[Elf] Everything Elves - Lineman skill progression and positional skill choices

[BeefyGoodness]

Hi All,

I was hoping to make a bit of a concensus on the Pro Elf teams choice of skills for lineman and the order in which they are taken.

At the moment my team has a few wrestle lineman and one with kick and wrestle (I have been taking wrestle first - two dwarf teams in my league) and was thinking whether dodge would have been a valid first choice in a slightly less dwarf present league.

I am thinking I will take sidestep as the next skill, and then Fend as the 3rd with it highly unlikely that an lineman will ever live long enough to make it to the 4th skill for dodge.

I have seen people suggest dodge first, then wrestle/sidestep/fend in that order.

Do people have an idea's about taking fend first before sidestep? I personally think that sidestep is on par with guard in terms of utility in their respective skill categories.

Blitzers -

So far I have developed a block, dodge, sidestep, tackle blitzer (who will most like get leap next skill) and a block, dodge, sidestep, leap blitzer (who will most likely get strip ball next skill). What other builds do people suggest? Diving tackle for an annoyance player springs to mind, but I think that might be a later skill.

Catchers -

In terms of the catchers, I've taken block and dodge on two with sidestep and fend being skill choices 3 and 4. For the remaining two I have wrestle, dumpoff on one and the other is yet to skill. I'm thinking wrestle, tackle, leap will be a good choice for the second to aid in offense.

Throwers -

I took leader as my first skill on this guy and am thinking safe throw for my second (as I tend to play fast offensively and then try to turn over and score again as quickly as I can on defense) to prevent interceptions as I keep my thrower deep for my first turn while I set up my offense and then pass to an open player (or better short pass to an open catcher who runs up and hands off to another open catcher who tries to score).

[Marlow]

Originally Posted by BeefyGoodness

I was hoping to make a bit of a concensus on the Pro Elf teams choice of skills for lineman and the order in which they are taken.

I do not think you will get a consensus on building Line Elves as there are several routes open. In leagues with few dwarves Dodge is a good first skill. Fend stops Frenzy and Piling On so Wrestle/Fend is a good combination. I prefer putting Side Step with dodge to keep them on there feet. I prefer to give the Kicker Block since they tend to get hit a lot. Guard is the only double skill I give Line Elves. +AV is also nice. Diving Tackle and Jump Up work well with Wrestle as another choice.

Option 1 - Wrestle, Fend,
Option 2 - Dodge, Side Step, Block or Wrestle
Kicker - Kick, Block, Dodge



Blitzers -
I like building mine with Dodge, Diving Tackle, Tackle and Shadowing to be annoying blockers. I also sometimes use Frenzy.


Catchers -
I usually turn my Catchers into Wardancers (Block/Wrestle, Dodge, Leap) and then add other skills for Blitzing the ball free (Side Step, Strip Ball, Frenzy). Shadowing and Diving Tackle are also good skills for Catchers. I have three AG 5 Catchers and the other one has Guard on my team so the Leap works well. You may not want to give them all Leap as a third skill depending on what other skills the team needs or opponents in your league.

Throwers -
I build one into a Long Bomb specialist. If you can get that Lucky double for Strong Arm then take it. I follow it up with Accurate, Block and Dodge and Safe Throw. Leader is a waste since Elven re-rolls are so cheap. The second Thrower is more of an open build for the defence so Block, Dodge to start with and then some ball skills (e.g Nerves, Dump-off, Accurate) for when you get control.

[Coach]

I like Dodge first in a Tackle light league, otherwise Wrestle first in a Tackle Heavy League. Then I'd go Wrestle after Dodge followed by Fend, or if Wrestle first then Fend next, maybe Dodge depending on Schedule. There is no definitive correct way and certainly taking Side Step can also work really well.

I'd also go Block on Kick players to keep them upright more to ward of getting fouled.

I'd not take Leap on the Blitzers, They easily have Block, Dodge and Side Step, you can put them next to cage corners and Side Step next to the Ball Carrier. No point taking a riskyish 3+ Leap into a cage that probably has Guard there anyway. Diving Tackle would go well, perhaps Frenzy on one.

If you are taking Leap I'd go for it on Catchers along with Wrestle. Dump Off is a waste and Guard would be far more useful.

[DiddleySquat]

Just one small point I disagree with, is taking Block on your Kicker. I prefer Wrestle for the reason that your Kick player is usually kept deeper in your own half and thus more used as a safety. You'll want Wrestle more than Block to bring down receivers or runners (who will have Block).
Wrestle does leave you open a bit more to fouling, true, but Block leaves you more open to 2nd blocks if the first didn't bring you down. So that's a rather even trade.

[Coach]

I will typically have more than just the Kicker back behind the ball, so I should usually have a choice of players to use. Usually the Kick player will be the least equipped for the job as well, no Tackle or Strip Ball etc.

I can see the argument though, just my preference is for Block. Leaving them open for more Blocks isn't often going to come into play either. You could make the same argument for them getting fouled though!

[DiddleySquat]

Yeah, the 'not open for further blocks' goes for fouls as well so I don't think that's going to make the difference.

The other point is true of course, the Kicker is indeed 1 skill behind other players, so he won't be first pick to bring a runner/receiver down, but sometimes you have little choice, and it's for those dire times that Wrestle can do what Block can't. That tips the scales just in favor of Wrestle, for me personally. Obviously Block is a good choice too.

Edit: The further team composition and the timing of your Kicker skilling up are obviously also factors to include in your decision. In my current Dark Elf team, my first Lineman skilled up from a completion+MVP and got Kick. He then hogged the MVP reward for the next 2 games too and got a 2nd skill before my other linemen got their first. Hence Wrestle on him, since I didn't have a Witch Elf yet, nor any other skilled lineman.