Rebuilding the Raiders - "Russell Rulz"

[cutter73]

It completely sucks when they fire you during the offseason. Leaves you with no open jobs. You might have been ok if you had stopped cutting dead weight players when you got the notice, and just waited until free agency begins to cut a few more though. I think that warning might run out once free agency actually begins. At least I think that's what happened to me a couple times as best as I can remember. If you have a save right before that, maybe reload and try it that way?

If not, going 9-7 with Russell as QB is no small thing. That's a good job any way you slice it.

[BrnwsBucksFanNC]

Oh MAN THIS SUCKS!! I am so sorry after all of the work you put into this! I have to admit I admire your dedication to Russell. But to have made it through 2 seasons and then to be let go.

So what are your plans now? I like the way you did the franchise on here and hope to see a new one from you. I will try to keep the "Raiders" experiment going...

[bsurocksrule]

First, Sorry about how things ended.

Second, If you plan on starting over and trying again with the Raiders, work with Russell for the first season, you have two options: draft Wade Appling in the third draft round of the Mike Zazzali path, or draft Benji Farms and use him as trade bait(88 Potential) in the second draft as a sleeper(don't remember what round I got him). You can draft him in the top 5 of the second round of the draft and he has a 95 overall potential. Only 14 games into his first season(you can look at my fblog) he is an 88 overall and has done very well for me(first time drafting him). One week he threw over 400 yards and 4 TD's. He has Peyton Manning and Tom Brady-like abilities-all for a top 5 second rounder. He's very cheap also for his first contract. both are hella cheap for their first contracts.

[Byron Yatch]

First off bsu, many names are random in every fake draft class. Benji farms might be his name every time through(because he's higher up in the draft), but its not guaranteed. You're better off using the school he's from to identify him. Dont worry, ive done this as well.

Secondly, the potential he had in your scheme isnt guaranteed to be the potential in someone elses. You MUST say what philosophy you have your qb(or any position) set at if you're gonna say what potential he has. Someone may try to draft them on your word and then he's a bust in the 2nd round because he doesnt fit their philosophy, see what I mean?

Third, a "sleeper" is someone who is a gem from the 3rd round on. They call them that because most of the guaranteed playmakers should be off the board by the end of the 2nd round(aka the top 50 should be gone by then).

Finally, You never draft a sleeper before the 3rd round and you try to draft them before the end of the 6th so you can still tender them as RFAs in 3 years.

[rangerrick012]

Sorry to hear about that. Been quietly following your progress. It is tough to win in Oakland. I'm in my 2nd season there now and trust me JaMarcus is a tough one. I installed a WCO w/ DMC as the focal point.

The toughest part is their receivers just plain suck off the bat. My goal was to be bad but not be awful and hope to draft a receiver high in the draft. Somehow we went 10-6 in my 1st year but didn't make the playoffs, and also traded up from 19 to 6 to get WR Kammeon Walker. I didn't use the cheat sheets or anything but saw the fact that he was compared to Larry Fitzgerald and couldn't pass up on him. Was also able to get another WR Tremain Jefferson, who'd been listed as a sleeper, in the 4th round.

With those moves and the help of our solid D, we're 10-3 now and clinched the AFC West w/ a win over Denver last week in OT. Also Russell's progressed great (82 OVR/99 THP/85 THA) w/ Scott Linehan as my O Coord and trying to put all I could into upgrading the QB related stats for my coach. This year he's got a 62% completion, 18 TDs 12 INTs, 94.5 QBR. I don't know how, but somehow I've managed to make JaMarcus a good NFL QB, lol. The cap situation does scare me though, hopefully I can make some cuts after this season to get further under the cap. I cut Robert Gallery before this season, but there's still some pretty big albatrosses on the payroll (Javon Walker, Justin Fargas, Jamarcus, though he's playing up to it now). Again, tough to hear and hope I don't suffer the same fate!

[Winnipeg59]

Quote: Originally Posted by cutter73

It completely sucks when they fire you during the offseason. Leaves you with no open jobs. You might have been ok if you had stopped cutting dead weight players when you got the notice, and just waited until free agency begins to cut a few more though. I think that warning might run out once free agency actually begins. At least I think that's what happened to me a couple times as best as I can remember. If you have a save right before that, maybe reload and try it that way? If not, going 9-7 with Russell as QB is no small thing. That's a good job any way you slice it.

Thanks cutter73,

I sort of expected what happened to happen. The contracts are tough, but I think I also screwed myself on some of the trades I made during the season. Should have just sat on them.

And yes, despite the outcome, those are the best two back-to-back Raiders seasons I've ever had. Thanks for following.

[Winnipeg59]

Quote: Originally Posted by BrnwsBucksFanNC

Oh MAN THIS SUCKS!! I am so sorry after all of the work you put into this! I have to admit I admire your dedication to Russell. But to have made it through 2 seasons and then to be let go. So what are your plans now? I like the way you did the franchise on here and hope to see a new one from you. I will try to keep the "Raiders" experiment going...

Don't worry, I love this game.

Not sure if I'll try the Raiders again? Those were my best years ever with them. But I'll try something else after giving things a bit of a rest!

[Winnipeg59]

Quote: Originally Posted by rangerrick012

Sorry to hear about that. Been quietly following your progress. It is tough to win in Oakland. I'm in my 2nd season there now and trust me JaMarcus is a tough one. I installed a WCO w/ DMC as the focal point. The toughest part is their receivers just plain suck off the bat. My goal was to be bad but not be awful and hope to draft a receiver high in the draft. Somehow we went 10-6 in my 1st year but didn't make the playoffs, and also traded up from 19 to 6 to get WR Kammeon Walker. I didn't use the cheat sheets or anything but saw the fact that he was compared to Larry Fitzgerald and couldn't pass up on him. Was also able to get another WR Tremain Jefferson, who'd been listed as a sleeper, in the 4th round. With those moves and the help of our solid D, we're 10-3 now and clinched the AFC West w/ a win over Denver last week in OT. Also Russell's progressed great (82 OVR/99 THP/85 THA) w/ Scott Linehan as my O Coord and trying to put all I could into upgrading the QB related stats for my coach. This year he's got a 62% completion, 18 TDs 12 INTs, 94.5 QBR. I don't know how, but somehow I've managed to make JaMarcus a good NFL QB, lol. The cap situation does scare me though, hopefully I can make some cuts after this season to get further under the cap. I cut Robert Gallery before this season, but there's still some pretty big albatrosses on the payroll (Javon Walker, Justin Fargas, Jamarcus, though he's playing up to it now). Again, tough to hear and hope I don't suffer the same fate!

Thanks rangerrick,

The Raiders are tough in this game.
Contracts, QB, receivers, coaching staff. Wow!
But that's the challenge.
And I just may give them another shot, at some point. Maybe Power Running, to take the QB and WRs out of the picture more?!? We'll see.

Good luck with your dynasty. Curious to hear if you get to year three! Certainly won't be your record that sinks you. Nice job!

[bsurocksrule]

Quote: Originally Posted by Byron Yatch

First off bsu, many names are random in every fake draft class. Benji farms might be his name every time through(because he's higher up in the draft), but its not guaranteed. You're better off using the school he's from to identify him. Dont worry, ive done this as well. Secondly, the potential he had in your scheme isnt guaranteed to be the potential in someone elses. You MUST say what philosophy you have your qb(or any position) set at if you're gonna say what potential he has. Someone may try to draft them on your word and then he's a bust in the 2nd round because he doesnt fit their philosophy, see what I mean? Third, a "sleeper" is someone who is a gem from the 3rd round on. They call them that because most of the guaranteed playmakers should be off the board by the end of the 2nd round(aka the top 50 should be gone by then). Finally, You never draft a sleeper before the 3rd round and you try to draft them before the end of the 6th so you can still tender them as RFAs in 3 years.

Byron,
I agree; I just thought I'd through the suggestion out there, I had forgotten at the time that names were changed every time you started the game.

My QB Philosophy is Field General. I do not remember what school they come from however I will look the next time I play HC09

And yes, I realize that a sleeper is a third round pick or below. I wasn't thinking clearly at the time.

[Sanchez_Mareno]

No idea how you shifted Kelly and Hall in the same year. Then again you got fired, so maybe i do