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bghandras
Last seen 2 years ago
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Archive

2021

2021-01-12 17:33:03
rating 6

2020

2020-12-23 12:29:18
rating 4.3
2020-11-06 12:54:26
rating 3.6
2020-09-01 14:52:20
rating 4
2020-08-18 09:36:16
rating 4.2
2020-06-06 08:21:56
rating 4.8
2020-04-03 20:39:42
rating 4.1
2020-03-29 09:35:18
rating 6
2020-03-19 10:45:39
rating 5.4
2020-01-04 09:30:44
rating 5.9

2019

2019-10-16 09:16:59
rating 5.8
2019-08-16 09:48:23
rating 4.5
2019-06-21 09:35:13
rating 6
2019-05-21 19:10:11
rating 6
2019-05-13 11:29:40
rating 6
2019-04-03 10:17:18
rating 5
2019-01-16 15:17:27
rating 6

2018

2018-11-20 13:36:19
rating 5.2
2018-11-11 16:50:50
rating 3.6
2018-10-17 11:15:23
rating 6
2018-09-10 18:54:12
rating 6
2018-09-04 13:11:28
rating 6
2018-07-11 10:37:45
rating 6
2018-06-22 20:25:26
rating 6
2018-05-24 09:39:34
rating 4.3
2018-05-13 22:32:35
rating 5.2
2018-04-11 15:00:52
rating 6

2017

2017-11-10 14:06:08
rating 6
2017-09-30 16:35:24
rating 5.2
2017-09-12 10:03:30
rating 5
2017-09-05 11:15:23
rating 5.2
2017-03-20 16:56:22
rating 4.8
2017-03-20 12:26:26
rating 6
2017-02-24 09:32:07
rating 6
2017-02-23 13:26:50
rating 5.3

2016

2016-12-29 21:03:08
rating 3.3
2016-11-25 13:17:24
rating 5.3
2016-10-01 19:21:52
rating 5.9
2016-09-29 10:25:29
rating 5.6
2016-09-17 11:02:02
rating 5.9
2016-07-30 22:06:13
rating 4.3
2016-07-14 15:26:30
rating 5.3
2016-07-08 20:56:04
rating 5.2
2016-06-26 11:59:06
rating 5.3
2016-06-21 08:26:56
rating 5
2016-06-13 13:13:48
rating 5.3
2016-06-04 14:30:55
rating 5.2
2016-04-01 14:05:20
rating 2.7
2016-03-30 00:34:10
rating 4.9
2016-03-09 09:30:03
rating 4.9
2016-03-06 09:01:39
rating 5

2015

2015-06-29 21:51:29
rating 3.5
2015-06-07 17:16:16
rating 3.6
2015-05-13 14:11:57
rating 5.4
2015-05-10 15:30:24
rating 4.8
2015-04-27 12:05:36
rating 5.6
2015-04-13 14:49:21
rating 3.4

2014

2014-07-16 17:07:04
rating 3.2
2014-06-11 08:50:28
rating 2.7
2014-05-29 11:47:02
rating 5.1
2014-04-24 23:34:48
rating 5.5
2014-04-06 10:06:59
rating 5.2
2014-01-10 23:16:57
rating 3.8
2014-01-08 18:31:04
rating 6

2013

2013-12-07 15:10:59
rating 5.1
2013-10-26 08:42:31
rating 4.7
2013-09-29 09:09:40
rating 3.9
2013-07-05 09:53:07
rating 4.5
2013-06-21 15:20:46
rating 5.9

2012

2012-12-16 15:07:15
rating 5
2012-08-29 18:47:50
rating 4.6
2012-08-18 11:52:51
rating 4.6
2012-08-06 23:48:20
rating 5.5
2012-07-20 15:07:10
rating 3.4
2012-02-13 14:22:29
rating 4.9
2012-02-05 18:21:08
rating 3.1

2011

2011-12-14 23:26:12
rating 4.2
2011-11-25 18:58:23
rating 3.9
2011-11-22 23:21:33
rating 4
2011-11-06 10:18:51
rating 4
2011-10-28 18:07:14
rating 3.8
2011-10-27 22:07:48
rating 4.6
2011-10-27 16:48:28
rating 4.1
2011-10-25 21:56:21
rating 4.3
2011-10-13 20:44:42
rating 4.2
2011-10-12 08:53:03
rating 5.2
2011-10-06 20:24:37
rating 4.8
2011-09-23 11:01:33
rating 4.7
2011-09-07 09:49:54
rating 5.3
2019-01-16 15:17:27
7 votes, rating 6
Patriots offseason (D7)
This blog is about Draft League Europe. If you are not interested, then feel free to leave. If you stay, I hope you will enjoy this recap of my favorite team's offseason!

In this recap for the Broekwater Patriots offseason, we will be recapping recent events, introducing the new roster and showing all the changes, and what an offseason it was so far (and still going)!

Significant moves have been made, with the roster being reshaped for season 7. Let me guide you through the 'what's, and hopefully you can make a bit of a sense of it by the time you finish reading. In the review I will list the incoming and outgoing players, but lets first explain the background of the team to put all these movements into context.

...There was turmoil!

Broekwater Patriots won back to back Superbowls in seasons 4 and 5, the only team in DLE's history to have done so. They were aiming to make it 3 in a row, having overcome a midseason blip to end up division winners and with a playoff bye week but lost in the conference final to their division rivals, Middenheim Classics who went on to claim the Superbowl crown.

Season6 started very well with 6 straight wins, but then continued with 3 straight losses. The tires were falling off, deaths and perms were piling up (or on). Management saw the damage done to the roster and knew that as it was, it was unsustainable plus the team was not performing on the pitch. Major changes needed to be scheduled either immediately, or down the road. There was no way to avoid them, necessity would have forced correction down the line anyway. Management and the team met, after a heated discussion it was decided to stop the bleeding right away, players and back room staff alike voting for immediate actions and prioritizing new player development accordingly.

Deciding to reconstruct the roster to facilitate skilling and installing a new scheme in mid season created a huge player turnover. The crystal balls were worked, runners and messengers sent all over the old world to DLE franchises. Its is assumed that the GM and headcoach were using elixirs to stay awake and alert to manage in this period. Among the casualties of this approach were Marquise Goodwin and Khalil Mack. with both players leaving the leagues most successful franchise to ply their trade with other teams. Its unclear how happy they were to leave and Mack will play against his former teammates in the second half of season7. Without listing all the midseason changes, lets just summarize: 2 big stars left the team, while solid, dependable, and developing linemen were acquired.

The rest of Season6 went as expected. Could not win another title, in spite of honest effort. On the other hand the team chemistry and skill level increased as the season progressed. The turmoil carried over from midseason to offseason with continued effort to complete what could not have been completed at midseason. Busy times in Broekwater...busiest since draft3 full reconstruction...

Farewell - Players leaving the team in the offseason

There was a very significant turnover, 7 player left the team, which is 43.75% of the total roster size.
- Brad Brockheart - He was acquired as a killer (PilingOn/MightyBlow), but did not deliver. He developed Guard during the season, but still found himself on the outside looking in. He went to the Thunder. We wish him all the best, but he is probably best suited for supporting duty.
- Fred Bruschi - Was part of the deal to get Jenkins from Wolfskins. More on that blockbuster trade later. He performed well, much better than Brockheart, and was a difficult business decision to let him go. His skillset of MightyBlow/+Agility proved to be more useful than expected.
- Don Murrocco - The heavily armored wrestler was traded to the Cardinals to strengthen their core unit with resiliency.
- Tyler Lockett - The agile, sure-feeted kick off returner developed blocking skills, and then was traded to Wolfskins as part of the blockbuster deal.
- Tyson Alualu - The Niggled lineman was not the same after the injury, even though he pulled his weight in the playoffs. His Block/Guard/Tackle skills will be appreciated by Thunder, but will be relieved from armor wearing duties to compensate for his condition.
- Quinton Patton - The outstanding defender (+AG/Block/SideStep/DivingTackle) finds a new home at 49ers. He was part of the deal that shipped draft pick no12.
- Mike Adams - He was the oldest patriot prior to the trade. He was in Broekwater since the beginning of season2. The big guy with Block/Guard/StandFirm/Grab/PilingOn skills, and slower movement was traded to Gunners, where he will be an even better scheme fit. His skillset will be utilized on offense, defense, and also on special team.

With 7 leaving, 7 skilled players were planned to come in. Through yet more planning, contacting of the mystics for conference calls with coaches and agents throughout the DLE, dispatching of scouts and reviews of the combine report for the draft, the Patriots achieved this target and built up their plan to bring the Superbowl home for a 3rd time in season 7.

Welcome - Incoming players

The number of incoming players matched the number of leavers: 7. 6 players were traded in and 1 drafted. The 6:1 ratio might be a fluke, or an indication that the team preferred the veteran approach over building through the draft.
- Jason Taylor - The Scimitars standout found a new home in Broekwater. In the absence of Mack, the new scheme did not produce CAS as well as before, so ultimately the management decided to do something about it. Jason was an expensive addition, but he is a competent player, very polished for the role the team envisions him, so he should find success.
- Harold 'Red' Grange - He is an ascending player. Arrived from Thunder. He is best suited for block support until he carves out another role for himself. Seasoned readers may wonder how he kept his nickname, as it seems to be against team policy. Brockheart, his predecessor was not allowed to keep his nickname, and did not perform either. Coaches experiment with a different approach with Grange.
- A.J.Cann - A former Thunder player, arrived together with Grange. Coaches and GM are still debating whether he is a finished product, or a developmental prospect.
- A. J. Jenkins - He is the biggest offseason addition to the team in a blockbuster trade with the Wolfskins. He will be a core player, even thought he is mainly a 1 turn specialist. He is already a fan favorite for his tricks. He pulls off something truly spectacular at every practice!
- John Bostic - Lets be realistic. He is still a rookie. Expectations are low. But he will have the opportunity to prove his worth, after Gunners ditched him in a trade. One unnamed assistant coach hopes the chip on his shoulder will expedite his development, and one day he could be a full time starter in the league.
- David Johnson - He is the lone draft addition. Coaches and front office forces really liked him, rated as the 6th most desirable player in this draft pool. So when he slid on the draft boards, GM and his assistants worked on the phones, and were looking for suitors to make a trade. Trade ultimately fell through at pick no12 with 49ers. Hopes are high about Johnson, he has all the potential in the world (extra strength and agility), but that potential needs serious polishing. Wresting / Leaping / Tackling drills are in order in gargantuan portions. His arrival also marks a potential shift at roster composition, as Patriots team yet again seem to drive away from the position of marking specialist.
- Rob Havenstein - He arrived from Gunners, as well. Last but not least his giant body and on field coaching/leadership ability (funny for an ogre, but true) could be an asset going forward. He is not a scheme fit yet, but has experience (spp) and time to develop the skills necessary to master the ogre position on the roster.

Roster review by position

Linemen - A position of emphasis for Patriots. 7 players belong there. (Most teams have only 6.) Some of them aspire for superstar status, but most of them hover around 3 skills. There is also 1 rookie. Plenty of room for improvement, but the developments are promising. The group is better than league average.

Blitzers - 4 players at different phase of their careers. Strong unit, but still some room for growth. Not as freakish as some other team's unit, but still considered better than league average.

Catchers - 2 players, an accomplished specialist, and a talented work in progress. Quality is there, but expected performance, and quantity is below league average.

Throwers - 2 players. The legendary Bortles, and Riggins 'the ogre nurse', not really a baller, but a LOS fodder. Still, with Bortles, must be better than league average unit.

Ogre - Single player, as expected...who has the bare minimum to play the position (block skill), but is well below league average as far as skills and expected performance is concerned.

All in all out of the 5 positional groups 3 compare favorably against the average opponent, and the team DLE-TW of 1710 (that does not count the base cost of players) is expected to be on the top10, which makes Broekwater Patriots a contender.

Practice report shows that the most likely candidates for extensive training are:
1. Harold 'Red' Grange, due to the importance of his position
2. John Bostic, the rookie who is a white canvas.
3. Jerry Rice Cake Jr, who has been on the developmental fast track since midseason arrival.
4. Derek Wolfe, who is chasing superstar status to take down big foes.
5. Bud Dupree, who is another superstar candidate, and joins Wolfe at his training regimen.
6. Brane Zidina, who is expected to have a very long career, thus safe investment.
7. David Johnson, the very definition of the project on any roster.
8. Rob Havenstein, who still needs to develop core compentences.

All in all, the linemen and blitzers need to carry the team through season7.

Expectations for season7

KFCW is as challenging as it has ever been, with 2 teams having 3 total Superbowl titles, and the other 2 catching up through new talent acquisitions. Griffins are making a notable effort to upset the power balance, completing their rebuild project, and expected to field a very competitive roster. All in all KFC West has the potential to be the most competitive division of DLE in season7.

On the other hand, no matter the opposition, the target must be making playoffs, and keeping alive the streak of 7 consecutive playoff appearances. In order to achieve that, Patriots target 24 points out of the possible 32. It will likely not be enough for a 1st round playoff bye, but will fight hard for it anyway.

As a divisional winner in season6, the season7 Strength-Of-Schedule games will be against other division winners...
...on to Sluggers...and...on to Universe!
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Comments
Posted by bigf on 2019-01-16 15:28:20
Nice season review, tempts me to do one too. Maybe should be mandatory for all DLE coaches!
Posted by bghandras on 2019-01-16 15:44:52
I keep editing the blog to correct some typos, formatting, and maybe even adding new fun facts.
Posted by misterlonestar on 2019-01-16 16:56:56
Should be mandatory reading for all DLE GM's - this is how a team gets to, and stays, on top.

Well done!
Posted by datom on 2019-01-17 21:33:59
People do thinking in this league?!?!?