Before we get into the 2005 SFL Draft, let's take a look at who are the most promising rising stars in the SFL. I compiled a roster of the top players under 25 years old heading into the 2005 season. In the previous article, I have delivered the offensive unit. This part now will cover the defensive side of the ball. To make things clear (this is especially for you, Neal) this defensive team will consist of LE, 2 DTs, RE, LOLB, MLB, ROLB, 2 CBs, FS, and SS.
Note:
This roster selection is based on the players production in 2004 season. To be eligible, players must be 24 years old or younger when the new season kicks off.LE Osi Umenyiora | 24 years old | Arizona CardinalsA young sack machine, that's what I would call Umenyiora. The athletically freak defensive end recorded 17 sacks (yeah you read that right SE-VEN-TEEN) last season. In just 2 seasons in the SFL, he has compiled a total of 25 sacks. He is not only a nightmare for opposing QBs but also for the running backs. Last year he also compiled 41 tackles and 8 of those tackles were for minus gains. No wonder why GM Tyler has restructured his contract for long term and he will be in Arizona possibly until he hangs up his cleats unless someone wants to offer a mega deal.
DT Albert Haynesworth | 24 years old | Arizona CardinalsIf the Dolphins got 2 of their youngsters making this All-Under-25 team on the offense, now the Cardinals have 2 of their youngsters making the team on the defense. Haynesworth has been in the league for 3 years now but he spent the first 2 seasons with the Titans where he couldn't find his full potential. Fortunately, the Cardinals saw something in him and wanted his service then traded for him in the 2004 offseason. After that the rest was just history. Albert was a good fit on the Cardinals front seven last year. He exploded by compiling 50 total tackles (6 for loss) and 8 sacks after only recording 36 total tackles (4 for loss) and 3 sacks in 2 seasons in Music City. Maybe he is just not into music, right?
DT Darnell Dockett | 24 years old | Minnesota VikingsIf you look at his stature, you may not see anything too special. But if you ask him to lift up and throw away a 300 lbs something offensive lineman, he will do just that easily. Yup, Dockett most outstanding attribute is his strength and I think that's enough for him to perform on the field. As a rookie defensive tackle who was surprisingly drafted in the third round, he proved that he should have been picked higher than just the third round. Recording 32 tackles (3 for loss), 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery and 9 sacks last season, he should have been been drafted at least on the late first or early second. But that doesn't really matter now. The Vikings found a stud here with very affordable price. I am quite sure he is going to be an important piece for the Vikings defense for many seasons to come.
RE Calvin Pace | 24 years old | Detroit LionsIf you look at Pace's attributes, nothing will really stand out. But sometimes looking good on attributes doesn't always translate on good production on the field. Pace is one supporting example of that statement from other way of perspective; Not really looking good on attributes doesn't always translate on bad production. Last season, he compiled 40 total tackles (7 for a loss), 1 fumble recovery, and 9 sacks. That's quite good for a late third round pick in 2003 SFL Draft.
LOLB Alex Lewis | 24 years old | New Orleans SaintsMost people never expect a player drafted in the 6th round would ever make this kind of list. Because the 5th, 6th and 7th rounds are considered mostly for players picked as roster fillers or backups. However that's not the case here on Saints young linebacker, Alex Lewis. Drafted by the Saints with the 170th pick in the 2004 SFL Draft, Lewis has proved all of his doubters wrong for not picking him in the first 5 rounds when they had the chance. This 6-foot 227 undersized linebacker racked up 66 total tackles (6 for loss), 1 fumble recovery, 7 sacks, and 1 pass deflections while only allowing 7 catches in his rookie season last year. The Saints fans must have fallen in love with him now. Who doesn't love an underdog story, right?
MLB Landon Johnson | 24 years old | Philadelphia EaglesRecording 100 plus in your first season in a professional league is no joke by any measure. Yup, Johnson compiled 100 plus (109 to be exact) total tackles (8 for loss), 2 sacks, 1 forced fumbles, 2 interceptions, 5 pass deflections, and only 9 catches allowed. No wonder Johnson won the voting for the 2004 Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. It's been the second year in a row a MLB won this award. So if you are thirsty for awards and want to increase your chance to winning one, this is a free advice for you all: Draft a MLB!
ROLB Richard Seigler | 24 years old | Seattle SeahawksSeigler might be one of the few good things happened for the Seahawks last season (beside beating the Falcons in the last regular season game and caused them missing the playoffs #d**n you, Seattle SeaRock! LOL. JK). A second round rookie, Seigler quickly turned into one of the most prospective youngsters on the defense in the league. Recording 84 tackles (7 for loss), 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 1 interception, 6 pass deflections, and only 7 catches allowed from ROLB position shows that he is a real deal.
CB Lito Sheppard | 24 years old | Detroit LionsSheppard may not have top end speed or height as a cornerback. However his football IQ is remarkable (already 86 AWR in just 3 seasons, he'll surely reach 90 AWR in no time) and that's an important feature in a league with lots of bigger but slower pass catchers. In a struggling Lions team, he became one little shiny light on their defense last season with his 7 interceptions (he returned 2 of those 7 interceptions for touchdowns). Even though he allowed 36 catches for every pass thrown his way, he still managed to deflect 24 of those throws. That means .54 completion ratio for passes thrown to his way. That's pretty impressive considering his only 5'10" stature.
CB Charles Tillman | 24 years old | Jacksonville JaguarsTillman checks all the boxes you want for a shutdown corner. At 6'1'' 207 lbs, he won't have too much trouble if going up against a big wide receiver. That ideal stature is complemented with enough speed and quickness. The only thing that needs improvement is his football IQ, which I am sure won't be hard (already at 70 AWR in just 2 seasons) as long as he keeps playing and stay healthy. Even though he took a dip in his production for tackles and pass deflections from his rookie season compared to last season, his interceptions number increased from 4 to 6. That's why I think he is going to be a more impactful player this upcoming season for an improved Jaguars team.
FS Ken Hamlin | 24 years old | San Diego ChargersHamlin is another low round draftee who made this list due to his big impact for his team. He consistently amassed 60 plus tackles in back to back seasons. Last year, he recorded 66 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 3 pass deflections and only 7 catches allowed. That's impressive set of numbers considering he was drafted in the fifth round of 2003 SFL Draft by the Bolts. This upcoming season I am quite sure he is going to continue his impressive performance because he got the physicality for a free safety job.
SS Troy Polamalu | 24 years old | St. Louis RamsTroy "the Little Human Hammer" Polamalu has proved to us at least for the last two seasons that speed and size are not that really important features if you play as a strong safety as long as you got a BIG heart (in this case Polamalu's 90 TAK and 75 AWR) for collisions. In just 2 seasons in the league, he racked 164 total tackles, 79 of those were for last season. He also forced 4 fumbles in 2004 which made me nicknaming him The Little Human Hammer. Kinda sound scary but cute, huh?!!
This concludes the second part of my roster selection for rising stars on the defense for 2005 SFL All-Under-25 Team. The third and would be the last part will cover the rising stars in each position on special teams. If you have any comments, thoughts or suggestions, please leave those below.
