Madden 16 PS4 League - Preseason starts after first roster update

[Retto]

WAR ROOM: NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

The New Orleans Saints got off to a red-hot start in the Madden 15 League, earning the NFC's second seed in season 1, and returning to the playoffs as an 11-win team in Season 2...

After which, they lost their way.

With @Artest93 at the helm of the black and gold, the Saints delivered a brand of football which had the capability of frustrating even the most skilled of opponents. However, postseason losses to eventual Season 1 NFC Champion Carver and the Minnesota Vikings, followed by a dismantling at the hands of the Season 2 Champion Seahawks would go a long way in placing a concrete ceiling on the Saints' potential - they never returned to the postseason after that loss against the 12th Man, and once Artest called it a Madden 15 League career midway thru Season 4, New Orleans would finish out the league as a sunken, rudderless ship - with an 0-16 record in Season 5.

Now, for most recent Madden 15 League World Champion owner @yungchris504, who, as the Patriots, triumphed by one point over now-division rival Retto and the Panthers in Season 5's Super Bowl, the objective is to build the Who Dat Nation back to the Madden prominence it once held. Can the Big Easy native truly become a hometown hero, and deliver a Lombardi Trophy to New Orleans, just as he did in New England?

STRENGTHS

Chris' New Orleans Saints, of course, will be led by a guaranteed future Hall of Fame QB in Drew Brees. The veteran signal-caller will heavily rely on two very fast skill players on offense: second year wideout Brandin Cooks and former Buffalo running back CJ Spiller. Mark Ingram will help handle the load on the ground for the Saints, and veteran receiver Marques Colston returns to help lead a young group of pass-catchers. Rookie RT Andrus Peat will have his opportunities to make an impact up front for a Saints squad that acquired C Max Unger in a blockbuster deal which sent star TE Jimmy Graham to Seattle.

The Saints defense is led by a strong pair of safeties: Jairus Byrd, the ever-crafty veteran, and the young, hard-hitting Kenny Vaccaro, who enters his third season. Monstrous CB Brandon Browner, fresh off a 2014 championship with the Pats, arrives to help the Saints against big, physical WRs in the division, such as Julio Jones in Atlanta, Kelvin Benjamin in Carolina, and Mike Evans in Tampa. Standout LB Junior Gallette and RE Cameron Jordan will still be key pieces to the New Orleans defense, which added rookie MLB Stephone Anthony in the 2015 Draft.

WEAKNESSES

With the game-changing Graham now gone, exactly who will be the Saints go-to guy on offense? A lot will be asked of second-year TE Josh Hill, who has a big void left by old #80 to fill. Beyond Cooks, who missed half of 2014, does New Orleans have enough firepower on offense to command the respect of opposing defenses like in years past? How much longer can Brees carry this team? An even better question: can Chris produce the same championship results with a conventional offensive set-up, as is currently in the Big Easy?

For all the nice individual pieces the Saints have on defense, their 2014 effort was horrible, ranking 31st in terms of total yards given up. While the free agent acquisitions have improved their outlook on paper, three potentially explosive offenses await in the NFC South, so Chris will have to find a combination of players which will work for him, and fast.

TORETTO'S TAKE: 9-7

Chris and his Saints will see several familiar foes on his Season 1 slate, which could help him get off to a quick start to begin the year. However, as good as Brees still is, and as much as Cooks, Spiller, and Ingram can produce, I still have trepidation as to whether Chris will be able to parlay these talents into a scheme which worked so well for him towards the end of the Madden 15 League. No World Champion owner is to be doubted; we've all seen what he can do, but ironically enough, that was with Graham at his disposal also. He'll be a good player again this year, but, with a tough schedule in place, he may also have room to improve after Season 1 in Madden 16.

NEXT: TAMPA BAY BUCS

 

[Retto]

WAR ROOM: TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

In retrospect, the Tampa Bay Bucs' Madden 15 League owner yvespo3 came quite a long way from Season 1 to Season 5...

In the first season, he went on a massive late-season losing streak which resulted in him going from first in the NFC South to third...which, obviously, raised doubts about whether he would ever be a true force in the NT League. His second season exposed him as, quite possibly, the most susceptible player in Madden history to the fake punt, among many other plays, which occurred in one of many losses to old division foe Retto ...

And while he managed to make the playoffs in Season 3, a loss to then-defending World Champion Seattle confirmed every one of the aforementioned doubts, as that would be the only playoff game for Tampa in the Madden 15 League.

Enter blackout0824 , who, in his first full NT Madden League, takes over for the Bucs in the '16 installment. After showing some subtle signs of promise in the midst of the nearly impossible task of restoring the post-@TimidTebow Era Cincinnati Bengals, Kerm will have a clean slate with which he can operate. Can he turn the Bucs into an NFC power, or will it be a continuation of the same sad Madden League story for Tampa Bay?

One thing is for certain; for Kerm, there will be no excuses this year.

STRENGTHS

At Kerm's disposal will be an offense which has the capability to be a challenge for any defensive unit to stop. The spotlight, of course, is on at the pro level for number one overall selection in the 2015 Draft, Jameis Winston, who will head the Tampa offense at quarterback. Running backs Doug Martin and Charles Sims could turn out to be a very nice backfield tandem to ease Winston's growing pains at the pro level. The same can be said, likely with more certainty and conviction, about Winston's top two targets: WR Mike Evans, who excelled as a rookie in 2014, and veteran wideout Vincent Jackson, who can still prove deadly as a downfield target. The talent is there for the cannons to fire like never before in Madden 16.

With all that said, the Tampa defense features, perhaps the two best players for Kerm, who has a deceptively good defensive scheme. Defensive tackle Gerald McCoy will be the main catalyst up front for the Bucs. Behind him awaits, unquestionably, the most overlooked player in the league; linebacker Lavonte David, who received some help alongside him in the form of former Cowboy Bruce Carter. Alterraun Verner enters year two in Tampa, while offseason acquisition DJ Swearinger, could give the Bucs that intimidation factor at safety.

WEAKNESSES

As mentioned earlier with the Falcons, old habits die hard. For Kerm, a propensity for errant passes and questionable, if not sporadic, decision making was the reason for many of his losses during his time in the Madden 15 League. Most glaring of those losses was a brutal 43-7 beatdown issued by Luke Kuechly and now-division rival Carolina. The man simply known as "59" across the NT League demonstrated masterful coverage techniques, as Retto baited Kerm into many turnovers. It is likely that many more competitors will do the same to see if Kerm can overcome these demons.

In terms of personnel, Winston's development in a QB-driven division and league will be vital; can he keep up with Brees, Newton and Ryan? Beyond Evans and Jackson, does Tampa have enough proven targets at wideout? Will McCoy, David, and Verner be rendered useless if consistently being asked to defend short fields in Season 1 of Madden 16? Will other teams exploit the litany of advantageous matchups that they figure to have against Tampa secondary members not named Verner?

TORETTO'S TAKE: 6-10

There's a lot of potential here with Kerm's Bucs, much of which will center around his development of Winston - for better or worse. If Kerm can limit his mistakes, he has a chance at winning a decent number of games in Season 1, even in a top-heavy conference.

But...go look at the picture of Tampa Bay's logo up top again. Do you see that wooden background?

That, of course, represents a floor...and what do floors represent?

A bottom of a room...and what does that represent?

Exactly where he'll be in the division, if not the NFC as a whole, if he can't correct his mistakes. There will be an improvement because Kerm isn't inheriting a train wreck of a team...but, to be quite frank, I'll believe a Kerm rise into a playoff contender once...rather, if...I see it.

The NFC South is a wrap, but we'll stay in the south as the AFC division counterpart is next!

NEXT: HOUSTON TEXANS

 

[yvespo3]

In retrospect, the Tampa Bay Bucs' Madden 15 League owner yvespo3 came quite a long way from Season 1 to Season 5...

In the first season, he went on a massive late-season losing streak which resulted in him going from first in the NFC South to third...which, obviously, raised doubts about whether he would ever be a true force in the NT League. His second season exposed him as, quite possibly, the most susceptible player in Madden history to the fake punt, among many other plays, which occurred in one of many losses to old division foe Retto ...

And while he managed to make the playoffs in Season 3, a loss to then-defending World Champion Seattle confirmed every one of the aforementioned doubts, as that would be the only playoff game for Tampa in the Madden 15 League.

 

[Retto]

Don't worry, I've been there before too lol

 

[blackout0824]

LOL

 

[mrsneakerman]

 

[dabottom305]

Retto pretty much told Yvespo he can't serve on his block no more. Made him move to Minnesota.

 

[yvespo3]

Retto pretty much told Yvespo he can't serve on his block no more. Made him move to Minnesota.

Et tu Zoe..... this what I get for trying to be a good guy?

 

[Retto]

WAR ROOM: HOUSTON TEXANS

There are some things that, whenever you see them, the synonymous attachment comes to mind immediately...

The swoosh = Nike.

Golden arch = McDonalds.

And in the Madden 15 League, when you saw this --->> [emoji]128296[/emoji][emoji]128296[/emoji][emoji]128296[/emoji][emoji]128296[/emoji][emoji]128296[/emoji][emoji]128296[/emoji][emoji]128296[/emoji][emoji]128296[/emoji][emoji]128296[/emoji], you knew that someone else had just been decapitated, often times losing the football in the process, by a member of the Houston Texans.

'Hammer Time' was indeed a staple of the game of @Vagixxer this past Madden, and his knack for big hits and the deep ball on offense led to his fair share of success in the 15 League. With the exception of Season 2, during which he missed numerous games, Gix would make the playoffs in every season, getting as far as the AFC Title Game in Season 3, where he would fall to then-defending AFC Champion Baltimore.

Other narrow postseason losses to Miami (Season 1), Buffalo (Season 4) and New England (Season 5) indicate what Gix will enter the '16 League having to overcome, but he's certainly capable - facing almost certain elimination against Pittsburgh in Season 3's Divisional Round, Gix and his Texans would make the ultimate goal line stand, as they held the Steelers out of the end zone and sent the eventual Season 4 Champions home.

This season, Gix returns to handle some unfinished business in Houston. Will he still prove to be king of the AFC South, and, in turn, develop into a major Super Bowl contender in Madden 16?

STRENGTHS

Gix's Texans will, once again, rely heavily on workhorse Arian Foster, who still ranks in the top tier of NFL running backs. Houston as a revamped WR corps which should be solid, now led by the young and exciting DeAndre Hopkins. Former division rival receivers Cecil Shorts (Jacksonville) and Nate Washington (Tennessee) enter the fray for the Texans, who also selected wideout Jaelen Strong in the third round of April's NFL Draft.

The defense features, quite possibly, the league's best individual player in defensive end JJ Watt. Gix will surely employ the 1-2 punch of Watt and 2014 top draft pick Jadeveon Clowney, who can play at end or as a 3-4 OLB. The pairing of those two with veteran nose tackle Vince Wilfork, formerly of New England, could equal long days for opposing offenses. Hard-nosed linebacker Brian Cushing also returns, and Johnathan Joseph will lead a secondary which should get a boost in the form of 2015 first-round pick, CB Kevin Johnson. Houston's second-round pick, Ben McKinney, may start as the second middle linebacker alongside Cushing.

WEAKNESSES

When Gix's game is on, it's ON. But, with such a propensity to aim for big numbers and plays in the passing game, a quarterback capable of delivering consistently is necessary - and I don't see one on the Texans' roster right now. The loss of longtime Texan great Andre Johnson (now a Colt) may also hurt Gix's offense, and one has to wonder if Houston's new bodies at wideout will coincide with Gix's propensity for the home-run. Also, the inordinate amount of interceptions by Texan QBs in the Madden 15 League made the difference between Gix being having great moments, opposed to being a great player. Such a style may not be very effective against some of the competitors in the upper echelon of the league.

The loss of DJ Swearinger also leaves Gix without the presence of a true enforcer in the secondary; if opposing teams can get thru the first two levels of the Houston defense, it could spell trouble for the Texans in Season 1.

TORETTO'S TAKE: 12-4

In last year's Season 1, Gix racked up 11 wins as the Texans, who were a bit more than questionable in terms of quarterback personnel. In this year's Season 1, I expect another fast start, and the Texans to be in contention for home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. Although he plays both the AFC East and NFC South in Season 1, what can't be overlooked is that Gix still resides in the AFC South - a division which was his last Madden, and will remain as such until someone takes it from him.

NEXT: INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

 

[Retto]

WAR ROOM: INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

The Indianapolis Colts were quite the underdog at the outset of the Madden 15 League. Under the control of @hulk8072, Indy nearly clinched an improbable playoff berth in Season 1, but ultimately it was another AFC South team that would obtain that final Wild Card spot. Those Titans were controlled by the same man who will play as Luck and Co. this go round...

But, when Hulk returned in Season 2, he had been in the lab, and he won the AFC South crown in the wake of the aforementioned Gix's absence. Hulk's time in the league reached its apex when he defeated the brash "The___Michael" and the New York Jets in the Wild Card Round, which still ranks as one of the biggest upsets in NT Madden history.

But then Hulk would quit, and Colts ownership would rest in the hands of @LIL WAVE, who would lead the Colts into the playoffs in each of the next two seasons. An agonizing loss to Baltimore in Season 3's postseason preceded a Season 4 humiliation by eventual champion Pittsburgh in the Divisional Round, ending a season that saw Indy obtain the AFC's best record at 13-3.

The Colts, since then, haven't had an owner...until now. @SlimK4 now runs the show for the Colts, who have come full circle and find themselves as underdogs, once again. Can Slim thrive in the role again and get the Colts back to the playoffs?

STRENGTHS

The Colts are equipped to win early and often in Madden 16, particularly on offense. Media messiah Andrew Luck's performance will determine just how far the Colts will go, and the addition of veterans Frank Gore and Andre Johnson will bring some more experience to Slim's young offense. The explosive TY Hilton will also be joined by breakout candidate Donte Moncrief, as well as the Colts first-round draft choice, wideout Phillip Dorsett. Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen figure to be a solid duo at tight end once again.

Slim inherits a defense with two of the elite players at their positions: OLB Robert Mathis and CB Vontae Davis. Their linebacker corps should be fortified with the return of MLB D'Qwell Jackson and the signing of veteran and longtime-Eagle OLB Trent Cole.

WEAKNESSES

As was the case in the '15 League, Slim will have to avoid excessively attempting to force passes to his top wideout, or else he could limit his ability to stay in and, ultimately, win games in Season 1 and beyond. It also remains to be seen if Slim's Colts have enough on the defensive end to at least contain some of the AFC's higher powered offenses.

Undoubtedly, division foes like Houston and Jacksonville, both of whom either have the personnel to or have owners who like to pass the football with volume, will test Slim's crew through the air. Tennessee will also employ an attack that features shots down the field, so if Slim can't find the answers to stifle his division rivals, he may find a very hard time doing so in what looks to be a much-improved conference as a whole.

TORETTO'S TAKE: 4-12

If last year's Season 1 is any proof, I could be completely wrong here; Slim has shown that he can field a playoff team in the past, even amid tempered expectations. So, this isn't an indictment in terms of his skills, but, rather a realization of his schedule's difficulty. Out of all the returning competitors he plays in Season 1, only three never made the playoffs in last year's league...and Tampa's Kerm almost doesn't count because of what he walked in on in Cincy. For that reason, I think it'll take a season or so before Slim makes some headway towards a return to the playoffs.

NEXT: JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

 

[dabottom305]

12-4 is pretty generous. As long as I'm handing one of the Ls.

 

[Retto]

I think you will be one of those four losses on his record lol

I think I will too.

 

[jayfiend]

And probably me... Gix ain't ****.

 

[Retto]

WAR ROOM: JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

The Madden 15 fortunes of the Jacksonville Jaguars were very similar to their real-life counterpart in recent years - no playoff appearances last Madden has Jags fans across the world hoping for change.

At long last, they may get their wish.

Prayers may be answered in the form of @tyonenine, who, in case you forget, was a two-time AFC Champion as the Ravens in the '15 League before bowing out in Season 4. Now, returning to a conference that he once owned, yet with many critics and doubters looking to see if he can rise to such heights again this year, can Ty bring the young Jaguars from the depths of the league and transform them into one of its elite teams?

STRENGTHS

Ty's Jags certainly don't lack in the talent department, especially on offense. Jacksonville has complied a potentially nightmarish group of young receivers, led by 2014 rookies Marqise Lee, Allen Hurns, and Allen Robinson. The acquisition of Julius Thomas at tight end adds to the offensive firepower, and 2015 second-round draftee TJ Yeldon will be paired with Denard Robinson in the Jags' backfield.

On defense, veteran middle linebacker Paul Posluszny is one of the best, yet overlooked, tacklers in all of pro football. Beside him will be the speedy Telvin Smith, with second-year safety Jonathan Cyprien being the enforcer on the last line of the Jags' defense. And, since it's Madden, Ty won't have to worry about 3rd overall draft choice Dante Fowler's season-ending injury; the former Florida Gator will be fully available in Season 1 of the Madden 16 league.

WEAKNESSES

Jacksonville certainly doesn't lack in the upside department, but it may take some time before Ty gets them to where he needs them to be prior to being a major player in the AFC. His first decision will go a long way in deterring just how quick or drawn out this progression curve will be - he plans to have an open competition for his starting QB spot, which is held currently by second-year pro Blake Bortles. Who will he bring in to challenge Bortles, and might this prove to backfire in Season 1? Also, how will Ty's rushing attack fare with no true workhorse, such as Madden 15 League legend Shamell Patton at his disposal?

On the defensive side, to say the Jags are a work in progress would be heavily understating things. Ty will have to generate pressure on the quarterback, or else Jacksonville's secondary is at risk of getting torched by some of the high-octane offenses he will face in Season 1. This, again, will likely be a multi-season project.

TORETTO'S TAKE: 9-7

So, which Ty will we see: the pass-happy incarnation that we saw in last year's Season 1, whose passing game decisions rivaled the conscience (or lack thereof) of an '06 Gilbert Arenas? Or, will it be the Ty that started to limit his mistakes in subsequent seasons, and came very close to attaining a World Championship? I think there'll be a mix of both, but...in a division where he should finish in second place, at minimum, the mistakes he makes may not hurt him as much. And the good things he does can keep him in the hunt for a possible playoff berth in the now-rugged AFC.

NEXT: TENNESSEE TITANS

 

[Retto]

WAR ROOM: TENNESSEE TITANS

The Tennessee Titans shocked many with their start in the Madden 15 League, as Slim, now at the helm of division nemesis Indianapolis, dough and clawed his way to the final AFC playoff spot in Season 1. After Wild Card Round loss to eventual Season 1 champion Kansas City, however, would be the only game that the Titans would have for the duration of last year's league...

Which is where Cease, who has manned Tennessee since midway thru Season 2 last year, after Slim moved to control operations in Cleveland following their ownership debacle (which we'll touch on in a future War Room preview), will continue in his efforts to rebuild the Titans into a winner. Can Cease succeed in bringing the Titans to heights not seen since McNair and George played in the Music City?


STRENGTHS

Like AFC South rival Jacksonville, Cease's Titans feature a youth-filled offense, which will go as far as 2015 number 2 overall selection, QB Marcus Mariota, takes them. The former Heisman Trophy winner will look early and often to a slew of receivers, featured by Kendall Wright and Justin Hunter. Second-round draftee Dorial Green-Beckham also shows promise as a rookie wideout, and the spread option will likely be a Tennessee staple, as young Bishop Sankey and versatile Dexter McCluster could be a solid duo at running back. Fifth-rounder David Cobb is a potential wild card in the backfield as well.

The Tennessee defense will get a push up front from their young anchor, DT Jurrell Casey. Brian Orakpo joined Tennessee during the offseason, and the former Skin will help round out a group of 'backers which also features Wesley Woodyard and Derrick Morgan. Longtime Titan safety Michael Griffin and standout corner Jason McCourty, who may not get his due in the conversation of the top tier of cornerbacks in the league, will be key cogs for Cease in the secondary.

WEAKNESSES

While it's somewhat easy to forget that Cease was in control of the league's leading passing attack during a season last year, what's not so forgettable is the inordinate amount of interceptions that were thrown by him as well. To put it lightly, some of the reads and throws made by Cease ranged from questionable, to cringe-worthy, to downright Tebowesque. He will have to prove that he has, or can, turn the corner in this facet of his game or else opposing defenses will feast in Season 1 and beyond.

This is even more critical for Cease than other players because Mariota may require some improvement in the accuracy department in year one. Free agent signee Hakeem Nicks won't even be seen as a quarter of the threat he once was early in his career, and Perrish Cox and Da'Norris Searcy, also first-year Titans via free agency, will be tested often in opposing efforts to stay away from McCourty. If the defense is asked to defend too many short fields, even McCourty and others won't be able to save them after so long.

TORETTO'S TAKE: 7-9

I look at Cease's Season 1 schedule, and I want to give the benefit of the doubt and slate Tennessee for a 9 or 10 win season...I really do. They have a chance to start out 4-0 and prove to be more than a challenge to Gix and his Texans in the division. But, y'all gotta understand...I just can't unsee some of the horrifically appalling inefficiency that I saw unfold from Cease in last year's league. He has playoff capabilities, no question...but until I consistently see anything that says otherwise, I'll be on the side of the narrative, which suggests that excessive errors will likely snatch a few more losses from the jaws of Titan victory in Season 1.


Now it's time to go up north, NFC style!

NEXT: CHICAGO BEARS

 

[steelcity412]

Good job so far retto

*waits patiently*

 

[dabottom305]

@hymen man 22stylez 2nd league is filling up. got 8 slots left. trying to join?

 

[22stylez]

@hymen man 22stylez 2nd league is filling up. got 8 slots left. trying to join?

Yeszir

 

[dabottom305]

@hymen man 22stylez 2nd league is filling up. got 8 slots left. trying to join?

Yeszir

cool. do you have Groupme? iif so, pm me your email address so I can invite you to the chat.

 

[22stylez]

cool. do you have Groupme? iif so, pm me your email address so I can invite you to the chat.

PMed

 

[Retto]

WAR ROOM: CHICAGO BEARS

The Chicago Bears started as a Madden 15 League almost as an afterthought; division rivals Green Bay and Minnesota jumped out of the gates and attained a considerable amount of success in Season 1.

By the fifth and final season, Chicago had become one of the league's elite, and came within mere seconds of punching their ticket to the Super Bowl.

@Hennessy Beach quietly fielded one of the best cumulative offensive attacks last Madden, completing Jay Cutler's evolution into an MVP quarterback as the Bears would own the NFC North without much standing in their way. Evolving from a risky-yet-effective pass-heavy strategy on offense to a well-balanced machine, Kenny made three postseason appearances, losing in the Wild Card Round in Seasons 2 and 4 (to New Orleans and New York), before making it in Season 5, where he defeated Seattle and league-best 14-2 St. Louis before Chicago was off to their house of horrors for one last showdown.

The Panthers were a thorn in Kenny's Bears' side throughout last year's league, as they won all 5 games they played last Madden against Chicago, in seemingly improbable fashion almost every time. The last was the most agonizing; Chicago had taken a 28-27 lead in a classic NFC Title Game in Charlotte - where no visiting team has won since Black Friday - with less than a minute left. Somehow, deep in his own territory, Cam Newton launched a 60-yard prayer which was answered, in double coverage no less, and allowed the Panthers to kick the game-winning FG to advance back to the Big Game. Still, the Bears had earned a league-wide level of respect after their admirable performance...

Which leads us to Madden 16. With Kenny now the owner of the Jets, the NT Madden world welcomes @AntBanks81 to the mix, who looks to bring a championship back to his native Chicago. He has already gone on record by saying he will win 13 games and a Super Bowl in Season 1 - but is he ready to live up to his lofty expectations?

STRENGTHS

Just because Brandon Marshall won't be suiting up for the Windy City's own doesn't mean that Ant's Bears won't have a plethora of offensive options. Wide receiver Alshon Jeffery is now the undisputed #1 option for Jay Cutler, who will also look to establish a rapport with rookie wideout Kevin White, who was taken with the 7th pick in this year's NFL Draft. Matt Forte is still firmly in the discussion of the league's best all-around running backs, while TE Martellus Bennett will still cause his fair share of mismatches against opposing defenders. Eddie Royal and Marquess Wilson help solidify Chicago's pass-catching depth.

The Bears possess both youth and experience on their defensive unit. Jeremiah Ratliff looks to regain his Dallas form in the Chicago 3-4 look, in which LBs Jon Bostic, Mason Foster, and longtime Viking Jared Allen should prove formidable. The Bears added savvy veteran safety Antrel Rolle and Super Bowl 44 hero Tracy Porter to a secondary which already has an impressive duo at corner: ballhawking Tim Jennings and 2014 first-rounder Kyle Fuller.

WEAKNESSES

No game film to go off here, but if Ant's incarnation of Cutler is anything like the real-life version, the Bears may be nothing more than a middling, turnover-laden team in Season 1. Can Forte stay healthy for at least 16 weeks with little effective backups in the backfield? And Chicago could be in for very long days against division enemies like Aaron Rodgers and Matt Stafford if Allen, among others, fail to generate a consistent pass rush.


TORETTO'S TAKE: 9-7

Somewhat of a shot in the dark here, as I've never seen Ant play; none of us in the league have, which make the Bears a wild card in the Madden 16 League. Regardless, he's in a division which should feature a lot of shuffling in the standings, so whomever can get to or closest to double-digit wins may have the inside track on the North crown. While I'll pass on boarding the 13-win bandwagon, I won't be as quick to discount the possibility of a berth in the playoffs for Ant in his debut season in the NT League - stranger things in Chicago have happened.

I think it's about time to drop the division by division approach, let's get to the good stuff!

NEXT: MINNESOTA VIKINGS

 

[dabottom305]

New Members Wanted for a 2nd league. Teams have already been taken. 7 slots left.

 

[22stylez]

New Members Wanted for a 2nd league. Teams have already been taken. 7 slots left.

I call first dibs outta the 8

 

[Retto]

WAR ROOM: MINNESOTA VIKINGS

The Minnesota Vikings were one half of the Wild Card tandem (along with Philadelphia) that took the NFC side of the playoffs by storm in Season 1 of the Madden 15 League.

After Carver's loss to Kansas City in the first league Super Bowl, the Vikings began a downward spiral that would last for the rest of the league's duration...

But now, coming off an up-and-down '15 campaign in Tampa which featured much, much more of the latter - one gift-wrapped division title and zero playoff wins in Madden 15 are hard evidence - yvespo3 takes his show up north to Minnesota. Can the [emoji]128080[/emoji]Wolfpack[emoji]128080[/emoji] member, now out of the shadow of Retto , obtain the two things he couldn't last Madden - legitimacy and NFC relevance?

STRENGTHS

Anyone returning from the '15 League knows why Ves picked the Vikings - bulletproof RB Adrian Peterson, who can make even the most average of look like semi-world-beaters! All optical illusions aside, Ves could take the next step with a revamped Viking offense, which boasts an explosive trio of wideouts in Charles Johnson, Cordarrelle Patterson, and former Dolphin Mike Wallace, who was acquired in an offseason trade. Kyle Rudolph provides a steady presence for second-year QB Teddy Bridgewater.

The Minnesota defense is young and full of potential , with third-year DT Sharrif Floyd and NFL sophomore, LB Anthony Barr, leading the charge. Veteran 'backer Chad Greenway and second-round pick Eric Kendricks solidify the Vikes' second level. The secondary is incredibly deep also, featuring the likes of Harrison Smith, Xavier Rhodes, veteran Terence Newman, Captain Munnerlyn, and first-round draft pick Trae Waynes.

WEAKNESSES

Even a fresh start in a new location can't create separation between Ves and his Madden flaws - all which revolve around an overly predictable gameplan on both sides of the ball. Too often in '15, opposing competitors knew that they would see a healthy dose of All Day from Ves, who traded for #28 before last year's Season 2. A particularly slim array of pass plays - I can only remember five different ones and I played against him twice per season in '15, and knew exactly which one it would be by time his men lined up - could make Ves easy to figure out once again in Season 1.

Defensively, the same problems exist, and may be even more prevalent. Approximately 100% of the time, Ves' defensive play calling would revolve around one type of coverage, often in a maximum of two different formations - whether it be the 2 Man Under-only defense in the first two seasons, or the Cover 3-exclusive approach he used over the final three. Either way, the lack of variety and innovation is a prime reason why Ves still finds himself searching for his first NT League playoff win. If he can't mix it up on either end this year, he'll still be searching for that same first postseason victory by time the '17 League starts too.

TORETTO'S TAKE: 8-8

This could just be my familiarity talking here, but that could be equally good and bad for Ves and his Vikes in Season 1. Be as it may, he will do some good things in the league; we've seen him get off to fast starts before. Conversely, we will see a share of the bad things also: collapses down the stretch in the second halves of seasons past have had his fans (yes, all seven of them) feeling like George Foreman after the Rope-a-Dope. The good news is that he'll be in the NFC North mix...the bad news? Some good and some bad equals out to about average, which is, well, pretty predictable. How fitting.

NEXT: ARIZONA CARDINALS

 

[dabottom305]

New Members Wanted for a 2nd league. Teams have already been taken. 7 slots left.

I call first dibs outta the 8

I got you. You might end up getting the Niners. Waiting on a response.