| 0 |
Subject: RIFC 2009 AAA#1 DRAFT RECAP
Posted by: judy
- Leader [7771722] Thu, Sep 03, 2009, 13:06
1. What was your plan/strategy entering the draft? Were you able to execute as you had planned?
2. What were your favorite picks? Which do you wish you could do over?
3. Looking over all of the teams, which ones do you like the most (other than your own)?
4. What surprised you most about the draft?
5. If you could start over, would you do anything differently? |
| 1 | Electroman
ID: 565182111
Thu, Sep 03, 2009, 15:08
|
First off would like to thank Judy for being the commish, and all that she did for us. When I saw my team spiralling last year and new that I was going back to AAA, I had tabbed your league as the one I wanted to play in.
1. What was your plan/strategy entering the draft? Were you able to execute as you had planned?
This was the first time that I was able to pick in the middle of a draft, always at the front or the back, so I had to change my strategy. I wanted to get two good running backs, a 2nd tier QB. I seemed to have gotten what I wanted, plus I was able to land a WR(Ocho Cinco) who could put up some good numbers. I also got the handcuff for my #1 running back. One thing that lacks from the teams that I have had success with is a QB/WR combo from the same team. I have had Palmer/Johnson and Brady/Moss in respective years, and that can really help a team. Last 2 years, was unable to pull that off. All in all, I was pleasantly surprised at the team I was able to assemble. Ask me again in about 15 weeks.
2. What were your favorite picks? Which do you wish you could do over?
I would have to say Gore and Ocho Cinco. When good, these are the type of guys that can lead a team to the playoffs(and maybe back to RIFC). Also getting Lendale White as a 3rd RB, that could really pay off. One that I would do differently would maybe be Portis. Although he can be really good, this guy could bite me in the butt.
3. Looking over all of the teams, which ones do you like the most (other than your own)?
Loki has a very nice team. Used his slot very well. Slowhand and Deepsnapper have depth at RB and QB respectively that can be used to acquire pieces that are missing during the season.
4. What surprised you most about the draft?
The speed at which it went. We finished in just over a week without a clock. Certain players that were available in rounds I had tabbed them to be gone by.
5. If you could start over, would you do anything differently?
Not really. I didn’t really regret anything choice that I made.
|
| 2 | mjd
Leader
ID: 501381415
Thu, Sep 03, 2009, 18:15
|
1. What was your plan/strategy entering the draft? Were
you able to execute as you had planned?
Picking 13th, I knew that the top tier and probably a good part
of the second tier of RB would be long gone. I figured correctly
and only one of the top 4 WRs were gone by my pick.
Fortunately, I had just read an article documenting how the top
tier WRs out performed the mid second tier and third tier RBs by
a fairly wide margin. Especially as more NFL teams seem to be
leaning towards a RBBC to share the load and hopefully cut
down on the wear and tear of their RBs. With this in mind, I
decided to go against my previous strategy of starting my drafts
with at least one RB and go WR/WR (Johnson and Johnson),
especially when one of the top 4 WR was still available at 13.02.
Then a trade of picks allowed me to grab RBs Kevin Smith at
3.02 and Leon Washington at 4.13. I further went against my
usual strategy by grabbing top tier LBs (Beaston and Rudd) with
back to back picks 5.13 and 6.02. I expected this to possibly
incite an early IDP run. It did not, but I was pleased that my
trade with twilson derailed Ref’s QB plans, as he failed to
remember my trade and I was able to snag Hasselbeck before he
could. I remember reading his rationales about how he was
somewhat surprised by my pick of the Seabag’s QB.
So for the most part, I thought I did pretty well picking from the
13th hole and liked the results of going against my usual
predictable strategy. Time will tell if this was a good idea or
not.
2. What were your favorite picks? Which do you wish you
could do over?
The J & J WR duo, the back to back aforementioned LB picks and
Kevin Smith, who once the Lion’s figured out that handing this
guy the rock 20+ times a game was a good idea (it only took
them half the season last year) were favorites. I also liked all my
LB and TE picks. The only pick I question is Hightower over
Wells, but I still think Beanie is made of glass and will shatter in
the early going.
3. Looking over all of the teams, which ones do you like the
most (other than your own)?
I really did not pay much attention to the other teams, but I
know from experience that there is some stiff competition in
this league and that the draft is only the first part of a
successful season.
4. What surprised you most about the draft?
Other than the fact that the first 12 picks were RB, while in the
RIBC (who started before us), those top 4 WR all went in the
first round, not much. We have a great group of managers and a
commish who is very proactive, so getting this draft completed
with no clock, was expected. (Judy’s current RIBC AAA league
never used a clock either.)
5. If you could start over, would you do anything
differently?
Nothing. I really don’t like having to pick near an end, but this
forced me to think outside the box and try something a little
different.
A very enjoyable draft with this group. No major holdups or
FUBARS. Special thanks to Judy for her enthusiastic support. I
love being in a league that she is commish of, though my goal
(and all of yours) is to win the championship and next year be in
the league where Guru is the commish.
Speaking of which, please consider a donation to
RotoGuru.com. Without Guru’s generosity and love of fantasy
sports, this free web site and these great leagues would not be
possible.
|
| 4 | loki
SuperDude
ID: 4211201420
Thu, Sep 03, 2009, 21:42
|
1.What was your plan/strategy entering the draft? Were you able to execute as you had planned? I usually do not go into a draft with any strategy other than picking the best players available regardless of position for the first 5 or so rounds and then continue with this modified by my positional needs. This draft was no exception, and after a brief moment of insanity when I considered drafting MJD first, I came to my senses and chose Adrian Peterson. Twilson may have been drooling over my initial indecision, but in the end I disappointed him. As it turned out I ended up with the standard (at least standard before RBBC) RB, RB, WR, WR, WR, QB for my picks 1-6. The last time I had the number one pick I chose Sean Alexander the season he played with a broken foot. Had to play catch up the entire season. 2.What were your favorite picks? Which do you wish you could do over? My favorite picks were my offensive backups because I think that most of them have the potential to be strong producers should the need arise either because of injuries or being able to use them with certain match ups. These include RBs Graham, Buckhalter, Williams and Hillis, WRs Muhammed and Bruce, and QB Favre (using him against GB). Right now I there are no picks that I would like to do over. 3.Looking over all of the teams, which ones do you like the most (other than your own)?This is always a tough question because as has been the case in this league and in those in which I have played in past seasons, most of the managers have picked strong teams. What will separate the teams at the end will be injuries, FA claims and luck. However the teams that stand out to me are Da Bomb and donkeyhunter because they seem very strong at the primary offensive positions of QB, RB, and WR. 4.What surprised you most about the draft? I was surprised that the draft went as quickly and as smoothly as it did. Even with this experienced group of managers I thought that uncontrollable circumstances would arise that would cause delays. That is why I wanted an “emergency” clock, but obviously I was wrong. Having previously been in Judy’s leagues I should have known that it would be a quick draft. Thank you Judy for doing your usual wonderful job. 5.If you could start over, would you do anything differently? I liked my draft and would not change anything.
|
| 5 | davepyro
ID: 207351320
Sat, Sep 05, 2009, 01:27
|
First I would like to thank Judy for commishing and for keeping things going. She figured a way for me to communicate from work, and was huge helping during my trip to Oregon on the last weekend.
1. What was your plan/strategy entering the draft? Were you able to execute as you had planned? I was picking 14th and I have never picked there before. I decided I was going to go with best player available, and avoid the ends of medium and long position runs.
I did want one of top 3 QB's (see Brees in 2008), but when that did not happen I decided to wait until at least round 5. I really like picking on the wrap and making 2 picks at once.
2. What were your favorite picks? Which do you wish you could do over? Randy Moss at 2.01; Vincent Jackson at 4.01; Jay Cutler at 5.14; New England Pats at 11.14. Do overs: Javon Walker at 20.01 - should have taken a Kicker; Danny Ware at 19.14 was a wasted 6th RB - I should have gone IDP.
3. Looking over all of the teams, which ones do you like the most (other than your own)? I really have not looked at anyone's roster, but I like the choices the middle guys made. Every single time that I hoped a player would reach me, it seemed that slowhand, electroman, ref, or deepsnapper took that person every single round. It was uncanny!
4. What surprised you most about the draft? How slow the early rounds went, and how fast the latter rounds finished. Also, I had no sleepers left in my stash after about round 7. Was everyone using my same reference sources?
5. If you could start over, would you do anything differently? I might have taken Tom Brady and Randy Moss and waited for rounds 3 and 4 for my starting RB's. I would get my second QB sooner, as well as my second DEF.
|
| 6 | judy
Leader
ID: 7771722
Sun, Sep 06, 2009, 19:15
|
1. What was your plan/strategy entering the draft? Were you able to execute as you had
planned?
I always seemed to be struggling to find RB about halfway through the season, so I wanted to get
two solid RB#1’s right away. Of course, I also wanted Westie and McNabb again -- and got them.
Now they need to stay healthy. See #2 for my RB comments...
For whatever reason, I seem to find good WR, so I wasn’t too concerned about that. And I do like
the ones I have this year. They are not the Fitz/R Moss types, but I feel they are week in and week
out contributors for their teams and a couple should have great years.
Looking over GURU’s average/hi/low pick order sheet for our leagues, I found that for 12 of my
players -- Westie, Colston, McNabb, D Brown, Ravens D, McCoy, Weddle, Avant, B Scott, Finley,
Horton, and Akers -- I drafted them at the earliest pick. Hmmm. J Smith, E Coleman, Hawk and
Leftwich were at the last pick. I did an analysis in that thread.
2. What were your favorite picks? Which do you wish you could do over?
My favorite picks were Westie, McNabb, D Brown, Jermichael Finley (TE), Percy Harvin, LeSean
McCoy (as Westie’s handcuff), Eric Weddle, James Laurinaitis, Chris Horton and Akers. It almost
looks like a keeper team, with lots of young kids.
I really liked the Nate Washington pick until he did his hammie...
My first crappiest pick was D Ward at 4.06. I thought he would be the #1 RB for TB and now they
are going RBBC and so I had to pick up Caddy Williams later on -- but then whom do you play each
week? I HATE RBBC!
My second crappiest pick was Edwards at 11.06. I was looking for the QB with the best matchup
week 4, but forgot to consider that if McNabb goes down, he would be my #1 QB --and that would
be a disaster - esp since they just fired their OC and Buffalo will stink it up even with TO. I
managed to salvage that situation with Leftwich as my final pick. He’s not great, but he is a heck
of a lot better than Edwards. (NB. In RIFC drafts he went between 11.02 and 13.01, so I am not far
off, but I predeict a lousy season for him.)
I am a little worried about the Ravens DEF (6.09) as I am hearing that they are not as good as I
need them to be!
3. Looking over all of the teams, which ones do you like the most (other than your own)?
First of all, I do like my team although it is young. I need Donovan to stay healthy all year or I am
doomed -- or I see a trade with DS on the horizon. I like my IDP’s a lot.
I think Loki is solid at all the starting offensive positions and has good depth behind them. He only
has 6 IDP so he will be dealing during the bye weeks and that may weaken his overall team.
Donkey looks pretty nice, but there is a worry about Warner’s crappy preseason, but I see he
drafted Leinart at the end there. He also has Thigpen and Russell, but...) He seems to have
avoided the RBBC problem with his first 3 RB, but there is a rumor that Jamal may be cut. I really
like his LB corps.
Slow could do well with his RB, his IDP group and the NYJ DEF.
Deepsnapper’s team has a strong Texas flair to it. It was the first time I saw 2 QB’s drafted for the
same team in 3.10 and 4.05. I thought at first he goofed, but no. (He took Sanchez as well.) His
RB are solid, but I wonder about his WR and LB.
B7’s lineup is scary looking, topped by Brees, Welker and Fitz. However, his RB need to stay
healthy! He picked up a lot of KR/PR guys (Cribbs, McKelvin, A Smith). The Steelers DEF is a good
pick, but I am not too sure about the IDP’s potential tackle scores.
Everyone else has a mix of solid stuff, medium stuff and iffy stuff. As usual, luck will play a big
role.
4. What surprised you most about the draft?
That the runs for lots of positions were earlier and faster than before, esp the RB’s and QB’s. We
rarely matched up with the RIBC group.
5. If you could start over, would you do anything differently?
I probably should have taken D Jack in round 4 instead of D Ward, esp since now Ward is on a RBBC
team. D Jack will surely score more points than D Ward. Also, I know D Jack will start every game
and play the whole game whereas D Ward -- well who knows what will happen? Most likely
whomever I sit -- Ward/Williams -- will be the featured back that day. Did I mention that I HATE
the RBBC plan? Even though I wanted to avoid the RB problems, I got them anyway!
I NEVER should have taken Edwards under any circumstances -- ugh!
I think we need to consider a 1 RB, 2 WR, 1 TE, 2 RB/TE/WR flex position for 2010. This RBBC
is a pain to plan for -- you can’t!
Sorry for being so wordy!
|
| 7 | Da Bomb
Donor
ID: 487112814
Wed, Sep 09, 2009, 05:06
|
1. What was your plan/strategy entering the draft? Were you able to execute as you had planned?
I tend to value drafting depth early less than most others, and instead I focus on getting the best players available for my starting positions (especially offensive). I also don’t usually draft IDPs early as from my experience, good ones are readily available on the waiver wire throughout the year. I also look to get handcuffs for my starting RBs since if your starting RB goes down, you have his backup to play. This has already paid dividends since Pierre Thomas may not play this week, but I have Mike Bell so all is not lost.
2. What were your favorite picks? Which do you wish you could do over?
I like Cedric Benson for where he has been getting drafted this year (I got him 7.03). He’s not all that talented but he will be getting almost all the carries (at least to start the season) for the Bengals.
I’m not sure about Will Blackmon (11.03). He finished 2nd in DB scoring last year, but his value lies in his returning and that can be a fickle category (I got spurned by Terrence McGee last year).
3. Looking over all of the teams, which ones do you like the most (other than your own)?
Donkeyhunter. He has good starters and depth at RB and WR. I also like the Jamal Lewis/James Davis pairing for his 4th and 5th RBs. His LBs are also solid as they man the middle and should put up consistent tackle numbers.
4. What surprised you most about the draft?
A couple reaches here and there, but nothing too big.
5. If you could start over, would you do anything differently?
The jury is still out on Brandon Marshall. I thought his value was too good to pass up on at 4.12 but he has to remain on the field.
|
| 8 | holt
ID: 55848101
Thu, Sep 10, 2009, 02:49
|
1. What was your plan/strategy entering the draft? Were you able to execute as you had planned?
I wanted to make such awesome picks that people would get nervous and start making mistakes but that didn't happen. I picked in the 11 spot, so I just improvised right from the start. I basically make a list of players I really like this season and look at what rounds they should be available. Helps me get a feel for what order I should go after each position. I also use a spreadsheet with projections. Basic stuff. Improvise every pick.
I try to hold off on IDP's as long as there are useful offensive players available. I think it's worth getting in on one of the top team defenses around rd 9/10, but watching one or two dozen LB's fall off the board doesn't make me squirm. I've been able to build good IDP crews out of clay and Popsicle sticks.
2. What were your favorite picks? Which do you wish you could do over?
I was happy when Chris Johnson fell to me. Thought I was going to have to start out with a WR. Tom Brady owes me, so I'm glad to have him on my team so that I can collect. How can I not like Antonio Gates? If Josh Wilson can reproduce last year's 185 pts then he was a steal. Oh, and Gostkowski! You pretend to laugh when the first kicker is taken, but I know you were really crying inside; and if you think I'm cutting him on his bye week, you better just start making other plans now.
3. Looking over all of the teams, which ones do you like the most (other than your own)?
All but 3-4 teams look competitive to me. I'm not going to single out the ones that I think are doo-doo kaka shit. You know who you are (donkeyhunter). Just kidding, old isn't always necessarily bad.
Rotoguru leagues are always very competitive. I don't see any team that was able to swindle its way into an easy road to the championship. If you ever play in a money league with local doofuses you will see this happen. You will see Vick go in the 3rd round and Calvin Johnson go in rd 7. This doesn't happen in invitational leagues. Probably because some drafters at live drafts are drunk during every one of their picks, while RIFC drafters aren't drunk during every pick, probably. You just have to get lucky during the season, because you can only squeeze so much value out of each of your picks.
4. What surprised you most about the draft?
It was very fast. Good job all, and in particular Judy.
Something football related, not sure if I can explain it, but it seems like there are fewer reliable players this season. Even in early rounds I found myself struggling to find solid worry-free players that I was really comfortable drafting.
5. If you could start over, would you do anything differently?
I wish my WR corp was a better at the top, though I'm not sure how I could have changed it. I'd be weak at QB or RB had I taken a WR early. I considered spreading a false news story on the internet that Anquan Boldin had suffered a broken leg but ultimately decided against it.
I wouldn't have drafted Demps in the 12th rd. What a horrible pick. I thought he was going to play def and return kicks, now it looks like he won't do either. Not that there were any awesome players available in the 12th, but still, turned out to be a crap pick.
Should have drafted McKelvin in the 9th. Dumb. If you want a player, and he's not a reach, just go ahead and take him. Got greedy.
It is now officially football season. Steelers Titans tonight. Good luck all! Some more than others.
|
| 9 | Ref
Donor
ID: 539581218
Thu, Sep 10, 2009, 11:53
|
1. What was your plan/strategy entering the draft? Were you able to execute as you had planned?
I never have a definitive plan in a draft like this. Kind of 'fly by the seat of my pants' but it gets more and more strategic as the draft goes on--then it wanes toward the end as I just look to fill depth as smartly as possible. Basicaly I pay a lot of attention to what I need, What others need and what players are left and where they might go based on all of that. I also get a feel what people pick. Is it based on most projections? Is it based on the other RIFC peeks? I try and figure out which players are going for BPA or depth, etc. That largely determines if I can wait another round on a player or I have to grab a guy I want now because he won't get back to me. I stay away from runs when I can. This strategy was working early--then all of a sudden--picks started going against that.
I was really happy to stay away from the QB run and grab players I really liked or had much higher value than other players at their position while people kept taking QBs I didn't want anyhow. I really wanted Cassel and Hass and I knew that since most already had QBs (DS had two) that they should fall to me. Then I'd grab them both bang bang and be done.
That trade really screwed me up. I just saw that it happened and assuemd it was a pick for a pick. It was never announced and you couldn't see it in Kaf until it happened. I lost out on Hasslebeck and at least one other player because of that. But also, some people started "reaching" for players that I had wanted when they had some big needs and these players weren't close to BPA or down further on projections and otehr drafts. Since I don't write much of anything down, I'm starting to think--man who is reading my mind. So I started to think about what I've seen or heard that would make them want that player then given their other needs. I still am not sure if those were great picks or horrible picks wih their roster situation--but I'm thinking they were probably pretty good. We shall see.
2. What were your favorite picks? Which do you wish you could do over?
Steven Jackson at 1.09 -- This guy is so underrated it's not funny. I think he could be oen of the highest scoring player in the game. Amazed he fell to 9. Definitely would have grabbed him higher.
TJ at 4.06, Evans at 6.06, Cassel at 8.06, Stewart at 9.09 (though almost got JJ and he went next), Garrard at 10.06
Do Overs: Higgins at 12.06, already cut him. Don't believe everythign you read!!!!! Possibly Hartline at 16.06--see Higgings comment.
3. Looking over all of the teams, which ones do you like the most (other than your own)?
TD has a solid offensive threat--not sure about the other positions though. Same thing for Donkey. Loki has some big players and if his WRs prove out he could be hard to beat. I don't see anyone that looks so dominant they can't be beaten right now--which is great. You jsut never know how some of these "fringe" players will do and that makes things fun.
4. What surprised you most about the draft?
The speed. It was so fast that I literally had to start planning for my next pick right after my previous pick. Many times I had a great idea what I was going to go next--but the draft was a little more unpredictable in terms of what they were picking at times. So I had to make contingency plans quickly.
5. If you could start over, would you do anything differently?
In hindsight, stuff changes so it's not really fair to say you'd do it the same way with more info in play. I am not the greatest drafter in the world--but I do have a vision of keeping a balance so to speak so there is some consistency so a bad week by my top players might not nec destroy me. I don't think my draft was horrible and I think I got a lot of nice value and my teams are always competitive. Tired of being the bridesmaid though so hope this season will change htings for the better.
|
|
|
|
Post a reply to this message: (But first, how about checking out this sponsor?)
|
|