#7 Hill Valley Year-In-Review

Preview: (Posted before the 2015 Draft)
After five straight playoff appearances in the first five years of the LFL, the McFlys tasted adversity for the first time in 2014, as they missed the big dance; The incessant contender then went and won the consolation bowl, securing the first overall pick to plot their conquest. Redemption should be in the cards- six seasons, four times as a top three scorer. 2015 cannot come fast enough for Hill Valley.

Final Record:
Seven Wins, Six Losses (2,228.33 points; 171.41 avg - 10th)

Playoffs:
Secured Bye through Consolation Quarterfinals
Defeated Deputy Van Halens in Consolation Semifinal 247.30 - 179.79
Defeated Saskatoon Sasquatch in Consolation Bowl 206.38 - 191.84

Synopsis:
Wash, rinse, repeat; The McFlys' 2015 was nearly identical to their 2014, where middling early results kept them on periphery and ultimately outside of the dance- only for the team to peak come playoff time and secure the number one bid for the draft again. The McFlys never lost two games in a row this year, always responding to defeat with gusto- but they also couldn't string two wins together in the first half of the season. Cam Newton ascended the ranks this year, leading the charge for a McFly team that struggled with health issues all year long. Alshon Jeffery was a game time decision nearly every week, and Jamaal Charles was lost for the season, causing the McFlys to suit up eleven different running backs for two to six starts apiece (eight for two games or more, none more than six times) to some degree of success, but the position was a struggle all year. Four of the team's six losses were to the top four teams in the league, but a week five clunker to lowly Savannah and a 7.5 point loss to Saskatoon in week seven are a couple of regrettable results that cost the team a berth despite their winning record. Like last time around, next year cannot come fast enough for Hill Valley.

Draft Analysis:

VALUABLE ; TRADED ; DROPPED; RECYCLED; INJURED

Nine great picks to start the draft- Hilton and Maclin were moved for Demaryius and Watkins (upgrades!) and Jamaal was a stud before going down injured (unavoidable!) and while the Alfred Morris pick hamstrung this team, it was one of those (unpredictable!) disappointments. It's in the back end of this draft where the failings happened, and a lot of it comes down to perceived value; The McFlys could have traded many of those red players, but held on to them too long. One player they didn't hold onto long enough was Dev Freeman, who became an MVP caliber player soon after leaving Hill Valley.

Projected Points by Position versus League Average Projections (POST DRAFT)

HVM: C+ GRADE
Strength: WR
Weakness: QB

With five potential playmakers at WR, the McFlys should not have trouble making big plays... if Cam Newton can progress. Two ace starting RBs should help.

Trade Review: (Listing each player's point total following the trade)

• SEP 9 traded WR TY Hilton (207.5), WR Jeremy Maclin (226.3), TE Owen Daniels (103.8), and WR Brandon Coleman (80.) to DVH for WR Demaryius Thomas (247.8), WR Sammy Watkins (222.2), and RB Matt Jones (131.8)

The trade king started the season off with a doozy, upgrading his WR corps (DT over TY, Watkins and Maclin ended up a relative push) and adding a complimentary handcuff in Matt Jones while sending away some spare parts in Owen Daniels and Brandon Coleman. There was a lot of room for the team to sell off more preseason with a full woodshed, but they were unable to finalize deals that would have moved Percy Harvin, Tre Mason, Brian Quick and Devonta Freeman, to name a few. Eventually that reluctance would lead them to drop all of those players for nothing.

• OCT 22 traded RB Ahmad Bradshaw (41.5) and SS TJ Ward (42) to ISL for RB Dion Lewis (31.4)

The McFly's only other trade ends up a fairly confusing one: Dion Lewis enjoyed a breakout in the first half of 2015, but was set to miss week seven with injury, so the Islanders shipped him to Hill Valley. He returned in week eight with a huge game, and then had a good start in week eight before getting re-injured and landing on injured reserve. Were the Islanders right to move a vulnerable commodity before he broke, or did the McFlys limited gain on this trade pay off, with the (undelivered) potential being an unknown? The Islanders did not end up utilizing either of the pieces they got back; Ward proved excess depth unworthy of a roster spot, and while Bradshaw would have been worth playing in week eleven, he was already gone. His season would end the next week regardless.

Player of the Week Awards:

• WK04 DPotW: CB Josh Norman (36pts)
• WK04 PUotW: SS TJ Ward (21pts)
• WK16 OPotW: RB Tim Hightower (34.1pts)

All Larkspur Bowl Players:

• Quarterback Cam Newton 394.28 points
• Cornerback Josh Norman 172.6 points

Depth Chart:

• QB: Cam Newton
• RB: Alfred Morris, Jamaal Charles, Alfred Blue, Shaun Draughn, Matt Jones, Tim Hightower, Dion Lewis, Antonio Andrews
• WR: Demaryius Thomas, Sammy Watkins, Alshon Jeffery, Devin Funchess, Keshawn Martin
• TE: Delanie Walker, Ladarius Green
• K: Chris Boswell
• DL: Jurrell Casey, Malik Jackson, Olivier Vernon
• LB: NaVorro Bowman, Eric Kendricks, Jurrell Freeman, Anthony Barr, Justin Durant
• CB: Josh Nornam, Stephon Gilmore, Kareem Jackson, Joe Haden
• S: Morgan Burnett, Johnathan Cyprien, Calvin Pryor