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**DDT** · 08-27-2011, 09:58 AM

Offensive Skill Players
Key Losses: RB Bart Smoker (trade ANC) WR Joel Lysne (trade ANC)
Key Additions: WR Wesley Joyner (FA LAS) WR Louis Nafis (FA LAN) FB Andrew Sotiroff (UnD)

QB- Rogers*** Nece** Downing**
RB- Fletcher** Johnstone** Tanner**
FB- Prestbye*** Sotiroff**
TE- Sanderson** Shepard* Castillo*
FL- Nafis** Witt**
SE- Joyner*** Terry**

We regressed some here, I think. The addition of vet QB Nece and another year of seasoning for Downing leaves us slightly better off at QB than last year but we're still not nearly good enough. Rogers and possibly Downing are okay but I like having my guy calling plays. I'll continue to swing hard during the draft and I'll have to hit one eventually, right? The Smoker trade as well as a disappointing camp from Johnstone leaves us scrambling for answers at RB. I still think Johnstone can be effective in a limited role. RB's are bad but there is no pressing need to make a trade or reach in the draft yet. Undrafted rookie Andrew Sotiroff is one of the few offensive bright spots to emerge from camp. Prestbye may be the IFL's premiere blocking FB and a decent receiver. He'll play TE in singleback sets and if he shows anything the dreaded two FB offense will debut in Little Rock. Have to believe we're as solid as anyone at FB. I took over a team with atrocious TE's and made it worse. Identified a couple FA's and a couple late rounders I liked. The FA's went elsewhere and the late rounders went in the middle rounds. Sanderson looks third string. Horrible! I'll probably make roster moves at TE when teams finalize their 46 man rosters. We packaged Smoker and Lysne and shipped them to Anchorage for picks that haven't been made yet and used our abundance of cap space to bring in some vets. I call it buying picks. Struck out at RB but did well at WR. Joyner should be able to replace Lysne (more 3rd down catching less getting downfield otherwise they have very similar bars). Nafis and Witt bring some big play ability that was lacking. Joyner is good but I still feel like we need a go to guy. I'll use a 1st rounder or break the bank in FA here soon, I promise.

Offensive Line
Key Losses: T Craig O'Field (trade VAN)
Key Additions: T Victor Levine (FA VER) T Ernie Jamison (2.19)

LT- Levine** Jamison**
LG- O'Neal*
C- Calloway*** Staton***
RG- Bronson** Hempstead** Heath**
RT- Bookwalter** Lethert*

Still a work in progress up front. Levine was brought in as a stop gap following the O'Feild trade. If I get one year out of him I'll be happy. Jamison didn't impress or disappoint in TC. His size might make him better suited to play an object in the Khyber Belt than protect the QB's blindside, though. No reason not to give him lots of playing time. The role of LG will be played by C's and RG's. I like Calloway quite a bit more than I did the first time I viewed these Toads. He's got nice solid bars and showed enough last season as a first time starter to be in LR for awhile. Staton is a quality backup. Not much endurance but has the experience tags to step in anywhere on the interior OL for a few plays/starts. Bronson has good run blocking potential. He needs to actually block someone, though. Too young to make a judgment on. Will start for sure this year and possibly next. Hempstead is in a similar boat. I expect to play both of them a lot and hope one of them exceeds their bars and my expectations. Heath is a decent vet playing out his contract.I expect Bookwalter to be one of our better lineman this season. His technique and strength are fine but he's over 30, lacks endurance and has never had a 20 KRB season despite starting since 2013. Winfred Lethert was liked by my scout, had a good combine, nearly ideal size and refused option 1. Such high hopes for this guy. He might still be a player but he's probably too raw to be worth developing. Will be a difficult cut at some point, I imagine. I drafted five OL, and most of them had good camps, but four of them were mid 5th or later. Need to address that earlier next time. Calloway is our center going forward. I'm hoping to find another starter out of Jamison / Bronson / Hempstead. Hoping for two seems greedy.

Defensive Front
Key Losses: NT Glen Ross (retired)
Key Additions: LB Deron Sheldon (FA REN) DE Bucky Mattingly (2.1) NT Mike Stone (UnD)

DE- Mattingly** Bell** Greer**
NT- Stone** Menzies**
DE- Levine***
SLB- Robbins****
SILB- Feienbaum*** Ballard** Lynch**
WILB- Sheldon*** Ralph**
WLB- Edwards** Welch**

Finally! Something to get excited about. Levine doesn't quite have the run defense or pass rush technique bars I'd like from my best DL but he does other things very well and should be more than effective. Mattingly is one of the leagues most promising rookies. I expect him to be a big time pass rusher in 2-3 years. Bell and Greer would easily start on several teams. All four have lots of football in front of them. Mike Stone is the most tenuous starter on this team. I'm not sure what I have in Stone. He was a big agile 10/29 DE. I moved him to NT pre TC with the familiar "there's reason to believe" statement. He's now a 12/36 NT. I'm gonna start him and keep an eye on his current. I don't think he's the LR NT of the future but he's worth developing for now. A 40+ NT who excels vs the run is worth looking at at this point. My hope is that his rating was something like 8/31 after the switch and most of the gain is TC. +2/+7 doesn't make sense. Stone may end up being a good and affordable extra DT / backup NT. If he doesn't get better quick I'll go with Menzies. Linebacker is now the clear strength of the Toads, maybe it always was. What do I know? 2018 DRotY JC Robbins was sent abroad due to a lack of info on this team. I expect him to be the IFL's premiere OLB before this season is over. I was mistaken last time I posted a depth chart. Feigenbaum was able to move inside. Feigenbaum and Sheldon are each in the leagues top 20-25 talents at ILB. Both are better than that against the run. And young. We have good depth inside too. Edwards has the lowest overall rating of our starting LB's. He's an elite pass rusher. He put up good pass rush numbers playing in front of an average, at best, secondary last year. I think he'll be a force going forward. Welch is vet we brought in after we couldn't sign our older WLB to a reasonable deal. One and done? If Glen Ross was still here I'd say this is a championship level defensive front seven. Adding a really good NT is a priority. The only thing I don't like about these LB's is that the backups are older than the starters. Finding a creep every other year or so should keep this group elite through the Robbins era.

Secondary
Key Losses: none
Key Adittions: CB Korey Emmons (3.27) CB Dominic Strong (4.16) CB Randall McGee (5.12)

CB- Whiting** Peeler** McGee*
SS- McTyer** Dow*
FS- L.Emmons*** Bowler*
CB- K.Emmons** Dierdorf** Ficken** Strong*

Whiting is our best DB. I shopped him and there was some interest but nobody met my price. I imagine I'll be more accommodating next off season. We drafted CB's in the 3rd, 4th and 5th rounds. Korey Emmons is predictably the best of the rookies. He'll be given the opportunity to start opposite Whiting based on potential more than current ability. We just don't have a lot of good options here, or any. Strong and McGee each impressed the staff in camp and should easily make the next several Toad rosters. Dierdorf and Ficken are solid vets who'll be forced into much larger roles than their talent warrants. I'd like them to be a dime and reserve CB but I suspect one will end up starting and the other wil be my nickleback. The safeties suck. Lorenzo Emmons has a decent overall rating but a horrible zone bar which I hate in a safety. Bowler was big CB I drafted with a move to S in mind. Whatever ratings increase he he made was wiped out and then some in camp. SS McTyer is in his second year he still could turn into something but I doubt it. Dow is an undrafted rookie whose bars seemed to good to be true. They were. The plan here is to build a stable of six or so 40-50 DB's while using my early picks on the offense, DL & LB. Then plug in a big time CB and S and win a championship! I think that plan is solid. I know it will be frustrating.

**DDT** · 08-27-2011, 11:46 AM

OFFENSIVE SKILL POSITIONS
Key Losses - QB Don Downing (trade SLC) WR Burt Terry (FA WV)
Key Additions - RB Richard Particelli (FA VAN) TE Deron Gardner (trade HOU) TE Dexter Kroeger (2.6) WR Hunter Stills (2.26)

QB- L.Rogers** M.Nece**
RB- R.Particelli*** D.Fletcher** R.Tanner**
FB- M.Prestbye*** A.Sotiroff**
TE- D.Gardner** D.Kroeger* C.Sanderson**
FL- H.Stills** M.Witt*
SE- W.Joyner** L.Nafis**

Les Rogers was up and down in 2019. He committed an unforgivable 32 turnovers but conversely had a personal best season in yards, avg/a and avg/c. He is signed through 2023. Les showed some signs of age during the recent TC but is still easily the best option we have. He's a mentor and I doubt he has much trade value. My expectation is he'll play the majority, if not his entire career in Little Rock. Marshall Nece is a solid backup signed during the 2019 FA from MUR.

Richard Particelli is a former high draft pick who has never really been given a chance in this league. LR is his third team and he is the unquestioned number one back heading into the season. Trading Smoker to ANC and the subsequent bad camp from Johnstone left me scrambling to find a RB for much of 2019. Eventually, Darryl Fletcher won the job and should be a solid, if not spectacular, backup to Particelli. Richie Tanner is a project. He was undrafted in 2019 and held his own in camp. Very elusive; I'm interested in seeing what happens when he reaches his potential. It's hard to imagine anyone in this league has a better tandem of FB's than Prestbye & Sotiroff. Michael Prestbye was named 2019 All IFL 1st Team FB in 2019. Full disclosure- he lined up quite a bit at RB and TE last year in an attempt to get our best players on the field. Those days are behind him. Prestbye does a lot of things well and is a potentially devastating lead blocker. Andrew Sotiroff is another undrafted rookie from 2019. He's improving quickly and may be a better FB than Prestbye at this point next season. I'm content to have Sotiroff backup Prestbye for now but expect him to get some carries on 3rd and short and near the goal line. Good problem to have.

I've made a few trades in two years in LR. Deron Gardner is the only player I've traded for. Gardner is an average player but his strengths are RR and GD. I deviated from the rebuild strategy acquiring him from HOU. Dexter Kroeger is without question better than his current rating. He doesn't have a huge upside but a nice one. I wouldn't be unhappy with him being the LR starting TE in a couple years but we still need a big time playmaker or two on this offense. I could draft over him if the right player is available. Sanderson is a mentor. Hunter 'Whiskey' Stills is in a similar position to Kroeger. He'll be solid WR and very good PR. Whiskey has some nice bars and was a good value at the bottom of the 2nd but he's nobody's favorite receiver. Martin Witt is an aging deep threat and our 4th WR. After trading Lysne to ANC I offered Wesley Joyner an obscene contract. Fairly close to a zero sum switch in terms of talent. Lost a bunch cash and added a good pick in the end. Joyner cannot get downfield with a map but other than that he's a very solid receiver at this point in the rebuild. Louis Nafis is our 3rd WR another 2019 FA acquisition. Nafis is still fairly young. I view him as more than a body added to fill out the roster.

THE GOOD --- We've inherited, signed and traded for some decent mid career players (RB Particelli, FB Prestbye, TE Gardner & WR Nafis) without giving up much ... a 4th rounder and cap room.

Found some solid if not spectacular young players (FB Sotiroff, TE Kroeger & WR Stills)

THE BAD --- Desperately need a quarterback. I may be forced to reach in the draft in the next couple of years or overpay another GM. A solid foundation is in place, I think, but I would've loved to add a really good QB/RB/WR. I'm not sure the opportunity was there

OFFENSIVE LINE
Key Losses - None
Key Additions - G Hardy Stephens (3.3)

LT- E. Jamison** V.Levine**
LG- H.Stephens*
C- E.Calloway*** M.Staton***
RG- B.Bronson** S.Hempstead** D.Heath*
RT- E.Bookwalter** W.Lethert*

LT Ernie 'Mount' Jamison is one of the first picks I made as LR GM. He's big (maybe a little too big) and strong. His size means his RB and PB futures need to move at least 10 points for him to be an effective player. I strongly doubt he has it in him but there is no reason not to play him. 14 year vet Victor Levine is a prototypical LT. His best football is well behind him. Levine deserves to start. Hardy Stephens was impressive in his initial camp (+3/+5). His bars just didn't quite start off where I'd hoped. He's not terribly far behind the other G's on this roster and may have slightly more upside. He'll start. C Ernest Calloway is our best offensive lineman. He does everything well. With Particelli on board I'm looking for a 30 KRB season. Marlon Staton doesn't have a starters endurance . He's an ideal backup C and long snapper. He'll play some LG for us as well. Brady Bronson & Shaun Hempstead were locked in a heated battle at RG that extended beyond camp through much of the regular season. Bronson has the edge as of now but since both players are just entering their primes the position battle will continue for another year. RT Ellis Bookwalter is the senior Toad and one of the few members of this team with playoff experience. He does a solid job. He's probably better suited to be a 3rd OT or a injury replacement on a good team. I'd listen to offers. Winfred Lethert is a late rounder in 2019 playing out his rookie deal.

THE GOOD --- Calloway.

THE BAD --- Just about everybody else.

SPECIAL TEAMS
Key Losses - None
Key Additions - None

P- D.Carter***
K- B.Bush***

Doug Carter has a big leg but not much touch. With all this roster turnover booming a few out of the back of the end zone isn't the worst idea. Bernard Bush has bars that place him solidly within the top half of the IFL's field goalers. Sketchy at best with Kickoffs.

DEFENSIVE FRONT SEVEN
Key Losses - DE Clarence Bell (Release) DE Hardy Straw (7.24 trade SLC)
Key Additions - DT Shawn Coronado (FA FRE) ILB Marco Wickman (6.23)

LDE- B.Mattingly** T.Greer**
NT- S.Coronado*** T.Menzies** M.Stone*
RDE- M.Levine***
SLB- JC Robbins**** B.Ballard*
ILB- O.Feigenbaum*** R.Ralph** M.Wickman*
ILB- D.Sheldon** J.Lynch**
WLB- D.Edwards**

Bucky Mattingly spent the summer abroad and returned to Little Rock a different player. Last season he started games because of upside. This season he looks poised to make an impact. Mickey Levine starts opposite Mattingly. He had a career best year in PRPct & TkPct in an injury and... um ... owner apathy shortened season. Travis Greer will backup Mattingly & Levine. He's the best run defender of the three DE's that will play. I commented earlier that I thought this team had four good DE's. That statement was a little premature. Clarence Bell dropped 11 points in camp, and will be released, and Greer's potential isn't what I thought it was. I still think this group is very solid and I still think I need a guy with more PR Technique than is here currently. I probably wouldn't have used a high or even mid round pick to address that need prior to the last TC. That is where the interesting story of Hardy Straw comes in. Straw was a very big (6-5 269) highly volatile (97) OLB with a 40 time (4.66) that easily eclipsed the two top ten DE's in this draft. I didn't interview Straw but he was a very low risk high reward pick late in the 7th round. One of my imports didn't take and Straw didn't get moved to DE until the TC stage. He ended up in the top three rookies in future change. How much of that change is the position switch? How much is a good camp is anyone's guess. At any rate I didn't think Straw would develop the PR Technique that I was looking for so I traded him to SLC for a future 6th.

New Toad Shaun Coronado will attempt to fill the gaping hole left in the LR defense with the Glen Ross early retirement. Coronado is a capable NT the question is conditioning. Tyrone Menzies was forced into much larger role than his skill level warrants. He'll still play a lot as Coronado's backup. Mike Stone is a project

JC Robbins is the IFL's highest rated OLB. Robbins is a big competitive advantage for the Toads every week. I want to let him go after the QB more this season. Dustin Edwards is an ideal WLB in a 3-4 defense. Edwards is a great pass rusher and punishing hitter. He's also an above average defender against the run. Most importantly Edwards is productive. Veteran Billy Ballard moves outside due to a lack of bodies. He's still a very good special teams player.

Oliver Feigenbaum & Deron Sheldon are one of the IFL's premeire tandems at ILB. Both are run defense specialists. Each does a couple of other things well too. Sheldon isn't on the field as much as his talent would seem to warrant. I'll try to scheme the depth chart to get him out there more this season. Rufus Ralph & Jamal Lynch provide quality depth. Marco Wickman is a late rounder. Wickman had a decent camp. He is 2-3 seasons away but once developed he'll be another solid run stuffer inside.

THE GOOD --- Robbins, Feigenbaum, Sheldon & Edwards are a nice set of starting 'backers. There's depth here too.

THE BAD --- Outside of Robbins coverage is an issue. I'd like to create more TO's.

SECONDARY
Key Losses - None
Key Additions - S Alex Inskeep (2.4)

LCB- E.Whiting**
SS- A.Inskeep**
FS- W.McTyer** L.Emmons** R.Bowler*
RCB- K.Emmons** C.Dierdorf** R.Ficken** D.Strong**

Emmanuel Whiting was the Toads best DB when I took over and still is. Emmons isn't exactly a ball hawking lead corner but is a more than serviceable option. Korey Emmons was forced into PT way too early last season. His performance showed it. Again, not great but should be a solid player at this point. Chad Dierdorf & Riddick Fickens are vets with solid overall ratings. I really like Dominic Strong. The guy plays better than his bars would indicate.

Alex Inskeep was projected by most to be a CB at this level. I asked him to move to SS during camp and it seems to have paid large dividends. Inskeep should immediately be a force against the run. William McTyer starts out of position at FS. McTyer has a nice balanced skill set. He is +14/+7 since I took over and may have another 1-3 points still in him. Ideally, I like to use him as a backup at SS/FS and dime back. I only mention Lorenzo Emmons & Ronnie Bowler because you need more than 2 safeties. One or both will be cut. Neither will be here in 2021.

THE GOOD --- Inskeep might turn into something special. Starting CB's Whiting & Emmons look like doppelgangers... I may be able to skew my defense to their strengths and get a little more out of each.

THE BAD --- Our int bar is fairly low across the board... 3 of 4 starters need upgrades.

SYNOPSIS --- I think the quantity over quality approach to drafting is working. Our we a better team than we'd be with two first rounders and focusing on rookies with better initial development and bars? Debatable but probably not. This really feels like my team now. Half the roster is what I consider 'my guys'. Lots of draft picks, more than a few FA signings, several position switches and a trade. I've definitely left a mark on this team.

I've got 30 draft picks in 2021-2023. 14 of them are in the first three rounds. The key here is to not press, I think. I'm more than prepared to to move down or out.

**DDT** · 08-28-2011, 12:45 PM

Bump. I need to focus on condensing these reports going forward.

**Argot** · 08-28-2011, 12:57 PM

Good read!

**DDT** · 08-28-2011, 04:19 PM

Here's my first two drafts from other threads:

2019 DRAFT

2.1 DE Mattingly 32/42 ... 38/48
2.19 T Jamison 24/48 ... 26/49
3.21 QB Cassidy 7/41 ... 10/38
3.27 CB Emmons 17/34 ... 23/39
4.16 CB Strong 19/35 ... 22/36
5.12 CB McGee 11/23 ... 14/27
5.15 G Brandon 14/19 ... 17/24
5.25 NT Randle 20/29 ... 22/32
6.3 S Bowler 19/49 ... 23/43
6.14 G Foreman 18/49 ...19/43
6.24 TE Shepard 22/38 ... 25/37
6.32 G Madison 12/25 ... 14/30
7.13 NT Tatum 11/25 ... 12/27
7.27 T Lethert 18/38 ... 20/38

2020 DRAFT

2.4 CB Alex Inskeep 19/33...24/51...+5/+18 I'm guessing half the increase is the CB/S switch and half is a good camp. 51 overall is largely a function of maxed out RD potential. Needs to get better in coverage
2.6 TE Dexter Kroeger 17/37...21/44... +4/+7 Should be a good solid player. Excellent hands.
2.26 WR Hunter 'Whiskey' Stills 26/47...29/48...+3/+1 2nd or 3rd receiver/punt returner.
3.3 LG Hardy Stephens 19/26...22/31...+3/+5 Eh. Ladies and Gentlemen the Toads starting LG.
6.4 DE Chuck Middleton 16/28...16/31...-/+3 Moved from DE to NT. I did the same thing last year with Stone. Stone is worth developing. This guy isn't.
6.23 ILB Marco Wickman 16/39...22/39... +6/- Good run defense bar and not much else. I consider ILB to be a team strength. Good, solid, cheap depth. Not a sexy pick but not a bad one.
7.3 DE JT Klein 14/23...8/20...-6/-3 Tried to turn him into a LB. Fail.
7.24 LB Hardy Straw 8/26...18/34...+10/+8 Successful move to DE just not quite enough there on a roster already crowded at DE.

**DDT** · 02-26-2012, 01:13 PM

1.1 Shane 'Gator' Matthews CB Alabama-Birmingham - Negotiations with Matthews began early. He became the first DB to go 1.1 in IFL history days before the official start of the draft. Gator has everything you look for in a number 1 overall selection. Expecting major movement from his BnR bar. Gator gains 1 point overall despite doubling his BnR bar. Don't think he quite catches the LAN CB in overall rating but I'll take the number 2 CB with the 100 int rate.
pre-camp 64/77
post camp 73/78
1.14 Kurt Everitt LT Illinois - The first OL to be selected in the draft. Everitt is big and raw. I expect him to struggle quite a bit while he adjusts to the pro game. I'm not sure Everitt is quite as good as his current 74 potential. Should be a much better than average starting LT for 7+ years in Little Rock. Not unexpected. Long way to go on those first two bars. Summer?
pre-camp 24/74
post camp 29/68
2.1 Gabe Patterson QB Nebraska - After May (1.2 Reno), the franchise QB I passed on, no other QB was selected in round 1. I decided Patterson was the best of the rest and jumped on him at the top of the 2nd. Needs a big camp and some movement in the AC & RD bars.+3 suggests his Acc & RD bars will never be good enough to start.
pre-camp 7/36
post camp 11/39
2.2 Quinn 'Mighty Quinn' Perry G Arizona - Sub 5.0 40 at OG is always a good thing. Another raw OL; Perry should develop into an outstanding run blocker. Will be a top run blocking G someday.
pre-camp 20/57
post camp 24/58
2.4 Alan Riley NT Southern Miss. - My list ran out and I didn't want to reach this early. Not sure what I have here. Strong, agile DT with ideal size. Lacks endurance. Better endurance than expected. Excells at some things my starter struggles with.
pre-camp 34/50
post camp 37/54
2.16 Donnie 'The Edge' Edmonds LB Louisiana St. - I'm always losing out on these types of players. Feels good to land one. Edmonds will make the switch to WLB in the 3-4. With Dustin Edwards on the roster there is no rush to get him on the field. The Edge has the potential to be a great pass rusher. 84 PRT; 93 PRS. What other bars?
pre-camp at ILB 14/25
pre-camp at WLB 14/28
post camp 17/32

.... so for those playing the home version it ended up being QB May for LT Everitt, QB Patterson and OLB Edmonds. May is currently 23/86. Obviously, I don't think he's nearly that good. Should've picked May.

3.4 Keith Keefe RB Syracuse - Keefe is a between the tackles runner with a little speed. Projects as a short yardage/change of pace type. Very volatile and my scout liked him so who knows. Nice piece just not quite enough there to be a feature back
pre-camp 35/44
post camp 40/47
3.17 T.J. Graff DE Appalachian St. - Similar to Riley except the utility made this pick. I wanted a speed rushing DE somewhere in the mid rounds so I don't hate this pick. Again no idea what I have. Desperately wanted James Tompkins who went one pick earlier to St Louis. Decent player. I already have a couple DE's with this skillset, though.
pre-camp 28/52
post camp 33/50
4.3 Levon Bullock WR Purdue - At this point I decide most of the guys I'm targeting in the late rounds are probably safe. Looking to go 2 for 3 in combine/bars/volatility for a few picks. Bullock brings good AD, GD, BPR and very volatile. Keeper. His bars should allow him to be an effective role player with a 40ish rate
pre-camp 13/40
post camp 17/39
5.2 Devin Rutledge K Georgia Tech - Signed a K in FA after mine walked. Rutledge has a chance to be better than both. Good combine and good balanced bars. Eh. The vet I signed busted some so he'll kick for us this year at least
pre-camp 38/65
post camp 39/58
6.1 Riddick Hutcheson RB California - Haven't had a RB who could help in the passing game since I've been here. Hutcheson was drafted for that singular purpose. Scout likes him. If he was a little lighter and faster I'd give him a look at wideout. Scout likes that idea too. Not the receiver I'd hoped for.
pre-camp 28/38
post camp 30/37
6.4 Oliver Brooks S Alabama - Noticed only 2 safeties on my roster and decided to draft one. No idea what possessed me to think this guy is the answer to that question. Didn't offer a rookie contract.
pre-camp 13/29
post camp 13/30
6.15 Desmond Bueter WR Tennessee - Volatile WR with a couple good combine score. Impressed my scout. Cut
pre-camp 12/27
post camp 15/30
7.3 Howie Rouff CB Arkansas - Good speed. Serviceable strength and position drill. Scout liked. Not sure. 60 man yes. 53 man ??
pre-camp 13/31
post camp 16/33
7.4 Troy Mohler C Tennessee - Fast center. No negative combine scores and decent bars. Not enough to displace the 2 C's I have
pre-camp 14/42
post camp 17/41

Undrafted Rookie Free Agents

Gus Whalen QB TCU
pre-camp 16/43
post camp 18/40
Wendell Kelley WR Minnesota
pre-camp 17/39
post camp 19/37
Darren Kelly WR Duke
pre-camp 17/41
post camp 18/35
Don Gamble G Louisville
pre-camp 19/46
post camp 22/47 Yahtzee!
Jessie Webster T Georgetown
pre-camp 25/44
post camp 29/44 Don't like the bars
Deion Lindsay ILB Ga. Tech
pre-camp 18/45
post camp 22/42 Will keep to add youth and save $

**DDT** · 02-26-2012, 01:16 PM

A player receives one point for their current overall and 1/3 point for unrealized potential. So, a player with a 40/70 rating gets 50 points. The system is based on the Poor, Fair, etc ratings used in the game.

84+ *****
67-83 ****
50-66 ***
33-49 **
16-32 *

OFFENSIVE SKILL POSITIONS

Key Losses: WR Martin Witt (FA DAK) RB Darryl Fletcher (cut)
Key Additions: QB Lawrence Cook (FA VER) QB Gabe Patterson (2.1) RB Keith Keefe (3.4) WR Levon Bullock (4.3)

QB- L.Cook** L.Rogers** G.Patterson*
RB- K.Keefe** R.Particelli** R.Tanner**
FB- M.Prestbye*** A.Sotiroff***
TE- D.Kroeger** D.Gardner**
FL- H.Stills** W.Joyner**
SE- L.Nafis** M.Norris** L.Bullock*

I inquired about trading for Lawrence Cook near the trading deadline last season. I felt sure Vermont would offer him an extension. He became FA priority #1 when he entered the offseason as a UFA. Cook is a caretaker QB nothing more. The Toads were a combined -40 in TO margin in 2019-20. Cook's presence on this team will have an immediate impact on that area. He's one the IFL's safest QB's. Les Rogers is no longer a starter here and I can't see him starting anywhere again in this league barring catastrophe. Rogers is still a top 40 or so QB and a mentor and provides quality depth. Gabe Patterson didn't turn out quite as well as I'd hoped. I still think he ends up with an overall rating around 46-48. I'll hold onto him for now but with Cook the starter and Rogers popularity, contract, still decent skills and mentor status Patterson may begin his journeyman career soon. Were still looking for the Toad future at QB.

Rookie Keith Keefe will start a RB. Keefe should be a solid back the question is: How often will he be on the field?. Keefe could be a small factor as receiver as well. His hands are another huge question mark, though. The battle for RB2 hasn't resolved itself yet. Richard Particelli is coming off an 800 yd. season and an awful camp. Ritchie Tanner is a below average runner with big elusiveness. Tanner will be the 3rd down back. I thought Andrew Sotiroff might take over at FB this season. A stellar exhibition season by Michael Prestbye has delayed those plans. For now they are both Toads. If we get off to another bad start I'll shop Prestbye near the deadline. I can't imagine this situation continuing into 2022.

Dexter Kroeger enters the season as the new starter at TE. I'm not sure Kroeger is a better player than incumbent Deron Gardner yet. There is just too much upside to not play this guy. 2nd year WR Hunter Stills is another first time starter at FL. Stills had a very successful rookie season, with more PT, sustained drives and experience I'm expecting a big year for Whiskey. Veteran WR Wesley Joyner will be the backup FL and our 3rd WR. Louis Nafis has been the most productive Toad receiver the last 2 seasons. Veteran Marshall Norris didn't make it all the way back from his second very serious injury. He was already here and there were no better options on the market so he returns for his second year in LR. Rookie Levon Bullock is an ideal 5th receiver. Good hands, running after the catch and BPR but he won't take targets away from more developed receivers. Bullock has some return ability and may help out there down the road.

Synopsis: I was very close to taking the QB May and/or the RB Sparkman. I decided to address holes on the OL and DB this time. Lots of good pieces here but still no huge talents.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Key Losses: T Victor Levine (no offer)
Key Additions: T Lamar Todd (FA LAN) T Kurt Everitt (1.14) G Perry Quinn (2.2) G Don Gamble (UnD)

LT- K.Everitt** E.Jamison**
LG- Q.Perry** H.Stephens**
C- E.Calloway*** M.Staton**
RG- S.Hempstead** B.Bronson** D.Gamble*
RT- L.Todd*** E.Bookwalter**

Rookies Kurt Everitt and Perry Quinn take over the left side of the Toad OL. There will be growing pains. Everitt will never be a great LT and might not even be a very good one. He should develop into a much better than average starter equally skilled as a run and pass blocker. Quinn will be a premiere run blocker someday but that day is a long way off. I've soured some on Ernest Calloway. I expected much more production from him on the bad Toad OL we've fielded the last couple of years. Shaun Hempstead starts at RG. Hempstead is a good run blocker but is a concern in pass protection. Lamar Todd will start out of position at RT. I made a big offer to Todd, cooled on him when I drafted Everitt and got back in the Todd bidding war when I fanned on a couple other FA's. I'm not comfortable with a position switch in this situation. My hope is Todd plays well enough at RT to be our OL leader for the next 4-6 years; if not he is a top 25 or so OT in this league and should have some trade equity next offseason.

LT Ernie Jamison, LG Hardy Stephens, C Marlon Staton, RG Brady Bronson and vet RT Ellis Bookwalter make up our reserve OL. 2nd year player Stephens is the youngest of the group. The other 4 have current ratings over 40.

I listed Victor Levine as a key loss even though I didn't offer him because he was much better than expected for 2 years in LR. Our best line probably features Todd at LT and Bookwalter at RT. We could see that if we're competitive and Everitt starts as slowly as I expect.

Synopsis: Tood, Everitt and Perry add a huge influx of talent upfront. Still a work in progress. We are beginning to put the kind of players you need to win on the field.

DEFENSIVE FRONT SEVEN

Key Losses: LB Donnie Edmonds (cut)
Key Additions: NT Alan Riley (2.4) DE T.J. Graff (3.17)

DE- B.Mattingly*** T.Greer**
NT- S.Coronado*** A.Riley**
DE- M.Levine*** T.J.Graff**

SLB- J.C.Robbins****
SILB- O.Feigenbaum*** M.Wickman*
WILB- D.Sheldon** D.Lindsay*
WLB- D.Edwards**

No changes to the starting front 7. Bucky Mattingly is my first draft pick as Toad GM and a good one. Mattingly has shown consistent improvement in his first two seasons in LR and hasn't quite hit his potential yet. As Mattingly has improved Mickey Levine has become less effective. I'm not thrilled with Levine who is only average against the run and as a pass rusher. His other bars are excellent. I think Mattingly/Levine provide one of the better DE tandems in the IRL but anyone with a monster DE will have the advantage. Travis Greer is an ideal reserve DE decent bars and content to come off the bench. Rookie T.J. Graff will play some but is being groomed to step into Greer's role in a few seasons. I don't think Graff will ever be a starter.

NT and Defensive Front Leader Shawn Coronado bounced back from a bad final year in FRE to have a good debut in LR. NT had been in disarray around here since all world DT Glen Ross suffered career ending injury. Coronado is a well above average starter with zero endurance. Rookie Alan Riley is being groomed to replace Coronado eventually. Riley won't plug the middle as well as some DT's but should have three outstanding bars.

J.C. Robbins and Dustin Edwards are probably the IFL's premeire tandem at OLB. Robbins does everything at a very high level and is the leagues highest rated OLB. Edwards is an outstanding pass rusher. Cutting Donnie Edmonds was a mistake. I thought I was safe missing the cut to 60 sim. The Edge signed with SLC. Good luck, Donnie. I only have 2 OLB's on the roster so Robbins & Edwards need to stay healthy.

For the 3rd year Oliver Feigenbaum and Deron Sheldon will be the Toads ILB's. Neither is exceptionally talented but they seem to get the job done. Feigenbaum has been good since moving inside. Sheldon doesn't put up great numbers but is a talented backer. His versatility has allowed us to keep our best players on the field when someone needs a breather. 2nd year player Marco Wickman and undrafted rookie Deion Lindsay round out our LB corp. Neither is anything more than a cheap project with good run defense potential.

Synopsis: I like our DL, starters and depth, no one is great we do have alot of nice pieces. The loss of Edmonds is huge. Any lost time injury to a LB could be crippling.

SECONDARY

Key Losses: none
Key Additions: CB Shane Matthews (1.1)

CB- E.Whiting**
SS- A.Inskeep**
FS- W.McTyer** B.Money**
CB- S.Matthews**** K.Emmons** D.Strong**

Shane 'Gator' Matthews may be the highest rated CB in the IFL when I release a roster report next season. Selecting Gator at 1.1 generated some controversy. Matthews is a freakish talent the thought process that led to his selection was that he will do more to close the gap between us and Tulsa than any other player on the board. Veteran Emmanuel Whiting is solid opposite Gator. Nickleback Korey Emmons is a younger slightly less talented version of Whiting. I'm hoping to see a spike in production from Emmons as he sees more favorable matchups vs WR3. Dominic Strong seems to be better than his bars.

Reigning DRotY Alex Inskeep is a run stuffing in the box SS. He fits in well with our DB's and does a decent job in coverage. William McTyer didn't look like anything to me when I took this franchise over. McTyer has proven me wrong. He's another guy that fits our M2M scheme. Brady Money was the best safety I could find in the discard pile. He won't be back.

Synopsis: Matthews presence alone should pay huge dividends. I'll be disappointed if we're not one of the leagues better defenses.

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