Madden 22 Franchise - Falcons - The Rise of Feleipe Franks

[YogiBiz]

So I saw @MKnight82 do his franchise and I’d thought I’d give it a whirl with the Falcons since I live in Atlanta. 

first order of business is to get rid of Granpapi Matt  (no disrespect but I wanna lose a lot and he might be too good for Madden purposes (I sometimes think this game doesn’t want me to do a full rebuild)). 
 

below are my settings:

Skill Level - All Madden (does it matter if I’m simming every game)

Trade Deadline - On

Coach Firing - CPU Only (my rebuild could take a long time and with me typing up all of this it would suck for it to collapse after Year 3 because the cpu decided to fire me).

Salary Cap - On

Superstar Abilities - On

Injuries - On

Pre-existing Injuries - On

Fill Roster - Off

Falcons GM says on Arthur Smith quick firing before he coaches any games “Whoops, we hired the wrong guy.” 
 

Yogi Biz instantly instated as Falcons new Head Coach  

 

Coach selected - Staff Builder

schemes -

offense - West Coast Zone Run (KC Playbook)

QB - Improviser  

HB - Elusive-back

FB - Utility 

WR - Route Runner

TE - Possession

LT - Agile 

LG - Agile

C - Agile

RG - Agile

RT - Agile

Defense - Base 4-3 (SEA playbook)

LE - Run Stopper

RE - Speed Rusher

DT - Run Stopper

LOLB - Run Stopper

MLB - Field General

ROLB - Pass Coverage

CB - Man to Man

FS - Zone

SS - Run Support

Season Goals - 4 Wins cause I wanna lose and get that smexy #1 Pick

PreSeason Trade(s) -

Matt Ryan (QB)

 Hayden Hurst (TE)

To Washington 

for Matthew Ioannidis (DT)

1st Round Pick (Ends up as Pick #19)

With no other moves made. The Falcons head into the season with Feleipe Franks as their starting QB.

Opening Day Offensive Depth Chart

 

QB - Feleipe Franks (59) // AJ McCarron (59)

HB - Mike Davis (80) // Cordarrelle Patterson (76) // Javian Hawkins (69) 

FB - John Raine (61)

WR - Calvin Ridley (88) // Russel Gage Jr (73) // Olamide Zaccheaus (68) // Tajae Sharpe (68) // Frank Darby (64)

TE - Kyle Pitts (81) // Lee Smith (73) // Josh Harris (43) 

LT - Jake Matthews (80) // Jason Spriggs (59)

LG - Jalen Mayfield (68) // Josh Andrews (60)

C - Matt Hennessy (68) // Drew Dalman (62)

RG - Chris Lindstrom (79) // Josh Andrews

RT - Kaleb McGary // Jason Spriggs (59)
 

Opening Day Defensive Depth Chart

LE - John Cominsky (71) // Brandon Copeland (70)

DT - Grady Jarrett (88)

DT - Matthew Ioannidis (87) 

RE - Dante Fowler (74) // Brandon Copeland (70)

LOLB - Mykal Walker (68) // Shareef Miller (64)

MLB - Foyesade Oluokun (79) // Erroll Thompson (60) // Emmanuel Ellerbee (57)

ROLB - Deion Jones (86) // Shareef Miller (64)

CB - AJ Terrell Jr (77) // Fabian Moreau (77) // Isaiah Oliver (74) // Kendall Sheffield (74) // Darren Hall (65)

FS - Richie Grant (73) // Erik Harris (72) // T.J. Green (67)

SS - Duron Harmon (79) // Jaylinn Hawkins (65) 

K - Younghoe Koo (81) 

P - Corey Bojórquez (75)

 

 

[YogiBiz]

Season 1 Recap 

 

Today was a day off so I had free time. Below are some notes from the first season (I got some prospect news articles which is weird, since some people are reporting not getting them). 
 

Since trading two of their championship run cornerstone pieces, many expected the Falcons to win maybe 3 games (me included). The original plan was to suck and take the best QB on the Board; I had no idea Feleipe would be a bonafide starter and lead us to a 6-11 record (respectable for a rebuilding squad at the beginning of their rebuild).  This gave us Picks # 4 & #19 (Matt Ryan trade) along with two second rounders.

Well after his performance, the former Razorbacks’ Signal Caller got the nod for me for an encore season (in hopes to address other needs on the team).

Prospects to look out for - 

WR - Matthew Zhang - Notre Dame

The first report I got since I started playing (weird), but Zhang is Notre Dame’s all time leading receiver as a Junior. This was the only article I received on him. Combine showed an absolute athletic beast. 6’2” 215lbs and ran a 4.27 40 6.88 Three Cone, 38.8” Vert and 10’11” Broad Jump. Didn’t write down his Shuttle. Obvious Julio replacement, he’s the 4th rated receiver slated to go round 1 might trade up to secure him with an extra 2nd.

RE - Rudy Strickland - Northwestern

Stud. A top 5 rated pass rusher. Got a report saying he was super raw but reportedly ran a 4.60 at 6’5” 270lbs. Welp, he did not disappoint at the combine, he blazed a 4.53 40. Ranked 1st in ever category except Vert and Broad Jump (lost to the number 1 pick on the mocks, believe his name was Greggs). Also had 31 bench reps. Deft taking him at #4 if he’s there.

SS - Garrett Crockett - Syracuse

Another athlete ran 4.42 40 and 17 Reps on bench. Is a 2-3 round prospect. Might be a good 2nd round guy.

CB - Marquise Strickland - Maryland

Converted WR (apparently led the nation in receiving yards or TDs year prior).  Tearing it up in first year as CB and lead nation in picks. Was said to be super raw, but he has a B in man Coverage and Press. 6’ 202lbs would be a good boundary guy opposite Terrell Jr. slated to go 3rd-4th round, but he ran a 4.48 40 and ranked 1st in 3Cone and Shuttle so I’ll probably take him in round 3. 

Below are some notable stat lines from the 2021 Season:

QB Feleipe Franks - 6 Upgrade Points (New Overall -  65) 

Dev Upgrade (Star)
4602 yards (7th in the league) 31 TD’s (14th) 11 INTs 60.1% Completion % 

WR Clavin Ridley 4 Upgrade Points (New Overall - 92)

101 Catches (3rd) 1411 Yards (4th) 11 TDs (18th)  

LE John Cominsky 

Dev Upgrade (Star) // 5 Upgrade Points (New Overall - 76)

44 Total Tackles / 13 TFL / 9 Sacks / 2 Deflections / 2 Forced Fumbles / 1 Recovery

DT Grady Jarrett (Pro Bowl) 

Dev Upgrade (SS X-Factor) 5 Upgrade points (New Overall - 93)

56 Total Tackles / 16 TFL / 13 Sacks / 1 Forced Fumbles / 2 Recoveries 

DT Matthew Ioannidis 

48 Total Tackles / 12 TFL / 7 Sacks / 1 Deflection / 1 Forced Fumble / 1 Recovery 

 

Its getting late so I don’t feel like doing the draft. I’ll get it done tomorrow after work. 

Edited October 26, 2021 by YogiBiz

[YogiBiz]

Another note to add -

Even with the above 3 guys combining for 29 Sacks the team still only had a total of 37 sacks. (5  from the linebacker spots 1 from AJ Terrell and 2 from Dante Fowler Jr(cmon man)). So if you’re wondering why I am so eager to add Strickland that’s why.

EDIT: Oh yeah, Kyle Pitts is a Superstar X-Factor and got the Double Me Badge. Whoop

Edited October 26, 2021 by YogiBiz

[YogiBiz]

Decided to do the Draft anyways only notable player I signed was Zach Ertz for back up TE role everyone else was a backup or John Ross III I have a plan and hopefully I can execute it - 

 

Pick Round 1 #4 - Rudy Strickland - RE - Northwestern 

This was a no brainer. Needed a stud EDGE rusher and he checked all the madden Boxes. 
Got a 88 Speed 87 Agility and 91 Acceleration 84 Change of Direction 91 Jumping (how much does that matter) and 89 strength. F and P move only at 71 but 79 Block Shedding and 72 Play Recognition. Hidden Dev Trait - 78 Overall. 
 

Pick #12 - Matthew Zhang - WR - Notre Dame

I traded up. It only cost me a second (Pick 60) and a future fourth (I know madden would’ve let me have it for a third but I wanted to keep it a shade realistic) to move up 7 spots. I wanted to secure another elite pass catcher to go opposite Pitts and Ridley. So Zhang was the guy. I was not disappointed either. 96 Speed, Acceleration, and Agility. 97 Change of Direction and at least 80 in all route running slots. Only 71 awareness, but I’m simming so I don’t care about in game drops. Dude is a beast!

Hidden Dev - 80 Overall (He was ranked third in entire draft). 
 

Round 2 Pick #4 - SS Garrett Crockett - Syracuse

Need pick and he is a really good athlete. 90 Speed 93 Acceleration but only 84 Agility. Not bad, but he was only a Normal Dev Trait 76 Overall. Still a starter and we take those!

Round 3 Pick #4 CB Marquise Strickland

Another Hidden Dev. Not really a need I could’ve gone LG or RT here, but I decided to add to the defense and boy am I glad. 75 Overall cover corner. Immediate starter in round 3, nice. Also a 74 slot rating so he can ma man the slot too. So right now I’m 3/4 on Hidden Devs. Let’s Gooooo!

Round 4 Pick #4 - RT Trey Ross - Georgia Tech 

Really good athlete for a 6’6 316 lb man. Hit 37 reps on the bench press and ranked 1st in Tackle Shuttle. 5th in 40 with a 5.07. A B in Pass And Run Block Finesse and A in impact blocking. And another Hidden Dev (boy I’m good), only 70 overall though. Will be a good back up for McGrary as he’s a FA next year and I don’t plan on resigning. 
 

Round 5 Pick #4 - TE - Terry Burns bench TE to potentially replace Ertz when he walks. Normal Dev 65 Overall
 

Round 6 Pick #4 - K - Roy Williams -Southern Miss

A KICKER! Well. Look. The article headline said he never missed a field goal in his five year career. And he was the best kicker to come out in years (these reports are wild). Good news though, I got a Hidden Dev kicker 71 Overall (Will they just tell me at the end of the year if he doesn’t reach 500 snaps lmao). 

Round 7 Pick # 4 - WR - Allen Black 

Cool name. 6’5” 230 lbs receiver. Might be a future TE. Normal Dev 62 Overall. Filler pick. 
 

All in all a good draft in my eyes. 5/8 of the picks are Hidden Dev (ONE IS A KICKER) Now I’m really going to bed. I might’ve skipped to preseason after I looked at my team’s draft recap so it’ll take me a second tomorrow to compile a rookie list (if I feel like doing that). If you couldn’t tell I only draft guys that are number 1 or close to it in their class Combine rankings and it didn’t fail me this time!

Edited October 26, 2021 by YogiBiz

[YogiBiz]

Okay so I have a problem and simmed the next season to see my draftees Dev traits. Defense and our passing attack (that saw Ridley go down for 7 games and (still had 62 Catches for 889 yards and 4 TDs) were dominate. 

Franks suffered a sophomore slump. Throwing for only 4467 Yards and 29 TDs to 13 INTs. However his completion percentage went up to 62%. And the passing attack was good for 13th in the league and the rushing attack improved from dead last the year (82.2 YPG) before to 27th (94.4 YPG). Royce Freeman also was a go to guy on the goal line finishing with 9 TDs for the season on only 95 carries.

The defense was great. #5 in scoring at 22.2 PPG. #6 against the pass at 239.1 YPG #1 against the Run at 81.1 YPG with 57 Sacks (16 from Garrett, 12 from Ioannidis, 7 from both Cominsky and the rookie Strickland (btw X-Factor) and Deion Jones (who missed last year) had 5 to go with his 149 tackles and 4 picks). 
 

Zhang (Superstar) won offensive rookie of the year honors for the performance he put up. 89 Catches for 1205 Yards and 8 TDs. Kyle Pitts also stepped up posting 81 Catches for 1038 Yards and 7 TDs. With Ridley down it was nice to have production from other spots. John Ross III even post 55 Catches for 682 and 2 TDs. All in all, we went 12-5 and tied for #1 in the NFC, and we got the Bye cause Franks is the GOAT in the making.

We beat the Saints in the Divisional Round that saw us 35-14 at half but the Saints closed the game on an 18-0 run and probably had the ball driving, but we won 35-32. We played the Cowboys for the NFC crown, and it took over time but we won 36-30. For some reason my regular season #2 ranked scoring D was kinda quiet. 
 

Through his first two playoff games Franks came alive. Posting a coming 801 yards 7 TDs to only 2 INTs and an blazing 72% Completion %. 

We lost by 1 point to the chiefs in the super bowl that saw us leading 27-20 heading into the 4th but 15 minutes was too long not to score and only play Defense. Pat Mahomes out duels the would be GOAT. Pat’s 384 Yards 4 TDs and 1 INT to Feleipe’s 304 and 2 TDs and 1 INT. Good game champs. We got over 50 mill in cap we will be back next year. Took only two seasons, but this looks like a dynasty boys. Can I pay everyone?  I will while Franks is on an UDFA rookie wage for another year (I should probably save some money).