12-17-2020, 08:20 AM | #1551 |
lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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RAVENS SLIP TO 9-7, HIT THE WILD CARD ROAD
Meh season overall, it seems... but with the WC basically no harm GML: Baltimore Ravens 2131 Lyle just not good enough to merit keeping/paying him, change looms Running game was surprisingly good (Naranjo 5.25, McFarlane 5.48) Passing game shrink-wrapped around two guys held up okay around 7 ypt Low-RR WR Bridges was surprisingly effective in very specific roles - hmmmmm Pass rush was top third at 22.2 PR% ranking 9th... okay with that Run D was mid-pack, a shade better than usual maybe? W/L matters there S Garcia had monster season: 122 tackles, 15 PDs !, good coverage We were nearly +4 in points per game... that's a better team than 9-7 tbh A -21 turnover margin is just wayyyyy too much to overcome Meh, a lost season. We won't be good enough to go deep in the postseason. Sucks. |
12-17-2020, 08:31 AM | #1552 |
lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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WTF? WFT GOES 12-4, EARNS BYE WEEK
GML: Washington Football Team 2131 Didn't see this coming, exactly... let's peek, were we actually really good? QB Osborne was basically replacement level, 7.12 34/24 84.5 meh RB mix was wrong (my fault) but both Elliott and Bush were solid WR Marshall steps into WR1 job and does... okay 7.2 ypt 1130-6 The TE position remains a black hole...2nd round rookie got cut, we post 5 ypt there Pass rush was in my usual range... top ten with 22.4% (7th) PD% was 3rd in league at 72.3 - that sounds like a good story NT Carlisle with huge year playing pure NT... 10.5 sacks, whoa S Rasmussen (48/48) remains a stud ballhawk, 10 picks this year = HAWAI'I LB Kinney had quiet great year playing more conventional cover LB role Turnovers only +1 but a non trainwreck seems to be enough with a slightly above average team at most of the fundamentals. Are we a real threat to Ben's Falcons, again looming atop the totem pole? Doubtful. But they overachieved, again, that's a good thing. |
12-17-2020, 08:39 AM | #1553 |
lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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Interesting side item... I have not detailed it as much as I once did, but I still invest in special teams more than the average bear, and surely way more than the average AI manager.
Check out this guy's history as a punt returner: Jalen Snyder Career summary: PR with WFT (across two stints): 148-2,812 yds, 19.0 avg, 3 TD PR elsewhere (across two teams): 313-2,789 yds, 8.9 avg, 2 TD All those guys we grab and keep around at TE3 and LB5 and S4 have to be the difference, right? I feel like this is very redeeming. He's pissed off about playing time, now, so he might take a walk... but it's good to know he's not just a wizard at this, rather he's the straw that stirs an already potent drink, so to speak. |
12-17-2020, 10:02 AM | #1554 |
lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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...follow up note on the PR Snyder. Might be worth noting that on the other teams he played for, he was getting pretty involved with the offense, not exactly a starter, but as a 40+ target guy most seasons.
Seems at least possible that his exemplary performance as a PR when with WAS has also been at least partially attributable to him having a special teams only role with us. (ILR terms alert) He was well rested when called on to go out and return three or four punts, not winded from being out there in the slot for a bunch of plays. Perhaps? |
12-18-2020, 07:59 AM | #1555 |
lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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12-18-2020, 08:01 AM | #1557 |
High School Varsity
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Cincinnati, OH
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!!!!!
Maybe you need to get disinterested more often?
__________________
Email: [email protected] |
12-18-2020, 11:58 AM | #1558 |
lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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I mean... It is truly weird. Running these two teams together for, whatever it's been, 10 seasons? I have managed to grab two league championships, and that number isn't shocking. We have fielded a fair number of bye-week teams, so over time you'd expect we wear the crown here or there. But BOTH titles came in freak playoff runs after unimpressive regular season results. One for each team. It's just odd that my power teams faded out, and my meh teams twice ran the table.
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12-18-2020, 12:27 PM | #1559 |
Pro Rookie
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Los Angeles
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january magic. congrats!
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12-19-2020, 08:09 AM | #1560 |
lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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thanks, man, someone had to break your streak i guess
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12-19-2020, 08:57 AM | #1561 |
lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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Oooooooooooooooookay. The show must go on, eh? I suppose so. Ravens basically have to play in "maintain mode" and try to run it back. Basically no choice. We locked up multiple fat contracts last season, that worked out fine, but it left me fully unable to compete for a top-shelf WR inexplicably left out in free agency this season, one who would even be a chemistry fit for us...ugh. I've got a max offer of $75m (this only after making one major cost-saving move), and there's no way I'm risking the loss of TE Palmer, who has finally brought my TE job back to respectability here, and he's going to take nearly $30m of that. So - it will be a lean year for spending, I suspect. So... FA stage 2 won't be quite as thrilling as it sometimes is. We'll console ourselves gazing at the no-longer-empty trophy case.
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12-19-2020, 08:58 AM | #1562 |
lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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So, paragraph breaks no longer work here? Is that it?
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12-20-2020, 11:58 AM | #1563 |
lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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Washington has suffered some real losses this offseason, and it might actually matter. Our initial draft pick with the team, C Fitzgerald, has retired - that leaves us with a grumpy backup thrust into the starting job, and a legit hole on the interior OL. I have been willing to spend major draft capital on the OL here, and may be pushed to do so again here. We also lost some favorites - my no-skill FB Hackney and S Reese, both of whom were great for cohesion and special teams. Some rebuilding along the fringes there, but a drop at C portends bad things for the running game IMO. We have some legit cap space, so this team can be pretty active. And...is it maybe time for a QB change in DC? Stay tuned.
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12-21-2020, 08:34 PM | #1564 |
lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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Both teams try to trade out of our late first round picks, both fail, both make selections that fail to spark joy.
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12-23-2020, 08:53 AM | #1565 |
Pro Rookie
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Los Angeles
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It’s an awful draft
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12-26-2020, 11:03 AM | #1566 | ||||||
lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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So, had an internet outage for a day, messed things up in other leagues but not here.
Ravens TE Palmer turned down a fat offer, but he'll get paid, he's got leverage. Designated coverage LB Evans is also a holdout, and he's on thinner ice. (Though I am falling truly madly deeply in love with that role, though I reckon I'm kinda late in doing so) Ravens draft summary here:
32nd of 32... cool, cool. What do I see? Yeah, pretty weak stuff overall. I had a couple later-round guys I liked, none look exciting now. Okay then. Situation normal all feathered up. |
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12-26-2020, 11:32 AM | #1567 | |||||||
lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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Speaking of coverage linebackers... WAS almost reached for Figurelle in round one, but got him in round two and am quite pleased with the way he shapes up right away - I think he's a steal and the main reason we ended up ranked mid-pack:
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12-29-2020, 08:44 AM | #1568 |
lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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At the training camp stage, I reverse course, cut a couple no-bonus guys, and make rook to re-up with LB Russell Evans. That near-100 zone coverage rating is really rare at LB, and I decide he's too important there to do without. 25 passes defensed in his two years with us... I think I'm sold.
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12-30-2020, 01:13 PM | #1569 |
lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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Well, files are in for the regular season. Staying with our incumbents at QB on both teams, but both are in play next season.
Predictions: Ravens 9-7 AND ANOTHER BOSS TITLE RUN WTF/WFT 10-6 and an early out in the opening round of the playoffs |
12-31-2020, 07:14 AM | #1570 |
lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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RAVENS ROLL TO 13 WINS, BYE WEEK
GML: Baltimore Ravens 2132 Fun season, and we're #2 behind... Houston?!? Could be fun. QB Lyle delivers another good season - 4647 on 7.58, 41/20, 94.6 (fun side note, Lyle now has a W/L record of 116-58, dead on 2/3) RB "The Big Orange" Naranjo takes the lion's share w 1229-7 on 4.49 ypc meh WRs Pearson an Webster deliver: 1344-11 on 8.05 and 1015-10 on 9.06 TE position was meh again... Palmer 5.73, Buckley 6.19 oh no Offense good overall, though: 4th in ypc, 3rd in ypa - that's strong Pass rush kinda weak, only 20.2% 19th - not happy there No prolific pass rusher seasons - LB Sanderson with 8 sacks, meh Seven guys with 9+ PDs, that's great - was a key to the defense S Gallagher with 7 picks will get top billing, but good overall But overall D was strong too: 5th in ypc, 9th in ypa Anyway... fundamentals were really strong, that's a legit 13 win team We have a beef with Houston, maybe we can go dash his dreams |
12-31-2020, 07:25 AM | #1571 |
lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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WFT DELIVERS DIVISION AT 10-6, HEADS TO WILD CARD WEEK
GML: Washington Football Team 2132 Now, we'll see a decent team and its underlying stats... less thrilling QB Osborne was fully mediocre, he's got to go 3967 6.46 27/22 75.3 FA pickup WR Rivers led the way with 1034-7 on 6.71 (wtf) Our supposed star WR only got 104 targets for 787-4 Big money TE England delivered our usual garbage with 5.24 ypt Overall offense: 4.12 ypc (18th), 6.47 ypa (14th) Soph DE hatch led the pass rush with 9 sacks, but team 22.1 meh Jesus what's even worth reporting here? DBs played fairly well Overall defense: 4.32 ypc (21st), 6.25 ypa (16th) Well, this is a 7-9 team that managed to win 10 games somehow |
12-31-2020, 07:30 AM | #1572 |
lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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maybe the most noteworthy guy on the WFT roster this year was our plug-in center:
http://gml.fof-belco.com/playercard.php?playerid=102092 transaction log tells the story... he was a guy we liked a bit, got him "starts" for chem, let him go when he wanted money, re-signed him cheap, and then had to press him into service this year when another guy faded badly in preseason i was worried about him giving up a ton of sacks, even being hidden at C... for the season only 1 sack allowed, though... not bad now... our running game fell apart, and dropping from a top-tier C to a guy like this likely has a lot to do with that, but still... no sacks! |
01-01-2021, 08:45 AM | #1573 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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Welp...
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01-01-2021, 08:46 AM | #1574 |
lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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Scrooge ruins my holiday. Lovely.
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01-03-2021, 11:14 AM | #1575 |
lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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Trivial update here... doing the FA 1:2 files for both teams. I clearly messed something up with the WFT lineup, and my depth chart got scrambled. It happens, but it sucks to lose out on a year of chemistry for guys who were supposed to get starts last year. Whatevs.
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01-04-2021, 07:04 AM | #1576 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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Opening round of free agency, Ravens go wild spending... against almost no competition and we overpay badly. I congratulate myself openly when I read the market correctly... here, I whiffed and it will cost us in cap space.
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01-04-2021, 09:16 AM | #1577 |
lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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...the immediate fallout of this absurd spending spree is that we have almost no path to re-signing QB Lyle this year. He wants $55m/yr, and we show a max offer of -$10.2m. Ain't happening.
We do swing a draft trade: JAX sends: 2.6 BAL sends: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.29 ...so we will have fewer must-sign rookies this year, which should help. But we'll be looking to squeeze here and there, it's unhealthy but so it goes. |
01-04-2021, 07:54 PM | #1578 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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Not exactly sparking joy with either pick here, but if we're going to get mediocrity, it might as well be at positions we need, right?
Washington: KickStand takes WR Andrew Botte with the 1.25 pick.
Baltimore: QuikSand takes WR Matt Douglas with the 1.29 pick.
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01-05-2021, 08:38 AM | #1579 |
lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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Ravens do a couple cap-outs, and make one inexplicable signing (w no bonus, whew) and are back to a max offer of... $40,000. We will accept hoboes and sex offenders, I repeat, we WILL ACCEPT.
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01-05-2021, 09:15 AM | #1580 | |||||||
lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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WTF/WFT signed a stealth cheap contender to start at QB this year...
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01-06-2021, 08:30 AM | #1581 |
lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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Free agency continues, nothing too exciting to note. Ravens' cash bonanza right out of the gate continues to cause problems everywhere - we basically just signed one more expensive player than we should have.
A few options on the table, still weighing options on another big cap-out to clear space this year... reluctant to harm our options next year. |
01-07-2021, 09:41 PM | #1582 |
lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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busy day, just getting to the league... nothing exciting here
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01-08-2021, 08:40 AM | #1583 |
High School Varsity
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Cincinnati, OH
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Still keeping up... looking forward to the next update...
__________________
Email: [email protected] |
01-08-2021, 08:01 PM | #1584 |
lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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thanks, man
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01-08-2021, 08:06 PM | #1585 |
lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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Ricky chem move for the Ravens... my expensive bird-in-hand chem leader at WR/TE was fine, but too costly for this tight a cap setup. So we cut him, hoping we'd land a younger guy who would take the lead.
It worked. Minsal TE with 78 special teams (good enough these days) in place, as TE3 and group leader for a while. 86 personality is... enough for now. Draft is over, as is early free agency, so where are we? 51 players under contract, two rookies, and $3m in cap space. Not a lot of room to breathe. But no holdouts, at least. We need a long snapper, and will splash around a bit in the inexpensive end of the pool. The very shallow end, that is. That's fine. New QB this year, so it might be a bumpy ride, might as well plug in some young'ns and reload a bit. |
01-11-2021, 07:23 PM | #1586 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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Oh nothing to see here... just humdrum roster moves...
Wait...was that QB Austin Lyle re-signing for a one year why-the-fuck-not deal? |
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01-12-2021, 10:17 AM | #1587 |
lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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These Ravens are just not going to get enough pass rush, I fear. We'll be counting on two second year players in the outside DE positions a lot, both have promise, but both look like they develop into DE2/DE3 caliber guys, not stars. LB Sanderson will likely be pressed into more pass rushing duty than I'd prefer, out of necessity. I fear we will be bottom half in pressure, and that usually means my defense is failing. I'm worried.
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01-13-2021, 09:28 AM | #1588 |
High School JV
Join Date: Feb 2004
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I really enjoy following this thread. Regularly Reading.
Maybe I should join a MP League again! Thanks for the effort QS! |
01-13-2021, 09:42 AM | #1589 |
lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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many thanks, glad to hear it still has some value... it's been a while since I really did a deep dive, maybe this weekend (both teams look like they're approaching a QB transition, that might be time for a deeper roster rundown or somesuch)
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01-13-2021, 09:44 AM | #1590 |
lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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Ravens file is in for the regular season. Not really convinced that Lyle is the best QB on the roster, but... coming off two great seasons, it's impossible to turn down the chance to just run it back. Both the rookie WR and RG will get a shot to play a lot. DB additions make that group look pretty fearsome again, I'm pleased there.
I'll predict we manage 11-5, which might not win the division, but would surpass the mental/historical 2/3 threshold and be at least okay. |
01-14-2021, 10:43 AM | #1591 |
lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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cool cool, i prepared a file for the WFT and then opening up FOF I see that I never submitted it... so that team likely got totally junked by the AI
might be the offramp i actually needed there, tbh |
01-14-2021, 07:33 PM | #1592 |
lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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Browser won’t even let me access FOFC now, just phone.
Geez cosmos I get the hint already. |
01-14-2021, 07:48 PM | #1593 |
lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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01-14-2021, 07:48 PM | #1594 |
lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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Oh for fucks sake
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01-14-2021, 07:49 PM | #1595 |
lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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01-15-2021, 08:47 AM | #1596 |
Coordinator
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Maassluis, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
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That must have been very frustrating.
Edit: wow, it doesn't even show the empty post that I tried to quote.
__________________
* 2005 Golden Scribe winner for best FOF Dynasty about IHOF's Maassluis Merchantmen * Former GM of GEFL's Houston Oilers and WOOF's Curacao Cocktail Last edited by MIJB#19 : 01-15-2021 at 08:48 AM. |
01-15-2021, 09:29 AM | #1597 |
lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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Well, the Ravens manage a nice playoff run, losing to Scrooge's Browns in the AFC Championship, gotta be pleased with that even at the cost of draft capital.
Ben wins the title. He's on fire. Shocking, I know. Will have a good look at the WFT situation and decide whether I just cut bait there. I'm nearly overwhelmed by real life right now, timing would be good. I can't remember the last time I actually quit a FOF league. |
01-17-2021, 07:54 AM | #1598 |
lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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Flipping through the WFT situation now. I don't think I have it in me to just quit. So, I'll try to make some lemonade here.
When I dropped the ball it cost the team a good deal of its infrastructure. The AI cut a couple chem leaders, and the no-talent guy anchoring my OL chemistry retired, understandably. I have a few guys exposed to free agency who wouldn't have been had I submitted their contract extensions. But, to be honest... it isn't awful. The team was at a QB crossroads anyhow. The AI didn't start the guy I had been starting... but I had planned to cut him in that file anyway. My former RB leader got cut and... seemingly vanished (his page doesn't say retired, but i cannot find him in the game, so I guess he just got "disappeared" Pinochet style for crimes against the state or something). Anyway....work to do. We have pick 1.7 and why not, I'll try to get an impact player there and see what we can do around him. Yeah, we've heard that old sea shanty even before it became trendy. |
01-17-2021, 07:57 AM | #1599 |
lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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...I do note that our entire RB/(FB) group on the WFT roster is in its final contract season. So, making a chem change would be very easy here...like, in the event we felt the need to install a new QB for this team, and wanted there to be some supporting infrastructure for him Quik-style. We could basically build to suit.
There is a rookie QB who looks... weird... he's a guy I think I'd take a stab at with pick 1.2y but probably not 1.7. Maybe this is a trade-down and youth-movement sort of season for us? Ugh, building through the draft is typically the worst way to do it, for me. |
01-18-2021, 01:47 PM | #1600 |
lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Annapolis, Md
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WFT goes non-impact position, non-affinty, BPA by taking a DB with pick 1.7 because I don't even know why I was busy. He looks really good.
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