Your Chance To Participate In A New Football Phenomenon (Sandbox Simulations)

[Rain Man]

I apologize if the mods think this is soliciting, and I guess it is, but at the same time it's beta testing a new product developed by long-time planeteers, and it's free.

cdcox and I have been developing a new football game for the thoughtful fan, where players build franchises and compete against each other. A description is below.

If you're interested, we're offering the game for free in Year 1 to Chiefsplanet members, with the goal of both giving the system a dry run and also hooking you like Phillip Morris. You can go to www.sandboxsimulations.com to sign up, and use the access code 6Lanier3.

Here's the overview:

Build and manage a full 53-player roster over multiple seasons, as an offseason activity to give you year-round football

Select your personnel to match your offensive and defensive scheme. Every position matters – even your blocking tight end.

Realistic and accurate simulations of league games based on head-to-head matchups against other teams in your league.


This is essentially a new concept in fantasy football that attempts to simulate as closely as possible the management of a real NFL franchise over a multi-year period. Unlike regular fantasy football, every position on the offense and defense contributes to your success or failure. On special teams, the punter, kicker, and kick returners matter.

In Sandbox Football you will build a team – an entire 53-man football team – via an initial draft, and will maintain it year after year in annual rookie drafts, trading periods, and free agency. You compete against teams in your league. In the first year of the game, before the start of the NFL season, you will build your roster by drafting veterans and rookies through separate drafts, and through trades with other teams in the league. Your roster is frozen at the beginning of the NFL season. During the real regular NFL season, you can focus on your traditional fantasy games and perhaps keep on eye on your Sandbox roster as our statistical models build the data on player performances. At the end of the regular NFL season, the Sandbox season begins. There will be 16 games in the season. In real time, the season will run about 8 weeks (2 alternate reality games per week).

Game outcomes will be simulated based on the performance of individual players during the just-completed NFL regular season. The simulations, developed by a PhD statistical expert, estimate how individual players will perform in the context of your alternate reality team competing head-to-head against other teams in the league and with the specific team that you have built. The simulations will consider the offensive and defensive schemes that you select. So you can build your roster to support a power running game or a high-flying passing attack. You can run a 3-4 or 4-3 base defense. You can run nickel formations or four-wide receiver sets. You can rotate your DL to keep them fresh.

The game is more about building a team than playing video games. So this isn't Madden, but you will have the ability to tweak your game plan to take the best advantage of your roster and the weaknesses of your opponent. Injuries are a factor in the game. If a player is unavailable during weeks 3 through 6 in the NFL, he is also unavailable during the same weeks in the alternate reality season. So roster depth matters. The game simulations are based on the most advanced statistics and the latest research regarding what matters in winning an NFL game. But, the outcomes of the games have a random component, just like real NFL games.

The calendar for the alternate reality league year will look something like this:
• Jan to Mid March: Alternate Reality regular season and playoffs.
• Mid-March to the beginning of NFL season: Roster building through trades, veteran draft (first year), free agent drafts (2nd year and beyond), and rookie draft.
• Beginning of NFL season to end of regular NFL season: Alternate reality league is dormant, but the NFL players are generating their performance stats for the up-coming AR league.
• Rinse and repeat.

Copyright Sandbox Simulations, all rights reserved.

We're still finalizing the cost structure, but this won't be an expensive game to play at all. It might range from a few bucks a year to $50 per year, depending on a few factors.

Year 1 will require a couple of days of drafting with rather high intensity, but we've got it set up where you can put your draft list together and do customized and automated drafting if you like.

So...go! Now! Time to get ready for the draft!




Note that we are still in beta testing, so things could change if we find problems in the system.


How Free Agency Works:

Free Agency will begin before the 2012 season after the rookie draft.

Our process is as follows for the 2012 season. In 2013 and beyond there will be minor changes as noted later.

1. We will unveil the list of available free agents so you can check out the talent pool.

2. If you look in "Standings", you will see that you have a salary account value of $1,300. You will use this to sign your veterans to contracts, sign your rookies to contracts, and (in a competitive bidding process) sign free agents to contracts.

The cost of a contract is as follows for players already on your roster (both veterans and rookies).

$0 - 1 season contract
$10 - 2 season contract
$22 - 3 season contract
$37 - 4 season contract
$55 - 5 season contract
$76 - 6 season contract
$100 - 7 season contract

You will sign your existing players to contracts using an interface that we will unveil shortly. If your 53-man roster is set you can spend your $1,300 on your current roster. However, it may be worthwhile to hold some money back so you can compete for free agents.

3. The free agency period begins.

Bidding for free agents will be open and competitive. As players come available, teams will be allowed to sign them if they are the high bidder. The contract length is automatically calculated by rounding down the bid to the chart below.

Contract Length (Seasons) Salary Points Bid
1 0 to 9
2 10 to 21
3 22 to 36
4 37 to 54
5 55 to 75
6 76 to 99
7 100 or more

For example, if you submit the winning bid for a player at a price of 25 salary points, that player becomes yours under a 3-year contract. If you submit a bid for 35 points and win, it’s also a 3-year contract. If you submit a bid for 38 points, it’s a 4-year contract. If you submit a bid for 120 points, it’s a 7-year contract.

For the 2012 free agency period, we will enforce the 53-man rule. You will need to cut down to 53 players before the free agency period starts, and if you sign a player to go above 53, you will need to cut a player to stay within the roster limit. NOTE: DON'T CUT YET UNLESS YOU WANT TO. WE'RE STILL FINALIZING THE SYSTEM AND WANT TO BE SURE THAT THIS RULE WORKS IN 2012.

4. Ending Bidding and Ending Free Agency.

Bids on an individual player will begin once the first player places a bid. For the 2012 season that bid must be $1 or more. Bidding ends when the existing high bid had not been raised for 72 hours. At that point, the high-bid team is awarded the player under the contract terms described in Step 3.

The free agency period in 2012 will end once there have been no bids on any players for 72 hours.

5. Unused Salary Points

If you do not use all of your salary points in a given year, they will roll over from year to year. This is experimental and we'll have to see how it works. If it doesn't work, they'll expire each year, or maybe a portion of the points can roll over. Right now, assume they all roll over.

6. Salary Points and Roster Management

In the Sandbox system, salary points and the salary cap are used only for acquiring players. You will never have to track the number of salary points “on your roster” and you will never have to cut a player for salary cap reasons.

Additionally, you are not obligated to keep a player for the full length of his contract. You can cut him or trade him at any time. However, recognize that it’s a waste of salary points to cut or trade a player before the end of his contract. But it doesn't hamstring you going forward - it's just past money that you wasted.

7. Free Agency and Contract Length - Retaining Your Current Players

When a player reaches the end of their contract, they go back into the free agency pool and teams will bid for their services. You are eligible to bid on them to get them back, just like you can bid on any free agents.

There is one exception to the rule of free agents going into the free agency pool, as follows:

• At the end of the bidding process, you have the opportunity to re-sign your own players by outbidding the high bidder. Your bid must be the minimum points to increase their contract period by a year over the high bid. (Example: your player goes to free agency, and another team bids 50 points for him, which equates to a 4-year contract. You can keep the player by paying 55 points for him, which is the minimum amount for a 5-year contract.) If the high bidder offered a contract of 100 points or more (7-years), you can keep the player by bidding 10% more points than the high bid.

8. Free Agency and Trades

If you trade for a player, their contract length is a consideration. Trading for a player with 6 years left on his contract will give you his services for that amount of time (unless you cut him or trade him, or he retires). Trading for a player with 1 year left on his contract means that he’ll go back into the free agency pool at the end of the season. (Of course, you can still retain him via Step 7.)

9. Future Years

In future years, the process will be identical to that shown above, with the following exceptions.

a. Because you will have a lot of veteran players under contract, you won't need $1,300. You'll get a new annual allotment of signing dollars. We're still working on the exact amount, but it looks like it'll be between $500 and $600.

b. In the 2012 season, we will introduce all free agents at once to catch up. In the 2013 season and beyond, the free agency period will occur during the actual NFL season. We will sprinkle the free agents in one division at a time over the course of the season. (The divisions may be randomly selected or we may release a calendar. It doesn't matter that much.) This system should be interesting because some free agents will come available early in the season when you don't know their performance for the year - greater risk, greater reward - while other free agents will come available later in the season when you know what their performance will be, but so does everyone else.

c. In the 2013 season and beyond, you will be able to retain more than 53 players through the rookie draft and the main free agency period. You will then have a cutdown period to get to 53 and we will have a final free agency period where you can sign any players who have been cut. In that final period you will have to enforce a 53-man roster, so if you sign a player you have to cut one.

10. When you think about the schedule in 2013 and beyond, it will go like this:

a. Sandbox season goes from February through April.
b. Rookie draft in May. No 53-man limit.
c. Free agency from (likely) September through December, with free agents sprinkled in throughout that period.
d. January. Roster cuts to 53.
e. Late January. Final free agency period to flesh out rosters and sign players cut in Step d.
f. New Sandbox season begins.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by brorth

Sending proposal...

The deal is done.

[Rain Man]

League 1 (My last team in this league)

Richmond Tigerhawks

Lost a few late picks due to abandonment, but not too bad.

This team has extra depth at FB, WR, G, C, SS, and particularly DT. We need a CB and DE, and could use upgrades at QB, WR, and OLB, and depth at LT, RT, FS, and ILB.

Jamaal Charles HB
James Starks HB
LaRod Stephens-Howling HB
Isaac Redman HB

Good starter and reasonable depth. I'm happy.

John Conner FB
Corey McIntyre FB

Two solid starters. Nice setup.

Mark Sanchez QB
Matt Hasselbeck QB
Tyler Thigpen QB

Eh. Waited a little too long to draft a QB. Sanchez will be the horse we ride.

Roy E. Williams WR
Malcom Floyd WR
Donald Jones WR
Josh Morgan WR
Derrick Mason WR
Dwayne Harris WR
Mardy Gilyard WR

Four starters, though I'm not sure that any are legitimate #1s. Jamaal Charles needs more carries.

Scott Chandler TE
Evan Moore TE
Matt Spaeth TE
Tony Moeaki TE

Lost Moeaki for the year, but Chandler and Moore are starters. Not star-studded, but okay.

Sam Baker LT
Barry Sims LT

I think Sims got cut, so our starter is fine but depth is weak.

Kraig Urbik G
Chris Williams G
Jake Scott G
Danny Watkins G
Mike McGlynn G

Strong here. Three starters and two promising young backups.

Jonathan Goodwin C
Will Montgomery C

Two reasonable starters here. That's fine.

Andre Smith RT

No depth, so we'll hope that Smith stays healthy and motivated.

Josh Scobee K
Joe Nedney K

Nedney appears to have been cut, so we picked up Scobee

Kevin Huber P

Fine here.

Dashon Goldson FS
Qinton Carter FS
Macho Harris FS
Mark Legree FS

Lots of bodies, but I think Goldson is the only one still in the league. Couple of wasted draft picks in the rookie draft.

Melvin Bullitt SS
Courtney Greene SS

Two fine starters.

Sheldon Brown CB
Curtis Brown CB
Brandon Harris CB
David Jones CB

Yikes. One starter and a couple of dime backs. In trouble here.

Clark Haggans OLB
Manny Lawson OLB
Gabe Miller OLB

Miller is out for the year. Two reasonable starters, but not great and no depth. Yikes.

Derrick O. Johnson ILB
Lofa Tatupu MLB

I don't think Tatupu is on a team, so hopefully DJ stays healthy.

Israel Idonije DE
Osi Umenyiora DE
Jeremy Jarmon DE
Stylez G. White DE

Not a good situation. Idonije is starting and Umenyiora is now a backup in NY. Other two guys got cut.

Chris Canty DT
Terrance Knighton DT
Mike Patterson DT
Fred Robbins DT
Tony Brown DT

Very strong here, with four legitimate starters.

[kstater]

Proposed a trade Rainman.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by kstater

Proposed a trade Rainman.

Hmm, your guy's not a fit for me because I need a 4-3 end. However, I'm very interested in whoever is your third CB (Tramon Williams, Cromartie, or Patrick Peterson. Any interest in John Conner and one of my receivers for any of them? I've got several guys who would be a good third receiver for you. Floyd's probably the only one I can't trade.

[Rain Man]

League 2

St. Louis Spiders

We have a star halfback to trade and some fullbacks, and we need a WR and SS, and could stand upgrades at FS, OLB, and maybe DE. Anyone?

Adrian L. Peterson HB
Maurice Jones-Drew HB
Mewelde Moore HB
Toby Gerhart HB

Okay, we've got two stars here. Jones-Drew is available for trade since we need help in other areas.

Brit Miller FB
Earnest Graham FB
Owen Marecic FB
Charles Clay FB

They moved Clay and I hit the jackpot on FBs, so I have four of them. Graham can also be a third-down back. Anyone need a fullback?

Kyle Orton QB
Seneca Wallace QB
Jake Locker QB

Not a position of strength, but we have a stopgap starter, reasonable backup, and QBOTF. I guess we're good.

Steve L. Smith WR
Dexter McCluster WR
Demetrius Williams WR
Scotty McKnight WR
Aldrick Robinson WR

Disasterville. One receiver and McCluster. Send help. Now.

Evan Moore TE
Randy McMichael TE
Ernest Wilford TE

Moore is a starter, but we're not exactly strong. We'll be riding the running game.

Jeff Backus LT
Bryant McKinnie LT
Anthony Collins LT

Two good starters. We're fine.

Stephen Peterman G
Shawn Lauvao G
Ted Larsen G
Antoine Caldwell G

You don't know the names, but we have three legit starters. We're fine.

Brad Meester C
Adam Snyder C
Jamaal Jackson C

Starter and a couple of solid backups. Fine.

Tony Pashos RT

Decent starter, but no depth.

Jason Hanson K
Shane Andrus K

Fine here. Andrus got cut so we picked up the venerable Hanson.

Brian Moorman P
Chris Kluwe P

Accidentally drafted two. We're good.

Kendrick Lewis FS
Usama Young FS
Robert Sands FS

(Sigh.) Okay. Come through for me, Kendrick.

Kyle McCarthy SS
Eric Berry SS

(Heavy sigh.) We're screwed here. Need to pick someone up.

Asante Samuel CB
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie CB
Walter Thurmond CB
Patrick Lee CB

Could use another starter or nickel here, but it's okay.

Kavell Conner OLB
Scott Fujita OLB
Andy Studebaker OLB
Phillip Dillard OLB

No big names, but we're okay.

Gary Brackett MLB
Corey Mays ILB

Brackett is fine for the short term, but no depth.

Red Bryant DE
Antonio D. Smith DE
Jayme Mitchell DE
Brandon Deaderick DE

We have three legitimate starters that no one's every heard of. We'll do fine.

Chris Canty DT
Kelly Gregg DT
Nick Fairley DT
Gabe Watson NT

Not sure what to think here. I think we're okay, and if Fairley does well we'll be fine.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Hmm, your guy's not a fit for me because I need a 4-3 end. However, I'm very interested in whoever is your third CB (Tramon Williams, Cromartie, or Patrick Peterson. Any interest in John Conner and one of my receivers for any of them? I've got several guys who would be a good third receiver for you. Floyd's probably the only one I can't trade.

I made a different offer. See what you think. It gives us both a good starter at one position and upgrades our depth at another.

[kstater]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I made a different offer. See what you think. It gives us both a good starter at one position and upgrades our depth at another.

Had to decline. I'm aware that I need a FB(apparently I drafted a retired one), but I can live without one if needed, and I know CB is a strong suit of my team and I plan to keep it that way. I'm not opposed to moving off the second part of the trade though.

[Iowanian]

Fear the Angry Clam Hammers

LT-Russel Okung, Jeff Backus
G-Steve Hutchison, Stacy Andrews, John Moffitt, Rex Hadnot(listed as FB, but he's a swing guard/Center)
C- Casey Rabach, Dominic Raiola
RT-Marshall Yanda, Mark Tausher, Flozell Adams (we have some trade bait here)
QB- Mathew Stafford, Cam Newton (probably need a #3)
HB- Adrian Peterson, Shonn Greene, Donald Brown
WR- Michael Crabtree, Brandon Lloyd, Mike Sims-Walker,Jerricho Cotchery, Andre Caldwell, Brandon Tate
TE- Zach Miller, Jeff King, Leonard Pope, Lance Kendricks
FB-Mike Karney

3-4
NT-Casey Hampton, Chris Neild, Pat Williams
DE-Aaron Kampman, Adrian Clayborn, Cory Redding, Dwan Edwards
ILB-London Fletcher, Larry Foote, Paris Lennon (Probably need some depth)
OLB- Calvin Pace, David Bowens, Quentin Groves, Scott Fujita, Travis Laboy, Tully Banta-Cain
CB- Terrence Newman, Leodis McKelvin, Kyle Arrington, Kelvin Hayden, Kelly Jennings, Cortez Allen
FS- Tenard Jackson, Kendrick Lewis, James Sanders, CC Brown
SS-Dawan Landry, Erik Coleman, Tyler Sash
K- (Neglected this position and need to make a move)
P-Hunter Smith




now run and tell that, run and tell that! Home boy

[kstater]

Dallas K-Swiss Tubes

Safety:O.J Atogwe, M. Griffin, Morgan Burnett, Reed Doughtry
CB: Cromartie, T. Williams, P. Peterson, Orlando Scandrick, J. Brown
OLB: James Harrison, C. Mathews, Ryan Kerrigan, Frank Zombo, Antwon Applewhite
ILB: Daryl Washington, Brandon Spikes, Keith Brooking, Mario Haggan
DE: Cullen Jenkins, John Henderson, Marcus Dixon,
C.J Wilson, Igor Olshanshky
NT: Shaun Rogers, Steven Paea, Steve McLendon

WR: Lee Evans, Ocho-Cinco, Steve Breaston, Jerome Simpson, A. Pettis, Damian Williams
TE: Dustin Keller, Billy Bajema
Tackle: M. Roos, Jeff Otah, Jamal Brown, Jah Reid
Guard: David Arkin, Rob Sims, Shawn Andrews, Doug Legursky
C:Olin Kreutz, Jamaal Jackson
QB:Sam Bradford, Caleb Henne, Kerry Collins
RB:R. Grant, Brandon Jacobs, Justin Forsett, Madison Hedgecock
K:Stephen Gostkowski
P:Matt Dodge

[Old Dog]

Pomona Platypi (L2)

QB: J. Freeman, A. Dalton, L. McCown
RB: A. Bradshaw, J. Starks, A. Dixon, D. Brown
FB: J. Kuhn
TE: G. Olsen, J. Cook
WR: S. Rice, P. Garcon, S. Smith(Phi), M. Spurlock#, R. Moss, K. Durham, J. Jernigan, B. Obomanu
LT: J. Long, J. Bushrod
LG: D. College, D. Lutui
C: Maurkice Pouncey, J. Zuttah
RG: H. Blalock, J. Scott
RT: J. Otah, A. Davis

NT/DT: P. Soliai, R. Miller, G. Gibson
DT/DE: T. Jackson, C. Liuget, D. Peko, S. Fua, M. Neal
OLB: M. Kiwanuka, D. Moch, N. Roach, G. Hayes, Q. Groves
ILB: J. Beason*, D'Qwell Jackson, K. Morrison, J. Goff, H.B. Blades
S: B. Meriweather, D. Landry, M. Griffin, S. Brown
CB: B. Carr, J. Joseph, P. Peterson, C. Cook, T. Jennings

K: N. Kaeding*
P: M. McBriar
KR/PR: M. Spurlock#


Definitely tried to stay young and build for the future. Took a late flyer on R. Moss. Have already lost Beason and Kaeding, so it looks like McBriar will do double duty as a kicker as well.
Probably have one of the best if not the best offensive lines in the league, am quite happy at QB and with the back four of the defense, but am unspectacular at most other positions

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Iowanian

Fear the Angry Clam Hammers

LT-Russel Okung, Jeff Backus
G-Steve Hutchison, Stacy Andrews, John Moffitt, Rex Hadnot(listed as FB, but he's a swing guard/Center)
C- Casey Rabach, Dominic Raiola
RT-Marshall Yanda, Mark Tausher, Flozell Adams (we have some trade bait here)
QB- Mathew Stafford, Cam Newton (probably need a #3)
HB- Adrian Peterson, Shonn Greene, Donald Brown
WR- Michael Crabtree, Brandon Lloyd, Mike Sims-Walker,Jerricho Cotchery, Andre Caldwell, Brandon Tate
TE- Zach Miller, Jeff King, Leonard Pope, Lance Kendricks
FB-Mike Karney

3-4
NT-Casey Hampton, Chris Neild, Pat Williams
DE-Aaron Kampman, Adrian Clayborn, Cory Redding, Dwan Edwards
ILB-London Fletcher, Larry Foote, Paris Lennon (Probably need some depth)
OLB- Calvin Pace, David Bowens, Quentin Groves, Scott Fujita, Travis Laboy, Tully Banta-Cain
CB- Terrence Newman, Leodis McKelvin, Kyle Arrington, Kelvin Hayden, Kelly Jennings, Cortez Allen
FS- Tenard Jackson, Kendrick Lewis, James Sanders, CC Brown
SS-Dawan Landry, Erik Coleman, Tyler Sash
K- (Neglected this position and need to make a move)
P-Hunter Smith




now run and tell that, run and tell that! Home boy

Big fan of your offense, where I think you're strong at every position other than maybe TE and of course no established star at QB. Defense? You may need to outscore the other team.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by kstater

Dallas K-Swiss Tubes

Safety:O.J Atogwe, M. Griffin, Morgan Burnett, Reed Doughtry
CB: Cromartie, T. Williams, P. Peterson, Orlando Scandrick, J. Brown
OLB: James Harrison, C. Mathews, Ryan Kerrigan, Frank Zombo, Antwon Applewhite
ILB: Daryl Washington, Brandon Spikes, Keith Brooking, Mario Haggan
DE: Cullen Jenkins, John Henderson, Marcus Dixon,
C.J Wilson, Igor Olshanshky
NT: Shaun Rogers, Steven Paea, Steve McLendon

WR: Lee Evans, Ocho-Cinco, Steve Breaston, Jerome Simpson, A. Pettis, Damian Williams
TE: Dustin Keller, Billy Bajema
Tackle: M. Roos, Jeff Otah, Jamal Brown, Jah Reid
Guard: David Arkin, Rob Sims, Shawn Andrews, Doug Legursky
C:Olin Kreutz, Jamaal Jackson
QB:Sam Bradford, Caleb Henne, Kerry Collins
RB:R. Grant, Brandon Jacobs, Justin Forsett, Madison Hedgecock
K:Stephen Gostkowski
P:Matt Dodge

Pretty stout D and a very strong defensive backfield. It'll be interesting to see how your offense fares - some solid guys, but no big stars at the skill positions for the most part other than maybe Ochocinco.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by truebigdog

Pomona Platypi (L2)

QB: J. Freeman, A. Dalton, L. McCown
RB: A. Bradshaw, J. Starks, A. Dixon, D. Brown
FB: J. Kuhn
TE: G. Olsen, J. Cook
WR: S. Rice, P. Garcon, S. Smith(Phi), M. Spurlock#, R. Moss, K. Durham, J. Jernigan, B. Obomanu
LT: J. Long, J. Bushrod
LG: D. College, D. Lutui
C: Maurkice Pouncey, J. Zuttah
RG: H. Blalock, J. Scott
RT: J. Otah, A. Davis

NT/DT: P. Soliai, R. Miller, G. Gibson
DT/DE: T. Jackson, C. Liuget, D. Peko, S. Fua, M. Neal
OLB: M. Kiwanuka, D. Moch, N. Roach, G. Hayes, Q. Groves
ILB: J. Beason*, D'Qwell Jackson, K. Morrison, J. Goff, H.B. Blades
S: B. Meriweather, D. Landry, M. Griffin, S. Brown
CB: B. Carr, J. Joseph, P. Peterson, C. Cook, T. Jennings

K: N. Kaeding*
P: M. McBriar
KR/PR: M. Spurlock#


Definitely tried to stay young and build for the future. Took a late flyer on R. Moss. Have already lost Beason and Kaeding, so it looks like McBriar will do double duty as a kicker as well.
Probably have one of the best if not the best offensive lines in the league, am quite happy at QB and with the back four of the defense, but am unspectacular at most other positions

Agreed on your o-line, and that may work well with Bradshaw. With the o-line and Freeman you can buy some time for your receivers to come open. Your d-backfield looks good, but we'll see how your d-line and pass rush hold up. You're going to need a couple of rookies to contribute.

[Rain Man]

League 2

Independence Spiders

Interesting team. They lost a bunch of later picks before I caught them up. They're hurting at WR, K, and could use upgrades at OLB and DE. They need depth at LT and C.

Their biggest problem is on the defensive line. They have one really good 4-3 DT and three 4-3 starters at DT, plus one NT. But at DE they only have one 4-3 DE who's so-so, and 3 decent to good 3-4 DEs. If they go 3-4 they'd need to upgrade at NT and get depth at ILB, or if they go 4-3 they'd need to upgrade at DE. Any offers?

Shonn Greene HB
Michael Bush HB
Kendall Hunter HB
Alex Green HB HB

It'd be nice to have a star here, but we've got a couple of solid starters, and Hunter on third down.

Jerome Felton FB
Heath Evans FB

Evans retired, but Felton is all we need. He's good.

Donovan McNabb QB
Christian Ponder QB
Kyle Boller QB

Typical QB situation. Stopgap solid starter, QBOTF, and older insurance policy. We're fine.

Larry Fitzgerald WR
Darrius Heyward-Bey WR
Ramses Barden WR
Niles Paul WR
T.J. Houshmandzadeh WR

Yeesh. Pretty weak here after Fitzgerald. Bey can start and the others all are backups at best. Need help here.

Dallas Clark TE
Kellen Davis TE
Kyle Rudolph TE

Two starters. We're fine, and Clark is a top-notch guy who is an extra receiver for the most part.

J'Marcus Webb LT

Geez. The Bears shuffled their line all around, but Webb ended up starting. Not a star, but he's mammoth for our power run game.

Kory Lichtensteiger G
Jason Pinkston G
Richie Incognito G
Mike McGlynn G
Leonard Davis G

Ended up with all sorts of guards as people's positions got shuffled. We're fine here.

Roberto Garza C

Need some depth, but otherwise fine.

Gabe Carimi RT
Khalif Barnes RT
Lydon Murtha RT

Carimi ended up on the right side, so it's good to have a rookie starter. We have one at RT and one at G.

Joe Nedney K

Dang. He got cut. Need some help here.

Donnie Jones P

Good punter. Good, good punter.

Thomas DeCoud FS
Dashon Goldson FS

Two starters. We'll give DeCoud the nod.

Sean Jones SS
Deon Grant SS

Jones is a starter, so we're fine.

Cortland Finnegan CB
Josh Wilson CB
Tracy Porter CB
Travis Daniels CB
William James CB

Reasonable starters, but could use higher-quality depth.

Tamba Hali OLB
Erik Walden OLB
Thomas Davis OLB
Frank Zombo OLB
Mike Peterson OLB

Hali's a good leader for us, and then we've got some journeymen.

London Fletcher-Baker ILB
Paris Lenon ILB

We'll have to see who wins this training camp battle of European cities.

Robert Geathers DE
Gerard Warren DE
Dwan Edwards DE
Ryan Pickett DE
Darryl Tapp DE
Dave Tollefson DE
Jamaal Anderson DE
Trevor Scott DE

Okay, here's a challenge. This team has one starting 4-3 end and the next 3 guys are all 3-4 ends. Might have to think about some trades here. And why did I draft so many DEs?

Kevin Williams DT
Remi Ayodele DT
Henry Melton DT
Shaun Cody DT
Corey Peters DT

With Williams we're definitely going 4-3, and we've got lots of depth. Cody is a starting 3-4 nose tackle who can be trade bait.

[kstater]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Pretty stout D and a very strong defensive backfield. It'll be interesting to see how your offense fares - some solid guys, but no big stars at the skill positions for the most part other than maybe Ochocinco.

Obviously I concentrated on D realizing everyone would use the early rounds on Offense. Happy with the offense as well. If Otah can come back from injury and be strong, I think I'm in a good spot.