I am actually already a season and a half (week 13) into my franchise, but rather than starting a brand new one, I thought I just start my franchise report from where I am now.
In my first season (on All-Pro) I finished 14-2 with losses in week 5 to the Titans and week 13 to the Eagles. I lost WR Donald Driver in the preseason for the remainder of the campaign and also lost WR Javon Walker for the first six weeks. I was able to get through this and went on to win in overtime against the Eagles in the Divisional Round before thumping the Rams and narrowly defeating the Jaguars in the Super Bowl.
The off-season went pretty well as I picked up a number of solid backups in the draft (traded QB Doug Pederson and FB William Henderson at the beginning of the season for a few draft picks and QB J.T. O'Sullivan). I was also able to keep my whole team intact in the offseason without any big consequences...as a result, my defensive line has solidified by the improvement of RE Aaron Kampman and my secondary now possess all 85+ when in the dime formation (4 85+ CB, 2 90+ safeties). With the departure of Henderson, FB Luchey was also able to develop into a nice young player and after signing WR Gadsen (can't remember his first name) to replace the injured Driver, I now have 4 78+ WR on my squad.
On to this season, another heart breaking loss to the Eagles leaves me at
10-1 entering week 13. I just lost RB Ahman Green for four weeks in my last game so these next few games should be tough as my offense has relied on the running game for much of the past few years. Thankfully, the passing game has played well and it should all be fine.
Atlanta:
Michael Vick (16/33, 215 yds., 1TD, 1 INT, 24 rush yds.)
Atlanta RBs (5 rush yds.)
Coach's Notes: A solid effort by the defense as they made Atlanta be one dimensional keeping them to 29 total rushing yards. Fisher also had a pretty good game in Green's absense breaking out some very key gains.
Fisher got around 75 yards (can't remember exactly) on about 20 attempts and Davenport got 0 yds on 2 att and a TD (which was a 1yd run following a great 9 yd. run by Fisher) I meant to split the carries more evenly but apparently that slider only works (like the rest of them) only works when you simulate the game.
And I call it the post-Favre era because I figure sooner rather than later Favre is going to retire.
Key Stats:
B. Favre (23/33, 331 yds. 3 TD)
T. Fisher (111 yds, 3 rush TD)
R. Ferguson (138 yds.)
B. Franks (99 yds., 2 TD)
Coach's Notes: Another solid game by Fisher as he ran all over the Bengals defense...He also helped get the passing game up and going as Favre added another big game to his career list. The defense remains number one against the run and improved to become top 10 in the pass.
Good game. Looks like everything is fine without Green at the moment. Favre had a better game. I see what you mean by your title... I'd hate to see him go actually. I take it for granted that I am watching one of the best players of our time play. At least I got to see him in person when they played Houston.
__________________ Houston Texans (2-1) w/a loss against the Indianapolis Colts 30-24
That is awesome...I would give anything to see him play in person, but I live in Ontario, Canada so it would probably be a game in Detroit. Mabye if he happens to stick around another season I will make an effort to go down to Detroit and watch them play.
Week 15: New Orleans Saints 7 at Green Bay Packers 31
Green Bay 3 7 7 14 New Orleans 7 0 0 0
Key Stats:
B. Favre (22/33, 261 yds., 2 TD)
T. Fisher (94 yds., 2 rush TD)
B. Williams (69 yds., TD)
R. Ferguson (148 yds.)
C. Nall (2/3, 35 yds.)
Defense (3 sacks, 2 INT)
A. Brooks (18/36, 211 yds., 1 TD, 2 INT)
NO 3rd Down Efficiency (6/10, 60%)
Coach's Notes: Another solid game all around as the team continued to play well. A couple back-ups saw some playing time as QB Craig Nall came in for a few drives late in the game and TE B. Williams played the second quarter when Bubba Franks had to temporarily leave the game. Williams played solid and could see a lot more playing time as he is a very quick, WR-like tight end and could be very-effective in my type of offense.
The pass defense had a little trouble on third down, but they are still doing their job coming up with some key stops.
Nice win again. Is Bubba okay? Your team is definately getting the job done. Should be a milkrun next week versus Da'Bears!
And about Favre, I bet he'll be around again next year. As a matter of fact, I honestly feel he'll be around for a couple more years. He's still got it. I hope he stays.
__________________ Houston Texans (2-1) w/a loss against the Indianapolis Colts 30-24
Key Stats:
B. Favre (9/14, 131 yds., 2 TD)
C. Nall (12/21, 161 yds., TD)
A. Green (154 yds., 3 TD)
R. Ferguson (216 yds., TD)
B. Williams (41 yds, TD)
B. Franks (40 yds., TD)
Defense (5 sacks, 2 INT, 1 FF, 1 TD, 9 yds rushing against)
Coach's Notes: Well this game was as big of a blowout as everyone thought it would be. The good news kept on coming as HB Ahman Green made a suprising return after only missing 3 weeks that should have been 5. Hats off to the training crew to get him back in shape.
Up 35-0 at halftime TE Boo Williams and QB Craig Nall were given the nod and played quite well including a 19 yard TD pass early in the fourth quarter.
The defense played incredibly with 5 sacks, and fumble and two interceptions capped off with Ahmad Carroll's 87-yard interception return for a touchdown. They had also kept the Bears rushing game to negative yards until midway through the fourth quarter.
Up next is the season finale vs. the Cleveland Browns. Depending on award and pro bowl positions many backups like Nall, Fisher and Williams could see a great deal of playing time.
Week 17 Preview: Packers (14-1) at Browns (8-7)
Week 17: Green Bay Packers 56 at Cleveland Browns 14
Due to some saving problems (I simulated the post-season just to see what might happen and autosave was somehow on) the stats are general. Includede in the next post will also be...final overal stats of players, pro bowl players and award winners as well as final stats for key players on the team.
Green Bay 21 14 7 14
Cleveland 7 0 0 7
Key Stats:
C. Nall (261 yds., 3 TD)
T. Fisher (39 yds., 3 rush TD)
B. Williams (140 yds., TD)
J. Walker (70 yds., TD)
R. Ferguson (120 yds., punt ret TD)
Defense (2 INT, 3 sacks)
Coach's Notes: The backups played the majority of the game and performed quite well. Special teams also provided a spark early in the game to put us up by two touchdowns. Good things seem to be on the horizon with our next batch of youngsters.
Divsional Round: St. Louis Rams 20 at Green Bay Packers 23 NFC Championship: Carolina Panthers 17 at Green Bay Packers 31 Super Bowl: Kansas City Chiefs 7 vs Green Bay Packers 38
Green Bay Packers...Super Bowl Champions
Key Stats from Super Bowl (using box score):
B. Favre (15/29, 178 yds., TD)
A. Green (155 yds., 2 rush TD)
T. Fisher (43 yds., 2 rush TD)
Defense (3FF, 7 sacks)
Award Winners:
Brett Favre (NFC MVP, NFC QB)
Ahman Green (NFC Off., NFL RB)
Chad Cliffton (NFL OL) (Four of top 5 NFL linemen)
Ryan Longwell (NFL kicker)
Mike Sherman (NFL Coach)
Pro Bowl:
Brett Favre
Ahman Green
Bubba Franks
Robert Ferguson
Mark Tauscher
Chad Cliffton
Nick Barnett
Al Harris
Season Stats:
QB Brett Favre: 90.2 (3C), 3517 yds. (2C), 28 TD (2L), 13 INT, 16 sacks (1L)
HB Ahman Green 89.8 yds/game (1L), 21 TD (1L), 4.7 yds/carry (1C)
WR Robert Ferguson: 1487 yds.(1L), 4 TD
TE Bubba Franks: 1162 yds. (5L), 12 TD (t-1L)
DE Aaron Kampman: 12 sacks (2C)
LB Nick Barnett: 9 INT (t-1L), 2FF, 2 sacks
K Ryan Longwell: 13/15 FG, 69/70 XP
P B.J. Sander: 47.3 avg (1L)
Comments: Well, the Super Bowl is ours once again with a blow out of the top-ranked team in the AFC. The defense played amazing, 3 fumbles and 7 sacks really decimated KC's chances of winning. Green played another great game, splitting time with Fisher.
Up next, results of the off-season and updates on players progression.
Well, I decided to stick with generally the same personell as last season with the exception of some new "back-ups" (third stringers). I decided not to resign Najeh Davenport as I felt I did not need a 79 overall third-stringer eating up cap room. WR Gadsen also retired though he was my 4th WR so it didn't make much of a dent.
Other than that, nothing of importance happened my starting line-up stayed identical. Under "Franchise information, all the averages are now at or over 90 (the lowest being LB at 90). It pays its price as I only have $750k in cap room free.
I know I keep putting this off, but coming soon...progression.
99: (FS D. Sharper, HB A. Green, LT C. Cliffton, LG M. Wahle, K R. Longwell) 98: (RG M. Rivera, C M.Flanagan) 97: (RT M. Tauscher) 94: (QB B. Favre, LB N. Barnett, TE B. Franks) 93: (CB M. Mckenzie, DE K. Gbaja-Biamila,DE A. Kampman, WR R. Ferguson, LB N. Diggs) 92: (CB A. Harris, DT C. Hunt, FB N. Luchey, CB A. Carroll) 91: (LB H. Navies, P B. Sander) 90: (DT G. Jackson, FS M. Roman)
Others who play a bit:
QB C. Nall (77)
HB T. Fisher (84)
WR D. Driver (89)
WR J. Walker (88)
TE B. Williams (85)
CB J. Thomas (86)
All in all, I would have to say that is a pretty stacked team to be able to keep under the cap. What are your opinions?
Week 1 Preview: Green Bay Packers (0-0) at Detroit Lions (0-0)
Key Stats:
A. Green (189 yds., rush TD)
B. Favre (9/23, 99 yds., INT)
R. Longwell (3/3 FG, 1/1 XP)
Coach's Notes: A dissapointing opening game after going 4-0 in the preseason. Our passing game had a very difficult time getting off the ground, but luckily the rest of the team was able to step up. The defense played a great game with the exception of a long pass two plays after going up 16-3. Green got a quick jump on the rest of the pack for the rushing title as he ran all over the Lions. In all we drove well, but we had a hard time converting third downs once we past midfield. Hopefully we can perform better next week.
Week 2 Preview: (1-0) Packers at (1-0) Vikings (I think its home)
I am still playing all-pro...I've been trying to play all-madden on the side as exhibition games, but I am getting blown out on frusturating plays so I decided to keep with all-pro for now (tell me how my TE drops a pass and their CB is able to dive to the ground out of nowhere and pick it off, then somehow gets up untouched and goes 70 yards for a TD).
I plan to move to all-madden eventually...just not yet. And yes, with the exception of that playoff accident I am playing all my games.
I've found that All-Pro is perfect for me, the casual gamer. I take the game really seriously, but the fact that I won two then dropped two is good enough reason for mt to stick with it. The defensive AI is great in All-Pro, with the only exception being the unrealistic manner in which the longball is nearly nonexistant (especially when a linebacker is covering a tightend or receiver deep down field). I think I will never touch All-Madden.
Good win in Week One. Favre's stats are surprising, but I'm sure you'll bounce back like nothing.
__________________ Houston Texans (2-1) w/a loss against the Indianapolis Colts 30-24
Week 2: Minnesota Vikings 18 at Green Bay Packers 36
Green Bay 3 17 6 10
Minnesota 0 3 7 8
Key Stats:
A. Green (77 yds., 2 rush TD)
B. Favre (15/26, 178 yds., TD, INT)
Defense (2 sacks, FF, INT)
Coach's Notes: The team played a lot better as a whole this time around making big plays and came a step closer to finding the connection they had at the end of last season. Green had a difficult time against the talented defensive line but wore them down as the game went on. All in all, it was a big divisional win and the second in as many weeks giving us an early lead and two important wins in our quest to win the division again.
Week 3 Preview: (2-0) Packers at (2-0) Cowboys
__________________
Champion of 2007 Pigskin Pick'em
Runner-Up of 2000 pt. Fantasy Football League
Coach's Notes: It was quite the defensive game until we were able to find the endzone twice in the final quarter and seal the game up. Both Favre and Green had decent games though there was no-one who really jumped out and played superb. We now go into our annual bye week with a 3-0 record and a big game against the 3-0 Patriots.
Week 5: Green Bay Packers 41 at New England Patriots 6
Green Bay 10 0 7 24 New England 0 3 3 0
Key Stats:
B. Favre (15/30, 200 yds., 1 TD)
A. Green (226 yds. 3 rush TD, 1 F)
B. Franks (101 yds.)
A. Harris (4 tackles, 1 INT, 1 TD)
Defense (4 sacks, 2 INT, 1 F, 1 TD, 0 rush yards against)
Coach's Notes: After a few sub par games by parts of the team in which we were barely able to pull out wins, this game gave a lot of promising things as everyone was firing on all cylinders. Green ran superbly and Favre was also able to have a good day through the air. The defense also played a big part in this win in not allowing the Patriots to rush for a single yard and kept them to under 100 in net yards passing. Coupled with three turnovers, including Harris' INT return for a touchdown to cap off such a great game.
Week 6 Preview: (4-0) Packers at (3-2) Seahawks
__________________
Champion of 2007 Pigskin Pick'em
Runner-Up of 2000 pt. Fantasy Football League
3rd
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