Disclaimer: I'll personally concede that this isn't my greatest literary work, but it's tough coming up with relevant material during the doldrums of July. So the disclaimer here is that I'll try to come up with a better topic of discussion next week.
So with training camp still two weeks away and the vacuum that is left in the emptiness of the player's vacation times (how dare they), boredom sets in for the superfans like us. We've hashed out the roster and position battles forwards, backwards, sideways and every other way you can twist it. And what is the outcome of every one of those discussions? The mind-numbing "we'll just have to see how training camp shakes out" answer.
In this world of instant gratification, we just want to know the answers right now. Who's gonna start, Culpepper or Stafford? Who makes up the starting defensive line? Who gets the ax at receiver? We just want to know!
Well, what if you could answer those questions right now. Huh? No, I've not been wire-tapping Jim Schwartz's office or hacking Martin Mayhew's Blackberry, nor have I been hitting Grandpa's secret stash of Kentucky hooch. I'm talking about the only place where we can make all the calls and start whoever the hell we want to. The place where we each get to be Jim Schwartz and Martin Mayhew combined. Madden '10, baby.
I know, we've kind of beat the Madden ratings thing to death over the last few weeks, but I can't help but be excited each year for the new Madden release. I've got my copy pre-ordered and can't wait for August 14th to sit in front of my 52" Samsung HDTV with my Xbox whirring, getting ready to put in a ten hour marathon getting my franchise set up with the new look Lions. Anyway, I'll try to put a little gloss on a stale topic.
One of the new features this year, is an enhanced progression system that takes many variables into effect including potential, season play, coaching, etc. Many past versions of Madden have boasted a better progression system, but this year they stole the guys from "Head Coach ‘09" and brought them in to revamp the franchise mode. So they tore it down and started from scratch. The results appear to be an amazing upgrade to the game this year and the progression, drafting and scheduling among other things, appear to get the bulk of the benefit. Yay for us, right? There is a great article over at the home Madden site discussing the new franchise mode upgrades.
In case you think I'm simply rambling or being paid off by EASports to tout the company line on their flagship product, I do have a point to all of this. The point, or perhaps the question, is this: Who you gonna start for the Lions in your new Madden franchise? If your answer is that you won't be using the Lions in your franchise, stop reading this and get the hell off this site!
We've all seen how they've rated the lowly Lions, right? If not, here's a copy:
WIDE RECEIVERS AND TIGHT ENDS | ||||||||||||||||||||
NUM | NAME | TM | POS | OVR | SPD | ACC | STR | AGL | AWR | STA | TGH | INJ | JMP | CAT | CAR | KR | ||||
81 | C. Johnson | DET | WR | 92 | 95 | 94 | 78 | 94 | 75 | 97 | 93 | 96 | 99 | 91 | 77 | 65 | ||||
84 | B. Pettigrew | DET | TE | 80 | 72 | 76 | 75 | 74 | 52 | 82 | 85 | 95 | 76 | 75 | 75 | 35 | ||||
87 | R. Curry | DET | WR | 74 | 76 | 82 | 57 | 87 | 80 | 87 | 65 | 59 | 87 | 83 | 75 | 55 | ||||
80 | B. Johnson | DET | WR | 71 | 86 | 87 | 59 | 84 | 76 | 84 | 72 | 85 | 87 | 78 | 66 | 70 | ||||
82 | C. Fitzsimmons | DET | TE | 70 | 72 | 70 | 67 | 65 | 70 | 65 | 65 | 75 | 65 | 74 | 70 | 8 | ||||
13 | D. Williams | DET | WR | 68 | 90 | 94 | 52 | 91 | 50 | 94 | 94 | 76 | 85 | 74 | 49 | 74 | ||||
89 | W. Heller | DET | TE | 66 | 60 | 70 | 64 | 65 | 64 | 75 | 70 | 88 | 62 | 74 | 66 | 8 | ||||
16 | J. Standeford | DET | WR | 60 | 84 | 87 | 49 | 80 | 65 | 72 | 60 | 79 | 86 | 77 | 46 | 0 | ||||
83 | A. Jennings | DET | WR | 54 | 90 | 92 | 38 | 92 | 59 | 82 | 75 | 91 | 78 | 65 | 60 | 87 | ||||
RUNNING BACKS | ||||||||||||||||||||
NUM | NAME | TM | POS | OVR | SPD | ACC | STR | AGL | AWR | STA | TGH | INJ | RBK | PBK | CAT | CAR | KR | |||
34 | K. Smith | DET | HB | 80 | 84 | 87 | 74 | 84 | 70 | 96 | 80 | 92 | 42 | 52 | 76 | 89 | 60 | |||
44 | T. Smith | DET | FB | 79 | 64 | 67 | 85 | 55 | 82 | 85 | 92 | 61 | 78 | 58 | 56 | 74 | 45 | |||
28 | M. Morris | DET | HB | 75 | 85 | 91 | 64 | 88 | 80 | 77 | 70 | 86 | 33 | 31 | 74 | 78 | 76 | |||
40 | J. Bradley | DET | FB | 68 | 63 | 65 | 90 | 60 | 65 | 60 | 84 | 85 | 72 | 44 | 58 | 70 | 45 | |||
21 | A. Brown | DET | HB | 64 | 83 | 88 | 60 | 87 | 45 | 85 | 72 | 78 | 40 | 42 | 77 | 68 | 75 | |||
36 | A. Cason | DET | HB | 60 | 89 | 91 | 60 | 76 | 65 | 47 | 47 | 47 | 26 | 26 | 66 | 65 | 70 | |||
QUARTERBACKS | ||||||||||||||||||||
NUM | NAME | TM | POS | OVR | SPD | ACC | STR | AGL | AWR | STA | TGH | INJ | THP | THA | CAR | |||||
9 | M. Stafford | DET | QB | 79 | 71 | 68 | 64 | 61 | 64 | 95 | 87 | 93 | 97 | 80 | 64 | |||||
11 | D. Culpepper | DET | QB | 72 | 70 | 75 | 73 | 69 | 71 | 95 | 92 | 76 | 90 | 80 | 45 | |||||
5 | D. Stanton | DET | QB | 47 | 66 | 76 | 65 | 72 | 57 | 92 | 80 | 82 | 83 | 71 | 65 | |||||
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN | ||||||||||||||||||||
NUM | NAME | TM | POS | OVR | SPD | ACC | STR | AGL | AWR | STA | TGH | INJ | PBK | RBK | ||||||
51 | D. Raiola | DET | C | 80 | 63 | 76 | 85 | 58 | 85 | 78 | 88 | 94 | 86 | 83 | ||||||
77 | G. Cherilus | DET | RT | 79 | 58 | 74 | 93 | 58 | 69 | 75 | 85 | 94 | 89 | 85 | ||||||
66 | S. Peterman | DET | RG | 78 | 49 | 72 | 91 | 46 | 77 | 82 | 90 | 88 | 87 | 81 | ||||||
76 | J. Backus | DET | LT | 77 | 53 | 74 | 89 | 54 | 82 | 75 | 90 | 95 | 86 | 87 | ||||||
74 | D. Cook | DET | LG | 70 | 43 | 41 | 84 | 40 | 63 | 50 | 73 | 63 | 79 | 77 | ||||||
62 | J. Coston | DET | RG | 70 | 52 | 66 | 85 | 48 | 64 | 78 | 85 | 86 | 84 | 78 | ||||||
65 | D. Gandy | DET | C | 68 | 56 | 74 | 84 | 57 | 58 | 75 | 83 | 88 | 82 | 88 | ||||||
63 | M. Ramirez | DET | LG | 68 | 54 | 60 | 93 | 54 | 58 | 68 | 86 | 90 | 82 | 74 | ||||||
70 | D. Loper | DET | LT | 67 | 54 | 60 | 82 | 54 | 70 | 82 | 85 | 91 | 80 | 88 | ||||||
72 | G. Foster | DET | RT | 66 | 55 | 74 | 92 | 56 | 55 | 75 | 82 | 87 | 87 | 81 | ||||||
78 | L. Murtha | DET | RT | 65 | 70 | 88 | 78 | 67 | 46 | 84 | 87 | 78 | 79 | 82 | ||||||
LINEBACKERS | ||||||||||||||||||||
NUM | NAME | TM | POS | OVR | SPD | ACC | STR | AGL | AWR | STA | TGH | INJ | JMP | TCK | CAT | |||||
59 | J. Peterson | DET | LOLB | 90 | 85 | 89 | 73 | 87 | 85 | 93 | 90 | 91 | 79 | 87 | 45 | |||||
50 | E. Sims | DET | ROLB | 88 | 88 | 93 | 83 | 88 | 66 | 98 | 98 | 92 | 89 | 90 | 36 | |||||
56 | L. Foote | DET | MLB | 78 | 73 | 82 | 77 | 82 | 81 | 88 | 88 | 94 | 54 | 88 | 35 | |||||
57 | J. Dizon | DET | MLB | 63 | 76 | 85 | 69 | 81 | 61 | 90 | 52 | 48 | 76 | 78 | 38 | |||||
52 | A. Lewis | DET | LOLB | 59 | 83 | 87 | 65 | 81 | 68 | 80 | 85 | 88 | 75 | 75 | 29 | |||||
54 | D. Levy | DET | ROLB | 56 | 79 | 84 | 63 | 78 | 62 | 87 | 75 | 94 | 78 | 78 | 60 | |||||
KICKERS AND PUNTERS | ||||||||||||||||||||
NUM | NAME | TM | POS | OVR | SPD | ACC | STR | AGL | AWR | STA | TGH | INJ | POW | ACR | ||||||
4 | J. Hanson | DET | K | 95 | 52 | 54 | 31 | 48 | 96 | 86 | 60 | 84 | 91 | 95 | ||||||
2 | N. Harris | DET | P | 67 | 58 | 51 | 44 | 51 | 70 | 75 | 80 | 60 | 87 | 84 | ||||||
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN | ||||||||||||||||||||
NUM | NAME | TM | POS | OVR | SPD | ACC | STR | AGL | AWR | STA | TGH | INJ | JMP | TCK | CAT | |||||
99 | D. White | DET | RE | 77 | 71 | 88 | 75 | 76 | 74 | 75 | 78 | 90 | 62 | 69 | 28 | |||||
90 | G. Jackson | DET | DT | 76 | 34 | 54 | 96 | 38 | 86 | 45 | 84 | 65 | 65 | 68 | 20 | |||||
91 | C. Darby | DET | DT | 72 | 63 | 87 | 82 | 64 | 67 | 59 | 74 | 78 | 49 | 80 | 25 | |||||
95 | J. DeVries | DET | LE | 71 | 67 | 78 | 80 | 66 | 80 | 85 | 82 | 85 | 54 | 78 | 28 | |||||
92 | C. Avril | DET | RE | 71 | 80 | 88 | 66 | 86 | 58 | 85 | 84 | 93 | 85 | 76 | 64 | |||||
97 | I. Alama-Francis | DET | LE | 64 | 66 | 78 | 77 | 74 | 53 | 77 | 84 | 92 | 81 | 65 | 16 | |||||
96 | A. Fluellen | DET | DT | 61 | 69 | 82 | 88 | 65 | 39 | 65 | 84 | 88 | 70 | 69 | 30 | |||||
79 | S. Hill | DET | DT | 61 | 60 | 75 | 89 | 58 | 35 | 66 | 75 | 85 | 55 | 60 | 28 | |||||
DEFENSIVE BACKS | ||||||||||||||||||||
NUM | NAME | TM | POS | OVR | SPD | ACC | STR | AGL | AWR | STA | TGH | INJ | JMP | TCK | CAT | |||||
32 | A. Henry | DET | CB | 78 | 76 | 83 | 64 | 78 | 85 | 90 | 77 | 80 | 90 | 48 | 69 | |||||
26 | L. Delmas | DET | FS | 77 | 86 | 90 | 53 | 90 | 56 | 93 | 91 | 86 | 88 | 70 | 70 | |||||
31 | P. Buchanon | DET | CB | 76 | 93 | 94 | 44 | 92 | 80 | 95 | 65 | 80 | 89 | 38 | 60 | |||||
27 | D. Bullocks | DET | SS | 70 | 79 | 82 | 62 | 79 | 74 | 94 | 74 | 90 | 82 | 71 | 66 | |||||
42 | G. Alexander | DET | FS | 68 | 86 | 90 | 60 | 87 | 59 | 92 | 76 | 92 | 80 | 67 | 51 | |||||
25 | E. King | DET | CB | 62 | 83 | 88 | 53 | 84 | 70 | 89 | 65 | 88 | 79 | 45 | 49 | |||||
24 | K. Pearson | DET | SS | 61 | 77 | 82 | 56 | 79 | 60 | 85 | 62 | 86 | 77 | 69 | 41 | |||||
23 | K. Smith | DET | CB | 60 | 85 | 89 | 48 | 91 | 62 | 90 | 81 | 91 | 83 | 42 | 50 | |||||
38 | R. Robinson | DET | CB | 57 | 78 | 85 | 44 | 84 | 48 | 90 | 76 | 89 | 83 | 36 | 60 | |||||
Those ratings aside, with a fancy new progression system in place, who you play is more important now than it's ever been. It's foolish to simply play the highest rated player when the progression will actually affect your roster in a more realistic way long-term. Keep in mind, they've also built "busts" into the game... i.e. players that will look good from a scouting perspective, but come with a low potential built in them. There is also a much wider spread in the talent levels. They are grading similar to school grades now, where 70 is average (this is how the Lions got a paltry 65 overall team rating - I guess we are less than average, hey?) So I want you all to tell me who you will be starting on your team.
... And so without further ado, the Drewslions Madden ‘10 Team (BTW, I'll revamp my roster to show more recent activity, like Northcutt, etc and show players I'll cut, create, sign or trade and some I'll even change positions):
WIDE RECEIVERS AND TIGHT ENDS |
|
|
|||
RANK |
NUM |
NAME |
TM |
POS |
OVR |
1 |
81 |
C. Johnson |
DET |
WR |
92 |
2 |
80 |
B. Johnson |
DET |
WR |
71 |
3 (Trade) |
86 |
Northcutt |
DET |
WR |
?? |
4 |
87 |
R. Curry |
DET |
WR |
74 |
5 |
13 |
D. Williams |
DET |
WR |
68 |
(Cut) |
16 |
J. Standeford |
DET |
WR |
60 |
(Cut) |
83 |
A. Jennings |
DET |
WR |
54 |
1 |
89 |
W. Heller |
DET |
TE |
66 |
2 |
84 |
B. Pettigrew |
DET |
TE |
80 |
3 |
82 |
C. Fitzsimmons |
DET |
TE |
70 |
4 (Create) |
47 |
D.Gronkowski |
DET |
TE |
62 |
RUNNING BACKS |
|
|
|
|
|
RANK |
NUM |
NAME |
TM |
POS |
OVR |
1 |
34 |
K. Smith |
DET |
HB |
80 |
2 |
28 |
M. Morris |
DET |
HB |
75 |
3 |
21 |
A. Brown |
DET |
HB |
64 |
4 |
36 |
A. Cason |
DET |
HB |
60 |
1 |
44 |
T. Smith |
DET |
FB |
79 |
2 (Create) |
45 |
J.Felton |
DET |
FB |
75 |
3 (Cut) |
40 |
J. Bradley |
DET |
FB |
68 |
QUARTERBACKS |
|
|
|
||
RANK |
NUM |
NAME |
TM |
POS |
OVR |
1 |
9 |
M. Stafford |
DET |
QB |
79 |
2 |
11 |
D. Culpepper |
DET |
QB |
72 |
3 |
5 |
D. Stanton |
DET |
QB |
47 |
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN |
|
|
|
||
RANK |
NUM |
NAME |
TM |
POS |
OVR |
1 |
51 |
D. Raiola |
DET |
C |
80 |
2 |
65 |
D. Gandy |
DET |
C |
68 |
1 |
76 |
J. Backus |
DET |
LT |
77 |
2 (Sign) |
72 |
E.Salaam |
DET |
LT |
?? |
1 |
70 |
D. Loper |
DET |
LG |
67 |
2 |
63 |
M. Ramirez |
DET |
LG |
68 |
1 |
77 |
G. Cherilus |
DET |
RT |
79 |
2 (Sign) |
68 |
J.Jansen |
DET |
RT |
?? |
3 |
78 |
L. Murtha |
DET |
RT |
65 |
(Cut) |
72 |
G. Foster |
DET |
RT |
66 |
1 |
66 |
S. Peterman |
DET |
RG |
78 |
2 |
74 |
D. Cook |
DET |
RG |
70 |
(Cut) |
62 |
J. Coston |
DET |
RG |
70 |
LINEBACKERS |
|
|
|
|
|
RANK |
NUM |
NAME |
TM |
POS |
OVR |
1 |
59 |
J. Peterson |
DET |
LOLB |
90 |
2 (Create) |
53 |
C. Spencer |
DET |
LOLB |
68 |
(Cut) |
52 |
A. Lewis |
DET |
LOLB |
59 |
1 |
56 |
L. Foote |
DET |
MLB |
78 |
2 |
54 |
D. Levy |
DET |
MLB |
56 |
3 (Create) |
49 |
Z.Follett |
DET |
MLB |
|
1 |
50 |
E. Sims |
DET |
ROLB |
88 |
2 |
57 |
J. Dizon |
DET |
ROLB |
63 |
KICKERS AND PUNTERS |
|
|
|
|
|
RANK |
NUM |
NAME |
TM |
POS |
OVR |
1 |
4 |
J. Hanson |
DET |
K |
95 |
1 |
2 |
N. Harris |
DET |
P |
67 |
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN |
|
|
|
|
|
RANK |
NUM |
NAME |
TM |
POS |
OVR |
1 |
92 |
C. Avril |
DET |
RE |
71 |
2 |
97 |
I. Alama-Francis |
DET |
RE |
64 |
1 |
99 |
D. White |
DET |
LE |
77 |
2 |
95 |
J. DeVries |
DET |
LE |
71 |
1 |
90 |
G. Jackson |
DET |
DT |
76 |
2 |
91 |
C. Darby |
DET |
DT |
72 |
3 |
79 |
S. Hill |
DET |
DT |
61 |
4 |
96 |
A. Fluellen |
DET |
DT |
61 |
5 (Create) |
98 |
L.Cohen |
DET |
DT |
60 |
DEFENSIVE BACKS |
|
|
|
||
RANK |
NUM |
NAME |
TM |
POS |
OVR |
1 |
31 |
P. Buchanon |
DET |
CB |
76 |
2 |
32 |
A. Henry |
DET |
CB |
78 |
3 |
25 |
E. King |
DET |
CB |
62 |
4 |
23 |
K. Smith |
DET |
CB |
60 |
5 |
38 |
R. Robinson |
DET |
CB |
57 |
1 |
26 |
L. Delmas |
DET |
FS |
77 |
2 |
40 |
M.Manuel |
DET |
FS |
?? |
(Trade) |
42 |
G. Alexander |
DET |
FS |
68 |
1 |
27 |
D. Bullocks |
DET |
SS |
70 |
2 |
24 |
K. Pearson |
DET |
SS |
61 |
3 (Create) |
?? |
O.Wiley |
DET |
SS |
52 |
Sorry, having some formatting issues, but you get the point. So, no huge surprises. I may even sign a Chris McAlister or Kevin Carter before camp, who knows. And the Otis Wiley thing is just for fun. I'll stick him on special teams for a while. All just a bunch of good, clean fun kids.
Tell me what you think? How will your roster compare? Do you simply hate Madden? What's on your mind?