Franchise Mode

[JO_75]

Hey guys, I figured I would start this thread about Franchise Mode where we can talk about our current Franchise Mode that your playing and how things are going. I just rented Madden 11 today, and usually I start a Ravens Franchise at the beginning but I went with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to see how long it takes to re-build them.

Currently I have went ahead and started the Season making no adjustment to the roster. I am 2-4 starting the season and have a NCAA 11 Draft Class where I plan on drafting Mark Ingram with my 1st round pick to build an offense around him next season. I will also trade for Willis McGahee to give Ingram a good compliment back and work on my secondary. I'm hoping for at least 3-13 or 4-12 maybe 5-11 as my finishing record but I'll see where it goes.

So tell us about your Franchise.

[XxSizzleXx]

I have one going with the Ravens and I'm 5-0 so far. I'm playing on All-Pro with the sliders all around 75 except for fumbles. The game at Pittsburgh was really fun, it was 3-3 with 4 minutes left in the game and then I had a little onslaught and won 20-3.

I haven't really played much of it but after reading your post it sounds like playing with a bad team and trying to rebuild them would be funner. How exactly does the import draft class work, whenever I try to import one I don't have any to choose from?

I might go start a Franchise here with the Panthers as I love their ground game. I would turn their D into a scary one.

[T-ray]

[quote name='XxSizzleXx' timestamp='1282864257' post='458374']
I have one going with the Ravens and I'm 5-0 so far. I'm playing on All-Pro with the sliders all around 75 except for fumbles. The game at Pittsburgh was really fun, it was 3-3 with 4 minutes left in the game and then I had a little onslaught and won 20-3.

I haven't really played much of it but after reading your post it sounds like playing with a bad team and trying to rebuild them would be funner. How exactly does the import draft class work, whenever I try to import one I don't have any to choose from?

I might go start a Franchise here with the Panthers as I love their ground game. I would turn their D into a scary one.
[/quote]

Panthers running game plus a dominant D equals big time!

[JO_75]

[quote name='XxSizzleXx' timestamp='1282864257' post='458374']
I have one going with the Ravens and I'm 5-0 so far. I'm playing on All-Pro with the sliders all around 75 except for fumbles. The game at Pittsburgh was really fun, it was 3-3 with 4 minutes left in the game and then I had a little onslaught and won 20-3.

[b]I haven't really played much of it but after reading your post it sounds like playing with a bad team and trying to rebuild them would be funner.[/b] How exactly does the import draft class work, whenever I try to import one I don't have any to choose from?

I might go start a Franchise here with the Panthers as I love their ground game. [b]I would turn their D into a scary one.[/b]
[/quote]

Yeah Rebuilding teams are fun to do, I'm not sure but I'm thinking the Bills will be hardest to rebuild. Lucky for me the Bucs took care of the defensive line by adding McCoy and Price so that leaves me with working on the offensive line and the secondary. I'm thinking about just simming so I can go into the off-season and draft Ingram, trade for McGahee and begin Year 2 to see Ingram lead the Bucs back to decency. Plus I'll probably fire Raheem Morris and bring in the Vikings Defensive Coordinator Leslie Frazier as my new Head Coach.

Yeah with the Panthers I'll probably wind up doing a Franchise with them after I rebuild the Bucs, and rework their defense and turn it into a 3-4 defense and hire some new head coach, I would hire Bill Cowher but I don't think he'll be in the game due to legal rights but I'll hire someone just know I'm not keeping John Fox.

[Bltravens]

Im 6-1, I use My Skill and all of the categories are at or the very highest All Madden possible. I just laid an absolute beat down on the Dolphins with Flacco 45-24, I couldnt run with Rice whatsoever against their Dline which kinda pissed me off because they dont even have a true NT with Ferguson out. I was getting hit by 3 guys sometimes behind the LOS just swim moving off Birk, Yanda and Grubbs. So I took to the air and the new weapons were flossin, Boldin, Stallworth and Heap all had 100 yard games and Boldin had 3 TDs. Just for the record it is on all Madden as the game before I lost to the F'in Bills 13-10, I couldnt move the ball on them at all finished with under 200 total yards.

[JO_75]

[quote name='Bltravens' timestamp='1282876890' post='458428']
I'm 6-1, I use My Skill and all of the categories are at or the very highest All Madden possible. I just laid an absolute beat down on the Dolphins with Flacco 45-24, I couldnt run with Rice whatsoever against their Dline which kinda pissed me off because they don't even have a true NT with Ferguson out. I was getting hit by 3 guys sometimes behind the LOS just swim moving off Birk, Yanda and Grubbs. So I took to the air and the new weapons were flossing, Boldin, Stallworth and Heap all had 100 yard games and Boldin had 3 TDs. Just for the record it is on all Madden as the game before [b]I lost to the F'in Bills 13-10,[/b] I couldnt move the ball on them at all finished with under 200 total yards.
[/quote]

.......... That is something I wouldn't admit because losing to the Bills is well... just embarrassing, and I have to ask what was their record before they beat you? Is this is another Miami scenario where they were winless and they beat you for their first win? Watch you go 15-1 and the Bills of all teams be your only loss that prevented you from going 16-0.

[XxSizzleXx]

[quote name='JO_75' timestamp='1282878931' post='458439']
.......... That is something I wouldn't admit because losing to the Bills is well... just embarrassing, and I have to ask what was their record before they beat you? Is this is another Miami scenario where they were winless and they beat you for their first win? [b]Watch you go 15-1 and the Bills of all teams be your only loss that prevented you from going 16-0.[/b]
[/quote]


I did a challenge one time against one of my high school teachers, we picked the same team and each finished the season and the same settings. At the end of the season we were both 15-1, with our only losses being to the Raiders. It was Madden 07(I think, it was when Moss was on the team) and we we're both the Chargers, it was just funny how we both lost to the Raiders in the same week.

[Clutch Ravens]

[quote name='JO_75' timestamp='1282863119' post='458370']
Hey guys, I figured I would start this thread about Franchise Mode where we can talk about our current Franchise Mode that your playing and how things are going. I just rented Madden 11 today, and usually I start a Ravens Franchise at the beginning but I went with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to see how long it takes to re-build them.

Currently I have went ahead and started the Season making no adjustment to the roster. I am 2-4 starting the season and have a NCAA 11 Draft Class where I plan on drafting Mark Ingram with my 1st round pick to build an offense around him next season. I will also trade for Willis McGahee to give Ingram a good compliment back and work on my secondary. I'm hoping for at least 3-13 or 4-12 maybe 5-11 as my finishing record but I'll see where it goes.

So tell us about your Franchise.
[/quote]


I would do rebuilding franchises more often if I were able to rent NCAA 11. Only way for me to get it would be to spend $60 to get it off ebay.

Anyone notice how heights and weights are really strange for the draft classes? I had a MLB that was 5'6" and 260 lbs. Another reason I don't like EAs random draft classes.

There are still some messed up values on players as well. Take Mike Sims-Walker for example: A 25 year-old, 85 overall, Potential A, burner that you can get for essentially nothing. Mike Wallace (Steelers) and Pierre Garcon (Colts) are another 2 receivers that require next to nothing in a trade. Think they'll fix their values in a patch?

[FlaccoFlicker]

[quote name='Give it to Clutch Clayton' timestamp='1282917445' post='458540']
[b]I would do rebuilding franchises more often if I were able to rent NCAA 11. [/b]Only way for me to get it would be to spend $60 to get it off ebay.

Anyone notice how heights and weights are really strange for the draft classes? I had a MLB that was 5'6" and 260 lbs. Another reason I don't like EAs random draft classes.

There are still some messed up values on players as well. Take Mike Sims-Walker for example: A 25 year-old, 85 overall, Potential A, burner that you can get for essentially nothing. Mike Wallace (Steelers) and Pierre Garcon (Colts) are another 2 receivers that require next to nothing in a trade. Think they'll fix their values in a patch?
[/quote]
and now with the access codes even if you rented it you would have to pay for online use.

[XxSizzleXx]

Starting to turn the Panthers into a scary team already. I switched to a 3-4, moved Beason back to ILB, signed Adalius Thomas because they had a very poor Rush LB, switched around the end's to put the big guy on the RE and my pass rusher on the LE. I have Norwood playing the bruiser ILB next to Beason because it seems like Connor gets hurt every game(partial groin tear AND broken ribs haha). I have my nickel and dime packages setup so Brown and Norwood rush from the outside. 5-0 so far and I just absolutely mauled the Bears, Stewart had 15 carries for 175 and Deangelo had 10 for 75 to go along with 3 defensive scores.

[Bltravens]

[quote name='JO_75' timestamp='1282878931' post='458439']
.......... That is something I wouldn't admit because losing to the Bills is well... just embarrassing, and I have to ask what was their record before they beat you? Is this is another Miami scenario where they were winless and they beat you for their first win? Watch you go 15-1 and the Bills of all teams be your only loss that prevented you from going 16-0.
[/quote]
lol they were 2-4 I think at the time. And yes I was absolutely flustered at how I couldnt move the ball on the ground or through the air. I was heated lol

[JO_75]

[quote name='Bltravens' timestamp='1283032784' post='459074']
lol they were 2-4 I think at the time. And yes I was absolutely flustered at how I couldnt move the ball on the ground or through the air. I was heated lol
[/quote]

ok as long as they had a win already your good lol. You seriously couldn't move the ball on them at all? Wow that is crazy and down right odd. I would imagine you would be able to put up 42 points or more against their defense... but wow.

[Bltravens]

[quote name='JO_75' timestamp='1283034331' post='459078']
ok as long as they had a win already your good lol. You seriously couldn't move the ball on them at all? Wow that is crazy and down right odd. I would imagine you would be able to put up 42 points or more against their defense... but wow.
[/quote]
Ya it was really weird, then the next week I throw up a 40 burger on the Dolphins who have a better defense and I was just tearing apart their secondary through the air.

[RavensPunkXVX]

I started my franchise as the Ravens on All-Pro. I actually just switched over to All-Madden and my first game on All-Madden will be against the Dolphins.

I'm currently 6-1, my only loss at the hands of the PATS! bah! Lost that one by three. Flacco has about 1,000 yards through the air and Rice is closing in on 1,000 on the ground. So far so good. I have made some free agent moves though. Webb got injured and has been out for about 8 weeks, I added Ken Lucas to the roster.

[Purple Nurple]

[quote name='XxSizzleXx' timestamp='1282864257' post='458374']
The game at Pittsburgh was really fun, it was 3-3 with 4 minutes left in the game and then I had a little onslaught and won 20-3.
[/quote]

This made me smile.

[benravens1]

Started on All-pro with sliders as the ravens. currently 5-2 having lost to the jets (by 4) and broncos (by 7).

best game so far was flacco leading a 4th quarter comeback against the pats. down by 10 with 3:30 and flacco just started completing everything i tried. won it 30-26, winning TD with 20 seconds left. would love to see that this season!

[Shammy]

has anyone completed a season yet is the draft / offseason any diffrent or better ?

[Clutch Ravens]

[quote name='Shammy' timestamp='1283111875' post='460062']
has anyone completed a season yet is the draft / offseason any diffrent or better ?
[/quote]

The draft and offseason on the whole is no different but there are more highly rated rookies.

Highest I've seen is 89 overall, which is utterly ridiculous.

[JO_75]

[quote name='Shammy' timestamp='1283111875' post='460062']
has anyone completed a season yet is the draft / offseason any diffrent or better ?
[/quote]

Nope, the AI still doesn't have smarts when it comes to re-signing coaches as I saw Wade Phillips and Andy Reid get fired even though they got contract extensions in the off-season. Nothing realistic about that, and once again every offensive & defensive coordinator gets released it seems so you always have to re-sign the O or D coordinator. The thing I don't get is coaches who had pictures on Madden 10 no longer have pictures, and alot of the coaches have no photos so you don't know who they are and it don't help when all you get is the first letter and the last name of the coach.

The Draft is still the same, the AI Signing logic is still off with players, as I have seen anyone under 80 OVR get released, so it seems that it would be better to take control of all 32 teams and keep things realistic.

[Shammy]

so it seems that it would be better to take control of all 32 teams and keep things realistic.
[/quote]

oh wow what a bummer ... yea i do that occasionally lol im still playing my madden 10 dnt think imma be buying 11 for 60$ at least might buy off someone or somethin maybe get a used copy

[XxSizzleXx]

If you use gamefaqs and go to the draft guide you can look through, find your draft and find all players you need. If you do it right you can usually get an 80 in each of the first 5 rounds with at least A or B potential.

I got lucky in the Panthers franchise I created, there is a Stud LG and RG in rounds 3 and 4, a stud OLB in the 2nd and a stud NT in the 5th. I think they have the potentials correct but like mentioned above the starting rating is far too high.

[benravens1]

[quote name='XxSizzleXx' timestamp='1283114769' post='460093']


I got lucky in the Panthers franchise I created, there is a Stud LG and RG in rounds 3 and 4, a stud OLB in the 2nd and a stud NT in the 5th. I think they have the potentials correct but like mentioned above the starting rating is far too high.
[/quote]

yeah they need to sort if out really, if the current draft class has suh at about an 84? then why generate rookies who come in at 89.

does anyone else thing the amount of steals in the late rounds is a bit high? you can get guys in round 5,6 and 7 who come straight in too start. that doesn't happen too often but in madden its every draft

[ravensfolife]

Yea I always trade down to get beast at fs and wr in fourth round.

[benravens1]

yeah thats the way i do it too. great if you're rebuilding a team you can just go after guys you want to have on your team and give up your 1st pick for them and a 4th and you'll be a playoff contender in a few years

[Clutch Ravens]

Knowing all the Rookies really takes the point and enjoyment out of the draft though.

"Oh, look, I drafted an 80 Overall potential A QB in the first."

"Oh, look, I drafted an 80 Overall potential A HB in the second."

"Oh, look, I drafted an 80 Overall potential A LT in the third."

"Oh, look, I drafted an 80 overall potential A WR in the fourth."

"Oh, look, only 4 picks made and all-of-a-sudden I have one of the best offenses in the NFL."

They need to make scouting more core to the whole draft aspect. They need to try and replicate atleast some of the ambience of the draft. They need to reduce the number of these all-star players in every draft. 2010 was considered one of the deepest drafts in a long time, yet, by Madden '11 standards it's a mediocre class.

Just to name a few things they should be doing to the draft alone in Madden '12.

[XxSizzleXx]

Either way they make it really simple, if you don't have the guide you just scout the guys with all the best potential. 95% of the time the good players are the ones with high potential.

[XxSizzleXx]

It also really tends to even out if you actually get into the franchise as well. By the time you get into a 3rd season in franchise every team is above average.

[Bltravens]

Just had a titanic game with the Panthers in my franchise, pulled it out 29-28. Flacco went off 345 yards, 4 TDs 1Int threw a 40 yard TD pass to Rice on 4th down and the game out of the Ravens Empty set. Also threw a bomb to Stallworth of 58 yards for a score just after the 2min warning in the first half on a streak. All Madden is kinda whack, its impossible to run, and damn near impossible to stop it, I was sell out blitzing all game to keep Williams in check and he still rushed for 150 on 30 with 2 TDs....Lewis cant tackle at all in this game, I go hitstick low he gets stiff armed, I go hit stick high he gets juked, I got no hit stick and just try to run into him, and he gets shook off, kinda pissin me off. That and your pass protection is total garbage, the Panthers sacked me 5 times. Ill be restarting again soon as I download the roster update however. PS Barnes is a total beast off the edge in this game wow.

[RavensPunkXVX]

Sounds epic, but the running is ridiculous. I'm getting pretty good at running now, but the other team is nearly impossible. Ronnie Brown, broke a Ngata tackle and you just don't do that. They stiff arm me like crazy and I don't even hit stick!

The best way to keep the running game down is to make em trail early then they go to the air a lot after that and it's containable.

[BloodRaven]

Whoever built the draft class knows nothing about NFL players. A 5'7" 360lb NT with 85 strength? or a 6'2" 290lb LT with 99 strength? WRs with 99 speed and 70 acceleration? etc etc