Buffalo Bills Dynasty - Head Coach 09

[kdmajoslin]

Note: I've been playing Head Coach 09 since it came out and have done numerous franchises with some success. I have been looking around Operation Sports for a little while and found the Dynasties board. After looking over everyone's posts, I thought I'd post my most recent efforts.

Looking over the previous entries I see that others have shared their exploits with the Dolphins, Raiders, Falcons, Bucs, Jets, Lions, Browns, Chiefs, Cardinals, Broncos and the 49ers. Not wanting to choose a team someone was working with currently and wanting a challenge...I chose the Buffalo Bills.

I will be playing under some House Rules to keep things interesting and provide a bit more challenge.

Joslin House Rules

*Sliders: Sliders set to ADEMBROSKI (5/31/09) configuration

*Start: Starting in the Preseason and simming through the 2008 season
(This will allow me to hire my own assistant coaches and prevent me from stocking up on the very talented rookies in the 2008 draft...I've simply done that draft too many times...I know when to get Dre Moore, Calais Campbell, Kenny Phillips, etc. and having that initial talent boost would diminish the challenge.)

*Scouting: No inseason scouting, no individual workouts, scouting kept below 73% and no looking at the Draft Preview
(In an effort to make the draft more challenging...I'm eliminating the player comparisons, sleeper information and anything that would reveal potentials. My hope is this will make the draft more challenging.)

*Free Agents: Any free agent signed must be kept for at least one year.
(So no grabbing up guys and cutting/trading them without penalty. Adds a little realism I think and will make roster decisions a little more difficult.)

*Plays: No custom plays
(I know I'll take an approval hit every preseason, but I think custom plays would give me an unfair advantage...besides I usually do custom plays...so this will be new.)

Now to actually get started...next post will include actual game info...team philosophies...playbooks...coaches hired...

[kdmajoslin]

Buffalo Bills

A new era has begun in Buffalo. Owner Bob Baines presented Buffalo's new head coach, Ken Joslin at a press conference today.

Joslin served as Buffalo's Offensive Coordinator last season and had previously coached the Oklahoma State Cowboys. Joslin is widely considered to be one of the best play callers in the nation and is credited for engineering O State's exciting Joslin Aerial Assault offense.

Joslin had this to say, "I'm excited for this opportunity and am looking forward to the coming season."

[kdmajoslin]

Head Coach: Ken Joslin
Personality: Analyst
Skills:Playcall Level 5, Strategy Level 4, Peformance Level 4
Special Skills: None
Overall Rating: 13

Offensive Playbook: Joslin Aerial Assault*
Defensive Playbook: Joslin Blitzkrieg**

*Custom plan built off the base Martz Air Attack plan...some modifications...no custom plays
** Custom plan built off the base Tampa 2 plan...heavily modified...no custom plays

[kdmajoslin]

Buffalo Bills

Joslin Team Philosphies

Coach Hire
Position Coach Hire Contol- Give up no control
Trainer Hire Control- Give up no control
Gm Hire Control- Give up no control
OC Hire Control- Give up no control
DC Hire Control- Give up no control

Trade
GM Draft Trade Philosophy- Neutral
GM Future Draft Picks- Neutral
Trading Frequency- Heavy Trader
Trading Philosophy- Aggressive

Draft
Draft Philosophy- Draft Biggest Team Needs
Workouts Scouting Philosophy- Scout Biggest Team Needs
Reg. Season Scouting Philosophy- Big School Focus

Player Philosophies (Position: Philosophy (Roster Minimum))
QB: Balanced (2)
RB: Workhorse (3)
FB: Blocking (1)
WR: Balanced (5)
TE: Balanced (3)
OL: Size/Strength/Mauler for all (1/3/3)
DT: Run Stopper (3)
DE: Balanced (4)
OLB: Balanced (3)
MLB: Balanced (2)
CB: Man Coverage/Ballhawk (4)
FS: Balanced (1)
SS: Balanced (1)
K: Balanced (1)
P: Balanced (1)

Evaluation
Team Building Philosophy- Build through the Draft
Player Roadmap Evaluation- Favors Upside

Playcall
Blitz Philosophy- Blitz Heavy
Pass Coverage Philosophy- Man Coverage
Defensive Playbook Control- Head Coach
Defensive Scheme- 4-3
Defining Moment Philosophy- Aggressive
No Huddle Philosophy- Heavily
Offensive Playbook Control- Head Coach
Offensive Scheme- Spread

Depth Chart
Bench Media Complainer- Prefers to bench
Bench Skip Practice- Prefers to bench
Bench Player- Balanced
Start Rookie QB- Balanced
Start Rookie HB- Balanced

Injury
Injury Playing Status- Aggressive

[Clarke_311]

Good luck with this, it'll be exciting to see how you can manage to overtake the Patriots in the AFC East.

[kdmajoslin]

Buffalo Bills

Coaching Staff:

OC Tyke Tolbert (39) promoted formerly Bills WR Coach
DC Chuck Bresnahan (45) formerly Bengals DC
STC Bobby April (99) retained
QB Craig Johnson (40) formerly Titans QB Coach
RB Bishop Harris (49) formerly 49ers RB Coach
WR Chad Merriam (47) ?
OL Juan Castillo (53) formerly Eagles OL Coach
LB Don Martindale (72) formerly Raiders LB Coach
DL John Teerlinck (44) formerly Colts DL Coach
DB George Catavolos (28) retained
GM R.C. McGriggs (19) ?
T Chris Johnson (53) retained

After Dick Jauron's retirement at the end of the 2008 season, new Head Coach Ken Joslin (former Offensive Coordinator) shook things up. Gone are many of Jauron's coaches. Joslin held onto a few coaches including WR Coach Tyke Tolbert, Special Teams Coach Bobby April, Defensive Backs Coach George Catavolos and Trainer Chris Johnson. Of these holdovers all return to their regular duties except Tyke Tolbert. Tolbert was been promoted to Offensive Coordinator.

Asked about the coaching changes, Coach Joslin had this to say, "I'm excited about the guys we were able to bring in. These are guys I've worked with in the past and I know we are all on the same page."

[kdmajoslin]

Buffalo Bills

New Defensive Coordinator Chuck Bresnahan had this to say about coming to Orchard Park, "For me, it's like coming home. My dad coached with the Bills for awhile and I always like it up here. Great place for football. I'm looking forward to working with Coach Joslin and I'm telling you now...we're going to smash some people in the face."

Hopefully Bresnahan can back those words up against the high powered offenses of the AFC East.

[kdmajoslin]

Buffalo Bills

Roster at the start of 2009 season

QB, Trent Edwards 85

HB, Marshawn Lynch 84
HB, D. Wright 71
HB, Fred Jackson 71

FB, D. Barnes 78

WR, J. Reed 76
WR, Lee Evans 88
WR, R. Parrish 76
WR, J. Hardy 68
WR, S. Johnson 63
WR, A. Sullivan 64

TE, R. Royal 64
TE, C. Anderson 62
TE, D. Fine 48

LT, J. Peters 92

LG, D. Dockery 88

C, none

RG, D. Preston 83

RT, L. Walker 87

LE, C. Kelsay 78
LE, R. Denney 77

RE, A. Schobel 85
RE, C. Ellis 77

DT, M. Stroud 91
DT, J. McCargo 75
DT, S. Johnson 68

LOLB, A. Crowell 82
LOLB, A. Bowen 72

MLB, P. Posluzny 79

ROLB, K. Mitchell 83

CB, T. McGee 83
CB, L. McKelvin 82
CB, K. Cousins 64

FS, Ko Simpson 77

SS, D. Whitner 84

K, R. Lindell 88

P, B. Boorman 88

Some obvious holes at Center and Tight End. Here is a position by position break down.

QB: Need to bring in some backup QB's

RB: Pretty solid

FB: Okay starter, but will keep my eye out for someone better

WR: Lee Evans is a stud, but behind him we get mighty mediocre.

TE: Need some major help

OT: Solid starters need backups

OG: Solid starters need backups

C: need a starter and backup

DE: Schobel is a stud, need another performer for the otherside and can make do with the backups we have

DT: Stroud is a monster and McCargo is an okay backup, need another big run stopper to put beside Stroud.

OLB: Solid starters in Crowell and Mitchell need backups

MLB: Posluszny needs a little seasoning but will become a star in the middle. Need a backup.

CB: Solid starters in McGee and McKelvin...not shutdown guys but solid. Need backups

FS: Simpson will work as a backup, but I'd like someone a little more skilled to start

SS: Whitner is solid. Need a backup

K/P: Good to go with these guys.