Hey there, gentlemen. I'm likely hanging up the Madden 24 controller when MLB The Show 24 is available to play on March 15, so I thought I'd go out with a bang and build the best possible team to use at this point in the game. I wasn't all that impressed with any of the TOTY cards (except the corrected SS Kyle Hamilton, who I may pick up for free Pick Artist and Deep Zone KO), so I put together a 70/70 Super Bowl and 30/60 Combine hybrid theme team. Let me know what you think of the JCSteel Squad.
Offense:
Defense:
Special Teams:
Specialists:
Strategy:
Abilities:
Offense -- QB Bo Jackson (X-Factor Truzz, Set Feet Lead, Gunslinger, Gift Wrapped), HB Bo Jackson (X-Factor Angry Runs, Evasive), HB Darren McFadden (RB Apprentice, Energizer), TE Bo Jackson (TE Apprentice), TE Heeeeath (X-Factor Vanguard), TE/FB Aidan Hutchinson (Honorary Lineman, Red Zone Threat), WR Darrius Heyward-Bey (Evasive), WR Hines Ward (Slot Apprentice), LT Andrew Whitworth (Secure Protector), LT Garrett Bolles (Identifier), LG Quenton Nelson (Post Up, Secure Protector), C Dexter Lawrence (Linchpin, Threat Detector, Post Up), RG Greg Van Roten (All Day, Secure Protector), RT Rob Havenstein (Secure Protector).
I run a lot of Singleback sets or I-Form sets, utilizing the run game and play-action game to get QB outside the pocket. Singleback Bunch X Nasty has made a great comeback against the meta defenses, as the wheel routes, posts, and blocking work exceedingly well against Dollar. When I go shotgun, I tend towards U Trips and Trips TE. That's where I use HB McFadden with RB Apprentice, Bo with TE Apprentice, and Hines Ward with Slot Apprentice, giving me a ton of options. Hines also blocks well on RPOs, and Heyward-Bey has Evasive to get free on short catch-and-run plays.
Defense -- FS Reshad Jones (Mid Zone KO, Deep Out Zone KO), FS Ronnie Lott (Pick Artist), FS/SS Justin Simmons (Deep Zone KO, Pick Artist), SS Ji'ayir Brown (Pick Artist), ROLB Bo Jackson (X-Factor Dual Threat, Secure Tackler, Lurk Artist), MLB Patrick Willis (Mid Zone KO, Lurk Artist), Chuck Howley (X-Factor Universal Coverage, Lurk Artist), LOLB Leo Chenal (Lurk Artist), CB Tariq Woolen (Mid Zone KO, Deep Zone KO), CB Charvarius Ward (Mid Zone KO, Pick Artist), Slot CB Herb Adderly (Mid Zone KO, Pick Artist), CB Joshua Williams (Pick Artist), CB Nate Wiggins (Pick Artist), RE Chase Young (No Outsiders), DT Harrison Phillips (Secure Tackler, Inside Stuff), DT Warren Sapp (Secure Tackler), LE George Karlaftis (X-Factor Unstoppable Force, Demoralizer, El Toro).
I work almost exclusively out of Big Nickel Over G, with a 4-man rush of Bo, Phillips, Sapp, and Karlaftis. I will jump on Bo to user him against teams that don't have OT with Secure Protector. Willis and Howley, who is the best sub-LB in the game with Universal Coverage and Lurk Artist (he's 99 Speed/Acceleration and 6'2" as well), are in the middle. Adderly is my slot CB, with Woolen and Ward on the outside. My up top safeties are Jones and Simmons. I have 5 Mid Zone KOs, 3 Deep Zone KOs, and a Universal Coverage on my field at all times.
For my scheme, I don't think I can do any better (though Hamilton may replace Justin Simmons as my deep SS to save AP, which I would use to put Inside Stuff on Sapp).
Let me know what yinz think! Anyone else have a better build?
