The Ladder - 2023

[Julio Riddols]

Originally Posted by Kodos

I think Sunday morning around 8 or 8:30 would be perfect for me.

That's fab, I'll be there. I'm gonna have all my shit turned off too, hopefully the connection will be good.

[Julio Riddols]

Dola: Trying to come to terms with the fact that I just said "fab" unironically.

[Eaglesfan27]

Yay for Bell winning the Heisman!

[Kodos]

Originally Posted by Julio Riddols

That's fab, I'll be there. I'm gonna have all my shit turned off too, hopefully the connection will be good.

Okay. To firm things up a bit, how about 8:30?

Do we want to start the game, do a quick check to see if custom playbooks are missing formations and then restart if they are and switch to standard playbooks?

[Kodos]

Originally Posted by Julio Riddols

The routes I could probably get better at are out routes, I never feel safe throwing them.

Curls and outs feel dicey for me.

[CU Tiger]

Outs are bread and butter for me.just elad them to the sideline.
Same on curls hold down to pull them back. Now I never run curls in game because the damn WR tends to sprint back 5 yards and lose yardage.

[Kodos]

[Kodos]

Full disclosure: At the second tier (PAC 12, etc.) , I swapped some teams within their conference to make more geographically sensible divisions. Yes, I have OCD.

[Julio Riddols]

Originally Posted by CU Tiger

Outs are bread and butter for me.just elad them to the sideline.
Same on curls hold down to pull them back. Now I never run curls in game because the damn WR tends to sprint back 5 yards and lose yardage.

I throw curls to the outside shoulder and I try to throw it just before the WR turns. Seems to be the best way to get it in there safely against the right coverage without sacrificing YAC. Can't run curls against bump or cover 3 though.

[Julio Riddols]

Originally Posted by Kodos

Okay. To firm things up a bit, how about 8:30?

Do we want to start the game, do a quick check to see if custom playbooks are missing formations and then restart if they are and switch to standard playbooks?

This sounds like an appropriate plan. Might also give me time to get my game in for The American.

[Julio Riddols]

Most enjoyable, tense, miraculous game of computer football I have ever played Kodos. I don't think that will ever be matched.

[Julio Riddols]

It's gonna take me a month to recover.

[Kodos]

Yep. Massive momentum swings, crucial turnovers. Neither one of us was comfortable with the playbooks we chose, and the first quarter went scoreless. Early in the second quarter, Julio hit a long catch and run TD from 62 yards out. We answered with a nice drive to tie it at 7-7.

We got a pick on UTSA's first drive of the second half, and turned it into a 3-yard Mark Roberts TD run. UTSA soon tied things back up at 14-14 on a Simmons pas to Gary.

UTSA went ahead early in the fourth quarter on short Fitzpatrick run, and we answered a minute later with a Greer scramble for a TD. We stopped their ensuing drive, but Mills intercepted Greer on our drive and took it all the way back for a 52-yard score. With 3 minutes left, we drove down inside their 10. We worked to drain the clock. On second and goal, they laid a hit on Roberts, and he left the game. After an inneffective run by our backup RB, we subbed in more of a between-the-tackles guy who hadn't played all year. Having drained their timeouts, and facing 4th-and-goal from the one, freshman Marquise Wade ran it in behind the left side of our line to tie the game at 28-28 with 16 seconds left.

Fearing their returner, Pierre Johnson, we squibbed it to them. They completed a couple of first-down passes to move inside our 30, but had just 4 seconds left. With one final heave, Simmons somehow found junior Chaz Johnson on the goalline, and he beat Doug Rivero for the game-winning TD after time expired. Ugh. Knock it down, Rivero! 35-28, UTSA.

Good game, Julio. That was a heartbreaker.

[Julio Riddols]

I don't even know how to sum that up..

Scoreless after a quarter, how often does a Human vs Human game do that..

My run defense had been incredible all year, they held up admirably in this one. You adjusted well, I adjusted back. Give and take. Push and pull.

Thought I had you between a rock and a hard place before half time, then my damn WR fumbled at your goal line. I was a little pissy.

Second half we knew how to beat each other. You caught me napping with a no huddle at one point. I shook my head. Great move by you. I should have called a time out before you got that WR free in the secondary on that second play. Didn't get to the button in time.

I got my run game going. Tried to wear you down a little. Again thought I had the advantage. Thought I had the damn upper hand finally. Then Jones drops a 3rd and medium on a bang bang play at the sideline. Dammit.

I don't know if that was the drive where we stopped you on a 4th and short run. That LB was a damn monster all game.

Punting, I was scared to death. Then we got the play of the game probably, the interception. Thought if I could get a stop, I could finally end things and take this thing.

You drove. Tick, tick tick...

On my goalline, I was tempted to let you score. No way though. No way. Too proud. My D can get this stop, they can sniff out that damn RB and finish this.

4th and goal, time ticking away. That goddamn bastard finally got into the end zone. less than 30 seconds left.

I was astonished at the squib kick, but I think it was probably the right call. My return man can make things happen if I get the right crease.

I didn't think there was a shot with 17 seconds on the clock, but I thought maybe I could get in field goal range and get out of bounds. My kicker has a hell of a leg. When I hit the second completion to get into range though, it was a damn pass over the middle. Couldn't help myself.

Then the final play, I guess I feel like it made up for that fumble before the half. I'm telling myself that. Instead, Dotson made the catch of his life, and I just sat there shaking my head, almost wishing he hadn't caught it.

I don't think I have ever had more fun playing any video game in my life, man. I know you probably don't feel the same, but that game almost made me forgive EA for everything.

I look forward to the next meeting.

[Julio Riddols]

My recounting is out of order, but its all a mess in my head, haha.

[Kodos]

Haha. We're probably both a little frazzled! On that fourth-and-inches where you stopped me, I probably should have tried the field goal. I got greedy.

[Eaglesfan27]

Sounds like an awesome game. I will get my final game of the season in tomorrow.

[Eaglesfan27]

Dola -

Very excited to get to next season and see who takes over at QB for Ball... it is going to be tempting to play my true freshman who would be the fastest QB I've ever had.

[Julio Riddols]

Originally Posted by Kodos

Haha. We're probably both a little frazzled! On that fourth-and-inches where you stopped me, I probably should have tried the field goal. I got greedy.

The chances of your ground game not being able to convert a 4th and very short is something I would think is extremely slim. I was stunned when my LB knifed in there and managed to pull off the miracle.

[Eaglesfan27]

USC smacked down Purdue. The league is all set to advance.

[Kodos]

Okay. I think I need to grab some info before I advance. Will try to do it tonight.

[Kodos]

2023 Bowl Results




2023 Final Rankings

[Kodos]

[Kodos]

Nick Saban has retired. First, Julio was offered the job. Then, CU. Then EF. Then me. The fifth time was the charm, as ECU's Travis Riley was willing to take over for the downtrodden Tide.

All of us lost our OCs. But only IU can brag about their new OC, Calvin Hobbes, the fired former HC of the Fairbanks Northstars. Likewise, we all lost our DCs except for Florida Atlantic.

[Kodos]

Originally Posted by Kodos

1. If a player wants to transfer out, let them.
2. If a player is projected to go in rounds 1-3 of the draft, let them go. If they are projected to go in round 4-7, you can try to persuade them to return.
3. You can't persuade a player to return if their rating is 90 or above (rule amended as of 11-21-2015).
4. Kicker and Punters are exempt from these rules.

USC can try to retain CB C.J. Johnson, FS David Thomas, LT Andy Parker.



UTSA can try to retain TE Will Chandler.

[Eaglesfan27]

T.J. Lambert really hurts! I thought he would stick one more year and be a security blanket for the new QB

[Julio Riddols]

I'm gonna have to try and keep Chandler.

[Julio Riddols]

Can't believe Terry and Childs didn't get a look in the NFL.

[Eaglesfan27]

I will try to retain all 3 of the eligible guys this morning.

[Eaglesfan27]

USC is very happy with their new OC and DC who are both very talented. We are even more happy that we managed to convince all 3 of our players to stay for 1 more year. We still lost a lot of young talent from the secondary that I was hoping would stay and make us a great pass defense this year.

[CU Tiger]

2 starters transfer for playing time...thanks guys

[Kodos]

We are going to have one heckuva running-back tandem next year. The Heisman runner-up and the higher-rated guy he replaced due to injury. I may need to introduce some new formations to take advantage.

[Kodos]

Originally Posted by CU Tiger

2 starters transfer for playing time...thanks guys

Sometimes you just want OUT!

[Kodos]

Originally Posted by Julio Riddols

I'm gonna have to try and keep Chandler.

Let me know when you're set.

[Julio Riddols]

I'll be handling it in the morning.

[Julio Riddols]

All set. This might be the best set of coordinators I have had since we started this league, I'm excited about that.

Chandler also decided to come to his senses and return for at least one more year. Good thing too, we needed him at TE.

[Kodos]

We're on to recruiting.

[Eaglesfan27]

Yay!!! About to work on it now!

[CU Tiger]

ready to go here.

Art Briles is my new OC. We will have to keep a close eye on him.
Lots of new points.

[Eaglesfan27]

Originally Posted by CU Tiger

ready to go here.

Art Briles is my new OC. We will have to keep a close eye on him.
Lots of new points.

[Julio Riddols]

Ready to go, recruiting done.

[Kodos]

2023 Recruiting Results

[Kodos]

We're on to position changes.

[Julio Riddols]

Oh man, let me knock these out real quick.

[Kodos]

Am I the only one who kinda agonizes over position changes?

[Julio Riddols]

These cuts are gonna be damn near impossible this year, heh.

Position Changes are done for UTSA.

[Julio Riddols]

Originally Posted by Kodos

Am I the only one who kinda agonizes over position changes?

I do, I keep flip flopping. How can I get this guy on the field the fastest? Where will this guys speed be more useful?

This guy has great hands, but do I need a WR? He would make an outstanding CB/S.. This guy can throw the ball. Will he ever get to if I put him at QB? Is this guy heavy enough to play DT?

[Eaglesfan27]

Originally Posted by Kodos

Am I the only one who kinda agonizes over position changes?

Nope. I agonize over them too. Doing them now (up all night on call it seems.)

[Eaglesfan27]

Wow. I forgot what talented QB's I have coming back. Spencer is a 99 rated QB who will have to get the start, but I will find ways to get the true freshman speedster QB on the field so that he doesn't get wandering feet to transfer.

[Kodos]

I ended up putting Noah McCloud, my 5-star athlete, at FS. He was originally recruited as a QB, but we found an unrecruited 3-star athlete named Eric Brown in Indiana who was a better QB prospect. I thought about putting them both at QB, but figured McCloud could start from Day 1 at FS.