Minus Strength Elf Thrower - Cut?

[Bathoz]

The subject sums it up. Does one keep hold of a str 2 elf long bomber? And by long bomber, I mean the typical, accurate, strong arm, safe throw player who pick up the ball, walks forward a bit, and throws, then sleeps for the rest of the game. This question applies equally for high & pro elves, with an addendum for the woodies.

The question came to me, because in a recent league, there were two pro elf teams that had very similar throwers (one took sure hands as a third skill, the other safe throw). And both took a -1 str at about the same time. I cut my player, simply because long term I'd want to replace him, and while he's in the team, he's going to soaking up a lot of spp. The other coach didn't.

I then struggled (and continue to struggle) to put together a competent long thrower to replace him - my offense has suffered a little from this, in theory. It might just have made me play cleverer. Still, a short pass then hand off is riskier than a long pass at 2+. On the other hand, the other elf team has still run their O through the STR 2 guy. In our game I was able to get to him once for the sack, but largely he was able to be screened long enough to pass.

Under what circumstances would you keep such a player? And what would you cut him?

[Hitonagashi]

Is he used on defense?

I find my legend HE thrower gets fielded on defense all the time (ball grab + longbomb punt ftw)...especially at higher TV's where you take enough casualties to force him onto the pitch.

If he's only used to throw and in about 80-90% of your games he's on the bench the rest of the time, I'd probably keep him. If he's on the pitch on defense with st 2, he's a bit of a liability. The core of your offense having easy 3d blocks on him from st 3 players with killing skills doth not a long lived thrower make.

[RogueThirteen]

I would keep such a player. The amount of investment to get to 31 SPPs is quite a lot, and with those three skills such a thrower is fearsome indeed. Also, if I'm correct in thinking that Strong Arm is a doubles roll, there's no guarantee that the next thrower will double in three levels.

Being Str2 isn't terrible -- most blocks against him will still only be 2D -- especially for a player that will be as removed from the dangerous action as this guy.

[duckwing]

I guess it all comes down to how often you find yourself blocking with your thrower, or getting your thrower blocked while holding the ball.

[neverworking]

Pro and High I would keep as its only one player with str2 even if he does have to play defense for one drive. Wood is a bit more troubling as you will have considerably more st2 players out there.

[mattgslater]

No stats? Then it depends on the format. If you'll be playing awhile, cut and rebuild. If not, keep.

[sann0638]

I misread the last word. Thought you were being a bit harsh on the poor fella.

[Wanchor]

I'd keep him. I'd even consider keeping him if he were down to 1 Strength.

[Drool_bucket]

start up another one ASAP. Nothing worst than putting SPPs on a broken player. Unless you need him for a Long Bomb, use the other guy.

[RogueThirteen]

start up another one ASAP. Nothing worst than putting SPPs on a broken player. Unless you need him for a Long Bomb, use the other guy.

I'd disagree with that. Losing games because you're trying to skill up a fresh rookie player who won't perform nearly as reliably at his job as his "broken" predecessor would have seems like it might be worse than putting SPPs on an injured player.

I mean, I guess if someone is in a perpetual endless league where win-loss records don't really matter, then I suppose always starting anew and skilling up while one build's the 'ultimate ideal team' seems like one tactic. But in any kind of fixed-length league where your win-loss record will determine either entrance and/or ranking for the tournament, I wouldn't sacrifice chances at winning games for an idealized team roster.

I agree with the poster above who said he'd have to struggle with firing the thrower even if he was taken down to STR1. This player's STR should be irrelevant -- unless things have gone terribly wrong. But if things have gone terribly wrong already, then there will probably be little consolation in the fact that the thrower is fresh with +1 (or even +2 STR). If his STR is likely to be an issue (ie against fast deep-striking leaping War Dancers, for instance), then either keep the guy in reserves or just make sure to only handle the ball with this player if he'll be passing it off to a safer spot immediately after he gets it.

[Smeborg]

I would cut such a player. And as an aside, I do not find the Throwers of much importance to the Elf side. They are nice to have, but with so much MA8/AG4/NoS, this is a team that does not have a problem moving the ball on offense. They don't even need to pass - handing off is often good enough.

All the best.

[Bathoz]

You don't need a good thrower on a pro elf side, but a good passer takes your offense from 'silly' to 'madness'.

The trick is, with pro elves, ever player is likely to end up on defense eventually. You're just not tough enough to avoid going down players through a game - and more than that, not tough enough to keep a deep roster.

I'm not certain if I'd make the same decision if it came up again - as it is a perpetual league; just with season dividers.

That said, I reckon I'd keep a str 2 high elf thrower, as he's much less likely to get caught up in defense.

[narg]

I'm not sure I understand the problem. Elf throwers are probably the easiest players to skill up in the whole game. Keep this one, buy a second thrower, and when you receive send them in your endzone to farm SPPs; the rookie passes and the other hands it back to him, repeat again and again until your opponent is in a threatening position and then pass forward to score. If you do it right you can get the rookie to two skills in four games or even less if you're lucky with MVPs, and when he's skilled up fire the injured one.

[plasmoid]

Sooner or later, as an elf side, you'll run into cash flow problems.
That's when you'll wish you hadn't pissed it away on luxury replacements.
I'd keep him.

[narg]

Sooner or later, as an elf side, you'll run into cash flow problems.
That's when you'll wish you hadn't pissed it away on luxury replacements.
I'd keep him.

I have a -MA lineman and a -2MA lineman on my elf team and I don't plan to fire them as they're still good for LOS duty, but here we're talking about -ST. I think that first training a replacement and then firing him is better, as in some cases and particularly in defense even a journeyman would be better.