Monthly Archives: December 2013

“Special Thanks” to Ray Dunlap

Posted on by
Reply

As I’m closing in on finishing the 2011 regular season and reviewing the teams whose season is already completed, it really makes me appreciate the flexibility that Ray Dunlap’s “Quota Chart” offers especially in the running game.  As hard as I try, it’s very difficult to replicate the exact number of carries or pass attempts for each player.  The game is going to dictate at times a player exceeding his actual attempts.  So, what is a realistic amount that a player should exceed his actual without completely skewing statistics? For me, the answer is in Ray Dunlap’s math-based system.   Like all of his other innovations, it’s very thought out, realistic and fine-tuned over years of practical application.  Thanks Ray, for this great contribution to APBA Football!!

http://oguard62.net/2012/06/09/ray-dunlaps-quota-chart/

Merry Christmas

Posted on by
2

I would like to sincerely wish each and everyone who visits this site a very Merry Christmas! May the coming year bring good health and happiness!!! Santa was good to “Oguard62”, there were new colored pens and a large button calculator in my stocking and the 1972 card set under the tree!  Doesn’t get any better!!!

Custom 1960 Style Fields

Posted on by
3

I recently picked up my 1960 style fields from my local sign shop.  These classic football fields were created by Mr. Art Hall.  Art has created several college conferences (Big Ten, WAC, Conference USA, etc) and all of the AFL and NFL fields from the 60s.  In addition, he has created numerous NFL fields from 1970 through the 1990s. Each image created chronicles the changes of each franchises field over the decades.  Outstanding effort!!

I emailed Art and briefly explained my intentions of transforming his fields into APBA style football fields for an upcoming replay of mine.  Upon his return from a hunting excursion, he converted all requested fields into PDF format and posted them on a Media Fire account for me.  Art went out of his way to assist me and I couldn’t be more appreciative.

Below I have posted an image of Shea Stadium and Fenway Park.  If you look closely you can see that the goal posts are positioned in the back of the end zones.  This is not historically correct, up until 1974; all goal posts were placed on the goal line.  This error is not Art’s doing, all of his fields come without goal posts.  The programmer at my local sign shop evidently took Art’s fields and cropped them onto the existing template used for my modern fields.  For one, the young gentleman wasn’t aware of who the Los Angeles Rams were, need I say more.  However, the main reason that I went through so many prototypes was to determine the exact size the field had to be for the APBA style first down marker to be exact.  So this is the primary reason for the historical inaccuracy, I hope Art doesn’t hold it against me.

IMG_20131220_192915

NFC Playoff Scenario

Posted on by
1

Entering the final week of the season, the divisional champions are as follows:

  • The New York Giants won the East.
    • If Philadelphia and New York end season with identical records, New York won both Head-to-Head matchups against Philadelphia.
  • The Green Bay Packers won the North.
  • Undecided.
    • New Orleans Saints can win the division with a win AND an Atlanta loss.
    • Atlanta Falcons wins division with a win OR identical records.
      • Atlanta has better winning percentage against division opponents.
  • San Francisco 49ers won the West.

The top 4 seeds will be determined as follows:

  • San Francisco will be the first seed with a WIN OR Green Bay loss.
  • Green Bay will be the first seed with a WIN AND San Francisco loss.
    • Green Bay owns strength of schedule tie breaker
    • The #2 seed will be the either San Francisco or Green Bay.
    • The #3 seed will be the winner of the NFC South
    • The #4 seed is the New York Giants

  Wildcard slots 5 and 6 will be determined as follows:

  • If Atlanta wins NFC South, New Orleans would be the fifth seed since they won their Head-to-Head matchup against Detroit. Detroit would be the sixth seed.
  • If New Orleans wins NFC South, Detroit would be the fifth seed since they won their Head-to-Head matchup against Atlanta.  Atlanta would be the sixth seed.

Custom Football Fields

Posted on by
23

About a month ago, I noticed a thread titled “Free!! Printable NFL football fields” on the Table Top Sports forum.  Mr. Grant Baker was kind enough to share his work of art with the gaming community with only one stipulation, “These are for personal use and can NOT be sold under any circumstance.”  These modern NFL fields can be found on the sidebar listed under “G. Baker’s Fields” widget.

The minute I laid eyes on these fields, I knew that I had to have these developed into APBA style football fields.  I wanted something sturdy that wouldn’t move easily, worked with existing first down marker/football, ability to track downs, had a protective surface and most importantly was “playable”.

To make a long story short, in my quest I had to hire/fire one sign shop and went through multiple prototypes until I was satisfied.  My decision not to have the fields trimmed/cut around Grant’s outline was two-fold, first, it was a cost-saving measure and secondly, I use the ledge for placing skill players on the gridiron.  

Being an APBA Football junkie, I’ve had all 32 NFL fields created.  While playing a game last night between the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears, I found myself staring at the playing surface of Lambeau Field and I swear that I heard the home faithful scream in unison “GO PACK GO!!!!!”  

Double click on photo to enlarge.

Lambeau Field

AFC Playoff Scenario

Posted on by
1

All AFC games have been completed for week 16.  Entering the final week of the season, the divisional champions are as follows:

  • The New England Patriots won the East.
  • The Pittsburgh Steelers won the North.
  • The Houston Texans won the South.
  • The Oakland Raiders won the West.

The number #1 seed is the New England Patriots.  Seeds 2 through 4 will be determined by the following scenarios:

  • If all three teams (Houston, Pittsburgh, and Oakland) finish with identical records: Houston will be the #2 seed since they beat both Pittsburgh and Oakland in Head-to-Head matchups. Pittsburgh will be the #3 seed since they own the better conference record compared to Oakland. Oakland would have the #4 seed.
  • If Houston loses their final game and Pittsburgh/Oakland both win their remaining game: Pittsburgh would be the #2 seed, Oakland would be the #3 seed and Houston would be the #4 seed.
  • If Houston/Oakland both lose and Pittsburgh wins:  Pittsburgh would be #2 seed, Houston would be #3, and Oakland would be #4.
  • If Oakland loses their final game they automatically become the fourth seed since they lost both tie-breakers (Head-to-Head and conference record).
  • If Oakland wins final game and Houston/Pittsburgh each lose: Oakland would be the #2 seed, Houston would be #3, and Pittsburgh would be #4 seed.

Miami and Baltimore enter the final week with identical records (9-6); however, Miami has already secured one of the two “Wildcard” spots.   Miami won their head-to-head matchup against San Diego and has a better winning percentage against common opponents when compared to Tennessee.  San Diego is still mathematically alive at (8-7) because they won their head-to-head matchup against Baltimore.  Although Tennessee has the same record as San Diego (8-7), they are eliminated because they lost their face-to-face matchup against Baltimore and have a lower winning percentage against common opponents when compared against Miami and San Diego. The following scenarios will determine the final “Wildcard” slot:

  • Baltimore wins OR San Diego loses. Baltimore can secure the fifth seed with a win and a Miami loss.
  • San Diego wins AND Baltimore loses.  Miami would be fifth seed and San Diego would be sixth seed.
  • Miami secures the fifth seed with a win OR Baltimore loss.  Miami owns better “Strength of Victory” tie breaker over Baltimore.