2008 IDP Spotlight Series (1 Viewer)

[Aaron Rudnicki]

2008 IDP Spotlight Series

One of Footballguys best assets is our message board community. The IDP Forum here has grown quickly over the past few years and is probably the best place on the internet to discuss, debate and analyze all things related to IDPs. In what we plan to make an annual tradition going forward, the IDP Spotlight series will be a key part of our preseason effort this year. As many of you know from what has been done with offensive players over the years, we consider the Player Spotlight threads the permanent record for analyzing the fantasy prospects of the player in question. This year, we hope to publish IDP Spotlights for approximately 50 players, which should account for most of the key IDP starters for this year and possibly years to come.

Each week we will post a list of players to be discussed. Those threads will remain open for the entire preseason, and should be a central point to discussion expectations for the player in question. Importantly, analysis done in the first week (or possibly longer) of posting will be part of the permanent record in two ways.

1) At the end of the week (or longer when necessary), we will tally the projections into a consensus.

2) We will select a number of pull quotes from forum contributors who make a compelling statement or observation. Both the projections and pull quotes will be part of a published article on the main website.

Each published article will include:

Detailed viewpoint from a Footballguys staff member
Highlighted member commentary from the message board threads
FBG Projections
Consensus Member ProjectionsHere are examples of what to expect from the finished articles:

2004 Player Spotlight -- DL Julius Peppers, Panthers
2004 Player Spotlight -- LB Nick Barnett, Packers
2004 Player Spotlight -- DB Ed Reed, RavensSixth Group of IDP Spotlights:

DL Jason Taylor, Washington Redskins
DL Trent Cole, Philadelphia Eagles
LB Freddie Keiaho, Indianapolis Colts
LB Will Witherspoon, Saint Louis Rams
DB Michael Lewis, San Francisco 49ers
DB Bob Sanders, Indianapolis ColtsFifth Group of IDP Spotlights:

DL Tommy Kelly, Oakland Raiders
DL Terrell Suggs, Baltimore Ravens
LB Omar Gaither, Philadelphia Eagles
LB Gary Brackett, Indianapolis Colts
DB Atari Bigby, Green Bay Packers
DB Brandon Flowers, Kansas City ChiefsFourth Group of IDP Spotlights:

DL Charles Grant, New Orleans Saints
DL Leonard Little, St Louis Rams
LB Jon Beason, Carolina Panthers
LB DJ Williams, Denver Broncos
DB Darrell Revis, New York Jets
DB Antrel Rolle, Arizona CardinalsThird Group of IDP Spotlights:

DL Andre Carter, Washington Redskins
DL Darnell Docket, Arizona Cardinals
LB Keith Bulluck, Tennessee Titans
LB D'Qwell Jackson, Cleveland Browns
DB Marlin Jackson, Indianapolis Colts
DB Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh SteelersSecond Group of IDP Spotlights:

DL Justin Tuck, New York Giants
DL Tamba Hali, Kansas City Chiefs
LB Mike Peterson, Jacksonville Jaguars
LB Michael Boley, Atlanta Falcons
DB Leigh Bodden, Detroit Lions
DB Chris Harris, Carolina PanthersFirst Group of IDP Spotlights:

DL Aaron Schobel, Buffalo Bills
DL Elvis Dumervil, Denver Broncos
LB Kirk Morrison, Oakland Raiders
LB Karlos Dansby, Arizona Cardinals
DB LaRon Landry, Washington Redskins
DB Charles Tillman, Chicago BearsMaster List of IDP Spotlights, By Position:

Defensive Linemen (DL)

DE Andre Carter, Washington Redskins
DE Trent Cole, Philadelphia Eagles
DT Darnell Dockett, Arizona Cardinals
DE Elvis Dumervil, Denver Broncos
DE Charles Grant, New Orleans Saints
DE Tamba Hali, Kansas City Chiefs
DT Tommy Kelly, Oakland Raiders
DE Leonard Little, St Louis Rams
DE Aaron Schobel, Buffalo Bills
DE Terrell Suggs, Baltimore Ravens
DE Jason Taylor, Washington Redskins
DE Justin Tuck, New York GiantsLinebackers (LBs)

ILB Jon Beason, Carolina Panthers
OLB Michael Boley, Atlanta Falcons
ILB Gary Brackett, Indianapolis Colts
OLB Keith Bulluck, Tennessee Titans
OLB Karlos Dansby, Arizona Cardinals
OLB Omar Gaither, Philadelphia Eagles
ILB D'Qwell Jackson, Cleveland Browns
OLB Freddie Keiaho, Indianapolis Colts
ILB Kirk Morrison, Oakland Raiders
ILB Mike Peterson, Jacksonville Jaguars
OLB DJ Williams, Denver Broncos
ILB Will Witherspoon, Saint Louis RamsDefensive Backs (DBs)

S Atari Bigby, Green Bay Packers
CB Leigh Bodden, Detroit Lions
CB Brandon Flowers, Kansas City Chiefs
S Chris Harris, Carolina Panthers
CB Marlin Jackson, Indianapolis Colts
S LaRon Landry, Washington Redskins
S Michael Lewis, San Francisco 49ers
S Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh Steelers
CB Darrell Revis, New York Jets
S Antrel Rolle, Arizona Cardinals
S Bob Sanders, Indianapolis Colts
CB Charles Tillman, Chicago Bears

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

if you have any requests for players you'd like to see covered with a spotlight thread, please post them in here.

 

[treat88]

if you have any requests for players you'd like to see covered with a spotlight thread, please post them in here.

Terrell SuggsCortland FinneganMichael BoleyAdam Carriker

 

[Jene Bramel]

We'd love to see some more participation in the Spotlight threads. With the increase in traffic in this forum, we wanted to bring this feature back and get the board involved with some discussion and projections. It's also worth noting that some of our staffers (IDP and offensive specialists) first got noticed in threads like this.

 

[tec79]

DE Bert Berry....recovering from injury

DE I Alama-Francis Det ...what are his prospects for this year

 

[twr]

jordon dizon

 

[GROMS]

I'd love to see these players

J. Haye (DT)

D. Burgess (DE)

T. Cole (DE)

R. Mathis (DE)

A. Ogunleye (DE)

T. Suggs (DE)

K. Vanden Bosch (DE)

N. Barnett (LB)

J. Beason (LB)

K. Brooking (LB)

E.J. Hnederson (LB)

T. Howard (LB)

P. Posluszny (LB)

B. Urlacher (LB)

J. Vilma (LB)

R. Marshall (CB)

A. Winfield (CB)

O. Atogwe (S)

J. Bullocks (S)

 

[frank_da_tank]

i'd like to see

A. Bigby GB SAFTEY

Poz

Roy Williams SS DAL

Omar Gaither LB Philly

Gary Brackett MLB Colts

Gearld Hayes Arizona MLB

 

[frank_da_tank]

i'd like to see

A. Bigby GB SAFTEY

Poz

Roy Williams SS DAL

Omar Gaither LB Philly

Gary Brackett MLB Colts

Gearld Hayes Arizona MLB

 

[bcr8f]

No Derrick Burgess in top 200 IDP?

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

No Derrick Burgess in top 200 IDP?

that's a good catch. I'm not really sure how he was missed. I will definitely make sure he's added in the next update. I think he would likely slot in somewhere around spot #60 overall.

 

[T Bell]

I'm surprised not to see Julius Peppers spotlighted.

 

[Jene Bramel]

I'm surprised not to see Julius Peppers spotlighted.

Not to speak for Aaron, but I think we were trying to cover as many players as possible with the face-offs/spotlights. Peppers earned a faceoff as one of the more polarizing players in our rankings in early June.

 

[T Bell]

I'm surprised not to see Julius Peppers spotlighted.

Not to speak for Aaron, but I think we were trying to cover as many players as possible with the face-offs/spotlights. Peppers earned a faceoff as one of the more polarizing players in our rankings in early June.

Understood, however the problem with Faceoffs is that you can't post an update when you come across news like this:

Peppers speaks: Panthers DE stronger, fitter

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) -After his worst season as a pro, Julius Peppers enters the final year of his contract with the Carolina Panthers feeling stronger, fitter and more comfortable after his move to right defensive end.

But as negotiations continue on a new contract, Peppers is making no promises he’ll be a Panther long-term.

Sporting a longer, thicker beard, Peppers spoke to reporters after practice Thursday in his first interview in more than seven months. After failing to make the Pro Bowl for the first time in four years following a miserable 2 1/2-sack season in 2007, Peppers said he spent the offseason reflecting and working.

‘‘It’s not a secret that it was disappointing, not only statswise, but even to my personal standards,’’ Peppers said. ‘‘I did some evaluating and I think I made the necessary adjustments as far as conditioning and getting myself ready to come back this year and make improvements.’’

While Peppers’ said he’s been ‘‘pleased’’ with contract negotiations between the team and his agent, Carl Carey, no agreement has been reached. Peppers will count more than $12 million against the salary cap this season, and the second overall pick in the 2002 draft refused to say if he wants to end his career with Carolina.

‘‘What I learned over these last six years that I’ve been here is that, year to year, it’s unpredictable what happens with players and contracts and those type of things,’’ Peppers said. ‘‘I’m worried about playing football right now. I’m not even really looking forward to next season or what’s going to happen after that. We’ve got to get focused on making it happen right now.’’

The Panthers hope Peppers will thrive thanks to the position change. Following the retirement of Mike Rucker, Peppers moved from left defensive end to the right side. The left-handed Peppers, a freakish athlete, believes that’s his more natural position.

‘‘I’m comfortable on the right side,’’ Peppers said. ‘‘I played it in college. I played it in high school, the times I did play defense in high school. The left-handed stance is my natural stance. The left hand is my strong hand. There are a lot more moves and power available on that side.’’

Peppers has drawn raves for his play early in training camp. He’s shown his trademark quickness, consistently beating offensive tackles in one-on-one drills. He batted down Jake Delhomme’s screen pass at the line of scrimmage during Thursday’s workout.

‘‘He’s better than I’ve ever seen him,’’ tackle Jordan Gross said. ‘‘Barring anything unknown, there’s no reason he won’t go out and set records, I think.’’

Peppers set nothing but dubious marks last year.

After missing a part of training camp with an undisclosed illness, Peppers appeared sluggish most of last season. While he insisted he was fine physically, the 6-foot-7, 283-pound end no longer commanded double teams. He rarely got into the backfield, and went without a sack in 12 of 14 games before he sat out the last two weeks with a sore knee.

Peppers finished with the fewest sacks and quarterback hurries (19) of his career and second-fewest tackles (55).

‘‘I was only sick for two weeks. I will say during that time I lost weight, a little bit of strength and probably some explosiveness and things like that,’’ Peppers said. ‘‘But during the season I wasn’t sick at all.’’

Peppers’ poor 2007 fueled him during offseason workouts in Arizona.

‘‘I feel a little stronger. I feel more powerful, faster, a little bigger,’’ Peppers said. ‘‘I’ve got a little more weight. I’m pleased with what I did this offseason.’’

Peppers hopes that leads to a season like 2006, when he had a career-high 13 sacks, or 2004, when he had 85 tackles and 11 sacks.

What happens after 2008 is uncertain. Peppers declined to say if contract negotiations would continue into the regular season - and where he thinks he’ll be next year.

‘‘Right now I’m focused on playing football this season,’’ Peppers said. ‘‘I have a contract to play football right now. After this season, it’s a different story.’’

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

I'm surprised not to see Julius Peppers spotlighted.

Not to speak for Aaron, but I think we were trying to cover as many players as possible with the face-offs/spotlights. Peppers earned a faceoff as one of the more polarizing players in our rankings in early June.

yeah, there were a lot of players I wanted to do spotlights on but they were already assigned for a faceoff. Since we couldn't cover everyone, I figured it was best to try and spread things out more and avoid being too redundant.No reason we can't still have a message board thread on any individual player even if it's not an official spotlight thread.

 

[T Bell]

I'm surprised not to see Julius Peppers spotlighted.

Not to speak for Aaron, but I think we were trying to cover as many players as possible with the face-offs/spotlights. Peppers earned a faceoff as one of the more polarizing players in our rankings in early June.

yeah, there were a lot of players I wanted to do spotlights on but they were already assigned for a faceoff. Since we couldn't cover everyone, I figured it was best to try and spread things out more and avoid being too redundant.No reason we can't still have a message board thread on any individual player even if it's not an official spotlight thread.

I'm not picking on you guys at all - the quality fo the content on this site speaks for itself. I appreciate the explanation for the method behind your madness. I'll go ahead and start a Peppers thread.

 

[gbill2004]

Please do a spotlight on:

David Harris

Mario Williams

Demarcus Ware