Iron Dragon's Coaching Carousel Career

[Iron Dragon]

Off-Season Recruiting

When I arrived in Fresno, I had noted that the Bulldogs had already signed 18 players to their class of 2012 including eight three-stars. I was glad to help out the cause as we ended up with 23 new kids for the upcoming season.

Our biggest challenge from last year to this year is replacing early entree Robbie Rouse, the 93 OVR RB went pro and when I tried to talk him into staying, he said that he felt he was ready to enter now before a new system was put in. I respected his decision. Would have loved to have him.

Here are our offensive recruits for 2012:
2-star QB Andrew Watson from Irvine, CA. Watson is a better thrower than he is a runner.
3-star RB Terrance Bryant from Somerton, AZ. Bryant is a great back but we won't have him for 2012 since he has eligibility issues. He isn't going to be on the 2012 squad. Hopefully he shows up.
3-star RB Josh Harrell from Inglewood, CA. This kid looks like a steal. He is extremely fast although the players I coached last year were slow as heck.
2-star RB Brandon Reid from Turlock, CA. Didn't recruit him at all, he's quick.
1-star FB Bobby Washington from South Gate, CA. Didn't recruit him, he seems to be an average FB.
3-star G Josh Samuel from Berkeley, CA. Didn't recruit him. Great blocker, could be a huge player for us down the road.
JUCO-JR 2-star G Melvin Tanner from Inglewood, CA. Didn't recruit him, looks good.
2-star C Luis Cobbs from Santa Clarita, CA. Didn't recruit him, but love his speed for a lineman.
2-star C Roger White from San Marcos, CA. Didn't recruit him but coach Hill said his footwork is great.

We also had 13 defensive signings and 2 special teams signings.

Go Bulldogs!
Coach Jay Draggo

[Iron Dragon]

Good stuff ID, Goals really resemble mine over at NMSU except for the 7+ tds thrown. I dont know if my QB has done that this yr.

We didn't have big goals and we met enough of them.

how about Houston in the MNC game

And they will be moving up conferences.. more on that soon.

Despite going 4-8, you still did pretty good with Akron, considering the Zips have gone 3-9 and 1-11 the past two seasons. Did rather decent with what little there was to work with. And nice work snagging that Fresno job! I can't wait to see what you're able to do on the field with that Fresno offense.

I was surprised to see the bell ding and me get a job offer from Fresno. I thought I had a chance at Wyoming, UNLV, Hawaii or ECU, but Fresno was quite the surprise. Can't wait to see where this journey in California takes me next. I'll be happy to be here for awhile, I hope.

Man, that jump there makes me wanna leave after the 1st yr. Congrats on the job and good luck

It was a huge step up from the lowest offensive rated team in the game. Maybe that's why they wanted me.

Yeah, that's pretty much hitting the lottery right there, going from OC at lowly Akron, and making the jump directly to Fresno. That's a major upgrade and a heck of a career advancement. Things just got very interesting. Can't wait to see where things go with the new career.

I didn't expect things to move this quickly. I was also ready to play with a couple of three-stars I snagged at Akron, but I've got alot more at Fresno!

[SmoothPancakes]

Our biggest challenge from last year to this year is replacing early entree Robbie Rouse, the 93 OVR RB went pro and when I tried to talk him into staying, he said that he felt he was ready to enter now before a new system was put in. I respected his decision. Would have loved to have him.

Does anyone know if something like that response is new this year due to CC, or if that was a line players would throw out from time to time when going pro in past versions? If it's new, that's awesome! That players may go pro or transfer due to a new coach, and a new system, coming in during their career. That's the kind of depth I love to see with stuff like CC, the effects it has not only on the teams and their offensive styles, but on players possibly leaving or transferring due to a new coach or system being brought in in the middle of their career, that may not be the right system for their talents.

[Iron Dragon]

Conference Switcharoo

Fresno State is part of the whole carousel of teams and their conferences for this offseason. The Bulldogs join the Mountain West, as TCU departs for the Big East. Central Florida also joins the Big East, and then the Big XII announced that they wanted Houston, and they got 'em.

The Big East now has 10 members with the additions of UCF and TCU. The Mountain West added Fresno State (planned) to keep their 12-member, 2 division conference. The C-USA is now a 8-team conference. The WAC only has 6 members. The Big XII is back to eleven.

Mountain West Divisions

"West"
Boise St.
Fresno St.
Hawaii
Nevada
San Diego St.
UNLV

"Mountain"
Air Force
Colorado State
New Mexico
Tulsa
UTEP
Wyoming

BCS Tie-In: Any

[Iron Dragon]

2012 Goals


For how good the Bulldogs were last year and how good they are this year, this seems to be a pretty easy contract but I guess we are playing in a BCS conference in the new Mountain West.

[Iron Dragon]

Offensive Skill Players Depth Chart, 2012

QB Derek Carr, 85 OVR, SR
QB Kelly O'Brien, 75 OVR, rJR
QB Marcus McDade, 74 OVR, rFR
QB Greg Watson, 84 OVR, JR (rs)

RB AJ Ellis, 87 OVR, rSR
RB Michael Harris, 82 OVR, rSR
RB EJ Schexnayder, 74 OVR, rSO
RB Josh Harrell, 70 OVR, FR (rs)

FB Ibe Nduke, 72 OVR, rJR
FB Bob Washington, 63 OVR, FR

WR Rashad Evans, 86 OVR, rSR
WR Matt Lindsey, 86 OVR, rSR
WR Jalen Saunders, 85 OVR, JR
WR Davon Dunn, 72 OVR, rSO
WR Victor Dean, 70 OVR, rSO
WR Isaiah Burse, 69 OVR, rSO
WR Nate Walker, 72 OVR, FR (rs)

TE Tapa Taumeopeau, 76 OVR, rSR
TE Marcel Jensen, 74 OVR, rSR
TE Riley Barnes, 71 OVR, rSO

[Iron Dragon]

2012 Schedule

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:Moutain_West: Championship Game @ Qualcomm Stadium (this year, last year @ Invesco Field)

[Iron Dragon]

17-0

Offensive Rundown
353 yards of total offense
127 rushing / 226 passing
0 turnovers
6-12 on 3rd down

What a way to open up a new season in a new home. The fans here really support the hometown Bulldogs. We opened up our season with an opponent I saw rip up Akron's defense a year ago on the ground when they went 12-2 last year. Fresno shut down Ohio's running game to just 82 yards, the nation's #1 rush attack for some of last season.

Our offense played very well but we only could put up a field goal in the second half, and most of our yards came in the first half. Runningback A.J. Ellis had a 2 yard and a 1 yard TD runs in the first half.

QB Derek Carr was great, but missed on 6 of his last 8 passes, falling to 18-for-34 on the game throwing for 226 yards - 0 TDs and 0 INTs. Carr isn't much of a scrambler and can't make much happen if the pocket breaks down but he's smart and throws it away.

All in all, a great start here in Fresno, CA.

POTG: RB A.J. Ellis: 19 carries, 117 yards, 2 TD.

Next up vs. Western Kentucky.

[PhiDelt145]

Did you do this through custom conferences or did all this really happen by itself with the CPU.. If so that is a ton of changes which usually you dont see

Conference Switcharoo

Fresno State is part of the whole carousel of teams and their conferences for this offseason. The Bulldogs join the Mountain West, as TCU departs for the Big East. Central Florida also joins the Big East, and then the Big XII announced that they wanted Houston, and they got 'em.

The Big East now has 10 members with the additions of UCF and TCU. The Mountain West added Fresno State (planned) to keep their 12-member, 2 division conference. The C-USA is now a 8-team conference. The WAC only has 6 members. The Big XII is back to eleven.

Mountain West Divisions

"West"
Boise St.
Fresno St.
Hawaii
Nevada
San Diego St.
UNLV

"Mountain"
Air Force
Colorado State
New Mexico
Tulsa
UTEP
Wyoming

BCS Tie-In: Any

[SmoothPancakes]

Did you do this through custom conferences or did all this really happen by itself with the CPU.. If so that is a ton of changes which usually you dont see

I believe he did it himself. As far as I know, and someone who knows for sure can correct me if I am wrong, but I believe the CPU does not initiate conference changes anymore. With the addition of Custom Conferences, the EA team left it up to the user to make any conference changes they want to in the off-season, instead of the CPU doing it like in years past.

[ScubaSteve007]

Yeah, that's pretty much hitting the lottery right there, going from OC at lowly Akron, and making the jump directly to Fresno. That's a major upgrade and a heck of a career advancement. Things just got very interesting. Can't wait to see where things go with the new career.

In my offline dynasty, I went 6-6 in the first season as the OC for . During the coaching carousel, I was offered the OC job at . I was surprised that I was given the opportunity to coach at a BCS school after just one .500 season in the , but after seeing that went 5-7 the previous season, it made sense that they were looking for a change.

[Basmare]

In my offline dynasty, I went 6-6 in the first season as the OC for . During the coaching carousel, I was offered the OC job at . I was surprised that I was given the opportunity to coach at a BCS school after just one .500 season in the , but after seeing that went 5-7 the previous season, it made sense that they were looking for a change.

In my offline dynasty (after winning the New Orleans Bowl with MTSU), I also was offered the OC job at TTU (also had offers from Baylor, NIU, WMU). I thought that every coaching carrousel experience would be different, but this is pretty similar.

[ScubaSteve007]

In my offline dynasty (after winning the New Orleans Bowl with MTSU), I also was offered the OC job at TTU (also had offers from Baylor, NIU, WMU). I thought that every coaching carrousel experience would be different, but this is pretty similar.

Interestingly enough, I use a Pro Style offense, which is different from the typical TTech passing attack. Yet, one of my new goals with TTech is to score 13+ rushing TDs in a season. Just an interesting nugget I noticed.

[Basmare]

Interestingly enough, I use a Pro Style offense, which is different from the typical TTech passing attack. Yet, one of my new goals with TTech is to score 13+ rushing TDs in a season. Just an interesting nugget I noticed.

A lot of these goals are put in at random I believe. I use the spread and one time I was asked for 20 rushing TD's and the next for 15 TD's. At least these goals are way way better then those of last year and the years before. I think the goals of Fresno State in this CC are reflecting that randomness of the contract goals that are put in.

[JerzeyReign]

Why are you having a discussion in this man's CC thread?

Anyway....

<--- Following!

[Basmare]

Why are you having a discussion in this man's CC thread?

Anyway....

<--- Following!

Tried to keep it on topic with the CC discussion linking to the Fresno goals. But anyway - I'm definitely following too. Very interested in how the CC works out for Iron as I do mine now.

[SmoothPancakes]

Why are you having a discussion in this man's CC thread?

Anyway....

<--- Following!

Yeah, I'm sorry Iron. I was just trying to answer that one guy's question about the conference changes Iron made, and I started a downward spiral of non-Iron's dynasty posts in here.

And loving this so far man. Looking forward to what you're able to do.

[JerzeyReign]

And I apologize if that sounded rude, wasn't what I was aiming for.

IronDragon... I need an update bruh... ever since I used your roster updates last year I feel connected to you... ause:

[Iron Dragon]

50-7

467 yards of total offense
307 rush (2 TD) / 160 pass (2 TD)
0 turnovers

We continued to be turnover free vs. the Hilltoppers on the year in another win, this one was very easy. We only played our starters in the first half, and Derek Carr threw 10 passes with 6 completions for 83 yards and a TD. The backup added a TD pass too.

A.J. Ellis had another big game.. 19 carries, 185 yards, 2 TD in one half including a 67 yard run.

Backup Michael Harris took 18 carries for 118 yards but no scores in the second half.

Our defense gave us the ball alot with 5 turnovers forced. They gave us alot of short fields to work with. The only bad thing is that we kicked five field goals in the redzone, which is pretty high for how good we were playing. We've got some things to fix there for sure. All I know is that the 50 points we scored in this game puts me way ahead of my 14 PPG goal at 33 PPG on the season.

Next up..