Draft Scouting Question?

[niftyjets]

Why can't I see the traits I scouted on players during the draft? Is it because I didn't unlock the grade just get the first answer like B?

If thats the case then whats the point of scouting? U cant scout all the way to the letter u will have no points left

[jbrew2411]

Re: Draft Scouting Question?

I just want to back up Cloudfuel. Spending points to see a players development or hard (number) ratings is such a waste. If you use Cloud's key position ratings guide to get the letter grades you can scout a ton of players. The letter grade will tell you all you need to know.

As for development, this year it is not as much of a deal breaker on players. I have been able to upgrade development on players after the first year for most, if not all, my rookies after their first year. I have had some "normal" development players that gain 40-60k XP in one season. This year is a vast improvement over past seasons.

One thing I do is keep a list of my scheme and have a file with each position scheme and the ratings impacted most. I use the list to make sure I scout those features on top of things like the speed ratings.

[speedtrucker]

Re: Draft Scouting Question?

like above, I do the Intangible/physical scale. I can pretty much assure myself of 1/2 starters and at least 1 Superstar in there.

so I'll usually go into FA and the Draft with the idea that I'll focus on 1/2 positions through FA and 1/2 positions in the draft. if I know that a position of need cannot be met through the draft using the I/P grades, that becomes a FA target. for example if I need a CB and the CBs in the draft are all grading out C/C or lower at draft spots that I draft around, obviously a top5 CB might be higher but I won't draft till 20 or whatever.
yet say I find that there are 4/5 players at MLB that are grading out a B/B, C/B, B/C or the likes, then that becomes a draft area. once I have the 1 or 2 target spots that I know for the draft, then I start going into the specific areas for the position. if I know 2 CBs are both B/B grades, then I'll start checking MCV, ZCV, PRS, SPD and ACC to see which of the two might fit my scheme just a bit better.
so yeah like Cloud and Brew mentioned, don't worry about actual numbers. the Physical/Intangible system works, it just does. its amazing to see a 1st round player have D/D grades and then watch him slide to the 5th round, you see that the CPU knows this but "hey he's 1st round talent, I'll steal him in the 2nd round!" and you get suckered into a 60ovr WR that has 95 speed but everything else is terrible. right now, in our CCM the best LT I found is projected as an undrafted LT yet his grades are Intangible-B/Physical-A, the projected #1 pick in the draft is a LT that is a I-B/P-A and all the other 8 LTs in the draft are basically C/B or worse...

[ggsimmonds]

Re: Draft Scouting Question?

I think the op's question is more of an draft interface one (though I may be mistaken, it has been a while since I played).

The draft interface is somewhat lacking. EA could remove much of the need for pen and paper if they improved that aspect. Let us set up our own draft board or something.

[SpyPirates]

Re: Draft Scouting Question?

I think the op's question is more of an draft interface one (though I may be mistaken, it has been a while since I played).

The draft interface is somewhat lacking. EA could remove much of the need for pen and paper if they improved that aspect. Let us set up our own draft board or something.

Yeah I think that flew over everyone's head. However, I think they answered a more interesting question than the one that was actually asked. @ OP- just do your homework before entering the draft, make a big board, plan out picks, etc. It's fun and you wont have to constantly pause the draft to look at individual scouted attributes

@ the Dev issue- Development is highly correlated with other attributes. Scouting intangible & physical is a pretty good way of determining development. Scouting personality actually helps a lot as well.

It seems each position has their own distributions of int/phy that is fairly constant across drafts. CB has 1-2 B/A, and many C/A. LB is a crapshoot, with some D/A, not many C/A. I don't think I've seen anyone claim they've seen an A/A in any position other than OL.

[slick1ru2]

Re: Draft Scouting Question?

I draft based on production, which is given. Top rounds 80 plus, low rounds try not to go under 35. I start there, any other scouting I use to differentiate similar candidates with similar production numbers.

[roll2tide]

Re: Draft Scouting Question?

Why can't I see the traits I scouted on players during the draft? Is it because I didn't unlock the grade just get the first answer like B?

If thats the case then whats the point of scouting? U cant scout all the way to the letter u will have no points left

Traits as in Fights For Yards, Development, Clutch, etc? I don't think its possible to get those until the player is drafted.

[SpyPirates]

Re: Draft Scouting Question?

Traits as in Fights For Yards, Development, Clutch, etc? I don't think its possible to get those until the player is drafted.

It is possible, but most of them are prohibitively expensive.

[EarthboundMysfit]

Re: Draft Scouting Question?

I scout by looking at 2-4 choice skills to the letter grade per position, and usually eliminate 75% of players without wasting scouting points on them simply by age, size or player type/scheme.

That leaves me with around 4500-5000 scouting points left over and I use those to scout development, for only the guys in the first two rounds (highest percentage of SS dev players) that I'm interested in.

In my last draft my top 3 picks OVR's were an 80 LE, an 83 WR and an 80 OLB... All three had superstar development! The rest of my draft was mid to upper 70's OVR guys, two of which were fast development.

Not saying my way is best, but it sure beats the popular ITG/PHY way of scouting. That much I AM sure of..

I (re)built the broncos by trading away all their good players for picks, simmed year one(0-16), and rebuilt through the draft. My team was 97 OVR after 4 years, and now in year 10, I have a 99 OVR offense and defense and a 98 OVR team(my special teams is around 90 OVR, which is why my team isn't 99 OVR yet).

[SpyPirates]

Re: Draft Scouting Question?

I scout by looking at 2-4 choice skills to the letter grade per position, and usually eliminate 75% of players without wasting scouting points on them simply by age, size or player type/scheme.

That leaves me with around 4500-5000 scouting points left over and I use those to scout development, for only the guys in the first two rounds (highest percentage of SS dev players) that I'm interested in.

In my last draft my top 3 picks OVR's were an 80 LE, an 83 WR and an 80 OLB... All three had superstar development! The rest of my draft was mid to upper 70's OVR guys, two of which were fast development.

Not saying my way is best, but it sure beats the popular ITG/PHY way of scouting. That much I AM sure of..

I (re)built the broncos by trading away all their good players for picks, simmed year one(0-16), and rebuilt through the draft. My team was 97 OVR after 4 years, and now in year 10, I have a 99 OVR offense and defense and a 98 OVR team(my special teams is around 90 OVR, which is why my team isn't 99 OVR yet).

Intangible/physical/personality is hands-down the most efficient way to scout. You can only scout ~10 players by scouting dev. It's an absolute waste given the number of bargains in the 3rd-5th rounds.

[EarthboundMysfit]

Re: Draft Scouting Question?

Intangible/physical/personality is hands-down the most efficient way to scout. You can only scout ~10 players by scouting dev. It's an absolute waste given the number of bargains in the 3rd-5th rounds.

Bull....

Hands down my way is 10x more "efficient"..(thx to Cloud Fuel, for expanding and proving my point further, above).. Don't knock it until you've tried it. I've not only tried your way, but I've done research to see where the flaws in that way are, and it's so wasteful it's not even funny.

You spend 25 points for the ITG grade, then you spend 25 for PHY, then you spend 25 more for personality. Grand total of 75 per player. 10 players and you are out 750 points!... 100 players, which is a little over 3 rounds worth of players and you're talking 7500 scouting points. Which is way more than you even get for all season, and you haven't even scouted the last 4 rounds of people or the "undrafteded" guys.

With my way, I unveil one letter grade spending 5-10 points, and already know more for certain than you do with spending 50-75 per player.

Yesterday I did a draft with only 6 picks, my first 3 rounders were all Superstar Dev. Why and how you ask. Because I knew the exact players I was interested in after spending little over 1000 scouting points, which left me 5000+ to use looking at the top guys on my board(guys in round 1-3). I found my top pick, moved on to my 2nd rounder.

First guy I looked at (a 6'6" WR) in the middle of round 2 was SS. I moved on. Had a CB projected early round 4 with "B" strength pinpointed asy round 3 pick. Uncovered his development; Superstar. He came out with 97 speed, 84 strength and as a 79 OVR, oh with SS... (Feel dumb yet? If not, you should. But then again, ignorance IS bliss.)

So, At that point(with the three top SS guys in haul), I still (!!!!!!) HAD 3000 scouting points left over to do WHATEVER(!) with for my remaining picks (rounds 4-7)... So I could have scouted 100 or more guys personality, or still looked at 6 guys, who I already knew we're late rounds studs, development trait(which is nearly pointless as finding a SS Dev in the last 4 rounds is extremely rare, the one [the CB] I found I knew he was SS before even spending the 500 points on him, was only double checking).

I was basically set, knowing my 1st 3 picks were a HB, WR and CB with amazing physical and SS Dev. To boot having still half of my total scouting points left over, for basically NOTHING, since I had already scouted one time through on letter grades.

I think you mis-took me saying, I have 5000 scouting point left over for Dev of the players I want, for I used 5000 point to randomly scout Dev. No, because you're right, that WOULD be wasteful. I scout dev trait, because i scouted so efficiently, I had nowhere else to use those points! I find the guys I want with around 1000-2000 scouting points(round 1-undrafted) then pick out the best to discover their development..

.. And if you think I miss on picks, you're sadly mistaken in that assumption too.. I can remember the last dud I drafted.. My way all but eliminates that possibility..

Believe/trust me, if you're in an online league 90% or more people use the method you speak of, and everybody is going after the same guys. The A/B guys, or the B\B guys!.. And 80% of you will be SOoL(uck), because the guy who picked before you stole your supposeded "stud" that you spent all your scouting points to uncover/pin point.

That doesn't happen to me. I clean up and get the guy I want, without reaching or competition for my pick... & you REALLY THINK your way is either more efficient or better than mine!?!?... HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No way in the universe, friend.

P.S. I was in a 32 team league about 6-8 month ago, and after two seasons of me winning the Super Bowl, with the Cleveland Browns mind you, and cleaning up in the draft, everyone quit because my team (wow the hate messages) was already 95 OVR, with an avg age of about 22-23, and over half my roster had SS Dev.(and i dont use cheese on field, though i'm starting to think my drafting technique is off-field cheese because of how i always "clean up")... You CAN'T really think I missing out by not scouting ITG/PHY/PER!? Lol so loudly!

[rws591]

Re: Draft Scouting Question?

Maybe it's just me, but the INT/PHY scouting method is lacking. Sure, all of the players that grade well have the potential to be good, but many take some serious devotion to get into a starting role. Likewise, you miss out on many great players. Particularly OL, WR, and QB.

First of all most of the things INT rates are cheap to upgrade: awareness, blocking, route running, catching, etc (now this is not ture for DBs because coverage skills are extremely expensive). I'm not sure what's holding down the PHY rating for these players, but it's imperfect too. For instance, I drafted a C PHY 6'5 233lbs WR with 96 speed, 95 jmp, but mid 80s acc and agi.
--
I drafted two first round OL and sixth round OL in the first year of my post-draft CFM all of which would have gone under the INT/PHY radar. The result? Three 6'6, 90+ strength, 70+spd, 78+ ovrl studs that will anchor my line for years to come.
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For me it's about finding what you want in a player and scouting that. I want strong, fast OL with at least 70s in blocking stats. I start with SPD/ACC because those are the most likely DQs, then strength, then make sure the blocking skill set is workable.

It's just a more fun to draft this way. Each new franchise you can decide what kind of team and players you want and draft guys that fill those buckets. Maybe in one you have a finesse OL and the next road grinders. Or maybe you get big hitters on defense and the next is speed.

Either way, to me, it's more fun to find guys that fit my system whether or not they become studs. In the long run, guys that max out in the mid 80s may end up even providing more value than a superstar that's prohibitively expensive to hold onto because you can keep average joes on a second contract for less than $16mm.

[Sheba2011]

Re: Draft Scouting Question?

Personally I only scout prospects that are expected to go in the first 4 rounds (except FB's, kickers and punters) and I only scout key traits like the ones that were listed by Cloud. After the 4th round If someone from my draft board is still there I will draft them, if not I draft randomly. I love it because it gives me a good mix of gems and busts. I wish Madden would hide ratings completely from scouting and make it more realistic but I don't ever see that happening.

[kwpit79]

Re: Draft Scouting Question?

Personally I only scout prospects that are expected to go in the first 4 rounds (except FB's, kickers and punters) and I only scout key traits like the ones that were listed by Cloud. After the 4th round If someone from my draft board is still there I will draft them, if not I draft randomly. I love it because it gives me a good mix of gems and busts. I wish Madden would hide ratings completely from scouting and make it more realistic but I don't ever see that happening.

Or at least hide the ratings for all players in their, say, first year or so. In the preseason of their second year is when they would become unlocked in my scenario. It would make you hold onto rookies that whole first year -- and potentially force you to cut a decent veteran -- because you just don't know (like in real life) how good they're going to be.

[niftyjets]

Re: Draft Scouting Question?

When you guys draft do you only draft players that fit your scheme or will your draft any player regardless of scheme?