DSP Madden Online Franchise Season 2 thread

GameSeven · Post by **GameSeven** » Mon Mar 08, 2010 10:02 am

Hey guys... Just to elaborate on what Zeppo said (thanks bud) my minivan had slid off the bottom of my in-laws 300 foot driveway and was a rollover risk at about a 30 degree lateral incline into runoff softened earth.

AAA couldn't get it out until Monday and I was afraid to let it sit that long so with some help from family we jacked up the right side with some successive layers of heavy lumber until we were able to pull it out.

I'll rejoin the league for my next game, but I'm afraid I could probably only work out to play Tuesday or Thursday night. Let me know if that works for you Badgun...

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Mon Mar 08, 2010 3:17 pm

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Mon Mar 08, 2010 4:00 pm

Broncos 31 - Colts 17

Denver went into Indy with nothing really to play for but pride. The Colts on the other hand were playing for their playoff lives. Denver used the first half to show case a new defensive scheme they possibly may break out during the playoffs and it paid huge dividend's.

Peyton Manning was intercepted 4 times, and possibly put up the worst performances of his career going 17-47, 4 INT, 0 TD and 233 yards. The Broncos confused and befuddled the future hall of fame canidate all game long.

Not even a minute into the game Alphonso Smith jumped a Manning pass and returned it 24 yards to the house.

The Colts scored on an Addai run to even it up and then were poised to take the lead when Clay intercepted Manning's for the second time. James hit Deuce McAllister on a 30 yard pass where he delayed out of the backfield and was not covered at all. It was the first pass James threw on the drive as Moreno carried the load down field. Moreno was lifted at halftime but had 94 yards on 18 carries.

With Denver up 24-7 at half time, they put in the reserves and were reminded what a Kyle Orton led offense was capable of. Orton fumbled and was also hit and coughed up the ball for an 86 yard interception return. Orton was pulled after that but it didn't matter as the Denver defense was all over the passing lanes.

In the end the Broncos walked out with a win, no injuries and more importantly a possible new wrinkle on defense for the playoffs.

Post by **Jared** » Mon Mar 08, 2010 7:04 pm

BTW, I plan on coming back for Season 3 (if there is a season 3).

Badgun · Post by **Badgun** » Mon Mar 08, 2010 7:04 pm

Wow Terry, I had no idea my only TD was the punt return after the safety. That'a bizarre. To be honest that little 9 point flurry was the only reason I won that game. I knocked Aaron Rodgers out of the game and the backup comes in and immediately burns me for a long TD and the 2 point conversion to tie the game. FG with 9 seconds left to win.

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Mon Mar 08, 2010 7:13 pm

Yeah I was looking at the game stats finding out what to write about...I'm like "ok no TD's for Romo. No TD's for Barber...no TD's receiving by anybody....WHO THE HELL SCORED 3 TD's?"

Then had to check the stats sheet...found my story of the game

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Mon Mar 08, 2010 7:13 pm

Jared wrote:BTW, I plan on coming back for Season 3 (if there is a season 3).

That's the best news I've heard in quite some time.

Maybe we'll finally get to play in season 3

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Mon Mar 08, 2010 7:30 pm

TCrouch wrote:
Jared wrote:BTW, I plan on coming back for Season 3 (if there is a season 3).
That's the best news I've heard in quite some time.

Maybe we'll finally get to play in season 3

This is good news. It sounds like you are coming back too, Terry!

Great stuff as always with the power rankings. Really, top notch!

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Mon Mar 08, 2010 8:58 pm

Jared wrote:BTW, I plan on coming back for Season 3 (if there is a season 3).

There will definitely be a season 3, as long as we have more then 2 or 3 guys.

If it gets a lot smaller we can always ramp up the speed we play at as well.

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Tue Mar 09, 2010 12:36 am

Steelers 31, Texans 20

PITTSBURGH - Turnovers and special teams...two of the great equalizers in the DSPNFL, and the difference in the regular season finale between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Houston Texans. Pittsburgh rode three Texans turnovers and two touchdowns from the Steelers special teams to a 31-20 victory and a possible AFC North title.

Pittsburgh struck on the opening kickoff, forcing a fumble from Houston returner Brian Witherspoon, which Pittsburgh's Mike Wallace scooped up and returned for a touchdown and a 7-0 Steelers lead.

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Houston evened the game at 7-7 after an 18-yard touchdown run by Ryan Moats, but Pittsburgh added another score on a 9-yard touchdown run by Willie Parker. The Texans were poised to tie the game at 14 apiece, until running back Steve Slaton fumbled at the Pittsburgh 11. Instead, the Texans would later have to settle for a field goal and enter the locker room down 14-10.

The Steelers didn't wait long to add to their lead in the second half. Returner Santonio Holmes took the kickoff 102 yards for a score and a 21-10 Pittsburgh lead:

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The score marked Holmes' tenth kickoff return for a touchdown on the season, and he finished the year with an astonishing 2,878 kick return yards. The Texans quickly spoiled Holmes accomplishment by scoring in just three plays on a 55-yard scamper by Slaton to cut Pittsburgh's lead to 21-17:

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Houston continued to move the ball well against the Steelers defense--the Texans gained 361 total yards offensively--but Pittsburgh forced another costly turnover during a successful Houston drive:

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Tight end Owen Daniels could not pull in a Matt Schaub pass before being hit, allowing the ball to pop in the air, where William Gay grabbed it for an interception. The Texans suffered from the dropsies as well as turnovers, dropping five passes during the game. Daniels would drop another key pass on third down that forced the Texans to kick a fourth quarter field goal to make it a 24-20 Pittsburgh game with just over nine minutes left.

The Pittsburgh offense finally came to life. Although held to just 104 yards rushing--well below their 217 yards-per-game average--the Steelers welded together an impressive 11-play, 77-yard drive that took more than seven minutes and ended with Ben Roethlisberger hitting Hines Ward for a 17-yard score and a clinching 31-21 lead:

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Pittsburgh heads to the playoffs as the Cinderella of the league, turning around a dismal first season into an impressive 12-4 second season, with the league's best rushing attack and special teams. The Texans finish 8-8, a moral victory after starting 1-6, and perhaps inspired by the Steelers remarkable feat as Houston looks ahead to next year.

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Tue Mar 09, 2010 12:38 am

Very good game, Vader, and good luck in the playoffs.

vader29 · Post by **vader29** » Tue Mar 09, 2010 12:48 am

Thanks Brando, that was a very good game. Although I've only had 4 games against human opponents this season they've all been very enjoyable and I will definitely be back for a third season.

Nozzleman_216 · Post by **Nozzleman_216** » Tue Mar 09, 2010 11:28 am

Cleveland escapes Buffalo on a last second field goal from their rookie Kicker.

The Browns Brady Quinn continues his poor and sporadic performances with a 5 interception day, but it seems when the team needs him most, he steps up and makes the throws as he hit Brian Robiskie for a 45 yard gain to setup the winning FG with just 10 seconds left.

Coach Nozzle said his team is not ready for another playoff birth and at this point don't deserve to be there. Maybe his comments were just to light a fire for his players. Time will tell if it works! No highlights as coach also said his players do not deserve any face time!

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Tue Mar 09, 2010 1:19 pm

Washington Redskins 17 - Jacksonville Jaguars 20

The Redskins lost at home to the Jaguars in a rainy game to finish off the regular season with an 11-5 record and a Wildcard spot in the DSPFL Playoffs. Almost all the starters for the Skins came out at halftime, when the score was 17-6. Colt Brennan ran the show very ineffectually through the 3rd quarter, and rookie QB Drew Perry took over in the 4th and was equally ineffective.

In the 3rd quarter, Redskins backup WR Malcom Kelly fumbled the ball after a nice catch, and the ball was returned 27 yds to the Skins 12 yd line. The Jags took advantage and scored their first TD of the day to make the score 17-12. The 2pt conversion failed. The Jags did put together a quality drive against the backup Skins D in the 4th quarter, which included some nice tackle-breaking runs from Maurice Jones Drew and two 4th down conversions. The Jags gained a 3 point lead with about 1:30 to go, and Skins rookie QB Perry ended up throwing a rain-soaked duck on 2nd down that was picked off to end the game.

The Redskins now get set to travel to St. Louis to take on XXXIV's Rams. Key to their preparations will be building up conversational ammunition, including distracting topics such as real life football, T Crouch's expert videogame abilities, and perhaps something to do with when we will play NHL again and why I want to stay out on the RW. I'd love to play the Wildcard game Sunday AM (not too early, mind).

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Tue Mar 09, 2010 3:23 pm

Wow...even with backups, that's shocking. Kudos for avoiding injury with nothing to play for, though.

tmdba37 · Post by **tmdba37** » Tue Mar 09, 2010 4:44 pm

Some random and not-so random notes from the Titans Clubhouse

Terry,
Excellent preview of tonight's game. Your QB rating is absolutely ridiculous. Your Defensive numbers are off the chart as well. . .

The Wild Card for tonight's game though is going to be the Titans offense--been thinking about strategies for this game since last year's AFC Title Game. (Also why I hated seeing this match-up in week 17 instead of like week 2)

I certainly agree that if you get any turnovers I'm sunk. I am definitely looking forward to the challenge on Defense though. . .that should be fun and another great playoff tune-up for me regardless of the outcome.

Ultimately, I just would like to get the ball in the endzone a couple of times this week. . .FGs killed me dead against Dan and Brando. . .red zone offense has been an issue for me all year so I need to button that up for the playoffs.

Although, per the Power Rankings, I was also happy that Brando pulled off the upset in week 16. He's too good of a guy and too good of a player to have than many losses against his fellow man

Ultimately, it's all about the playoffs for me. So we've already sent bothan spies into Denver to see what this new Defensive wrinkle is all about. . .our New Defensive wrinkle is going to try to break Morrow's and James' legs in consecutive weeks. . .(assuming the seeds fall right and the Titans play Denver in round 1)

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Tue Mar 09, 2010 4:54 pm

tmdba37 wrote: So we've already sent bothan spies into Denver to see what this new Defensive wrinkle is all about.

Actually the new defense was exclusively for the Raiders. I have a feeling if I play you and use it, the results will be very bad for me. For whatever reason I thought I would be playing Terry, but if they seed it correctly you're right I'll probably play you.

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Tue Mar 09, 2010 5:05 pm

I get my own personal offensive scheme from the Titans and defensive scheme from the Broncos? I'm honored!

In all honesty, I like that guys are taking it seriously enough to do that kind of stuff.

I obviously take it a bit more serious than most. I'll check the stats before a game to find out who the #1 target is, who's their leading rusher, how many carries a back or fullback will get a game, how many 4th down conversions they've run, etc. I may not have game film, but I'll know who their playmakers are and try to take them away. Then a lot of guys will come out with a completely different offense and can really get it going for a few drives or a quarter, and then once I take that away, they'll have to change to something else or slowly bleed to death for the remaining three quarters.

And that much is true--if you break Morrow's legs, I'm sunk. My offense is absurdly bad when I put JaMarcus back into the lineup. That guy couldn't hit the grand canyon if I asked him to.

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Tue Mar 09, 2010 5:25 pm

You scored over 90 points in 2 games and that was with taking the foot off the pedal. You think I should send out the same defense?

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Tue Mar 09, 2010 5:53 pm

Well, that's true LOL

But how many of those points were directly based off of a pick in your end or something like that?

The other thing was, the scheme wasn't really that fundamentally flawed--your guys just flat out didn't tackle. It's very strange.

In the second game, you were so focused on taking away the deep ball (which worked very well for most of the game, by the way), that it gave unusually large rushing lanes to McFadden. It really caught me off guard, too, because I came in with a pass-heavy gameplan, expecting you to be completely focused on stopping him since he gashed you so badly in the first game. Miscalculation on my part, I think!

I just really have a blast with this league. Games like this past one and the upcoming one are high points of my online gaming time. Sounds pathetic, but they are. Really love the challenge that trying to out-execute a good team poses.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Tue Mar 09, 2010 6:05 pm

Im not buying all those numbers. Terry is just very lucky player. For instance I know hes lucky I wont be getting a shot at him

Zeppo...sunday am is a no go for me...Sunday night or friday night are good though.
I have this weird feeling my headset might break before the game

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Tue Mar 09, 2010 6:12 pm

That's somewhat true. I don't know why I can't obliterate you outside of that one game we played, though. Looking at the team speed of the Rams, I should be able to run wild through your secondary, and I can't. You give me fits every time I play. In this season's match, what was it....24-21 with a couple minutes to play?

I guess that means you're a better coach than I want to admit

I can feel a loss coming--there have been a few close shaves that got me a bit jittery. When a team turns the ball over, that's when the game turns to hell in a hand basket really quickly. I just think guys who haven't played me much can forget how quickly I can steal passes out of the air, and before they blink it's 14-0 or 21-0.

No turnovers=close game, guaranteed. I rarely go up and down the field at will on a team, that's for sure.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Tue Mar 09, 2010 6:19 pm

It was close late but...and this is a BIG BUT... At no point did I think I was going to win or that I had a shot to win...

I dont feel you have a loss coming. If you lose a game I will retire from Madden...I dont think luck has anything to do with what you do. You are scary good. You are every where. It does feel like you are playing 11 against your 13 guys.

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Wed Mar 10, 2010 1:16 am

Raiders brutalize Titans 52-0

The Tennessee Titans rolled the dice in week 17 and decided to rest starters Donovan McNabb and Chris Johnson in their finale against the undefeated Oakland Raiders.

The result was far worse than their worst nightmares.

Oakland's defense was dominant. There are dominating games, and then there are the "bend them over your knee and make them cry uncle" games. This was the latter.

The Raiders sacked quarterback Vince Young 8 times, intercepted 2 passes, forced 3 fumbles, and held the league's #1 offense to a grand total of 76 yards (including -28 yards passing).

"That was not the same Titans team we may face on the playoffs", Coach Crouch quickly blurted out after the game. "I don't think McNabb would have much more of an impact on our pass defense, but not having Chris Johnson in the lineup makes the team far easier to defend."

That's the truth.

With Johnson out, Oakland was able to spy Young all game long. The former-starter-turned-backup-turned starter compiled a 4-of-12, 26 yard, 2 interception day against the Raiders vaunted pass defense. In addition to the 8 sacks, the Raiders also stripped him of the football twice--one on the 2 yard line, ending their best chance to score.

Conversely, the Raiders offensive starters did almost anything they wanted to to the Titans. The first play was a 49 yard gain to gamebreaking rookie TE Cameron Jackson, setting up a quick score.

Four first quarter turnovers by Tennessee and sharp execution by the Silver & Black offense meant that the Titans trailed by 31 after the first quarter, 45 at halftime, and then the Raiders mercifully pulled their entire starting unit at the start of the third quarter.

Darren McFadden did his best Chris Johnson impression, rushing 16 times for 142 yards and 4 touchdowns--in the first half.

In the second half, Michael Bush took over with 13 carries for 139 yards and another score.

Rookie QB Dane Morrow had to have an efficient game, and so he did--completing 5 of 6 pass attempts for 92 yards and 2 scores. When 40% of your completions are for touchdowns, you're having an efficient day.

In the end, the talent level between the two clubs was a gaping chasm without Johnson and McNabb in the line up. To Young's credit, Usain Bolt couldn't have escaped the pocket quick enough to cause problems for Oakland's QB Contain gameplan, but it can't be stressed how much not having #28 in the backfield hurt Tennessee.

Oakland, meanwhile, piled up 388 offensive yards (300 in the first half, only 85 in the second half with the backups in while instituting an all-run gameplan that saw JaMarcus Russell throw just 3 times). They put up 281 rushing yards on a Tennessee front that really didn't expect that kind of abuse.

But going in, everybody knew that turnovers would be the difference. Oakland 0, Tennesee 5, and that was all she wrote.

Oakland moves to 16-0 and likely a #2 seed in the playoffs, while Tennessee awaits the finals in Cleveland and Pittsburgh to see if they remain #3 or #4 on Wild Card Weekend.

**********************************************************

Absolutely no idea what to say on that one, Todd. I got the feeling you knew what was coming when you didn't trot out CJ, and (as I said during the game) it wasn't quite as satisfying as I'd hoped. That's 0-for-2 against your Chris Johnson, as he's only been able to carry 5 times against me in 2 games

I look forward to a playoff matchup, which I'm sure will be vastly different than this one.

tmdba37 · Post by **tmdba37** » Wed Mar 10, 2010 1:40 am

Terry,

Excellent write up as always. . .the game was pretty much over after the first two fumbles. . .although that fumble at the two did suck. . .

Sorry about trotting the backups out there tonight, but I figured there was no benefit to try and win this meaningless game when I have a real shot at your Raiders if I get out of the first round of the playoffs.

Definitely know what teams like the Colts felt like when faced with this situation in the real league. It's hard to watch the bench guys get battered around but it would have been harder to watch McNabb or Johnson get carted off the field in a game that had little to no bearing in the playoff picture.

Anyway, like I said, playing against your D is a great learning experience and even if I have to take 7 TD lumps as a fee, it'll be worth it in the long run. . .

Great game and congrats on the perfect season. . .good luck in the playoffs!