My First Dynasty - Tx. Challenge

[DDT]

This is my first dynasty. I'll be using QuickSand's Texas Challenge rules found here:http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?t=64573

With the following alterations 1. a 2 AP pt ceiling on day 2 draft picks (4th thru 7th round) 2. the first 3 undrafted rookie FA's signed will cost 1 AP and 3. I reserve the right to make other changes to these rules. EDIT I like Quiksands idea of Using AP to run utilities. And to be honest keeping track of the AP is time consuming enough right now. So I won't use them on this dynasty.

I'm planning on staying away from the minutia of bars, cur/fut ratings and the like. Instead of referencing an OL's 90+ BS I may call him a 'monster' or an 'animal' likewise a DT with high PD might be a good 2-gap player. I know some of what I write will be fiction, unproven, or my prejudice / ignorance of how this game works but it's the kind of stuff I enjoy reading. If anyone is interested in specifics just ask.

I'll begin with a complete draft and make the first 15 picks manually. Ideally I'll try to pick up guys with 4-6 years exp who are 90%+ developed. Random new player file, profiles and chemistry are on, X factor on (not sure that matters here) and a level economic playing field. The salary cap is set at 70 - 99 and is currently 96,780,000. Any player assigned a contract worth 9.68mil or more this year will cost 3 AP, players making over 4.84mil will cost 2 AP. I have 60 AP but that wont be an issue this year

My scout G/G/G/F/P/A/G/VG/G HC A/G/VG/A/VG OC G/A/G/A/A/VG DC G/G/E/F/F. They have a 1, 3 and two 4 year contracts amongst them. That's important here hiring alot of staff members in one offseason could get expensive AP-wise.

We have the 6th pick in a serpentine draft. There are great looking players available at LT and DT and an otherwordly looking CB. I have to go QB though and select Otis McKenzie. He'll make a little over 12mil this year but only gets a 2 year deal so I may be able to reign his AP number in with a flat deal fairly soon.

In the second round we grab LT Jerald Benton who looks to good to be available nearly 60 picks in. Scouting error? Benton gets a 3yr deal
8.72mil this season that will cost us 2 AP.

Our third pick is DT Cornell Page. He's the number 1 player on the DL board current and future. He gets a 2 yr deal worth 7.84 this season.

This universe seems ridiculously deep. WR Roy Kramer is our 4th pick he gets 3 years 6.96 this season.

I like a G with pick 5 but there is a ton of depth on the OL so I go with S Corwin Garrett. 4 yrs 5.75 this year.

G Les Morris is still on the board so we pick him up in round 6. 3 year contract 5.22mil this year.

JT Austin is the best pass rushing end available. He'll make 4.79mil on his 1 year deal. Looks like were done with the player salaries that use 5% of the cap but as I posted above I am much more concerned with the AP cost in future. Action Points will have little effect on this season. One notable difference is, when dealing solely with the salary cap franchising Austin and then renegotiating makes fiscal sense. With AP, renegotiating in his last year is cheaper. At least with this player in this situation.

Rookie CB Leonard Reid doesn't fit our ideal but seems to be the best coverage guy left. He has a 1yr/4mil contract.

Our 9th rounder is another youngster. MLB Damon Buckner he's signed for this season only at 3.3mil.

1st year RB Antoine Baxter is the last RB we like still on the board so this is an easy pick. His deal is 2yrs/6.51mil.

We select DT Jermaine Jefferson in the 11th round. 1yr/2.61mil and a UFA after this season.

I pick OLB AJ Baker in the 12th he'll make 8.58mil over 3 years. Our defense is quite a bit greener than I'd hoped. I'd like to add another offensive skill player, An OL preferably a RT, a DE and a CB but with only 3 manual picks left something will have to give.

Pick #13 is RT Reggie Andrus. Quite a few better C's and several better G's were available but this is one of the last couple solid non-rookie OT's on the board so we reach. 2yrs/5.27mil.

Our 14th selection is G Sean Finley. BPA. He'll make 2.09mil on a 1 year deal.

Our defense doesn't grow up much with our final manual selection CB Nate Schwartz he is assigned a 3yr/7.46mil contract.

We have 47 AP (that's alot) for renegotiations, FA's, gameplans, injury setting, and the depth chart. I'll crank injuries up to 200 and offer flat deals to UFA's to be Austin and Jefferson but this season really doesn't interest me all that much. I'll let the staff handle nearly everything.

Oh yeah, We are the Miami Dolphins. My scout just finished drafting the rest of my team. I'll break this roster down in my next post.

[DDT]

QB's - McKenzie is among the leagues best signal callers he can do it all and ,in only his 4th season, still has some upside. I expect him to be the face of the franchise for a while. Vet Rich Mathews is a solid backup for a 34th rounder.

RB's/FB's - Baxter looks like a rookie RB ready to carry the ball now but needing seasoning as a pass blocker/receiver. Fellow rookie Darryl Brown will be the backup RB. I'd like to get him some touches. I think he has the abilty to make plays in a limited role. FB Winfred Watson is very raw but has some talent as a blocker and receiver.

WR's/TE's - Our starting TE Brett Grillot is an average player but he'll have an expanded role this season due to a lack of depth at receiver. His backup Johnny Fleming can be a very good run blocker but conditioning is an issue. FL Roy Kramer is a dynamic player, who could put up huge numbers as part of this receiving corps. CJ Sims looks like the starter at SE opposite Kramer he's the most game ready of our other WR's and also has the most upside but I'm not sure he's a long term option. Jeremy Kochansky is our only option right now to be the extra WR in 3 wideout sets he has some play making ability but will struggle to beat even moderately talented DB's. Hands are an issue for Sims and Kochansky.

OL - Our starting OL will be LT Benton, LG Morris, C Mario Gabberty, RG Finley and RT Andrus. Benton is very strong and a more than capable blocker who can play either tackle spot effectively. Morris is another very talented lineman who could play all 5 positions before his days in Miami end. Gabberty is the only member of our starting OL who wasn't selected manually. He's much more comfortable run blocking than protecting the passer. Finley is the youngest and least ready of our starters. He's another very strong run blocker. Andrus should be a solid balanced RT who holds his own against most RDE's in the AFC East. C Billy Joe McGowan is a excellent reserve C and LS but doesn't have the versatility to be an effective 6th OL. Veteran OT Fernando Tyler is still an effective pass blocker and very versatile off the bench.

P/K - Our P is Bo Merrill and our K is Roman Randle El. I don't like either.

It's been nice here the last few days so I've been a little busier than expected. I'll preview the D tommorrow. Anyone need leaves? like alotta leaves.

[QuikSand]

I'll be interested to see this unfold, glad to see you giving it a shot.

[DDT]

Here is the D:

DL - Our starting front four will be LDE Donnie Seelig, LDT Page, RDT Jefferson and RDE Austin. Seelig is a solid veteran end. Page easily ranks among the leagues most talented defensive linemen and plays the run and pass equally well. Jefferson is similar to Page though not as strong or talented. Austin lacks strength but does everything else well. Isaac Keith is marginal, we desperately need depth along the DL

LB - SLB Baker, MLB Buckner and WLB Terrance Jagger. Baker is young but should be a solid run defender now and has the ability to grow into a complete player. Buckner has the potential to become a outstanding run defender. Rookies Jagger and Vincent Nordberg both have potential but I'm skeptical. Veterans Daniel Lemons and Malcolm Beardslee provide quality depth.

DB - Reid and Schwartz will start at the corners. Both players have a nice upside but I'd really like to have at least one consistent vet CB to help them along. Garrett is really the only S worth mentioning on this roster. He is very good. Dexter Guerino will start at FS he is not nearly ready.

We do have other players on this roster. They have had their meal privelidges revoked at the Dolphin training complex and we are hoping they dissappear.

[DDT]

I've simmed the the first 8 gms. We are 7-1. 35 AP remain after accounting for cap room, injuries, depth chart ect. Let's look at some contracts. 2nd year RG Sean Finley won't become a UFA but it makes sense to redo his deal here anyway. He is asking for 5yrs/12.33mil. It is a small bonus for a 5 year deal so I accept. Costs 2 AP. DE Donnie Seelig has hasn't done much thru 8 games and wants a 3yr deal. I'll let him walk. JT Austin is younger, more talented and more effective DE than Seelig. He is requesting a 3yr/5.57mil deal. I offer a flat 3yr/5.60mil. He refuses, but accepts a flat 3yr/6mil deal. Cost 4 AP. DT Jermaine Jefferson has been very effective vs the run, he'll be a UFA after the season. He wants 4yrs/14.26mil seems extravagant. He's a nice player but not that nice. Anyway I don't want to get bogged down with this right now. I'll revisit this player before playoffs. MLB Damon Buckner is looking for an extension. I offer a flat 2yr/2mil deal anyway. He rejects it as anticipated. He also declines a flat 2yr/3mil deal. I didn't realize signing RFA's to their requested 1yr deals costs 0 AP. I stop offering Buckner. Rookie corner Leonard Reid has been excellent and seems like a strong canidate to ask for a multi-year deal in the offseason so I offer him a bunch of 3 year deals worth upto 8.5 mil. He rejects them all. I'll see where he's at later in the season.

We finish the season 15-1. I give the Jefferson his requested offer (not sure I can replace 2 DL with quality in one offseason and as previously mentioned we need depth here). Cost is 2 AP. Dallas beats us in the bowl 16-14.

Otis McKenzie is the PotY and Second Team QB. Roy Kramer and Corwin Garrett our named First Team WR and S respectively. G Les Morris, T Jerald Benton and CB Leonard Reid join McKenzie on the Second Team.

This team was VG even with the AI handling gameplans. I may 'force' myself to spend some AP here next season to make things interesting.

We have 37 player signed, 60 AP and need a head coach.

[DDT]

I offer HC Tyrus Daniels the 3yr/3.51mil contract he is seeking to stay in Miami in stage 1. He immediately accepts the offer. Cost 2 AP. I take no action in stage 2. I consider replacing my OC in stage 3 but it's 1 AP to terminate his contract and another to bring in someone new. I have quite a bit of renogiating to do so I am finished with staff hiring. Damn. I now have 3 staff members with 3 yrs remaining. I guess I'll start working on that next season. 58 AP remaining

I guess I didn't extend Jefferson last season. He's listed as a UFA. He now wants 26mil for 6 years. I know I said I'd avoid this but he's a 50/50 DT who made 30 tackles in 16 games last season. Franchising would cost 2 AP plus another 2 AP for his salary being more than 5% of the cap. Goodbye. 21st round pick FS Dexter Guerino will spend the summer abroad.

We are nearly 29mil under the cap heading into early FA I mentioned something above about redoing the McKenzie contract and making it more AP friendly. Ain't gonna happen he is asking for 100+ million. 4th year RT Reggie Andrus is in his contract year and played well last season he wants a 4yr/12.4mil deal. I accept. Cost 2 AP. DT Cornell Page is also a UFA to be is requesting 6yr/55.92mil. I counter with a few flat deals before we agree on a 6yr/52.5mil deal. Cost 4 AP. RFA MLB Damon Buckner is resigned at his request 1yr/560K. RFA SLB Vincent Nordberg also gets what he asks for 1yr/460K. RFA CB Leonard Reid asks for 4yr/15.6mil contact and gets it. Cost 2 AP. 50 AP remaining

Heading into FA and the draft We need a DE and DT. We are thin virtually everywhere and will be looking for any help we can find. TEN S LeRoy Ford is asking for 5yr/16.1 mil. We offer a flat 5yr/20mil. Cost 2 AP. ATL QB Tony McMorris wants 1yr/890K we offer a flat 2yrs/4mil. Cost 2 AP. NE WR Broderick Cohan seeks a 1yr/1.12mil we offer a flat 2yr/3.5mil. Cost 2 AP. DE Donnie Seelig FA request seems much more reasonable than what he was looking for last season he gets his request. 2yrs/3.62mil. Cost 1 AP. IND DE Kevin Burkholder also gets his request 2yr/3.76mil. Cost 1 AP. We give 8th yr DT Sammie Cafferty his requested 1yr/1.08mil no bonus. 42 AP remain


Ford signs with us week 2.
Cohan decides to become a Dolphin week 3.
We add Mcmorris in week 4.
Also week 4 Jermaine Jefferson signs a 6yr/30.67mil with the Packers.
Burkholder and Cafferty join us in week 5.
Seelig returns the following week.
In week 8 I browse the available P/K but decide not to offer anyone.
I'll use 20 interviews. Cost 3 AP. 39 AP remaining

*** Don't think I'll be making any trades within this draft but if anyone is reading this could you please explain or point me in the direction of the "fairness test".

[DDT]

On to the draft. We have the 31st pick in each round.

1.31 RB Jake Ballard. Cost 4 AP.
2.31 CB Hugh Kurtzman. Cost 2 AP.
3.31 DT Cory Sgroi. Cost 2 AP.
4.31 K Leslie Hopkins. Cost 2 AP.
5.31 WR Sherman Henry. Cost 1 AP.
6.31 P Malcolm Collins. No Cost.
7.31 ILB Karl McDonald. No Cost. 28 AP remaining


2nd year RB Antoine Baxter has decided to holdout. Baxter had 1400yds and 12TD but also 10 fumbles in 2007. He is scheduled to make 3.47mil in the final year of his current contract. He wants 4yrs/15.88mil. I'm not going to give it to him just yet. All of our draft picks accept the cheapest option in LFA. I have 53 players now (including the holdout). I'd like another CB though so I release an ILB and make an offer to 3rd year JAX CB Chester Hunziker he wants 1yr/720K and that's what we offer him.CHI offers him the same deal in week 3. We change our offer to 1yr/3mil. He accepts. Cost 4 AP. 24 AP remaining

We bring 53 players into TC using the default settings. Cost 0 AP.

Ballard impresses the staff in camp and perhaps induces Baxter to end his holdout. Nothing else of note happens in TC.

I'm not planning to redo any contracts this season so we can look at the big deals now. The magic numbers are 11.8mil and 5.9 mil. QB McKenzie and DT Page will cost the team 3 AP apiece. T Benton, WR Kramer, S Garrett and G Morris will cost 2 AP 10 AP remaining

I capout Garrett's contract. That move simultaneously gets us 5% under the cap and removes his contract from the 5.9mil+ list. 12 AP remaining

Salary Cap 12 AP
Injuries 200 0 AP
AI Depth Charts 0 AP
AI Game Plans 0 AP
0 AP remaining

I'm suprised when we start the season 0-2 ... We scratch back to 4-2 ... Before another losing streak leaves us at 4-6 ... We finish the season 10-6 ... But out of the playoffs. KC 38 TB 31 in the championship ... CB Leonard Reid is the lone Dolphin on the 1st team ... QB Otis McKenzie makes another appearance on the 2nd team.

This should be an interesting and challenging offseason.

[/b]

[QuikSand]

I think it's clear that in special circumstances -- like a season beginning with a dispersal draft, or an "empty cupboard" season to start off a new team, the AP concept is not going to be a good fit. I'm hopeful that if you keep up with this, by season 3 or 4 you will find that the AP budget ends up driving your major decisions (which is essentially the goal).

[DDT]

I didn't expect to need to capout Garrett's contract. And I'll almost certainly let Baxter go this year among other things so the AP is having a huge effect already.