Some GM Questions for Offline Franchise Folks

[RogueHominid]

I'd love to gather some opinions here about how you guys manage your teams from the GM's perspective.

The first thing I'm curious about is contract values for starters and backups. I'm sort of clueless about this, but I'd love to know if there's a consensus about how much one generally pays for a star/quality/average/backup player at each position. I think I tend to mess this up in FA and screw my cap and roster up.

The second thing I'm curious about is how you guys build your teams. I'm a believer in OL/DL first in real life, but this is Madden--how many of you go by those principles? If not, which ones come first for you?

Third, I'm curious about different draft strategies. Do you guys go in and scout need positions, plan positions by rounds, draft best available, or something else?

And last, how do you approach trades? Do you have any house rules or general tips?

I'd love to hear responses to those questions, but would also be interested in this thread being open to a larger discussion of GM strategies, so long as there are no spoilers/exploits discussions, or general negativity toward this aspect of the game.

[Ueauvan]

Re: Some GM Questions for Offline Franchise Folks

there was a thesis done on the nfl draft. outcome was scary. the chance that #1 rated cb was better than #2 cb 5 years later on in nfl was 50%. hence NE trading down getting more picks gets more chance to get success. however gms overate high 1/2 picks and overpay vs performance. getting a 1st and 2nd was shown to be less successful than trading those down for multiple 3/4/5 picks

i sort out defence first usually lbs/dbs. then a qb/wr/te. a good fb and hb. at least then you have weapons.

[RogueHominid]

Re: Some GM Questions for Offline Franchise Folks

Yeah, I think the draft is a real crapshoot, and I'm amazed that there's as much punditry and coverage of it as there is. I just glanced over the first round from the 2002 class for fun.

Studs: Julius Peppers, Ed Reed and Dwight Freeney

Guys with some decent years: Roy Williams, Jeremy Shockey, Bryant McKinney, Philip Buchannon, Lito Sheppard, John Henderson, and Albert Haynseworth.

Then you have these guys: David Carr, Joey Harrington, Patrick Ramsey, TJ Duckett, Ashley Lelie, Napoleon Harris, Robert Thomas, Ashley Lelie, Mike Rumph, and Wendell Bryant.

What's really funny about that draft, aside from the high numbers of non-elite players in the first round, is that one of the best of the class, Freeney, was a "risky" pick according to pundits because of his size.

[Gronk4M13]

Re: Some GM Questions for Offline Franchise Folks

I'd love to gather some opinions here about how you guys manage your teams from the GM's perspective.

The first thing I'm curious about is contract values for starters and backups. I'm sort of clueless about this, but I'd love to know if there's a consensus about how much one generally pays for a star/quality/average/backup player at each position. I think I tend to mess this up in FA and screw my cap and roster up.

The second thing I'm curious about is how you guys build your teams. I'm a believer in OL/DL first in real life, but this is Madden--how many of you go by those principles? If not, which ones come first for you?

Third, I'm curious about different draft strategies. Do you guys go in and scout need positions, plan positions by rounds, draft best available, or something else?

And last, how do you approach trades? Do you have any house rules or general tips?

I'd love to hear responses to those questions, but would also be interested in this thread being open to a larger discussion of GM strategies, so long as there are no spoilers/exploits discussions, or general negativity toward this aspect of the game.

1. I dish out big money for those that play well and consistently. Those that don't get released or less money.
2. QB, WR's and TE's first.I need to be able to pass the ball. I'm doing a Raiders/Titans franchise (both teams at once.) The Titans can somewhat pass and have CJ to run it.Originally, with the Raiders, I had Palmer making awful throws, and WRs dropping semi good passes. Darren McFadden, like in reality, lets us win with his talent. I traded Palmer and a 2nd to the Jets for Mark Sanchez, (who is bad in reality to me and good in Madden), because I need to be able to pass the pigskin. Which leads me to #3...
3. Do what you need to. Would the Jets actually trade Sanchez, much less for Palmer? NO! I try to play realistically, not scamming the computer in trades (too much) but I know that with free agency and the draft, the rosters will change no matter what. Every franchise I do, the Giants release Osi Umenyiora(?) and he's picked up by another team.I try to stock up for draft picks as much as possible, a. for the picks themselves in the drafts, and b. for trading materials (trading players+ a pick for another player etc)

[RogueHominid]

Re: Some GM Questions for Offline Franchise Folks

Good philosophy. I run with Oakland, and I'm fine with where their receivers are headed, but I have having Palmer and his contract hanging over my head. I want to trade him for sure, am unsure about resigning Routt and Seymour, and would like to draft McFadden's replacement due to his injury issues.

Basically in that franchise I'm trying to figure out if I'm in win now or rebuilding mode, or a little of both.

Good points all, though.

[KBLover]

Re: Some GM Questions for Offline Franchise Folks

The first thing I'm curious about is contract values for starters and backups. I'm sort of clueless about this, but I'd love to know if there's a consensus about how much one generally pays for a star/quality/average/backup player at each position. I think I tend to mess this up in FA and screw my cap and roster up.

Whatever the offer screen shows, I offer. Granted, that's a part of my extensions "house rule" so I don't change the offer sheet. If I don't want to pay it, I'll let him go.

The second thing I'm curious about is how you guys build your teams. I'm a believer in OL/DL first in real life, but this is Madden--how many of you go by those principles? If not, which ones come first for you?

I build through the defense first. I do like a good DL, especially DEs, but I'm mostly about the LBs. As long as the DEs can get good pass rush and the LBs are solid blitzers, that works.

LBs help against the run and the pass, so LBs are the anchor I build the team around and I put a lot on their shoulders.

Third, I'm curious about different draft strategies. Do you guys go in and scout need positions, plan positions by rounds, draft best available, or something else?

I usually draft by need, but I try to see what rounds the guys are projected, so if there's a good gem in the 5th round I've uncovered, I'll use the 1st and 2nd picks to draft best available, then take my uncovered guy in the 3rd (4th if my pick is mid-high)

And last, how do you approach trades? Do you have any house rules or general tips?

I don't do a lot of trading. Since I control all teams - on draft day, I hit "trade players" for all the 1st and 2nd round picks and see if there's an offer already filled in. I roll a die to see if the team takes it or keeps the pick and drafts.

Otherwise, I usually don't trade. Would be interested in some tips/ideas people use in this area.

[DJ]

Re: Some GM Questions for Offline Franchise Folks

Whatever the offer screen shows, I offer. Granted, that's a part of my extensions "house rule" so I don't change the offer sheet. If I don't want to pay it, I'll let him go.



I build through the defense first. I do like a good DL, especially DEs, but I'm mostly about the LBs. As long as the DEs can get good pass rush and the LBs are solid blitzers, that works.

LBs help against the run and the pass, so LBs are the anchor I build the team around and I put a lot on their shoulders.



I usually draft by need, but I try to see what rounds the guys are projected, so if there's a good gem in the 5th round I've uncovered, I'll use the 1st and 2nd picks to draft best available, then take my uncovered guy in the 3rd (4th if my pick is mid-high)



I don't do a lot of trading. Since I control all teams - on draft day, I hit "trade players" for all the 1st and 2nd round picks and see if there's an offer already filled in. I roll a die to see if the team takes it or keeps the pick and drafts.

Otherwise, I usually don't trade. Would be interested in some tips/ideas people use in this area.

Pretty much my exact same philosophy.

I only control one team, though, so trading is something that I will do, but only if the situation is right, like if I'm in desparate need of a skill player due to injuries and there's no good FA's to sign, I'd look to make a trade to bolster that position.

[Elsie93]

Re: Some GM Questions for Offline Franchise Folks

I think the draft is a real crapshoot.

[JHeyBraves]

Re: Some GM Questions for Offline Franchise Folks

The first thing I'm curious about is contract values for starters and backups. I'm sort of clueless about this, but I'd love to know if there's a consensus about how much one generally pays for a star/quality/average/backup player at each position. I think I tend to mess this up in FA and screw my cap and roster up.

I don't really have any rules. I pay the guys who play consistent. I will also pay for a position that I find hard to replace, like corners. I would be hesitant to re-sign any non-starter to say, $5+ mil.

The second thing I'm curious about is how you guys build your teams. I'm a believer in OL/DL first in real life, but this is Madden--how many of you go by those principles? If not, which ones come first for you?

I like to build my team through defense. My first priorities are LB and CB. I like to get some speed in there if possible. The LB's are so important because I run a 3-4 that utilizes them more than any other position. I also have to keep a rotation going with the fatigue. I try to get corners with good MCV. On offense, I go for a QB with decent-or-better short/mid accuracy, a receiving TE and a speed/power duo in the backfield.

Third, I'm curious about different draft strategies. Do you guys go in and scout need positions, plan positions by rounds, draft best available, or something else?

I draft on need to an extent. If it is a glaring need, I will address it. Outside of linemen, I don't find too many good players with the scouting system. If I only find 1 solid player and he is expected to go in the 3rd round, I am not afraid of taking him in the 1st. I would rather get a sure thing than gamble on getting nothing. I always build the O-line through the draft because it is easy to do if you scout them in-season.

And last, how do you approach trades? Do you have any house rules or general tips?

I don't trade much because I control all 32 teams. I try to only do player-for-picks trades. I usually do trades in the off-season before the draft. I want to see where all the free agents land to know which teams are shorthanded. If a team is very good and only missing a piece, I will sometimes make a trade. If a team loses a crucial player, I will make a trade. This happened in my franchise with Fitzgerald hitting FA after YR 7. I have a run-first offense and had three 80+ WR's so I traded them one (M Floyd, 82 Overall, for 4th rounder). The pick ended up being a bum, so I lost that trade. If I make a trade for my team, I would rather feel like I lost the trade because I outsmart the CPU in the long run.

In my Titans franchise, I traded for Von Miller (kind of cheesy, sure, but I wanted another LB). I tried to make it fair, trading CJ/Finnegan/1st/3rd for him. I had to do a second trade to get them the 3rd rounder (3rd for 7th trade). I then drafted those picks for Denver, getting an A Pot LB and B Pot G.


I would also like to add in something I have been working on that relates to re-signings and holdouts in hopes of getting more opinions about it.

I usually give myself 3 chances to sign a guy. If he declines on the third try, I either tag him or release him. I got this idea from reading about KB's franchise. I think he does it fewer times.

I have been toying with an idea for simulating holdouts, at least with my team. For each additional time I have to offer a contract (after I have done it once), the player would have to sit out that number of weeks in the regular season with "contract disputes."

I could have an unlimited number of chances to re-sign a guy. Then, if it takes me 5 tries to sign him, he will sit out the first 5 weeks of the season. This would eliminate the franchise tag for me though. Another idea is counting each try (after first) as two weeks of holdout time to get more extended holdouts. It might add a new element to the re-signing process. Would love any advice on refining this idea.

[KBLover]

Re: Some GM Questions for Offline Franchise Folks

I usually give myself 3 chances to sign a guy. If he declines on the third try, I either tag him or release him. I got this idea from reading about KB's franchise. I think he does it fewer times.

Yeah - one for high rated B potential or any A potential player. Twice for all other B potential players. 3 times for C or lower. I also don't change the offer sheet, except to alter years. Whatever the game puts in (and it is RANDOM - try it, move the years a few times and watch the money offered changed - say it started at 5 yrs/70 M, I move it to 4, then back to 5 and now it's 5 yrs/68 M), I use that. People say they get players for cheap by signing themselves...when I saw Bowers want 16 M per year...yeah...One of my OLBs wanted 14 M a year...and it wasn't enough! I franchised him...at about that price. Cheap? Psh.

I have been toying with an idea for simulating holdouts, at least with my team. For each additional time I have to offer a contract (after I have done it once), the player would have to sit out that number of weeks in the regular season with "contract disputes."

I could have an unlimited number of chances to re-sign a guy. Then, if it takes me 5 tries to sign him, he will sit out the first 5 weeks of the season. This would eliminate the franchise tag for me though. Another idea is counting each try (after first) as two weeks of holdout time to get more extended holdouts. It might add a new element to the re-signing process. Would love any advice on refining this idea.

Maybe double up on the hold-out games. This could give you incentive to overpay just to get him on the field. Combine that with a system like mine.

So an "A" player would get 1 shot without penalty. If you didn't want to/can't franchise the player, then we move to hold out games if you want to sign him, or just let him walk outright and try for him on the open market.

So if I wanted to re-sign Gibson, and for whatever reason I DON'T franchise him (I'm hit on the head, lightning strikes me down, the dog stepped on the controller, someone hit me with Stupid Stick) and it took me 6 times to get an offer he signed, I'd have to leave him out 12 games, starting with the preseason (so he couldn't play in pre-season and then 8 regular season games. The bye week, if you have one in that span, does NOT count, so it has to be 8 games on the schedule). That would be similar to the Vincent Jackson situation where he sat out a long time for SD.

You could also attach a chance he'll hold out if franchised because he's not happy about it (similar to the Drew Brees situation this offseason). Then if it happens that he's unhappy, you can try to sign him (one try) during the season on every odd-numbered week, starting with week 1 of regular season. So if I franchised Gibson, roll a die and he is unhappy, he doesn't play pre-season, and starting week 1, I can try to sign him to a "real" contract. If he signs, he's back like normal, if he doesn't, I can't try again until week 3.

And if you really wanted to be vicious, you could edit down some of his ratings because he missed training camp. Maybe take 10% off his AWR, STA, INJ and 2 important technique/skill ratings (I leave out physical because in theory, he could be doing private workouts, but it's hard to simulate game-level practice or playing in actual games). If you didn't want to touch ratings - you could always edit him to be "Cold" for the season/a set amount of games to simulate him being "rusty" and not quite up to game speed yet.

[RogueHominid]

Re: Some GM Questions for Offline Franchise Folks

I love the holdout idea. You'd obviously have to sign and sit the guy, but that's a really cool idea that would add a nice element to franchise mode.

I'm not a big trades guy at all, but I had a monster draft where I stumbled on A potential players at CB, MLB, OLB and DE, which allowed me to trade Wimbley for a player and picks and will allow me to trade McClain for something next year. All the other positions that I fill with solid rookies I'll just let the vets' contracts expire or demote them on the depth chart.

I just felt like I had to get Wimbley's contract off the books.

[JHeyBraves]

Re: Some GM Questions for Offline Franchise Folks

Yeah - one for high rated B potential or any A potential player. Twice for all other B potential players. 3 times for C or lower. I also don't change the offer sheet, except to alter years. Whatever the game puts in (and it is RANDOM - try it, move the years a few times and watch the money offered changed - say it started at 5 yrs/70 M, I move it to 4, then back to 5 and now it's 5 yrs/68 M), I use that. People say they get players for cheap by signing themselves...when I saw Bowers want 16 M per year...yeah...One of my OLBs wanted 14 M a year...and it wasn't enough! I franchised him...at about that price. Cheap? Psh.

If I did one shot at my A guys, I would have to tag the majority of them. They seem to decline the first offer a lot. I also only change the years until I am comfortable with an initial offer, not dollar amount. I think it works out pretty well.

Maybe double up on the hold-out games. This could give you incentive to overpay just to get him on the field. Combine that with a system like mine.

So an "A" player would get 1 shot without penalty. If you didn't want to/can't franchise the player, then we move to hold out games if you want to sign him, or just let him walk outright and try for him on the open market.

So if I wanted to re-sign Gibson, and for whatever reason I DON'T franchise him (I'm hit on the head, lightning strikes me down, the dog stepped on the controller, someone hit me with Stupid Stick) and it took me 6 times to get an offer he signed, I'd have to leave him out 12 games, starting with the preseason (so he couldn't play in pre-season and then 8 regular season games. The bye week, if you have one in that span, does NOT count, so it has to be 8 games on the schedule). That would be similar to the Vincent Jackson situation where he sat out a long time for SD.

You could also attach a chance he'll hold out if franchised because he's not happy about it (similar to the Drew Brees situation this offseason). Then if it happens that he's unhappy, you can try to sign him (one try) during the season on every odd-numbered week, starting with week 1 of regular season. So if I franchised Gibson, roll a die and he is unhappy, he doesn't play pre-season, and starting week 1, I can try to sign him to a "real" contract. If he signs, he's back like normal, if he doesn't, I can't try again until week 3.

And if you really wanted to be vicious, you could edit down some of his ratings because he missed training camp. Maybe take 10% off his AWR, STA, INJ and 2 important technique/skill ratings (I leave out physical because in theory, he could be doing private workouts, but it's hard to simulate game-level practice or playing in actual games). If you didn't want to touch ratings - you could always edit him to be "Cold" for the season/a set amount of games to simulate him being "rusty" and not quite up to game speed yet.

Now we are getting somewhere. This is great feedback.

I'm liking the double holdout time for each "no" I get. I especially like the franchise tag idea about only having a chance to get him back on odd numbered weeks. Lowering his ratings to account for "rust" is brutal, haha. I really like the ratings you said to lower though, so I am not ruling it out. How do you edit him to be cold? Are you saying that he would be cold from the ratings drop or that I could actually go in and put him on a cold streak?

[RogueHominid]

Re: Some GM Questions for Offline Franchise Folks

This is turning out to be great stuff. I'm 100% going to implement some form of the holdout system, as that would add a really key element of the two sides being "close" or "very far apart" in negotiations, which is what we always here on ESPN.

It definitely puts the onus on owners to pay up and not try to be cheap. It puts an onus on the player too because after a certain point if they're not playing and getting decent stats then they're ratings and market value decrease.

I tagged the hell out of Stanford Routt because of his age. I didn't want to mess with a 7 year deal for a 28 year old CB whose salary would begin around 7 mil and escalate to about 12. I stuck him with 10 mil and I'm gonna let him play that contract out to see if he stays even or drops. That gives the all the time I need for my rookie CB to mature and take the #1 spot and my 3rd year guy with B potential to crack into the 80s and take the #2 spot. That, to me, is the real fun of it--trying to manipulate salaries and ages and contract lengths to produce a team that has the right balance of youth and vets to peak for a limited window.

I really want to get rid of McFadden, who gets injured and fumbles too much for a guy who is supposed to carry an offense, but I won't trade more than one good player a year. I already shipped out Wimbley because I drafted a stud who made his high salary prohibitive to keep.

Here's a question for you guys: how many of you focus on depth seriously, and at which positions? It's hard from a salary cap situation to have #2 guys who can step in and play for extended periods of time without huge drop-offs in play relative to the starter's ability.

I have good backups on the OL, but not great ones at QB, HB, TE, DT, OLB, and S. Granted, I'm at the beginning of year 2 with Oakland with just one good draft under my belt and I'm dealing with their cap situation, but I'd still like to have a little more depth in the 70s range as opposed to the 60s.

[KBLover]

Re: Some GM Questions for Offline Franchise Folks

How do you edit him to be cold? Are you saying that he would be cold from the ratings drop or that I could actually go in and put him on a cold streak?

I would go in and set him to a cold streak (confidence of 1).

[KBLover]

Re: Some GM Questions for Offline Franchise Folks

This is turning out to be great stuff. I'm 100% going to implement some form of the holdout system, as that would add a really key element of the two sides being "close" or "very far apart" in negotiations, which is what we always here on ESPN.

Same here. I'm glad JHey brought it up.

Here's a question for you guys: how many of you focus on depth seriously, and at which positions? It's hard from a salary cap situation to have #2 guys who can step in and play for extended periods of time without huge drop-offs in play relative to the starter's ability.

I'm a big believer in DB, LB, HB, and WR depth. Main reason being, these are your package guys.

Usually, you're going to have your OL as it is all the time, unless you run some of the more funky line sets like unbalanced or extra T, etc. The QB is one where I try to have a "decent" option at backup, but, hopefully, he's not going to take a ton of shots - and if he is, I need to fix THAT, since the backup might get killed just as much anyway!

HB is important since usually, you'll need your #2 HB to take some of the load and he can also be your 3rd down back (though I keep 4 HB - #3 is the 3rd down guy, #4 might be "FB" on some plays or fill in for formations like Pistol or such where there's 2 true HB on the field, not a HB/FB mix, or Full House if I want 3 HB back there instead of 2 HB + TE or HB/FB/TE.

WR is important since you might want to attack their nickle corners (#3 WR) and if you have a good #4/#5 - any Spread formations you run become that much more dangerous. Those guys also make good KR/PR so your special teams improves.

DBs are for the same as WR, just in reverse of course. You can match even against 4-WR with good DB depth without having to put your S in the way, especially if you prefer man coverage (most S stink - or at least are significantly less comfortable - in man coverage).

LBs because I run a lot of 4 and 5 LB defensive sets (2-4-5, Psycho, 1-5-5, etc) and probably will switch to a base 3-4. They also can do some damage in special teams.

It can be tough, but I try to find what I need in players to work and look for guys who do that, even if its all they do - or don't have the best awareness or aren't the best blockers. So I don't get 100% replacement, but it's workable.