dophins6's 20009 LIONS FRANCHISE (using GR18's roster)

[dophin26]

[ This is going to be a running account of my games as the owner of the Lions franchise with GR18's new 09-10 roster. I am posting so you can see the results I'm getting with his roster and give comment on what might need fixing or what I am liking the most about it. Feel free to comment. Sorry about the typos in the thread heading. If this was 20009, I'd hope there would be a different game to play ]

DOPHIN26's LIONS FRANCHISE: Game 1 at Saints

DETROIT LIONS: 31
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: 28 OT

Thought I'd start up a franchise and see how I could do with my hometown boys. Had an awesome first game. Started out with about 3 def. pass interference penalties on the first drive or two, but Brees was WAY off and threw 3 INTs in the first half leading to my 21-0 halftime lead. Larry Foote makes Sims a better player on def.

I thought I'd walk through this one easy, but it was not to be. A K. Smith fumble led to a quick Saints TD. A R. Bush run made it closer and M. Colston tied it up in the fourth on a long TD pass & run to get up to 28-28. I had two chances at long FGs late in the 4th (52 and 50 yds) but came up wide and then short.

In OT, I discovered Maurice Morris' speed and he got me back into FG range where Hanson's 42 yarder finished it, 31-28 OT.

** NOTABLE STATS **

STAFFORD: 22 of 32, 301 YDs, 2 TD, 1 INT
BREES: 9 (thats right) of 26, 233 YDs, 3 TD, 3 INT

R. BUSH: 16 RUNs, 172 YDs, 1 TD
K. SMITH: 24 RUNs, 106 YDs, 1 TD + 10 REC, 47 YDs
M. MORRIS: 7 RUNs, 52 TDs, 0 TDs

M. COLSTON: 3 REC, 82 YDs, 1 TD
C. JOHNSON: 4 REC, 101 TDs, 1 TD
B. PETTIGREW: 2 REC, 82 YDs, 1 TD

L. FOOTE: 2 SACKS
W. SMITH: 2 SACKS


Love this roster so far. Great gameplay. I can see I'd like some player subs on some plays, but that is just personal pref. and I also added a few player photos (from UNK file) for some of the rooks. Off to game 2...

[dophin26]

Re: dophins6's 20009 LIONS FRANCHISE (using GR18's roster)

DOPHIN26's LIONS FRANCHISE: Game 2 vs Vikings

DETROIT LIONS: 29
MINNESOTA VIKINGS: 27

Game two was even closer that game 1 against the Saints. Stafford was off most of the game, but Kevin Smith picked up the slack and helped stave off the Adrian Perterson onslaught.

Once again, the computer opponent couldn't pass and I think that is because of the pressure on Rosenfels. The blocking needs to be upped a little bit.

NOTABLE STATS:

M. Stafford: 17 of 35, 161 YDS, 2 TDs, 1 INT
S. ROSENFELS: 8 of 23, 142 YDs, 1 TD, O INT

A. PETERSON: 14 RUNS, 264 YDS, 3 TDs
K. SMITH: 23 RUNS, 130 YDS, 0 TDs + 6 REC, 22 YDs
M.MORRIS: 9 RUNS, 88 YDS, 1 TD

C.JOHNSON: 6 REC, 70 YDS
B. BERRIAN: 2 REC, 58 YDS, 1 TD
B. PETTIGREW: 2 REC, 27 YDS, 1 TD

E. HENDERSON 12 TACKLES
E. SIMS: 2 SACKS

LIONS ARE 2-0

So far, so good. I've had to work for both wins. I am not too happy about the computer's passing %, but we'll see what happens down the road.

[dophin26]

Re: dophins6's 20009 LIONS FRANCHISE (using GR18's roster)

DOPHIN26's LIONS FRANCHISE: Game 3 vs Redskins

DETROIT LIONS: 44
WASHINGTON REDSKINS: 10

Well, apparently the Skins aren't going to be very good this year. It's about time I got them back for that thrashing we took in 1991. It started off as a track meet. Maurice Morris busted a 67 yarder for a TD on the second play and Portis answered right back with a 68 yarder of his own. It was 7-7 after a minute of play. Stafford looked poor early on, throwing two picks in the first quarter, but he settled down.

A 21-10 halftime lead became 27-10 atfer three quarters of play. The Skins couldn't stop my running and they couldn't get the pass going consistantly. I even brought Culpepper in for a series and he moved the ball.

NOTABLE STATS:

M. STAFFORD: 12 of 24, 206 YDs, 1 TD, 2 INT
J. CAMPBELL: 11 of 25, 117 YDs, 0 TD, 1 INT

C. PORTIS: 19 RUNS, 130 YDs, 1 TD
K. SMITH: 19 RUNS, 112 YDs, 1 TD + 4 REC, 33 YDs
M. MORRIS: 10 RUNS, 107 YDs, 3 TD

BRYANT JOHNSON: 5 REC, 120 YDs
S. MOSS: 4 REC, 29 YDs
C. COOLEY: 3 REC, 36 YDS (and 2 easy passes dropped)
C. JOHNSON: only 1 REC, 16 YDs (D. Hall really shut him down)

J. HANSON: 3 of 3, LONG 48

NOTES:

I dropped the human passing, running, and blocking sliders just a few points to see if it would make much of a difference, but I think the key is going to be some global changes to players, especially since the CPU sliders are maxed out.

Larry Foote got injured (oddly enough right after I thought to myself what a playmaker he'd been the past few games). I had four injuries in all. Jerome Felton will be out 6 weeks and Foote 5. Terrelle Smith is doing fine at FB, but Foote will be missed. DeAndre Levy is not a suitable replacement.

LIONS ARE 3-0

UPDATE: The Lions have picked up ILB Brandon Moore from free agency and have acquired FB Brian Leonard for Terrelle Smith, a second round pick and a 4th in two years. A lot to give, but I love that guy.

[cyclone2426]

Re: dophins6's 20009 LIONS FRANCHISE (using GR18's roster)

Just to gove you a heads up, all 3 box scores have "New Orleans Saints" on the score instead of Vikings and Redskins on the last 2.

[gr18]

Re: dophins6's 20009 LIONS FRANCHISE (using GR18's roster)

I'd say this is an example of different styles of play causing different results.This is why everyone needs to change the game to get it where they want based on how they play.Sliders/gameplay levels can't be adjusted to a point where ratings are what matters.You sometimes have to pick your poison;up ratings for qb's for gameplay vs. getting good sim results.I weighed both sides and tried to get as happy a median as I believe is possible.

I,for instance,never get rushing results that high either way.After 9 games I've only allowed 2- 100 yard rushers but I haven't ran for over 200 yards as a team either.

As far as passing,there have been 3 out of 9 'bad computer qb' games.These were Cassell against the Ravens,Quinn against the Vikings and Garrard against the Colts.All understandable.Therefore,for me personally,I'm pretty satisfied with where everythings at.

I do like seeing your results though Dophan.Other than the last one you've had two good,close games.

[dan77733]

Re: dophins6's 20009 LIONS FRANCHISE (using GR18's roster)

I,for instance,never get rushing results that high either way.After 9 games I've only allowed 2- 100 yard rushers but I haven't ran for over 200 yards as a team either.

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In 9 games, you havent rushed for over 200 yards as a team??????????????

I'm speechless.

[gr18]

Re: dophins6's 20009 LIONS FRANCHISE (using GR18's roster)

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In 9 games, you havent rushed for over 200 yards as a team??????????????

I'm speechless.

Check that,I'm pretty sure I did with the Vikings against the Browns and was pretty close with the Ravens vs. the Chiefs.Overall though,I'll pass more with a 'passing team'.I kinda have a rule I impose on myself to not use power-up moves.I'll use a basic shoulder charge,stiff-arm or juke.

[dophin26]

Re: dophins6's 20009 LIONS FRANCHISE (using GR18's roster)

Just to gove you a heads up, all 3 box scores have "New Orleans Saints" on the score instead of Vikings and Redskins on the last 2.

Thanks

[dophin26]

Re: dophins6's 20009 LIONS FRANCHISE (using GR18's roster)

I do tend to play the pass a lot, but there are times when I just know a guy is going to bust a long one on me. I dove at a punt and knocked it down at the 4 and just KNEW Peterson was going to go all the way. It seems the cpu runs better backed up to their own endzone.

[jsou4646]

Re: dophins6's 20009 LIONS FRANCHISE (using GR18's roster)

DOPHIN26's LIONS FRANCHISE: Game 2 vs Vikings

DETROIT LIONS: 29
MINNESOTA VIKINGS: 27

Game two was even closer that game 1 against the Saints. Stafford was off most of the game, but Kevin Smith picked up the slack and helped stave off the Adrian Perterson onslaught.

Once again, the computer opponent couldn't pass and I think that is because of the pressure on Rosenfels. The blocking needs to be upped a little bit.

NOTABLE STATS:

M. Stafford: 17 of 35, 161 YDS, 2 TDs, 1 INT
S. ROSENFELS: 8 of 23, 142 YDs, 1 TD, O INT

A. PETERSON: 14 RUNS, 264 YDS, 3 TDs
K. SMITH: 23 RUNS, 130 YDS, 0 TDs + 6 REC, 22 YDs
M.MORRIS: 9 RUNS, 88 YDS, 1 TD

C.JOHNSON: 6 REC, 70 YDS
B. BERRIAN: 2 REC, 58 YDS, 1 TD
B. PETTIGREW: 2 REC, 27 YDS, 1 TD

E. HENDERSON 12 TACKLES
E. SIMS: 2 SACKS

LIONS ARE 2-0

So far, so good. I've had to work for both wins. I am not too happy about the computer's passing %, but we'll see what happens down the road.

^ playbooks, playbooks and add the -25% formula and you have a real NFL sim.

[dophin26]

Re: dophins6's 20009 LIONS FRANCHISE (using GR18's roster)

I am well aware of the playbooks, I just assumed these were the playbooks designed to be used by these teams. I won't do a -25% when I can achieve the results I want through ratings changes. I'm playing this "as-is" so I and others can see the results.

[dophin26]

Re: dophins6's 20009 LIONS FRANCHISE (using GR18's roster)

DOPHIN26's LIONS FRANCHISE: Game 4 at Bears

DETROIT LIONS: 20
CHICAGO BEARS: 16

Game four saw a lot different action than the previous 3 games, probably because of one big change I made- I used the sliders I use for my 1986 league. It certainly solved the passing problem, but created a new one- me running the ball. Talk about getting shut down. There were usually 3 Bears waiting for Smith to get to the line (kinda like the real Lions).

The game was tied 6-6 at halftime and then 13-13 after 3 Qtrs. The Bears took the lead in the fourth with an awesome drive that was only stopped on the Lions one yard line. A FG made it 16-13. I drove down the field, helped by a Bryant Johnson jump-ball catch and a slant by Pettigrew and got down to the 15. On 3rd down, I tried to throw to Ron Heller coming over the middle, but Urlacher was right there so I threw the slant to C. Johnson instead. He caught it in the middle of three guys at the 1. New aquisition, FB Brian Leonard, took it in from there.

Close game, but more enjoyable than the previous one. Best play was a hit on Garrett Wolfe on a kickoff return. I hit him so hard his mama cried.

NOTABLE STATS:

M. STAFFORD: 13 of 25, 234 yards, 0 TDs, 2 INTs
J. CUTLER: 22 of 36, 260 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT

M. FORTE: 12 Runs, 63 yards
K. SMITH: 19 runs, 36 yards (1.9 avg.), 1 TD
M. MORRIS: 6 runs, 33 yards
B. LEONARD: 3 runs, 2 yards, 1 TD

D. HESTER: 7 REC, 84 yards
G. OLSEN: 6 REC, 85 yards, 1 TD
C. JOHNSON: 4 REC, 68 yards
B. JOHNSON: 3 REC, 84 yards

D. WHITE: 4 sacks
A. ADAMS: 2 sacks

R. GOULD: 3 of 3 FGs (45 long)

NOTES:

So the sliders made a lot of difference, especially in the cpu passing game. I am going to make one more adjustment before next game and will post those changes with the next game. The 0-16 Lions have turned the corner in one year to become the 4-0 Lions. Oh, somehow I got Larry Foote back too. Apparently he wasn't injured, he was just hurt

DIVISION:
Lions: 4-0
Packers: 3-1
Vikings: 1-3
Bears: 1-3

OTHERS IN NFC:
Eagles: 3-0
Redskins: 3-1
Cards: 2-1
Panthers: 2-1
49ers: 2-2
Seahawks: 2-2
Cowboys: 2-2
Falcons: 1-2
Giants: 1-3
Bucs: 1-3
Saints: 1-3
Rams: 0-4

[gr18]

Re: dophins6's 20009 LIONS FRANCHISE (using GR18's roster)

DOPHIN26's LIONS FRANCHISE: Game 4 at Bears

DETROIT LIONS: 20
CHICAGO BEARS: 16

Game four saw a lot different action than the previous 3 games, probably because of one big change I made- I used the sliders I use for my 1986 league. It certainly solved the passing problem, but created a new one- me running the ball. Talk about getting shut down. There were usually 3 Bears waiting for Smith to get to the line (kinda like the real Lions).

The game was tied 6-6 at halftime and then 13-13 after 3 Qtrs. The Bears took the lead in the fourth with an awesome drive that was only stopped on the Lions one yard line. A FG made it 16-13. I drove down the field, helped by a Bryant Johnson jump-ball catch and a slant by Pettigrew and got down to the 15. On 3rd down, I tried to throw to Ron Heller coming over the middle, but Urlacher was right there so I threw the slant to C. Johnson instead. He caught it in the middle of three guys at the 1. New aquisition, FB Brian Leonard, took it in from there.

Close game, but more enjoyable than the previous one. Best play was a hit on Garrett Wolfe on a kickoff return. I hit him so hard his mama cried.

NOTABLE STATS:

M. STAFFORD: 13 of 25, 234 yards, 0 TDs, 2 INTs
J. CUTLER: 22 of 36, 260 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT

M. FORTE: 12 Runs, 63 yards
K. SMITH: 19 runs, 36 yards (1.9 avg.), 1 TD
M. MORRIS: 6 runs, 33 yards
B. LEONARD: 3 runs, 2 yards, 1 TD

D. HESTER: 7 REC, 84 yards
G. OLSEN: 6 REC, 85 yards, 1 TD
C. JOHNSON: 4 REC, 68 yards
B. JOHNSON: 3 REC, 84 yards

D. WHITE: 4 sacks
A. ADAMS: 2 sacks

R. GOULD: 3 of 3 FGs (45 long)

NOTES:

So the sliders made a lot of difference, especially in the cpu passing game. I am going to make one more adjustment before next game and will post those changes with the next game. The 0-16 Lions have turned the corner in one year to become the 4-0 Lions. Oh, somehow I got Larry Foote back too. Apparently he wasn't injured, he was just hurt

DIVISION:
Lions: 4-0
Packers: 3-1
Vikings: 1-3
Bears: 1-3

OTHERS IN NFC:
Eagles: 3-0
Redskins: 3-1
Cards: 2-1
Panthers: 2-1
49ers: 2-2
Seahawks: 2-2
Cowboys: 2-2
Falcons: 1-2
Giants: 1-3
Bucs: 1-3
Saints: 1-3
Rams: 0-4

Great game.I'm shocked that sliders worked for you to that extent.That goes to show that each individual needs to find adjustments that are right for them.No set of sliders work for every style of gameplay or skill level.Sometimes it doesn't take a major overhaul either.

I would be interested in trying out the sliders though.I've got response from friends and relatives some say they get passed on alot without changing a thing,most get run on alot and need to tweak sliders down.

You must've really took the running sliders down both ways for that big of a difference.The computer at least had good ypc without being overboard.

I've been saying that I don't think the Lions will be that bad and if Culpepper seems resurrected or Stafford is another Matt Ryan you could be very suprising to many.

[dophin26]

Re: dophins6's 20009 LIONS FRANCHISE (using GR18's roster)

LIONS COME DOWN TO EARTH

DOPHIN26's LIONS FRANCHISE: Game 5 vs Steelers

PITTSBURGH STEELERS: 34
DETROIT LIONS: 17

Riding high on a four game win streak, the Lions hosted the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers and found out just how far they still need to go. Pittsburgh started off like a double-barreled shotgon as Hines Ward took 2 long passes to the house in the first quarter. The Lions srcatched their way back and made it 14-7 after one.

The second quarter things settled down as both teams managed just a field goal. 17-10 Steelers at half.

The third quarter was the Willie Parker show. He juked once, plowed through another and raced 72 yards for a big score. Later, the Steelers put togther an 8 play drive capped by an 8 yard TD run by Parker. 31-10 Steelers.

Trying to make something happen in the fourth, Stafford tried to use his legs when everyone was covered. It worked once for 11 yards, but he was slammed into the turf the second time and hyper-extended his shoulder. The sideline couldn't find a suitable brace and Stafford was out for the game. Not to worry, Daunte Culpepper came on for what would be the final Lions drive of the game and went 4 for 4, leading the Lions to their final TD of the night. 34-17 Steelers.

NOTABLE STATS:

M. STAFFORD: 13 of 26, 134 yards + 4 RUNS, 30 yards, 1 FUM (lost)
D. CULPEPPER: 4 of 4, 71 yards, 1 TD
B. ROETHLISBERGER: 10 of 18, 304 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT

W. PARKER: 17 RUNS, 123 yards, 2 TD
K. SMITH: 16 RUNS, 54 yards, 1 TD
M. MORRIS: 4 RUNS, 4 yards, 1 FUM (lost)

H. WARD: 6 REC, 247 yards, 2 TD (maybe I should have doubled him)
C. JOHNSON: 4 REC, 96 yards, 1 TD
B. LEONARD: 4 REC, 24 yards
and D. NORTHCUTT finally caught 2 balls for 25 yards!

JAMES HARRISON: 2 SACKS

NICK HARRIS: 6 punts, 288 yards, 48.0 avg.

NOTES:

I nudged the slider for blocking and running for humans just a bit and although I got stuffed a lot, I did managed a few 10 yard runs, so thats okay. I hardly moved the cpu sliders at all since the beginning and it showed with Parkers big run today. I am going to go with these for another game or two and see how it feels. So far, so good.

LIONS RECORD: 4-1

[gr18]

Re: dophins6's 20009 LIONS FRANCHISE (using GR18's roster)

Hate to say I'm happy to see you lost but there's really no way the Lions should beat the Steelers.Very good results.Glad to see the good qb's are playing good against you now.

I'm at halftime Dallas(me) at Tampa Bay.Suprisingly it's tied at 10 and I have Leftwich starting for them and he's 7-10,101 yrds,1 td,1 int.