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2047 Draft Recap

The Seattle Spartans are spread thin in the drafts for the next two years. This season the team only had 4 picks. Let's see how the team invested into its youth movement after an interesting early free agency period.

(2:28) Cash "Money" McManus, CB/FS, Kentucky. 5'11" 211 lbs.
McManus has some average-above average physical traits and solid potential across the board. The team does not need him to be a starter, but if he can manifest as a contributor, he's got the goods.

(4:27)Enrique Gael Lobezno, C/G, NC State. 6'1", 314 lbs.
Lobezno needs a great camp to be a future contributor, but he definitely depth at C for now after the team did not re-sign Anderson last season.

(5:28) Sebern J. Slaughter, LB, Hope. 6'1", 237 lbs.
Slaughter does not have a clear path to play time, but he also does not count toward the salary cap, if he is released. His physical traits aren't horrible for a 5th round pick, but unless his coverage skills just boom over training camp, it's hard to see where he'll fit.

(6:28) Jaeger Moreyn, T, Duke. 6'4" 328 lbs.
Moreyn could be the pick of the Spartan's class if McManus doesn't work out. The big man has prototype size, average physical tools, but he could be a decent pass blocker or reserve Center if needed. Where the team felt like the other big man (Lobezno) was a necessary addition for depth, Moreyn might push for that spot.

Late Free Agency

WR Richard Richard was signed on a one year deal to bolster an already improved receiving corps.

It’s a group so deep that there’s unlikely a way to keep them all through the cuts.

Up Next
As always, so much relies on how training camp swings, and the team will have to make some imortant cuts to get down to the 53 man roster by end of the preseason. Stay tuned.

2047 Training Camp

The rookie class was a bust in every aspect, one that will lead to the eventual dismissal of each player given some time. Two of which, this year's 5th and 6th round picks have already been cut.

Many of the veterans continued to show growth or at least maintain their values, including now-30 year old Scott Greenleaf (WRs often take big steps back in year 30, but he did not). Other capable veterans such as CB Simon Brendle and LG Willie Duke have definitely lost a step, but still have the skills to make the most of their limited playing time.

Now, the team must begin the trimming process to get down to the 53-man roster, and although the roster has been punched up in several areas (WR, Secondary, and Defensive Line), the offensive line is still relatively thin and linebackers are sparse.

However, the team is shifting to more of a dime base defense with more defensive backs on the field, so this might offset the the thin nature of the linebacking corps.

2047 Preseason Report

The play from the Spartans seemed to improve over each of the preseason games. A lot of the team’s philosophy has remained the same from last year; they want to maintain a balanced game plan, but add in new plays that never got any use last season.

Watching practice and preseason games revealed a fresh look on defense where a dime shell is played in lieu of standard linebackers. This highlights the strength of the defense (the secondary). The thought also falls in line with stronger coverage, the d-line can get home more often without calling up too many sacks.

Offensively, the playbook has been opened up, literally, with the team implementing a spread offense in certain circumstances.

Although QB George Brewster didn’t do anything to really set him apart, he still has to be considered a top5-10 QB in the league.

What’s next?

The Spartans open up with a heck of schedule. In Week 1, they host The Chicago Bears and then they travel to LA for the Xtreme in Week 2.

The Preseason rankings had the Spartans ranked as the 16th best team, even after finishing 14-2 last season and winning the NFC West. Lotta shade being thrown by the CPU if you ask me.

In any case, hang on to your butts. It’s gonna be a bumpy ride.

2047 First Quarter Report

Current Record: 3-1

Seattle picked up where they left off at the end of the regular season last year, fielding a very competitive team that struggles occasionally. Overall, the team is playing at a high level, in spite of a steep increase of penalties (nearly 4 per game), and especially considering the first four games are typically perennial playoff teams. Let's take a look at some of this early season's highlights:

Offensive Play

The team has averaged 352 yards from scrimmage (ranked 9th). Last year, the Spartans finished with 377.3 yards from scrimmage (6th). Now, this could be a product of that difficult schedule. It's too early to tell, but it all starts with QB play.

George Brewster has been simply average against those tough opponents, only completing 62% (ranked 12th) of his passes for 900 yards (8th), 5 TDs (10th) and 5 INTs. He's also been sacked 15 times through 4 games (yielding 7 to the Demons in Week 4). His QB Rating is a paltry 72.14.

The Running Crew has been averaging over 5 yards per carry, led by last year's leading rusher, Michael Kennedy for 276 yards and 1 TD. Back-up RB Richard Marion had done really well in the reserve role accumulating 139 yards on 23 attempts.

The Receivers have been anchored by second year phenom, Nathaniel Poe, who has hauled in 32 catches for 292 and 1 TD. Last year's dominant WR, Scott Greenleaf has still amassed 145 and 1 TD himself, but his age is starting to show. He has lost a step unfortunately, but he could very well still finish with 1000 yards if his catch volume remains consistent. 11 total recipients have handled Brewster's passes so the offense does really well at distribution.

K Winford Ferraro has been lights out once again as the rest of the offense is still figuring some things out. He's connected on 13/14 FGs (92.9%) and is 9/9 from beyond 50 yards.

Offensive MVP: WR Nathaniel Poe

Defensive Play

The defense seems to be locked mostly. A switch to more dime formations has yielded positive results while not sacrificing the pass rush. Currently, the squad is averaging 2.0 INTs per game (3rd) and 3.8 sacks per game (T-7th), led by DE Brian Rickard with 5, but newly acquired DE Joseph Wilson continues his campaign he started as the lead sack artist with the Kayfabe by already having 4 sacks himself.

The LB/Secondary have not been sleeping at play either. Hybrid SS/LB Michael Wright leads the team with 28 tackles and has only allowed a catch on 36.5% of passes thrown his way. FS Michael Boss leads the team (and the league) in INTs with 4 while only allowing a remarkable 19% catch percentage.

Defensive MVP: FS Michael Boss

Upcoming

Fortunately, the team has 3 of the next 4 at home, but all three of those home opponents are division rivals, so none of the games are gimmes. The away game is in the Louisiana Swamp against old rivals the Rubber Duckies, another competitive match up.

Stayed tuned after Week 8 for the mid-season report.

2047 Midseason Report

Current Record: 7-1

Unfortunately, I have to make this brief (post-grad school and life), but the Seattle Spartans are still trucking along, but something tells me that this is not a championship caliber team. They will likely win the division as the next five opponents have losing records, but it will be tough sledding against the Argonauts, Wraiths, and Sicilians in the final three games. Ultimately, this is another successful season.

The offense still needs to improve, but is top 10 in pretty much every statistical category. The defense tends to be where the hat is hung this season, holding opponents to very few yards from scrimmage (8th fewest at 241 yards per game) and ranking 4th in sacks and interceptions. Right now, it seems unlikely to have 1000 rusher or receiver (although Michael Kennedy and Nathaniel Poe, respectively, have the best chances). George Brewster is having a statistical down year compared to last season and will be lucky to finish better than a 1:1 TD:INT ratio. Brewster might not even have 20 TDs on the season. Winford Ferraro has been nearly as consistent as one could hope for.

Up Next

The team tries to increase offensive production against a string of teams with a losing record.

2047 End of Season Report

Final Record: 13-3, Division Champion

Another playoff berth, another quick exit. Owner John Spartan's formula is a successful one but perhaps not an elite one. This was a season plagued with injuries across the offensive and defensive line, and a down year offensively. However, the team still managed to accumulate a 1000 yard rusher (Michael Kennedy) and 1000 yard receiver (Nathaniel Poe).

The defense exceeded expectations and will look to free agency and the draft to continue padding the roster where needed. FS Michael Boss has to be a candidate for defensive player of the year with a league leading 11 Interceptions, 17 Knockdowns, 3 Forced Fumbles, maintaining only 31.5% catches allowed for the entire season.

There are a few players growing long in the tooth (real long) that could possibly retire (and should), but will cost the team capital because of poorly negotiated contracts from a previous regime.

2048 Offseason News

The Seattle Spartans made a couple of lesser coach changes by hiring Gilbert Capo for the secondary and William Williams for the linebackers. Additionally, Defensive Coordinator Paul Lozano is expected to sign a large extension for the job he has done with the unit in the past three seasons.

After last season's offensive regression, many thought that longtime OC Frank Wrobel might be let go, but the team has not indicated that the experience coach is in any danger of losing his position. Still, if the team starts to falter, one has to wonder what changes could emerge.

Retirements

Steven Benoit, P - Widely considered to be one of the best in the game, he hung up his cleats after 13 seasons.

Willie Duke, G - The big man had a long career and although he only worked in as a reserve player the last two seasons, he was a starter for 11 years, only giving up 25 sacks and committing 16 total penalties in that stretch.

Russell Ely, LB - Ely was a depth add at the beginning of last season and produced when called upon.

Trades

The team picked up WR Edward Hunyh from the Steelers for this year's 6th round pick and next year's 3rd round pick. Hunyh is solid contributor that had considerable success in the pass-happy offense of the Kansas City Wizards. The speedy flier will probably be called upon as this year's WR2 or WR3 with the departure of Scott Greenleaf. Contract talks are ongoing, but appears the team made this move to keep Hunyh around for the foreseeable future.

2048 Early Free Agency

Gil Urban, P (Free Agent) - The third year vet has only played in 4 total games, but he's a solid punter who the organization feels hasn't been given a shot. With the retirement of Benoit, Urban made a great fit who could easily be under contract for the next 10 years.

Paul Miser, C (from CIN) - Miser has had ups and downs throughout his 8 seasons, but he's a dependable option walking into the best offensive line he's ever had. Health could be an issue, but the team has other options, including former starting Center John Proctor who will be sliding over to Guard until Miser calls it quits.

Carlos Henry, LB (from SFO) - The big linebacker came at a premium because LB and Secondary depth in free agency is sparse. Without a lot of draft capital, signing Henry made a lot of sense from a depth perspective. In his limited time with the Demons, he snagged 3 INTs, 9 Knockdowns, and 1 Sack.

William Bravo, EDGE (from WIL) - Honestly, Bravo is slept on a bit. Yeah, he's getting older, but the guy has amassed 85 sacks, and 62 Hurries in 9 years. He still has decent burst and speed off the line. He doesn't have to start; he can rotate in as needed and take care of business.

Paul Best, WR (from BKT) - The converted TE still has enough gas in the tank for one more peak season. He also doesn't have to be an every down starter, just a solid contributor. He'll work out of the slot and in the TE position.

Contract Extensions

Michael Boss, FS, signed a team-friendly contract for 6 years for $84M, including a $17M bonus in 2048, and he's worth every **** cent. Only 3 seasons in, he's never had over 36%
catches allowed. He racked up a league leading 11 INTs in 2047.

Richard Green, DT, signed a 5 year $59M contract and has been solid depth. He doesn't have too many highlight plays, but he has only 3 missed tackles, compared to 34 total tackles, 9 sacks, and 10 hurries in 6 seasons with Seattle.

2048 Football Moguls Draft

The final year for John Spartan's grand plan to make an entering splash to win it all his first year has finally come to its sputtering conclusion. Sure, Nathaniel Poe is a stud WR, but the other two first rounders from 2046, Bill Cutting and Daniel Plainview, have been adequate. Neither are starters at their position, but Cutting seems to be the favored impact player of the two. Bringing us here to 2048, where the team carries only 4 picks, and the pickins', well, they are slim.

(2:12) Ronin Kane, CB, Texas. 5'11" 189 lbs.
Kane can be a great CB1 with the right training and coaching. He's not the flashiest player on the field, saving that for off the field, which has landed him into hot water a time or two. However, his potential for coverage skills is sky high. If he can keep his head on straight, he can work his way up even as a 2nd rounder.

(3:24) Tyr Tudyk, LB, Washington St. 6'2" 236 lbs.
A prototypical LB who should be a jack of all trades player (except pass rush). Has a lot of growth required, but, if it doesn't work out, he can always try his hand as a reserve nose tackle.

(5:24) Boyd Arrowsong, EDGE, Northwestern. 6'1" 233 lbs.
Ironically, Boyd has the opposite problem of fellow draftee Lancer (see below). Arrowsong should have been on the defensive line, not in coverage. His physical skills are there. He's strong and has above average quickness and speed. If his pass rush and run defense develop, he can make the team.

(7:24) Ehren Lancer, LB, Kentucky. 6'3" 290 lbs.
Lancer is a project player who spent four years at Kentucky getting bullied in the SEC on the defensive line, when he should have played LB like he played in high school. His coverage skills have much more potential than his on the ball strength. He's got a lot stacked against him, and he'll likely be cut, but camp could change folks' minds.

Up Next

Late Free Agency and Pre-Season. The team has 59 players, so decisions will have to be made before Week 1. It's likely two of the rookies may not make it, and then some older players have to make room for new blood. Stay tuned until the end of the preseason to see what moves are made and a preview into the regular season.

Training Camp and Preseason

The team had a good camp and a stellar, if limited, draft. All four of the team's rookies had moments to shine; unfortunately, Ehren Lancer, the team's 6th round pick, just wasn't elected to keep a position. However, Ronin Kane (2nd round) becam an immediate impact player, and has assumed CB1 which allows Willard Fry to assume his natural position at safety (after being cornerback all of last season).

The team could not be more excited about the prospects of this class.

The preseason was fairly typical. A few injuries. A few unintended cuts due to owner neglect. Bill Cutting was cut from the team and then traded back from the Tigers in a gesture of sportsmanship unheralded in something as rigid as the NFL.

Up Next: The Regular Season of 2048

2048 Post-Season Report

Regular Season Record: 10-6

The Spartans managed to secure a playoff bid again and lost in the Wildcard again. The team has made some decent advances, especially with the emergence of CB Ronin Kane as a rookie. However, as with all things, the front office expects championships. Owner John Spartan was able to win a handful of them (with different teams and owners), and although he is the exception to the rule, he wants to win a championship as Team Owner now.

Coach Garrett Sill will open the 2049 season on the hot seat, even though managing 3 playoff berths in 3 seasons. QB George Brewster realistically has 2 seasons to push his Super Bowl opportunities and will most likely not be re-signed after his age 34 season.

The future is still bright looking. The franchise is a perennial playoff team. The fans of Seattle are pleased as well. Now, things need to come together and push to a title.