Strange AI Draft Behavior

[DaddyTorgo]

Just wanted to share this because I thought it was strange (and fortunate for me). Holding 4 picks in the 1st round of the draft, 2,6,9, and 30 (thank you trades). Tenessee is holding pick one, and currently has "starting QB" listed as their 2nd priority need. They have a starting RB who is 80/80 right now and under contract for 3 more years (although in their defense he suffered a 1.3 YPC drop from his previous year the last year). But instead of drafting the QB who is 41/81 at this point (their best on roster is 25/44) they draft the RB who is 68/69 right now. Leaving "Peyton Manning redux" to fall to me at #2. And since I have two pro-bowl receivers with no great QB to throw to them, this works out great for me. A bit...strange though, hmmn? Unless I see them flip the RB they have for a starting QB I'll be a bit worried about the draft AI.

[MizzouRah]

Just wanted to share this because I thought it was strange (and fortunate for me). Holding 4 picks in the 1st round of the draft, 2,6,9, and 30 (thank you trades). Tenessee is holding pick one, and currently has "starting QB" listed as their 2nd priority need. They have a starting RB who is 80/80 right now and under contract for 3 more years (although in their defense he suffered a 1.3 YPC drop from his previous year the last year). But instead of drafting the QB who is 41/81 at this point (their best on roster is 25/44) they draft the RB who is 68/69 right now. Leaving "Peyton Manning redux" to fall to me at #2. And since I have two pro-bowl receivers with no great QB to throw to them, this works out great for me. A bit...strange though, hmmn? Unless I see them flip the RB they have for a starting QB I'll be a bit worried about the draft AI.

I thought Ben posted the draft AI was looking good, this is bad news. :( Hopefully it's a fluke and not the norm.


Todd

[DaddyTorgo]

we'll see. And I'm keeping an eye on how the two develop, because maybe the AI saw something that I didn't see in the RB??

Just ran through a season. Tenessee finished 4-12 and the RB they picked #1 overall started 1/4 of their games and carried 151 times for 543 yds (3.59 ypc). Their 80/80 back started the other 3/4 of their games and carried 163 times for 761 yards (4.66 ypc). That doesn't reflect too well on their #1 pick, especially since he was almost fully developed coming out of the draft.

Then again, this is a franchise (Tenessee) with a .427 winning percentage over 9 seasons, so that may factor into it? I didn't get a chance to check out their coaches in the offseason, I forgot. I'm not too bothered by this one isolated instance, I just thought it was...unusual.

edit: I'll go ahead and check on their scout and their coaching staff at the end of this next offseason to see how that plays in, which I won't get to tonight, because through the miracle of trades and strong drafting I hold the top 3 picks in the next draft and I want to ponder them well.

[Ben E Lou]

I thought Ben posted the draft AI was looking good, this is bad news. I'm not ready to make that declaration, nor am I ready to make the declaration that it is bad based on one incident either. I haven't scrutinized it carefully enough yet to come to any conclusions either way.

[MIJB#19]

Question, did that 80/80 RB have a bad season before the draft? How old is the guy?
In the IHOF (multiplayer league) one team carrying the statistical #1 RB drafted a RB #3 overall and then traded the veteran, who will possibly retire after 1 year with his new team.

Plus, these kind of draft day moves happen in the NFL too.
Just look at the Chargers, who draft Phillip Rivers despite having a 3rd year guy in Drew Brees, who cost them the #33 pick overall and has the to-be-expected third year breakout.

Another, maybe less fitting example: haven't the St. Louis Rams used mid/late first rounders more often than not on running backs the past seasons (Lamar Gordon, Steven Jackson), despite having Marshall Faulk around?

[MrBug708]

I think there is a difference from taking a RB number 1 overall and late first round

[varacel]

Maybe the 80/80 back is looking to travel the world so the AI is looking to unload him to Miami for a couple of 1st rounders