How would you build a football team?
 

Let's say you have just been named head coach of the newest NFL expansion team, the Las Vegas Travelers (or Gamblers, or Skullthumpers, or whatever). You have sat down with your owner and GM, came to the conclusion that it takes at least three years to be a playoff contender in the NFL, and it has been decided that you basically have carte blanche to run the team as you see fit for three years, provided you have at least a two game improvement every year from the last. You have the college draft, the expansion draft, and the Owner, GM and yourself will pursue four free agent players for both offense and defense (meaning eight players) that will hopefully step in and make an impact in year one. The team comes to life in 2008, has a state of the art practice facility to go along with a spanking new rolling roof stadium that seats 87,000 that is the envy of the league, and has already sold all luxury boxes and PSA's for years to come. Public interest is very high, as is the excitement.

What is your offensive/defensive/team phillosophy, and who do you pursue in free agency?

Here is a list of potential 2008 free agents, according to KFFL -

http://www.kffl.com/static/nfl/featu...By+Team&y=2008

A list of the top draft prospects in 2008 -

http://www.footballsfuture.com/2008/prospects/

Assuming that this expansion team gets the 1st pick of the 2008 NFL Draft, this team will be needing to select a LT of the future on the top pick, followed by either another offensive lineman, quarterback, or a defensive lineman.

I always have been a believer that a right way to go to build a football team is at the trenches, and the quarterback.

And for the potentional FA's, that expansion team should be looking for young to mid 20 year old players to build on as well.

It is a big risk, but there's also a high reward as well. Carolina did a good job on this when Dom Capers was coaching them, but they selected the guys who were at their prime, and they managed to get one good year, before they all got old and fell apart.

QB

then

OL & DL

strong lines can cover for a lot of weaknesses....

Pull the roof off the stadium and throw it in the river. My team is only playing real football.

After throwing the roof in the river, this is a good second step.

Your team has just been fined $500 for littering.

IIRC, expansion teams can select up to two players from each team.

Here are the 2007 NFL rosters -

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players

Only to players that teams deem "exposed"


You really think the Chiefs would expose someone like Jared Allen?

It's ****ing Las Vegas, complete with buzzards. But you're the man in your scenario, so let the record show that cdcox's team will be feeling like hammered shit come November. :)

For purposes of this hypothetical, I'll leave it to the user to use some common sense about who will and won't be available in the expansion draft.

However, if you want to give up a first and a third for a franchise/transition player, go for it.

I do think that it's important to build your team around your quarterback. However, I wouldn't rely on the #1 pick like how the Texans did with David Carr (and we all saw how that panned out). With the top pick I would probably take Jake Long out of Michigan so I have a young, reliable LT in place for years to come. With the line anchored, I would try to get a FA QB. I would make a strong play for Tony Romo, although I would need a good backup plan since that wouldn't probably work. This plan would be better if there were a lot of good young back-ups looking to get a starting job... darn. Anyway. I would try to get some sort of young veteran QB with a lot of potential rather than spend all three years trying to develop a rookie with nothing but potential. Failing that, I would use the probably high pick in 2009 to draft a QB.

OL, DL, OL, DL

Based off that list?

Suggs, J. Allen, P. Williams, Darby

Locklear, Faneca, Lilja, J. Martin

I overlooked the Vegas aspect. I want to change my reply.

Pull the roof off the stadium and bury it in the desert. I'll invest the $500 I saved in littering fines in palm trees on the home sideline.

I'd trade for Damon Huard and Larry Johnson and fill the rest of the roster with NFL Europe players.

If you are just starting, taking the BPA in each round of the draft is the way to go you need any sort of foundation you can find.

Baker
Ellis
Davis
Jackson
Rivers
Maualuga
Thomas
Booty
Walker
Smith

I'd draft Jake Long or Glenn Dorsey #1, but most likely Long, as DT busts a LOT on high picks.

I basically mirror Coach in my philosophy

I'd spend most of my first day picks on BPA, as you have to fill an entire squad.

with a solid LT like Long, you could run the Coryell offense, but I actually prefer the run-based variant that Vermeil and Saunders installed, but I'd rather use zone blocking, as it is the ultimate scheme for "making chicken salad" as Gus Johnson would say.

On D I think that you can be more dominant with a 3-4, and many of the top D's of recent years have been 3-4's (New England, Baltimore, Pittsburgh), but it's very hard to find a true NT, although OLB/DE tweeners are really plentiful in the draft.

I'd target the following FA's
Marc Bulger--QB
Kyle Boller--QB
Cleo Lemon--QB

Derrick Ward--RB

Bryant Johnson--WR
Bernard Berrian--WR
Patrick Crayton--WR
DJ Hackett--WR

Floyd Womack--OG
Ryan Lilja--OG


Jared Allen--DE
Terrell Suggs--DL/OLB
Karlos Dansby--OLB

Gibril Wilson--SS
Eugene Wilson--S

Charles Tillman--CB

BPA's

I'd only sign FA's that we're 28 and younger and weren't coming off a major injury.

holla

OK - here is my draft, and the eight targeted "impact" free agents, four for both sides of the ball -

Rd 1: Jake Long - LT - Michigan

Rd 2: Dennis Dixon - QB - Oregon

Rd 3: Quentin Groves - DE - Auburn

Rd 4: Justin Forsett - RB - Cal

Rd 5: Marcus Harrison - DT - Arkansas

Rd 6: Ezra Butler - OLB - Nevada

Rd 7: Ambrose Wooden - CB - Notre Dame



Impact Free Agents:

Jared Allen - DE - KC

Justin Smith - DE - Cinci

Eugene Wilson - S - NE

Quentin Jammer - CB - SD

Tony Romo - QB - DAL

Bernard Berrian - WR - CHI

Ryan Lilja - G - INDY

Alan Faneca - G - PITT


I actually went through and got two players from all 32 teams, but that may more than I'm willing to type right now.

I would get some hot cheerleaders, and then take a prison team to the SuperBowl.

PBJ PBJ PBJ PBJ PBJ PBJ PBJ

Also, my coaching phillosophy would be to attack from both sides of the ball. I would employ an Al Saunders offense with the Air Coryell system, and I would have a defense as closley resemblin what Jim Johnson runs in Philly. None of this conservative, play-not-to-lose crappola from either the offense or defense. Just get after it. If you have the ball on offense - score, however you can. If you're on defense, kill the ball carrier and take that sumbitch away from him.

So basically, you want Adam Sandler for your QB, Nelly as your RB, and the chicks from The Replacements. It could work!

Definetly start with a Rookie Damon Huard and Groom him behind Jay Fiedler or David the Gnome

I'd higher a tight ass, Arrogant GM and introduce him to a hungry fan base. I'd then raise prices year after year after mentioning something about a five year plan.

I agree with most of the what people have said so far, but I'd hold off on quarterback until 2009.

Long term draft strategy:

2008: 1st round LT, 2nd round WR/BPA, 3rd round BPA
2009: 1st round QB, 2nd/3rd round BPA
2010: 1st/2nd round RB, 1st/2nd/3rd round BPA

I hire a tough defensive minded headcoach and the most aggressive offensive and defensive coordinators I can find, wanting an aggressive, hard-nosed team that will knock you on your ass and then put their collective boot on your throat, in all phases of the game.

I'd focus heavily initially on the offensive roster, working first on building the best line possible, and putting a veteran quarterback behind them for the first season to season-and-a-half. My line (and my 2nd round WR from '08) should be solid and productive before my '09 Franchise QB ever sees the field. The last thing I want to do is give him the David Carr treatment.

I go with a focus on offense first because I think it's the more difficult unit to build, and takes longer. It's also better in terms of entertaining my new fanbase.

Personnel focus begins to shift towards bolstering the defense (which would be about league average at this point, 15-20) in the latter half of the '09 draft and then into 2010, although I acquire the final piece of the offense that year, my franchise back.

The defense would come together in a season to a season and a half, and I have the team I want on the field by 2011.

You should replace Herm.

GM Bill Parcells
Coach Bill Belicheck
Director of Pro Personnell Herm Edwards
Off COordinator Charlie Weis
Def Coordinator Gunther Cunningham
Special Teams Frank Ganz jr.

I'd build robots... and put "lasers" on their heads.

I'd do everything I could to build a dominant offensive and defensive line.

I would also look for coaches that were very aggressive. I like the Philly D and Saunders O that someone here said earlier.

I draft and sign as many quality offense lineman and front seven on defense. You win and lose the game up front.

1. Hire Mike Woicik as strength and conditioning coach.
2. Trade back in the draft (no further than 8) and get an extra 2nd and 3rd this year and 2nd and 4th next year.
3. Draft BAP.
3.

Boller would have to be the guy at QB.

Bulger has re-signed already, and you know damn good and well that Romo will re-sign with Dallas. No way JJ is letting him go now.

Otherwise, I'm a big believer in building from the inside out. OL/DL then a great MLB.

It would take too long to get more detailed thatn that. Considering salaries, ages, etc.

Believe it or not, not too differently from how herm is doing it, except that Herm got stuck with some old guys and contracts so it is harder for him. I would start with Defense and Defense, Defense. Drafting nothing but O line and d line. I would bring in a Journeyman QB to tudor the young QB I would draft in year 2. Maybe a Boller, McCown, or Jamie Martin kind 0f guy (see Huard). Draft big fast D tackles, safeties, and Ends. Draft two would be O line, then QB, then more defense. Draft three would be receivers, RB, more O line and just fill in the blanks pieces along with some nice roll players from free agency. I wouldn't break the bank for a big time free agent or two until year three. This way, you have a D to keep you in games by the 2nd year. A better D to maybe win a few by year three when your QB of the future has a year under his belt. Very similar to Herm, but herm hasn't got the O line, cause Vermiel let the D go waaaaay to far backwards. So I give herm ine more year.

Same. Assuming that you have the luxury of not having to worry about putting fans in the seats, I'd focus on OL and DL heavily first and then worry about everything else. I'd imagine that my team would still be pretty weak in year 2 and I'd take a QB with my top pick in my third draft after I've built a line for him to play behind. I'd make due with free agent pickups and later round draft picks for my RBs and receivers until I built out my defense with first day draft picks. Once I was well into building the defense, I'd consider taking the occasional offensive skill position player in the draft or in free agency to give my QB some upgraded weapons. By then it might be time to start thinking about refreshing my OL and DL. Especially after we win the Superbowl and I start losing my studs to free agency and the salary cap.

Here's my expansion list pickups. I took two from most teams. I'm not a roster guru by any means, so in reality, some of these guys might not be available.

Peerless Price - WR - Buffalo
Larry Tripplett - DT - Buffalo
Dexter Jackson - S - Cinci
Adam Kieft - OL - Cinci
Kris Griffin - LB - Cleve
Ethan Kelley - DT - Cleve
Paul Smith - FB - Den
Nate Webster - LB - Den
Justin Gage - WR - Tenn
Benji Olsen - OL - Tenn
Gary Brackett - LB - Indy
James Reed - DT - KC
Nate Harris - LB - KC
Justin Fargas - RB - Oak
Isiah Kacyvenski - LB - Oak
Donovin Darius - S - Mia
Matt Roth - DE - Mia
Eric Alexander - LB - NE
Lonie Paxton - C - NE
David Bowens - DE - NYJ
Kerry Rhodes - S - NYJ
Charlie Batch - QB - Pitt
Anthony Smith - S - Pitt
Carlos Polk - LB - SD
Kassim Osgood - WR - SD
George Wrightster - TE - Jax
Dennis Northcutt - WR - Jax
Musa Smith - RB - Bal
Samari Rolle - CB - Bal
Owen Daniels - TE - Hou
Jameel Cook - FB - Hou
Antoine Harris - CB - Atl
Marcus Wilkins - LB - Atl
Ade Jimoh - CB - Chi
Rashied Davis - WR - Chi
Anthony Fasano - TE - Dal
Kyle Kosier - G - Dal
Frank Davis - G - Det
Tony Beckham - CB - Det
Charlie Peprah - S - GB
Jarrett Bush - CB - GB
Brett Romberg - C - STL
Trevor Johnson - DE - STL
Robert Ferguson - WR - Minn
Charles Gordon - CB - Minn
Jonathon Goodwin - OL - NO
Josh Cooper - DL - NO
Barry Cofield - DT - NYG
Jason Bell - CB - NYG
Ryan Moats - RB - Phi
Omar Gaither - LB - Phi
Joe Tafoya - DE - Ari
Terrance Holt - S - Ari
Tony Wragge - G - SF
Tully Banta-Cain - LB - SF

And like I said, I'm not a roster genius, so I'm sure some of those moves wouldn't fly. I just tried to get a decent mix of young and veteran, went on a lot of name recognition (or lack thereof), and figured in some salary cap moves for other teams in a few of those cases.

OL DL

With no squad at all, you'd have to go Best PLAYER available in the draft. Notice I said PLAYER. Don't give me that workout warrior crap. I want guys who have been productive. I want football players.

I say that, and I mean that you don't for any reason take a QB first overall. You're just shooting yourself in the foot there. It'll be at least two years until he sees the field anyway. Your first pick MUST have immediate impact. But I would totally look at QB after round 1. Must be bright with a big arm.

Filling in the gaps in FA, concentrate on the OL, DL, and LB corps. Find yourself ONE good team guy/caretaker QB. A Dilfer type to take the heat for a year or two until you can develop a young QB.

I'd want an aggressive, attacking defense. I'd want some variant of the Coryell offense, tailored to fit whatever talent I have at hand. I want Steve Deberg to be my QB coach, to teach that bitchin' play-fake to my young QB.

I'd buy a monkey and train it to fight zombies, in case the living dead ever invaded my stadium.

Gladly. :)

What, that cat with the AK in your avi isn't good enough?

My 8 free agent pickups are:

Terrell Suggs DE
Jared Allen DE
Damione Lewis DT
Drayton Florence CB


Alan Faneca G
Ryan Lilja G
Sean Locklear RT
Geoff Hangartner C

First round pick:

Jake Long LT

I would target big recievers & TEs; fast LBs & CBs; plug in a QB until 2009 1 round draft, and make do with a RB with that O-line....

on D in go right up the middle , Dtackle,MLB,Safties.

I would try to build the best OL and DL possible. A franchise QB would be nice but I dont want him killed.

My first action would be doing whatever it takes to sign Bobby Sippio.

SUPER BOWL THX!!!

Around a franchise QB, explosive WRs, an athletic, pass-protecting-oriented offensive line and a Mike Martz/Mike Leach/June Jones/Mouse Davis approach on offense, featuring a dazzling passing attack that is the most exposive in the history of football at ANY level.

This is the direction where football is heading. It is pretty much already there in college and it is becoming that way in the NFL now also (the 3 remaining undefeated teams in the NFL are all led by explosive passing games).

But I already got Sippio. And I cloned him.

I am starting:

Offense:
LT Albert "The Wall" Sippio - obvious... he's like a wall.
LG Brett "Boom Boom" Sippio - pancake blocks 83 percent of the time
C Ryan "Kneebreaker" Sippio - taught Nalen everything he knows
RG Simon "Says" Sippo - when Simon talks, you listen
RT Billy "Badass" Sippio - he's a badass
WR Bobby "Hands" Sippio - the original
WR Ronnie "The Blazer" Sippio - 4.21 forty
TE "Gutsy" Gus Sippio - obvious
FB Tony "Tripod" Sippio - nickname given by four college girlfriends
HB Leo "The Train" Sippio - runs like a...
QB Peyton "Rocket Man" Sippio - duh

Defense:
LE Deshawn "Bringin' Depain" Sippio - just read it
DT Neil "Tank" Sippio - hits like a train
DT Justin "47" Sippio - # of times he benched at the combine
RE Derrick "Sack Master" Sippio - duh
LOLB Len "Bricks" Sippio - hits like a ton of...
MLB Ray "Ronco" Sippio - an unfortunate incident in Jr. High. Nickname stuck
ROLB Mike "Suffer" Sippio - wants to break everything... slowly.
CB Vernon "Pick 6" Sippio - in college, Vernon ran back 91 percent of his record-setting interceptions for TD
CB Vincent "I'm open!" Sippio - known for baiting QBs to throwing to his side and picking them off
FS Wally "Nails" Sippio - tough as...
SS Samuel "Shoes" Sippio - Has a knack for knocking people out of their shoes

as long as Jared Allen doesn't get any more DUI's, we MUST resign him to a big deal IMO. If we could see how Croyle looks for a few full games at least we could decide if we need to draft a QB or not in the 1st. Offensive line and DTs and a solid CB and a nice safety because I'm not really sold on Pollard yet.

You're 0-3 so far.

Trade back and stock pile as many picks as you can. When you are a bad football team you need as many decent players you can get vs 1 or 2 stars. As far as what scheme I would run it would be based on personel. I really like the 3-4 defensive scheme. Offensive scheme it will all depend on the OL and QB. You can have the best system in the world but you can only run it if the OL can allow it and the QB has the talent to run it.

Build a giant pool and play pool-football. NO ROOF!

I get what you're saying by trading back and stockpiling picks, but if it were me, I think I would go for quality over quantity from the college draft, especially starting out new.

You might be on to something. Have you seen the women in Vegas? That would be a shitload of bikinis....

I'd hire topless cheerleaders, sell season tickets based solely on that, and figure the rest out later. Ya know, kind of a 5-year plan. It'll take me 20 years to figure out I've totally ****ed up as far as Superbowls etc... but HEY, I'd have made some bucks! Woohoo! Boobies!

I would take Herms blueprint and shred it.

Just do what Davis did 3 times
Find the biggest bunch of dirt bag's money can buy, then thug your way to the Lombardie:D

Make sure none of the idiotic, fat, 20-something virgins in the area become fans of my team.