When I take over a new team (without the ability to trade for 30 days) I will assess many factors but look generally for a major over haul. With a focus of pressure defense. Though some teams i take have the pieces for playoff contention and I will tweak the current game plan a little and hope for luck.
Allocation draft is a whole different story. I enjoyed spending alot of time then, but did only one. That team was stacked I still do not know why I quit. I think I missed signings one year and AI draft.
Right now. There is big changes in the near future with QB and sacks so I am waiting for a possible release date there before I get another team.
Really in like an hour or less I can send a new team in one of those directions with everything set , except rules and overrides I use none. But once created I see them easily applied. Note I avoid teams with cap problems or missing draft picks.
Throughout the season I assess injuries and play trends but I apply little tweaks to the gameplan. Which is generally the same for all situations ( down/ yards/ time) until my team is fully learned of my gameplans do I really start expanding play knowledge and specialized gameplans.
That takes time, but is one difference between having and not having a championship ring. What do I know as I have none, but I do not shy away from divisions with the top gamers and learn the hard way.
But 5 minutes a day on a team a day is good enough for me in the regular season. Though sometimes I watch big games and I try to watch all the games in MFN 1. That takes time but I watch it on a little faster. To me the game is that fast anyway.
If I am occupied elsewhere for a long period, which I had a few, my teams sometimes did better on auto pilot. Not the drafts though. Missing a draft is rough for me. I spend most time there, if I can. Or in the forums.