The New Orleans Saints, prior to week 11, were at one time led by a rookie coach who had little experience in the realm of RedZone. After a few short weeks, the head coaching job was vacated. Week after week, the Saints could not find the win column. At 1-11, it was obvious it was time to pack the season up and hope someone else would inquire.
Coach Spencer Jordan would take that job and ride out the rest of the season in the hopes of starting fresh in Season 91. The team was gutted, and the hope was to bring in talent to survive the cap penalties of Derek Carr, and several others. They did, in fact, inherit the number one overall pick after their 2 win season. The question remained, who would be QB1?
The New Orleans scouting department had excelled in their reports of the incoming QB class. There were several QBs slated to go in the top 10. The question is, which one stood out? Which one would be the best fit for New Orleans for the long haul?
Up to the night of the draft, there was a consensus number 1 pick: Nick Underwood. He was the full package: The arm, the IQ, the speed, the resume. Going into Sunday, he was the "sure thing." However, it wasn't as clear cut as it seemed. The Saints had narrowed it down to 3 signal-callers: Nick Underwood, Ted Thurston, and B.J. Frazier.
The New Orleans Saints reportedly were sold on Underwood going into Sunday. Something changed in the front office. The idea that Nick Underwood was not the "best player" had begun to gain some traction. His interview was sufficent, his tape was sufficent, but the pressure of Nick Underwood being a reach was a reality in the Big Easy.
B.J. Frazier out of Kansas State had a phenomanal showing in his Senior season. At 22 years of age, he had led Kansas State to a playoff bid. While they were eliminated early, it was clear that Frazier belonged on Sundays. His ability to execute in and out of the pocket was there, he had the biggest arm in the class, and he had proven he could compete on the biggest stage. He was RedZone ready.
Frazier made it known in his interviews that he "desired to stay in New Orleans for the long haul." It is important to note that they are in the midst of a rebuild, but he claimed to not be deterred by that. This obviously moved him up their list.
The Saints were on the clock. The decision had been made, but it was not an easy one. Coach Jordan phoned in the pick, and the world waited on who the new QB in New Orleans would be. Would the future of thr franchise be Nick Underwood or B.J. Frazier?
Frazier would be the one to get the call. He would walk on the stage, pose with the comissioners, and his journey would begin. The question still remains, did New Orleans get it right?
We don't know yet, but week 1 is tonight. Tune in!
It is that time of year RedZone, every one is throwing out their savvy vets and expiring contracts out on the trade block in an effort to rake in assets to reload for next season.
There are some big name players that have been listed so far, and the RZBowl for season 83 is yet to be played. Let's unpack some of these big names and see a potential fit for a suitor.
DE Nick "MAGA" Bosa
Nick Bosa is one of the most feared pass rushers in all of the RedZone. Last season, he totaled only 8 sacks, but forced 3 fumbles for the 49ers. This was in large part, due to his injury history. This defense was loaded, with the likes of Arik Armstead who led in sacks and Fred Warner, an elite LB. Media personalaties have weighed in on the influx of trade offers, but it is hard to pinpoint who it could be. With 1 year left on his deal, it needs to be a team with the cap space to accomadate his salary. It is likely he heads to the AFC, so time will tell once the confetti falls where the hottest trade block commodity ends up.
DESTINATON: HOUSTON TEXANS
RB Derrick Henry
The king of tailbacks is reaching the ripe age of 29, and regression is looming. Not to mention, he is reaching the last year of his deal. Coach Moj and the Titans are searching for a team that needs that extra push offensively, and who better to be that spark than the bowling bowl that is Henry. In season 83, he posted over 1600 yards on the ground, and 17 TDs. Henry would be a nice fit for a team that is on the fringe of making the playoffs in their respective conference. I like Henry to end up in Philly, even though they have invested heavily into De'Andre Swift.
DESTINATION: PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
DE Aaron Donald
Aaron Donald is being shopped by Los Angeles, despite his 30m cap penalty. Los Angeles is tearing it down after their 2-15 season. Aaron Donald tallied just 7 sacks, so it makes sense to see some frustration because the production isn't matching the cap hit. Donald is going to be a next level addition for a team that can afford him. But, the question still lingers, what will regression look like?
DESTINATION: WASHINGTON COMMANDERS
FS Justin Simmons
After being one of the league's most underperforming defenses, the Broncos are shipping off Justin Simmons to anyone willing to pay. Simmons is 29, but is performing at a very high level. He is coming off of a 16 INT season, and teams will pay top dollar for someone who can track down the football in a pass-first league. Simmons will NOT be cheap, but there will be an organization that pays the premium to bring him in.
DESTINATION: CAROLINA PANTHERS
WR Amari Cooper
Coach Kelly is shopping SS WR Amari Cooper in hopes of a 1st or 2nd round pick in return. If he has not been snatched off the block already, there is no doubt that he will quickly find a home this offseason outside of Cleveland. He was Cleveland's 4th option this season, only tallying 840 yards. While he did get injured mid-season, Cleveland is finding production elsewhere, so this move makes sense for the Browns.
DESTINATION: GREEN BAY PACKERS
Thanks for reading!
This league is unique from every other league in Madden football. While "parity" is often questioned, there is always an underdog that emerges somehow. Who else remembers when Pat won a Super Bowl with Dan Archer? I sure wish I didn't. With that being said, here are some guys that I think could surprise the league and take a larger step forward than expected.
Rfox has shown flashes last cycle with the Motor City Tit- Kitties.
Last cycle, Rfox even made the playoffs! (More than what I can say.) Laviska Shenault, who was acquired mid cycle by the Lions, was the money-maker for Coach Rondelle. While user defensive line is officially outlawed in the lands of RedZone, I do not foresee Coach Rockstar falling off the wagon.
This Bills team is far better than the Lions were last cycle. The Bills have Josh Allen, who is a game-changer potentially. With the ability to extend plays with his legs, RFox should be more efficient passing the ball, especially since the meta is geared towards offense right now. Rfox also has weapons offensively, including crowd favorite, WR Cole Beasley. I hope RFOX is prepared for to lead that locker room.
On a serious note, I can say with confidence RFox will take a leap and make some noise in this AFCE division. With the best roster in this division, can he defy the odds and get some S2W's while Spittah's Xbox is in Microsoft's hands? I'm a believer, that RFox is taking the next step in his RedZone career.
Yes! The only good thing I have done for RedZone! Coach Andrew is a fan favorite in our league, especially adored by JP. Andrew may not have Carl Lawson making plays for him this cycle, but Derrick Henry is the best player he has ever coached. Coach Andrew did make the playoffs last cycle with the Cincy Bengals, but I think this is Andrew's year to take the next step.
Coach Andrew is currently the favorite amongst many RedZone analysts. This divison consists of coaches, Jim, Zach, and now Biggs, who is just joining the league. Zach had some success with the Cowboys last cycle and Jim is known for his GMing and defensive coordination. (Did I use that correctly?)
Anyways, this Titans team is fun, and as long as Coach Andrew is able to sneak a game or two while his SO is asleep, I see him as someone who was previously a sleeper, is now going to meet the moment, and win some games.
Monty is here to win, and he does not care what the haters say!
Monty came in late last cycle and acclimated himself to the rules and regulations of the RedZone. With that being said, this is Monty's chance to gain confidence and truly showcase his abilites as a head coach. As a fellow Smite sweat, I am rooting for Monty to have complete control of this roster, and allow the Giants to reimmerse themselves into the NFCE conversation in our league.
Coach Monty is competing in a tough NFCE this cycle: Jake with his Football Team, Pat with America's favorite team, and Tauph with the Eagles. This division is the hardest to predict, in my opinion. Each of these other three gentlemen have been successful on the sticks, and I don't see Monty playing in the background all cycle.
This Giants defense is good. They have also upgraded offensively, which plays in the favor of Coach Monty. Does he roll with Danny Dimes? I think so, I also think he is going to surprise a lot of people this cycle. I have the most confidence in this sleeper pick to take the leap this cycle. If you're a Giants fan, things are looking up for you.
Will there be users who take several steps back? Absolutely. The members of RedZone are always cheering on the underdogs. While these gentlemen may not seem like underdogs to you, these guys will most likely take a step forward in their coaching careers in this league, this cycle. I hope you are as excited to watch it all unfold as I am!
#RZisBack
The front office was in fight or flight mode.
Following the resigning of QB Sam Darnold, the massive blunder of the improper use of the Franchise Player contract violated the current CBA, thus resulting in a ruling, and a reversal of that ruling. Sam Darnold was to be cut from the Saints roster, and to eat the penalty to the salary cap.
The front office did not have a plan for such a circumstance. They had just given up several draft picks to get Sam Darnold in black and gold from the Jets, and then he is left in Free Agency in a blind bid for any team to pick up.
This unfolded moments before the first team was going to be on the clock in the Redzone draft. With only QB Rob Reed on the roster, the choice was obvious. If our guy was there at pick 18, he was going to suit up for the New Orleans Saints.
Following the release of a USC QB, we brought in a new USC QB. QB Benji Watson, a 21 year old pocket passer, was drafted with pick number 18. Benji's arm strength was appealing to our scouting department, even in their short time in looking at QBs. The Scouting team did not look at any QBs until hours before the draft, due to the elite QB under center all season getting a new deal.
The choices of QBs was very limited in the S68 draft. Benji was the only standout other than the other QB that did not show up to the combine. Benji Watson was the clear choice for our organization.
Throughout the preseason, Benji worked tirelessely to adapt to the change of pace in the NFL vs the PAC-12. His comfort in the pocket has been credited to the Pro-Bowl caliber offensive line. His accuracy has improved from training camp to now. Benji is ready for week 1 vs the New York Giants.
The Beech Bowl is always a spectacle for the league to watch. Coach Beech has won more games than Coach Jordan in these games. The Saints had an oppurtunity to make a statement to the league that with or without Sam Darnold, they could win games.
Benji comes out and throws for 3 touchdowns in the first half against the Giants. After being down 3 points to the Giants, Watson was firing on all cylinders. This was his oppurtunity to lead the offense and gain the confidence of those he takes the field with.
Watson ended up with 200+ yards passing, a 116 passer rating, and a W under his belt against the rival G-Men.
While the CBA violation could have been a Trojan horse to the Saints front office, a new chapter has begun in New Orleans, with excitement and determination going forward.
New Orleans' professional football organization has returned to being the "Aints" in the past few seasons of RedZone football. Five win seasons have quickly become the norm in the Bayou, and the paper bags are returning to the Superdome. Fans are sick of the culture brewing in the Saints organization and are calling for changes from top to bottom.
Signs calling to fire Coach Jordan are found in the stands as fans scatter and scramble for their vehicles. The chairs in the front office are heating up as fans become distressed by the reoccuring lack of success found time and time again. Following two 5-11 seasons, a demand for change grew increasingly louder and it needed to be met. The question is, where did the demolition need to begin?
Luckily, through the high draft picks recieved in losing seasons, the core of the New Orleans Saints is not recognizable from season 1, but the argument is that it has been built back better. Let's dive in to the regrettable decisions and game-changing ones.
After trading back and forth in the efforts to secure the heir to Brees' vacated throne, the New Oreans Saints drafted Fernando Giraldo with the 12th overall pick. Brees walked away from football at 41, Jameis Winston demanded an unreasonable salary given the lack of playing time and upside he showcased on the field when he was under center. The need for a QB was unignorable. Giraldo, the 23 year old out of Alabama, saw his draft stock jump around as much as the Saints did to draft him.
Giraldo took the starting job instantly over Taysom Hill in the efforts to develop him into a servicable QB. While Giraldo improved since his first season, the youth did not help in the W-L column. In RZ65, Giraldo tallied 16 touchdowns with 22 interceptions, even with a stacked offense. Of course, more fault can be found in the coaching staff, but the stigma accompanying Giraldo stunk, and it was time to move forward.
Through the draft, the Saints drafted SuperStar Montell Hannah, a speedster who was left off of many draft boards. He became a part of a loaded WR room in New Orleans, but he has made his way to becoming a leader in the locker room. The Saints also drafted RE Chris Logan, LE Sammy Teague (A STUD), and DROTY runner-up, CB Allen Goldsberry. TE Kevin McMichael has had a major impact in the absence of Jared Cook, and is a great go-to player on 3rd down.
The ancient core inherited by Coach Jordan has been quickly refilled with young talent that, with the right play-calling, could be a playoff team.
After being terrible once again, pick number 5 fell into the Saints' lap. Initially, we thought to go and draft a tank to fill the DT position, but that quickly changed once the GM of the New York Jets knocked on the door. There was never a thought to trade for a QB in New Orleans, there was just the knowledge that Giraldo was improving but we'd never be a super successful organization. The Jets had just recently fallen short in a fantastic Super Bowl against the Cardinals, but Coach Moji was seeking a full rebuild.
After several versions of the deal had been discussed, the Saints agreed to send a plethora of draft picks for what would begin a new chapter in New Orleans, QB Sam Darnold.
"Sam has the potential to change the culture in New Orleans. Coach Moj has done an excellent job developing him into what he is now, and we are ecstatic to hit the practice field with him, and look forward to what he does here." - Coach Jordan following the news
The Saints took advantage of the $60m in cap room, and went after Darnold, but wanted to pad the damage done by the deal. After trading 5+ picks, the desire in the front office was to get what we could get out of 31 year old Michael Thomas. After trading him to the Bengals, the Saints free up $20m in cap, and got a current second round pick, and future first.
This cap space turned into 7 new players for the Saints that will assist Sam Darnold in his mission to bring New Orleans back to the playoffs. The new chapter has begun in the Bayou, so stay tuned for what is to come.
Thanks for reading gents!
Free Agency 1 is in the books, with familiar names around the RedZone headed to new destinations. Free agency is the first step of the offseason where teams go from middle-of-the-pack, to true contenders. As we recap free agency 1, we are going to grade the deal and discuss the implications of it.
While I do love this deal for the Eagles, paying a 30 year old WR $200m in general hurts. With that being said, Diggs could be a key piece that brings Philly back to the promised land. Diggs' ability to destroy defenders downfield is going to be essential in that offense regardless of who is under center next season. Coach Adelman is going to rely on Diggs to do what he has done all cycle, and punish his matchups. Great move for Philly.
Buffalo loses a key piece in Diggs, but finds a nice piece in Hooper. This deal does not massively impact their cap situation, and Hooper can still play. Hooper is the guy you look for on 3rd and short and need a first down. Outside of actually catching the ball, Hooper is rather pedestrian as a RAC threat. Knox and Hooper are going to be an elite pairing, as well as Bates. I like this deal for Buffalo.
Jarrett can still play at 31 years of age. His ability to rush the passer will be quite valuable to the Broncos. Coach Astin will pair him with Bradley Chubb to create pain in a competitive AFCW. The Broncos are consistenly a threat in the playoffs, so look for Jarrett to wreak havoc against opposing linemen until he hangs up his jersey. Though, they gave this 31 year old a hefty payday, there is still plenty of money left to spend.
I love this deal for Green Bay. Lawrence walks away from Dallas to Green Bay, where Coach Theo is trying to find his way in the RedZone. Lawrence is 32, but he is still a jack-of-all-trades defensively, and a game-changer. DLaw is paired with Kenny Clark and Dante Fowler, so this defensive line is getting up there in age. The most important reason I like this deal is that it is relatively cheaper than signings on other pass rushers. $62m on an X-Factor pass rusher is excellent in any way.
Cameron Jordan exits New Orleans and is headed for Indy under Coach Chapstick. Jordan is likely in the final season of his career, and he will become a pivotal piece for Indy's return to the playoffs. This 35 year old can stuff the run at an elite level for someone his age. Jordan's sack numbers are not what they used to be, but I like Cam to make a positive impact for this defense. Keep in mind, this is a 1 year deal and cap friendly going forward. Coach Chapstick's return to the playoffs begins with the signing of Cameron Jordan.
I'm tired, so thanks for reading! Good luck to all teams this season!
?Let us begin with point number 1, Taysom time. The starters played for 3 quarter straight, but once the 4th quarter came, it was Taysom time. Following last week's performance against Pittsburgh, Winston only went under center 4 times all game. Brees came in, threw 2 TDs and 1 INT, but it was time for the second unit. Taysom comes in, rushes for 18 yards on a read option, and goes 5/8 for 2 TDs and 1 INT. TE Josh Hill had 3 TDs on the day, 2 coming from Taysom Hill. Hill was inaccurate here and there, but overall, his throw power and mobility was pleasing to see.
The second major point is, that Alvin Kamara went down on the first play of the game with a dislocated shoulder. This threw a major wrench in our offense, due to the fact that Kamara is not only big in the running game, but in the passing game as well. Luckily, the medical staff let the organization know Kamara would be ready for the regular season opener against Tampa Bay. Latavius Murray became the bell cow for the game, and our offense totaled 100 yards on the ground.
The third and final point is, the deciding factor. In this game, both teams played it safe and committed a total of 3 turnovers combined, but the Saints committed two of those. Most of the stats were very similar, Both teams totaled 201 passing yards, and we even led the way in rushing. The two interceptions thrown by the Saints ultimately led to their downfall.
The Saints fall at home to the Texans 28-30
Let us begin with the first point; the QB position. We left the starting unit in for the first 2 half, and then on the final drive in a 2 minute situation. Between Brees and Jameis both, they threw 4 interceptions. Add another fumble from Taysom earlier in the game, and you have a recipe for disaster. The Steelers defense proved to be troublesome throughout the game, 1st and 2nd unit alike. Devin Bush flew all over the field and would make tackles, create pressure, and be a defensive leader. In the QB room in New Orleans, Jameis has been the least impressive by far. Coach Jordan gave Winston more play time this week, leading to him being pulled in the 4th quarter.
Moving on to the next point, a lack of pressure. Truth be told, the backups in Pittsburgh carved up our secondary, and ate us alive on inside routes. Slants, drags, whatever they threw, they had time. With only grabbing 1 sack all game long, the Saints secondary did not do their job as well as we could have hoped. With an aging secondary, we look forward to building up Marshon and seeing how he can pull them along. Besides getting carved up, the defense actually did something positive, which leads me to my next point..
In the final point of this recap, the Saints secondary DID force two 4th quarter interceptions to keep us in it late. PJ and Marcus Williams prevented any more scoring from the Steelers offense and gave us an oppurtunity to score and win the game on a final drive. Unfortunately, we did not complete the comeback, but I was happy to see a little bit of defense being played at some point in this game.
The Saints fall 13-19 in preseason week 2.
1. Taysom Hill gets the majority of snaps under center.
Taysom Hill became the center of focus for the Saints offense this week, with Jameis Winston only taking 2 snaps all game long. Hill did fumble twice, but he rushed for 32 yards. As for his passing numbers for the day, Hill went 7/12 for 99 yards and 1 TD. Taysom will serve as a weapon in this Saints offense once the games begin to count against us. He was accurate 90% of the time in this game, but he was playing against the 2nd-3rd string defense of the Rams. This was still great to see from Taysom Hill.
2. The rushing attack is strong.
By the final whistle, the Saints rushed for 228 yards and dominated on the ground. In the offense, there was a 3 man rotation in the backfield throughout the game. Ty Montgomery received the majority of carries, totaling 15 on the day and gaining 63 yards. Following Montgomery was Dwayne Washington, totaling 23 yards on 5 carries. Nothing special yet right? The final man in the rotation, Latavius Murray, got the ball 4 times and ran for 86 yards in the game. He broke through a congested defensive line and ran for a 63 yard TD to extend the lead over the Rams. Although Kamara didn't run the ball in this game but once, keep an eye on this backfield throughout the season.
3. A hungry, quick secondary
The Saints defense totaled 7 interceptions against the Rams. This may have been a rookie QB who will never see the field in the regular season, but the Saints secondary took advantage of every opportunity and snagged SEVEN out of the air. Chauncey Gardner-Johnson led the way with 2 picks, including one from each of these guys: PJ Williams, Marcus Williams, Alex Anzalone, and Johnson Bademosi. These guys paved the way for our offense to get on the field in scoring position, and put some points on the board. No easy points will be scored on this defense.
Your New Orleans Saints were victorious this time, 34-17. Stay tuned for next week's recap!
Redzone!
In light of today's festivites (if you Adel's explosive presser as such), I felt the need to look forward to next cycle as we wrap up our final games of the Madden 20 tenure. If you missed my Madden 20 recap, feel free to go back through it as we highlighted our most memorable moments of the year. (Can be found under blogs if you just clicked the link in Discord). Without further ado, let's get into it.
The team draft is set for May 30th, with a release of a general draft order on the day prior. There is that buzz around the league of excitement, as well as the anxiety that accompanies where you may fall in the order. As Adel elegantly stated in his presser this afternoon, a member's media contribution, as well as their activity in chat influences where they fall, just like last year. The difference is, the released draft order (or general idea) is going to cause some more chatter. Be on the lookout for some surprises (which are not really surprises for those who don't do much), like the veterans that came back and always do a great job in contributions. You'll also see some complaining, and stuff of that nature. Going to be very interesting to see how it goes.
A couple of predictions I am going to make, for the record:
- Astin will end up with the Panthers, due to their lack of success in prior cycles. He will have his usual success, unfortunately.
- The Miami Dolphins and Los Angeles Chargers will be off the board by the 5th pick. Not a hot take, but it's also randomly generated, or is it?
- Moji is going to end up in a divsion with White Greg, if there is a God out there.
- The last pick of the draft will either go to ManS or Vanosdol. (could be wrong but who knows)
Well, I believe the obvious answer is to make pass blocking abilites balance out the pass rush abilites. Is that the proper way to do it? Probably not, but as we all know, EA is here to make their money. The abilities need A LOT of tuning for the sim community, but they are not the priority. I did see, however, a tweet from someone who is involved with EA about possibly incorporating a stronger possibility of injury as a RB's usage increases. This is a step in the right direction obviously, but we are a sim league, striving for a realistic football experience. I believe that pass blocking is going to be "the move" next cycle.
I have only been here from the middle of the Madden 18 cycle, so I do not have the insight like most of our veterans do. What I do know is, is that media is a massive part of what makes this league stand above the rest. If you go look at my twitter accounts, you won't find much. I've never produced a podcast, but I like to contribute in ways that I can. After hearing Adel's "state of the union", I definitely feel the urge to be more active in that way. With that being said, I feel that the end of this cycle has been tough on folks, but we as a league can be better, myself included. We all are from different places, have different mindsets, and are in different stages in life, so we may see things differently. This is a strong community of guys, and I'm proud to be here. 4
I'm pumped for Madden 21 with you guys, so let's knock it out of the park, and go back to the roots of why this league exists.
I'll soon be posting a link for question submissions to do a mailbag, so send those in, and I'll do another write-up. Thanks for reading fellas!
Hey RedZone!
Our tenure with Madden 20 is beginning to come to a closing. The final seasonal draft is tomorrow morning, I'm on AP for the remainder of the cycle, and Astin is adding more rings to an already expansive collection. The RedZone had to endure the pains of Brandon Beech winning a Super Bowl, as well as celebreate when Caveman broke the streak of NFCCG losses and won a championship. Needless to say, it has been an eventful cycle that reminds us how strong this community is, as well as how strong it will continue to be.
I wanted to contribute, (as more should), in a fashion that goes beyond chat and getting wrecked in Overwatch for the enjoyment of my fellow league members. I wanted to look at what made the Madden 20 cycle special, as well as my hopes for what will happen with Madden 21 coming soon.
Anyways, I hope you enjoy, and let's get into it.
I genuinely believe that this was the best way to begin working towards the next cycle. Last summer, a new idea was put into action as we took into account the amount of league activity and sent each respective coach 5 contracts. The contract offering system was randomized, and it mixed up divisions and opened doors to more parity within the RedZone. There was no possible way that divisions would end up the way that WE wanted them. From Adel's number 1 draft choice of the Arizona Cardinals, all the way to Brandon's fortune of accepting a contract with a stacked Patriots team. We saw divisions like the AFC North offer a chance to newer users to make some noise and come into their own. There were also divisions like the NFC West where I would not have a prayer in winning 6 games. This draft format was an excellent addition to the league, and I am excited for the Madden 21 team draft.
There is no chance in hell that any RedZone member could have predicted the outcome of the first season. Disturbingly enough, the run of a lifetime happened in the postseason of a Tom Brady led Patriots squad. After fighting off some strong AFC opposition, the Patriots went on to play against the New Orleans Saints under Moji. If I was a betting man, I was going all in on Moji. I felt as if the lights were too bright for the Patriots under their new leadership and that it would be a blowout. As to my surprise, like many of you, the Patriots pulled off the craziest run in recent memory as the Patriots were crowned. I'm sure we will be hearing about it for the remainder of this league's existence, but it would be difficult to write a recap article without that highlight.
Caveman is a RedZone veteran, and has been to several confernce championship games in his time in the league. When he accepted the offer from San Fransisco to become their next head coach, many were hoping for him to bring a trophy home with his favorite squad. He dominated the NFC West in the early stages of the cycle, with multiple playoff appearances and oppurtunities to accomplish something not yet seen. This 49ers team was stacked from top to bottom with a fierce running game, and a strong defensive front to break opposing defenses. The 49ers fought through adveristy and defeated the Kansas City Chiefs under Coach Ernest in Season 56 to become a Super Bowl champion. The league was hoping for this day to come, and it finally did. Coach Porter then returned to the big game once again to play the Jaguars under Coach Sm(zero)kes. Despite the controversey surrounding the Jaguars franchise, Smokes had won his first Super Bowl with an asterisk next to it. Once again, Caveman returned to defeat Coach Astin and the LA Chargers to win his second ring. This was a massive highlight to this cycle, too bad he is retiring following this cycle. (not)
I know Silk, you are excited for this portion of the article if you've made it this far. Madden 20 offered fresh gameplay in the way of separating the superstars from the average Joe. The X-Factor players became the hot commodity and were the cornerstone of how GMs league-wide built their teams. There is one particular group that shined among the rest in Madden 20: X-Factor defensive linemen. These guys changed the way that we drafted and played this cycle. Guys like JJ Watt, Khalil Mack, the Bosa's and many m0re wrecked havoc on offensive lines league wide. We saw 50+ sack seasons from several players, needless to say, that is quite disgusting. I have 100% enjoyed the implemented system of X-Factor/SS players and I hope that EA will grow from their mistakes in balancing them. With that being said, each GM had repeated chances to go get one. Even Adel gave up all that he owned for Khalil Mack from an imprisoned Bears team. Important to note that OP O-Line are incoming.
There were many things that made this cycle one that we will not soon forget. These in particular are what come to mind, but there are countless others that made it something special. Astin won more Super Bowls, we got Roc and Ramesu back, and many more awesome things that we will never forget.
On a final note, this article would be incomplete without mentioning a dear friend of each of us. Michael Miles, also known as Corn, brought a unique energy to the RedZone that will never be forgotten. His humor and love for this community has changed the fibers of what this league is about, family. He will be dearly missed, and we were lucky to have him here.
Again, thanks for reading this, my Madden 21 cycle predictions / expectations are coming soon.