!?!?

[Julio Riddols]

Heh.. Why would I play him is my thought as well.. But I only carry 3 DTs on my roster at any given time, with 3 DEs.. I had him on the bench at LDT, and he just happened to go down I guess.

He'll more than likely be half the man he used to be, but I'll give him a year and see how he does if he doesn't retire. Worst part about the whole situation is that I just resigned him two years ago to a big 7 year deal that was actually a pretty good bargain.. (I play with a static salary cap, so he was playing for about 7.5 mil a year on average over those 7 years)

Anyway, the season played out fairly as expected, 6-10, first year without the playoffs since about 15 seasons ago when my last QB (a sure shot HOF QB with 6 World Championships) started his career. I expect next season to be different, with my rookie QB and FL both a year older and more in sync.

[MIJB#19]

I don't play FOF solo, but MLB Quentin 'Bones' Sherry is my favorite young guy at the moment :)He may get all the media attention, but he's not even close to being as good as Bernie Surry!

[Vince]

He may get all the media attention, but he's not even close to being as good as Bernie Surry!

Eurosno---ok, that joke is played out now. :)

'Not even close' seems to be a bit of a stretch, though...

[Julio Riddols]

Quick update on Reynolds: He is a wolverine-like healing monster of a man.
Instead of late 2056, he comes back before the regular season even starts, loses little to nothing in ratings. I'm surprised to see what was diagnosed as a 48 week injury only wound up being about 30 or so.

I paired him up with a serious bargain DT of similar skill (but more of a pass rusher) after a small bidding war with the Ravens, and now we're in good shape, I will give another update at the end of the season-

[MIJB#19]

Eurosno---ok, that joke is played out now. :)

'Not even close' seems to be a bit of a stretch, though...
Okay, compromise: Surry is slightly better than Sherry. ;)

[yabanci]

I have a SLB named Tyrell Kranchick out of LSU drafted 1.17 in 2008. Defensive rookie of the year. Rated 88/88 in his fourth year.

2008: 16 starts, 75 tackles, 20 assists, 3.0 sacks, 1 block, 1 hurry, 3 int (1 for td), 3 defensed, 3 forced fumbles

2009: 13 starts, 54 tackles, 19 assists, 4.5 sacks, 0 block, 0 hurry, 1 int, 7 defensed, 0 forced fumbles

2010: 16 starts, 79 tackles, 27 assists, 5.0 sacks, 2 block, 4 hurry, 1 int, 6 defensed, 1 forced fumble

2011: 16 starts, 113 tackles, 24 assists, 0.0 sacks, 4 block, 9 hurry, 3 int, 21 defensed, 1 forced fumble

The 21 passes defensed in 2011, that's the most I've seen for a linebacker (at least that I can recall).

Rats. He became a free agent after this 2011 season. I play with a rule that I can't use franchise tags, renegotiate, or offer my players a free agent contract until after another team already has done so. I was desperately hoping I'd get a chance to match any offer, but he signed a 7-year, $100.82 million contract with Cincinnati in the first stage of free agency (biggest contract ever in this career). So my favorite player has dumped me after only four years. Boo hoo.

[AlexB]

I've just started an empty cupboard career, and, in my 2nd season, young DT Jose Patton has put up numbers I have never seen from this position before:

He started all 16 games, and recorded 115 tackles, 32 assists, 9 sacks, 6 passes blocked, 11 hurries, 2 passes defensed, 4 fumbles forced and 1 fumble recovered.

I selected him with the 2nd overall draft pick in my first season, he is rated 68/79 (when drafted he was 46/70), and was selected as 1st team DT this year.

We went 1-15 year one, so with the 1st overall of the 2nd season I picked a DE (who was also selected #1 before Patton the year before, but never agreed terms :eek: ), so, along with a DT I picked up in the 5th round of year 1 who I also have high hopes for (risen from 20/41 to 40/56 in two years) I should me a good base for the D line for the next few years.

Jose's performance helped us go 6-10 in year 2, and we have progressed to the 7th pick in year 3.

[Vince]

Okay, compromise: Surry is slightly better than Sherry. ;)

Much better :)

[MIJB#19]

Okay then. Surry is much better than Sherry. Your words, not mine. :P

[stevew]

Currently I'm happy with WR Henry Reid. He has 412 catches and 6115 yards in his 4 seasons. I drafted him and his partner Deep Dog Chacksfield in the 2nd round in back to back picks, and am happy with both. I hoped that Deep Dog would have been the better WR cause he had one of the most awesome names I've seen in FOF. After 4 years Deep Dog has 200 catches and about 2800 yards.

[dubb93]

I just started an empty cupboard game with San Fran and after one draft I have a player I'm really happy with and one that has me completely dumbfounded.

First is RB Emmanuel Wilcox who I took at 1.4 and so far through 10 games he has rushed for 1,124 yards and 9 TDs. He very much appears to be the type of RB I can build this team around.

On the other end of the fence is QB Terrance Brandon who I took at 2.1. His combine numbers were a 4.70 40 time, 22 bench press reps, 45 score on the solecismic test and an agility drill score sub 7.0.

When I took him he was rated 22/62, after the draft when he got on my team he was rated 25/68. After training camp he crashes to 18/42 and then 18/48 after pre-season. Now after 10 games he is rated 19/48, but was benched after 3 games with lousy numbers of 37.5 completion %, 1 td, 9 int, 0-3 record.

He was replaced with an undrafted rookie FA who is 3-4 with a QB rating of 62.5, not great but still better than the other guy.

I just can't understand his boom/rating crash/little boom. With his combine numbers and boom right after being drafted I thought for sure this guy could become my QB of the future, now it appears I'll be going QB again when I get the chance.

[stevew]

I just started an empty cupboard game with San Fran and after one draft I have a player I'm really happy with and one that has me completely dumbfounded.

First is RB Emmanuel Wilcox who I took at 1.4 and so far through 10 games he has rushed for 1,124 yards and 9 TDs. He very much appears to be the type of RB I can build this team around.

On the other end of the fence is QB Terrance Brandon who I took at 2.1. His combine numbers were a 4.70 40 time, 22 bench press reps, 45 score on the solecismic test and an agility drill score sub 7.0.

When I took him he was rated 22/62, after the draft when he got on my team he was rated 25/68. After training camp he crashes to 18/42 and then 18/48 after pre-season. Now after 10 games he is rated 19/48, but was benched after 3 games with lousy numbers of 37.5 completion %, 1 td, 9 int, 0-3 record.

He was replaced with an undrafted rookie FA who is 3-4 with a QB rating of 62.5, not great but still better than the other guy.

I just can't understand his boom/rating crash/little boom. With his combine numbers and boom right after being drafted I thought for sure this guy could become my QB of the future, now it appears I'll be going QB again when I get the chance.

I have that same problem a lot of times with second rounders and thirds. Guys that have good ratings, good combines, and then go to shit. In multiplayer, I'm finding that I get more bang for my buck by not using the 2nds and 3rds and trading them in order to move up in the first, or for better players. Headscratchers are definately a part of the game of football, so I love the fact that it's hard to get a 2nd rounder "right" sometimes.

[AlexB]

I've also got a developing WR I selected in the 3rd round at 22/52 who caught 55-700 in year 1, and 74-1005 in year 2, and is now rated 57/71. Now he's holding out :( for an $18m bonus, and salaries of up to $16m over a four year deal.

This is actually the first time I've had a veteran holdout in FOF: not quite sure what to do :) Figure I'll let him holdout over pre-season, and then see what the score is: I'm playing with the rule that I must offer what is asked - no negotiations, and he wants a lot of money!

[stevew]

I've also got a developing WR I selected in the 3rd round at 22/52 who caught 55-700 in year 1, and 74-1005 in year 2, and is now rated 57/71. Now he's holding out :( for an $18m bonus, and salaries of up to $16m over a four year deal.

This is actually the first time I've had a veteran holdout in FOF: not quite sure what to do :) Figure I'll let him holdout over pre-season, and then see what the score is: I'm playing with the rule that I must offer what is asked - no negotiations, and he wants a lot of money!

Once you don't renegotiate with him before camp, you'll never have a chance to sign him again(past injustices).

[dubb93]

I have that same problem a lot of times with second rounders and thirds. Guys that have good ratings, good combines, and then go to shit. In multiplayer, I'm finding that I get more bang for my buck by not using the 2nds and 3rds and trading them in order to move up in the first, or for better players. Headscratchers are definately a part of the game of football, so I love the fact that it's hard to get a 2nd rounder "right" sometimes.

Yea, its not a problem with the game, just a serious headscratcher. I was able to get some bang for my buck in rounds 3-6 I landed 2 solid offensive lineman that have already boomed into the 50 for potential, and a TE that is my leading reciever by far.

This upcoming year I'm going defense and seeing where that gets me.

[stevew]

I absolutely love 4's and 5's in solo play, would much rather have them than anything but say the top 2-6 picks in the 2nd.

[AlexB]

Once you don't renegotiate with him before camp, you'll never have a chance to sign him again(past injustices).

Well that's a bugger then, coz the game's saved post-camp :( Ho hum.

[MIJB#19]

The 21 passes defensed in 2011, that's the most I've seen for a linebacker (at least that I can recall).
My SLB in the GEFL has 16 defended passes. That's the score after 9 games. I'm not even trying to guess (and jinx!) what his 16-game figure could be.

[yabanci]

My SLB in the GEFL has 16 defended passes. That's the score after 9 games. I'm not even trying to guess (and jinx!) what his 16-game figure could be.

Good old Robert Brazile. He's got awesome numbers against the pass. If you remember, let me know what he ends up with. What kind of scheme do you play (man, zone, etc.)?

[Young Drachma]

I hadn't played FOF since last summer, but after the draft file came out, I fired it up again with the Jets. Crazy stuff happened and Reggie Bush was still on the board until the 8th pick, so, I took him (after trading down from 4) and after 3 seasons, he's ran for 5476 yards and 48 TDs.

Last year, I traded up to get the #2 pick from Miami, because I was using Kyle Boller as my starter and he was servicable, but I saw a kid that had franchise QB potential, Jared Sillenbach from Duke. He started as a rookie and threw for 3581 yards and 27 TDs (23 INTs) but...I'm pretty pleased with him anyway, because I think he's got staying power.

[amdaily]

I moved up to the #2 slot to pick QB Cary Hermann. Had a potential of 89 and I started him from day one. By mid season 3 he was 99/99. After 5 seasons he is 60-28, once SB appearance, two conference champsionship losses. First round exits his first two seasons. 66 TD's and 12 INT in his last two seasons.

Being the last year of his contract and facing the fact I'll likely have to let him walk after his 6th season, I break the bank in FA to fill all weaknesses. After the draft I get a holdout e-mail. Hermann is refusing to come to camp! There's no way I can afford to pay him. He has a 60 loyalty, so I'll hope for the best during pre-season :(

[stevew]

And Sadly, in his 6th season, Deep Dog Chacksfield has gotten a career ending 55 week concussion. He will be missed.

[MIJB#19]

Good old Robert Brazile. He's got awesome numbers against the pass. If you remember, let me know what he ends up with. What kind of scheme do you play (man, zone, etc.)?2-deep zone, exclusively. Brazile is very good in zone D and that was a big reason why I selected him way back on draft day. I've had similar success with te above mentioned Bernie Surry in the IHOF, but Surry's numbers don't even come close to Brazile's monster figures this season in the GEFL. I could keep you updated, or you could show up at the GEFL from time to time again. ;) I hope Surry can live up to these stats too at some point, but I doubt it'll happen.

All in all, I have no clue why his pass defense number is so high. Maybe it's because opponents throw a lot to their RB and TE? Now watch my team collapse after the bye week and finish the season 8-8. :o

[MIJB#19]

Good old Robert Brazile. He's got awesome numbers against the pass. If you remember, let me know what he ends up with. What kind of scheme do you play (man, zone, etc.)?
The verdict is out, with two games to go he's out for the rest of the (regular) season. His season total ended at 22 defended passes.

That doesn't make him the league leader right now, not even amongst linebackers. Kodos' Miami Dolphins has Corey Grauer playing at SLB and he has 27 defended passes through 14 games. A few more and this guy ends up in the FOF MP HOF that Northwood_dk is running!

[yabanci]

The verdict is out, with two games to go he's out for the rest of the (regular) season. His season total ended at 22 defended passes.

That doesn't make him the league leader right now, not even amongst linebackers. Kodos' Miami Dolphins has Corey Grauer playing at SLB and he has 27 defended passes through 14 games. A few more and this guy ends up in the FOF MP HOF that Northwood_dk is running!

What a coincidence. I thought about this last night and actually went to the GEFL site and checked up on him. That's a remarkable number of breakups for linebackers. Must be a lot of throwing to backs and tight ends in that league.

[QuikSand]

In my recent challenge career (http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?p=1147035#post1147035), a 7th round draft pick DE Jamal Bush was a huge breakout and continued to develop. He has finished his 4th season, and posted 13.5 sacks and 61 hurries, helping lead our defense to a #1 rating and our team to its first championship.

[stevew]

61 Hurries. Holy shit, I've never seen anything close to that high. I've had 20 sack guys, maybe around a total of 50 hurries/sacks/blocks combined. What was this guy's PR %? Had to have been around 15%?

[QuikSand]

61 Hurries. Holy shit, I've never seen anything close to that high. I've had 20 sack guys, maybe around a total of 50 hurries/sacks/blocks combined. What was this guy's PR %? Had to have been around 15%?

He ended up at 15.5%, the highest I have ever seen. The other good DE (PR% of 13+) was hurt for half the season, and the NT is pretty exclusively a run stopper.

[stevew]

I looked through some older careers, at the top playing DE/DT's history, and the most hurries I ever saw was 53.