Pick 279, Round 9
Marcus McNeil, LT



"At 6'7" and 336 pounds, McNeill has surprisingly quick feet that allow him to utilize his long arms to ward off defenders" unnamed scout. A man this size should not move this well. He was not called for holding during his entire 2006 rookie season, and officially only two sacks. Just some more trivia did not give up a sack in 43 starts at Auburn. This is a player known for run blocking with a slight weakness against speed rushers. The only downside is he undoubtably hasn't reached his peak yet! If he gets any better, he will be the best LT in the league. Right now he's in the top 5.

Marcus McNeil has been a pro bowler his first two seasons in the NFL and helped LaDainian Tomlinson break the all-time single season points record as a rookie. A second round pick due to injury concerns, McNeil has played and started in every game of his career through three seasons. He somehow lost rookie of the year to Vince Young.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/column...len&id=2706011

The best way to counter a pass rush is to run the ball off tackle and wear it down. With a beast like McNeil plowing holes and Roger Craig kicking people in the face, I like my chances. McNeil has been my target at LT for a while and I'm glad no one took him!

Career highlights and awards
2x Pro Bowl selection (2006, 2007)

team vixticator

QB Steve McNair
RB Roger Craig
LT Marcus McNeil

DE Michael Strahan
DT Bryant Young
WLB Derrick Brooks
SLB Wilber Marshall
CB Frank Minnifield
SS Bob Sanders

Round 9-Pick 282 -Adrian Peterson-(the good one!)





Well in Round 9 i take my first Skill position player. I waited until round 9, because i felt like i could get guys like Peterson in the 9th ****** round. I think its insane value. Yea hes young, but his first two years have been ridiculous.

In 23 nfl games he has ran for 2356 yards on 444 carries for a ridiculous 5.3 yards per carry. With Peterson i get a true star, that combined with my sick Defense will give me one of the best Teams (imo of course!).





Peterson was pro-bowler in his first year, he certainly had an argument for being a first team all pro, but only started 9 games and played in 14, which obv hurt him.

NFL records and awards

Records

* Most 200-yard rushing games for a rookie (2)
* Most yards rushing in the first eight games (1,036)
* Most yards rushing in a single game (296)

Awards

* 2008 NFL Pro Bowl MVP
* 2007 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year
* 2007 Diet Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year (online fan vote at nfl.com)
* Two 2007 Player of the Month awards
* 2008 Best Breakthrough Athlete ESPY Award






Peterson currently leads the NFL in rushing/yards per game and attempts (after leading the nfl in yards per game as a rookie). I will be taking Peterson at his current age (23)

So there you have it, i feel like i have a building block for my team, IN THE 9TH ROUND.

Team so far:

Adrian Peterson RB

Joe Thomas OT
Randal Mcdaniel OG

DE Richard Seymour
DT Warren Sapp
DT Kris Jenkins

LB Chad Brown

CB Eric Allen

SS Joey Browner

Round 9 Pick 283

Middle Linebacker Lofa Tatupu





Wait...what? Lofa Tatupu? In this draft? Yes. Why? Well I needed a roaming LB. He is a run stuffing LB that I needed to help that whole stop the run philosophy that I have. I need to control the lines of scrimmage and with Mongo and Stroud up front Tatupu will have the ability to roam without the guards and the center in his face. Controlling the line from getting to the second level is only the first part of the plan. I needed a MLB that can go sideline from sideline to get to RBs. I think he was the best left at doing this. Yes there will be a bit of liability in passing but I am willing to find ways of dealing with that.

A take on Tatupu:

Yes he hasn't reached full potential yet but by the end of this year he will be as near a peak as he might reach. There isn't much higher for him to go. But why a MLB in this situation? A key to make teams struggle on offense is to create 2nd and long and 3rd and long. If a team can run the ball on first down and get 4-6 yards a defense has almost already lost that set of downs. My gameplan will be in creating those 2nd and 3rd and long situations.

I'm not crazy at drafting players that are currently playing(look at who I've taken) but I think with a player like Willis going much earlier that Tatupu's value is helped by that. By no means am I saying he is as good as Willis(though I think there is a fair debate there that will end with Willis winning) but the value changes it IMO.

Either way here are Tatupu's accolades:

3x Pro Bowl
1x All-Pro

Needle's T-Squad:

T-Squad: LT- Tony Boselli, LG- Russ Grimm, C- Dwight Stephenson, RG- Larry Allen

CB- Sam Madison, RDE- Greg Townsend, 2i- Marcus Stroud, 3Tech- Steve McMichael MLB- Lofa Tatupu

ROUND 9 PICK 272

LaVARR ARRINGTON OLB






*NOTE: ARRINGTON ON THE GIANTS DOES NOT EXIST IN THIS DRAFT*

Im have finally decided to start building my defensive line - and feel pretty confident that drafting LaVar is a good way to give it that jump start. With Rodney Harrison already deemed the on field captain and general of my defense - I think LaVar will not only be a good complement to Rodneys attitude but will bring a lot of other things to the table with him that are of high value.

I would NOT have picked LaVar had we been drafting with a different structure...but since we are getting all our players for one year - I am very happy with picking him up in the 9th round. LaVar brings a different skillset that not many LBers can say they have...a combination of raw athletic ability and a great sense for the game. (Its probably the level of his athletic ability that truly separates him from the group).

Arrington brings a lot of different angles to the OLB position...and gives me the perfect player to begin my defensive line with (especially considering Im starting in the 9th round). He can be used in a whole lot of different ways, I can send him in as a great pass rusher or can let him layback and scan the field. Looking at his stats actually do tell a lot about his game and his versatility.


Its quite evident by just looking at his stats alone - that he was being used in a variety of different ways...just look at the number of interceptions and passes defensed and compare them to the sack totals in each of his first four years in the league. You do the math.

With LaVar I get a very versatile player who will bring a lot of energy, atheticsm, raw natural talent and a great sense for the game...as a rusher, run stopper and a quiet addition to my secondary. I will see how the rest of my defense turns out before I determine exactly what role LaVar will be playing in my defensive scheme...but thats the great part about having him - he gives me a lot of flexibility.

I will be taking LaVar Arrington from the 2002 season.

The Greatest Offense in this Draft so far:
QB Donovan McNabb
RB Edgerrin James
WR Randy Moss
WR Brandon Marshall

LT Tarik Glenn
C Olin Kreutz
RT Willie Anderson

My Developing Defense
OLB LaVar Arrington
S Rodney Harrison

James Harrison OLB
Pick 282

Team Capone's







Well this is the first guy I will already be setting an age. I'll be taking him at age 30, this year. I think Harrison has been better than his stats indicate. Why do I say that. Well he played behind the great Joey Porter for many years and really never got much of a chance to play, he came off the bench when he go a shot. But last year he was second team all pro in his first year starting. This year if Albert Haynesworth wasn't around he'd probally be DPOY, now I got both players on the same team and I plan on using him primarly as a pass rusher from the outside.

Little history on him, undrafted FA out of the little known Kent State. He is 242 pounds of utter strength and craziness, which I think tends to happen to a ton of linebackers who play on the steelers. He is a gym rat, he can bench 465 pounds and squat 700 pounds.

Last year he got into some mischief with a domestic altercation with his girlfriend.

On to the key things how does this fit my team. Well I've decided to go all out and play the primarily the 3-4. With Haynesworth either playing NT or DE, Howie definitely playing DE, Mecklenburg playing in the middle and Harrison playing the outside. With my already ultra talented front 2 eating up blocks it shouldn't be hard for Harrison to come free and get sacks. I won't post a rediculous sack number but a I think he should have a pretty high number from the end maybe 10-12 if we played the current NFL but less in our league since it's much more talented.

My team is currently focused more on D than O but I believe pretty balanced. I don't have any corners yet but I'm looking. My team is built similar to the great Steelers Ds of recent time. I'm going to have a great front 7, a solid bunch of safeties and solid corners. Even without great corners now, the Steelers current team is still one of the best pass Ds in the league. I hope to have even a more talented version of the Steelers D and Ravens D (maybe not more than the 2001 team), but you get the idea.

I also have not tried to focus too much on 1 area, I think a balanced but ultra talented team is key. I have focused on the areas I find to be the most important in winning, that is front 7 on the D, O-line and QB. Other than my 2 step outs for ultra talented players I have pretty much toed the line with respect to this during the first 9 rounds of the draft.

Current Squad:

O:
Rich Gannon-QB
Larry Fitzgerald-WR
Bruce Matthews-OL
Chris Hinton-OL

D:
Howie Lone-DE 3-4
Albert Haynesworth-NT or DE 3-4
Karl Mecklenburg-ILB 3-4
Carnell Lake-FS or Corner
James Harrison-OLB 3-4

Pick 276, Round 9
Asante Samuel, CB



While the team philosophy on defense has been to get a solid front 7, we felt it was finally time to pick up someone who could defend against the pass. While he isn't a true shutdown corner, he is one of the more explosive corners in the NFL today. He is a flashy player who gambles on occasion, when he thinks the odds are with him, but also likes to play deep and try to snatch up the quick out when people don't expect it.

In 2006 he put up his best numbers with a league high 10 INTs and 60 tackles. But we will take him during his 1st Team All Pro Bowl year in 2007, where his numbers were down showing QBs had learned to stop throwing to him.

Team so far

Team so far:

OT- Jim Covert
RB - Steven Jackson
WR - Cris Carter
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CB - Asante Samuel
DE - Osi Umenyiora
DE - Neil Smith
DT - Dana Stubblefield
LB - Brian Urlacher
LB - Bryce Paup[/QUOTE]

Round 9 - Pick 285 Anquan Boldin- WR


Decided to go WR here, and am happy to pick up one of the most physical wideouts currently playing. Anquan is one of the few WRs that was able to put up big numbers immediately upon entering the league, catching 101 balls in his rookie year for 1377 yards. He's put up 10 TDs in only 7 games so far this season. There were a few WRs I was looking at here...but I like Anquan better than any of the others.

Team so far:
Offense-
Orlando Pace- LT
Mike Munchak-LG
Harris Barton- RT
Boomer Esiason- QB
Anquan Boldin- WR

Defense:
Darrell Green- CB
Clyde Simmons- DE
Cornelius Bennett- LB
Chris Spielman- LB

Round 9, Pick 30 (#286 Overall)
Takeo Spikes, LB, 2004 (Age 28)





I considered a couple different players at this spot, but ultimately it came down to the player who had the most badass name, Takeo Spikes. It doesn't hurt that he was a beast in his prime, either.

I think Spikes has fallen a little in this draft because he's been down the past couple of years after tearing his Achilles. Before that, however, Takeo was one of the most dominant linebackers in the NFL. He made two straight Pro Bowls in 2003 and 2004, and was a unanimous first-team All-Pro selection in 2004, when he picked off 5 passes, returning two for TDs (including a 62 yarder), had 18 passes defensed, forced 4 fumbles, and also got 3 sacks. In short, he made plays all over the field, whether it was rushing the passer, dropping into coverage or against the run. With the addition of Spikes, my defense becomes even more dangerous.

Round 9 pick 288 Rod Smith WR



I'm taking Rod Smith who is one of the best WR's of all time. He proved he could put up 1602 yards with Brian Griese (won't get drafted ldo) throwing him the football and defenses keying to stop him as he only had 1 other legit recieving threat beside him (hasn't been drafted) and no legit QB/RB/TE. He had good speed, was a great route runner who could run well after the catch and was a physical reciever. He was also one of the best blocking WR's of all time which will help my running game as well.

He put up worse stats when he played with Elway than when he played with Griese but that's because they were a run heavy team (like reallllll run heavy) and he also had other recieving threats (Sharpe+others) so his stats weren't as impressive. He never got a lot of the recognition he deserved because he wasn't a prima donna and had a great attitude. He showed he could be a #1 target on both a championship team and on a bad team, and will benefit a big deal from having Marvin Harrison and Gonzo on his team. Of course his stats won't show it as they will go down with my elite recieving options beside him, but he will abuse almost any #2 corner in this league who tries to cover him 1v1, and couple that with Gonzo/Harrison also demanding double teams, it will be impossible for teams to double team everyone which will make my offense very hard to stop.

Rod Smith is on par with guys like Tim Brown, Andre Reed, and Herman Moore who all went way before him, so I think he is great value in this spot.


Team so far:

WR: Marvin Harrison
TE: Tony Gonzalez
WR: Rod Smith


Defense:

CB: Champ Bailey
FS/SS: Ed Reed
OLB: Greg Lloyd
FS: Sean Taylor
DT: Casey Hampton
DE: Mark Gastineau

Round 10, Pick 290 CB Carl Lee




Before the standard writeup, I want to explain some advanced football metrics. The best passing defense of the Modern Era* (we're using '86 and beyond as the "Modern Era") were the 1988 Minnesota Vikings. Best passing defense is typically gauged by a stat known as "any/a" or, in layman's terms, adjusted net yards per attempt.
any/a= (passing yards-sack yards+10*TD-40*int)/(attempts+sacks)

In 1988, the Vikings held teams to a 1.4 any/a. The league average was 4.1 that year. To put things in perspective, the league leader this year are the Titans, who have a 2.9 any/a. League average is 4.7. Meaning, yes, passing has become a little more commonplace/efficient due to offenses/rule changes, but the change has only accounted for about a 14% increase; this Vikings defense was more than twice as effective (!) as the current Titans team at stopping the pass.

It wasn't a fluke, either, as in 1989 they had a 2.4 any/a and in 1992 a 2.3 any/a. Further, Lee's significance shouldn't be downplayed: His other corners were career journeymen (as Jeff has mentioned in the thread) and the defense only had 4 perennial pro-bowlers. (Lee, obviously; Doleman, drafted in the 2nd, Millard drafted in the 3rd, and Browner drafted in the 6th) *The reason I'm not just listing every year in between was I thought it would be "too many stats," but they were very, very good in between too. (If anyone doubts this I'll post them)

Carl Lee III (yes, the third! His father's name: Carl Lee. His father's name: Carl Lee. His father's name? Curly Luu) was the lockdown corner on that 1988 Vikings team. He was drafted by the Vikings in the 1983 in the 7th round with the 186th overall pick. He actually played his entire career - except his last ( ) with the Vikings - so 11 of his 12 years. Again it's a shame that he didn't retire with them.

Carl was a physical corner - like Surtain, we wanted to have corners who could play primarily bump-and-run. Also, like Surtain, we wanted a secondary with flexibility - Carl also played zone. (So if the occasion calls for it, we'll move away from man press and switch to zone, which is fully within the abilities of our corners) I'm not going to get into the exactness of why we want to play so much man-press (hint: We are going to blitz alot) but for now having corners that were primarily man-press was huge. FWIW, Carl was 5-11/185lbs. and played in a total of 181 games, starting 152. Important to note Carl Lee simply did not get hurt - although he didn't start every game (He didn't start every game his 1st or last year, which is what accounts for the gap between games played and started) he never missed a game due to injury or illness - only strike. He went to Marshall University.

Over his 12 year career Carl...
-3 time Pro-Bowler (88, 89, 90)
-1 time first-team All-Pro (1988)
-I haven't been mentioning this on every individual writeup (if you weren't a 1st teamer I neglected to mention the 2nd teamers) but he was a 2nd-team All-Pro in 89 and 90 as well
-Amassed 31 career Int (roughly .2 per game started at CB), having 2 career returns for TDs (both in 1988)
-7 fumble recoveries and an unofficial 799 tackles (unofficially, 4.4 per game)
-Lastly, began his career as a FS (1st 2 years) meaning he certainly can help support the run

I know Carl will be the perfect CB opposite of Patrick. Both are physical corners who possess elite athleticism. Both have been on teams that were some of the greatest to ever shut down the pass. Both mainly played man, but also are able to shift to zone if the occasion arises. And, (theme here) both are fully capable of plucking off passes when QBs loft balls out near their reach. Intangibles now, I mentioned he never got hurt - which is nice, since I have a major injury risk with Easley - but I also couldn't find anything about his personal life. Nothing positive or negative. That's fine, since my defense is made up of such good characters, that Carl will not detract from them. Yay!

I'm taking Carl as a 27 year old in 1988. He was named 1st-team All-Pro and guided, with Browner, the Vikings to the best pass defense of the Modern Era. He started all 16 games, had 8 INT (2 returned for TDs), had 1 FR, and an unofficial 60 tackles. (Or ~4/game)

*The asterisk above means I wanted to mention the 1977 Atlanta Falcons as the best passing (and likely overall) defense ever, as they held opponents to a remarkable -.2 any/a. Which is just insane. And before ya'll start looking at that team's roster to find their amazing pass rush and secondary, I've already looked, and everyone had retired when you fast forward 10 years to the year of elgibility to fulfill the "Modern Era" segment.

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 - Jared Allen (25)

~~~~~~~

QB - Trent Green (33)
WR - Terrell Owens (28)[/QUOTE]

Round #9, Pick #287



There are really just two reasons right now that I allow myself to suffer through 49ers games. Those reasons are Patrick Willis and Frank Gore. Here's a guy who is churning out 4.6 yards per carry on an offense which without him would be one of the worst offenses in NFL history. There isn't a single player at any other position who could start for a playoff team, the offensive line is a steaming pile of ****, the passing game is an absolute joke, the entire unit has trouble even staying on the field, and yet Gore gets 4.6 per carry like it's nobody's business. He is like a hybrid of Marshall Faulk and Emmitt Smith, with a little bit of Faulk's elusiveness and receiving ability, and lot of Smith's straight-ahead power.

Just look at his 2006 season for a glimpse of what he's capable of when he has even a half-decent supporting cast and is given a lot of carries. In just his second season and first as a full time back, he rolled off 1695 yards at 5.4 per carry, plus 61 catches for 485 yards and nine touchdowns total. This leads me to why I thinkt he was the best back left even over Peterson: his receiving ability not just out of the backfield, but lined up as a wide receiver.

With a quarterback in Carson Palmer who is both very accurate and a good decision-maker, and a wide receiver in Michael Irvin who is an excellent route runner, I feel like I will be able to sustain drives and keep possession long enough to get Gore a lot of carries, and he is one of those running backs who gets stronger as the game goes on and the defense wears down.

Despite the impressive statistics from 2006 that I cited, I'm taking Gore at his current age. I don't think there's any question that he's at least as good a player as he was two years ago, he just hasn't gotten enough carries and plays behind a horrible line and nonexistant passing game. Sadly enough his 33 receptions lead the team; nobody else has more than 24. One advantage I have in picking him at his current age is that he has gotten a lot better at holding onto the football since two years ago, when he fumbled it six times, compared to just two fumbles through nine games this year.

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

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

Round 10 pick 294

Pat Tillman





In all honesty I want this to be about his football playing days. Yes he was a 7th round pick in 1998. But by the year 2000 he had established himself in 48 games as one of the best safeties in the league. His 2000 season is remarkable. He would finish his career with 60 games played and was relatively healthy through that span. As my team is surrounded by players that are going to run the ball and stop the run Pat Tillman is the perfect safety for this defense. Yes there are better cover safeties in this draft but there is not a better zone and run stopping safety left IMO.

Now I know this pick maybe a reach but I can't think of a better position to take and a better player to take right now. Paul Zimmerman was a huge fan of Tillman in his 2000 campaign and voted him to his 1st team All-Pro even though the other writers didn't follow his lead I actually believe "dr." Z has some validation here. Here is what Dr. Z had to say:

I'll repeat what Zimmerman said here, "You want to laugh at me, go ahead." But he also scored better on my charts and I convinced myself of this pick even after going over other safeties that are more well known for their playing days. He was a good player that is remembered for his off the field events. If nothing else it will at least hopefully cause discussion.

I will obviously taking Tillman during his 2000 season where he was the age of 24 years old.

Needle's T-Squad:


T-Squad: LT- Tony Boselli, LG- Russ Grimm, C- Dwight Stephenson, RG- Larry Allen

CB- Sam Madison, RDE- Greg Townsend, 2i- Marcus Stroud, 3Tech- Steve McMichael, MLB- Lofa Tatupu, SS- Pat Tillman

Round 10-293 overall--John Offerdahl

im not going to pretend like i know who John Offerdahl is. Im only 21 so i didn't get to watch the late 80/90s nfl. But im certain people who did, would know who Offerdahl is. He was Zach thomas, before Zach Thomas for the Dolphins. Many Dolphins fans even consider him better then Thomas. Anyways....John Offerdahl was a 5 time pro bowler and a 1 time first team all-pro. I think one of the reason he dropped to the 10 round is injury issues, which are fair, but i don't think i can pass up on his talent.




His First 5 years in the NFL he went to the pro bowl. He was the rookie of the year and at the time the youngest player ever to make a pro bowl. I will be playing John @ MLB in a 4-3 which he played some in Miami, mostly playing in a 34 though. I think he can transition into the 43 just fine! He will be playing behind the best DL in our league, so i think he will do great. I will take him in his third year, 1988 when he was 24 years old.




Team so far:

Adrian Peterson RB

Joe Thomas OT
Randal Mcdaniel OG

DE Richard Seymour
DT Warren Sapp
DT Kris Jenkins

OLB Chad Brown
MLB John Offerdahl

CB Eric Allen

SS Joey Browner

Round 10: Pick 297
Henry Thomas -- DT







Even though I'm a Vikings fan, I'd never heard of Henry Thomas before this draft. He was largely overshadowed by other players on his defensive line such as Chris Doleman, Keith Millard, and John Randle, but Thomas was also a huge part of the dominant Vikings defense of the late 80s and early 90s.

Here's a portion from the SI Vault about Thomas:

Thomas was a very consistent defensive force throughout his lengthy career. Among defensive tackles, only John Randle, Warren Sapp, and Steve McMichael have more career sacks than Thomas. He was a part of a Vikings defense that was a consistent top 10 or top 5 unit in the late 80s and early 90s. Combined with Simeon Rice I think he gives my team a very good pass rush. Thomas can also be a force stopping the run, as evidenced by his large (although incredibly unofficial) tackle numbers.

I'll take Thomas at age 24. While the 1989 season wasn't one of his two pro bowl years because it took him awhile to get recognized, he recorded 9 sacks, forced three fumbles, and recovered three more including one returned for a touchdown. He also had a very unofficial 94 tackles. The Vikings defense also gave up the fewest yards in the NFL that year.

Team so far:
QB Jim Kelly
RB Bo Jackson
LT Willie Roaf
LG Ruben Brown

DE Simeon Rice
DT Henry Thomas
OLB Jessie Armstead
SS David Fulcher
CB Antoine Winfield
CB Rod Woodson

Round 10 Pick 298

Eric Swann DL







At 6'5" 317 Swann is a beast of a man. He made two consecutive pro bowls and All Pro 2nd Teams in 1995 and 1996 for the Phx Cardinals. Swan was physically imposing and athletically gifted enough to be drafted with the 6th overall pick in the 1991 NFL Draft. This wouldn't be that shocking for people in this draft, except for the fact that he wasn't drafted out of college, he was instead drafted with the 6th overall pick from the semi-pro football team Bay State Titans located in Lynn, Massachusetts. While this is mostly just a fun fact, it also shows how gifted and talented he was in the eyes of NFL scouts to be considered a top 10 pick from this background.

Because of Swann's combination of size and athleticism he has the ability to play multiple positions along the defensive line. The Cardinals ran the 3-4 when they drafted him, and eventually moved to Buddy Ryan's 4-6 defense where he had his two most dominating years. Swann played both DE and DT in his career, but his mainstay position was that of DT in the 4-6. I am penciling him at the moment as my left defensive end in the 3-4, where I think his combination of size, strength, and athleticism will allow him to be a force alongside of Ware/Swilling. Before his peak, at age 22, Swann had 70 tackles as a 3-4 DE. I also believe that Swann is big and strong enough to play nose tackle if need be, the versatility this gives me is an added plus as I shape my team.

Swann, while not an elite pass rusher, was a very solid one for the position he played. He averaged 7 sacks a season from 1994-1997 (4 seasons). He is exactly the type of player I need for the passing game considering the OLB's I have. Where I think he will help me most is in the run game, something my team needed badly.

While I waited 10 rounds to address my defensive line, I don't regret it. I felt that there was value later in the draft for me to find 3-4 defensive lineman, and while it remains to be seen how this works out further on in the draft, I think getting Swann here is a big step up for my defense. This format makes Swann a much more valuable player than a dynasty type draft. His peak was very high, and he had multiple seasons of great production before his career tailed off.

My team:

QB: Troy Aikman
RB: Barry Sanders
WR: Isaac Bruce
WR: Andre Johnson
OG: Steve Wisniewski
OG: Tom Newberry

DE/DT: Eric Swann
OLB: Pat Swilling
OLB: DeMarcus Ware
CB: Chris McAlister

Round 10, Pick #299 - Terrell Suggs, OLB/DE





[img]http://www.******.com/coachmosportsgroup/images/TerrellSuggsravens300-Copy.jpg[/img]

Awards & Recognition

- 2-Time Pro Bowler (2004, 2006)
- AP Defensive Rookie of the Year (2003)

With my 10th round pick, I'm going with current Ravens DE/OLB, Terrell Suggs. In what is currently his 6th NFL season, Suggs has 50.0 career sacks and 16 forced fumbles. Clearly, he provides an elite pass rusher for me to line up next to one of the all time great pass rushers of all time in Bruce Smith.

The main thing that sticks out to me about Suggs besides his ability to sack the passer is how versatile he is. Suggs can easily play the defensive end or OLB spots in the 3-4 without much of a drop off in production. In fact, Suggs position is so difficult to pinpoint that when the Ravens franchised him last offseason, there was a grievance filed debating if Suggs was owed the average salary of the top 5 defensive ends or the top 5 outside linebackers.

A scouting report on Suggs:

Along with another viewpoint of Suggs:

Suggest that Suggs is a versatile, elite pass rusher.

Team So Far

RB: Priest Holmes
LT: Flozell Adams
C: Ray Donaldson

DE: Bruce Smith
NT: Jamal Williams
DE/OLB: Terrell Suggs
LB: Junior Seau
ILB: Sam Mills
SS: Darren Woodson
CB: Terry McDaniel

Round 10, Pick 12 (300 Overall)
Calvin Johnson, WR



I've been poopooing WR and RB picks for most of this draft, but I absolutely could not pass up calvin johnson here in the 10th round.

I'll just come out and say it, I see NO DIFFERENCE between Randy Moss and Calvin Johnson in this draft

CJ's got evey physical tool a young Randy Moss, the SIXTEENTH pick in this draft, had. (Well CJ's an inch taller) The only difference between the two of them is the teams around them.

Moss Era Vikings taken in this draft -

Randall Cunningham (1st team all pro in 98)
Daunte Culpepper
Cris Carter
Randall McDaniel
Matt Birk

I can't name names, but I'll be shocked if this list isn't at least twice as long by the end of this draft.

CJ Era Lions taken in this draft -

Nobody! (don't even try to count the "Daunte Culpepper" that got off the couch last week)

In addition to nobody already been taken, there might be one taken, but he played like a little bitch and definitely wasn't an asset in Detroit this year (the age i'm taking Megatron)

See the difference? Don't tell me the difference in production between Moss and Johnson is anything but the difference in supporting casts.

Even though he's had a washed up Kitna and Culpepper in addition to Dan Orlovsky behind center this year, he's still been able to put up a more than respectable stat line. (bruised his coccyx early in his rookie season, was never 100%, but has been perfectly healthy this year)



See that juicy 19.8 yards per reception? That's a number even Moss has never reached (and is even more impressive for CJ considering who's throwing the ball to him and how he's the only player on the field opposing defenses have to worry about)

So in conclusion, I'm getting one of the three most physically gifted, all around talented WRs in this draft (after the other two were picked in the first sixteen picks) THREE HUNDRED picks later. He's put up fantastic numbers in a dreadful situation in Detroit, and the sky's the limit for him here with Warren Moon throwing behind a fantastic pass blocking line in this format.

team kkcountry

QB Warren Moon
LT Matt Light
C/G Damien Woody
WR Calvin Johnson

DT Cortez Kennedy
DT Keith Millard
DE Mario Williams
OLB Carl Banks
OLB Lance Briggs
CB Rashean Mathis

Round 10 Pick 302

S - Kerry Rhodes



Earlier this season when the pats beat the jets bill belichick sought out rhodes after the game and said the following: "you're the best I've ever faced." Pretty high praise from the best coach in the nfl eh? not to mention he has faced most of the top tier safeties in this league

Rhodes is extremely athletic for his good size (6'3'' 220) In no way is he a flashy player, but is all around solid. he's a good tackler and blitzer, reads route progressions well and has a great feel for break points and jumping patterns. You might feel like rhodes' recent stats are somewhat underwhelming but this is because teams have simply stopped throwing at him. Also with the addition of kris jenkins, it has freed up the jet lb's and rhodes has not been called upon to blitz as much anymore

His best statistical year was 06 where he had 99 tackles 5 sacks 4 ints 13 passes defended and 3 forced fumbles, yet somehow john lynch made the pro bowl over him (ugh ignorant fans)

I'll take him in the current year, at age 26.

My team:
QB - Daunte Culpepper (27)
RB - Brian Westbrook (28)
LT - Walter Jones (31)
C - Jay Hilgenberg (30)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DE - Jason Taylor (32)
DT - Ted Washington (33) Vince Wilfork (26)
OLB - Simon Fletcher (30)
S - Kerry Rhodes (26)
CB - Charles Woodson (23)

Ryan Clady



http://forums.footballguys.com/forum...&#entry9520504
This was from a "Who is the ROY?" thread. And keep in mind how great this year's rookie class is, yet people are still picking him, an offensive tackle, as their top choice.


http://forums.footballguys.com/forum...&#entry9343291
**** Marcus McNeill!



http://forums.footballguys.com/forum...&#entry9292373

http://forums.footballguys.com/forum...&#entry9238896
http://forums.denverbroncos.com/show...ighlight=Clady




This was written on 10/16, no clue if its still accurate:




And of course, our resident o-line expert:

Round 10, pick 306
Shaun Alexander, RB



3xPB
1x1stAP

I'm not a big fan of Shaun Alexander at all, he seems like a douche. He's pretty damn good value here though, imo. His five year peak from 2001-2005 compares well with anyone's. He's multi-dimensional too...he had 59 receptions for 460 yards in 2002. 2005 was one of the more productive seasons by a RB ever. He put up 117 yards a game at 5+ ypc. Pretty sick, and the 26 TDs were nice too.

Not much else to say really, I think I got a steal here, especially compared to some of the guys that have already gone.

ROUND 10, PICK 305

DRE BLY CB



He is consistent at being inconsistent. He is known to take a little extra risk. He likes to gamble. And thats why I like it. My team is all offense...and Im not fond of slowing a team down - Im all for forcing turnovers and getting it back on offense. Am I rolling the dice...craps - I think I am.

Chris McAllister was taken in the 6th round!!!...and Dre is not far behind Chris in what he brings to the table...and maybe not behind him at all. Decent value imo.

With Dre I get an enigmatic defensive back who is a play maker...he is quick off his feet and can read the QB well and is always looking to make something happen - so if you have any sort of weak link in your passing game, look out - cuz he will exploit that. Hes actually not that bad of a cover corner tbh, but is more known for his interceptions and his ability to get down the field after the catch.

Dre is a 2 time Pro Bowler and a one time SuperBowl Champ with the Rams...so technically hes more of a Champ then Champ himself, (im just saying).

I will be taking Dre Bly from 2003 (age 26)...the first of two Pro Bowl years he had. That was the same year he caught for 6 INTs, Forced 5 Fumbles, had 2 Defensive touchdowns and a staggering 202 defensive return yards (fumble recoveries and int yards).....and had a sack to top it off.


My Better then Nutwipers Offense:
QB Donvoan McNabb
RB Edgerrin James
WR Randy Moss
WR Brandon Marshall

LT Tarik Glenn
C Olin Kreutz
RT Willie Anderson

My Developing Defense
OLB Lavar Arrington
CB Dre Bly
S Rodney Harrison

ROUND 10, PICK 307
Ken Harvey, OLB, Redskins





After selecting Jeff Garcia in the 8th round, I decided that it was best to steer clear of the remaining skill positions. That said, I continue to make non-sexy picks by drafting Ken Harvey with my first pick in the tenth round.

Harvey is a great pick for me because he gives me a pass rushing threat off of the outside edge. Yes, I do have Kampman and Doleman as my pass rushing threats off of the defensive line but they'll always be picked up by offensive linemen. Harvey is strong enough to create mismatches against running backs who try to block him and quick enough to get past offensive linemen who stretches out to force him out of a play.

Harvey got off to a slow start in his career. He had some solid seasons with the Phoenix Cardinals early on, but nothing that could really bring him to an All-Star caliber. But once he hit the Redskins, his productivity increased. Harvey made four straight Pro Bowls spanning from 1994 to 1997, getting a total of 39.5 sacks during that time span, including 13.5 in 1994, which is the year I will be taking Ken Harvey from.

Current team:

Round 1 (pick #8): Anthony Munoz, OT, Cincinnati Bengals (1987)
Round 2 (pick #51): Chris Doleman, DE, Minnesota Vikings (1989)
Round 4 (pick #104): Deron Cherry, FS, Kansas City Chiefs (1986)
Round 5 (pick #136): Aaron Kampman, DE, Green Bay Packers (2006)
Round 5 (pick #142): Joe Jacoby, OT, Washington Redskins (1986)
Round 6 (pick #185): Tim McDonald, SS, Arizona Cardinals (1989)
Round 7 (pick #206): Jessie Tuggle, MLB, Atlanta Falcons (1992)
Round 8 (pick #229): Jeff Garcia, QB, San Francisco 49ers (2000)
Round 10 (pick #307): Ken Harvey, OLB, Washington Redskins (1994)

Pick 308, Round 10
Tunch Ilkin, RT



Tunch Ilkin made 2 pro bowls at right tackle and is a member of the 75th anniversary all-Steelers team. Obligatory Dr Z quote from his 1988 all-nfl team "I like Ilkin because he's old-world—a trapper and a tenacious pass blocker." Ilkin is known for developing hand techniques and is widely respected by his peers.

Ilkin had videotaped one of his workout sessions with Sarge Edwards, and gave it to the coaching staff in Pittsburgh. Eventually copies began to float around the league, and phone calls came pouring in.

Also has one of the best names out of anyone taken, TUNCH ILKIN. Here's the bio from the 75th team choice:

I can't seem to find the source now but one year he allowed zero sacks. Since McNeil may need help on the left side I am excited to take someone known for great pass protection on the right side. He was a practitioner of martial arts and can definitely kick your ass.

More info here http://www.mypassionisfootball.com/f...sts.asp?TID=12

Career highlights and awards
Pro Bowls: 2 (1988, 1999)
Member of Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Team

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
S Bob Sanders

Round 10 Pick 311
LT Will Wolford




Ask Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas and Andre Reed how they feel about Will Wolford. Ask them how much he meant to the K-Gun Offense.

Will Wolford was a three-time NFL Pro-Bowler and appeared in three Super Bowls. During his NFL career, he played for the Buffalo Bills, the Indianapolis Colts and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Following the '93 campaign, Indianapolis shocked the Bills by offering Wolford a reported three-year, $7.65 million contract, which made him the highest paid lineman in the league times two. They put in a playing-time clause that would guarantee Wolford to be the highest paid player on the team. Bill Polian, who later became Colts GM, says it [the free agency signing] was “for the simple reason that he shut down Lawrence Taylor in the Super Bowl.”

Wolford once bragged on a radio show that a police officer gave him Kevlar that he used to line the padded gloves he wore in games.

Team So Far
QB Brett Favre
RT Jackie Slater
LT Will Wolford
NT Jerry Ball
ILB Harry Carson
ILB Levon Kirkland
OLB Adalius Thomas
CB Ty Law
CB Antonio Cromartie
S Merton Hanks

Round 10 Pick 312

Chris Snee, OG



Normally when everyone has picked an offensive lineman, the first thing they do is list off the All Pros and Pro Bowl selections that player has. Well, with Snee I can't do that, because he doesn't have any. Yet, it's almost unanimous that the Giants line is currently the best offensive line in football, and none of the other lineman have received any honors either. Someone has to be the best member of that line, and I believe it to be Chris Snee, who has been an anchor since his rookie year of 2004, starting 11 games that year and every game since.

Consider the lineage of Giants running backs since that time period. Tiki Barber rushed for 1518, 1860, and 1662 at a per rush average of 4.7, 5.2, and 5.1. Upon his retirement, there was almost no regression as the top two runners rushed for 1611 yards at 4.9 ypc in 2007 and in 2008 are on pace for 2304 yards at 5.4 ypc. (as a Tiki owner, I would like to point out that while the rushing attack has stayed just as strong, receiving from the running back position has fallen off considerably, so this shouldn't be an attack on the value of Tiki) Just using the naked eye test, this Giants offensive line is as solid an offensive line as I can remember ever watching in the NFL. Some of this may be the Giants homer in me, but I am amazed every week at how often Giants running backs get to the second level untouched without having to make anyone miss, but the results speak for themselves, the Giants lead the league in yards per rush by 0.6 yards, and were 5th in the league last year while winning a Super Bowl, so it's clearly not a fluke. I am very pleased at getting the leader of this line with my tenth round pick.