So once question that often gets asked is if there is any preference for certain teams over another or if there's a particular one that I would especially want to go to. Unfortunately as a new create rookie, I imagine most of the time that we're all in the same boat, in that being so new to the site and the teams, it's hard to get a good grasp of what they're like with the types of personalities they have in the locker room, what sort of core values they inherently might have without realizing or even something as small as recent team history.
Not gonna lie, kind of disappointing when you look for something like that and you can't find it on the team's forum pages but that could just be me being a newbie and not knowing if there's an all in one place as to where it's listed without sorting through indexes.
Anyways, the one thing that I can appraise them by is maybe seeing if there's some familiar faces in the locker rooms that I've either bumped into in my time in the SHL. Naturally just recognizing some people doesn't necessarily mean that I'll want to go where I have some buds, but it's also neat to know that there's now another point of contact for somebody that I might not have interacted with before.
Another would be seeing their TE situation to see if the place I land at will be somewhere that I could keep in the position I originally created. I still think I would be open to changing positions if asked but being so open makes me feel like a Ditto ready to just be whatever they need before forcing me to mass produce eggs.
Portland Pythons
Familiarity:One of the GMs KanakoTheSquirrel I recognize though we haven't interacted much if at all I think. Beyond that, I don't think there's another name on the roster at the moment that I can also see as being familiar.
Positional Need: In the TE spot, Daniel George is sitting at 182 TPE without updates as a S22 so I would imagine that he's around for another season as a key starter. There are a couple other TEs in the same S22 class in Nick Marksman and Von Hayes with 90 and 111 TPE respectively. Seeing as I'm at an expected 97 TPE already taking into things like Ultimus Task and Wiki that still yet needs to be graded, there could be space for me in a backup role.
Team Record History: Looking in the past few seasons, the Pythons have made the playoffs twice although unable to get a win to move on. A huge turnaround on their part from S20 being in the bottom to getting a winning record last season. Going a bit further back they had a stretch of consecutively making the playoffs with 5 seasons in a row getting into the championship game. 16 appearances with a winning record of 10-6 is pretty good so far.
Kansas City Coyotes
Familiarity: No names here. I feel like I might see one or two that could be something I've seen before but if I didn't recognize it right away, probably no need to dig any deeper.
Positional Need: One main guy with Tree Gelbman a S21 sitting at 256 TPE currently. I have no idea what the pace of call ups are like, finding each DSFL player's respective NSFL team is so I can only really go off of guess work on whether or not people will be called up. I'm gonna lean towards no for most people seeing as if it turns out that there is a spot, great. If not, no real changes in my analysis of the team. Three other tight ends from S21 to S22 all seemingly inactive given their lack of significant TPE growth means there's a backup spot and in the near future a need for a replacement starter TE when Gelbman gets called up whether this upcoming season or the next.
Team Record: The Coyotes looked like they got one over what appears to be their long time rivals in the Pythons. Maybe they are, maybe they aren't. Hard to say no though considering they face each other almost 8 times in the last 11 NFC Championship games. Unfortunately Myrtle Beach got one over the Coyotes. 15 appearances with 7 wins and 8 losses is respectable considering the lack of appearances by the other teams thus far.
London Royals
Familiarity: I'm wondering if this category is entirely meaningless or that I don't know very many people to begin with seeing as this is another team that I don't have any prior history with outside of those I might have chatted with a little bit here and there. Still, being part of an expansion team might mean that there's even less of a desire to know people already because it's a relatively new group to begin with, with little history to potentially make newcomers feel left out.
Positional Need: So they drafted 4 TEs in last season's reddit draft. I remember being told that it was a massive one, including the class for tight ends being abnormally large as well. That being said, it doesn't seem like that quantity necessarily produced the same level of quality as out of the 4 guys that the Royals have, only one stands out with Donatello Arrabiata at 154 TPE. Seeing as other S22 earners are at 200+, almost 250 in some cases, have to imagine that Arrabiata has been trucking along at his own pace but very possibly still in the line of being somebody that a new draftee could realistically compete with.
Team Record: As mentioned, expansion team as of last season so there isn't really anything to go off of. A 5-9 record doesn't mean much on its own considering they had limited resources to work with but it does seem like they did draft quite a few solid players. Also holding the 1st overall pick this draft means that any other additional picks will likely be joining another powerhouse player so that's something to look forward to at the very least.
Minnesota Grey Ducks
Familiarity: Finally a name! thevoicelesscreator is somebody I've gotten to know since he joined my junior locker room and I'm sure that any locker room with him is going to be a great one. He also seems to have some solid player names so I definitely won't get tired of seeing that in the sims/boxscores.
Positional Need: A total of three TEs I believe, maybe a 4th if you include one inactive S15 guy who has survived auto retirement so far. The top two guys between Rainier Wolfcastle, S21 at 244 TPE and Blake Gragg, S20 at 185 TPE has signed in recently and the former has still even done some updates a week or so ago. If neither will be called up, I can't imagine them having a big need for another TE just yet and continue to use their draft assets towards other spots on the roster that might actually need fresh blood.
Team Record: Formerly the San Antonio Marshals, it looks like they rebranded and relocated before the start of S19. It looks like it was the right choice because the subsequent season they had some great records, including a 12-2 record in S20 as well two Ultimini wins in both S19 and S20. S21 looks like a big down year in comparison considering how hard it must be to keep a cycle going but it's attractive to say the least that a team that had such highs is gearing up and hoping to get going on the upward trend again.
Dallas Birddogs
Familiarity: Oh neat, I didn't expect to see another name but looks like there's DrunkenTeddy who's been a keystone as far as I can tell on the SHL. Maybe he should just focus on that and then I can maybe just take his spot. Kidding.
Positional Need: That joke is semi relevant because he's the clear starter on this team in the TE position. There are a couple other guys who are inactive and aren't really a consideration but looking at the gains that Jeffrey Phillips has made since creation, I would have to imagine that he'll be an attractive piece for people to pick up sooner than later in the NSFL draft. When he goes up is another question on that team's positional need...so like before, goes both ways. There's a spot behind Philips, the question is for how long will Philips be the guy.
Team Record: The fraternal expansion twin with the London Royals, they came out with a limited resource and history, with an identical 5-9 record. They also seem to have drafted fairly well from the reddit group especially in the skill positions but I'm not sure how far off they are from being competitive with some of the more established teams. I will say that I don't know what a birddog is but chances are I'll google that after this media piece.
Norfolk Seawolves
Familiarity: So far, only one user that I know of, Evok. There might be another name or two but I'm not entirely sure of the Boomcheck here being the same one that is in my Chicago locker room. Maybe it is, maybe not, unfortunately I haven't chatted much either of them for it to really make a difference. I have heard good things of Evok so it sounds like there's good people here regardless.
Positional Need: I'm kind of curious how this pans out because the SeaWolves have two TEs in James Lewandowski and Reynaud Haugland with 234 and 256 TPE respectively meaning that they're already heavy on the top end of things. Without knowing how call-ups will change things, I would have to imagine that they don't really have the need for my player but it also didn't stop them from taking 3 TEs as draft picks in the S22 reddit draft, where every single of those guys unfortunately didn't pan out. So it seems like maybe there will be a need for another TE both as depth in the now, as well as potentially being a replacement for those two guys in the future.
Team Record: The SeaWolves have bounced between the two conferences amassing a 1 win and 6 loss record in the conference championship with their only Ultimini appearance in the first DSFL season. In its own amazing way, they did reach the 0-14 so things can't get as bad as that right?
Myrtle Beach Buccaneers
Familiarity So this is a team that I had already heard of at least before coming into the NSFL considering the bit of drama with the recent punishment/suspensions doled out by head office. It was interesting to say at the very least the two sides of the proponents for the justification for the punishment as well as those who were part of the Buccaneers standing out for the reputation of the locker room. Hard to say where that swings me since you've got people with passionate opinions about this team on both sides. There's a handful of people I recognize here though admittedly don't know each of them as much as I maybe would like to. Kalakar, gwdjohnson, and RotticusScott are all names that stand out. I should mention jeffie would've been somebody else that I knew a little more but not sure how relevant it is given what happened.
Positional Need: Two main guys from S22 with Heath Evans and James Angler with 212 and 172 TPE. Young enough and high enough TPE that I can't imagine that there's a lot of time to be in a prominent role early on. They do seem to have a lot of other positions filled in general so it seems like there's a bunch of competition all around regardless.
Team Record: As the Solar Bears, they won one Ultimini early on in their DSFL history. I think their last 4 seasons are especially intriging to look at because as much as we want to predict and assume linear improvement in anybody when it's their turn to 'get better', that just doesn't always happen. Whether it's the luck of lack there of in the draft or in sims. Yet MBB steadily improved from being dead last in S18, showing up in the playoffs in S19, getting to the Ultimini in S20 and then winning it all in S21. I don't know, just seeing that kind of storyline is impressive on its own and joining the reigning champion is always attractive.
Tijuana Luchadores
Familiarity: Three names for the last team to look at. One of the GMs in Jay_Doctor I've seen around in the SHL, and how could you miss out on StamkosFan. Of course slothfacekilla is another one but given my short history in the other league, all of them are still relatively new faces to me.
Positional Need: Originally my first impression was that this might be one of the more attractive spots for just positional need. However there's a couple older guys in S20 Ben Kenobi with his 144 TPE and S21 Gronk Robertoswki at 186 who both look to still be active. I almost anticipate that behind a depth chart like this it'll definitely be at least a season before key minutes will be doled out. Not the worst thing when you're starting out and getting better but undoubtedly more playtime is more enjoyable for anybody.
Team Record: Tijuana look like the South version of Portland with their consistent season in, season out appearances in the post season, with a couple recent disappointing showings. Even with the downturn in the last few seasons, Tijuana still has a 10-5 record in the NFC Championship and three consecutive Ultimini?! That would've been quite the fun ride to be part of. Wasn't that long ago so it's very possible that this is the time for the to trend back up after a couple earlier picks in the past few drafts.
Not gonna lie, kind of disappointing when you look for something like that and you can't find it on the team's forum pages but that could just be me being a newbie and not knowing if there's an all in one place as to where it's listed without sorting through indexes.
Anyways, the one thing that I can appraise them by is maybe seeing if there's some familiar faces in the locker rooms that I've either bumped into in my time in the SHL. Naturally just recognizing some people doesn't necessarily mean that I'll want to go where I have some buds, but it's also neat to know that there's now another point of contact for somebody that I might not have interacted with before.
Another would be seeing their TE situation to see if the place I land at will be somewhere that I could keep in the position I originally created. I still think I would be open to changing positions if asked but being so open makes me feel like a Ditto ready to just be whatever they need before forcing me to mass produce eggs.
Portland Pythons
Familiarity:One of the GMs KanakoTheSquirrel I recognize though we haven't interacted much if at all I think. Beyond that, I don't think there's another name on the roster at the moment that I can also see as being familiar.
Positional Need: In the TE spot, Daniel George is sitting at 182 TPE without updates as a S22 so I would imagine that he's around for another season as a key starter. There are a couple other TEs in the same S22 class in Nick Marksman and Von Hayes with 90 and 111 TPE respectively. Seeing as I'm at an expected 97 TPE already taking into things like Ultimus Task and Wiki that still yet needs to be graded, there could be space for me in a backup role.
Team Record History: Looking in the past few seasons, the Pythons have made the playoffs twice although unable to get a win to move on. A huge turnaround on their part from S20 being in the bottom to getting a winning record last season. Going a bit further back they had a stretch of consecutively making the playoffs with 5 seasons in a row getting into the championship game. 16 appearances with a winning record of 10-6 is pretty good so far.
Kansas City Coyotes
Familiarity: No names here. I feel like I might see one or two that could be something I've seen before but if I didn't recognize it right away, probably no need to dig any deeper.
Positional Need: One main guy with Tree Gelbman a S21 sitting at 256 TPE currently. I have no idea what the pace of call ups are like, finding each DSFL player's respective NSFL team is so I can only really go off of guess work on whether or not people will be called up. I'm gonna lean towards no for most people seeing as if it turns out that there is a spot, great. If not, no real changes in my analysis of the team. Three other tight ends from S21 to S22 all seemingly inactive given their lack of significant TPE growth means there's a backup spot and in the near future a need for a replacement starter TE when Gelbman gets called up whether this upcoming season or the next.
Team Record: The Coyotes looked like they got one over what appears to be their long time rivals in the Pythons. Maybe they are, maybe they aren't. Hard to say no though considering they face each other almost 8 times in the last 11 NFC Championship games. Unfortunately Myrtle Beach got one over the Coyotes. 15 appearances with 7 wins and 8 losses is respectable considering the lack of appearances by the other teams thus far.
London Royals
Familiarity: I'm wondering if this category is entirely meaningless or that I don't know very many people to begin with seeing as this is another team that I don't have any prior history with outside of those I might have chatted with a little bit here and there. Still, being part of an expansion team might mean that there's even less of a desire to know people already because it's a relatively new group to begin with, with little history to potentially make newcomers feel left out.
Positional Need: So they drafted 4 TEs in last season's reddit draft. I remember being told that it was a massive one, including the class for tight ends being abnormally large as well. That being said, it doesn't seem like that quantity necessarily produced the same level of quality as out of the 4 guys that the Royals have, only one stands out with Donatello Arrabiata at 154 TPE. Seeing as other S22 earners are at 200+, almost 250 in some cases, have to imagine that Arrabiata has been trucking along at his own pace but very possibly still in the line of being somebody that a new draftee could realistically compete with.
Team Record: As mentioned, expansion team as of last season so there isn't really anything to go off of. A 5-9 record doesn't mean much on its own considering they had limited resources to work with but it does seem like they did draft quite a few solid players. Also holding the 1st overall pick this draft means that any other additional picks will likely be joining another powerhouse player so that's something to look forward to at the very least.
Minnesota Grey Ducks
Familiarity: Finally a name! thevoicelesscreator is somebody I've gotten to know since he joined my junior locker room and I'm sure that any locker room with him is going to be a great one. He also seems to have some solid player names so I definitely won't get tired of seeing that in the sims/boxscores.
Positional Need: A total of three TEs I believe, maybe a 4th if you include one inactive S15 guy who has survived auto retirement so far. The top two guys between Rainier Wolfcastle, S21 at 244 TPE and Blake Gragg, S20 at 185 TPE has signed in recently and the former has still even done some updates a week or so ago. If neither will be called up, I can't imagine them having a big need for another TE just yet and continue to use their draft assets towards other spots on the roster that might actually need fresh blood.
Team Record: Formerly the San Antonio Marshals, it looks like they rebranded and relocated before the start of S19. It looks like it was the right choice because the subsequent season they had some great records, including a 12-2 record in S20 as well two Ultimini wins in both S19 and S20. S21 looks like a big down year in comparison considering how hard it must be to keep a cycle going but it's attractive to say the least that a team that had such highs is gearing up and hoping to get going on the upward trend again.
Dallas Birddogs
Familiarity: Oh neat, I didn't expect to see another name but looks like there's DrunkenTeddy who's been a keystone as far as I can tell on the SHL. Maybe he should just focus on that and then I can maybe just take his spot. Kidding.
Positional Need: That joke is semi relevant because he's the clear starter on this team in the TE position. There are a couple other guys who are inactive and aren't really a consideration but looking at the gains that Jeffrey Phillips has made since creation, I would have to imagine that he'll be an attractive piece for people to pick up sooner than later in the NSFL draft. When he goes up is another question on that team's positional need...so like before, goes both ways. There's a spot behind Philips, the question is for how long will Philips be the guy.
Team Record: The fraternal expansion twin with the London Royals, they came out with a limited resource and history, with an identical 5-9 record. They also seem to have drafted fairly well from the reddit group especially in the skill positions but I'm not sure how far off they are from being competitive with some of the more established teams. I will say that I don't know what a birddog is but chances are I'll google that after this media piece.
Norfolk Seawolves
Familiarity: So far, only one user that I know of, Evok. There might be another name or two but I'm not entirely sure of the Boomcheck here being the same one that is in my Chicago locker room. Maybe it is, maybe not, unfortunately I haven't chatted much either of them for it to really make a difference. I have heard good things of Evok so it sounds like there's good people here regardless.
Positional Need: I'm kind of curious how this pans out because the SeaWolves have two TEs in James Lewandowski and Reynaud Haugland with 234 and 256 TPE respectively meaning that they're already heavy on the top end of things. Without knowing how call-ups will change things, I would have to imagine that they don't really have the need for my player but it also didn't stop them from taking 3 TEs as draft picks in the S22 reddit draft, where every single of those guys unfortunately didn't pan out. So it seems like maybe there will be a need for another TE both as depth in the now, as well as potentially being a replacement for those two guys in the future.
Team Record: The SeaWolves have bounced between the two conferences amassing a 1 win and 6 loss record in the conference championship with their only Ultimini appearance in the first DSFL season. In its own amazing way, they did reach the 0-14 so things can't get as bad as that right?
Myrtle Beach Buccaneers
Familiarity So this is a team that I had already heard of at least before coming into the NSFL considering the bit of drama with the recent punishment/suspensions doled out by head office. It was interesting to say at the very least the two sides of the proponents for the justification for the punishment as well as those who were part of the Buccaneers standing out for the reputation of the locker room. Hard to say where that swings me since you've got people with passionate opinions about this team on both sides. There's a handful of people I recognize here though admittedly don't know each of them as much as I maybe would like to. Kalakar, gwdjohnson, and RotticusScott are all names that stand out. I should mention jeffie would've been somebody else that I knew a little more but not sure how relevant it is given what happened.
Positional Need: Two main guys from S22 with Heath Evans and James Angler with 212 and 172 TPE. Young enough and high enough TPE that I can't imagine that there's a lot of time to be in a prominent role early on. They do seem to have a lot of other positions filled in general so it seems like there's a bunch of competition all around regardless.
Team Record: As the Solar Bears, they won one Ultimini early on in their DSFL history. I think their last 4 seasons are especially intriging to look at because as much as we want to predict and assume linear improvement in anybody when it's their turn to 'get better', that just doesn't always happen. Whether it's the luck of lack there of in the draft or in sims. Yet MBB steadily improved from being dead last in S18, showing up in the playoffs in S19, getting to the Ultimini in S20 and then winning it all in S21. I don't know, just seeing that kind of storyline is impressive on its own and joining the reigning champion is always attractive.
Tijuana Luchadores
Familiarity: Three names for the last team to look at. One of the GMs in Jay_Doctor I've seen around in the SHL, and how could you miss out on StamkosFan. Of course slothfacekilla is another one but given my short history in the other league, all of them are still relatively new faces to me.
Positional Need: Originally my first impression was that this might be one of the more attractive spots for just positional need. However there's a couple older guys in S20 Ben Kenobi with his 144 TPE and S21 Gronk Robertoswki at 186 who both look to still be active. I almost anticipate that behind a depth chart like this it'll definitely be at least a season before key minutes will be doled out. Not the worst thing when you're starting out and getting better but undoubtedly more playtime is more enjoyable for anybody.
Team Record: Tijuana look like the South version of Portland with their consistent season in, season out appearances in the post season, with a couple recent disappointing showings. Even with the downturn in the last few seasons, Tijuana still has a 10-5 record in the NFC Championship and three consecutive Ultimini?! That would've been quite the fun ride to be part of. Wasn't that long ago so it's very possible that this is the time for the to trend back up after a couple earlier picks in the past few drafts.
Quote:2400ish words, does this get draft bonus? first time article bonus?