Madden 16 AALoA CFM Preview

Its been over two weeks since Madden16 was released and while the fun has begun, we know that around here Madden season doesn’t officially begin until the league invites for the AALoA Connected Franchise are distributed.  Well, with word that the latest patch is soon to be released, you can bet that seeing those invites in your inbox will soon follow.  As team slots continue to get filled with members old and new, the anticipation of trying to lead your franchise to the top of mountain only intensifies.  Owners are scurrying around to finalize at least the first draft of their custom playbooks, salivating over that new play or player they’ve uncovered and scanning the Free Agent list like a hawk to see who they will sign in the Free Agent draft that can bridge the gap between season 1 and either that first big trade or the first offseason draft. 




Who will win the inaugural season of Madden16 in the AALoA?  Who will transform their roster the best through trades/drafting/free agent signings?  Who will show off their Ownership/GM/Coaching/Playmaking skills and become the big dog of Madden16 in the AALoA?
 
Those questions will be answered soon, but in the meantime tell us about your franchise and what we have to look forward to!!!

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Overview
 
After a one year hiatus, Steel Rooney returns to his ownership post atop the Pittsburgh Steelers.  There’s plenty of reason for optimism amongst the yinzers from the Steel City as they enter the season as the defending AFC North Champs and sporting a fancy new high-powered offense.  There are still many questions to be answered on defense with the likes of Troy Polamalu, Brett Keisel and Ike Taylor gone and the unfulfilled expectations of Jarvis Jones, Ryan Shazier and Cortez Allen.  The Steelers were able to outscore may opponents last season to overcome the defense but that ultimately caught up with them in the playoffs so if Owner Steel Rooney wants to see his franchise take the next step towards Lombardi #7 an improvement on the defensive side will be needed.  The man in charge of that will be long time LB Coach Keith Butler who takes over for Dick LeBeau as the primary play caller on defense.  Those are heavy shoes for him to fill but in speaking with Coach Butler, he seems very much up to the challenge.

 
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ESPN Article
7/30/2015
 
Since being promoted, Butler has been crafting a defense that relies on Steelers staples -- 3-4 formation, dropping both safeties into coverage -- while bringing new ideas, such as getting defensive ends more one-on-one opportunities and various linebacker blitz packages.


Butler said Tomlin has not micromanaged him, though he runs new ideas by the head coach as they come. Hitters will play; passive tacklers won't.


"We're going to experiment a little bit more [this week] to see if it really works in pads," said Butler about this week's training camp sessions.


What will virtual Steelers fans have the most to look forward to this season …

 
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Offense, offense, offense.  It sounds weird to say that with regards to a Steelers team historically built on defense and a running game but the Steelers have shifted their identity over the last couple of years.  Sporting players in the Top 5 at their position in terms of OVR rating at the QB, RB and WR position the Steelers big three seems to be a match made in heaven for Offensive Coordinator Todd Haley and a historically offensive mind Madden game.  Throw in potential breakout star WR Martavis Bryant and the always reliable Heath Miller and opposing defenses are going to have a hard time deciding who they want to focus their attentions on.  Guess wrong and it could be 6!


What will give virtual Steelers fans the most angst heading into this season …


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Defense, defense, defense.  In particular the secondary.  As previously mentioned, Troy and Ike are gone and Cortez Allen has not lived up to the big contract he signed to the point that he was benched last season.  Willie Gay played big last season and is the veteran of the group but Gay is best suited to be the nickel CB, not your #1.  Adding Brandon Boykin should help but at best the Steelers will have a back end comprised of two nickel CB’s on the outside and a lot of uncertainty after that.  The safety position is not much better as Shamarko Thomas has followed in the footsteps of Cortez Allen as a young player with a lot of promise, given the reigns to the starting job, only to lose that spot.  In Thomas’ case to veteran Will Allen.  Mike Mitchell has not been anything like the player we signed from Carolina prior to last season.  Add to that the lack of stick skills usually displayed by Steel Rooney and the increased focus on the aggressive catch and this could be a long season for the Steelers defensive backfield.


What is the biggest unknown that will factor into this season …


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The answer to this may come straight from the top … as in ownership.  Steel Rooney returns after not picking up Madden15 as this will be his first venture into Franchise play on the PS4.  At 37 (soon to be 38) what does he have left in terms of hand eye coordination and stick skills?  Will his impending arthritis come into play at a crucial time during the season leading to a faulty pass, a missed tackle and incorrect read of a hole on a run play?  Steel Rooney’s alter ego Coach Steel Pitt has had success in the past leading three different universities to National Championships in the NCAA series as well as a respectable run in Madden that includes representing the AFC in the inaugural Super Bowl of the original Press Start league (showing my age).  However, the one thing that has always seemed to elude him is the coveted Madden CFM Super Bowl Trophy.  Is there enough left in the tank?  We shall see, but Steel Rooney vows to continue drinking his milk, popping his require vitamin D pills for strong bones and continue to give it his best effort to bring Lombardi #7 to the Steel City.

The Bears have reached an unfortunate cross-roads in the organization. A year ago the team was full of hope with an offensive-minded genius at Head Coach calling plays like this at the helm. Playoffs or bust was an unspoken mantra in the organization.  Then their offensive coordinator started spewing literal shit from his mouth. Pair that knucklehead with a defensive coordinator who doesn't know what a scheme is, how to gameplan, or how to call a proper defense. And finally, Brandon Marshall emerged from his hibernation to do what Brandon Marshall does, seek attention, point fingers at others, and be loud.

After two years of regression, Bears brass cleaned the slate, pushed out the bad juju, and went somewhere the franchise has never been, lining up in a 3-4 defense. We'll get to the defense in a little bit though. John Fox comes in to stabilize Halas Hall, and turn the franchise around back into a contender the same way he did with the Panthers, and then Broncos.
OFFENSE
Jay Cutler was linked with rumors all over the offseason, and still ended back in Chicago to throw bombs all over the field. To opposing defenders. Will the new staff put up with his apathy? Or will they be quick to pull the trigger on developing a backup, or making a costly trade for a replacement?

But, there's hope outside of the mess Quarterback. Matt Forte is a monster, and the engine that powers the offense still gets no respect.  The receiving corps pose threats in several ways. Jeffery brings size, rookie White brings top end speed, Royal is quick and shifty in the slot, and Bennett at TE is a matchup problem for LBs and Safeties in the middle of the field.  The offensive line has question marks, but Kyle Long is a franchise cornerstone to build around as he flexes out to Right Tackle to plug a glaring hole left by recently released Jordan Mills.

DEFENSE
Woof. Hopefully the offense finds it's rhythm because the Bears are young, inexperienced, and fitting a square peg in a round hole (giggity). The leadership is there with a couple vets, but the talent is developing, and it might be awhile. Six of the 11 starters will have three seasons or less.  You know it's bad when starting MLB Shea McLellin, was a bust at DE, and a bust at 4-3 OLB. Jared Allen may not have much gas left in the tank, and Antrell Rolle is merely getting by on smarts and experience. This is Pernell McPhee's defense at OLB, and there's not much else outside of him.

SPECIAL TEAMS
Robbie, as good as, Gould is consistent as ever despite the crazy winds off the lakefront. Second year punter O'Donnell continues to make a case for being the fastest and strongest punter in the league. But returner is a major question mark outside of Eddie Royal, who is sorely need to focus on offense.

Season Outlook: Lots of tears.
Most Exciting Storyline: Can Kevin White take enough attention away from Alshon Jeffery to open the offense, en route to a Rookie of the Year Award?
Most Concerning: How bad can the Bears defense actually get?

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Cleveland Browns "hopeful" for a good season

Introductory Press Conference:
Coach Nike was introduced today as the 19th Coach in Team History. With cautious optimism Coach Nike hopes to bring a ground and pound team lead by Isiah Crowell and Duke Johnson while Johnny Manziel is slowly groomed. Coach Nike was not afraid admit that Josh Mccown,while a great veteran leader, will be cut once he gets a hold of the reign(Manziel or bust, QB Trade?!?)

Offense
This team is Offensive line stacked and will test a ground and pound team first before he installs a more Johnny Manziel friendly offense. With new additions Dwyane Bowe Brian Hartline and Josh Gordon taking Goodell to court and gaining his reinstatement(who isn't these days?) as well as speedster Travis Benjamin the team has more then enough threats for a versatile offense.


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Defense:
Coach Nike is a 4-3 heavy coach but with the personal he was given he will give the 3-4 a try but will not give up on the 4-3 completely," with Paul(Kruger) and Barkevius(Mingo) we have very smart talented young men who can play anywhere" This defense is talented from top to bottom from 1st Rd Pick Nose Tackle Danny Shelton and veteran Karlos Dansby to Joe Haden, Tramon Williams and Justin Gilbert the team has a lot of potential. 


Season Outlook: 10-6 NFC North Champs (Not one to usually guess record but it's playoffs or bust no matter where Coach Nike goes)
Most Exciting Storyline: Can this talented defense live up to Top 5 expectations?!? Can they hold onto the NFC North with the talented teams opposing them?
Most Concerning: Can Johnny control elbow soreness, can he throw over Five yards? Will the Browns be shopping for a backup to replace Mccown in FA or via Trade?

"Yes we're that team that drafted T-Rich, Brandon Weeden and Johnny Manziel in the 1st Round"

Overview: The 49ers are coming out of a tumultuous offseason that saw 4-year head coach Jim Harbaugh leave the organization for the coaching job at the University of Michigan. His replacement is the in house D-Line coach, Jim Tomsula, whose claim to fame is a soup quote, “And I'm a guy that through the course of my coaching career, I've held different positions, and I keep my spoon in my soup. I don't taste your soup.” Another big change is financial mogul, Beach Life, swooped in with a miraculous bid to purchase the team from John York. The Niners are coming off a rather disappointing 8-8 season in which they didn’t make the playoffs. New owner Beach, has said first year head coach Jim Tomsula will have a very short leash with him and he has no problem stepping in to make the coaching decisions if Tomsula can’t lead a winning team.
 
Offense: The Niners finished last year with 5239 yds of offense, 2176 rushing yards and 3063 passing yards. Reports say that the team will lean heavily on 2^nd year running back Carlos Hyde and rookie Rugby star Jarryd Hayne to compensate for Colin Kaepernick’s lack of throwing accuracy and all around passing skills. Life said, “We are exploring trade options for Kap [Kaepernick] now we want to see him succeed as I have the utmost respect for him but we are not the organization for him.” It’ll be interesting to see how Kaepernick responds to this quote from his new owner on the field and with the media.
 

Defense/Special Teams: The 49ers defense held teams to 5143 total yards last season with 1612 coming from the run and 3531 coming off the pass. Former LSU standout Glen Dorsey will look to anchor this defensive line that looks to be a mess of players until they can find a group that gels. The defensive backfield will be lead by another LSU standout in Eric Reid who hopes to top his season high interception total of 4 this year. Rugby star Jarryd Hayne will be returning punts while DeAndrew White and Reggie Bush are returning kicks. Bradley Pinion will handle the punting duties and Phil Dawson will be the starting kicker.