The Ladder 2017 - Player Cuts - Deadline is 7/6 (Sun) at 11 p.m. EST

[Kodos]

Looks like we'll be ready when Chesapeake finishes.

[chesapeake]

I'll try and get it done tonight. Busy week for me.

[Kodos]

No worries.

[chesapeake]

Done.

[Kodos]

On to Week 2.

[Julio Riddols]

All set.

[CU Tiger]

5 HUGE 4 * Commits including my QB of the future a 4* Ath my scouts sees as a 77 with 88 speed and 83 accuracy.

Talent upgrade in progress in Florida.

Ready to advance.

The dadgum Punter transfer has me behind the 8 ball there however. With half my board dedicated to finding a punter who doesnt hate the heat in Florida.

Seriously the dude was my only punter and he transferred for PT...WTF genius.

[gstelmack]

Also recruited. Landed a nice DE and TE, think I'm going to win the fight with Rice for a really nice HB, in the lead for a sweet WR, probably losing on another TE to Duke, and working on some O-Line depth.

[CU Tiger]

Im in that TE battle as well...in fact I led most of the way until I signed 2 others now Ive fallen to 3rd but he visits this week. We will see.

[chesapeake]

Originally Posted by CU Tiger

The dadgum Punter transfer has me behind the 8 ball there however. With half my board dedicated to finding a punter who doesnt hate the heat in Florida.

Seriously the dude was my only punter and he transferred for PT...WTF genius.

I usually carry a kicker and a punter, but I have found them to be interchangeable when I've found that a younger recruit simply isn't ready for prime time yet.

[CU Tiger]

Originally Posted by chesapeake

I usually carry a kicker and a punter, but I have found them to be interchangeable when I've found that a younger recruit simply isn't ready for prime time yet.

I usually only use one of them, but in my experience.
When the game says you have a need (I.E. Punter in this case) you cant sign a full class without fiulling that need.

[MacroGuru]

Guys,

I am out of town and won't be back until Monday now.

I will try and get this done.

[Eaglesfan27]

As I said in the other thread, you will be in my prayers.

[Kodos]

You've got bigger worries right now. Fake football can always wait.

[gstelmack]

Originally Posted by CU Tiger

I usually only use one of them, but in my experience.
When the game says you have a need (I.E. Punter in this case) you cant sign a full class without fiulling that need.

I try and recruit one every other year. That way I always have both, but one is a junior / senior, and the other is a freshman / sophomore.

[Kodos]

It is so annoying that EA has made it hard to actually get to the NCAA 2013 and 2014 OD sites. Now it takes you to a site advertising upcoming games. Keep it up, EA. Eventually I will just refuse to buy any more games of yours new.

[Julio Riddols]

I'm dropping all my FOF leagues, but not this one. I think we move slow enough here that I can use it as a nice diversion every now and then and that should help. I'm sure most people know how stuff is going for me, but don't worry, I have my head up and I am going to fight the good fight all the way.

UTSA is taking a NC this year. I have the guys rallying behind their coach.

[Kodos]

Glad to hear you're hanging in there, both here and in real life. Both you and Macro.

[Eaglesfan27]

Originally Posted by Kodos

Glad to hear you're hanging in there, both here and in real life. Both you and Macro.

Huge plus 1. Glad to hear.

[MacroGuru]

Hey guys, go ahead and move forward, I don't have anyone I was really targeting and only 1 slot left, someone will sign

[Kodos]

We're on to Week 3.

[CU Tiger]

Ready to advance.

Def going to need week 4 chasing 2 or 3 more signings.

[gstelmack]

Recruit signings were good to me.

I only have a couple more guys to chase, I'll get that in early this evening.

[Julio Riddols]

Still 7 open scholarships here, but we've been making significant progress in the last few sims.

[Kodos]

On to Week 4.

[Eaglesfan27]

We got a 3 star Juco FS who is a terrific athlete with excellent speed and acceleration to take our final scholarship position. We are done recruiting for the rest of the offseason.

[Julio Riddols]

I'll be recruiting when I get home from work in the morning.

[CU Tiger]

Done ready to advance

[Julio Riddols]

All set. I hope we get a few of these linemen.

[chesapeake]

Done.

[Kodos]

Yay. The we just nabbed the highest-rated recruit (96 speed, 95 acceleration) we've ever landed in Bloomington. Nice!

[CU Tiger]

Hey Ive never used/visited the website...but thought I would to see if I could bounce around...maybe write a news story something to bring some excitement in and cant find anything.


Dynasty 13 then log in then Im taken to some page with all EA games and no amount of hunt and click is getting em to anything about the dynasty

[CU Tiger]

Never mind somehow found it through an external google search.... EA's website sucks

[Kodos]

Originally Posted by CU Tiger

Hey Ive never used/visited the website...but thought I would to see if I could bounce around...maybe write a news story something to bring some excitement in and cant find anything.

Dynasty 13 then log in then Im taken to some page with all EA games and no amount of hunt and click is getting em to anything about the dynasty

Originally Posted by CU Tiger

Never mind somehow found it through an external google search.... EA's website sucks

Originally Posted by Kodos

It is so annoying that EA has made it hard to actually get to the NCAA 2013 and 2014 OD sites. Now it takes you to a site advertising upcoming games. Keep it up, EA. Eventually I will just refuse to buy any more games of yours new.

This is what I was complaining about the other day. They have it so that it takes you to the site advertising upcoming games, rather than taking you to the dynasty site. It seems the advertising page has to be up and then you open a second page to get to the dynasty site.

[CU Tiger]

Thought I would do a quick write up just for grins and maybe spark some more interest as we head to the next season.

I joined the Ladder late (a full 2 seasons after most if not all other human members) and inherited a team devoid of talent. Seriously our first year our best overall player was ranked 68 overall and was a C. We struggled mightily for a few years but in the last couple seasons have begun to see our arrow pointing up. Coming in to the season I knew, more than winning, I needed a talent infusion that would redefine our roster. I gathered the best and richest boosters that FAU had for a secret dinner meeting. There was

Tom - The night shift manager at Taco Bell and a 2000 business admin grad
Butch - Assistant Senior Deli manager at Publix, 1998 Sociology grad
Tina - 2008 grad. Not sure what she does for a living, theater, art some BS but she is LOADED, HOT, Loaded and did I mention rich? She always has cash falling out of her purse. Says she earns it a "dollar at a time" whatever that means.

Neville Shapiro we were not but hey play the cards you are dealt, right?

We knew this year had to be big so we practiced the $500 handshake...and let me tell you Tina has quite an interesting shake...we practiced a bunch, her and I. Just to be certain she had it down. But I digress...

I sat late into the night in my office remembering my latest practice session with Tina and evaluating my Roster and took the following notes:

QB
Only 2 return.
Fuller - 71 rated So who has never taken a college snap
McNeal - a 66 rSo with more career INTs than completions. or at least it seems that way.


HB
One of the only strengths of our team. 3 return, but 2 of those stars will be Seniors
Whaley a 74 rated speed back
McMillan an 80 rated bruiser
Petit a young scat back with promise. rated a 74 but with 93 speed.

FB
We have 2 young talented players returning so we didnt see the need to waste a valuable scholarship here

WR
While not the embarrassment of riches enjoyed elsewhere in the league we are competent at WR and have 8 returning. For this reason we held off chasing any new WR

TE
2 will return next year 1 of which is a senior and the So back up is a low 60s guy. We set our mind to add 1 and made a note that we would take 2 if they fell into our lap.

OT
We like to carry 6 OTs and would only have 5 returning so we knew we needed a number. Our returning players ranged from 63-70 OVR so if a kid could fog a mirror we could promise playing time.

G
We were set at G. While we weren't even above average we had numbers and could wait a year to find talent upgrades.

C
We have a pair of 80+ rated C but BOTH are Seniors and both have exhausted their redshirts. This was obviously a position of need.
Unfortunately we struck out here with 3 separate targets. We have some position movement options we will have to explore this summer.

DEFENSE
This is where we needed (and found) the most help

DE
As I reviewed our DE prospects I considered running a 0-7-4 defense..or at least a 2-5-4. When my assistants told me it hadnt been invented and they werent smart enough to do so...I set my sight on finding some DE help. We had 4 set to return, 2 of those seniors. and the other 2 rated in the low 50s. Our best returning senior is a 74 overall.

DT
We are actually over our set roster numbers here so we wont loom to add anybody for a year or so.

OLB
I wanted 1 OLB for numbers sake but it wasn't a critical need.

CB
Next to DE this is the spot we made the most headway on.
We were -1 on numbers and of the 5 returning they ranged OVR from 65-70

FS
We were full but not spectacular at FS. We let this position idle for the year.

SS
At SS an injury and a defector left em with only 1 returning player a 62 rated Jr. We needed 2.

K
Kicker? We have one. Next

P
What?!!?
We had a highly rated Punter that we brought in last year to understudy behind our senior P. He was rated an 88 overall but decided to transfer after the season due to a lack of playing time. Left with no punter we had to scramble to add one in the off season.

Signees

QB
Early on we felt we had young Terell gates from nearby GA within reach and by week 8 we had a commitment from the Nation's #11 rated QB. A 69 rated scrambler with an average arm.


Un satisfied we set our sights and went the distance to secure a commitment from Eric Gore a 74 rated Ath with 86 Speed and 82 accuracy.

HB

Really needed to add a HB of the future here but struck out at early targets. Have a few ATHs we've signed that will get a shot there in summer camp and we will see how it shakes out.

TE
By week 3 we had received a commitment from 3* Terrence Whitworth.
And later accepted a pledge from JUCO 3* Brennan Williams. Solid depth here for the future but no one that jumps off the page.

WR
WR wasnt a position of need but a young local kid Joe Ramsey was a 4* talent with 88 speed and said he dreamed of playing for FAU so we accepted his commitment.

T
We quickly identified Timmy Miles as our primary target. A 3 * player from SC who our scouts unmasked to be a 71 OVR. Meaning he would walk on campus as my best OT. We had to fight off UTSA and Indiana for him but ole Tina did the trick. I really need to learn why all these nice young men like her sooo much. She really doesnt have that great of a personality!!!

DE

I set out looking for 2 DEs in this class minimum.
Luke Ferguson jumped on board first a 76 rated overall 4* from AL
Isacc Harwell a 3* from FL was added next a 70 OVR with a great frame
We would have been content here until we heard of a fire hydrant of a DE up in GA named Steohen Warren. Only 5'10" and 250lb this DE was rated a 4* prospect and when we scouted him he soared to a 78 overall. It took us a while but finally we landed his commitment in the offseason.
Then we got greedy and added Steven Montgomery from TN. a 4* +5 recruited 77 overall talent.

This means next fall our 4 highest rated DEs will ALL be Fr.
This is the start of a talent infusuion. Though it is very likely I will lose one to the DT group.

DT
Despite not looking a 3* Raymond Harris fell into our laps. He is no world beater but is rated equal to a Jr in the program currently so will help us begin to shift the talent upwards

OLB
We actually ended up signing a pair of 3*each rated at 68 OVR.
Neither is a major upgrade over whats on campus but they both fell at the same time. In the future these guys will be roster filler today they are solid contributors.

CB
Our first signee of the class. Chad Garcia is a 78 rated +11 3* from Atlanta that really like Duke but we happened to secure his commitment before he caught their eye.
We would add a pair of 4* rated 74 and 73 each in Matt Ross and Dominique McMillan.

Again an interesting set up where our second, third, and fourth best OVR rated CBs will be true Fr next season!

SS
We added a pair of 3* in 69 rated Leon Hall and 63 rated Heath Harris. Neither are world beaters but they will make us better.

P
We added the nations #18 rated P Drew Thornburg from Bayou country LA...but we have sights on another better player still!

ATH

In addition to Eric gore who we already have slotted at QB we added a pair of 4* ATH in Spencer White rated a 78 OVR at something and Casey Wiley a 70 OVR built to be a DB. Without our needs in teh secondary both may wind up there. But with White's 98 speed and 92 acceleration I would love to find a way to get the ball in his hands more often. We will see how it goes!



Thanks for reading and let me know how hard this stream on consciousness was to follow

[Kodos]

I liked the "if he can fog a mirror, we can offer him PT" line.

This class is by far the best class we have brought in. Especially on defense. We've had stars on offense, but rarely anyone special on defense. Hopefully we can climb atop the Big Ten East and give EF27 a run for his money.

[cartman]

Got the last 4 guys I was targeting, so I'm all set.

Just a heads up that I'll be out from this Saturday until the following Sunday, out camping in Big Bend National Park.

[Eaglesfan27]

Speaking of heads-up: I'm going away on a family vacation July 4th to the 13th.

[gstelmack]

I have recruited.

[Kodos]

I'm gonna be on vacation in early July too.

[Kodos]

[Kodos]

We're on to position changes. Remember, don't trust the website with these. Do it in game.

[Julio Riddols]

All set, some good grabs from the ATH market for us this year. Hopefully I can redshirt most of them.

[gstelmack]

I switched positions.

[MacroGuru]

Position changes complete. I won't be back in town until Monday.

[Kodos]

Bump

[Eaglesfan27]

USC is done position changes.

[Kodos]

Does anyone else agonize over this stage? It's always an ordeal for me to decide what to do with some guys.

[Eaglesfan27]

Originally Posted by Kodos

Does anyone else agonize over this stage? It's always an ordeal for me to decide what to do with some guys.

Yes, I had one athlete that had a few really good positions including DE, MLB, and OLB (he also could have been a decent DT.) I went back and forth for about 10 minutes weighing out the pros and cons of each position for him.

[Julio Riddols]

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27

Yes, I had one athlete that had a few really good positions including DE, MLB, and OLB (he also could have been a decent DT.) I went back and forth for about 10 minutes weighing out the pros and cons of each position for him.

Likewise. Generally I put them in their best projected position, but 5 of my Athletes were RB candidates, so rather than crowding that spot I put guys in different spots. I think I ended up with a 238 pound CB this season, and I am trying to figure out how that unique size can help me. He'll almost certainly be a nickel/dime blitzing guy, but I wonder if his speed (86) will be exposed if I let him play coverage against better teams. He is quick, but his top end is lacking. Ultimately I hope I can redshirt him, but if not, he will probably see a little situational action this year and redshirt next year.