Which Team is Truly a Rebuild Project

[RogueHominid]

Quote: Originally Posted by DJ

I used the Broncos in Madden 12 and Tebow was both a blast and extremely frustrating to use at QB. Jets definitely are a good project, though I prefer Indy because of the rookie QB, and being a Giants fan, don't think I could stomach looking at that Jets uniform 20 times a season.

I preferred the 90s uniforms. I really wish they had the aways for that uniform in the game.

I don't mind the all white current uniforms.

I think the Colts probably are a tougher squad. Sure would be fun to build around Luck.

[KBLover]

Quote: Originally Posted by JMP

I preferred the 90s uniforms. I really wish they had the aways for that uniform in the game. I don't mind the all white current uniforms. I think the Colts probably are a tougher squad. Sure would be fun to build around Luck.

The fact they have a franchise QB already (from all appearances in real life and probably rated as such in Madden) would seem to make them easier? Jets need a QB and the pieces, imo. At least the Colts have the core with a strong QB and at least they have Wayne as well.

[RogueHominid]

Quote: Originally Posted by KBLover

The fact they have a franchise QB already (from all appearances in real life and probably rated as such in Madden) would seem to make them easier? Jets need a QB and the pieces, imo. At least the Colts have the core with a strong QB and at least they have Wayne as well.

Agreed. In two pre-season games, I've scored 8 points. There is a huge consistency problem at QB. They'll complete 5 straight then miss on standard throws. The WR and TE drop a lot of passes, and the RB/OL performance isn't gelling.

I can only thank heavens for the CBs. I control the S position and provide extra coverage for the TE or slot, and that helps a lot. The rush itself is a bit slow, so I'm thinking some additional talent up front is necessary as well.

I've been surprised at how many tackles my guys have missed early on. I figured my LBs would be solid wrap up guys, but they haven't been.

I think I'm going to spend all my XP across the board early on getting players up to a consistency grade of 2 or 3.

[pistolpete]

I've played 2 games as the Raiders and they suck. Their WRs cannot catch if anyone is at all close to them, and CP cannot move enough to buy time for WR to get open. The defense is embarrassing. They have two good DTs, but that's useless when the linebackers are useless. Their corners are kind of okay, but cannot make a play on the ball.

[ajb3313]

The Jaguars and the Jets come to mind.

The Jaguars are good because they don't have a quarterback and they have a highly rated, older running back as their premiere player. You can trade off Maurice Jones-Drew for picks and Jennings isn't terrible to roll with for a year. Plus, I like rebuilding with teams that already have some existing storylines, i.e. Jones-Drew's holdout, which makes trading him feel more realistic. They also have pretty good receivers in Justin Blackmon, Cecil Shorts, and Laurent Robinson and a reliable if unspectacular tight end in Marcedes Lewis. And so offensively, there are some good pieces which means you can focus on acquiring a quarterback and getting younger at running back.

Their defense also stinks for the most part. Even with Jason Babin on the latest roster, they still need pass rushers, secondary help, and improved linebackers. They have a couple decent guys on that side of the ball, but they're also severely lacking in depth.

The Jets might be even more fun to rebuild, especially if you're an offensive minded person, because basically their entire offense outside of D'Brickashaw Ferguson needs replacing. Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow are passable enough for a year but need to go, and Greg McElroy just isn't a feasible player long-term in Madden. So instantly you need the game's most important position. Their running backs are dire -- Shonn Greene is plodding and Bilal Powell is a serviceable back-up at best -- and their receivers are basically non-existent outside of Santonio Holmes, who would be better served as a trade candidate in a real rebuild scenario. Again, Holmes has a history that gift wraps you a nice realistic storyline: an underachieving receiver with big salary implications and a history of being a bad team player? That's perfect to trade.

On defense, they've got great cornerbacks obviously, but both LaRon Landry and Yeremiah Bell are run stoppers. Finding playmakers in the secondary is fun and an obvious need. They're also thin on the defensive line and at linebacker, plus they have loudmouths in Bart Scott and Calvin Pace. Even though there's nothing that accounts for it in the game, I like to take player's real life attitudes and histories into account when I start a rebuild. It adds another layer to the challenge. You could look at both guys of representatives of the brash Rex Ryan era and move them both for prospects or picks.

[RogueHominid]

Man, the Jets preseason has been woeful. Both QBs have "slow" development traits, and they're wildly inconsistent. The WR, outside of Holmes, are abysmal, and you can't count on any solid coverage out of the MLB or the SS positions. Those are big holes.

I put feelers out on offers for Tebow and Sanchez both and got nothing. I also put out a feeler for The Cancer, #10, and I decided to start the cleansing process by unloading him for a #2 (WASH offered that, of all teams, without any coaxing).

I also cut McKnight. I just couldn't get anything out of him that warranted extensive playing time.

Lex Hilliard went bye-bye. If we're a power running team, we have to have a lead blocker and that kid sucks at it.

Sadly, I brought in Nathan Enderle to compete for the last preseason game just to see if the offense ran better with someone else at the helm.

So I'm going to grin and bear it this year and try to rebuild around the good pieces at OL, CB, and, um, FS?