BackDraft ~ 2013

[Off The Grid]

I thought it might be kind of cool to start cranking out combination Master Plan & Mock Drafts after the Draft is held, each Year. In retrospect, the information available at this point is far better, after all. Namely: what the Market actually thinks of Prospects and when they really Project to get Drafted, thus making this one more Authentic.

I freely admit, mind you, that knowing when other Teams would've actually drafted the Prospects I coveted is clearly an enormous Advantage. But in all Fairness to myself ~ and to all other Mock Drafters ~ we are all dealing with the equally enormous Disadvantage of knowing only a tiny fraction of what the 32 Teams know.

Being able to interview someone ~ ask probing questions and test their Intelligence, their Processing Speed, their Personality ~ is a gigantic Advantage, and so is being able to interview everyone they're connected with, and to sit down with All 22 Tape and avail oneself of the vast expertise of ones Scouting Department's time & Expertise.

All things considered, I'd call it a Wash!!

And it's also fair to note that the vast majority of the Projections were accurate. This just cleans things up a bit.

So here goes: Fanatical Yankee's 1st Annual Patriots Master Plan & Mock Draft BackDraft!!

Top Priorities of an Extraorindarily Demented Mind

It All Starts In The Trenches.

History has shown us a thousand times ~ if we have eyes to see ~ that while Glamor Positions ~ hideously referred to as "Skill" Positions by the national media ~ are entertaining and exciting to play Madden FootBall with, it is, in the real world, ultimately the teams that focus on Players and Schemes that are adept at boring, mundane things like Tenacious D, Moving The Chains, and Winning The Battles of the Trenches...who end up with the Rings.

The Patriots are poised to make some Magic happen...To perhaps carve out an unprecedented Page in History.

But we are almost perilously thin at what I consider our most vital Positions.

This is one man's wish ~ a fervent Prayer, to quote Paul Newman in The Verdict ~ that we boldly address this.

***

1 ~ Defensive Tackle. Only the QuarterBack exerts more influence on the outcome of his Team's PlayOff Fate than do the Team's Defensive Tackles. Vince Wilfork is simply the best of them all, but if we had somebody of his approximate Caliber playing alongside'm, the Ripple Effect on the rest of our Defense could be spectacular.

Furthermore: If Wilfork goes down right now, our entire Defense goes down the toilet.

Depth of Talent is badly needed.

2 ~ Offensive Guard. It can be argued that the Impact of the play of the Offensive Guards is even more vital to a Team's chances of success in the only Games that really count ~ the ones played in the Dark Depths of Winter ~ than even that of the Center, for they are more crucial than anyone to the Run Game, and it was, furthermore, the failure of Pass Protection in the Interior of our O Line, in each of the last two Super Bowls, that can be argued to've made the Championship Difference. Dan Connolly is a tremendous Reserve, and a decent Starter. But this Team is so loaded, and so well-coached, that we're in a position where it may well be only the Offensive Line that is endangering our chances of winning not just one Super Bowl, but two or even three in a row.

3 ~ Center. The Anchor of the Offensive Line is positioned to exert more influence on the outcome of his Team's PlayOff Fate than all but two or three Players on the entire Team: The QuarterBack and the Defensive Tackles. Our Ryan Wendell did a commendable job stepping in last year, but at such a crucial Position, pursuing anything less than All Pro Caliber Talent is an horrible waste of the efforts of the other 52 men.

However, I see no All Pro Center looming in the Mist, this Year...and that is what I'm holding out for.

Secondary Priorities

4 ~ Depth of Talent at WingBack. Most Tight Ends are either classic Tight Ends ~ On Line Blocker/Receivers like Kong, though of course there are none quite like Kong!! ~ or Flex Ends, like Jimmy Graham, who, as I understand it, doesn't line up much in the BackField nor do much man on man Blocking, but is mostly a Receiver who chips here and there. WingBacks who bring Aaron The Navigator's kind of positional versatility are rarer...but not so rare that we can't find them. Evan Rodriguez is a guy who I was desperate for us to get, last April, and our failure to do so hurt us badly when Hernandez missed huge swaths of time, last year.

Mind you: Rodriguez's Game is far more about beautifully brutal Blocking, accompanied by impressive Routing and great Hands, whereas Hernandez's Game is far more about Receiving, accompanied by the occasional Chip.

But our Versatility and the Quality of Impact would still be outstanding, with Rodriguez in there.

I was ecstatic to see Bill The Mad (Genius) make an aggressive move away from Wide Receiver Depth and towards greater Depth at Tight End, this year. Most of the guys were faded or mediocre, but Daniel Fells and Michael Hoomanawanui have proved useful Reserves at both positions, albeit at steep Talent Discounts.

The next step ~ so say I!! ~ is to bring in substantial Depth of Talent in the Draft and by Trade.

5 ~ Depth of Talent at Offensive Tackle. We are wafer thin at this position, with a gigantic Talent Vacuum behind Nate "Universal" Solder and Sebastian The Cruel, and there's really no need for that to be, not with all the raw Day 3 & UFA Talent that comes out every year. I have little faith in the ability of Marcus Cannon to be the kind of Offensive Tackle that I want ~ one with exceptional Lateral Agility to challenge Edge Rushers ~ and I don't want our Championship Chances to rest in the hands of a Guard/Tackle Hybrid like Nick Kaczur on SuperBowl Sunday: I want somebody born to play Guard to play Guard, and I want somebody born to play Tackle to play Tackle.

6 ~ Depth of Talent at Free Safety. Y'all saw how our entire Defense rapidly improved ~ The Ripple Effect ~ once Bill The Mad (Genius) moved Devin McCourty to CenterField ~ a position he was evidently born to play. Well, I have no desire to find out what happens to our Defense if DeMac misses some time, because ~ as I mentioned in predicting our Defense's enormous improvement if DeMac stayed there, after the Aqib Talib Trade ~ CenterField is more essential to the success of the entire Defense than either CornerBack. As such, I think it behooves us to take a long, careful look at potential CenterField Talent in this Draft.

I've always said that CenterField is Ras I Dowling's best position, because I question his Verticity, but not his Range or Instincts. And I strongly suspect that he might actually hold up for a while if all that Turning & Burning at Corner wasn't putting so much stress on'is wickets...But I hardly want to count on him as a #2 at this point.

And he might even yet prove to be an exceptional Press Man Corner, where Verticity is not as critical to success.

7 ~ Depth of Talent at CornerBack. We need to start targeting the talented Day 3 guys who are available every single year, and pay for the highest Expertise in Defensive Back Coaching we can find. However, this Class is weak.

8 ~ Gryphon!! That's my preferred term for the Hybrid Strong Safety & MidFielder who roams the Middle. It's my belief, with the direction this Game is heading in ~ a Passing League producing smaller Defensive Fronts ~ that this Position will evolve ~ and soon, very soon ~ from an obscure, fringe, ethereal, and part time Position that only a few teams employ at all...to one of crucial, critical importance to the success ~ and survival!! ~ of Defenses in the years directly ahead. Troy Polamalu is the Ideal, here: A guy who commands the Verticity to Turn & Burn in Pass Defense, the Short Area Burst to project Power and Thump in Run Defense...and the Processing Speed to discern Who, What, When, and Where...in a NanoSecond.

I have intensely high hopes for Nate Ebner developing, here, and some lingering shreds of hope ~ though not such exuberance ~ for Tavon Wilson doing the same ~ I was horrified and disgusted when we passed on LaVonte David for'm ~ but I'd like to bring in some guys who command far more demonstrable Verticity in Pass Defense.

9 ~ QuarterBack!! We've been incredibly fortunate at this Position, ere the last 11 years and counting, but I would not wish to presume on the FootBall Gods any further. Personally, I wouldn't be surprised if Tom Brady were our starting QuarterBack for another 5 years...perhaps even longer: into'is 40's. Or it might be just 3 more years after this one, especially if we launch an unprecedented historic run as I strongly suspect we're about to...But in any case, I would sleep much better if we were developing one or two guys behind'm ~ guys who command exceptional Diagnostic Capacity and, above all, Processing Speed ~ who could step in, should they be needed.

At the moment ~ and this may well change over the next 6 weeks ~ the two best candidates I see are already in the NFL, and one or both would need to be acquired by Trade, not the Draft.

Ryan Mallett, I would trade to the highest bidder.

And frankly, considering the desolate wasteland that is this year's crop of QuarterBacks coming out ~ and the number of teams hurting badly at QB ~ that Bid may be far higher than Mallett's vaporous resume ought warrant.

I pray so.

And, now for some really HareBrained Ideas...

 

[Off The Grid]

Insanity ~ Building The "Yankee 245" Defense!!

Those who've read this fine Blog previously ~ both of you. Haw ~ may recall that I advanced a Theory, last Summer, that The Next Wave of Defensive Innovation will be a move to the "245" as a Base Defense.

I hope you'll read that acid-induced Article, but I can boil it down for you, if long dissertations don't appeal to you:

The increasingly Pass-Friendly rule changes ~ for over an hundred years ~ have compelled Defensive Coordinators to craft increasingly small Fronts over that same great length of time...and my Assertion is that the latest wave of Rule Changes, over the last decade ~ from which Defenses, as an whole, are still reeling ~ ought to compel and must compel Defenses, across the Land, to migrate to a "245" Base, as the best means of combating this.

I have myself crafted a Version of the "245" that I believe is best suited to lead Defenses into the New Era.

This Defense has, in fact, five Layers, and could quite arguably be called the "22223"!!

Grizzlies

"Grizzly" is my all-inclusive term for Linemen on both sides of the Ball, but within the confines of my own twisted Version of the "245", I apply it only to the Defensive Tackles: At least one of these guys needs to be a Mastodonic Beast: The Role of the Grizzlies is simple: Wreak Havoc, Dominate the middle, and force everything OutSide.

Dragons

"Dragoon" is my term for Prospects & Players who are capable either of playing Defensive End in a "434" or "425" Defense, or Flank Defender ~ "OutSide LineBacker" to you Earthlings ~ in a "344" or"335" Defense.

"Dragon" is my term for Players who play an Hybrid Role ~ toggling between either Role, as Tactics warrant.

Their Role, naturally, is to Set The Edge in Run Defense, and Rush The Passer in Pass Defense.

A...um...a bit of Talent is required to fulfill this role effectively.

Lions

"MidFielder" is my term ~ a far superior one, I flatter myself to think ~ for the ~ well, for the MidFielders.

These're the guys who've been tagged with the hideously weak and disrespectful term "LineBackers."

"Lions" in the "245", need to be able to attack the Ball in Run Support, cover half the Field, Flow to the Ball or Turn & Burn in Pass Defense...and need, above all, to Rapidly Read & React to determine which to do.

They, too, must be highly talented Lads to succeed and even survive in this Era!!

Such is how it is, when Roger Goodell ~ and millions of Madden FootBall Fans ~ want only 45-42 SlugFests!!

Gryphons

"Gryphon" is my term for the Hybrid Strong Safety & - that has slowly worked its way into the outer periphery of FootBall Tactics, over the last decade or so, often attached, indeed, to the "245". But of course it's been considered a Substitute Role, and only a Part Timer at that, as the "245" more often involved a NickelBack.

My thinking is that the Gryphon not only needs to become part of a Base Defense...But that we need two.

Yep.

The Role of the Gryphon in my version of the "245" would be about the same as the "Star" or "Monster" or whatever Coaches call it ~ Hybrid Pass Defense & Run Defense. But my Defensive Vision would be to transform the Gryphon from an occasional part time Gig that most teams don't even employ...to not one but two full time Gigs!!

The Gryphons would be responsible not only for Run Defense and Pass Defense ~ and for Rapidly Reading & Reacting to determine which to go with ~ but would also be responsible, if needs be, for Nickel & Dime Coverage, as well: They would, in short, become the Heart & Soul of the Back Nine!!

There'd be a Strong Gryphon ~ Run Defense First ~ and a Free Gryphon ~ Pass Defense First.

But both would be Hybrids, whereas the Eagle ~ Free Safety ~ would be predominantly focused on Pass Defense.

And I'm of the opinion that the classic Strong Safety size ~ but with far beyond classic Strong Safety Skills ~ would actually be the optimum size for the Gryphon, who must deal with a far faster Foe than the previous Generation did.

Raptors ~ Birds of Prey

With an humble Tip of the Cap to my Partner In Crime who wishes to remain anonymous, and who originated the use of the exquisitely perfect term "Raptor" to describe Defensive Backs....

"Falcon" ~ CornerBack 1 ~ Preferably a Big Guy
"Hawk" ~ CornerBack 2 ~ Preferably 5.11 or Taller
"Eagle" ~ Free Safety

These Roles are pretty much Classic in their Responsibilities.


A Few Notes Regarding The Offense

1 ~ I have little use for FlankerBacks ~ you know: The speedy, skinnier WideOut who lines up Off The Line, on the opposite side across from the Split End ~ and even less regard for traditional SlotBacks. Basically, I'm against Glamor Position Players ~ so called "Skill Players" who can only do one thing well. And these guys ~ FlankerBacks & SlotBacks ~ are, for the most part, pretty much only good for Catching the Ball.

2 ~ By the same token, I have very little use for traditional FullBacks, because they don't do much but Block.

3 ~ I believe ~ as indeed I have been saying in various Forums for 3 years, now ~ that there are phenomenal Opportunities to exploit the faster but smaller Defenses of the modern Game, and that these Opportunities lie, above all, in expanding the Depth of Talent at both Tight End ~ the classic Blocker & Receiver Hybrid ~ and at WingBack ~ the New Era Flex End/Wing Back/FullBack Super Hybrid ~ Aaron Hernandez.

4 ~ Developing Depth of Talent at Tight End ~ backups and partners for Kong ~ would give us a myriad of deadly Mismatch Opportunities, as we could threaten to beat the smaller, faster Defenses into the dirt, 5 Yards at a time on the Ground...or blast our way downfield through the Air...and they would often have no idea which to expect!!

5 ~ Likewise, developing Depth of Talent at WingBack ~ backups and partners for Aaron The Navigator ~ would open up vast tactical and Mismatch Possibilities, because our ability to morph Sets would be ridiculous.

6 ~ Developing Depth of Talent at both Positions, while doing the same at FlexBack ~ my term for HalfBacks who are genuinely dangerous Receiving Threats ~ Careening Shane Vereen & Uncanny Danny WoodHead ~ would exponentially expand our Options on every Down, and the Set Possibilities would be literally infinite.

7 ~ And by developing Depth of Talent at Split End ~ big, strong Ends who can Block, who can run Routes and consistently get Open ~ the sweet, maddening Ambiguity of our Sets would expand even farther.

8 ~ Stretching the Field not Vertically but Horizontally, persistently mixing up the PlayCalling, and developing both the Ability and the Will to Run or Pass in any given situation ~ and developing the Depth of Talent to be able to do so ~ is all this team needs to do to run off 3 Super Bowl Championships in a row. Use The Whole PIG, Tom!!

Additional Caveats & Obfuscations

1 ~ Be warned: At a glance, this Conceptual Mock will seem deliriously ludicrous. It might hurt your eyes.

2 ~ Even so: Not one single Transaction ~ not one!! ~ is either unfair or in itself implausible. Not one. And the fact of the matter is that none'f us who don't do this for a living can really know the scope of what Negotiations go on ~ what Trades are possible that are simply never agreed upon. I strongly suspect that what Picks and Players actually get swapped are but the tip of the IceBerg, and that an aggressive General Manager ~ one who, like myself, held absolutely no regard whatsoever for Convention ~ could tear the landscape to shreds...and in a single weekend.

3 ~ All Trades are impeccably Fair, based on Book Value ~ my Term for the Values nominally assessed by the famous Trade Value Chart, which is, mind you, only a Guide, and is often ignored, depending on circumstances.

This is...my Vision!! Mwahahaaa!!

 

[Off The Grid]

PreDraft Trades

DD Donta HighTower > Ravens > #32 & #129 & #238!!
OL Marcus Cannon > Bears > WB Evan Rodriguez + SE Dale Moss + #153
DD Jermaine Cunningham & XB Jeff Demps > Bucs > #112 & XB Michael Smith!!
FL Brandon Lloyd > Jets > #72 + #141 + QB Greg McElroy!!
QB Ryan Mallett > Cardinals > #38 + #140 + #174!!
DL Brandon Deaderick > Miners > #180!!
DT Kyle Love & OL Nick McDonald > Steelers > #186 & #223!!

Draft Day Trades

#29 > Vikings > #52 & #83 & #102 & #229!! * Cord Patterson!! *
#52 & FS Steve Gregory > Hoostens > #57 & #124!! * Jamar Taylor!! *
#72 > Bengals > #84 & #118 & #190!! * Mike Glennon!! *
#112 > Buccaneers > #126 & #147!! * Tyler Wilson!! *

The Picks

#32 ~ SS Jonathan Cyprien ~ Florida InterNational Panthers ~ 6003/216
#38 ~ DE Tank Carradine ~ Florida State Seminoles ~ 6040/275
#57 ~ SS Dayario Swearinger ~ South Carolina Game****s ~ 5104/208
#59 ~ TE Travis Kelce ~ Cincinnati BearCats ~ 6050/255
#83 ~ XE Jordan Reed ~ Florida Gators ~ 6024/238
#84 ~ OG Hugh Thornton ~ Illinois Fighting Illini ~ 6033/320
#91 ~ DT Brandon Williams ~ Missouri Southern Lions ~ 6012/336
#102 ~ SS Duke Williams ~ Nevada WolfPack ~ 5110/201
#118 ~ OG Joe Tretter ~ Cornell Big Red ~ 6036/308
#124 ~ SE Christopher Harper ~ Kansas State WildCats ~ 6006/228
#126 ~ FL Quinton Patton ~ Louisiana Tech ~ 6000/204
#129 ~ XB Marcus Lattimore ~ South Carolina Game****s ~ 5112/222
#140 ~ XB Christopher Thompson ~ Florida State Seminoles ~ 5070/192
#141 ~ FS Josh Evans ~ Florida Gators ~ 6012/207
#147 ~ SE Corey Fuller ~ Virginia Tech Hokies ~ 6021/204
#153 ~ PK Caleb Sturgis ~ Florida Gators ~ 5097/189
#174 ~ XB Latavius Murray ~ Central Florida Knights ~ 6024/224
#180 ~ FD DeVonte Holloman ~ South Carolina Game****s ~ 6012/243
#186 ~ XB Kerwynn Williams ~ Utah State Aggies ~ 5082/195
#190 ~ OT Reid Fragel ~ Ohio State BuckEyes ~ 6075/308
#223 ~ TE Justice Cunningham ~ South Carolina Game****s ~ 6025/259
#226 ~ SE DaRick Rogers ~ Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles ~ 6024/216
#229 ~ QB Peter Lalich ~ California Pennsylvania Vulcans ~ 6050/231
#235 ~ OT Luke Marquardt ~ Azusa Pacific Cougars ~ 6084/315
#238 ~ DL Lawrence Okoye ~ British Discus Throwers ~ 6051/304

UFA's

UFA ~ MF Keith Pough ~ Howard Beefalos ~ 6016/240
UFA ~ XB Damon Harper ~ Boise State Broncos ~ 5091/210
UFA ~ DT Will Pericak ~ Colorado Beefaloes ~ 6033/300
UFA ~ WB Willie Carter ~ Tulsa Hurricane ~ 6015/240
UFA ~ SS Ryan McWethy ~ PlatteVille Pioneers ~ 6012/225
UFA ~ OT Wade Jacobson ~ Washington State Cougars ~ 6057/303
UFA ~ DT Glenn Foster ~ Illinois Fighting Illini ~ 6036/286
UFA ~ SE Courtney Gardner ~ Sierra Wolverines ~ 6024/216

FA's ~ Free Agents

FA ~ CB Nnamdi Asomugha ~ Philadelphia Eagles ~ 6024/213
FA ~ CB Bradley Fletcher ~ Saint Louis Rams ~ 6003/195
FA ~ CB Antoine Cason ~ San Diego Lightning Bolts ~ 6003/192
FA ~ DT Glenn Dorsey ~ Kansas City Chiefs ~ 6015/297
RFA ~ Danario Alexander ~ San Diego Lightning Bolts ~ 6045/216

HouseKeeping

Resignings

OT Sebastian Vollmer
XB Danny WoodHead
FL Julian Edelman
CB Aqib Talib
MF Dane Fletcher

Divestitures

SB Wes Welker
CB Kyle Arrington
SS Pat Chung
DD Trevor Scott
OG Donald Thomas
TE Michael Hoomanawanui
TE Daniel Fells

Extensions

FS Devin McCourty
SP Zoltan Mesko

 

[Off The Grid]

Offensive OverView

Top Competitors & Projected # of Roster Spots on Final 53

QuarterBack ~ 3

Tom Brady
Greg McElroy
Peter Lalich
Mike Kafka


Center ~ 1

Ryan Wendell

Offensive Guard ~ 4

Logan Mankins
Hugh Thornton
Joe Tretter
Dan Connolly

Offensive Tackle ~ 4

Sebastian Vollmer
Nate Solder
Reid Fragel
Luke Marquardt
Wade Jacobson

Tight End ~ 3

Rob Gronkowski
Travis Kelce
Justice Cunningham
Jake Ballard

WingBack ~ 3

FW ~ Aaron Hernandez
FW ~ Jordan Reed
SW ~ Ivan Rodriguez
FW ~ Willie Carter

Split End ~ 3/4

Danario Alexander
Christopher Harper
DaRick Rogers
Corey Fuller
Dale Moss
Courtney Gardner

Flanker ~ 1/2

Quint Patton
Julian Edelman

HalfBack ~ 4/5

HB ~ Stephan Ridley
XB ~ Shane Vereen
XB ~ Danny WoodHead
XB ~ Michael Smith
XB ~ Marcus Lattimore
XB ~ Kerwynn Williams
XB ~ Latavius Murray
XB ~ Damon Harper
XB ~ Christopher Thompson

Notes

1 ~ Backup QuarterBacks must master Long Snapping.
2 ~ Backup Offensive Guards must master Center.
3 ~ Backup Center ~ if any ~ must master Offensive Guard.
4 ~ Strong WingBack is more of a Blocker than Receiver.
5 ~ Free WingBack is more of a Receiver than Blocker.

Defensive OverView

Top Competitors & Projected # of Roster Spots on Final 53

Grizzly ~ 4

Vince Wilfork
Brandon Williams
Glenn Dorsey
Armond Armstead
Lawrence Okoye
Will Pericak
Glenn Foster


Dragon ~ 4/5

Chandler Jones
Tank Carradine
Rob Ninkovich
Justin Francis
Jake Bequette

Lion ~ 4

Jerod Mayo
Brandon Spikes
DeVonte Holloman
Dane Fletcher
Keith Pough
Jeff Tarpinian

Gryphon ~ 4/5

Jon Cyprien
DJ Swearinger
Duke Williams
Nate Ebner
Tavon Wilson

Eagle ~ 1/2

Devin McCourty
Josh Evans

Falcon ~ 2/3

Nnamdi Asomugha
Ras I Dowling

Hawk ~ 3

Alfonzo Dennard
Bradley Fletcher
Antoine Cason

Notes

1 ~ The Terms all relate to my Deeply Disturbed Defense ~ The Yankee "245"!!
2 ~ Falcons are the Big CornerBacks.
3 ~ Hawks are the Medium Sized CornerBacks.
4 ~ Sparrows are the Tiny CornerBacks, and we don't abide those!!
5 ~ Falcons, Eagles, & Hawks ~ the Raptors ~ all serve as Depth for one another.

Patriots Prognosis ~ 2013!!

1 ~ Depth of Talent concerns are vaporized. If Kong gets hurt again, we have tremendous Depth of Talent to step in for'm. If Hernandez gets hurt, we have outstanding Depth of Talent to step in for'm. And by the end of the Season ~ which is all that matters ~ the phenomenal Coaches we've retained or brought in will very likely have developed our rather amazing Depth of Talent ~ at every last Position ~ to the Point where it can compete...

2 ~ What most Fans don't really realize is that Rookies & Sophomores who have things click during the latter stages of their first full Season ~ as very many of the smartest, most talented ones do ~ have an immense advantage over the Teams they play against, simply because there's nothing ~ no Data ~ with which to chart the Tendencies & Weaknesses of these guys...an advantage that the Veterans that they're going up against do not enjoy.

3 ~ Bringing in the likes of Travis Kelce and Justice Cunningham ~ true Blocking Beasts who are also dangerous down the Seam ~ explosive, in Kelce's case ~ to bookend with Kong will bring utterly incalculable Terror to the rest of the League: Our ability to Run The Damned Ball ~ 60 times a Week, if we were so inclined ~ would skyrocket.

4 ~ And yet the ability of Kong & Kelce or Kong & Cunningham or Kelce & Cunningham to tear a vertical hole right up the middle of either Seam ~ or both Seams!! ~ would drive Defensive Coordinators into unrelenting Terror.

5 ~ Aaron the Navigator, joined by his explosive Protege, Jordan Reed, would give us the ability to create schematic possibilities guaranteed to turn Defensive Coordinators' hair white with babbling, gibbering Terror: Double Wing. Double SlotBack. Double FullBack. Double Split. Trips Left. Trips Right. And 987,000 other delightful Concoctions!!

6 ~ The BackField, of course, would be poised to enjoy its Finest Hour: Shane Vereen, Michael Smith, Kerwynn Williams, and Latavius Murray threaten explosively dangerous versatility on every single Snap. We can deploy 1 of them, or Zero, or 4, on any given Play. The Capacity of Vereen, WoodHead, Smith, and the others to split out wide in an instant is of course horrifying to any Defender, and simply multiplies the exquiste Defensive nightmare!!

7 ~ The Offensive Line should be dramatically improved if they simply stay healthy: Solder, Vollmer, and Mankins are all All Pro Level Talents, after all. I believe that Solder is poised for a big step forward, this year ~ toward Stardom, perhaps ~ and that Mankins ~ with a full offseason to simply heal ~ will be fully healthy for the first time in 2 years, and surprise many people, who assume he's started to age, by returning to'is mauling, brawling Beauty. And if they should get injured, the Depth of Talent is now light years more Athletic & Talented than it's ever been.

8 ~ With the Influx of Glenn Dorsey, Brandon Williams, and Armond Armstead, the Defensive Tackle Depth of Talent will explode, and this crew will finally become the terrifying, dominating Horror that it always should've been!! And Dorsey, Williams, and Armstead will bring an actual Pass Rush to the center of the Line, which will in turn free up Vince Wilfork to bring far more Pass Rushing Rage than he's ever previously been able to!! Once Brandon Williams, in particular, gets rocking and rolling, the combination of Wilfork and him will eclipse even the fabled Duo of Tony Siragusa and Sam Adams...and every other Defensive Tackle Duo that's ever roamed the Land!!

9 ~ Tank Carradine and Chandler Jones are two of the most potentially devastating Pass Rushers of this Era...And if you exclude the Pass Rushers who can't Stop the Run at the level that these guys can, that list shrinks dramatically. If Carradine can actually get Up To Speed in time for Opening Day, the combined effect of these two will be simply awesome. There is truly the Opportunity to forge an harrowingly elite Crew of Two...And there is also very good reason to believe that Justin Francis and Jake Bequette are poised to make significant Impacts in their Sophomore years. All in, this Defense would be poised for nothing short of a spectacular improvement in its Pass Rush.

10 ~ Pass Defense?? Well, we all know that nothing improves Pass Defense like an improved Pass Rush, so I would expect that even if the MidFielders and Secondary simply treaded water, in terms of their Performance, we'd see an equally spectacular improvement in their Results...But of course the seismic Impact of Cyprien & Swearinger in the notorious Middle of our Pass Defense, and the huge jump toward stardom that I expect from McCourty in'is first full Season at Free Safety would transform that Secondary into an attacking Secondary...at long, long last!!

 

[Off The Grid]

1 ~ Please understand: I do not presume to persuade anyone of my unusual Perspective on things.

2 ~ I believe that we persuade ourselves...and employ the words of others only to inform our Decisions.

3 ~ My reason for copying this, here ~ the No Frills Version ~ is to share my radical views, not to sell them.

Mostly, I just want to get this On The Record...So I can review these, here, 4 Years hence, and Evaluate.

Any thoughtful discussion is greatly welcome and appreciated, of course.

 

[Off The Grid]

I hope anyone who feels like cranking out their own BackDraft will feel free to do so, here ~ I plan on Saving this Thread as a Self Evaluatory Point of Reference to review later on, so it'll be readily available.

My first Mock Draft was in 2010, and it's already given me quite a few Chuckles...one year to Hatching!!

 

[everlong]

I don't have the time to get into this right now but I'll hit a few key points. I LOVE the concept of the 2-4-5. I think to run it properly you have two have two big uglies to do it properly. Vince and Star for instance. Armstead and some others would be very situational in my version of this defense. I also would never trade Hightower since he would grant me a lot of versatility in this defense.

As far as what we know after obviously teams really took character into account for Montgomery, Allen and Rodgers especially. I do think Allen is a perfect fit in SD. Rivers is another of the chuck it up high QBs and minus VJ he has suffered. I think Allen will do well there.

 

[s3antana5757]

I hope anyone who feels like cranking out their own BackDraft will feel free to do so, here ~ I plan on Saving this Thread as a Self Evaluatory Point of Reference to review later on, so it'll be readily available.

My first Mock Draft was in 2010, and it's already given me quite a few Chuckles...one year to Hatching!!

Can you post that?

 

[Off The Grid]

I hope anyone who feels like cranking out their own BackDraft will feel free to do so, here ~ I plan on Saving this Thread as a Self Evaluatory Point of Reference to review later on, so it'll be readily available.

My first Mock Draft was in 2010, and it's already given me quite a few Chuckles...one year to Hatching!!

Can you post that?

Sure, why not??

NFL Forum :: - Off The Grid's Phantasmagorical + Acid-Induced Mock Draft!!

I'm pretty sure that I did everything possible wrong that anyone can do in a Mock Draft with this one!! In all fairness to myself, I had about 8 weeks of experience, in the sense that I don't think that I even knew Mock Drafts existed, 8 weeks before this!!

1 ~ 1st Dubious Move: Speculating that the Miners would be willing to trade the #17 for our 2011 Raider 1st Rounder, straight up. Mind you: That's not as insane as one might think ~ although 1000% unprecedented, mind you!! ~ because the Raiders were coming off 847 consecutive Seasons of producing a Top 5 Pick, and the Miners also had #13 in the 2010 Draft...but still!!

2 ~ 2nd Dubious Move: Dreaming that we could've traded Dan Koppen to the Raiders for #70.

3 ~ 3rd Dubious Move: Nick Kaczur for a 4th Rounder. Yeah, right!!

4 ~ 4th Dubious Move: Matt Light for another 4th Rounder.

5 ~ 5th Dubious Move: OT Charlie Brown @ #22. Obviously, he went at the end of the 2nd Round, which is one of a million reasons why BackDrafts are the only real way to provide something that can stand up to Evaluation, later on...Anyway, I have no regrets about the Charlie Brown Play, but he sank to the 2nd Round because of Health, and it turned out that'is Health has been a disaster!!

6 ~ FD Jerry Hughes @ #32!! Oh, how I loved this guy!!

7 ~ FD Jason Worilds @ #53!! Crazy about this guy!! Doh!!

8 ~ SE Marcus Easley ~ 3rd Round!!

9 ~ SS Myron Rolle ~ 4th Round!!

10 ~ I also managed to draft THREE Defensive Ends in the last two Rounds who nobody's ever heard from again, and listed about TWENTY possible UFAs who're ALL now working at the Quickie Mart!!

F...MINUS!!​

GOD, I had a blast, though!!

 

[ctpatsfan77]

#229 ~ QB Peter Lalich ~ California Pennsylvania Vulcans ~ 6050/231

Well, one early sign: not only was Lalich not drafted, he wasn't even signed as an UDFA.

 

[Off The Grid]

Well, one early sign: not only was Lalich not drafted, he wasn't even signed as an UDFA.

Sure, but a sign of what?

Any time we set out to Mock, my friend, we enter a Magical World where we are the General Manager.

And while the highly eccentric Mister Lalich ~ he is most definitely a Flake!! ~ might very well've put off every GM who'd otherwise have made'm an Offer...I, being a Flake, myself, wouldn't've had that problem.

All we know at this Point is that 32 Teams haven't made a move to secure'is Services.

That by no means means that they aren't making 32 hideously foolish mistakes.

It wouldn't be the first time...would it?

 

[Sfpat]

Hey OTG, I always enjoy your wild and crazy thoughts. It's thinking "outside the box" that leads to the good ideals that become game changers. If I were running the Browns for example, I would consider your concepts because following the traditional "groupthink" has resulted in, well, the Browns (when was the last time they made the SB?).

 

[PatsFanStnfrd]

Stimulating to say the least. OTG, you have genuine passion for the Pats and more broadly in football -- as evident from your knowledge of college players across the country.

For your sake, given the amount of time, energy and resources you expend in persuing your passion, I hope you find time to convert it into a rewarding (or at least complimentary) career. Perhaps you can join an NFL organization as a resident contrarian expert challenging/pushing the GM or your own website. After all, if a know-nothing like Mike Florio can start a "pro Football talk" website.....

I'm sailing blindly in uncharted waters, but want to wish you well.

 

[Off The Grid]

Hey OTG, I always enjoy your wild and crazy thoughts. It's thinking "outside the box" that leads to the good ideals that become game changers. If I were running the Browns for example, I would consider your concepts because following the traditional "groupthink" has resulted in, well, the Browns (when was the last time they made the SB?).

How very kind of you, Brother Frisco.

I finally came to realize, at some point, how ludicrously presumptuous it is to try to "convert" people to one's way of thinking: If anyone buys a new Idea, they do so for their own reasons and in their own time. More often, in fact, they come up with their own Idea, perhaps influenced or even inspired by one's Perspective.

The most I can or should aspire to is to tickle brains ~ to give someone a fresh Perspective to consider.

As such, you've offered me the Highest Praise that I aspire to, and for that, Sir, I thank you!!

 

[Off The Grid]

Stimulating to say the least. OTG, you have genuine passion for the Pats and more broadly in football -- as evident from your knowledge of college players across the country.

For your sake, given the amount of time, energy and resources you expend in persuing your passion, I hope you find time to convert it into a rewarding (or at least complimentary) career. Perhaps you can join an NFL organization as a resident contrarian expert challenging/pushing the GM or your own website. After all, if a know-nothing like Mike Florio can start a "pro Football talk" website.....

I'm sailing blindly in uncharted waters, but want to wish you well.

Great and incredibly kind Words, Brother Stanford. Grateful Thanks!!

I actually have started my own little Blog, and I'm still in the process of finding a Balance between FootBall and my other Aspirations, which are Legion...But I do hope, some day, some Year ~ and lofty Goals these be!! ~ to eventually influence the Language, if only in some Ethereal corners of the FootBall Universe!!

You, Sir, quite obviously Aspire To The Stars, as well, and for that, I salute you yet again!!

Wow...You Bay Boys are Lushes!! I'm getting tipsy, here...:singing:

 

[Off The Grid]

My Fellow FootBall Fanatics...

Because y'all deserve my Best Work ~ and because I'm a Self Promoting Hoar ~ and most of all because I am possessed with a deeply unhealthy, twisted, and neurotic Pleasure in such Productions...I'm going to indulge myself and reproduce the more elaborate version of my 1st annual BackDraft ~ 2013 Version ~ in the Hope that the Names of the Prospects ~ and my Arguments behind selecting them ~ will resonate in your fine, fertile Minds.

So here it is...

I thought it might be kind of cool to start cranking out combination Master Plan & Mock Drafts after the Draft is held, each Year. In retrospect, the information available at this point is far better, after all. Namely: what the Market actually thinks of Prospects and when they really Project to get Drafted, thus making this one more Authentic.

I freely admit, mind you, that knowing when other Teams would've actually drafted the Prospects I coveted is clearly an enormous Advantage. But in all Fairness to myself ~ and to all other Mock Drafters ~ we are all dealing with the equally enormous Disadvantage of knowing only a tiny fraction of what the 32 Teams know.

Being able to interview someone ~ to ask probing questions and test their Intelligence, their Processing Speed, their Personality ~ is a gigantic Advantage, and so is being able to interview everyone they're connected with, and to sit down with All 22 Tape and avail oneself of the vast expertise of one's Scouting Department's Time & Expertise.

All things considered, I'd call it a Wash!!

And it's also fair to note that the vast majority of the Projections were accurate.

This just cleans things up a bit.

So here goes: Fanatical Yankee's 1st Annual Patriots Master Plan & Mock Draft Grand Finale!!

 

[Off The Grid]

Top Priorities of an Extraordinarily Demented Mind

It All Starts In The Trenches.

History has shown us a thousand times ~ if we have eyes to see ~ that while Glamor Positions ~ hideously referred to as "Skill" Positions by the national media ~ are entertaining and exciting to play Madden FootBall with, it is, in the real world, ultimately the teams that focus on Players and Schemes that are adept at boring, mundane things like Tenacious D, Moving The Chains, and Winning The Battles of the Trenches...who end up with the Rings.

The Patriots are poised to make some Magic happen...To perhaps carve out an unprecedented Page in History.

But we are almost perilously thin at what I consider our most vital Positions.

This is one man's wish ~ a fervent Prayer, to quote Paul Newman in The Verdict ~ that we boldly address this.

***

1 ~ Defensive Tackle. Only the QuarterBack exerts more influence on the outcome of his Team's PlayOff Fate than do the Team's Defensive Tackles. Vince Wilfork is simply the best of them all, but if we had somebody of his approximate Caliber playing alongside'm, the Ripple Effect on the rest of our Defense could be spectacular.

Furthermore: If Wilfork goes down right now, our entire Defense goes down the toilet.

Depth of Talent is badly needed.

2 ~ Offensive Guard. It can be argued that the Impact of the play of the Offensive Guards is even more vital to a Team's chances of success in the only Games that really count ~ the ones played in the Dark Depths of Winter ~ than even that of the Center, for they are more crucial than anyone to the Run Game.

And it was, furthermore, the failure of Pass Protection in the Interior of our O Line, in each of the last two Super Bowls, that can be argued to've made the Championship Difference.

Dan Connolly is a tremendous Reserve, and a decent Starter. But this Team is so loaded, and so well-coached, that we're in a position where it may well be only the Offensive Line that is endangering our chances of winning not just one Super Bowl, but two or even three in a row.

3 ~ Center. The Anchor of the Offensive Line is positioned to exert more influence on the outcome of his Team's PlayOff Fate than all but two or three Players on the entire Team: The QuarterBack and the Defensive Tackles. Our Ryan Wendell did a commendable job stepping in last year, but at such a crucial Position, pursuing anything less than All Pro Caliber Talent is an horrible waste of the efforts of the other 52 men.

However, I see no All Pro Center looming in the Mist, this Year...and that is what I'm holding out for.

Secondary Priorities

4 ~ Depth of Talent at WingBack and Tight End. Most Tight Ends are either classic Tight Ends ~ On Line Blocker/Receivers like Kong, though of course there are none quite like Kong!! ~ or Flex Ends, like Jimmy Graham, who, as I understand it, doesn't line up much in the BackField nor do much man on man Blocking, but is mostly a Receiver who chips here and there.

WingBacks who bring Aaron The Navigator's kind of positional versatility are rarer...but not so rare that we can't find them. Evan Rodriguez is a guy who I was desperate for us to get, last April, and our failure to do so hurt us badly when Hernandez missed huge swaths of time, last year.

Mind you: Rodriguez's Game is far more about beautifully brutal Blocking, accompanied by impressive Routing and great Hands, whereas Hernandez's Game is far more about Receiving, accompanied by the occasional Chip.

But our Versatility and the Quality of Impact would still be outstanding, with Rodriguez in there.

I was ecstatic to see Bill The Mad (Genius) make an aggressive move away from Wide Receiver Depth and towards greater Depth at Tight End, last year. Mind you: Most of the guys were faded or mediocre...

The next step ~ so say I!! ~ is to bring in substantial Depth of Talent in the Draft and by Trade.

5 ~ Depth of Talent at Offensive Tackle. We are wafer thin at this position, with a gigantic Talent Vacuum behind Nate "Universal" Solder and Sebastian The Cruel, and there's really no need for that to be, not with all the raw Day 3 & UFA Talent that comes out every year. I have little faith in the ability of Marcus Cannon to be the kind of Offensive Tackle that I want ~ one with exceptional Lateral Agility to challenge Edge Rushers ~ and I don't want our Championship Chances to rest in the hands of a Guard/Tackle Hybrid like Nick Kaczur on SuperBowl Sunday: I want somebody born to play Guard to play Guard, and I want somebody born to play Tackle to play Tackle.

6 ~ Depth of Talent at Free Safety. Y'all saw how our entire Defense rapidly improved ~ The Ripple Effect ~ once Bill The Mad (Genius) moved Devin McCourty to CenterField ~ a position he was evidently born to play. Well, I have no desire to find out what happens to our Defense if DeMac misses some time, because ~ as I mentioned in predicting our Defense's enormous improvement if DeMac stayed there, after the Aqib Talib Trade ~ CenterField is more essential to the success of the entire Defense than either CornerBack. As such, I think it behooves us to take a long, careful look at potential CenterField Talent in this Draft.

I've always said that CenterField is Ras I Dowling's best position, because I question his Verticity, but not his Range or Instincts. And I strongly suspect that he might actually hold up for a while if all that Turning & Burning at Corner wasn't putting so much stress on'is wickets...But I hardly want to count on him as a #2 at this point.

And he might even yet prove to be an exceptional Press Man Corner, where Verticity is not as critical to success.

7 ~ Depth of Talent at CornerBack. We need to start targeting the talented Day 3 guys who are available every single year, and pay for the highest Expertise in Defensive Back Coaching we can find. However, this Class is weak.

8 ~ Gryphon!! That's my preferred term for the Hybrid Strong Safety & MidFielder who roams the Middle. It's my belief, with the direction this Game is heading in ~ a Passing League producing smaller Defensive Fronts ~ that this Position will evolve ~ and soon, very soon ~ from an obscure, fringe, ethereal, and part time Position that only a few teams employ at all...to one of crucial, critical importance to the success ~ and survival!! ~ of Defenses in the years directly ahead. Troy Polamalu is the Ideal, here: A guy who commands the Verticity to Turn & Burn in Pass Defense, the Short Area Burst to project Power and Thump in Run Defense...and the Processing Speed to discern Who, What, When, and Where...in a NanoSecond.

I have intensely high hopes for Nate Ebner developing, here, and some lingering shreds of hope ~ though not such exuberance ~ for Tavon Wilson doing the same ~ I was horrified and disgusted when we passed on LaVonte David for'm ~ but I'd like to bring in some guys who command far more demonstrable Verticity in Pass Defense.

9 ~ QuarterBack!! We've been incredibly fortunate at this Position, ere the last 11 years and counting, but I would not wish to presume on the FootBall Gods any further. Personally, I wouldn't be surprised if Tom Brady were our starting QuarterBack for another 5 years...perhaps even longer: into'is 40's. Or it might be just 3 more years after this one, especially if we launch an unprecedented historic run as I strongly suspect we're about to...But in any case, I would sleep much better if we were developing one or two guys behind'm ~ guys who command exceptional Diagnostic Capacity and, above all, Processing Speed ~ who could step in, should they be needed.

At the moment ~ and this may well change over the next 6 weeks ~ the two best candidates I see are already in the NFL, and one or both would need to be acquired by Trade, not the Draft.

Ryan Mallett, I would trade to the highest bidder.

And frankly, considering the desolate wasteland that is this year's crop of QuarterBacks coming out ~ and the number of teams hurting badly at QB ~ that Bid may be far higher than Mallett's vaporous resume ought warrant.

I pray so.

And, now for some really HareBrained Ideas...

 

[Off The Grid]

Insanity ~ Building The "Yankee 245" Defense!!

Those who've read this fine Blog previously ~ both of you. Haw ~ may recall that I advanced a Theory, last Summer, that The Next Wave of Defensive Innovation will be a move to the "245" as a Base Defense.

I hope you'll read that acid-induced Article, but I can boil it down for you, if long dissertations don't appeal to you:

The increasingly Pass-Friendly rule changes ~ for over an hundred years ~ have compelled Defensive Coordinators to craft increasingly small Fronts over that same great length of time...and my Assertion is that the latest wave of Rule Changes, over the last decade ~ from which Defenses, as an whole, are still reeling ~ ought to compel and must compel Defenses, across the Land, to migrate to a "245" Base, as the best means of combating this.

I have myself crafted a Version of the "245" that I believe is best suited to lead Defenses into the New Era.

This Defense has, in fact, five Layers, and could quite arguably be called the "22223"!!

Grizzlies

"Grizzly" is my all-inclusive term for Linemen on both sides of the Ball, but within the confines of my own twisted Version of the "245", I apply it only to the Defensive Tackles: At least one of these guys needs to be a Mastodonic Beast: The Role of the Grizzlies is simple: Wreak Havoc, Dominate the middle, and force everything OutSide.

Dragons

"Dragoon" is my term for Prospects & Players who are capable either of playing Defensive End in a "434" or "425" Defense, or Flank Defender ~ "OutSide LineBacker" to you Earthlings ~ in a "344" or"335" Defense.

"Dragon" is my term for Players who play an Hybrid Role ~ toggling between either Role, as Tactics warrant.

Their Role, naturally, is to Set The Edge in Run Defense, and Rush The Passer in Pass Defense.

A...um...a bit of Talent is required to fulfill this role effectively.

Lions

"MidFielder" is my term ~ a far superior one, I flatter myself to think ~ for the ~ well, for the MidFielders.

These're the guys who've been tagged with the hideously weak and disrespectful term "LineBackers."

"Lions" in the "245", need to be able to attack the Ball in Run Support, cover half the Field, Flow to the Ball or Turn & Burn in Pass Defense...and need, above all, to Rapidly Read & React to determine which to do.

They, too, must be highly talented Lads to succeed and even survive in this Era!!

Such is how it is, when Roger Goodell ~ and millions of Madden FootBall Fans ~ want only 45-42 SlugFests!!

Gryphons

"Gryphon" is my term for the Hybrid Strong Safety & - that has slowly worked its way into the outer periphery of FootBall Tactics, over the last decade or so, often attached, indeed, to the "245". But of course it's been considered a Substitute Role, and only a Part Timer at that, as the "245" more often involved a NickelBack.

My thinking is that the Gryphon not only needs to become part of a Base Defense...But that we need two.

Yep.

The Role of the Gryphon in my version of the "245" would be about the same as the "Star" or "Monster" or whatever Coaches call it ~ Hybrid Pass Defense & Run Defense. But my Defensive Vision would be to transform the Gryphon from an occasional part time Gig that most teams don't even employ...to not one but two full time Gigs!!

The Gryphons would be responsible not only for Run Defense and Pass Defense ~ and for Rapidly Reading & Reacting to determine which to go with ~ but would also be responsible, if needs be, for Nickel & Dime Coverage, as well: They would, in short, become the Heart & Soul of the Back Nine!!

There'd be a Strong Gryphon ~ Run Defense First ~ and a Free Gryphon ~ Pass Defense First.

But both would be Hybrids, whereas the Eagle ~ Free Safety ~ would be predominantly focused on Pass Defense.

And I'm of the opinion that the classic Strong Safety size ~ but with far beyond classic Strong Safety Skills ~ would actually be the optimum size for the Gryphon, who must deal with a far faster Foe than the previous Generation did.

Raptors ~ Birds of Prey

With an humble Tip of the Cap to my Partner In Crime who wishes to remain anonymous, and who originated the use of the exquisitely perfect term "Raptor" to describe Defensive Backs....

"Falcon" ~ CornerBack 1 ~ Preferably a Big Guy
"Hawk" ~ CornerBack 2 ~ Preferably 5.11 or Taller
"Eagle" ~ Free Safety

These Roles are pretty much Classic in their Responsibilities.

 

[Off The Grid]

A Few Notes Regarding The Offense

1 ~ I have little use for FlankerBacks ~ you know: The speedy, skinnier WideOut who lines up Off The Line, on the opposite side across from the Split End ~ and even less regard for traditional SlotBacks. Basically, I'm against Glamor Position Players ~ so called "Skill Players" who can only do one thing well. And these guys ~ FlankerBacks & SlotBacks ~ are, for the most part, pretty much only good for Catching the Ball.

2 ~ By the same token, I have very little use for traditional FullBacks, because they don't do much but Block.

3 ~ I believe ~ as indeed I have been saying in various Forums for 3 years, now ~ that there are phenomenal Opportunities to exploit the faster but smaller Defenses of the modern Game, and that these Opportunities lie, above all, in expanding the Depth of Talent at both Tight End ~ the classic Blocker & Receiver Hybrid ~ and at WingBack ~ the New Era Flex End/Wing Back/FullBack Super Hybrid ~ Aaron Hernandez.

4 ~ Developing Depth of Talent at Tight End ~ backups and partners for Kong ~ would give us a myriad of deadly Mismatch Opportunities, as we could threaten to beat the smaller, faster Defenses into the dirt, 5 Yards at a time on the Ground...or blast our way downfield through the Air...and they would often have no idea which to expect!!

5 ~ Likewise, developing Depth of Talent at WingBack ~ backups and partners for Aaron The Navigator ~ would open up vast tactical and Mismatch Possibilities, because our ability to morph Sets would be ridiculous.

6 ~ Developing Depth of Talent at both Positions, while doing the same at FlexBack ~ my term for HalfBacks who are genuinely dangerous Receiving Threats ~ Careening Shane Vereen & Uncanny Danny WoodHead ~ would exponentially expand our Options on every Down, and the Set Possibilities would be literally infinite.

7 ~ And by developing Depth of Talent at Split End ~ big, strong Ends who can Block, who can run Routes and consistently get Open ~ the sweet, maddening Ambiguity of our Sets would expand even farther.

8 ~ Stretching the Field not Vertically but Horizontally, persistently mixing up the PlayCalling, and developing both the Ability and the Will to Run or Pass in any given situation ~ and developing the Depth of Talent to be able to do so ~ is all this team needs to do to run off 3 Super Bowl Championships in a row. Use The Whole PIG, Tom!!

Additional Caveats & Obfuscations

1 ~ Be warned: At a glance, this Conceptual Mock will seem deliriously ludicrous. It might hurt your eyes.

2 ~ Even so: Not one single Transaction ~ not one!! ~ is either unfair or in itself implausible. Not one. And the fact of the matter is that none'f us who don't do this for a living can really know the scope of what Negotiations go on ~ what Trades are possible that are simply never agreed upon. I strongly suspect that what Picks and Players actually get swapped are but the tip of the IceBerg, and that an aggressive General Manager ~ one who, like myself, held absolutely no regard whatsoever for Convention ~ could tear the landscape to shreds...and in a single weekend.

3 ~ All Trades are impeccably Fair, based on Book Value ~ my Term for the Values nominally assessed by the famous Trade Value Chart, which is, mind you, only a Guide, and is often ignored, depending on circumstances.

This is...my Vision!! Mwahahaaa!!

 

[Off The Grid]

PreDraft Trades!!

DD Donta HighTower > Ravens > #32 & #129 & #238

...Just in case anyone was still wondering whether'r not I'd lost my #$%&!!!

Again: This is my Vision. I take no pleasure in constructing a MasterPlan & MockDraft that is designed to cater to the wishes of my Team's Head Coach, even if that Head Coach happens to be Coach Bill The Mad (Genius).

Every one of us who rolls out a MasterPlan & MockDraft is "Playing General Manager". And why not??

It's a blast!!

But I've always felt that if something's worth doing, it's worth going All Out.

And so I have!!

Donta HighTower ~ a Pick I was never thrilled about, though a Player I do admire ~ could potentially convert into a Dragon in The Yankee"245"...but I believe that we can acquire the Services of a far more explosive Dragon for that Role for less than we could actually acquire in Trade for the Services of HighTower, himself.

It's no secret either that the Ravens are facing a desperate Salary Cap situation, nor that their MidFielder Corp is being torn to shreds and there's virtually nothing that they can do about it...nor that they were fervent Fans of HighTower, last April: Peter King reported it, the idea being that he replace Ray Lewis.

It's virtually unheard of, to trade a Player after one Year, much less to get considerable Value for'm...but the Stars are aligning perfectly for this one to happen, and Historical Precedent means #$%& to me!!

OT Marcus Cannon > Bears > WB Evan Rodriguez & SE Dale Moss & #155

1 ~ Marcus Cannon has superb Potential, but I want Grizzlies with Lateral Agility and who can run.

2 ~ The Bears are desperate for quality Grizzlies, and Cannon's poised to become an exceptional Right Tackle.

3 ~ Lovie Smith burned a 4th Rounder on Evan Rodriguez, last year, but he was ill used, and with a new Regime in place, the Opportunity is ripe to pluck an extraordinary Talent up, cheap, while the Bears recalibrate.

4 ~ Dale Moss is a Lottery Ticket, but he's a former World Class Runner who converted to FootBall only in 2011... and immediately blew up his League!! He's incredibly raw, but his Fluidity & Lateral Agility, his Ricochet & Core Strength, and, above all, the Intensity and Passion he brings to everything he does...demands attention.

If he can actually harness the phenomenal fusion of athletic attributes that he commands...he could become great.

WB Evan Rodriguez ~ Temple Owls ~ 6015/240

Evan Rodriguez offers an extremely rare blend of ferocious, brutal Run Blocking, tenacious, nasty Pass Blocking, and both tremendous Navigational Talent and excellent Hands: We could line'm up at SlotBack, at FullBack, at WingBack, or at Flex End, and that would give the Defenses very little idea of our Intentions.

The Flexibility to call countless different kinds of Plays ~ and execute them at an high level ~ could be phenomenal.

My Scouting Report on'm, last year:

***

"Wow. I absolutely love this guy.

Evan Rodriguez is the best Blocking WingBack in this Class, and it isn't even close.

He commands terrific Core Strength, he explodes off the Snap, and he's especially deadly on the move, diagnosing his target, quickly engaging, and consistently hitting hard and effectively.

He's a former Safety and a former QuarterBack.

Mind you: I admit that I'm a sucker for a Cross Training Resume ~ especially if "QuarterBack" or "Point Guard" is on there!! ~ but the cerebral prowess and athletic development that these two suggest can be absolutely invaluable.

As a Receiver, he commands remarkable Navigational Prowess, Fluidity, and Instincts.

Rodriguez offers a particular blend of Attributes that no other player in this Class offers: He's a powerfull, slashing Motion Blocker and a smooth, dangerous Receiver. If somebody is smart enough to make full use of all Elements of his Game, he could have an enormous impact on this league...And yet he's a Day 3 Prospect!! Sold!!"

SE Dale Moss ~ South Dakota State JackRabbits ~ 6032/213

Dale Moss has actually only been playing FootBall for 2 years, and the second one was on a Practice Squad.

So we can be sure he's still pretty damned Raw!!

But there are immense Possibilities, here. My Scouting Report, one year ago:

***

"They don't come much rawer than Dale Moss ~ he's been playing FootBall for one year!! ~ and it shows...

But this guy came out of Outer Space to rack up 61 Catches, 949 Yards, & 6 TouchDowns in his first season ever!!!

Not shocking enough???

How about racking up a 632 in the 3 Cone and a 408 in the Short Shuttle???

If he were 5.9/175, those numbers would be phenomenal.

At 6.3/220, those numbers are preposterous.

Add a ridiculous 415 in the Vertical to that, if you please, and it's clear that ~ raw or not ~ this guy's Raw Fluidity, his Lateral Agility, Core Strength and Core Power, to say nothing of his blazing Long Speed ~ that 438 in the "40" doesn't exactly break my heart!! ~ his raw skill set offers upside beyond any Wide Out in this entire Draft.

And I repeat: 61/949/6 after dropping from the SKY.

Route Running? His words at the Pro Day make it clear that that is a place of intense focus. And let me say: 4 full years of BasketBall at College ~ plus the years of his earlier youth ~ go a long way towards developing the nuances of Route Running, to say nothing of shedding Corners at the Line. Mind you: He's got work to do.

Blocking?? I don't know...But that long career in BasketBall ~ he racked up impressive Rebounding Stats ~ tells me he's not exactly contact-******ant.

This is no Work Out Warrior, Ladies and Gentlemen.

This is Force of Nature.

And a focused one.

61/949/6 after dropping from the SKY...and then he produces that one-man Typhoon at his Pro Day."

***

I would love to get some Top Shelf Coaching to work on this guy...and see what he's prepared to do!!

I presume nothing about'is Future...but'is Potential...is vast.

DD Jermaine Cunningham & XB Jeff Demps > Tampa > #112 & XB Michael Smith!!

1 ~ Jermaine Cunningham may well have an exciting future, but he hasn't shown much, lately, and would very likely get cut in September, considering the moves I'm making. So it'd be wise to get a little Value for'm, if I can.

2 ~ Michael Smith was a Super Binkie of mine, last year, who commands absolutely phenomenal Talent, and yet is flying 8 million miles under the Radar. He could become the best HalfBack of that entire Draft, some day!!

XB Michael Smith ~ Utah State Aggies ~ 5085/207

My Scouting Report, a year ago:

***

"There's not much to go on with Michael Smith, mind you: He was Robert Turbin's understudy at Utah State, and all I've got to work with is the Senior Bowl, the Potato Bowl, and Wes Bunting's Report at National FootBall Post.

But, my GOD...

Outstanding Lateral Agility.

Extraordinary Fluidity.

Phenomenally explosive Ricochet ~ Burst out'f's Breaks.

I have no idea if he can Block, but his astonishing numbers at his Pro Day ~ including a 40 inch Vertical!!! ~ leave no question that he commands the Core Strength & Drive Power to PANCAKE.

And he is a proven threat in the Passing Game.

Wouldn't it be remarkable if the 2 best HalfBacks in this entire Class ended up being the first taken...and the last??"

***

Michael Smith has the Capacity to become one of the most frighteningly explosive Players in the entire Game...

All he needs is the Opportunity.