2003 SMFL Pre-draft ?Top-3? Per Position
It?s the first draft of the Smash Mouth Football League! Each year going forward, I will try to prduce an opinion piece regarding which players available in the draft I feel are the top prospects at their position. Please feel free to share your opinions in the comments, I would love to see how your opinions differ! But please remember, every person is entitled to their opinion. My opinions are mine, your?s are your?s, so when sharing, please just try not to be a dick in the ensuing discussion, and respect others! It is okay to disagree, it is not okay to bully someone because you think they are wrong.
I have taken into account what I deem the 3 most important attributes at each position, and used them to rank my top 3 prospects and WHY I believe them to be the top prospects.
Because awareness is such an important attribute to the majority of positions, I have excluded it in any of the 3 most important attributes because I have assumed it to be attribute #1 in each circumstance, and is essentially just a given. I have also weighted non-progressible attributes a little heavier due to not being able to increase them. Most, if not all GMs would agree to this as well, but there might still be some that do not. Clearly if a progressible stat is so far ahead of the rest that it makes the player more startable right out of the draft, I have weighed and considered that into my final analysys.
Quarterbacks
When looking for a quarterback I believe the most important attributes are 1. THP, because it is a non-progressible attribute, meeting the minimum is important when drafting a QB. 2. THA, as a progressible attribute, it can be much lower than the minimum to start, but too low, and it will take far too long to make him a game-ready QB. 3. INJ, this one might get overlooked for some other attributes, but the only argument I believe I need is this, how many hopeful/good/great seasons were lost because of a quarterback going down? In a competitive league, a starting caliber quarterback is much harder to replace than any other position.
1. Carson Palmer ? Carson Palmer should be the number one pick in this draft. He has every tool to be a starter right now. And anyone not using the number one overall pick on him is wasting a lot of value. His 6?4? and 237 pound fram is ideal for a starting quarterback, and his stat line blows away most of the league, and even some of the top veteran QBs in the league. His 76 AWR leads the entire class, and only one other prospect is even within stiking distance given a perfect 6 point swing on the skew. That impresses me quite a bit. His arm also comes packing the kung fu grip, given that his 97 THP and 90 THA are the best combination in the class. His only real drawback is his athleticsm. He is very immobile, and does not look like he is capable of using his legs to help avoid sacks. While you want to see your passer as a ?balanced? or ?pocket? passer, Carson Palmer does not look like he could out run a defensive line made of popwarner players.
2. Rex Grossman ? While some might think I picked Rex Grossman over Byron Leftwich for my second choice because of his potential 99 THP arm, that is not it, and I am not actually a fan of it. I would rather have Leftwich?s 92 THP/92 THA combo, both are more than adequate in my opinion, but I like Grossman?s STA and INJ ratings better, and think he just edges out Leftwich for it.
3. Byron Leftwich ? Byron Leftwich is quite literally a giant. He stands at 6?6? and 240 pounds, and his mobility is even less than Palmer. However, his necessary quarterback chops are very apparent! He is clearly capable with his 92 THP and 92 THA arm, and is starting caliber the minute he is drafted, which should be fairly quickly?.. rumor has it he will go second overall. His 66 AWR is high for the class, but low for a starting QB. The hard part is, he will not gain too many progress points if you do not start him. So he is perfect for a rebuilding team that might not need a bonfide stud just yet, so that they can let him mature a bit. Luckily, with that arm, every point he earns can be dropped on his AWR, and his arm can be left alone.
4. Honorable Mentions ? Kyle Boller ? I want to say that Kyler Boller might be the steal of the first round. By my measurements, he is outside of the top 3, and he might drop to the mid-late first round. His 72 AWR is second in the draft class, and his 88 THP and 84 THA combo is a great start. His THP is within striking distance of the 90 point mark I personally look for, and the 84 THA is still better than many starting QBs around the league, and is obviously progressible. He is also a little quicker on his feet, which might help him stay mobile in the pocket. With a favorable skew, he might be the deal of a century for a team outside the top 10. Then again, the league is pretty QB needy, and he just might jump up further than expected.
Running Backs
Running backs are difficult to assess. It is hard to narrow them down to just 3 attributes because they don?t have to be fast to be successful, but it helps. They also don?t have to have a high awareness or BTK to see success, and yet all of those stats are important. If I had to pick 3 attributes, I would settle on these, 1. BTK, I personally believe BTK to be important as it allows them to slip between tacklers without getting nabbed. I also realize this is a progressible attribute, but fast or quick running backs with low progressibles are a dime a dozen. 2. ACC, I believe it is more important for a good running back to have that initial burst in order to explode through the gaps then it is for them to have a high SPD. 3. SPD, I chose SPD over AGI or CAR because often times a big bruiser running back isn?t that agile, yet can have success, and if you can?t be touched, you aren?t going to fumble. It really just depends on the makeup of your running back, is he tall, short, a buck 90? Or does he bulldoze right through the linebackers? That?s why I went with BTK, ACC, and SPD; because no matter the makeup of your RB, in my opinion, I believe these attributes are universal.
1. Musa Smith ? To me, this looks like a very weak class of running backs. But I might also be comparing too harshly against my experience in other professional football leagues. Either way, Musa Smith looks like the better of the class. His combination of 74 CAR and 81 BTK are in the upper end of the class, even though they are quite weak. And his 92 SPD and 94 ACC are probably the best combo of anyone with a 60+ STR. Which brings me to Smith?s 81 STR, combined with his 6?0?, 232 pound frame, he is a force to be reckoned with.
2. Willis McGahee ? I think Willis McGahee has the potential to be a solid running back. He will need a little bit of a favorable skew to really reach ?feature back? status, but he is close. Whether that is a risk you are willing to take, that?s up to you, I am probably a negative on that, but definitely worth a private workout if you need a new half back. McGahee has a large frame, at 6?0? and 223 pounds, and an incredible 82 STR. He is not highly mobile with an 89 SPD and 86 AGI, but his 90 ACC checks my minimum. And like I said, a favorable skew could bump all his numbers into elite ranges.
3. Chris Brown ? With a weak class, it was hard to pick a true third option. But I chose Chris Brown because with a perfect 3+ skew on his bolded attributes, he looks like a feature back. Plus his 88 STR can not go beloew an 83, which is insane.
4. Honorable Mention ? Quentin Griffin ? Picking a third was hard enough, so I am surprised I even had an option for an honorable mention. But Quentin Griffin has an incredible line of 94 SPD, 96 AGI, and 92 ACC, combined with an 87 KR. So that is it, if you need some help on special teams, Griffin might be worth a later round pick, or just a quick depth player.
Full Backs
Fullbacks are essential to an offense, but are sometimes overlooked. They have a very limited purpose, and so they sometimes get pushed to the wayside, but they are a tremendous help in a team?s running game. A full back?s bolded attributes highlight the offensive capabilities, but that?s not entirely how I view a full back. A full back gets maybe 2 carries a game, so unless you?re playing him as your 3rd down back, his bolded attributes are misleading. I believe that a full back?s 3 most important attributes are his ACC and SPD, but third I?d say the combination of his PBK/RBK stats. 1. ACC, this time around I actually swapped SPD and ACC, because as I read my own description, I determined that going back to the blocking capabilities, a full back needs to get in front of either a QB or HB quickly, and therefore needs ACC. I also believe that ACC helps in the PBK, because it creates momentum or power in small spaces. As for the RBK, he needs to get out in front very quickly in order to make holes for the running back. 2. SPD, because a full back blocks for your running back, I have come to the conclusion that their SPD needs to be high enough so that he does not get run over by your running back. 3. PBK/RBK, because this is what I believe he does most. While most full backs rack up 30-45 carries a season, they also rack up that many pancakes. So while every carry counts to that tally, not every block is a pancake, which means he blocks far more than he carries.
1. None ? I honestly could not recommend any full backs in this draft unless you desparately needed someone to fill out your roster. I also checked other half backs and tight ends for potential candidates to position change, and did not find anyone satisfactory.
Wide Receivers
Wide receivers are very straight forward, find the best combination of Height, SPD, ACC, AGI, and CTH. A lot of people prize height above all else along with JMP, and while I agree that the taller a wide receiver is, the bigger his catch radius is, and can over shadow smaller corner backs, I disagree on the JMP. I disagree because of several conversations I have read or have been a part of, where people came to the conclusion that wide receivers do not go up after the ball, rendering the JMP attribute a little meaningless. I believe the most important attributes are 1. SPD, because if a wide receiver can push past the defensive backs, he becomes an open target down field. 2. ACC, working in tandem with SPD, getting that quick jump on the defensive back is key, it can create space and ultimately make for an easier catch. 3. CTH, the higher the CTH, the less drops, the more opportunities to score, it?s as simple as that for me.
1. Andre Johnson ? Andre Johnson is a clear cut top wide out in the class, and arguably a top pick in the draft. And as I said in my opening description, he also possessess a stat that is so incredibly high for the class in his 85 CTH, that while his 93 SPD, 94 AGI, and 92 ACC is slightly less than a few other prospects, he is still clearly the best choice. He also is 6?2? and 230 pounds, with high STR and BTK for a wide receiver, which I am sure will make him incredibly hard to drag down. Finishing off his stat line with a 69 AWR and a 96 JMP (some value that, some do not), he is making a stellar case for being a top 5 pick.
2. Tyrone Calico ? Another towering wide receiver in Tyrone Calico, standing 6?3? and 223 pounds. Calico however does not possess the STR that Johnson does. He is however a point faster on his SPD, sitting at 94. His AWR is nowhere near Johnson?s, but his 79 CTH ranks pretty high among the other class memebers, and is arguably the second best wide receiver available. His 94 SPD, 93 AGI, and 92 ACC stat line will no doubtably get him drafted in the first round, I would expect somewhere in the 15th-20th pick range.
3. David Tyree ? I really like David Tyree for my third pick. There are a few others that made a good case for this spot, but Tyree might have the best athletic stats with a line of 93 SPD, 93 AGI, and 96 ACC, all at a 6?1?, 197 pound frame. His 57 AWR and 71 CTH are a little low at first glance, but pretty much on par for the class. He will definitely make a case for a first round pick.
4. Honorable Mention ? Anquan Boldin ? Anquan Boldin was definitely in the discussion for my third choice, with his 71 AWR and 76 CTH, he is just about play ready for a team in need. His 93 SPD is very good, but his 88 AGI and 91 ACC are a little low to make my top 3, but certainly not low enough to not be considered. Should be a decent pick, I would expect a late first to early second to be excellent value for him. But again, in a needy league, someone might reach for him, especially with a favorable skew.
Tight Ends
Tight ends for me a little tough. I?m not quite sure what to expect of them. They can be played as a receiver, so do you go for SPD, ACC, and CTH like a receiver? Or, since the other duties of a tight end include backfield blocking, and since most teams don?t carry more than 1 full back, they often fill in at the full back position, do you target STR and blocking capabilities? Or lastly, at their specified position of tight end, where they do a little of both, do you just try to find someone that offers good stats across the board, and sacrifice excellent stats at either end? Because of this, I don?t feel I can narrow it down to only 3 top attributes, and so I will just rank my favorite 3, and express my reasons.
1. None ? Again like the full backs, I do not see anyone I am impressed with enough to even suggest drafting one unless you need the cheap depth to fill out your roster.
Offensive Tackles (Outside Linemen)
Offensive tackles are big and burly, but I like mine to also be mobile so they can help direct defensive ends out and around instead of being pushed backwards and collapsing on their own quarterback. For offensive tackles, I prioritize 1. STR, first and foremost, I like my entire offensive line to be 90+ STR in order to deal with any powerful defensive linemen. 2. AGI, as I said, I feel AGI is more important here. I don?t know how ACC is affected in lateral movement, but more often than not, offensive tackles aren?t moving forward, and so I feel AGI out ranks ACC. And 3. Combined PBK/RBK, I don?t think you can prioritize one over the other if you want a legitimate offensive line, he needs to be able to block for your passing game as well as for your running game.
1. Brett Williams ? I know his 54 AWR is low to deal with, but his athleticsm is unrivaled! His 77 AGI is higher than most other?s ACC or any other relevant mobility stat. His 93 STR is also at the top of this class, only behind Pasho?s 94 STR. Brett Williams also has an 81 PBK and 87 RBK, making him very nearly ready to be dropped into anyone?s lineup as a starter. He could arguably become the best lineman in the game after a little rookie plus playing progression.
2. Jordan Gross ? Jordan Gross is arguably the most game ready player on the offensive line. His 62 SPD, 91 STR, 60 AGI, and 71 ACC check all the boxes for me, plus his 68 AWR and combination of 86 PBK and 89 RBK, he will be starting on day 1 for whoever snags him in the first round. I know I would. Last thought on Gross, his 85 STA and 88 INJ are good enough that I would expect him to be able to play every down, all season long, season after season.
3. Kwame Harris ? Kwame Harris is another highly athletic talent in this draft. His 64 SPD, 71 AGI, and 71 ACC make him ideal in my eyes to be sitting on the outside of my offensive line. His 91 STR also sits where I like it, along with his game ready blocking stats at 84 PBK and 85 RBK. His biggest drawback is his 58 AWR. I still see him as a top prospect, and probably a late first round pick, but his athleticsm is not quite as freaky as Williams?, and he is not as game smart as Gross.
4. Honorable Mention ? Courtney Van Buren ? Courtney Van Buren is absolutely massive. He is 6?5? and 350 pounds. With that kind of body you would think he would be slower, much much slower, but he is not. His 67 SPD ranks in the top 3 in the class, his 69 AGI ranks top 4, and lastly his 73 ACC is top 5. If you forget about the athletic freak Williams, Van Buren?s stats are only a couple points back in all catagories.
Offensive Guards + Centers (Inside Linemen)
For offensive guards I have had some discussions as to what a guard actually needs in order to be effective. Continuing with the theme of STR, my top attribute is again, 1. STR. Now that we are on to the guard position, STR is needed more than ever because they have to deal with the defensive tackles instead of the typically weaker defensive ends. 2. ACC, this is where the change comes in, instead of needing AGI to direct defensive ends laterally around the outside, I believe the guards need to drive the defensive tackles back in order to prevent the pocket from collapsing. Leaving 3. PBK/RBK, for obvious reasons.
1. LG ? Kris Dielman ? The interior lineman were a little more difficult to decide on, as they were not as good as the exterior lineman, but Kris Dielman definitely stuck out to me. His 60 SPD and 91 STR are hitting the minimums for me, but his 66 AGI and 71 ACC are looking really good for the draft class. His 65 AWR and 82 PBK and 81 RBK definitely put him in discussion for first guard taken in the draft.
2. C ? Ryan Pontbriand ? Definitely an athletic freak, Ryan Pontbriand has some great stats. His 69 SPD, 68 AGI, and 80 ACC are fantastic, combined with his 93 STR, he is the best center in the draft. However, he has 2 glaring faults that I can see. His 51 AWR is rough, and will take a long time to bring up to a playable level, and then there is his awkwardly small frame, at 6?2? and only 255 pounds. This kid could use a few good meals to put some meat on his bones.
3. Reggie Wells ? With a weaker class of offensive guards, Reggie Wells is my third pick. His 71 PBK and 68 RBK are insanely low, but his 67 SPD, 93 STR, 62 AWR, 70 AGI, and 76 ACC are incredible. I would be interested to see if his blocking stats skew up. If they do, he could be an awesome pick in the later rounds. And might I just say, draft gem?? Those bolded blocking stats could take a huge leap.
Left Defensive Ends
Left and right defensive ends require different sets of skills, and so I have separated them for the sake of discussion. Left defensive ends tend to be the faster sack-getters, and so their most important attributes in my opinion should be 1. SPD, this ultimately is what allows them to get out and around offensive tackles, so the faster the better. 2. ACC, that first step is crucial to beating offensive tackles off the line. And 3. AGI, because again, it is all about getting by that offensive tackle. TAK is very arguably important, but I say that it?s not as important than SPD, ACC, and AGI, because at the very least, if you can get by the tackle, you can rush the quarterback, and force him to rush or make a mistake. Sacks are great, tackling is great, but you can?t do either if you can?t get past the O-Line.
*Due to being a new league, the players are more similar to the real NFL instead of previous Madden Leagues such as the MFL and NAFL, where they made a bit of a flip flop from left to right, and vice versa. So I will pull from the opposite side of Defensive Ends for this years? ?Top 3? piece.
1. Tyler Brayton ? Tyler Brayton looks like the most complete defensive end for the left side?..from the right side?.??? It is a confusing time, with people transitioning all over?.Either way, Brayton has some incredible athleticsm, with an 84 SPD, 80 AGI, and 83 ACC, he has great potential to be an absolute speed demon on the defensive line. His 68 STR is very low, but I think it can be passable for the weaker side, given how quick he is. He also has one of the highest AWR at 67, but that has been called into question recently by a few who believe AWR does not matter so much on the defensive line, or at least for Defensive Tackles. I believe it still matters, maybe less than for other positions, but I will still prioritize Brayton?s 67 AWR over the next two picks? AWR.
2. Ty Warren ? Ty Warren might be the most interesting pick at defensive end. His STR is good for a speedy defensive end, but for his 300 pound size, it is abnormally low. His 86 SPD and 84 ACC are also incredibly high for his size! I would not be surprised to see at least his SPD skew down. But if it does not, he could be the fast big man in the game. I will definitely be following him after the draft.
3. Osi Umenyiora ? Osi Umenyiora is another ?dumb? defensive end with a 43 AWR, but his athleticsm is undeniable. Comparing his 78 SPD to his 89 ACC (guaranteed 86 minimum), I would venture to say that his SPD skews up. Definitely worth a private workout, given his 88 STR as well. He is not quite big enough to position change to defensive tackle, but he will be a game changer for someone on the defensive line.
4. Honorable Mention ? Jerome McDougle ? Jerome McDougle gets the honorable mention here because of his 83 STR. His 76 SPD and 80 ACC look on the higher side in this young league for a strong side defensive end, whichever side you deem that to be, left or right. So for me, his 83 STR and his mid-ranged athleticsm make him a possible value pick later in the draft!
Right Defensive End
For a right defensive end my priorities are different. SPD and ACC are always good, but here I would prioritize 1. STR, this side matches up with the left offensive tackles, which tends to be the stronger side of the o-line, therefore STR comes first. 2. ACC, when I think of the right side, I think run stopping. I may be wrong, but that?s my current philosophy. Good ACC helps the right defensive end get in position to make the stop. 3. TAK, again, this has to do with run-stopping, and not to do with sacks. A high TAK comes in to play, to allow a RE to wrap up those slippery running backs trying to break out. While hurrying a quarterback might be as effective as sacking the quarterback, if you can?t bring down the half back, hurrying them doesn?t do enough to stop the play.
1. Chris Kelsay ? Chris Kelsay looks like a great strong side pick. His 90 STR leads the draft class, he has great size at 6?4? and 273 pounds, and possesses decent athleticsm. His 72 SPD should be higher than most offensive lineman he will face, and his 77 ACC will surely be higher. I also really like his 65 AWR, as it sits second in the draft class by a fair margin.
2. Terrell Suggs ? Terrell Suggs is probably the most play ready defensive end in the draft class. He is on the slow side though at a 68 SPD, and 64 AGI, but he has a class leading 72 AWR and a solid 78 ACC, 82 STR, and 82 TAK, provided you are looking for a strong side defensive end.
3. Robert Mathis ? Robert Mathis almost made my second pick with his 90 STR and 70+ SPD, AGI, and ACC. He is very well balanced and definitely grabs some attention. The reason he dropped on my list is his size. He is only 6?2? and 235 pounds. I do not know how a player?s weight affects their abilities and performance on the field. I am definitely curious to see how such a light and small defensive end handles playing with the big boys.
Defensive Tackles
With a similar job to the right defensive ends, only bigger, defensive tackles should prioritize 1. STR, because they need to be able to content with the high STR of the offensive linemen. 2. ACC, again in order to counter the offensive linemen, and force the collapse of the pocket. And 3. TAK, because as the running backs come through, a stout defensive line could drag anything to the ground.
1. Ian Scott ? I do not even have Ian Scott targeted on my own personal list, as I feel a couple of his stats are quite low, but given the theory of low AWR DTs doing well, he is right up there with the best of them. He has the girth at 312 pounds, and his 88 STR is high enough to be within striking distance of that 90 STR I look for. His 62 SPD and 76 ACC also look really good to me. If I needed a new defensive tackle, Ian Scott would probably top my list.
2. Cory Redding ? Cory Redding is a bit small to be a defensive tackle at only 279 pounds, but I would be inclined to move him to the strong side defensive end. His 68 SPD, 78 AGI, and 79 ACC would make him an ideal defensive end! His 86 STR would be well suited there as well, and even considered impressive. My biggest concern would be his 50 AWR and 66 TAK. While both are progressible, they are almost painfully low.
3. Jimmy Kennedy ? Jimmy Kennedy looks very play ready by my standards. He has a 60+ SPD and close to the 70+ ACC I am looking for in a defensive end. A good skew will go a long way on Kennedy as he is so close to surpassing all my minimum stats. He also has a high awareness at 73 AWR, and a 76 TAK, making him startable right away.
4. Honorable Mention ? Anthony Adams ? Anthony Adams is not far off from being good, which is why I am giving him an honorable mention. He has the size at 299 pounds, the athleticsm at 69 SPD, 69 AGI, 73 ACC, and a very usable 75 TAK and 69 AWR. Arguably, he might be one of the best options in the draft class in general! But his 84 STR is quite low for a defensive tackle. His athleticsm is below average to be moved outside, but if he happens to get a favorable skew on his STR, and it goes up to an 87, he should be highly considered for the top slot.
Linebackers
Whether you?re looking for the inside or outside position, 3 things come to mind, how fast they are, how strong they are, and how effective they are in taking an opponent down. The leads me to my top 3 attributes I look for, 1. SPD, undoubtedly SPD has to be the number one factor. Without enough SPD, a linebacker will either be ineffective in covering the slot area, or shutting down a running back. 2. ACC, it goes hand in hand with SPD, and is crucial to plug holes or for an outside linebacker to be able to shoot through gaps, getting those precious tackles and sacks you pay him for. 3. STR, this was a toss up between TAK and STR. I find them similar, but as STR probably lends to actual tackling, and TAK being progressible, unless there?s a huge discrepancy in the draft prospect?s TAK, I?ll take STR.
MLB
1. E.J. Henderson ? E.J. Henderson might be the best physical specimen at his given position. His 85 SPD, 80 STR, 88 AGI, and 88 ACC, if they stand through the skew, might be the best combination of any player compared to the rest of the players in the league at his position. (aside from those ?all stars? that are completely over powered for our fresh, low-level league) If I were a betting man, which I am, I would bet that Henderson goes in the top 10. On a last note, his 87 TAK is insanely high, and I almost overlooked it just because I am so blown away by his other stats.
2. Angelo Crowell ? Angelo Crowell is no slouch at the middle linebacker position. He has some serious chops, but pre skew, he gets over shadowed. My bet is he is another first round player. His 85 SPD, 81 STR, 85 AGI, and 85 ACC are close enough that he could take the top spot from Henderson if he skews up and Henderson skews down. The biggest discrepancy is the -14 TAK, sitting at 73 for Crowell, which I believe is what would cause Crowell to remain in second for middle linebackers.
3. Nick Barnett ? Nick Barnett would put most veterans to shame in this young league. His 81 SPD, 76 STR, 76 AWR, 86 AGI, 83 ACC, and 95 TAK looks like a 10 year veteran?s stat line. His athleticsm is lower than Henderson and Crowell?s, but that AWR and TAK are so insane, it blows my mind. I really do not have much else to say about Barnett, he is a game ready talent, and if he is not starting on 2003?s day one, you are wasting his talent. And I would belligerently argue that to the point of exhaustion.
4. Honorable Mention ? Terry Pierce ? Terry Pierce looks like a super solid pick for middle linebacker. His athleticsm is very apparent, with an 83 SPD, 80 AGI, and 84 ACC, but his low 66 STR is a tough pill to swallow. His 65 AWR and 78 TAK are also very high for a rookie prospect. But that STR, it will definitely make Pierce drop in the draft. I think he will hold good value for someone in the second round.
ROLB
1. Alonzo Jackson ? Alonzo Jackson is an absolute beast. His 6?4? 266 pound frame alone will make him an absolute monster behind the defensive line. His 83 SPD, 83 AGI, and 87 ACC show him to be extremely mobile, I would almost be inclined to play him on the left side, where I typically put my faster outside linebacker. His 82 STR makes me want him on the right, but if I were already set with a big, strong, and mobile linebacker there, I would play Jackson on that left side, and watch him tear up offensive lines and probably kill quarterbacks. Good luck to anyone who does not draft him. Double good luck to those who are lucky to face him twice a season. (Not me, not me, not me?.)
2. Bradie James ? Bradie James has some very good qualities, and one big negative one. His 86 SPD and 78 STR are very good to see, but hi 80 ACC is kind of a big deal. His 62 AWR and 82 AGI, along with his 79 TAK are all very decent stats for a young prospect, so I would still expect a decent draft pick for him.
3. Antwan Peek ? Antwan Peek is a little on the smaller side, but he still possesses a good skill set. His 84 STR is certainly his best stat, but his 78 SPD and 81 ACC are not too bad either. Honestly I feel like it is a little bit of a stretch to put him on my top 3, but I am not too impressed with the class of right outside linebackers in this draft to begin with.
LOLB
1. Eddie Moore ? The left outside linebackers in this class do not get much better, but Eddie Moore looks decent. He is not as impressive, I would still expect a round one draft for him, but probably much later in the first, maybe even early second. His 82 SPD, 82 AGI, and 84 ACC are all really solid athletic stats, but not really above average. His 78 STR and 78 TAK though help round out Moore as a quality player.
2. Pisa Tinoisamoa ? Pisa Tinoisamoa is more or less the same story as Moore. He is a well rounded player without any glaring holes, but he is still nothing to move up for. His 82 SPD, 75 STR, 80 AGI, and 82 ACC keep him a small step behind Moore, but his extra point of TAK and his extra 12 AWR points make me feel like he is the better option to start right away, but you can not replace those missing non-progressibles.
3. Hunter Hillenmeyer ? Again harping on the weak draft class, Hunter Hillenmeyer does have several holes in his game. His good stats are his 84 SPD and 82 ACC, so he has the basics, even his 70 STR is hitting the minimum for me on the weak side linebacker, but his 74 AGI is quite low, as is his 47 AWR.
4. Honorable Mention ? Boss Bailey ? Boss Bailey gets the nod here for honorable mention because I think he would be a good candidate for a position change. His 82 STR puts him in consideration for me to place him on the right side. His 78 SPD also looks a whole lot better over there for me, as well as his 78 AGI. However, his 84 ACC looks just fine anywhere, and his 72 AWR and 76 TAK look great from a progression point of view.
Corner Backs
Arguably the hardest position to fill on the defensive side of the ball, everyone is looking for that ?shut down? corner. People are rarely willing to part with them for less than a first born or at least a first rounder. While a lot of people prioritize height for a corner back, so that they are less likely to be overshadowed by the plethora of tall wide outs, I?m actually okay with my corners being a little shorter. 5?10? is pushing it, that?s definitely a tall nickel, I do like to see at least 5?11?. Of course the taller the better, I just don?t prioritize it. For an extra 2-3 SPD and 2-3 ACC, I would gladly give up 2-3 inches of height. So, other attributes that I prioritize for corners are 1. SPD, obviously. Corners have to be able to keep up with the likes of receivers that commonly push 95+ SPD. 2. ACC, again, gotta keep up. Every team has at least that one receiver that has explosive SPD and ACC, and if you allow a separation, it will not be good for your cornerback. 3. CTH/TAK, this might be a copout to the ?3 most important attributes? parameters I set at the start, but because corner backs are arguably the most important defensive position, I can?t skip on important attributes. With that said, I can?t stress enough the importance of AWR either?..and it?s getting old, but also AGI and JMP, because corners have been known to go up to get the ball for an interception?.it?s no wonder it takes so much to pry a good corner away from someone.
1. Marcus Trufant ? In my mind, Marcus Trufant is the clear cut best corner back in this draft class. While some only like corner backs above the 6 foot mark, I do not mind a 5?11? and maybe even a 5?10? corner on my roster. 5?9? might be a little short outside, but are usually easier to find with impressive skills, and end up making great nickel corner backs. Getting on with my point, Marcus Trufant is only 5?11?, but his skill set looks fantastic. His 95 SPD, 88 AGI, and 96 ACC look like the best combination in the draft class. He also has a 65 AWR, which is not the best in the class, but certainly top 5. There is no argument in my mind that AWR is not important for a good ball hawk. Trufant also possesses a solid 91 STA which means he should spend most his time on the field doing what he does best, and not resting every other play.
2. Terence Newman ? I feel like Terence Newman will turn out better than some of the other corner backs in this draft class. Most are surprisingly low on AGI, but Newman has a 90 AGI, which may not seem high, until you look at the rest of the class. There are only a few that have a 90+ SPD, AGI, and ACC, who are not 5?9?. Newman also has the second best AWR at 68, which will help him right away in this corner back needy league.
3. Nnamdi Asomugha ? I do not necessarily think Nnamdi Asomugha deserves to be in the top 3 this year, but I know the majority of the league like their corner backs as tall as possible, and Asomugha stands at 6?2?, nearly the tallest in the class. But he also has the athletic ability to at least argue for it. His 91 SPD, 94 AGI, and 92 ACC is a super solid stat line, combined with his extra 3-4 inches of height, I will concede that he at least is not out of place on my top 3, even if not inarguably.
4. Honorable Mention ? Charles Tillman ? Charles Tillman has some points I really like. His 93 SPD and 95 AGI look great to me, while his 90 ACC seems a little slow, I want to say it skews up because of the SPD and AGI. But that is just speculation. However, given rookie and sophomore progression, if his ACC does not skew down, a 92 ACC would be pretty acceptable! In addition to all that, his 6?1? 207 pound frame is ideal, and his 66 CTH is great for a rookie, but that 52 AWR would be roughto progress.
Safeties
Safeties are a simple position, 1. SPD. 2. ACC. 3. CTH or TAK, depending on whether they?re a free safety or strong safety. Safeties are really a Plan-C kind of position, or the full back of the defensive side of the ball. They?re not the first choice to make the play, but they hit like a tank. The way I look at a Strong Safety is that they are the first check-point between the linebackers and the cornerbacks. They hit hard, and so I prioritize TAK, while the Free Safety is the second check-point, so they are a little smaller, and act more like a defensive back instead of a tackler, and so I lean towards CTH.
FS
1. Bryan Scott ? This is an incredibly weak class for free safeties, but maybe my expectations are a little high because of previous experiences. Either way, Bryan Scott is an incredible player! 91 SPD, 97 AGI, and 95 ACC will surely make him the top prospect. However, the downside is that you will have to deal with his subpar 52 STR, 54 CTH, and 41 AWR.
2. Quintin Mikell ? Quintin Mikell is the only other free safety I would recommend in this draft class, and even then I would recommend that he be changed to a strong safety. His 90 SPD, 86 AGI, and 89 ACC in turn look a little better at that point, as does his 72 TAK, but his 48 STR seems low no matter where you would play him.
SS
1. Mike Doss ? Mike Doss is every bit the stud that every one else is not. He is a little on the shorter side at only 5?10?, but he is 207 pounds and has a 67 STR. Combined that with his athletic stat line of 90 SPD, 95 AGI, and 92 ACC, and he is clearly the top pick for either free safety or strong safety. To solidify that statement, he also has a 71 AWR, and a 74 TAK and 69 CTH, meaning he could definitely play either.
2. Troy Polamalu ? Troy Polamalu might be a wildcard here, and some may disagree with me, but if his SPD skews up from his current 81 SPD, he will be an absolute stud. Currently his 81 SPD is his biggest weakness, but his 73 STR and 73 AWR are class leading for strong safeties, and his 86 AGI and 86 ACC make him no slouch. His 51 CTH is low, but his 77 TAK means he is ready to hit like a freight train.
Kickers & Punters (The ?Rock Special?)
There are only 2 things you need to know about a kicker or punter, 1. KPW, how hard can he kick, and 2. KAC, will he miss the broad side of a barn?
Kickers
1. Aaron Elling ? With only 3 kickers in this draft, it was not hard to pick a top 3?.but really, all 3 kickers look like they have the potential to start. Aaron Elling has the weaker leg, but since they are only spread out by a difference of 2 points, after the skew, who knows who will sit atop that honor. Elling does however possess the highest KAC at 89, and that?ll help him be the first kicker drafted.
2. Seth Marler ? Seth Marler takes the second spot purely out of speculation that his 92 KPW will remain higher than Elling or Brown.
3. Josh Brown ? I have nothing to say at this point. Third spot by default!
Punters
1. Derrick Frost ? Derrick Frost gets the nod here over Johnson because of his extra 4 points of KAC. Again with the KPW of the top 3 punters in the draft class being within a couple points, having the higher KAC at 86 makes him my top pick.
2. Eddie Johnson ? Eddie Johnson has an extra point of KPW, but 4 less KAC than either Frost or Scifres, however Scifres is down 2 points of KPW from Johnson, so that is where I make my decision, Johnson over Scifres.
3. Mike Scifres ? Again by almost by default. Mat McBriar has a much weaker leg, and less accuracy than most of the others.
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