Human Team Concept... Comments needed

Tapek · Post by **Tapek** » Mon Feb 24, 2003 11:36 pm

My league is just restarting, and after taking the championship last year, I'm trying to redo my entire playing style. I play in an almost all smashmouth league, with the exception of the one-turn-wonder Skaven kid, so I'm trying to introduce a new element in our league. I've almost always played Smash(Undead and then Khemri) or hybrid(Lizards), so Humans are a bit unfamiliar to me. My final team will look something very much like this:

4 Catchers--280k
1 Thrower --70k
2 Blitzers--180k
5 Linemen--250k
3 TRR's--150k
7 FF-70k

First off, I will NOT go below 7 FF. I've had too many bad experiences doing such things, and I do not plan on making that mistake again. My idea is this, in a smash league, if I can bait opponents into rushing, I can set up a very quick 2 turn scoring giant. The unusual part though, is that I will use catchers for bait. If I fly two downfield, two on 'post' or 'flag' kind of routes(deep, but not as deep), and then float my blitzers barely into scoring range, while making a flying box around my QB(but giving him room to leak out and shovel pass to a Blitzer), I should be able to A.Rack up those SPP's quick, and B.Score quickly. This team gives me a lot of versatility in the passing game, and if I use their speed correctly in conjunction with a well used TRR, I can play them rather elf like. Developmentally, I plan on using Human SP's to their max. My first acquisition, after an apothecary, will be Griff. He's a personal favorite of mine, always useful in every situation. The catchers I plan on making into deep threats and extreme annoyances with skills like NoS(for those risky shots) Strip Ball, Pass Block, and the likes of these. I'll try to make 1 of them a major deep threat, one a 'wardancer' type defender, and the other two ombo types, using Blodge and such. The starting Blitzers I hope to turn into the multi-talented types, much like a slot back in a run and shoot offense. With skills like Block, Dodge, and Catch, they can be good pass threats and decent blockers. After that, skills like Strip Ball and Pass Block come next. On the line, I'm a big proponent of Dodge. Human linemen with Dodge are extremely effective. You can use them quite effectively like Elves, and their a helluva lot easier to replace. Obviously, block, dirty player, and kick are my other linemen grabs. For my thrower, I plan on working on a deep ball game first, getting the likes of Strong Arm and Accurate, and then, if possible, Dump off and the annoying yet useful skills that can keep a drive alive. The last Blitzer I pick up will be a Griff clone, going for cagebusting and versatility. A backup thrower to be used for running will come along later. Our leagues are drawn out affairs, so I usually have time to really develop a team....

Your comments, criticism, and whining about the general length of this post are now welcome. Thanks in advance!

zeroalpha · Post by **zeroalpha** » Tue Feb 25, 2003 7:45 am

I like that you are starting with 12 players, in a recent thread there were over 20 different suggestions for how to start a human team, none of which had more than 11 players. I think 12 is a must for a starting human team. Especially in a smash league.
Using a blitzer and a team re roll to create an instant catcher is a good idea but can become unstuck, as nice as it is to play humans as elves, remember that they are not elves. I am sure that you are more than aware of this already however.
Many people will probably tell you that you need an ogre but i think your team looks alright as it is. I would be tempted to drop a catcher for another blitzer but as you have said you will not go below 7FF so i guess that is not going to happen.
just my thoughts

Redfang · Post by **Redfang** » Tue Feb 25, 2003 10:00 am

I might think that Dwarfs need an ogre, but I don't think Humans do.
He might be nice to keep the opponents ogre ocuppied, but since you don't plan to play a blocking game, you won't need him.

Just this: Human linemen with dodge easier to replace than elves?
How often do you roll doubles?

R

Marcus · Post by **Marcus** » Tue Feb 25, 2003 11:05 am

I'd worry about using 4 catchers on a starting roster. Gives you nice passing options on O but where's your defensive options? Might want to think about how you plan to turn the ball over with that little strength on the field.

Remember that with a roster of 12 and 4 ST2 players, you're going to have a minimum of 3 on the pitch on D. That makes for some very easy blitzes through weak points without assists, that means one extra player who'll be free to run through the gap and screen you off.

3 RR 7 FF, Nice. Always worth it on a starting team.

Agree that you don't need the Ogre.

I'd drop 2 catchers and replace with a Lineman and a Blitzer. Get a 4th Blitzer first purchase then fill out on catchers. Catchers can score quickly and develop, so you won't hold up your team by getting them later. I'd rather have some fast guys who can hit to use on D. 2 Catchers, 3 Blitzers and a Thrower and you should be able to run a decent play, similar to the one you described, on O without sacrificing defensive strength.

Good Luck.

sean newboy · Post by **sean newboy** » Tue Feb 25, 2003 11:14 am

Same as marcus but trade the 2 catchers for a lineman and another thrower.

firebreather · Post by **firebreather** » Tue Feb 25, 2003 11:46 am

I`d drop 2 catchers a couple of fan factor and take another thrower and blitzer, if you get an injury on your one thrower you could be in real trouble on O.

Fronko · Post by **Fronko** » Tue Feb 25, 2003 2:46 pm

Hoi Tapek!

Um... there is one thing that always and always again keeps popping up in my mind. You all keep talking about playing the humans elvenlike. Why then not take elves right away? If you for example take HEs, you have pretty much the same speed and armour, but you also have access to AG4 all over the board, dodge for everyone and don´t need to worry about a strength deficite on defense. Allright, they DO cost some more, but to my mind it is not very efficient to play humans elvenlike, if you can take elves as well.

What´s the point I´m missing???

Tapek · Post by **Tapek** » Tue Feb 25, 2003 9:33 pm

Zero:LI think starting with 12 players, when you have 4 Catchers, is very, very important. Catchers get whacked quickly. Apothecary comes next, followed by blitzers galore, or so I'm thinking.

Redfang:Double One's seem to come up very, very often.

Stupid one's are actually useful in this case.

Marcus:That's the other way I was thinking of using this. I really am worried more on D than O, I can score with a pair of gobbo's if need be...

As a matter of fact, I think I will go 3 Blitzers, 2 Catchers, 6 Line, 1 Thrower.

Sean:My first opponent is Skaven, and he doesn't play with R.O.'s to start(cause he's facing Humans...)

Fire:Did you actually read my post and not just the lineup?

Fronko:My elves have tendancies to roll ones, and humans are cheaper. Plus, they're all AV8, which gets raped pretty quickly where I play(4-5 D.P. per team usually, with everyone short of gobbo's having MB), so I figure I'm better to go with cheaper guys. Whenever I play elves, I'm strapped for cash. And, of course, I just painted my humans up in Packers colors, and it looks fantastic. Favre takes the pitch......