Finally Decided to buy this game-Raiders Dynasty

[ABCfan]

Well after getting sick of Madden 09s franchise mode, I came here to read up to see if Head coach was worth my money. Ive read a ton of these dynasty threads(49ers, vikings, raiders, lions, giants, chiefs) and for the most part this game seems realistic so i decided to buy it.

I played a few play now games and i think ive got the hang of coaching now. I started in the preseason for a greater challenge(more huge contracts, bad draft). I am using all of the "house rules" that claystone used in his lions thread. This is actually my first franchise in this game so feel free to drop tips as you read along.

My coach has a stoic personality. His skills are:
level 4 offensive line physical
level 4 dline physical
level 4 oline intangibles
level 4 dline intangibles
level 3 oline learning
level 2 dline learning.

I plan to get oline and dline learning up to level 4, and then ill focus on LBs and RBs. I believe in building a team inside-out, and the raiders have some talented skill position players but a crappy line in both sides of the ball.

I created both of my playbooks. My offensive playbook is a hard-nosed running one. my defensive playbook is a physical man cvg. one, with a few LB blitzes here and there.

Team Philosophies
QB-strong armed/tools
RB-power
FB-blocking
WR-strong/blocking
TE-blocking
OT-run blocking
OG-run blocking
C-run blocking
DE-undersized speed rusher
DT-one-gap penetrator
OLB-run stopping
MLB-coverage/speed
CB-man coverage/ballhawk
FS-centerfielder
SS-coverage
K-pinpoint/accurate
P-big leg

I plan to slowly rebuild through the draft-I dont plan to compete in the playoffs for at least anothe 2-3 years. Also, I wont tolerate players who have big egos(TO, ocho cinco etc) and, since from what ive read play knowlege is important, i dont want too many people with low learning ratings on my team.

BTW-ABCfan means that i support Anyone But the Cowboys. even though i really am a raiders fan

[kenp86]

STAY AWAY FROM SPECIAL ABILITIES!!!!!!!!!!! They make the game so much easier and boring. Once u buy special abilities the game becomes waaaaay to easy. So stay clear if u want a challenge.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

Quote: Originally Posted by kenp86

STAY AWAY FROM SPECIAL ABILITIES!!!!!!!!!!! They make the game so much easier and boring. Once u buy special abilities the game becomes waaaaay to easy. So stay clear if u want a challenge.

I disagree. I've gotten them and have had plenty of fun, and I'm not blowing out everyone or anything.

[ABCfan]

Quote: Originally Posted by kenp86

STAY AWAY FROM SPECIAL ABILITIES!!!!!!!!!!! They make the game so much easier and boring. Once u buy special abilities the game becomes waaaaay to easy. So stay clear if u want a challenge.

thanks for the tip. Ill stay away at first and see how it goes, and may buy them down the line.

So I gloriously led my team to an 0-8 start, coaching all the games. I am getting better at it, since at first i was getting blown out(42-3, etc) but the games were getting closer and closer. I decided to sim out, and Im currently in week 16, right before the Texans game. I am 2-13. I NEED to win either this week or next week vs. the bucs since i promised big al that I would win at least 3 games this season.
Also, if i resign shane lechler i get an approval boost. Im probably gonna franchise Aso again since he is asking for a 5/6yr 73m contract. Way too much. I might have to end up trading him for a 1st or 2nd rounder during the draft, which will be hard to do since i love the guy.

The draft I got, was with 4 out of 5 top 5 picks being dlinemen, and CB karl dixon and QBs alex hurst and joe kane. NO SPOILERS please. Right now my biggest needs are at OL and DL, then maybe a WR, backup RB, and an OLB. I might go OLB in the 1st to give me possibly the best lb corps with morrison and howard.

Ill post the season stats and stuff later tonight and see if i can also fit an offseason in it. I might fire rob ryan because of the special skills thing, as well as a few other coaches-knapp and deflippo of the top of my head.

[kenp86]

ive played numerous chises with different teams and when i bought the special abilities, the game became waaay to easy. like i was blowing everyone out by at least 25. And thats with claystones sliders. But what i have been recently doing with my coaches is hiring coaches who have all lvl 1 abilities and coaching them and buying the regular skills. that way i know they dont have special skills and ive been having a better go at it.

Oh and from what ive read from other Raiders chses on here, you can get a 1st 2nd and another pick for Aso

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

Quote: Originally Posted by kenp86

ive played numerous chises with different teams and when i bought the special abilities, the game became waaay to easy. like i was blowing everyone out by at least 25. And thats with claystones sliders. But what i have been recently doing with my coaches is hiring coaches who have all lvl 1 abilities and coaching them and buying the regular skills. that way i know they dont have special skills and ive been having a better go at it. Oh and from what ive read from other Raiders chses on here, you can get a 1st 2nd and another pick for Aso

Haven't had that problem at all.

[ABCfan]

Sorry in advance for this LOOOONG post

First off, i resigned P shane lechler to a 2 year deal to fulfill an owners goal, this was the ONLY resigning i made all year.


Season Standings(X=Wild-Card, Y=Divison, Z=Home Field)

AFC North
Y-Steelers 11-5
X-Bengals 8-8
Browns 5-11
Ravens 3-13

AFC South
Y-Colts 14-2
Jaguars 8-8
Titans 8-8
Texans 4-12

AFC East
Z-Patriots 15-1
X-Bills 13-3
Jets 6-10
Dolphins 3-13

AFC West
Y-Broncos 12-4
Chargers 8-8
Chiefs 8-8
Raiders 3-13

NFC North
Y-Vikings 11-5
X-Lions 11-5
Packers 8-8
Bears 7-9

NFC South
Y-Buccaneers 10-6
Saints 9-7
Falcons 4-12
Panthers 4-12

NFC East
Z-Eagles 13-3
X-Cowboys 11-5
Giants 10-6
Redskins 2-14

NFC West
Y-49ers 9-7
Rams 7-9
Seahawks 6-10
Cardinals 5-11

Playoffs
WC Round
Broncos 28, Bengals 14
Bucs 20, Cowgirls 17
Bills 24, Steelers 21
Lions 21, 49ers 14

Divisional Round
Broncos 24, Pats 10
Eagles 20, Bucs 10
Colts 28, Bills 10
Vikings 21, Lions 17

Conference Championship
Colts 19, Broncos 7
Eagles 24, Vikings 17

Super Bowl
Eagles 24, Colts 16

Awards
MVP-49ers QB JT O'Sullivan
OPOTY-Broncos WR Brandon Marshall(31 TD!)
DPOTY-Bucs MLB Barret Ruud
OROTY-Bears RB Matt Forte
DROTY-Bengals OLB Keith Rivers
COTY-Pats HC Hal Ophamer(aka bill belicheck)

Around the League-Coaching Changes
Cardinals Fire Ken Wisenhunt, Hire Gary Hammermil
Falcons Fire Mike Smith, Hire Rob Ryan
Redskins Fire Jim Zorn, Hire Clancy Pendergast

Raiders Changes
Fire GM Allan David, Hire GM RC McGriggs
Fire OC Greg Knapp, Hire OC George Henshaw
Fire DC Rob Ryan, Hire DC Ray Hamilton
Fire QBC John DeFlippo, Hire QBC Butch Millwood
Fire STC Brian Schnieder, Hire STC Dick Curl

ALL-Pro Teams

1st Team

49ers QB JT O'Sullivan
Bills RB Marshawn Lynch
Broncos WR Brandon Marshall
Browns WR Braylon Edwards
Colts WR Reggie Wayne
Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez
Chargers OT Marcus McNeill
Pats OT Matt Light
Pats OG Logan Mankins
Vikings OG Steve Hutchinson
Pats C Dan Koppen
Vikings DE Jared Allen
Texans DE Mario Williams
Titans DT Albert Haynesworth
Vikings DT Kevin Williams
Broncos OLB DJ Williams
Browns OLB Kamerion Wimbley
Bucs MLB Barret Ruud
Raiders CB Nmamdi Asomugha
49ers CB Nate Clements
Eagles S Brian Dawkins
Jets S Kerry Rhodes


2nd team

Broncos QB Jay Cutler
Cowboys RB Marion Barber
49ers WR Isaac Bruce
Patriots WR Randy Moss
Cowboys WR Terrell Owens
Chargers TE Antonio Gates
49ers OT Joe Staley
Pats OT Nick Kazcur
Falcons OG Justin Blalock
Eagles OG Shawn Andrews
Seahawks C Chris Spencer
Bucs DE Gaines Adams
Saints DE Charles Grant
Saints DT Sedrick Ellis
Bears DT Tommie Harris
Chargers OLB Shaun Phillips
Redskins OLB Marcus Washington
Ravens MLB Ray Lewis
Broncos CB Dre Bly
Bills CB Leodis McKelvin
Saints S Josh Bullocks
Redskins S LaRon Landry


3rd team
Colts QB Peyton Manning
Bucs RB Earnest Graham
Saints WR Marcus Colston
Bengals WR Chad Ocho-Cinco
Jets WR Laverneous Coles
Patriots TE Benjamin Watson
Panthers OT Jordan Gross
Eagles OT Tra Thomas
Cowboys OG Kyle Kosier
Dolphins OG Justin Smiley
Dolphins C Samson Satele
Broncos DE Elvis Dumervil
Titans DE Kyle Vanden Bosch
Texans DT Amobi Okoye
Eagles DT Brodrick Bunkley
Bengals OLB Keith Rivers
Pats OLB Adalius Thomas
Cardinals MLB Karlos Dansby
Dolphins CB Will Allen
Vikings CB Antoine Winfield
Packers S Nick Collins, Seahawks S Brian Russell

Ill try to fit an offseason post later tonight

[kenp86]

MY LIONS ACTUALLY WON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND EVEN MADE IT TO THE PLAYOFFS!!!!!!!