Bill Abner's first Head Coach Impressions

[ahunter5]

Quote: Originally Posted by Bill_Abner

I'm about to blog (in a minute or two, it's typed up) about the draft. It's deep -- well, it's as deep as you want to make it. Draftniks will get a huge kick out of draft day. I can't wait to start my 'real' career when the roster patch is ready. Free Agency is good -- it's unlike most games where you can just offer who you want when you want. They come in waves so day one you may bid on Player A and then later that day Player B. At least that's how my first run went, Josh can confirm that but I didn't see a way to bid on who I wanted right from the start. Which is fine, it's just different. The FA bidding war is sorta like sitting on an eBay auction. When I signed Bruce for example. I was involved with 4 teams. I sat there watching the bids go up until the auction said "Going once!" and then I clicked to bid, and won Bruce. If you bid early, you might get outbid but it seems as if you wait until the time is almost up, you can get who you want as long as you are willing to pay, which is of course the real bugaboo. I got all of my FAs that way. You BETTER know who you want to target in FA and wait until they come up because if you're like me (i.e. stupid) you'll bid on a player early and then realize you don't have any MONEY LEFT when the guy you really wamnted starts his bidding process. The screen that shows you how your starters stack up to the current UFAs is a GREAT idea. You guys will love that.

Bill -- I just read your blog entry. You were confused by the Packers taking Brohm in the 2nd round. The Packers actually did take Brohm in the 2nd round. They also took Flynn in round 6. A lot of people were questioning this at the time. As far as the Eagles taking 2 WR's in the 2nd round, the Redskins did this in the real draft this year (Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly).

I have no answer for Mendenhall and K. Smith for the Cowboys.

Glad to hear the draft is as deep as the player wants it to be. I'm also happy to hear you're having a good time with it. I really appreciate the rapid updates. Makes the wait for the 12th that much harder.

[Bill_Abner]

Quote: Originally Posted by ahunter5

Bill -- I just read your blog entry. You were confused by the Packers taking Brohm in the 2nd round. The Packers actually did take Brohm in the 2nd round. They also took Flynn in round 6. A lot of people were questioning this at the time. As far as the Eagles taking 2 WR's in the 2nd round, the Redskins did this in the real draft this year (Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly). I have no answer for Mendenhall and K. Smith for the Cowboys. Glad to hear the draft is as deep as the player wants it to be. I'm also happy to hear you're having a good time with it. I really appreciate the rapid updates. Makes the wait for the 12th that much harder.

Ha! Well, there you go. I forgot about the Packers doing that. And yeah -- what is up with that? I recall the Browns 4-5 years ago taking a linebacker in round 3, 4, and 5. I was um...a shade concerned about that. Then there was the year we took a longsnapper in round 5. That was a hoot.

Maybe a Giants fan can chime on the QB in the 3rd -- perhaps the desire to get a backup is a bit too great? Just a guess. I do think that the teams are filling out rosters and not just picking at random. But I'd think a 3rd round pick -- you want him to play, right? With Eli there that seems almost like a wasted pick. But I also need to look at the roster, maybe the Giants have NO backup and Eli is one play away from watching from the sideline? I need to check that. I guess that would make more sense if this guy is groomed as Eli's primary backup.

But like I said, on the whole I had very few red flags with the draft AI. Just a few oddities ...which happens every year in the real deal.

You know what's weird? The 2 WRs that Philly took? Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly

[Bill_Abner]

Quote: Originally Posted by JRod

Do you have a pop-up screen for every single FA? Can you just select the ones you want and the ones you haven't targeted you don't have to worry about them.

Not a pop up screen, but a name appears on your clipboard on your task bar. You can choose to enter talks or press B to dismiss the player and it moves to the next guy. It's pretty fluid.

[bkrich83]

Is it wrong this game is making keeping me up at night, thinking about potential teams I want to take over and how I want to run my team?

[The GIGGAS]

Quote: Originally Posted by bkrich83

Is it wrong this game is making keeping me up at night, thinking about potential teams I want to take over and how I want to run my team?

I wouldn't think so, BK... cause it's happening to me too.

[ahunter5]

Quote: Originally Posted by Bill_Abner

Ha! Well, there you go. I forgot about the Packers doing that. And yeah -- what is up with that? I recall the Browns 4-5 years ago taking a linebacker in round 3, 4, and 5. I was um...a shade concerned about that. Then there was the year we took a longsnapper in round 5. That was a hoot. Maybe a Giants fan can chime on the QB in the 3rd -- perhaps the desire to get a backup is a bit too great? Just a guess. I do think that the teams are filling out rosters and not just picking at random. But I'd think a 3rd round pick -- you want him to play, right? With Eli there that seems almost like a wasted pick. But I also need to look at the roster, maybe the Giants have NO backup and Eli is one play away from watching from the sideline? I need to check that. I guess that would make more sense if this guy is groomed as Eli's primary backup. But like I said, on the whole I had very few red flags with the draft AI. Just a few oddities ...which happens every year in the real deal. You know what's weird? The 2 WRs that Philly took? Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly

I think the Giants took Andre Woodson as a backup QB, but he was a 6th or 7th rounder. A 3rd rounder does seem a bit high for a backup. I agree with your statement about the oddities -- they happen in the real draft, as well. If the draft was perfect, it would make the game unrealistic the other way.

I'm really glad to see that the draft is realistic. I know that Josh stated that the CPU teams will make draft mistakes if the GM is poor. This game sounds awesome. Have I mentioned how jealous I am that you're playing this right now?

[Step2001]

On Dallas drafting two RB's! They have no depth at RB behind Marion Barber.

In the real draft they selected RB's Felix Jones in rd. 1 & Tashard Choice in rd. 4!

So Dallas selecting two RB's in this draft in not out of the question.
------------------------

Looking at their team, they had no really glaring holes (if they resigned their own free agents).
So the CPU targeting RB's in the draft as a need makes sense.

[Bill_Abner]

Quote: Originally Posted by ahunter5

I think the Giants took Andre Woodson as a backup QB, but he was a 6th or 7th rounder. A 3rd rounder does seem a bit high for a backup. I agree with your statement about the oddities -- they happen in the real draft, as well. If the draft was perfect, it would make the game unrealistic the other way. I'm really glad to see that the draft is realistic. I know that Josh stated that the CPU teams will make draft mistakes if the GM is poor. This game sounds awesome. Have I mentioned how jealous I am that you're playing this right now?

Yeah, well, imagine this -- a Sunday night summer slumber party with a gaggle of 7 year olds with Spongebob on the 60" Sony LCD. Don't these girls know that I have undrafted rookie FAs to sign?!

[The GIGGAS]

Quote: Originally Posted by Bill_Abner

Yeah, well, imagine this -- a Sunday night summer slumber party with a gaggle of 7 year olds with Spongebob on the 60" Sony LCD. Don't these girls know that I have undrafted rookie FAs to sign?!

Just sign Spongebob.

[WDOgF0reL1fe]

Wow... once again. This is awesome stuff. Good thing I got the Collectors Edition! Phew!