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Steelerfan2k1 · 12-24-2003, 02:44 AM

For me - following the advice of a couple guys on this board - I drafted James Newson from Oregon in the first round of the 2004 draft. Man - he is amazing. In his second season, his speed is 98 and his acceleration 96 - with an overall rating of 85. 10 games into the 2005 season with a rookie QB (Zach Mills - who I would also recommend, since he has good arm strength and accuracy - along with decent speed), Newson has 61 catches, 800 yards and 10 touchdowns. He is almost single-handedly keeping my passing game alive. I have started benching him after the third quarter, since I am terrified that he might get hurt.

Who else has turned out to be awesome from the NCAA draft classes?

Donovan · 12-24-2003, 02:48 AM

Solid CB I had was Janssen Patton out of Bowling Green. He starts off in the lower to mid 70s and you can grab him in the 4th round, hes a solid 3rd CB for a couple years until I start him. I also liked FB Thomas Tapah out of Minnesota, his speed is low 80s and he has solid blocking that only improves, good breaking tackle and carrying.

Mizzou23 · 12-24-2003, 10:10 AM

are you guys finding the draft classes to be a little too good? Also, how is the progression in the NCAA imported players?

Donovan · 12-24-2003, 10:52 PM

Yah the players are to good, there are never guys in the 50s and the lowest is mid 60s, a couple guys may be a 62 or 63 but usually O linemen and LB. As for progression they usually progress well. even the worst players progress like blue chips

Steelerfan2k1 · 12-25-2003, 12:02 AM

I am only in my third season of Madden, and the progression has been very reasonable thus far. In my second season - my only rookie who really progressed was Newson - which was because I started him every game and he put up big numbers. The guys who I didn't play barely progressed at all. In my third season - I literally went through my formations and found places to play rookies and back-ups on special teams and various situations - which is at least allowing them to accumulate some stats (pancakes, tackles, etc.).

I like in Madden how players naturally progress before the age of 25, and then start to level off. While I agree that the players all start pretty high, you do have to play guys in order for them to progress. And - once a guy starts getting near 30 - if you're lucky - he will maintain his skills. But - if he starts to falter (or you bench him), his numbers can plummet big time.

One of my back-up guards from last year who never played (and was 29) dropped like 9 points overall - which practically made him an automatic cut for me....

Donovan · 12-25-2003, 02:01 AM

What bothers me about the progression, which is pretty good your right steelrsfan goos points, is that on most teams depth charts they take a raw rookie and play them ahead of some of the vets. Yah youd think thats fine but sometimes you see a 74 overall WR playing ahead of Jimmy Smith whos an 88 or a rookie QB whos a 72 playing over a vet whos an 80 even. I know they want to get rookies in there but it often kills vets and you see there ratings plummet from star quality to low 70s in 2 seasons while the rookies take over completely. It seems a little unrealistic at times.

Steelerfan2k1 · 12-25-2003, 08:22 PM

I agree - it is totally ridiculous how the computer plays rookies - especially at skill positions - over veterans in the prime of their careers and in the middle of huge contracts. Right now - the Vikings are starting Bryan Randall over Daunte Culpepper in my franchise.

sportsdude · 12-26-2003, 01:15 AM

Well, I drafted Quincy Wilson (RB from W. Virginia) in the sixth round, and while he's only a 73 after one season, he averaged over 5 yards a carry as a backup, pretty decent for a rookie.

Oh yeah, and possibly my best late round find was actually in last year's game. I finished a season before too much college or pro ball had been played in real life, and I needed a backup QB. So in the fifth round, I took Kyle Boller of California. I had no clue who he was at the time, but then Brees goes down 2 weeks before the playoffs, and I had cut Flutie to clear cap room in the future. Brees was done until the Super Bowl, and Boller lead the team to the conference championship. I wasn't able to win that one though. Interesting story nonetheless.

12-24-2003, 02:44 AM	#1
Steelerfan2k1 MVP OVR: 16 Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Pittsburgh, PA	What Sleepers have You Found in NCAA Draft Classes? For me - following the advice of a couple guys on this board - I drafted James Newson from Oregon in the first round of the 2004 draft. Man - he is amazing. In his second season, his speed is 98 and his acceleration 96 - with an overall rating of 85. 10 games into the 2005 season with a rookie QB (Zach Mills - who I would also recommend, since he has good arm strength and accuracy - along with decent speed), Newson has 61 catches, 800 yards and 10 touchdowns. He is almost single-handedly keeping my passing game alive. I have started benching him after the third quarter, since I am terrified that he might get hurt. Who else has turned out to be awesome from the NCAA draft classes?

12-24-2003, 02:48 AM	#2
Donovan MVP OVR: 18 Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Edmontonian in Australia	Re: What Sleepers have You Found in NCAA Draft Classes? Solid CB I had was Janssen Patton out of Bowling Green. He starts off in the lower to mid 70s and you can grab him in the 4th round, hes a solid 3rd CB for a couple years until I start him. I also liked FB Thomas Tapah out of Minnesota, his speed is low 80s and he has solid blocking that only improves, good breaking tackle and carrying.

12-24-2003, 10:10 AM	#3
Mizzou23 MVP OVR: 13 Join Date: Dec 2002	Re: What Sleepers have You Found in NCAA Draft Classes? are you guys finding the draft classes to be a little too good? Also, how is the progression in the NCAA imported players?

12-24-2003, 10:52 PM	#4
Donovan MVP OVR: 18 Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Edmontonian in Australia	Re: What Sleepers have You Found in NCAA Draft Classes? Yah the players are to good, there are never guys in the 50s and the lowest is mid 60s, a couple guys may be a 62 or 63 but usually O linemen and LB. As for progression they usually progress well. even the worst players progress like blue chips

12-25-2003, 12:02 AM	#5
Steelerfan2k1 MVP OVR: 16 Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Pittsburgh, PA	Re: What Sleepers have You Found in NCAA Draft Classes? I am only in my third season of Madden, and the progression has been very reasonable thus far. In my second season - my only rookie who really progressed was Newson - which was because I started him every game and he put up big numbers. The guys who I didn't play barely progressed at all. In my third season - I literally went through my formations and found places to play rookies and back-ups on special teams and various situations - which is at least allowing them to accumulate some stats (pancakes, tackles, etc.). I like in Madden how players naturally progress before the age of 25, and then start to level off. While I agree that the players all start pretty high, you do have to play guys in order for them to progress. And - once a guy starts getting near 30 - if you're lucky - he will maintain his skills. But - if he starts to falter (or you bench him), his numbers can plummet big time. One of my back-up guards from last year who never played (and was 29) dropped like 9 points overall - which practically made him an automatic cut for me....

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12-25-2003, 02:01 AM	#6
Donovan MVP OVR: 18 Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Edmontonian in Australia	Re: What Sleepers have You Found in NCAA Draft Classes? What bothers me about the progression, which is pretty good your right steelrsfan goos points, is that on most teams depth charts they take a raw rookie and play them ahead of some of the vets. Yah youd think thats fine but sometimes you see a 74 overall WR playing ahead of Jimmy Smith whos an 88 or a rookie QB whos a 72 playing over a vet whos an 80 even. I know they want to get rookies in there but it often kills vets and you see there ratings plummet from star quality to low 70s in 2 seasons while the rookies take over completely. It seems a little unrealistic at times.

12-25-2003, 08:22 PM	#7
Steelerfan2k1 MVP OVR: 16 Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Pittsburgh, PA	Re: What Sleepers have You Found in NCAA Draft Classes? I agree - it is totally ridiculous how the computer plays rookies - especially at skill positions - over veterans in the prime of their careers and in the middle of huge contracts. Right now - the Vikings are starting Bryan Randall over Daunte Culpepper in my franchise.

12-26-2003, 01:15 AM	#8
sportsdude Be Massive OVR: 21 Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 5,001	Re: What Sleepers have You Found in NCAA Draft Classes? Well, I drafted Quincy Wilson (RB from W. Virginia) in the sixth round, and while he's only a 73 after one season, he averaged over 5 yards a carry as a backup, pretty decent for a rookie. Oh yeah, and possibly my best late round find was actually in last year's game. I finished a season before too much college or pro ball had been played in real life, and I needed a backup QB. So in the fifth round, I took Kyle Boller of California. I had no clue who he was at the time, but then Brees goes down 2 weeks before the playoffs, and I had cut Flutie to clear cap room in the future. Brees was done until the Super Bowl, and Boller lead the team to the conference championship. I wasn't able to win that one though. Interesting story nonetheless.

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What Sleepers have You Found in NCAA Draft Classes?