CrazyRazor wrote:
Great job, New Jersey/ raidergreg69! Two seasons with v4.6 and two guys are a step above everyone else.
Nice season, Portland/ Warthog!
Thanks for the kind words but I don't feel like I'm a step ahead. Recent results suggest you're right but I also made the World Bowl our last season of 4.5 when I lost to Houston. If I had to pick one main reason for New Jersey's success, I'd have to say it's the roster.
I really don't like to brag but I have done minimal changes to the plays I call from 4.5 to 4.6 other than eliminating long passes and plugging in a couple plays from 4/5 WR sets. In 4.5 I didn't use 4/5 wide because I used long passes. When I took out 6-8 plays from the rotation, I decided to try the extra WR approach since my depth was pretty good.
Other than that, it's been about roster building. Don Ferguson has been way better than I could have hoped for when I signed him in free agency, and he is obviously the key. He is no Tony Dean, but who is. I'm 4 deep at RB with speed, 5/6 deep at WR, solid TEs, a pretty good OL with good talent/depth at all 3 levels of defense.
The biggest key to my latest World Bowl was special teams, especially kicker Al Borland. In 4.6 we tend to have closer, lower scoring games so I don't want to leave points on the field with missed kicks, or punting because noodle leg can't hit from beyond 40-45 yards.
A lot of my roster building comes from trying to leave no stone unturned. If I see a chance to upgrade the 53rd spot on my roster I'll take it as long as it doesn't hurt my cap too much.