Human w/ No Catchers

EndzoneDance · Post by **EndzoneDance** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 7:17 pm

I was thinking about starting a human team but im thinking of playing with no catchers. Do you think this will work? Has anyone tried this? I was going to try and make them into a beatstick.

What do you all think?

Thanks,
EndzoneDance

bjorn9486 · Post by **bjorn9486** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 7:22 pm

I just played in a tournament with no catchers and 4 blitzers and it worked out well. Granted, they all had skills including the thrower having AG4 so could use re-rolls on my catch attempts.

I think it could be possible to do from the start, but IMHO you will eventually need to get a catcher or 2.

Carnis · Post by **Carnis** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 9:07 pm

Much better to go with no catchers than any other position really.. I would start with 4 blitz & 1 thrower asap.

The catchers are ok with MA8, but not really the same way as elven ones (woodie catcher gets +1 sprint, +1 ag for 20k!).

Getting 1-2 eventually is probably still a good idea, just for the blodge/sidestep & ma8..

mattgslater · Post by **mattgslater** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 9:11 pm

4 Blitzers
6 Linemen
1 Ogre
4 TRRs

Lets you run a comp rotation and skill linos until you get your Thrower.

Purchase 1: Thrower
Purchase 2: Apoth
Purchase 3: Catcher
Purchase 4: Catcher
Purchase 5: Thrower (fire a player unless one dies)

oryxwild · Post by **oryxwild** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 10:16 pm

Sure you can play humans without catchers, but there's not really any point. As #14 or 15 they're generally more useful than linemen - even on a beatin team. Threatening the quick score can give you a lot of free blocks.

mattgslater · Post by **mattgslater** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 10:41 pm

Actually, starting your first Human season without Catchers is probably not a terrible idea. Until you know how to score with a lino when you have a Catcher on the board, you'll be over-tempted to score with Catchers. And until you know how to keep your opponent from controlling mismatches, he's going to take a lot of 3d blocks and get hit by Blocklers a lot. Besides, once you do get them it's very easy to skill them up. They'll have a supporting cast right away, with skills to keep their jerseys clean, like Blitzers with Guard and Stand Firm and Linemen with Block or Wrestle, plus the Catcher's best defensive friend: Kick.

If you want to play Catcher-free, you might take a pair of Throwers and an Apothecary in lieu of an Ogre and a Lineman in the above list: with a brand new coach this might be a good way to get rid of Bonehead. Or keep the Ogre, drop a TRR and upgrade two Linos to Throwers with 10k banked.

Of course, if you start with a Catcher, you do have the advantage of starting with Catch, a great thing in the backfield rotation. Right after kicking, send the Catcher deep on the strong side, as far back as he needs to go not to get man-covered, optimally in QP range from whoever will attempt the comp. Then go grab the ball with your designated comp'er, and if you still have a TRR after the pickup you have a nice, safe SPP. And if you don't, then it's a question of where you can get that guy in relation to the Catcher. (Right behind the safe Catcher? Throw anyway!)