A Colts/Blizzard Journal

[JPK]

Draft recap

The draft was not very successful. Some targets were picked before the Blizzard had a chance to speak, and when they did speak, they often did way too early.

30. HB Jimmy Pittman (78/21), Winston Salem
62. OLB Eddie Andrews (81/22), Richmond
63. FS Ben Brown (75/21), Baylor
111. C Josh Prior (77/21), E. Kentucky

Pittman is a power back who can complement Shawn McNamara, but it is uncertain whether he can carry the load by himself.

Andrews is added to the linebacker mix that already includes DPOY Jamel Watson, as well as Mack Rodgers and Craig Hayden. He will get his chance, but maybe not on defense right away.

Brown was drafted as a safety, but his speed will allow him to compete for playing time at cornerback.

Prior is highly intelligent but might lack the physical skills to be more than a backup and insurance policy.

The team only signed 4 of its draft picks, but they did trade down often enough to add two 4th-rounders and three 5th-rounders for next year.

[JPK]

More free agency

To round out the roster, the team signed backup QB Dave Holliday, and wide receivers Charles George and Ben Mitchell.

Next update will include the opening day depth chart.

[RevanFan]

That was a tough loss. And why only four draft picks?

[Ratbu]

Please release the roster, I wanna see how strong the team really is.

Sorry for the delayed reply. I am attaching my current franchise file so you can compare teams. I am currently in the offseason.

If you want to see the evolution of my roster, you can click through my journal, I post my depth chart at the start of every season.

Thanks for following!

Awesome, brother. Gonna play with this soon.

Oh and I'm a long time lurker btw, been following some of the journals here before I joined. Including yours.

[JPK]

That was a tough loss. And why only four draft picks?

Yes, tough loss, although I wasn't too upset for these reasons:
-I have won many Super Bowls in recent history, so I guess I was less hungry.
-I didn't play as well as I wanted throughout the year, so I kinda felt I didn't deserve it.
-Multiple MVP Jason Stackhouse finally has his ring.

As for the only 4 draft picks, it is because I picked poorly in the later rounds and ended up cutting 3-4 more players on the spot. I also traded some of my picks for next year, where I hold three 4th-rounders and four 5th-rounders. Next year should see a much larger haul of prospects.

[JPK]

Please release the roster, I wanna see how strong the team really is.

Sorry for the delayed reply. I am attaching my current franchise file so you can compare teams. I am currently in the offseason.

If you want to see the evolution of my roster, you can click through my journal, I post my depth chart at the start of every season.

Thanks for following!

Awesome, brother. Gonna play with this soon.

Oh and I'm a long time lurker btw, been following some of the journals here before I joined. Including yours.

Awesome, thank you for following! Let me know what you think of my franchise file.

For the record, I play on pro, with the sliders slightly favoring the computer. When I feel like I'm being too dominant, I will sometimes boost players on other teams (via the editor).

[Ratbu]

Loaded it up, the custom teams have no logos.

[JPK]

Loaded it up, the custom teams have no logos.

That's upsetting, I think there would be one of my system files that I'd have to send you so you can see all the logos. Note: the Panthers have the EA Sports logo because I messed up when I rebranded them.

Did you still look at the rosters?

[JPK]

More personnel moves

The team appears to already be looking forward to an ample draft next year, as they traded two players for high picks.

First, they traded backup (but very talented) SS Rich Berger to the Broncos. In exchange, they swapped first-rounders and received an extra 2nd-rounder.

Then they traded star DE Bill Hilton to the Panthers for a 1st- and a 2nd-rounder. This trade is more of a head-scratcher, but it is not the first time Anchorage trades a star before they start declining. Still, Hilton still has many years left at a high level. In the Blizzard's system, he did not rack up impressive stats, but he took on opposing left tackles to help edge rushers apply pressure.

Those two moves mean that Ralph Casey will see more playing time at safety, and that there will be a position battle for the empty RE spot. In the mix are newly-acquired William Morse, current backup DT Josh Harris and a flurry of backup linebackers if they can make the transition.

The Blizzard's current load of draft picks for next year is as follows:

1st round (Broncos)
1st round (Panthers)
2nd round (Broncos)
2nd round (Panthers)
2nd round (Blizzard)
3rd round (Steelers)
3rd round (Blizzard)
4th round (Bears)
5th round (Ravens)
5th round (Broncos)

[JPK]

Opening day depth chart

QB: 8 Lucius Stolte (99/29), 6 Dave Holliday (77/25)
HB: 33 Shawn McNamara (94/28), 28 Jimmy Pittman (78/21)
FB: 41 Corey Jackson (99/28), 46 Deion Norris (91/31), 48 William Green (81/25), 39 Ralph Smith (71/25)
WR: 81 Sheldon Stone (89/23), 16 Rodney Lott (82/26), 84 Charles George (78/28), 80 Ben Mitchell (75/27)
TE: 42 C.J. Reynolds (78/22), 86 Marco Frazier (83/29), 87 NaDerris Kerry (78/26), 85 Erik Watson (75/28)
LT: 78 Garrett Jones (97/30)
LG: 67 Angelo Millen (81/22), 75 Ochuko Woolford (78/25)
C: 74 Jermaine Evans (95/28), 65 Josh Prior (77/21)
RG: 69 Tarik Bryan (91/26), 64 Layton Pounds (76/22)
RT: 76 Oluwasegun Carroll (92/24)

LE: 96 Terrell Moore (91/28), 95 George Cain (78/29)
DT: 94 Tervaris Stewart (89/24), 91 John Hamilton (75/27)
RE: 98 Josh Harris (82/27), 99 William Morse (79/25), 92 Richard Westbrook (74/24)
LOLB: 49 Craig Hayden (90/29), 50 Tommy Mejia (82/28)
MLB: 58 Rondell Hendrickson (86/28), 51 Earl Bassett (80/29), 53 Ed Fulton (71/25)
ROLB: 52 Mack Rodgers (86/22), 56 Eddie Andrews (81/22)
LB/CB: 57 Jamel Watson (91/26)
CB: 31 Markus Hartley (93/29), 22 Raeshon Millen (90/31), 35 Ben Brown (75/21), 27 Rashaan Stills (75/26), 32 Jaime Martin (71/25)
FS: 44 Avery Snell (87/28), 36 Daunte Jones (84/28)
SS: 29 Tra Hunt (88/25), 43 Ralph Casey (79/25)

K: 2 Derek Wallick (93/26), 3 James Taylor (72/22)
P: 2 Derek Wallick (97/26)
H: 6 Dave Holliday
LS: 95 George Cain
KR: 81 Sheldon Stone, 35 Ben Brown
PR: 81 Sheldon Stone, 35 Ben Brown

HC: Austin Jackson (former Blizzard OL)
OC: Merton Myers (former Blizzard C)
DC: Ralph Rivers (former Blizzard DT)
ST: Ethan Harris (former Cowboys WR)