Category: Free Agency

Guest Previews 2015 – Kelkowski Don’t Play By No Dyna Rules by Pete Conaghan

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2014 Record: 7-6, 7th pick, defeated in the first round of the playoffs

Offseason Review

Like a woolly mammoth trapped in a tar pit, Kelkowski did very little to help their cause in the trade market, adding only two depth signings in Jason Witten and Doug Baldwin. Who knows, if it is the tar pit of the first round of the playoffs, maybe the team is happy with its situation and does not need to move farther. The bones of Andy Dalton look very white against the black, tarry ground.

Which is a roundabout way of asking, have Kelkowski done enough this offseason? In actual fact they may have pulled off the coup of the offseason, snaffling up Sam Bradford’s brittle body and putting it in their quarterback sack. With Bradford looking great in preseason, and as per Chip Kelly, there only being a 10% chance of him snapping something else, it looks like Kelkowski may prosper.

Added to that, the amazing transformation of Blake Bortles from mild-mannered grocery clerk to Superman [ed – Blake Bortles is The Jaguar] over the preseason (don’t laugh), should ensure Kelkowski don’t have to rely on Kaep’s brain or Romo’s back this season. As a bona fide superhero, Bortles should really have a nemesis. It’s a pity Zach Zenner isn’t a defensive end. In which case, the Champions would surely have taken him in the draft.

Kelkowski also had a really good draft, obtaining a three down back in TA Yellow, and what could be the team’s primary WR in Devin Funchess. Randy Gregory and Danny Shelton look to be very good defensive picks.

Where they will improve: All that being said, Kelkowski may not have done enough outside quarterback to see any immediate improvement, but with three top WRs (this includes a certain J. Maclin, who does not care about your fantasy team) they should be just fine.

Where they will regress: Yellow backs up an already-impressive running back corps which has some fragility issues. Foster is out until at least game 4, and DeMarco Murray should have a decreased workload this year, to prevent him being ground into dust, but it’s expected he will continue to run riot in Philadelphia even on reduced carries. Even if those two contribute less, Former Heisman Trophy etc etc is waiting in the wings. But it’s difficult to see the same production this year over the course of the season.

There are some aging pieces on defense, which the team should address.

2015 Prediction: 8-5, playoff final.

Guest Previews 2015 – Champions of the Sun by Pete Conaghan

Around The Grounds Free Agency League Business Previews Rookie Draft Trading No Comments

2014 Record: 6-7, missed playoffs.

Offseason Review

Wily old fox Max Cubberly went in a contrarian direction in the draft, going for defense early and often. You’re not going to win championships by doing the same thing as everyone else, so the Champions took Leonard Williams with the second pick of the third round to get a jump on building their ever-expanding stable of defensive ends. This was followed by another pick in the same round taking the injured Dante Fowler. As eyes narrowed in GM offices around the league, Cubberly told his secretary to immediately instigate a campaign to introduce the generic defensive lineman position, rather than have tackle and end. The work continues.

Marcel Dareus was added in Free Agency, which had DeSean Jackson going the other way, and this was offset by a long brewing trade with Tamworth in which the Champions acquired John Brown, who they hope will be a rising star.

LeGarrette Blount was signed on the eve of the new season, and with the release of Jonas Gray, should provide some semblance of reliable production in New England. A tactical signing, he should be good enough to single handedly win the Gameweek 6 matchup for the Champions, when NE play the Colts.

Where they will improve:  Most position groups did not get significantly better, with the exception of Quarterback. Ben Rothlisberger was scooped up in free agency, and signed to a team-friendly deal.  If he can produce at 2014 levels, and John Brown fulfils expectations,  the team will improve on offense. CJ Spiller’s move to New Orleans has improved the running back group immeasurably, and if he can stay healthy and Latavius Murray produce some measure of success on Oakland’s baseball dirt, then the team can kick on from 2014.

Khalil Mack is expected to make up for lost time, sack wise, and the addition of Dareus gives the Champions a rising number of star names on defense.

Where they will regress:  Will Mike Evans survive a sophomore slump? Will DeAndre Hopkins survive Brian Hoyer? Both receivers have shown they can overcome impossible quarterback odds and be successful, so we should expect that to continue this year.  But if they don’t, then we could see the notably more mercurial Percy Harvin and Allen Robinson coming into play. Which should also be fine, really.

2015 Prediction: 7-6, and missing the playoffs.  If everything goes right for the Champions, they should be a playoff team. However I am arbitrarily deciding that not everything will go right.

 

Guest Previews 2015 – Dynablaster Bombermen by Pete Conaghan

Around The Grounds Free Agency League Business Previews Rookie Draft Trading No Comments

2014 Record: 7-6, missed playoffs based on head to head.

Offseason Review

The Bombermen had a reasonable draft, which was elevated by trading up a spot to nab Melvin Gordon at #5 after Tamworth took Devante Parker and The Brees took Tevin Coleman in a Bortles-esqe pick backed by deep conviction.  But can Gordon produce with a brand new offensive line in SD (one player returning at his position) and a second-year OC pilloried for his lack of imagination?  A hundred draw plays on 2nd and long will tell the story.

Free Agency saw a lot of wheeling and dealing with the view of bolstering attack and defense, the Bombermen committing resources to linebacker and corner in a reversal of the league’s accepted wisdom. Conor Barwin is a 3-down LB who will thrive and contribute even if his sack total may have been an outlier last year. The top fantasy corner in the game, Vontae Davis, will be top five for years to come, maybe.

Putting together potentially three of the best RBBCs in the league was an impressive feat, and hopefully doesn’t lead to angst further down the line. All six RBs are expected to get plenty of touches.

Outgoing trades were mostly fringe players and should not harm the team.

Where they will improve:  The Bombermen will hope that they have the right mixture of youth and experience, welcoming Andre Johnson into the WR corps to help out Anquan Boldin and the younger guys. Depth should not be an issue, with most position groups augmented and steady backups acquired.

Where they will regress:  The team strengthened at almost all positions, so any regression in league position may be linked to other teams becoming stronger more quickly – can the Bombermen keep up with the arms race? The only warning flags that exist are performance related – could the young 2nd and 3rd year running backs regress? They are unproven over time but the team’s depth should be enough to overcome all but a blanket running back failure.

2015 Prediction: First round of playoffs. Bombermen are a solid team, but do they have the star power to break open a playoff game?

Grading Free Agency

Free Agency No Comments

A quick look at the state of the nation after the major free agency first round moves have been made from our Irish correspondent and East Flanders Dungeoneers GM, Pete Conaghan

Champions of the Sun

Needs: QB, DT, RB, S
In a gutsy move, the CotS addressed a glaring need at DT by giving up DeSean Jackson for Marcell Dareus. The GM moved swiftly in Free Agency to tie up Repeat Offender – in throwing touchdowns – Ben Rothlisberger, in a strangely uncontested move to get a cheap quality QB.
Top ten TE Delanie Walker was added for minimal guaranteed money, and Buster Skrine should contribute across from Darelle Revis, as one of three cornerbacks signed. $9 for safety Barry Church seems steep, but fills a gap.

Overall grade: A-

Dyna Hard

Needs: TE, DE, S
If we assume JJ Watt will play both DE positions this coming year, then Dyna Hard looks a strong team with few needs. Just as well, because a Jerry Jones-like approach to cap management means that Dyna Hard were restricted in FA, adding RB (Joe Randle, Lance Dunbar) and LB (Sean Weatherspoon) depth for the league minimum. The expected trade activity has yet to materialise.

Grade: D

Dynablaster Bombermen

Needs: RB, DE
The Bombermen added depth by signing the ageing Cameron Wake at DE, and the San Diego pairing of Oliver and Brown at RB. Long term, the Bombermen have a stable of up and coming young WRs, but perhaps could benefit from a steady veteran with immediate impact, such as Andre Johnson.
Joe Flacco is the latest signing at QB to join the ranks of the Failed, Fickle and Flimsy (Hoyer, Manziel and RGIII) and should slot in as a reliable backup to Matt Ryan.

Grade: C

DynaForOne Firebirds

Needs: DE, LB, Secondary
The reigning Champions have a high powered offense and a mediocre defense, and a quiet free agency indicates that coach Hawke is comfortable with that (or else forgot about Free Agency).
Replacement-level replacements have been signed for the secondary, though it’s not unreasonable to see up-years for Antonio Cromartie and Devin McCourty after quiet 2014s.

Grade: E

Dynasore Losers

Needs: DT, Depth
In what could mistakenly be seen as a win-now roster, in which Peter Manning overshadows the team like an Easter Island Head, the Losers identified Punter and Kicker as their positions of need, signing Marquette King and Stephen Gostkowski for over the minimum. That could be significant.
The remaining need, DT, may be filled by last year’s youngsters, but surely the selection of Leonard Williams in the first round of the draft is imminent.

Grade: D

East Flanders Dungeoneers

Needs: Everywhere
East Flanders moved to address an offensive situation where they were forced to play two tight ends in every game last year, by signing Justin Forsett on a major 2-year deal. Frank Gore and Danny Woodhead join Forsett in an veteran (old) RB cadre which is hoping to produce for one more year.
DeAndre Levy was the only other significant signing, and should bolster a D where four weakish linebackers were played in most games in 2014.
Grade: C

Here Come the Brees

Needs: RB, WR, TE, DE, LB
The WR group took an immediate upgrade with the addition of DeSean Jackson via trade, and adding Pernell McPhee and Nigel Bradham should bolster the linebackers, but more needs to be done in the draft by The Brees management.
Owen Daniels at TE should provide an immediate ROI, but it is curious that a team with such a lot of cap space didn’t make any major moves in FA. Obviously the management team believe in being prudent and building through the draft. Will the fans be happy though?

Grade: D

The 4th Dynmension: Dynasty of Sadness

Needs: RB, TE, DL
Stack ‘em high, buy ‘em cheap is the offseason mantra of the Sadness, whose main intention seems to have been to add camp bodies in advance of the terrible toll exacted by injuries in the coming months. Who would be an NFL starter?
The 4th Dynmension added 21 journeymen, plus Darrelle Revis and Brandon LaFell. With a high pick in the draft, the Sadness will be looking to add quality over quantity. It remains to be seen whether they will draft for need, or go BPA.

Grade: D

Tamworth Two

Needs: RB, TE, DT, LB
Cap restrictions made sure of a quiet free agency for Los Hermanos Tamworth, who mostly signed cheap depth players at positions of need. The exception was a $15 contract for Johnathon Stewart, who is the feature back in Carolina at long last, if he can stay healthy. Fred Jackson provides depth.
Rolando McClain comes back and the Two are hoping Jon Bostic will thrive in Chicago’s new 3-4 scheme. DE is still a worry and may be addressed in the draft.
Grade: D

Kelkowski Don’t Play By No Dyna Rules

Needs: TE, DT, LB
Dangerous mavericks Kelkowski bid early and often, and seemingly on every single viable Free Agent. They seem to have actually added more players than the Sadness.
Major proponents of the Chip Kelly School, they’ve followed his lead in signing Sam Bradford, albeit to a much more favourable deal. This may indicate a lack of faith in their current backup to the undroppable Kaep, Tony Romo, for whom age and injury could be catching up. A Kaep-Bradford 1-2 has the league salivating.
The TE situation has been ‘addressed’ by signing 6 of them, and RB Denard Robinson has been added for depth purposes.

Grade: C

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