Guide: The Season 2 Expansion – A New Approach to Expansion Franchise

[Cory Levy]

Re: Guide: The Season 2 Expansion – A New Approach to Expansion Franchise

It'd be really nice if they could actually implement putting an Expansion team into your franchise, even if it was just replacing a current franchise Year 1. Getting to do each step would be fun if it was implemented well. They actually had it in the game the year the Texans came into the league IIRC.

It'd just be nice to see more ability to make our franchise world our own and in unique ways.

[Slyone14]

Re: Guide: The Season 2 Expansion – A New Approach to Expansion Franchise

That's exactly why I think it's so important to fit the method to the story you're telling As for realism, when it comes to gaming, my rule is always "realism within the limits of the game". That's all you can do really.

Definitely let me know what the 'side effects' (if I can call them that) you see from releasing all the Chargers players into free agency. It may not be a big deal at all, but it's always good to test.

As for putting a few unrealistic players on the expansion draft list, I either just pick as many as I can an leave it at that, or I do exactly what you do; list some unrealistic targets and just don't pick them. The important thing is that you end up with a roster that looks like an expansion team and provides a fun starting point for some serious rebuilding! That's what I love about this too

You ever thought about doing your cfm in the dynasty thread. I'd be curious to see who you selected and how's it's going.

[Slyone14]

Re: Guide: The Season 2 Expansion – A New Approach to Expansion Franchise

It'd be really nice if they could actually implement putting an Expansion team into your franchise, even if it was just replacing a current franchise Year 1. Getting to do each step would be fun if it was implemented well. They actually had it in the game the year the Texans came into the league IIRC.

It'd just be nice to see more ability to make our franchise world our own and in unique ways.

You still doing your expansion? I'm pretty much doing what you mentioned, but I'm keeping my rookiesfrom 2017 and maybe boss, but I just need to figure out a story for why.

[tubaSimulator]

Re: Guide: The Season 2 Expansion – A New Approach to Expansion Franchise

You ever thought about doing your cfm in the dynasty thread. I'd be curious to see who you selected and how's it's going.

Working on it

Right now I'm just putting up posts about the first season simulation. I have an idea of a new guide about how I find and create storylines so what I'm putting up right now I hope can serve as examples for a future guide.

Anyway, I've posted quite a few posts today and will continue to do so over the next few days. I have a lot of posts ready so they're going up quite fast. Hopefully they will make for an interesting read and show off the increased immersion I'm experiencing while playing it

[Slyone14]

Re: Guide: The Season 2 Expansion – A New Approach to Expansion Franchise

For sure, I'm following. I'm doing something like the chargers team got disbanded by the NFL for illegal relocation. Everyone gets released and SD Dragons are born. I feel it's alittle unrealistic but interesting and possible. (Yes, I'm keeping my rookies but don't tell)

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Operation Sports mobile app

[tubaSimulator]

Re: Guide: The Season 2 Expansion – A New Approach to Expansion Franchise

For sure, I'm following. I'm doing something like the chargers team got disbanded by the NFL for illegal relocation. Everyone gets released and SD Dragons are born. I feel it's alittle unrealistic but interesting and possible. (Yes, I'm keeping my rookies but don't tell)

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Operation Sports mobile app

Hahaha that's awesome, man! It's really difficult to come up with a believable backstory as to why an NFL team would cease to exist, something I hope to address in a guide someday. As long as you have fun with it and can make the story work, who cares if it's not super realistic

[Cory Levy]

Re: Guide: The Season 2 Expansion – A New Approach to Expansion Franchise

Having a blast doing the whole process, currently about to enter Free Agency of Year 1. Here's my results for the 2018 Portland River Hogs Expansion Draft:

1. O. Scandrick, CB (DAL)
2. E. Decker, WR (TEN)
3. L. Murray, RB (MIN)
4. C. Barwin, OLB (LAR)
5. M. Barron, MLB (LAR)
6. B. Witzmann, LG (KC)
7. M. Watson, OT (DEN)
8. M. Glennon, QB (CHI)
9. A. Holmes, WR (BUF)
10. R. Griffin, TE (HOU)
11. T. McClain, DE (WAS)
12. D. Harmon, FS (NE)
13. J. Heath, SS (DAL)
14. F. Zombo, OLB (KC)
15. T. Swanson, C (DET)
16. V. Ducasse, OG (BUF)
17. D. Kelly, OT (TEN)
18. L. Guy, DE (NE)

I went slightly over the 38% amount of the salary cap (less than a million and I bit a lot of that through Glennon's big QB contract) and boy does it look like I have my work cut out for me. I'm pinning my hopes on any success on Murray and a grinding running game. It feels really nice though because this feels like I'm building from virtually zero, as opposed to cheating the system and having a lot of good young players, even if they're not highly rated. Even decided against re-signing anyone remaining on the Chargers' original team, instead opting to fill out the rest of the roster in FA and the Draft.

[tubaSimulator]

Re: Guide: The Season 2 Expansion – A New Approach to Expansion Franchise

Having a blast doing the whole process, currently about to enter Free Agency of Year 1. Here's my results for the 2018 Portland River Hogs Expansion Draft:

1. O. Scandrick, CB (DAL)
2. E. Decker, WR (TEN)
3. L. Murray, RB (MIN)
4. C. Barwin, OLB (LAR)
5. M. Barron, MLB (LAR)
6. B. Witzmann, LG (KC)
7. M. Watson, OT (DEN)
8. M. Glennon, QB (CHI)
9. A. Holmes, WR (BUF)
10. R. Griffin, TE (HOU)
11. T. McClain, DE (WAS)
12. D. Harmon, FS (NE)
13. J. Heath, SS (DAL)
14. F. Zombo, OLB (KC)
15. T. Swanson, C (DET)
16. V. Ducasse, OG (BUF)
17. D. Kelly, OT (TEN)
18. L. Guy, DE (NE)

I went slightly over the 38% amount of the salary cap (less than a million and I bit a lot of that through Glennon's big QB contract) and boy does it look like I have my work cut out for me. I'm pinning my hopes on any success on Murray and a grinding running game. It feels really nice though because this feels like I'm building from virtually zero, as opposed to cheating the system and having a lot of good young players, even if they're not highly rated. Even decided against re-signing anyone remaining on the Chargers' original team, instead opting to fill out the rest of the roster in FA and the Draft.

The 2002 Expansion draft rule is that you have to pick either a minimum of 30 players or a minimum of 38% of the salary cap so if you went over 38%, that's perfectly fine. As long as you're not under it

I must say, I like that team. Not because of it's high quality, but because it looks like a proper expansion team! And it's awesome to hear you're enjoying the process

Any plans for how to use that #1 overall pick?

[Cory Levy]

Re: Guide: The Season 2 Expansion – A New Approach to Expansion Franchise

The 2002 Expansion draft rule is that you have to pick either a minimum of 30 players or a minimum of 38% of the salary cap so if you went over 38%, that's perfectly fine. As long as you're not under it

I must say, I like that team. Not because of it's high quality, but because it looks like a proper expansion team! And it's awesome to hear you're enjoying the process

Any plans for how to use that #1 overall pick?

Oops! Oh well, the Texans only selected 19 players so I'll just stick with my 18 guys. I should pay more attention when reading next time, hah. There really isn't that much talent wise in the pool aside from the unrealistic guys I didn't want to touch anyway.

I'm not sure what direction I'm gonna go in the draft yet, I've just been scouting a wide range of most of the players at the most important positions so I haven't closed that circle yet. Also will probably change depending on how Free Agency shakes out and how the rest of the team shapes up.

I will say that I really do want to focus on building the trenches and defense because I think that's the smartest way to build a good football team. So I'm already leaning towards a good O-Lineman or OLB (running a 3-4 alignment since it's been awhile since I've used that a lot in Madden). Though taking that Franchise QB first overall is always tempting and fun to watch him try to drag a really mediocre franchise by himself.

[tubaSimulator]

Re: Guide: The Season 2 Expansion – A New Approach to Expansion Franchise

Oops! Oh well, the Texans only selected 19 players so I'll just stick with my 18 guys. I should pay more attention when reading next time, hah. There really isn't that much talent wise in the pool aside from the unrealistic guys I didn't want to touch anyway.

I'm not sure what direction I'm gonna go in the draft yet, I've just been scouting a wide range of most of the players at the most important positions so I haven't closed that circle yet. Also will probably change depending on how Free Agency shakes out and how the rest of the team shapes up.

I will say that I really do want to focus on building the trenches and defense because I think that's the smartest way to build a good football team. So I'm already leaning towards a good O-Lineman or OLB (running a 3-4 alignment since it's been awhile since I've used that a lot in Madden). Though taking that Franchise QB first overall is always tempting and fun to watch him try to drag a really mediocre franchise by himself.

No, I'm saying you followed the rules. You had over 38% of the salary cap which means you don't need a minimum of 30 players. I'm not always good at explaining things but you did everything according to the rules

That's what I did with scouting as well, tried to scout as many players as possible across every position, especially since I didn't even know who my head coach would be or what system I would run.

My Expansion draft is now up in my dynasty thread if you're interested. I'm done with free agency and the rookie draft as well (will post updates shortly) and have played my first preseason game. My team's OVR is 68... Gonna be a loooong season!

[JoshC1977]

Re: Guide: The Season 2 Expansion – A New Approach to Expansion Franchise

Well, I too completed my expansion team and am now in year 1 preseason (I did this on Madden 18).
================================================== ======
Two quick technical notes about the experience on M18....

After the Super Bowl but prior to offseason, there is a final re-signing period (allowing you one last chance to re-sign your guys). If your entire team (aside from expansion draft picks) has an expiring contract, too many guys are available to be re-signed, causing a crash. Workaround is to cut any remaining guys from the first simmed season immediately after executing the expansion draft (using the clear cap penalties for your team).

In that annoying final re-signing period, I was prompted to re-sign several of my expansion draft picks (even though they were still under contract for the next season according to the salary screen in week 17). I believe they were guys who were extended by their original teams during the regular season....like moving them negated the extension or something (I did not go through to verify). I just went ahead and extended the contracts and let it go....not really a big deal....but a slight difference.
================================================== ======

OK, the fun stuff....so, I knew I needed to find a logo/uniform that I would like (and many of them are just awful). So, I settled on the Sacramento Miners as my franchise....the gold helmets in-game are very nice (the uniform selection screen does not do them justice). I kicked-out the Cardinals (I liked the idea of playing in the NFC West to have a rivalry with the Niners....). Hired a power-run HC to take-on the program

The expansion list process was long, but actually quite a bit of fun. We selected 18 players and cleared the 38% salary cap threshold. Not a lot of decent upside youngsters on list, so loaded on higher-salaried vets. There were a lot of 'big names' on the list, but I bypassed most of them.

The picks were as follows:

1. Brooks Reed (LE) - best 43 D-end available, which isn't saying much.
2. Maxx WIlliams (TE) - I have liked his talent since he was a Gopher.
3. Kurt Coleman (SS) - veteran leader, ex-Buckeye, which means I had to have him
4. Kevin Minter (MLB) - he was displaced by Vincent Rey as the starter in Cincy and was making too much for a backup. He's an excellent 2-down MLB who will need some help on passing downs.
5. Desmond Bryant (DT) - meh, but he's strong and takes-up space
6. Bradley Roby (CB) - still a 77 overall and making close to $5 million (plus I love my Buckeyes)
7. Khari Lee (TE) - receiving skill, could be OK as a number 2/3
8. Quinten Rollins (CB) - Not great, but, he isn't old, slow, or expensive.
9. Jaelen Strong (WR) - love his size/tools but he has been buried in Houston
10. Lamarcus Joyner (FS) - expensive and about to be overtaken by younger player
11. Jamil Douglas (LG) - youngish, ok talent, rough around edges
12. Stephone Anthony (LOLB) - I love his physical tools...he needs a chance to be a starter
13. Bryce Petty (QB) - decent short accuracy guy and cheap. Most QBs were expensive graybeards, so Petty made sense (though I did ponder grabbing a guy like Glennon to get pummeled for the first year).
14. Austin Howard (RT) - mediocre guy making $8 million. That's a starter on this team.
15. Vinny Curry (RE) - good player buried as backup, I will need his pass rush skills.
16. Jason Kelce (C) - smart, but fading player...need him to anchor my line
17. Eli Rogers (WR) - young guy, but with Smith-Schuster pushing him, made sense for Steelers to leave unprotected as he would've been making close to $4 million as a number 4 wideout.
18. Desean Jackson (WR) - had horrible 2017, scheduled to make $11.2 million, and hitting that 30 yr old threshold. He's the "big name" on the roster....hopefully big production comes with it.

I grabbed a few lower-end guys in free agency, no big splashes...made zero sense to me. I was excited to see young DT Caleb Brantley (75 overall) on the market, so I grabbed him. Also nabbed Christine Michael and Lorenzo Taliaferro to fill the RB slots.

The draft..well, had the top pick of course. There were 4 first round QBs and I managed to grab the 79 overall pocket guy with SuperStar potential number 1. Ironically, he's actually quite similar to David Carr skill-wise, who the Texans nabbed with their first ever pick. I nabbed a startng FB, a 78 overall WR in round 4 and the rest were 65-70ish overall guys. Post-draft free agency just focused on filling roster holes with cheap roster filler (and younger undrafted guys).

I wound up with a 73 overall team as a result of this whole process (though that really doesn't mean anything). The intrigue for me is that I was looking to run a power-run team. I got a team with a high-ceiling QB, 4 solid WRs, 2 good pass catching TEs, and not a whole heckuva lot for the run game. Defensively, I just don't know what I have...I'm not awful anywhere but not good anywhere either. This was overall a really fun process and yielded a team that really just feels like an expansion franchise (and has some history for the players).

[tubaSimulator]

Re: Guide: The Season 2 Expansion – A New Approach to Expansion Franchise

Well, I too completed my expansion team and am now in year 1 preseason (I did this on Madden 18).
================================================== ======
Two quick technical notes about the experience on M18....

After the Super Bowl but prior to offseason, there is a final re-signing period (allowing you one last chance to re-sign your guys). If your entire team (aside from expansion draft picks) has an expiring contract, too many guys are available to be re-signed, causing a crash. Workaround is to cut any remaining guys from the first simmed season immediately after executing the expansion draft (using the clear cap penalties for your team).

In that annoying final re-signing period, I was prompted to re-sign several of my expansion draft picks (even though they were still under contract for the next season according to the salary screen in week 17). I believe they were guys who were extended by their original teams during the regular season....like moving them negated the extension or something (I did not go through to verify). I just went ahead and extended the contracts and let it go....not really a big deal....but a slight difference.
================================================== ======

Excellent feedback. Thanks! I've already added it to the guide

OK, the fun stuff....so, I knew I needed to find a logo/uniform that I would like (and many of them are just awful). So, I settled on the Sacramento Miners as my franchise....the gold helmets in-game are very nice (the uniform selection screen does not do them justice). I kicked-out the Cardinals (I liked the idea of playing in the NFC West to have a rivalry with the Niners....). Hired a power-run HC to take-on the program

The expansion list process was long, but actually quite a bit of fun. We selected 18 players and cleared the 38% salary cap threshold. Not a lot of decent upside youngsters on list, so loaded on higher-salaried vets. There were a lot of 'big names' on the list, but I bypassed most of them.

The picks were as follows:

1. Brooks Reed (LE) - best 43 D-end available, which isn't saying much.
2. Maxx WIlliams (TE) - I have liked his talent since he was a Gopher.
3. Kurt Coleman (SS) - veteran leader, ex-Buckeye, which means I had to have him
4. Kevin Minter (MLB) - he was displaced by Vincent Rey as the starter in Cincy and was making too much for a backup. He's an excellent 2-down MLB who will need some help on passing downs.
5. Desmond Bryant (DT) - meh, but he's strong and takes-up space
6. Bradley Roby (CB) - still a 77 overall and making close to $5 million (plus I love my Buckeyes)
7. Khari Lee (TE) - receiving skill, could be OK as a number 2/3
8. Quinten Rollins (CB) - Not great, but, he isn't old, slow, or expensive.
9. Jaelen Strong (WR) - love his size/tools but he has been buried in Houston
10. Lamarcus Joyner (FS) - expensive and about to be overtaken by younger player
11. Jamil Douglas (LG) - youngish, ok talent, rough around edges
12. Stephone Anthony (LOLB) - I love his physical tools...he needs a chance to be a starter
13. Bryce Petty (QB) - decent short accuracy guy and cheap. Most QBs were expensive graybeards, so Petty made sense (though I did ponder grabbing a guy like Glennon to get pummeled for the first year).
14. Austin Howard (RT) - mediocre guy making $8 million. That's a starter on this team.
15. Vinny Curry (RE) - good player buried as backup, I will need his pass rush skills.
16. Jason Kelce (C) - smart, but fading player...need him to anchor my line
17. Eli Rogers (WR) - young guy, but with Smith-Schuster pushing him, made sense for Steelers to leave unprotected as he would've been making close to $4 million as a number 4 wideout.
18. Desean Jackson (WR) - had horrible 2017, scheduled to make $11.2 million, and hitting that 30 yr old threshold. He's the "big name" on the roster....hopefully big production comes with it.

I grabbed a few lower-end guys in free agency, no big splashes...made zero sense to me. I was excited to see young DT Caleb Brantley (75 overall) on the market, so I grabbed him. Also nabbed Christine Michael and Lorenzo Taliaferro to fill the RB slots.

The draft..well, had the top pick of course. There were 4 first round QBs and I managed to grab the 79 overall pocket guy with SuperStar potential number 1. Ironically, he's actually quite similar to David Carr skill-wise, who the Texans nabbed with their first ever pick. I nabbed a startng FB, a 78 overall WR in round 4 and the rest were 65-70ish overall guys. Post-draft free agency just focused on filling roster holes with cheap roster filler (and younger undrafted guys).

I wound up with a 73 overall team as a result of this whole process (though that really doesn't mean anything). The intrigue for me is that I was looking to run a power-run team. I got a team with a high-ceiling QB, 4 solid WRs, 2 good pass catching TEs, and not a whole heckuva lot for the run game. Defensively, I just don't know what I have...I'm not awful anywhere but not good anywhere either. This was overall a really fun process and yielded a team that really just feels like an expansion franchise (and has some history for the players).

So awesome to hear you enjoyed the process! Thanks for the feedback and let me know have you get on with that not good, not bad defense! You know you're drafting well when your reasoning is "he isn't old, slow or expensive"

[tdawg3782]

Re: Guide: The Season 2 Expansion – A New Approach to Expansion Franchise

Awesome guide. I've been struggling this year to figure out who to use in my offline CFM. I always do 2. One online one with my cousin and then my own. But since the Chargers left SD and I really can't stand to play with them having the LA name I just haven't found the motivation. But this is it right here. Not sure if I can move a team to SD so soon but if not it is still my team and I'll have a vested interest. Again, just wanted to say great guide and idea in general.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Operation Sports mobile app

[JoshC1977]

Re: Guide: The Season 2 Expansion – A New Approach to Expansion Franchise

Awesome guide. I've been struggling this year to figure out who to use in my offline CFM. I always do 2. One online one with my cousin and then my own. But since the Chargers left SD and I really can't stand to play with them having the LA name I just haven't found the motivation. But this is it right here. Not sure if I can move a team to SD so soon but if not it is still my team and I'll have a vested interest. Again, just wanted to say great guide and idea in general.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Operation Sports mobile app

If you turn relocation on for everyone when you start your CFM, you can move them right back to SD (where they belong).

[tdawg3782]

Re: Guide: The Season 2 Expansion – A New Approach to Expansion Franchise

If you turn relocation on for everyone when you start your CFM, you can move them right back to SD (where they belong).

Yes!!! That's exactly what I wanted to hear. It'll be like when Cleveland came back. Even more excited for this now.