Team Personalities

I posed this question on the other site awhile ago and I'd like to rekindle the query: Do you build all of your teams the same way i.e. figure/base combo, playbook, etc?

I don't. Each of my teams take on their respective real-life team's persona. My Fighting ILLINI runs a Pro Style Offense and a 4-3 Base Defense; my Northwestern WILDCATS run a Shotgun Spread; my Tampa Bay BUCS feature the A-Train pounding the rock, while Derrick Brooks and Co. run their patented Tampa 2 Defense.

The reason I bring this topic up again is that I just "installed" my Defense on my Miggle team and lo-and-behold I could never run this D with any other team, just like I couldn't run the Tampa 2 with any other team than Tampa. That's just me.

What about you and your teams? You don't have to disclose any secrets for your Miggle team, but in general, how do you build a team? Do you liken it to real life or just whip it together the same as always, just a different team?

[Mike710]

Hi Jimbo,
I'm starting anew with making teams for my solitaire leasgue that have personalities. I want the players to be as close as to scale as possible. I went my offense and defense lineman to be bigger than my QB's, WR's and RB's. I just purchased a bunch of Reggie's figs and plan of posing each figure from an actual pic of them. Then I want to get a playbook and use specific plays that the teams I make actually used. Ex. Cowboys of the 70's, balanced offense and a 4-3 flex defense.

[NEW CASTLE HiTMEN]

Jimbo,

I mostly use my team pictured above. I run a 1 back two TE offense. On occasion I use a fullback or three WR's. When I do use a NFL team I try to emulate the real team. My Dolphins have Dan Marino at QB and Cszonka at RB. Thats why I love this game. Marino hands off to Cszonka. With my Steelers I mostly run the ball with Bettis and Harris and run alot of blitzes on defense. Good post!

Guys,

I just painted my fourth NY Giants team. My first three were with experimental decals, so I finished the MPFL season and trashed them. My new squad is fresh to death according to Will Trav, Adrian B. and AB, and has only '06 players.

I love the Bill Walsh style of football. Multiple formations, plays and counter plays. Passing short when you can't run. Shoving it down their throats when you can run. For my MPFL defense, I don't blitz much anymore. I run a nice cover 3-zone with players on magnets until its time to move. In the redzone, I switch to the 4-6 and get my blitz on...7-man rush is hard to beat.

I love EF regardless of how you play.

I am about to begin a new Saints team to solitare against my Giants since they play in two weeks. A new Cowboys (yuck) team is coming as well.

My Giants match my personality. Cerebral, and calculating at every step. A real mystery...

[Coach K-LO]

Good Question, Jimbo.

I like to think that I build my teams different, but they are all very simular because I put so many players (40+) that I end up with enough players to run just about any offense or defense.

The base offense and defense is where the NFL team Identity comes into play.

I have, for example, Chargers that run a base 4-3 but can switch to a 3-4 zone blitz then a 4-4 stack and back to a 4-3 all in the same 4 down series.

When in the solitraire mode, I will stick to the NFL style of formations for the most part.

in the picture below, the Texans are running a 3-4 defense that works very well.

Jimbo,

Good question! In my solitare league I always try emulate what that team runs for base offense and defense. That what always made it more fun for me.

Wally

Originally Posted by JIMBO

how do you build a team? Do you liken it to real life or just whip it together the same as always, just a different team?

Jimbo,

Back in the day... For league play I used to build my teams according to their real-life counterparts. For example, the '84 Dolphins (Marino, Strock, Duper, Clayton, Moore, Cefalo, Jensen, Hardy, Nathan, Bennett, and Franklin) were a pass-first... run-second (if at all) kind of team. I made sure I equipped them with a number of home run hitters with plenty of speed. I passed the ball appoximately 80% of the time and threw for over 6000 yards and 54 tds. Including 11 td passes in one game.

My '84 Niners squad featuring Wendell Tyler and Roger Craig, rushed for over 2800 yards with Tyler breaking the 2000 yard mark.

Walter Payton and Roland Harper both rushed for over 1000 yds on my '77 Bears squad. While QB Bob Avellini threw for over 1500 yds.

Now bare in mind (back in the day) our league games typically ran for about 3hours, and there were no figures designed to hold.

In the present day... my league teams are built more for fun. I don't try to emulate the real-life version anymore, except in the looks department. Our TBA games last between and 1-1/2 to 2 hours with food and music (AKA mini party) to accompany all the playing.

In the six years I've been playing in this league (stat-wise)... The most yards I've had rushing were 1331 by Dennis Gentry of the '85 Bears, and most TD passes I've thrown were 20 by Brett Favre of the '02 Packers.

As far as tournaments go... I don't build teams to reflect their real-life counterparts. I try to build a team capable of accentuating what I like to do on the field. I give it some playmakers and some role-players and hopefully coach them well enough to be difference makers during the game.

As long as the team is offensively and defensively capable... That's all I care about.

- OldSchool

[jeff]

Originally Posted by WallyJ

Jimbo,

Good question! In my solitare league I always try emulate what that team runs for base offense and defense. That what always made it more fun for me.

Wally

What he said.

[RavennaAl]

I basically set up my teams the same way, but somehow they develop their own personallities anyways. The best part is that I can play 2 teams against each other and have a close game one time and a blowout the next, for no rhyme or reason. I never know how a game will turn out.:o