NFL Modern Era Draft: Draft Picks Only Thread

[Steroid Boy]

Round 11 Pick 346

DE Aaron Smith




Smith is a prototypical 3-4 end, a terrific anchor defender against the run who also has decent pass rush skills. On third down, the versatile Smith often moves inside to rush the passer.

"The responsibility of a 3-4 end is 10 times harder than the responsibility of a 4-3 end," said UNDRAFTED PLAYER. "You're on the edge (in the 4-3). You've got great angles for stopping the run, and great angles for rushing the quarterback. That's why those guys get sacks."

All of which makes Steeler Aaron Smith's eight sacks all the more impressive (Patriots DE Richard Seymour had eight last season). Smith's eight sacks tie him for 15th in the league. Next among 3-4 defensive linemen is UNDRAFTED PLAYER who has 5½, tied for
38th in the league.

Smith and Seymour are considered the league's top 3-4 ends because they're strong against the run and the pass. Seymour has made the last two Pro Bowls. People in Pittsburgh are lobbying for Smith to be the team's first Pro Bowl end since L.C. Greenwood after the '79 season.

Smith is the best player in the NFL that most people haven't heard of. The reason for that is because he plays in the trenches on the line and doesn't put up the huge sack numbers that other ends may put up. But the Steelers defense wouldn't be nearly as effective without him on the team. He creates havoc for opposing offensive lines because he has the ability to power through blocks to get pressure on the quarterback and also disrupt the running game. He also does a decent job of occasionally dropping back into coverage and disrupting tight ends that come across the middle, which allows Troy Polamalu the opportunity to roam freely.

Maybe you didn't fully realize Smith's value before his injury. It's not as if he plays a glamorous position. A defensive end in the Steelers' 3-4 defense isn't going to get a lotof sacks or quarterback pressures.

But you know the truth after watching the defense collapse without Smith in the Steelers' 1-3 limp to season's end. He is every bit as important as team MVP James Harrison and Pro Bowl safety Troy Polamalu. Smith is tied with Kevin Greene for ninth in team history with 35 1/2 sacks despite being used irregularly as a pass rusher.


Team So Far
QB Brett Favre
LT Will Wolford
RT Jackie Slater
CB Ty Law
CB Antonio Cromartie
FS Merton Hanks
SS Blaine Bishop
LILB Harry Carson
RILB Levon Kirkland
LOLB Adalius Thomas
NT Jerry Ball
LDE Aaron Smith

[SL__72]

Round 11, Pick 347
Keith Bulluck, WLB




Bulluck is a superior athlete (4.47 40 and 38 inch vertical at combine) with great football skills, a combination that makes him a great all-around player. He is a tackling machine at WLB who excels in pass coverage and can also get after the QB. In his first full season as a starter, '02, he was named a second team (AP) all-pro. In '03 he was selected to the Pro Bowl and was a 1st team All-Pro. He was on SI's all-pro team in both '03 and '04 (obligatory Dr Z reference!). Since becoming a full time starter in '02 Bulluck has yet to miss a single game. He also lead the team in tackles every year from '02 to '06. In his career Bulluck has 18 sacks, 16 interceptions, 14 forced fumbles, 5 defensive touchdowns and 59 pass deflections.

With the addition of Bulluck I really like how my defense is shaping up. I have two tackling machines at LB who are both great all around players, an absurdly talented run stopping DT in Pat Williams, two great pass rushers at DE who both can both more than held their own in the run game and two safeties who are both smart in coverage and aggressive in run defense.

Team SL__72

QB: Steve Young

C Jeff Christy
RG Will Shields
RT Lincoln Kennedy

LDE Jevon Kearse
NT Pat Williams
RDE Leslie O'Neal

MLB Patrick Willis
WLB Keith Bulluck

FS Darren Sharper
SS Adrian Wilson

[wiper]

Round 11, Pick 349
Seth Joyner, LB





At this point, looking at both my team and 2 separate offers i got to move down, i most likely should've accepted one of them. i could definitely use moving up in value, as my team is far from complete.

That said, and with confirmation from others that i'm most likely breaking someone's plans with this one, as he most likely wouldn't last another 7 picks, i'm going with Seth Joyner.

I get a 3-time pro-bowler in the early 1990's from the killer Eagles defense of that era. Joyner is a fore-runner of the highly athletic, strong and fast all-purpose LB's of today. there literally was nothing this guy couldn't do. He was Sports Illustrated's Player of the Year in 1991, after a legendary performance on Monday Night against the Oilers..

quoted directly from wiki:

"Joyner, playing with a 102-degree fever, recorded eight solo tackles, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two sacks"

I have spent much more time per pick researching the last 3 than i did the first 6 combined. These are obviously the rounds where the difference between players becomes much more apparent. From 1988-1993, Joyner had 735 tackles, averaging 122.5 over that 6-year period.

Finally, he's only 1 of 9 players in NFL history to record both 20 sacks and 20 INT's in his career, again showing his versatility...

Team So Far:

RB: LaDainian Tomlinson

OT: Lomas Brown
OG: Steve Hutchinson

WR: Tim Brown
WR: Steve Smith
TE: Shannon Sharpe

DT: OMG Shaun Rogers
DE: Kevin Carter

LB: Bryan Cox
LB: Ken Norton
LB: Seth Joyner

[SL__72]

Round 8, Pick 230

Lincoln Kennedy, RT

On the wall of a university of Washington hangout called Shultzy's Sausage, there is a time line of gluttony. Pieter (the Eater) Ostendorf was a big deal back in 1989. His seven sausages on a roll, washed down with nine milks, was a heroic binge for its day. This was well beyond the minimum five sausages required for a citation at Shultzy's. But man's consumption of grilled pork, as the wall explains, is not so much a matter of appetite as it is of competition. Eight sausages, chips and sodas were enjoyed very soon after. Then nine alone, then nine with assorted side dishes and drinks. And then 10, and then 10 in combination. And then....

LINCOLN (BIG DADDY) KENNEDY, IN 60 MINUTES ON 5-1-91, 11 SAUSAGES ON ROLLS, 32 OZ WATER/16 OZ LEMONADE. FIRST TIME IN. NEW CHAMPION.

Someone, someday, may eclipse this tremendous feat. The history of cooked meat tells us that. But it will take a big man, perhaps a man as big as Kennedy, to do it. And Kennedy is 6'7", 325 pounds. It will take a special man. It will take a man with no preexisting heart condition, a man who has never seen sausage being made, a man who somehow forgets himself at the counter and absentmindedly eats six sausages in 10 minutes and discovers he can't cover the tab ("I'm in for, what, 24 bucks?") and must now shoot for the record and—his only hope—the free meal. Perhaps it will take a man just like Kennedy (only more so).

Lincoln Kennedy was made to be a modern day NFL linemen. An athletic, 6-7, 325+++ pound, monster of a human being who liked to eat and didn't mind lifting weights. I knew this was the type of player I wanted to put at RT next to Shields to lead my run game and protect Young's backside, but I wasn't sure he was the right guy to do it. After all, my last memory of Kennedy in the NFL was of the tired, slow, beat up guy who got worked by <Undrafted Journeyman DE> in Super Bowl XXXVII. But the more I read about him, the better he sounded.

Kennedy, always a crushing run blocker, struggled with his weight a lot early in his career, reportedly reaching 415 lbs at one point. After three underwelming seasons at LG for Atlanta Kennedy was traded to Oakland where he immediately became the starting RT. He was first recognized as a pro bowler in 2000 as he was the best run blocker on the best rushing team in the NFL. He also went to the pro bowl in each of the next two seasons and was named first team all-pro in 2002.

In 2000, despite the fact that neither RB from that team has a shot at being drafted in this draft Oakland ranked 11th (in adjusted line yards) on runs to the right tackle and 3rd on runs around the right end. In 2001 the team as a whole struggled to run the ball (partially due to again splitting carries between two guys with no shot at being drafted here) and yet they ranked 1st in the NFL on runs at the right tackle and 10th on runs around the right end. I wish I had stats going back further, but FO's OL stats only go back to 2000.

In 2002 the Raiders, under new coach Bill Callahan, switched from being a run-first offense to a pass-first one. They were second in the NFL in pass attempts, yet Gannon still had a sack rate of only 5.5% (career average was 6.7%). From everything I read it sounds like Kennedy was the team's best pass blocker that season and that was the reason he was sent to his third straight pro-bowl and named first team all-pro.

Kennedy also played most of that year with post-concussion syndrome (well, a consistant, unrelenting severe headache that started when he got a concussion early in the season) and was playing with a list of lower body injuries by the time the playoffs rolled around. In the AFC championship game the Raiders only ran the ball once in the first three quarters on their way to routing the Titans. Despite the fact that the Titans knew they were passing on each play they only got to Gannon once all day.

It sounds like Kennedy's body held up one game shorter than it needed to. And that's why I remember him struggling in the Super Bowl and not even making it through the 2003 season.

Putting Kennedy (age 29, not 31 or 32) next to Will Sheilds will give me very good pass protection on Young's backside as well as the ability to really move defenses off the ball.

Lincoln Kennedy Oakland Raiders tackle, on his decision not to vote last week: "I was going to write myself in, but I was afraid I'd get shot."

Team SL__72

QB Steve Young

RG Will Shields
RT Lincoln Kennedy

LE Jevon Kearse
NT Pat Williams
RE Leslie O'Neal

MLB Patrick Willis

FS Darren Sharper

[SL__72]

Round 9, Pick 262

Adrian Wilson, SS




Everyone has seen it, but it would be wrong of me to do an Adrian Wilson writeup without posting this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vL19q8yL54

Adrian Wilson has only been to one Pro Bowl and has never been selected as a first team all-pro, yet I'm pumped to have gotten him in the 9th round. At 6-3, 230, Wilson almost looks more like a LB than a safety. And sometimes watching the Cardinals play you might think that's what he was if he wasn't wearing #24. He reminds me a little of much more popular safety Roy Williams only he is bigger, more athletic, much better in coverage, better at blitzing and isn't in love with the horse collar tackle. Ok, I guess the resemblance isn't that close, my point was just that Wilson is also like having a 4th LB on running plays.

MDS on Wilson towards the end of the 2006 season:

I would strongly consider safety Adrian Wilson for the Defensive Player of the Year award. When he covers tight ends, they might as well not be on the field. When he blitzes he strikes fear in the hearts of every quarterback. When he plays the run he looks like a middle linebacker. Put him in Chicago and he'd win the award easily.

Of coarse he then went on to name him (along with Ed Reed) to his 2006 every-play-counts all-pro team.

Adrian Wilson holds the single season NFL sack record for a defensive back with 8 in 2005. In 2006, the season where he was finally sent to the pro-bowl for the first time, he had 5 more, which was tied for the league-best that season.

From 2004-2006 Wilson may very well have been the best SS in the NFL. (Note: Ed Reed was hurt in '05 and moved to FS in '06) Over that three year stretch he had 297 total tackles, 14 sacks, 8 interceptions, 30 passes deflected, 8 forced fumbles and 3 defensive touchdowns, 2 of which were 99 yard returns. I'll be taking him at age 27 (2006).

I think Wilson's skill set compliments Sharper's perfectly. I can play Wilson in the box or blitz him and leave Sharper to play center field. I can have Wilson man up on the TE while Sharper gives over the top help elsewhere. Etc.

Wilson also also brings my BEAST count on defense up to 5 now! (Wilson, Williams, O'Neal, Willis, Kearse)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lA3JBgdOFfc

Team SL__72

QB Steve Young

RG Will Shields
RT Lincoln Kennedy

LDE Jevon Kearse
NT Pat Williams
RDE Leslie O'Neal

MLB Patrick Willis

FS Darren Sharper
SS Adrian Wilson

[Mikhail's Fortunes]

Round #12, Pick #359: Jeremiah Trotter, LB



(BTW that's my artistic rendering )

Jeremiah Trotter was one of the most dominant run-stuffing middle linebackers in the NFL during his prime years. He made the pro bowl four times and was first team all pro once, and easily could have gotten it twice if he had been allowed to start all 16 games in his first comeback year with the Eagles. Since my defensive line is mostly geared toward generating a pass rush, I'm going to rely heavily on Trotter and Ray Lewis to stop the run. For a guy who played at 260 pounds, Trotter was surprisingly agile and athletic, able to easily elude the slow, lumbering linemen who tried to block him. He was also pretty solid in pass coverage, getting at least one interception in seven out of the eight years he played at Philadelphia and Washington, and 40 passes defensed in that time.

On my team he is going to be kind of an outside linebacker, because unlike Lewis his strength is going dowhill and he doesn't have the same great lateral range. But mostly I took him because he's simply too good a player to be undrafted at this point, and I'm taking him at age 23 when he got three sacks, one interception, 120 tackles, and was selected first team all-pro.

Team Mikhail's Fortunes:
MLB Ray Lewis
OLB Jeremiah Trotter
OLB Joey Porter
DE Dwight Freeney
DE Dexter Manley
DT Darrell Russell
SS Lawyer Milloy

QB Carson Palmer
RB Frank Gore
WR Michael Irvin
C Jeff Hartings
G Kevin Gogan

[vixticator]

Round 12, Pick 360
Everson Walls, CB







Everson Walls is one of the most prolific corners to ever play the game, he is tied for 10th all time in interceptions with Mel Blount, Eugune Robinson and 1 behind Hall of Famer Emmitt Thomas. He led the league in interceptions in 1981, 1982 and 1985. He finished in the top 10 during the 1987 and 1990 seasons. He's a four time pro bowler and once all pro (1981, 1982, 1983, 1985). I realize this is before our cutoff but I'm trying to establish that he was one of the best corners in the league immediately after stepping on the field. All from a person who went undrafted because scouts thought he would be too slow to play at this level.

So, why am I taking him in 1986? In 1987 Walls signed a contract with Dallas making him the 2nd highest paid cornerback in the NFL. He was only 27 years old and coming off a pro bowl season in 1986. He played 8 more seasons after this age. The idea that he declined in 86 and then played 8 more years is huge lol. Wikipedia suggests "Walls remained one of the most feared cover cornerbacks in the league; eventually, quarterbacks were forced to stop throwing the ball to his side," which could explain his lack of pro bowl births post 85.

In 1990 he signed with the New York Giants and won a Superbowl, starting alongside greats like Lawrence Taylor, Carl Banks and Leonard Marshall. He landed himself on the SI cover. In that issue it suggests Walls played some safety in certain situations, but started at RCB, for Bill Belichick's defense. He finished his career playing for Belichick in Cleveland in 1993.

At 6'1" and 194 Walls compliments my top corner, the 5'9" Frank Minnifield, well.

HIGHLIGHT REEL IMO

Everson Walls recently drew media attention for donating a kidney to his former Cowboys teammate, is a spokesperson for living organ donations and works as a motivational speaker.

Also, the catch!

SI: You've been on the cover of Sports Illustrated twice, famously so. The first was in 1982 when Dwight Clark made his famous catch over you. Then in 1991, there's a photo of you celebrating a Super Bowl win as a Giant?

Walls: Well, I have about 18 copies (laughs) of the Giant cover. Sometimes I look at that and think, 'Man, that was a load off my mind as far as my career was concerned. I was on one of the more infamous covers, with Dwight Clark catching 'The Catch' on me. For me to rebound nine years later, that photo is what I was feeling at the time. Finally, I had a ying to the yang. That cover completed my career. I came full circle at the moment.

People remember it as “The Catch,” but I remember it as one of the best games I ever played. That’s like a lot of my career, it gets glossed over. I had two interceptions, a fumble recovery, three or four passes broken up and seven tackles. But the game didn’t turn out the way we hoped. What you see now is just the finished product, San Francisco’s last gasp for air in a game that was full of great plays

On Bill Belichick and redemption:

The moment I stepped into [defensive coordinator] Bill Belichick’s office, he looked at me and got the biggest smile on his face. I rarely ever got the respect from other coaches that I got from Bill Belichick from day one. I played four more years in the defensive backfield and I owe it all to Bill Belichick. He allowed me to become a better player. He allowed me to become a Super Bowl champion.
In Super Bowl XXV against the Bills, he trusted his defense to me. I called most of the plays on field, to counter the Bills no-huddle offense. It was basically Jim Kelly vs. myself. I kept it simple, nothing too complicated. I played safety for the first time in my career. As the game rolled on, I was thinking about the San Francisco game years earlier, thinking about my career. The turning point of that game again came to me. It was the fourth quarter, the last drive for Buffalo as it turns out. Thurman Thomas busts through the line. I know this is probably the last drive and I know that if I miss this tackle I’m the goat all over again. I knew I had to make the best tackle of my career. It wasn’t that it was hard -- but the degree of greatness reflects the magnitude of the moment and no moment was bigger than this.

I stopped him.

I’m extremely proud of that play. The game was in the balance, Buffalo could have taken the lead, but I had a chance to make a great play and I did it. Buffalo missed the field goal and we won, 20-19. I ran for 30 yards and I jumped up in the air. They still play it on SportsCenter sometime. It was ridiculous how high I jumped.

I remember opening my mouth later and trying to talk and I just cried like a baby. I guess I blew that moment. But the main thing was that I got that monkey off my back. I never felt like I got the respect I deserved. Like I said, that’s always been a theme of my career, whether in sports or personal life.

You get the point by now.


team vixticator

QB- Steve McNair
RB- Roger Craig
LT- Marcus McNeil
RT- Tunch Ilkin

DE- Michael Strahan
DT- Bryant Young
OLB- Derrick Brooks
OLB- Wilber Marshall
CB- Frank Minnifield
CB- Everson Walls
S- Bob Sanders

[SL__72]

Round 12, Pick 358

Santana Moss, WR



I knew I should have just waited until I had time to do my writeup explaining this pick before making it. Based on the reactions I guess I could have waited a bit and still gotten him, but I'm not going to feel bad about it. What I find shocking is that people seem to honestly believe that a 32yo Steve Largent would be more successful in this league than a 26yo Santana Moss. But the fact that I think he is more valuable than other receivers drafted isn't really justification for the pick, so...

Santana Moss might be small, but he makes up for it with sub 4.3 40 speed, a ridiculous 42 inch vertical and outstanding general quickness and agility. He is also a superior route runner. There are only a few guys that have been drafted so far who can use speed and route-running to created downfield separation like Moss does... Ocho-Cinco, Steve Smith, and the most obvious example, Marvin Harrison.

The problem with this type of receiver is that they are much less useful if you don't have a QB that can make accurate passes 30+ yards downfield. Even Smith who for a few seasons recently was lauded as the best receiver in the game has struggled because of this. And that is something Santana Moss has never really had. Since he became a starting WR in '03 he has lead his team in receiving every season. Its just that he has spent most of his career playing with QBs who are not good passers, especially downfield.

There was one season though, 2005, when he was paired up with a formerly good (undrafted) QB who was nearing the end of his career but still had a little bit left in the tank. That year Moss put up 1483 yards receiving. He was 2nd in the league in DVOA. The Redskins #2 WR that year had 217 yards. DVOA is a measure of per-target success, so usually guys playing with a good QB and opposite another good WR have the best DVOAs. That year was probably Chad Ocho Cinco's best season and was definitely Steve Smith's best. But look at this:

Smith: 150 targets, 1563 yards, 497 DYAR, 28.6% DVOA, 10.7 Total Yards Per Catchable Attempt
85: 155 targets, 1432 yards, 412 DYAR, 19.7% DVOA, 9.6 TYPCA
Moss: 134 targets, 1483 yards, 402 DYAR, 25.5% DVOA, 11.4 TYPCA

Note: TYPCA is a metric created by KC Joyner, ESPN analyst and writer of the The Football Scientist books.

And while I called him competant or something earlier, the Redskins QB that season was definitely the worst of the three with Palmer being by far the best.


I mostly wanted Moss because of what I've seen him do. He really excels at all the technical aspects of the position and is obviously a great athlete. He runs great routes, adjusts well to the ball, has great vision and can pick up tons of yards after the catch. His 2005 season is really just evidence that with a solid QB his outstanding talent can be translated to ridiculous production.

I also think he'll work great with Steve Young who will be able to use his exceptional downfield accuracy to fully take advantage when Moss gets open on a mid/deep route. And if opposing defenses start having to worry about that, everything else is really going to open up.


Team SL__72

QB Steve Young
WR Santana Moss

C Jeff Christy
RG Will Shields
RT Lincoln Kennedy


LDE Jevon Kearse
DT/NG/NT/FATGUY Pat Williams
RDE Leslie O'Neal

WLB Keith Bulluck
MLB Patrick Willis

FS Darren Sharper
SS Adrian Wilson

[Dudd]

Round 12 Pick 361

Lito Sheppard CB



Lito Sheppard will be playing the second cornerback slot across from Nnamdi Asomugha. In his time in Philadelphia, he has twice been named to Pro Bowl and once was named as a first team All-Pro. Now it's always hard to quantify cornerback production, but Football Outsiders has attempted too, and their stats for Lito's 2006 season were phenomenal. He had a stop rate of 62%, one of the best in the league, and allowed a measly 5.4 yards per attempt. In addition, he had a very good six interceptions that year. If I can get that kind of production from him, I should have one of the best cornerback duos in the league.

That is the downside to this pick however: if I can get that production. His 2004 season was also very good as he was named to the first team All-Pro. In 2005 and 2007, it was not so good, as injuries sapped his effectiveness. A healthy Lito Sheppard was one of the best corners in the league: an injured Lito Sheppard, not so much. Fair is fair, so I feel like I should point out that after putting up those stellar numbers in 2006, his stop rate plummeted down to the low 40s in 2007 and his yards per attempt correspondingly rose to somewhere around 8.5. As 2004 and 2006 show though, a healthy Lito Sheppard is a very good cornerback indeed.

Team for now:

DE Reggie White
DT Michael Dean Perry
LB Kevin Greene
CB Nnamdi Asomugha
CB Lito Sheppard
S Brian Dawkins

OT Jason Peters
OG Chris Snee
C Shaun O'Hara
TE Mark Bavaro
RB Tiki Barber
WR Jimmy Smith

[Assani Fisher]

Round 12, Pick #362: Rulon Jones

from wikipedia:

United Press International (UPI) is a news agency headquartered in the United States with roots dating back to 1907. Once a mainstay in the newswire service along with Associated Press (AP) and Reuters, it began to decline as afternoon newspapers, its chief client category, began to fail with the rising popularity of television news. This decline accelerated after the sale of UPI by the founding Scripps family culminating in two bankruptcies. In 2000 UPI was purchased by News World Communications, a media company owned by Sun Myung Moon's Unification Church

Why on earth do I begin this writeup with info about the UPI? Because while they were a main news agency, the UPI gave away Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year Awards. And Rulon Jones is the only player to win UPI AFC Defensive player of the Year who hasn't been drafted so far in our draft. To give you an idea of what kind of value I believe I'm getting, here is the round of our draft in which the other 10 winners went(its only 10 because the UPI declined in popularity and stopped doing their awards in 1997):

1st
6th
5th
1st
6th
2nd
1st
4th
6th
1st


And now I'm getting the only other person to win the award IN THE 12TH ROUND!!



I'm certainly not going to argue whether or not Rulon Jones deserved the award in 1986...hell, I was 4 years old and I'd be lying if I said I had any honest opinion on it. However, the fact that he was considered by many to be THE BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER IN THE ENTIRE AFC IN 1986 speaks volumes imo.




Rulon Jones had a very short peak- He only started 2 games his rookie year, he had no sacks his 2nd year, he was hurt in his 3rd and 4th years playing only 21/32 games. But then he finally hit his prime from ages 26-28 and put up 11, 10, and 13.5 sacks in consecutive seasons.

I'll be taking him in his 1986 season in which he won the UPI award, was a pro bowler, was first team all pro, and had the third safety of his career(putting him at #3 on the all time list).

Sadly, injuries again hit him in 1987, as he only played in 12 games and then was basically out of football after that. Regardless, I believe that he was a monster in his prime and that I'm getting great value here.

I'll be lining Jones up opposite Julius Peppers to anchor my 4-3 defense. Yes I have concentrated on offense early on in this draft, but I now have 2 elite pass rushers and 2 very good CBs, so I think that my team will be well above average against the pass.

Team so far:


OFFENSE
QB Romo
RB Emmitt
WR Holt, Rice
TE Witten
LT Clady
RG Fralic

DEFENSE
CB Revis, Haynes
DE Pepper, Jones

[BobboFitos]

Round 12, Pick 356 via nutwiper DE Leonard Marshall


Sorry about the ribs, Joe!

But I'm going to walk over you.

Leonard Allen Marshall was the run stuffer wing mate of Lawrence Taylor. He plugged the holes (got to the QB too!) and enabled LT to roam. So, even though I don't have LT on my team, I have DT - and Leonard will be used in much the same fashion, plugging holes, stuffing the run, and opening up lanes for DT to terrorize. Leonard was the 37th overall pick in the 2nd round of 1983 draft by the New York Giants. Al Davis, then the GM of the LA Raiders, said that Leonard Marshall was the "steal of the draft". Leonard played with the Giants for 10 years, spending his final two years with the Jets and then Redskins. (Technically, he signed a final contract with the Giants as to retire a Giant)

Leonard is a great run stuffer, which is a requirement for the 3-4. That said, he's also a play maker - not only did he open up lanes for the fabled NYG LBer core (LT, Carl Banks, Harry Carson) but he also was able to rush the passer on his own accord. So, we feel Leonard is a big time positive 2 way player. He will play the RDE, so that DT is behind him. We are moving JA to LDE. Leonard is 288 lbs. and 6-3; it's VERY IMPORTANT people pay attention to this, as Leonard was a big DE in the 80s/early 90s; we feel he was one of the few DEs who could seamlessly transition into the modern NFL big-bodied stereotypical DE. (Again, we're not sure how much weight is being held against the earlier DLine and OLine, but in Leonard's case, it's not a problem) Leonard played 177 career games, starting 138, only missing games because:
1983 - Rookie, got a DNP in his first 2 games
1987 - Strike shortened season.
1993 - Tailend of his career, split time.

Altogether, Leonard only missed 1 game due to injury over a 12 year career. For a defensive linemen who is responsible for plugging gaps, this is a fairly phenomenal bill of health. Leonard is a LSU (Louisiana State University) graduate, earning MVP honors throughout his collegiate career.

As noted earlier, the primary job of a 3-4 DE is to run stuff and plug gaps. Well, luckily for us, Leonard does that better than any DE available. (In our opinion!) According to wiki, Leonard started as an excellent run stuffer and later developed into both an excellent run stuffer AND an excellent pass rusher.

Giants Run Defense in Marshall's Prime

Yr	Y/C	Rk  Leonard's Age

1985	3.5	 3  24
1986	3.7	 6  25
1987	3.6	 6  26
1988	3.9	10  27
1989	3.7	 5  28
1990	3.8	 7  29

Clearly a huge part of the credit goes to the LBer core behind him, but it's pretty easy to see how a big end like Leonard deserves some of the credit for having a top 20% run defense. Further:

"[Belichick] went with two down linemen [against the Buffalo Bills in the 1990 Super Bowl], usually nosetackle [name redacted] and end Leonard Marshall, all day, but one of two linebackers, [name redacted] or Lawrence Taylor, would line up in a rush position, sometimes coming, sometimes dropping back."

So Leonard was powerful and dynamic enough for BB to feel comfortable using him in 2-man lines.

Over his 12 year career, Leonard:
-2 time Pro-Bowler ('85 and '86) although wiki seems to think he made a Pro-Bowl in '91 too
-83.5 career sacks, good enough for 36th all-time. He had 3 seasons of double digit sacks, and was on pace in the strike-shortened season (8 sacks through 10 games). These numbers amount to just under .5 sacks/game. He also has 11 career postseason sacks, performing admirably in the playoffs, a point which I'll bring up later*
-2 Int, 9 FF, 6 FR, 2 safeties, and an unofficial 711 tackles. (4.1/game, using Epipen logic, shows he clearly was a monster against the run)
-2x Super Bowl Champion w/ the NYG ('87 and '91)
-2x Defensive Linemen of the Year (Back to back '85 and '86)

Leonard was a beast in the playoffs. The picture above is from the hit he delivered on Joe Montana. I think wiki describes it best:

Marshall is probably best known for his hit in that knocked Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana out of the 1990 NFC Championship game. In the fourth quarter he hit Montana so hard that he suffered a bruised sternum, bruised stomach, cracked ribs, and a broken hand.[18] This would be the last game Montana would ever start for the 49ers.[18] In 2007, the hit was ranked as the third most "devastating hit" in NFL history by Fox Sports Net,[19] and the third most "devastating hit" in sports history by The Best Damn Sports Show Period.[20] Marshall finished the game with four tackles, two sacks, and two forced fumbles, and was named NFL defensive player of the week.[14]

Gotta say, he fits very well with my team. Jared, DT, Rickey, Singletary, Surtain, Easley - they are all very hard hitters who play physically imposing defense. We are going to force fumbles, we are going to punish opposing offenses, and we are not going to led them advance the ball up the field.

I am taking Leonard as a 25 year old, the year before he won his 1st Super Bowl. I think he was in the prime of his career, coming off his 1st PB, and making his 2nd by virtue of playing 16 games, recording 12 sacks, 1 int, 3 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries, and 63 unofficial tackles. (3.9/game) His following year he was a beast, as well (strike shortened season) so I feel this was his true peak/prime.

*Last note...

Marshall is a noted philanthropist who has received several awards in recognition of his charitable work.[26]

So he'll knock Joe Montana into not being able to play football for 2 years and then go donate his time to a homeless shelter. What a guy!

Team BobboFitos/Jeff W:

SS - Kenny Easley (27)
RCB - Patrick Surtain (26)
LCB - Carl Lee (27)
ROLB - Derrick Thomas (23)
MLB - Mike Singletary (30)
LOLB - Rickey Jackson (28)
RDE - Leonard Marshall (25)
LDE - Jared Allen (25)

~~~~~~~

LT - Chad Clifton (26)
QB - Trent Green (33)
WR - Terrell Owens (28)

[NameOnTheCake]

Round 12, Pick 367
Howard Ballard RT



Howard Ballard is everything I want in a RT. Huge (6'6" 325), talented (probowl in 1992 and 1993), and absurdly consistent. He started every single game from 1989-1996. The next year he missed 4 games, but rebounded in his final season in 1998 to play and start all 16. I don't have access to much insider info re: offensive linemen but I'm really happy w/this pick.

[nath]

Round 11, Pick 348
Kyle Vanden Bosch, DE
(2007, age 29)

Round 12, Pick 357
Dexter Coakley, LB
(2001, age 29)





At this point in the draft, I feel as though there aren't too many players who stand out as obvious value at their position, so I decided to use my picks on players I expect to fit well into my scheme.

With that in mind, my goal all along has been to. I had several defensive ends similarly graded here, but ultimately chose Vanden Bosch for a couple of reasons. In short, he's a hard worker and a team leader who can play both the run and the pass on a dominant defense. Allow me to elaborate.

Vanden Bosch was always a key player in Tennessee's defense, but at the end of last year, he elevated his game to a new level (that resulted in two three-sack games) and has continued it this year (except for some time he's missed to a groin injury). PFW had this to say about him, when they mentioned how he'd raised his game to a new level:

Vanden Bosch’s greatest attribute is a motor that never seems to stop, and that’s made all the more remarkable by the fact the Titans don’t often take him out of the game. Indeed, we hear Vanden Bosch’s intensity has set a standard for his younger teammates. So has his technique, which is also one of his strengths.

His sack numbers aren't as high in 2008, but he remains one of the key components of a dominating Tennessee defense, as our own line expert testifies. The lift in his game coincides pretty well with his 29th birthday, so I'm taking him at age 29.

Here's an interesting tidbit I discovered in my research: He and Albert Haynesworth occasionally switch positions on passing downs to confuse the blocking. He also played both end spots in his time at Tennessee. So if I want to get creative with my front four scheming, he's the perfect guy to build around. He's also known as a locker-room leader and hard worker, which is important; in a league where the talent level won't be too disparate, a guy who takes plays off is a huge sieve. Now, three of my linemen are under 280 pounds, but they're all very quick and good at penetrating gaps, and they all play with excellent technique and give their all every play. I'll be able to use them in a variety of stunts and twists and alignments to bring pass-rush pressure, and they can also make plays in the running game.

Now my plan on defense is to run a modified Cover-2, using my front four to generate pressure and leaving my linebackers to play the short zone and make plays. I need linebackers who are skilled in coverage and quick to the point of attack. I was disappointed when Keith Bulluck fell off the board right before me, but after some research, I discovered Dexter Coakley was clearly the best of the coverage LBs left, so I chose him. He was noted for his quickness; PFW called him “possibly the quickest linebacker in the game” at one point. With a solid front four to bring the heat on the pass rush and to keep blockers from reaching him, Coakley will be in a system best suited to his skills-- pass coverage and getting to the ballcarrier. He should be free to make plays untouched, as most offensive lines will have their hands full with my defensive line.

He made the Pro Bowl three times in a five-year stretch from 1999-2003 (the odd years), and was consistently one of the top tacklers on a team that wasn't very good. He had eight interceptions in this stretch, but more importantly, returned four of them for touchdowns, another demonstration of his quickness and ability to jump routes. So I'll grab him in the middle of that peak, and now I have a linebacker who can handle coverage and make plays in the running and passing game. My defense is full of big-play guys, too, and I expect to force a fair number of turnovers.

TEAM

QB Joe Montana
LT Jim Lachey
LG Dave Szott
C Dermontti Dawson
RG Logan Mankins

DE Michael Sinclair
DT Kevin Williams
DT Tim Krumrie
DE Kyle Vanden Bosch
OLB Dexter Coakley
CB Ronde Barber
CB Albert Lewis

[vixticator]

Round 12, Pick 365
Don Mosebar, C





Don Mosebar was a three time pro bowl center (1986, 1990, 1991) for the Oakland Raiders and lined up beside Steve Wisniewski and Max Montoya to form one of the great interior lines of our era, and at a PFR listed size of 6-6 285 would be one of the bigger centers in the current NFL. His career ended a bit early due to losing an eye (yikes!) during a preseason contest versus the Dallas Cowboys prior to the 1995 season. He won a Superbowl in his rookie season (did not start), but never returned to the biggest stage.

Mosebar was also selected one spot above Dan Marino in the epic 1983 draft class, which produced players like John Elway, Eric Dickerson, Chris Hinton, Jimbo Covert, Bruce Matthews, Jim Kelly, Joey Browner and Darrell Green all in the first round. This has nothing to do with anything but is a pretty sick class. Also, I think about 25 teams regret passing on Marino!

Nothing else to say really. I need a center. He seems like a good one. Heh.


team vixticator:
OFFENSE
QB- Steve McNair
RB- Roger Craig

LT- Marcus McNeil
C- Don Mosebar
RT- Tunch Ilkin

DEFENSE
DE- Michael Strahan
DT- Bryant Young

WLB- Derrick Brooks
SLB- Wilber Marshall

CB- Frank Minnifield
CB- Everson Walls
SS- Bob Sanders

[SHARK DOCTOR]

ROUND 12 PICK 368

DONNIE EDWARDS ILB







I'd actually been targeting Donnie for the last 2 rounds...but couldnt really justify taking him before a few other All Pro linebackers. Well, now that a good portion of them have been taken, I can happily grab Edwards with my 12th round selection.

Ok - Im not exactly taking Donnie Edwards out of default...rather taking him for his unique skillset he brings with him. Edwards has a rare combination of strength, speed and agility for a player playing any Linebacker position...combine that with his uncanny ability to read plays and make counter plays accordingly and efficiently - makes this an easy pick for my squad.

With Donnie I get a versatile LB who can play the 3-4 or the 4-3...he can play on the right, inside right or just smack dab in the middle of the line. His athleticism gives him the ability to do a lot of different things on the field, and his overall Awareness allows him to make plays that many other MLB's just cant do.

Donnie is well known for falling back after the snap and reading the field, and covering any short passing routes...he clogs the middle passing lanes very well and makes it very difficult for opposing QBs to get their slot WRs and TEs involved efficiently. He has 28 career INTs and has also run back for 6 career defensive TDs. He is always looking to make something happen and is very aggressive in getting it down the field. In a way - he plays the role of a Safety better then most safeties. His ability to take away passing lanes sometimes allows people to forget how good of a run stuffer and pass rusher he actually can be (if utilized the right way). Not including his rookie season (where he only started one game), Donnie has averaged close to 150 tackles per year. Not bad for a coverage LB.

1998 25 KAN RILB 15 15 6.0 1 0 1 0 0 124
1999 26 KAN RLB 16 16 3.0 5 50 1 28 1 0 2 79 1 123
2000 27 KAN RLB 16 16 1.0 2 45 1 42 0 0 1 11 0 132
2001 28 KAN RLB 16 16 2.0 0 0 0 0 4 1 0 3 0 0 130
2002 29 SDG MLB 16 16 5 95 1 46 10 0 0 1 82 1 129
2003 30 SDG RLB 16 16 0.5 2 27 0 15 9 1 0 0 0 0 162
2004 31 SDG LILB 16 16 1.0 5 49 1 30 14 2 0 0 0 0 151
2005 32 SDG LILB 16 16 3.0 2 15 0 14 11 2 0 0 0 0 154
2006 33 SDG RILB 16 16 2.5 3 11 0 8 8 2 1 1 0 0 142

*Sacks INTs Tackles

My team in general is going to be a very offensive minded team - as I already have most of the tools in place...as Ive already mentioned in my post when I picked CB Dre Bly...I am building a high risk high reward Defense that will be packed with PLAYMAKERS. Im not going to be slowing teams down on defense - I will be forcing turnovers and trying to make plays every opportunity I get so I can get back on offense and get a quick 6. With the addition of Donnie Edwards - I just add to that theory by getting one of the better playmaking LBs available.
Donnie is 4 INTs shy of tying the record for most INTs by a Linebacker...he is also the last and final member of the official 20/20 club(Sacks/INTs) to be selected in this draft. Rodney Harrison being part of that club is also on my team (actually Rodney is the sole member of the 30/30 club). Donnie only has 1 Pro Bowl under his belt - but I think that could be a result of how talented his position in the NFL really is.

I havnt yet decided if Im going to be running the 3-4 Defense or the 4-3 Defense yet...but the players I have give me the flexibility (so far) in deciding later on as the draft progresses and my Defense starts to fill out.

I will be taking Donnie Edwards from 2002 (age 29). That was his first year with the Chargers where he made his sole Pro Bowl appearance and had a year where he compiled 5 INTs, 2 Def TDs and 130 Tackles.

My Better then NutWipers Offense:
QB Donovan McNabb
RB Edgerrin James
WR Randy Moss
WR Brandon Marshall

LT Tarik Glenn
C Olin Kreutz
RT Willie Anderson

My PLAYMAKERS Defense:
DE/DT Wayne Martin
OLB LaVar Arrington
ILB Donnie Edwards

CB Dre Bly
S Rodney Harrison