Smashmouth Football League Articles

2008 SFL Draft Class Top 3
By Nathan Jones
Special to sfl-football.com

2008 SFL Pre-draft ?Top-3? Per Position

Welcome to 2008. I say this as the reigning champion, so I have some sort of authority, because I won it all last year. In case you hadn?t heard. I put together a team, I knew they?d be great, ask anyone, they all knew it. I knew my team would beat all the other teams, and not by a small amount, it was going to be by a YUUUUGE amount. ?.Ask anybody?
On that note, I apologize for getting this up late, my work is restructuring things, and my parents made an impromptu trip, life has been crazy.
The 2008 class is a bit weaker than any other class we?ve seen as of late, but thats a good thing. If every class was full of Pro-Bowlers, we?d see all of our positional expectations inflate like they were for the MFL or NAFL. We have unrealistic expectations, I feel. This class helps bring us back down to reality a bit. Alright, lets get into it?.

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-progressable attributes a little heavier due to not being able to increase them. Most, if not all GMs would agree to this as well.

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. Erik Ainge ? I feel like this is the strongest QB class ever in the Smashmouth Football League. I could not pick just 3 options, but I did manage to at least organize them, after a little bit of a debate with myself.
My top pick ended up being Erik Ainge, and I?ll tell you why. I picked 7 different QBs that made my list, they all have a 90+ THP, decent THA, and AWR in the 65-69 range. Erik Ainge I felt has the best combination of them, with a 97 THP, 85 THA, and a 66 AWR. He also has a respectable 88 STA and 85 INJ that will keep him on the field full time. My second pick did come close, but Ainge standing at 6?5? really won out with his stature.
2. Brian Brohm ? Brian Brohm gave Ainge a run for his money, but he?s 3 inches shorter, and his 77 INJ threw up a red flag. I wouldn?t say he?s not worth drafting, He looks great, but his added 90 THA didn?t outweigh the drop from an 85 down to a 77 INJ. Brohm should definitely be a first rounder though, but in such a deep class, I would expect him to be a later first.
3. John David Booty ? John David Booty could be identical to Brian Brohm. Both standing 6?2?, and depending on the skew, could have identical stats. If you?re in the market for a QB, running Private Workouts on both is an absolute must to see who actually ends up on top.
4. Honorable Mentions ? Chad Henne ? Chad Henne might be the steal here, if he potentially skews up, he is close enough to be a top pick. The reason he slips further back on my list is his 82 STA. I don?t know how much that will affect a QB being able to stay on the field an entire game. My guess is that it?s not a huge deal, but something to think about.
5. Honorable Mentions ? Andre Woodson ? Another solid pick, Woodson could be a first rounder in any previous draft, but this draft, he likely drops to the second round. His 69 AWR is potentially class leading, and if you believe as I do that AWR and THA both need to be improved and meet certain minimums before being starter-worthy, then his 77 THA doesn?t look so bad. He?s up 4ish points on the AWR, down 8 points on the THA, it?s an okay trade off. Definitely worth a consideration for a QB needy team.
6. Honorable Mentions ? Matt Ryan ? I would say with a good skew, Matt Ryan could actually slide up this list. His 61 AWR isn?t bad, and only about 4 points behind the rest of my picks, but his 93 THA is up 8 points, so again, it?s a decent tradeoff. If his 88 THP somehow skews up to 90-91, he?s a great option. What is also interesting here, if you?re able to send him to Training Camp, having a 93 THA would mean his THP could actually see a bump.
7. Honorable Mentions ? Joe Flacco ? I think a lot of people expected Joe Flacco to look a little better than he does, but I don?t care. (I hate the Ravens) He?s not bad though, and still a very worthy honorable mention. He would need a hell of a skew to be super relevant, but it?s certainly possible! He?s also 6?6?, which who knows if that actually helps in Madden, but it certainly can?t hurt.

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. Jonathan Stewart ? Jonathan Stewart is just about the most complete back in this draft class. The class overall has much lower AWR stats than what we?re use to seeing, but that?s alright, because ?If everyone?s super, no one will be.??.so it?s okay to have an overall dumber class. Stewart though has the size, SPD, STR, ACC and CAR/BTK combination to be a top pick in this draft.
2. Matt Forte ? Very similar looking to Stewart, Forte has a 90+ SPD and ACC, along with a 75 STR and decent CAR/BTK combo, he actually looks like he could overtake Stewart with a better skew. What I also like about Forte, and maybe I ranked them backwards, is his 70 CTH stat, so he has very sure hands?.unless he?s already carrying it. Funny to see a CTH and CAR almost identical on a HB.
3. Clifton Smith ? I?m really not impressed with this HB class, but there are a lot of speedy backs available. I like Clifton for a late late first round pick, maybe someone likes him enough to take him higher, but his 95+ SPD, AGI, and ACC make him one of the best options. Also considering 78 STR, I think he he looks like a great option, even though he?s rather dumb.

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. Jerome Felton ? Almost didn?t rank FBs from this class, because there?s no complete FB that does it all, but I ranked them anyways. Jerome Felton came in first, he?s not the most athletic, but he has less holes. He has 80+ stats across the board, including his 82 STR. His 72 CAR and 79 BTK aren?t bad either, along with his 43 PBK and 51 RBK aren?t that bad. In my eyes, he?s definitely the most complete option.
2. Marcel Reece ? Marcel Reece looked so very good, until I saw his 49 BTK. His athleticism is undeniable, with an 85 SPD, 86 AGI, and 85 ACC, but it is hard to see him as a viable offensive weapon with his low CAR and BTK. What I can see him being good for though is maybe a run heavy offense, with his SPD and ACC, 75 STR, and 62 RBK, he could be rather incredible, and that is why he makes the list.

3. Mike Tolbert ? Mike Tolbert rounds out my top 3 FBs, but I don?t really like him. His 71 STR for a FB kind of negates his other good stats in my eyes. He could be worth it though, given he?s very athletic, and STR could skew as much as 5 points.

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. Jordy Nelson ? Clear cut top WR for me is Jordy Nelson, he looks as complete as any WR we?ve seen in any draft class. His 97 SPD will be insane, 95 AGI and 94 ACC are also going to put him in an elite class. Coming out of the draft with a 60 AWR and 82 CTH also make him very polished for a rookie. His 48 STR isn?t bad, and his 84 STA and 88 INJ are also decent. These are stats that I consider when looking at a player, and so it?s good to see that while they?re not maxed out, none are insanely low. I would also say that with a 90 KR and 77 CAR, will also make him an elite special teams player, and we should see him go in the top 5 picks. If not, he?s going to be an absolute bargain for anyone anywhere.
2. Andre Caldwell ? After Jordy nelson goes off the board, I expect to see a bit of a lull for the WR position. There?s not many studs in the class, but there?s a lot of really good options. Unfortunately for someone like DeSean Jackson, a few of them are also only 5?9?. Andrew Caldwell still has good height, and decent stats. He?s very athletic with a 96 SPD, 94 AGI, and 95 ACC, but his 38 STR and 74 INJ cause some hesitation. His 58 AWR and 78 CTH are not bad though, making him very workable.
3. Donnie Avery ? Donnie Avery is in a very similar boat to Caldwell. Nothing super bad, but nothing super good. He?s hindered a little by only being 5?11?, but he is pretty solid. If his stats stay where they?re at, he?s a borderline late first for a WR needy team, and an early second kind of player for everyone else.
4. Honorable Mention ? Limas Sweed ? Limas Sweed has low stats, but a VERY good skew could put him in contention for a good draft pick. His 87 SPD and ACC could both skew up to 90, combined with his 64 AWR and 83 CTH, make him potentially a good pick here. He?s also 6?4?, which certainly helps his case for most GMs, and why he?s makes an honorable mention.

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. Gary Barnidge ? The man, the myth, the one and only, Gary Barnidge. Honestly, if you?re going to go big for a TE, ever, it should be Gray Barnidge. Even a bad skew can?t keep him from being good, but a good skew makes him great. His 85 SPD, 83 AGI, and 87 ACC would immediately rocket him to the top tier of TEs in the league. His 73 STR, 77 CTH, 66 BTK, and 47 PBK/51 RBK are also very good. Word is, Barnidge may go in the top 5, crazy for a TE, but maybe he?s worth it.
2. Trade Up ? You heard me...
3. Nope ? Why you waiting?

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. RT Carl Nicks ? Carl Nicks is one of the most complete linemen in the game. His 60 SPD leaves me wanting little, but his 94 STR, 69 AGI, and 77 ACC are great, especially when you consider his 341 pound 6?4? frame, and will make a solid lineman for years to come. Also already being a RT instead of a left, means he won?t lose any AWR when you position change him, as long as you need a RT. His 86 PBK and 92 RBK are also already better than many vets. My only concern is his 58 STA, no idea how long he will stay on the field, or fight against a defensive end.
2. RT Branden Albert ? Not the sharpest tool in the shed, with only 52 AWR, but he is an athletic talent. His 65 SPD, 72 AGI, and 72 ACC make him just about the most mobile OT in the draft class.His 91 STR is also very good, if it holds there, after progression it?ll bump up to a very respectable 93. His 81 PBK and 84 RBK are also very good for a rookie, and sets him up to be very workable.
3. RT Gosder Cherilus ? Gosder is an intimidating 6?6?, he will definitely be imposing on the front line, especially considering his 98 STR. He also has a decently well rounded line of 62 SPD, 66 AGI, 71 ACC, 83 PBK, and 89 RBK. He might not make the first round, but I think he?ll have excellent value for someone in the second round.
4. Honorable Mention ? Anthony Collins ? Anthony Collins has some highs and lows. The highs being his 67 AWR, 73 ACC, 64 SPD and 84 PBK. He has the majority of the basics I?m looking for in a starting offensive lineman, but the lows are his 88 STR and 78 RBK, while his 65 AGI is mostly just middle ground. I think Collins probably goes late in the first because his highs definitely outweigh his lows. He?ll take a little bit of work, but he?ll be a starter for someone soon.

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.

Guards
1. RG Chilo Rachal ? Chilo is a big boy, with big stats. He is 6?6? and 322 pounds, and it shows in his maxed out 99 STR. Even if it skews down, he will likely end up with a 99 STR anyways after progression. His other stats are really quite good as well, with a 62 SPD, 70 AGI, and 74 ACC, he should likely be a first rounder, and I?d expect a top 10 kind of pick. His blocking stats aren?t bad either, his 87 RBK is quite good, and his 79 PBK is workable.
2. RG Daniel Dye ? Daniel Dye looks to be a physical freak, combining intense athleticism with a decent rookie AWR, but his 280 pound frame and 74 PBK worry me. I?m not sure he should be a very high pick, but his 69 SPD, 93 STR, 70 AGI, and 75 ACC definitely caught my eye, and should catch yours too.
3. RG Corey Gibas ? With a good skew, Corey Gibas actually stands a possibility of being the best lineman in this draft. His 68 SPD, 72 AGI, and 79 ACC would put him in an elite category, especially considering his 330 pound mammoth stature. However, his low AWR (54) and 89 STR will undoubtedly push him further back in the draft. He still makes the top 3 here because that 89 STR could skew up to a 92, and after progression it would complete his status as an elite offensive lineman.
4. Honorable Mention ? Roy Schuening ? Roy Schuening makes the honorable mention here because of his complete blocking stats. His 85 PBK and 89 RBK put him in the startable category. And his 86 STR may be low now, but I?ve seen success with an 88 STR interior lineman, so I don?t think it?s out of the question if he doesn?t skew up. I could see him being a very good value pick in the second round.

Centers
1. C Kory Lichtensteigr ? Corey is a little undersized, but his stats look great. His 72 AGI and 72 ACC will make him a very mobile Center, and his 94 STR sounds great. His 62 SPD is also very good, and his 83 PBK and 85 RBK are very nice to see in a rookie. I would pick him to be the first Center off the table.
2. C Jeremy Zuttah ? Zuttah is a close second for me as far as Centers go. He?s a little more raw, but still very workable. I don?t see him as an immediate starter, but if you absolutely had to, he probably could. His 80 PBK would concern me, but he?s athletic enough to make up for it. I would prefer him to sit for a season or 2.

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.

1. LE Chris Long ? Chris Long is likely a top 5 pick this year. His elite 85 SPD, 85 AGI, and 83 ACC are going to put him in the top tier immediately, and I cannot think of anyone right off hand (I haven?t actually looked though) that can combine that with an 86 STR. He?s going to be a monster, and can play anywhere on the defensive line. Given his class leading (by a long shot) 66 AWR, this is a starter from day 1.
2. RE Calais Campbell ? Campbell is another speed demon of a defensive end, but his 65 STR is a bit worrisome. He would definitely be a prospect to move to the left side, and his 86 SPD, 83 AGI, and 84 ACC might just make up for it. His 46 AWR shouldn?t matter as much either on the left, as the left tends to be dumber, but still see success for some reason?

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. LE Chris Long ? Chris Long is likely a top 5 pick this year. His elite 85 SPD, 85 AGI, and 83 ACC are going to put him in the top tier immediately, and I cannot think of anyone right off hand (I haven?t actually looked though) that can combine that with an 86 STR. He?s going to be a monster, and can play anywhere on the defensive line. Given his class leading (by a long shot) 66 AWR, this is a starter from day 1.
2. RE Jeremy Thompson ? I don?t know that anyone else would pick Jeremy Thompson for a top 3, but I really like him. He?s by no means a first round definite, but with upper 70?s stats, an 86 STR, and a solid 270 pound frame, I really like him for the right side. I think he?ll have good value for someone in the second round.

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. Red Bryant ? I wasn?t a big fan of many DTs this class. Most of the powerful but slow DTs are too undersized for a NT, and the ones who are average sized for a normal DT just don?t seem special. You need a filler? This class has you covered, but there is one standout that I felt deserved some mention, Red Bryant. He?s still undersized at 318 to be a NT, but his 99 STR might make up for that. His 63 SPD, 68 AGI, and 72 ACC do make him quite mobile, and should be a force to be reckoned with against any offensive line.


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. Phillip Wheeler ? There are a few MLBs I really like in this class, Wheeler tops that list. His 6?2? 248 pound frame plays the part, and his 81 SPD, 83 AGI, and 84 ACC backs that up. His 70 STR is also minimally adequate. The biggest selling point is his 74 AWR and 84 TAK, which means he could start from day 1 if you need him to.
2. Bo Ruud ? Bo Ruud is a close second. He?s a little undersized, but we?ve seen that be less of a factor. His 82 SPD, 82 AGI, and 82 ACC make him a decent pick in the second round. His 65 AWR isn?t bad either for a rookie, meaning he should develop nicely on his rookie contract.
3. Curtis Lofton ? I really hope to see Lofton skew up because I like him, but since I don?t need him, I don?t really care. His 79 SPD could skew up, and after the progression he could turn out really well. His 86 AGI would be a good indicator, that hopefully his 79 SPD and then his 81 ACC would come up to match. His 85 TAK is also great, and this might be underrated, but his 66 CTH is what really interests me. I think Urlacher might have something to say about it?.


OLB
1. Shawn Crable ? This isn?t a great class for OLBs, but Shawn Crable looks the part of a first rounder. His 84 SPD, 85 AGI, and 82 ACC make him the most athletic, but he still has a weakness, his weakness. His 61 STR is incredibly low, and may push him back further than expected. I still think he?ll be one of the first 2 OLBs off the board, so we?ll see.
2. Keith Rivers ? Keith might deserve the top spot here, but would need a favorable skew for me. His 81 SPD is a little low for a first round draft position, but his 81 AGI and 85 ACC are really selling the rest of him. He also has a 77 STR and 89 TAK that really make him more well rounded and polished. I probably expect him to go off the board in the first, might make me eat my own words about Shawn Crable, but I?m not going back on it now.
3. Chris Chamberlin ? Another out of the blue pick is Chris Chamberlin. He really needs a good skew to make my argument, his 80 SPD needs to come up a couple points, but if it holds, an 81 SPD isn?t bad, if you can back it up with quickness. He has that in his 86 AGI and 83 ACC, maybe. Like I said, needs a good skew to make the argument stick. What really sells him for me though is his 63 AWR and 85 TAK, showing a very good game ready prowess, and an 81 STR. His 86 STA and 88 INJ should also keep him on the field all season long.

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. Aqib Talib ? Talib is just about the only CB worth writing about on this list. There are some good points to be made about other CBs, but nothing complete enough to make a good argument. Talib?s 92 SPD, 93 AGI, and 96 ACC make him a stud for sure, if they hold. If they skew up, heaven helps us all. His CTH and TAK are also already at Veteran numbers,combined with his 92 JMP, 76 CAR, and 69 STR, he?s a complete package.

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.

Safeties
1. SS Domonique Barber ? The one and only safety that is worth talking about, Domonique Barber has some great looking stats, and will likely go in the first round because of the gap between him and the next guy in line. His 93 SPD, 95 AGi, and 93 ACC will put him in the top tier of safeties in the league. His 61 STR is also pretty decent for a SS, but I?d like to see it skew up if I planned on picking him.

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?

I?m not even going to bother this draft class.
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