Roster and Ratings Discussion: San Francisco 49ers

Hey guys, we are going to use this thread as the catch all San Francisco 49ers roster and ratings discussion. Got a problem with a guy being rated too high or too low, this is the place to speak your mind, but please keep it clean. If there is a guy on your team that’s not in the game, feel free to post that in here as well.

When you bring your argument, make sure you bring stats and provide as much reasoning as possible. Rating s Czar Donny Moore will be stopping by this thread from time to time, so your voice will actually be heard by the guy in charge of making all of the roster and ratings decisions for Madden NFL 10. Make it worthwhile.

If you have any questions, feel free to send me a PM.

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 09/01/2009 16:13:59

49ers Roster Changes

First and foremost remove RT Marvel Smith because he announced his retirement after not winning the starting job over T Adam Snyder. Add RT Alex Boone because he is looking to get a roster spot as a backup for Snyder. He is strong, but has questionable footwork. He is viewed as a high upside/low risk prospect.

Add HB Kory Sheets to the 49ers roster. The team will not put Sheets on the practice squad as there is close to no chance he will clear waivers and the team isn't ready to let him go at this time. The 49ers will very likely be fielding four half backs this season. As for how to make room on the game remove DT Khalif Mitchell who, while still on the teams 74-man roster at the moment, he has no chance of making the final cut. I'm not even sure how he made it into the game. To get another DT move DE Ray McDonald or DE Demetric Evans to DT for roster requirements.

There are two players right now vying for a roster spot at WR and they are Dominique Zeigler and Micheal Spurlock. There are a couple options available to get them into the game. Moving WR Brandon Jones to FA could be satisfying for now, considering he is out for 8 weeks and would still be useful for franchise. Right now it seems that Micheal Spurlock has the edge over Zeigler, because he is versatile in the Taser formation and can return kicks and punts. He is fast, smart, and very good as a return man. He should have throwing stats as well. Another option to free up roster space would be to move FS Curtis Taylor to FA because he doesn't seem like he's going to make the active roster. However, as a rookie with a lot of physical potential I would hate to see him removed from the game entirely. If at all possible he should be moved to free agency for franchise purposes. I know I'd pick him up in place of FS Mark Roman.

Another player I'd like to see in the game is FB Brit Miller, who so far has opened a ton of holes for Kory Sheets and looked good catching two touchdowns. He may or may not have a shot making the roster, but I'd love to have him in free agency. Noting that there's some nobody's in FA, I'd like him to be added.

One last thing to touch up on, I (and most people) don't mind if you don't meet Madden's requirements (for instance, not enough tackles, like three as opposed to four) we can work these things out ourselves in Franchise and it doesn't seem to matter online. Backup LG Jacob Bender will not make the final roster and the 49ers will be content with Tony Wragge backing up both LG and RG.

You already said that ROLB Ahmad Brooks was in in place of ROLB Jay Moore so I wont include that.

So my roster changes go like this

ADD TO 49ERS ROSTER: HB Kory Sheets, WR Micheal Spurlock, RT Alex Boone
REMOVE FROM 49ERS ROSTER: DT Khalif Mitchell, LG Jacob Bender, RT Marvel Smith
REMOVE FROM 49ERS ROSTER TO FREE AGENCY: FS Curtis Taylor, WR Brandon Jones
ADD TO FREE AGENCY: WR Dominique Zeigler, FB Brit Miller

Ratings Suggestions (Players Not Yet In Game)

#30 HB Kory Sheets
Born: 1985/03/31 Age: 24
Height: 5-11 Weight: 208
Place of birth: Manchester, CT
College: Purdue
Stat Suggestions: SPD 90-94 STR 64-70, AGI 94-96, ACC 89-92, TRK 65, ELU 87-90, CAT 70-80
Notes: Hard runner, the fasted back we have at this point. Broke some good tackles, dodged even more. Great receiver out of the backfield.

#18 WR Micheal Spurlock
Born: 1983/01/31 Age: 26
Height: 5-11 Weight: 200
Place of birth: Indianola , MS
College: Mississippi
Seasons: 2
Stat Suggestions: SPD 89-91, ELU 88-85
Notes: High juke ability, good kick returner (would be second best on team) and quarterback-able stats.

#17 WR Dominique Zeigler
Born: 1984/10/11 Age: 24
Height: 6-3 Weight: 185
Place of birth: Kalamazoo, MI
College: Baylor
Seasons: 1
Notes: Good posession receiver, good for 10-25 yard catches, spectacular catch receiver, some punt return ability.

#75 RT Alex Boone
Born: 1987/05/04 Age: 22
Height: 6-7 Weight: 328
Place of birth: Lakewood, OH
College: Ohio State
Notes: Great strength for run blocking, good strength for passblocking, questionable footwork for both. Low awareness, high potential kid.

#47 FB Brit Miller
Born: 1986/09/15 Age: 22
Height: 6-0 Weight: 243
College: Illinois
Notes: It's hard not to "crown his *." He was a college linebacker and he plays with intensity. He's shown this preseason that he has good hands for catching and can actually run routes. He's opened some gaping holes for HB Kory Sheets and HB Michael Robinson, and at this point needs good run blocking strength and footwork. In the first game he distinguished himself over FB Zak Keasey by pass blocking where Keasey failed.

#55 ROLB Ahmad Brooks
Born: 1984/03/14 Age: 25
Height: 6-3 Weight: 259
Place of birth: Fairfax, VA
Seasons: 2
Notes: He's an athletic freak. He hasn't got a ton of playing time due to off the field issues but Singletary and Co. are hooked on this guys potential. At least a B potential with great speed, pursuit and at least a decent awareness level.

My Full Madden 55 Roster

QB (3) - Shaun Hill, Alex Smith, Nate Davis
HB (4) - Frank Gore, Glen Coffee, Michael Robinson, Kory Sheets
FB (2) - Moran Norris, Brit Miller
WR (7) - Isaac Bruce, Michael Crabtree, Josh Morgan, Arnaz Battle, Brandon Jones, Jason Hill, Micheal Spurlock
TE (3) - Vernon Davis, Delanie Walker, Bear Pascoe
LT (2) - Joe Staley, Barry Simms
LG (1) - David Baas
C (2) - Eric Heitman, Cody Wallace
RG (2) - Chilo Rachal, Tony Wragge
RT (2) - Adam Snyder, Alex Boone

LE (3) - Isaac Sopoaga, Kentwan Balmer, Ricky Jean-Francois
RE (2) - Justin Smith, Demetric Evans
DT (2) - Aubrayo Franklin, Ray McDonald
LOLB (2) - Manny Lawson, Marques Harris
MLB (4) - Patrick Willis, Takeo Spikes, Jeff Ulbrich, Scott McKillop
ROLB (2) - Parys Harlson, Ahmad Brooks
CB (5) - Nate Clements, Tarell Brown, Dre Bly, Shawntae Spencer, Marcus Hudson
FS (2) - Dashon Goldson, Mark Roman
SS (2) - Michael Lewis, Reggie Smith
Special Teams (3) - K Joe Nedney, P Andy Lee, KR Allen Rossum

NOTES: I would, and I know many fans would like Brit Miller to be kept on. Keep in mind if you MUST, his place can go towards another O-Lineman but at this point it's looking like it's going to be someone like Matt Spanos or Toledo to get the spot as opposed to Jacob Bender.

Current Roster Ratings Changes

QB Shaun Hill and HB Glen Coffee, to my knowledge, are already getting increases so I'll go over my increase/decrease list as of right now.

OFFENSE

QB Nate Davis SPD +3-7 AWR +1-3 THP +1 DAC +3-4 RUN +2 (Has shown impressive poise for a rookie, looks good so far and has high upside. Potential change to A instead of B.)

HB Michael Robinson SPD +3-4 (Has NEVER been this slow. He shows much more burst than that.)

WR Josh Morgan SPD+1
WR Arnaz Battle AWR + 2-5 CTH +2-4 (Just constantly impressive, as much as I dislike him he's harder to kill than Freddy)
WR Jason Hill RTE + 3-5 (Whenever I see him play his biggest asset is making defenders jump or fall over due to his impressive stepping/route running)

TE Vernon Davis RTE -3 CTH -1-4
TE Delanie Walker CTH +2-4, RTE +3 (These two need to switch on Route Running and Davis is unimpressive)

C Eric Heitman (General increase, is one of the better centers in the league, the best player on our line.)

RT Adam Snyder (Needs a big boost. Continuity at the position has made him look great as opposed to shuffling him around the line. Will be a great starter, good in pass blocking and run blocking. He's opening holes and will continue to do so, good footwork.)

DEFENSE

DT Aubrayo Franklin SPD +5-10, AWR +2-5 TAK +2 BSH +1-4, PUR +5 (Quietly a solid player. We need an upgrade at DT but Franklin is a solid starter.)

LOLB Manny Lawson SPD +1 BSH -2-4 MCV +4-6 ZCV +2-5 (Has been great in coverage, but generally lacking at rushing the passer.)

CB Tarrel Brown SPD +1-4 AWR +3-7, TAK -1-4, PUR -1-2, MCV +2-6, ZCV +5 (I'm not sure exactly what to put here, but in limited time he has been impressive. Having only played a few quarters this preseason he is still looking to beat Dre Bly for the second cornerback position and I believe he will win it. He was going to be a top pick at one point, Brown is the real deal.

FS Mark Roman MCV -1-4, PRC +1-3, TAK -2-6 (Is just terrible. Not a good player by any means. Terrible tackler, he's just smart.)
FS Dashon Goldson (Not much to say here other than he's been a ballhawk in practice and is very fast and smart.

That's all for now, I will do my best to look over this and make sure I keep it up-to-date and presentable.

Anyone have any disagreements with my changes?

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 09/01/2009 17:47:01

cem_ea_id.Ninjames wrote:Anyone have any disagreements with my changes?

For Vernon he could have an increase in run block and pass block. He is known around the league as the best blocking TE. But agree with the catch decrease and possibly an AWR decrease.

For T Brown he is competing with Dre Bly for the starting spot. He should be a 78 if Bly is an 80.

I would keep Bender he is another body on the Olineand he may make the team.

Move Sopoaga to DT along with Blamer. RJF and Ray Mac are DE's. Evans should also be rated just as high or better than Ray Mac as far as awareness. he hasn't been in the league this long by not being bad but by no means is he an All Star. Franklin also played his best ball after Singletary simplified the 3-4 D. He schooled the Cowboys last season when they had a line full of Pro Bowlers.

ps3.tktnuri wrote:

cem_ea_id.Ninjames wrote:Anyone have any disagreements with my changes?

For Vernon he could have an increase in run block and pass block. He is known around the league as the best blocking TE. But agree with the catch decrease and possibly an AWR decrease.

For T Brown he is competing with Dre Bly for the starting spot. He should be a 78 if Bly is an 80.

I would keep Bender he is another body on the Olineand he may make the team.

Move Sopoaga to DT along with Blamer. RJF and Ray Mac are DE's. Evans should also be rated just as high or better than Ray Mac as far as awareness. he hasn't been in the league this long by not being bad but by no means is he an All Star. Franklin also played his best ball after Singletary simplified the 3-4 D. He schooled the Cowboys last season when they had a line full of Pro Bowlers.

I forgot about Vernon Davis' blocking.

As far as Bender goes, I do not agree. He does not have a chance. If another Olineman is necessary it will go to Matt Spanos or Joe Toledo, Bender has been just terrible in camp and in preseason. Which is a let down to me, because I really like the kid.

Agree about Franklin, and I initially thought about Sopoaga moving to DT but Singletary has stressed that "Ice" will be an end this season and Ray McDonald will be primarily a run stopper, and line up at defensive tackle moreso than defensive end. Either way, one of them should move I don't care which.

Remove Michael Crabtree until he signs with the team. Cause for all we know he isn't going to play this year. At-lest take his rating down a lot cause he wont make no impact this year.

ps3.Battle_Hymm wrote:Remove Michael Crabtree until he signs with the team. Cause for all we know he isn't going to play this year. At-lest take his rating down a lot cause he wont make no impact this year.

Agreed, they murdered Jamarcus Russell when he held out and should do the same to Crabtree.

I was against the ratings decrease for holdouts last year and I am this year. Crabtree is one of the best WR prospects in years and the 49ers will get him signed.

Thats fine, but his ratings should still be decreased, if you wanna increase them you could do so through course of seasonwith a potential rating, and time through the season, truth is holdouts pay the price, look at andre smith, signs and gets hurt cuz he's behind and not accilimated speed of NFL. Crabtree will suffer.

Crabtree's stats will suffer but his output and skills as a player will not. You cannot decrease his skills if he has done nothing to lose these skills.

Disagree, but with you when haven't I. HAHA His route running will be poor, his awereness will be poor, his catch in traffic will be poor, but his potential should be high. Nuff said

Well, I respectfully disagree with you, but it's not a big deal. If Crabby gets a decrease he gets one. I posted who I think should be decreased, and keep in mind my priority is roster changes, not ratings changes.

I think Bender has a chance do to the ability to play multiple positions on the line. But Toledo because of his size has a better chance you are correct but isn't he already in the game? He was last year (along with bender).

I forgot add Michael Spurlock and he should have a THP 62 an THA 58 since he was a college QB from Ole Miss. He has a great chance of making hte team if Hil or Ziegler don't make the cut. He should be in FA at least. He has great return skills and the backup behind M-Rob in the Taser "Wildcat."

I understand what your saying about Sopoaga and Blamer but for the purposes of Madden the 3-4 simply doesn't work. To get the most from the ratings and Franklin rated so low it makes better sense to move them to DT. As there is no suitable backup (at DT) per the default roster requirements.

If you put McDonlad or RJF at DT and run a 3-4 or 4-3 the Niners would get killed up front.

My front 4 in a 3-4 is Smith, Sopoaga and Balmer/RayMac 4-3 Smith Franklin Sopoaga RayMac

This just in Huard released. Nates ratings should go up. He has played better than the dualing starters.

I know what you're talking about with Sopoaga. He plays the DT position for me because his rating is 80 in it. I'm not saying what would be best rating wise, I'm saying what would be best accuracy wise. You can always swap them yourself, but in real life, Sopoaga isn't playing DT.

And yeah, I covered all the Micheal Spurlock stuff. He needs to be in, definitely, and I commented on his QB and return skills.

As far as Bender, the coaching staff at this point hasn't seen good things from him. We like Spanos because he can play more positions on the line than Bender (RT, LG, RG, and C) and Toledo is just impressive as far as physical abilities. Either way, I'm not sure either of the three will make the final roster.

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