All Pro Football 2k8 - Season 4 Draft - Tactics, Scheduling, Discussion, etc.

The animations and feel of the players really is the genius of this game. QBs are especially different in feel. From how fast they drop back, their gait, how long it takes them to get rid of the ball, and even hard they throw, every QB has a feel that might be perfect for different players. It is crazy trying to play with Steve young or Ken Stabler because they are left-handed. And I am left-handed, but it feels wrong and awkward to play with them.

So the draft ends p being a couple of weeks of trying out different players and combinations. It really is a a fun part of the game. By the end, you really feel like it is your team, even as you see guys you wanted taken by other teams. It's like this concoction that you start, but don't know how it will end.

And really, even doing a fantasy draft in Madden, the only feel I ever get is whether a player is better or worse. There is no difference in feel, just results.

So yes, if you guys see me on, hit me up for a game. It really is the best way to try out your guys. Of course, it also gives away who you want to draft, but we are all honorable here, right?

Everyone is honorable. No wait, no one is honorable.

Seeing as how you're all drafting my players...

Okoye
Lloyd
Coates
Simmons
and on and on

And now Firesloth even wants to take my franchise from me. For shame.

DSGamer wrote:

And now Firesloth even wants to take my franchise from me. For shame. :)

Your dignity is next.

DS punished me in our playoff game - I want a shot at that dignity too - at least give me a chance to reclaim mine

Tick tock. Just waiting for the inevitable evening pick of Prederick. It is sick that I actually go through the draft thread and figure out when I can predict a pick. Bagga is the easiest. Love those early morning picks! ruthless and frankie do a good job of keeping each other up to date.

At least I have been able to narrow my picks down.

By the way, I'm not complaining. I know some people actually have a life, and that is actually a good thing.

So muffin finally drafts a defender.

But will he risk letting Billy Sims go another 22 picks?

Also, more games tonight hopefully. Jayhawker and I played last night. Muffin and I chatted. It was fun.

DSGamer wrote:

Also, more games tonight hopefully. Jayhawker and I played last night. Muffin and I chatted. It was fun.

And yes, I darn near gave up 50 points to DS. All I can say is that it sucked watching Novachek go deep all game long. I think I heard DS say, "Ben who?"

I couldnt get a game on Monday to save my life.

I did get a couple in on Saturday though - I think it was Saturday.

Lost to Ruthless again - Sigh - 21 to 14

then played Firesloth and managed a win based on some nice special teams play.

Still need more play time to better evaluate my possible pickups. I have sworn to myself that I will not be drafting a tight end this year as I used Mike Dikta as my security blanket last season. I find it harder and harder to keep this pledge the more games I play.

Taken from the draft thread:

Fyedaddy wrote:

I know this was my first APF draft but I've already learned several things I would do differently next time. I have a rough plan for the rest of my picks but, well, hindsight and all that. We still have to play the games though and see what shakes out on the field!

For what its worth, forcing yourself to find solutions really helps your game a great deal. After a season of playing, you will have even more ideas about what you would do in a draft. You are way behind ( actually, I have no idea how much you have played the game) in that we played two seasons before even doing a draft. So we could have three Okoyes and things like that. The draft just really made us value players in a whole new way, but we had two seasons to figure out what we wanted to do. But last season was the first where we had to make do with players we were stuck with, rather than wanted.

Anyway, I really hope you enjoy the experience of the league more than worrying about what ifs. It sure sounds like that is what you are doing, as once the games start, you will be surprised by what you can figure out.

Make sure you hit up any of us for advice on creating playbooks, and subbing players. There is actually a lot you can do to cover up weaknesses and exploit your team's strengths. It's a really fun part of the game itself.

Also, I always recommend http://www.2kfootballstrategy.com/ for anyone looking to improve. Their forums are full of great advice, and the guy that runs the site has some great articles as well.

Jayhawker wrote:

For what its worth, forcing yourself to find solutions really helps your game a great deal. After a season of playing, you will have even more ideas about what you would do in a draft.

I totally agree. I've been comparing this to the many fantasy drafts I used to participate in many years ago and I'm certainly not worrying over what ifs but rather I'm excited about seeing what I'll be able to do with what I manage to put together.

Jayhawker wrote:

Make sure you hit up any of us for advice on creating playbooks, and subbing players.

I'll definitely have to do that. I've just now started putting together my own playbooks for my 1P league (and somehow managed to add 3 Nickel 3-3 plays that appear in the editor as I'm creating/viewing the playbook but show up as blank plays when I get into the game) and will have questions. I'm also going to start reading through that strategy website as it's a new one to me. Thanks!

fyedaddy -- I'm sure you can convince some of us to play practice games with you, too...

Definitely. I should be online tonight. Made the move to our home this weekend.

I'll be playing some evaluation games tonight before making my next two picks so please hit me up for a game if you see me on tonight.

Okay, so I played both Jayhawker and Ruthless last night, and it reminded me of one thing -- this game rocks.

Can't wait for the season to start!

It does indeed rock. We're in our 4th season and this is the most participation we've had yet. Kind of amazing.

It's starting to become a bloodletting. Offensive linemen are being drafted. Up next, punters and kickers.

DSGamer wrote:

It's starting to become a bloodletting. Offensive linemen are being drafted. Up next, punters and kickers.

I spent a gold pick on Emmitt Smith. Whaddayagunnado?

At this rate we could possibly start our league games next weekend.

Or am I being overly optimistic?

I don't think you are. It's possible if we stay on track and no one has a flaming XBox (always a possibility) or takes a day to pick. I think at this point the pickings are so slim that I can't imagine the choices being too hard. We'll see, though.

The other wild card is the schedule. Since we can't do a league with meaningful divisions where division winners play in the playoffs, etc. is that something I need to bother with?

DSGamer wrote:

I don't think you are. It's possible if we stay on track and no one has a flaming XBox (always a possibility)

Not here. My XBox is strictly heterosexual, sir.

I had a crazy issue with my box this week. After the big update, I kept getting an unreadable disc error for APFB. The disc had not left the Xbox in days, and had been running just fine. I tried rebooting, opening and closing the tray, but nothing worked. So I took it out to try Halo 3, to see if the would run.

That's when I saw a big crack in my disc. The problem is, I do remember my Xbox making some crazy noises. But then, doesn't it always? Well Halo 3 ran fine, and I picked up another copy of APFB on the cheap, so I am back in business. But that is a pretty serious issue if it starts happening again.

Nah. Just go buy an Arcade, get the broken one repaired by Microsoft, then sell it when it gets back. Ready to roll!

This came up in the other thread -- can we please do away with late hit penalties? I, for one, will not accept them against the opposing team this season.

I'm not sure if I can turn them off. I'll look into this tonight. If I can I'm happy to since we don't allow injuries and as such late hits are arbitrary penalties you have no control over.

Beware of the Firesloths! Not only did he beat my team pretty convincingly, but Barry Sanders ran for 280 yards. That is not a typo. TWO HUNDRED EIGHTY YARDS RUSHING.

Jayhawker wrote:

Beware of the Firesloths! Not only did he beat my team pretty convincingly, but Barry Sanders ran for 280 yards. That is not a typo. TWO HUNDRED EIGHTY YARDS RUSHING.

Move along. Nothing to see here.

firesloth wrote:
Jayhawker wrote:

Beware of the Firesloths! Not only did he beat my team pretty convincingly, but Barry Sanders ran for 280 yards. That is not a typo. TWO HUNDRED EIGHTY YARDS RUSHING.

Move along. Nothing to see here.

TWO HUNDRED EIGHTY YARDS RUSHING!!!

Jayhawker wrote:
firesloth wrote:
Jayhawker wrote:

Beware of the Firesloths! Not only did he beat my team pretty convincingly, but Barry Sanders ran for 280 yards. That is not a typo. TWO HUNDRED EIGHTY YARDS RUSHING.

Move along. Nothing to see here.

TWO HUNDRED EIGHTY YARDS RUSHING!!!

To be fair, he did carry the ball 25 times.

After not having to play Jayhawker last season I have gotten to get some games in with him and he has a very sound squad. I am guessing that 280 yards was a fluke! A fluke I tell you!