IDP Faceoffs begin (1 Viewer)

[Jene Bramel]

Our off-season IDP content ramps into full gear this week with the release of the first six faceoff articles of 2007. We're planning well over fifty profiles this year to be rolled out through the end of July.

Our team profiles and player pages are about 95% complete. Every team broken down by position (starters and backups) and all relevant players get their own profile.

Faceoffs and team profiles can be found at the bottom of our articles page. Player profiles can be found under the outlook tab on their player page.

 

[Sigmund Bloom]

I for one welcome any and all feedback on these - we are always looking for ways to improve...

 

[Jeff Pasquino]

I for one welcome any and all feedback on these - we are always looking for ways to improve...

As the new kid on the IDP side of things, I'll echo this.....

 

[Bob Magaw]

I for one welcome any and all feedback on these - we are always looking for ways to improve...

As the new kid on the IDP side of things, I'll echo this.....

what they said...

 

[chook]

They're great reads thus far. While the upside is always good to read (especially for players on your own squads and to help identify potential sleeper breakouts), I feel the downside is where the best information can be had at times. More often than not in here and the SP it's player ceilings & average projections that we discuss. While in a perfect fantasy world every player we own would perform to how we imagined, however everyone knows that's not true.

When reading about my players, I read the downside before the upside so that I don't get too upset with my squad.

Downsides help keep things in perspective. Although Magaw's Richard Seymour upside displayed that not all celilings are high.

While I realise these are done for the upcoming season, a couple of you guys make a small mention of dynasty & redraft upside & downside. That should be a staple, even if just a line before the end - especially for the downside of younger players and upside of veterans.

I guess my only other comments would be in regards to whom is selected to 'Faceoff' over. It would be good to see some of the names we've raised on this board over the offseason be discussed; Players benefitting or losing out from scheme changes, from positional competition leaving or arriving, from a player having more experience in a system, or from being moved to another position (eg Crowell), etc. Although I guess it's hard to know these things before camp begins.

For these reasons, I thought Keiaho, Bethea & Polamalu were excellent choices to begin with (it must've killed Bloom to write the downside for the latter).

To me, someone such as Brian Simmons would be an ideal candidate (especially after Jeff's recent post in the 'Sleepers' thread), as he's a veteran player we all know about starting with a new team that should increase his productivity.

Rookie DL & DB's that can impact from the get-go might be a good read too.

Geez, listen to me. I sound like a selfish little kid writing a Christmas list.

Cheers guys, great work.

 

[Stunt Rock]

I for one welcome any and all feedback on these - we are always looking for ways to improve...

These look really solid. You could improve by finshing your rookie 100 part 2 though

 

[Jene Bramel]

While I realise these are done for the upcoming season, a couple of you guys make a small mention of dynasty & redraft upside & downside. That should be a staple, even if just a line before the end - especially for the downside of younger players and upside of veterans.I guess my only other comments would be in regards to whom is selected to 'Faceoff' over. It would be good to see some of the names we've raised on this board over the offseason be discussed; Players benefitting or losing out from scheme changes, from positional competition leaving or arriving, from a player having more experience in a system, or from being moved to another position (eg Crowell), etc. Although I guess it's hard to know these things before camp begins.Rookie DL & DB's that can impact from the get-go might be a good read too.Geez, listen to me. I sound like a selfish little kid writing a Christmas list. Cheers guys, great work.

Any and all comments are helpful. Don't feel like you're asking for too much or getting greedy. If we can add it, we will.The request to comment on dynasty vs redraft upside/downside is realistic. Hopefully we're already including that where it's appropriate. I'll remind everyone of that with our next batch.Generally, the face-offs are driven by our rankings. If one of us has a player significantly higher or lower than the other, that player is profiled. That usually hits most of the question marks -- Crowell and Simmons are both on the list -- but we could probably add some players who we've come to a consensus on but still deserve discussion. On the rookie front, chook, watch out in late July. Our sixth set of faceoffs will include Jamaal Anderson, Gaines Adams, David Harris, Paul Posluszny, Patrick Willis and Laron Landry.Keep the suggestions coming.

 

[Stunt Rock]

While I realise these are done for the upcoming season, a couple of you guys make a small mention of dynasty & redraft upside & downside. That should be a staple, even if just a line before the end - especially for the downside of younger players and upside of veterans.I guess my only other comments would be in regards to whom is selected to 'Faceoff' over. It would be good to see some of the names we've raised on this board over the offseason be discussed; Players benefitting or losing out from scheme changes, from positional competition leaving or arriving, from a player having more experience in a system, or from being moved to another position (eg Crowell), etc. Although I guess it's hard to know these things before camp begins.Rookie DL & DB's that can impact from the get-go might be a good read too.Geez, listen to me. I sound like a selfish little kid writing a Christmas list. Cheers guys, great work.

Any and all comments are helpful. Don't feel like you're asking for too much or getting greedy. If we can add it, we will.The request to comment on dynasty vs redraft upside/downside is realistic. Hopefully we're already including that where it's appropriate. I'll remind everyone of that with our next batch.Generally, the face-offs are driven by our rankings. If one of us has a player significantly higher or lower than the other, that player is profiled. That usually hits most of the question marks -- Crowell and Simmons are both on the list -- but we could probably add some players who we've come to a consensus on but still deserve discussion. On the rookie front, chook, watch out in late July. Our sixth set of faceoffs will include Jamaal Anderson, Gaines Adams, David Harris, Paul Posluszny, Patrick Willis and Laron Landry.Keep the suggestions coming.

One thing I'd like to see across all perspectives is some discussion about where the player might finish. Not hardcore numbers mind you, because there's plenty of great numbers content on the site. But something more along the lines of "X player could very well finish in the top 5 at his position" and "I expect X player won't even make the top 20 at his position". It's done sporadically some, but I think it might help give some perspective on what you could expect from each player IF that particular writers comments turn out to be true.

 

[Jeff Pasquino]

One thing I'd like to see across all perspectives is some discussion about where the player might finish. Not hardcore numbers mind you, because there's plenty of great numbers content on the site. But something more along the lines of "X player could very well finish in the top 5 at his position" and "I expect X player won't even make the top 20 at his position". It's done sporadically some, but I think it might help give some perspective on what you could expect from each player IF that particular writers comments turn out to be true.

Wouldn't that information come across from our rankings?

 

[Stunt Rock]

One thing I'd like to see across all perspectives is some discussion about where the player might finish. Not hardcore numbers mind you, because there's plenty of great numbers content on the site. But something more along the lines of "X player could very well finish in the top 5 at his position" and "I expect X player won't even make the top 20 at his position". It's done sporadically some, but I think it might help give some perspective on what you could expect from each player IF that particular writers comments turn out to be true.

Wouldn't that information come across from our rankings?

The distinction I'm trying to make I guess is that you might rank someone at a certain spot, but acknowledge that they have a higher ceiling, and that wouldn't necessarily come across from pure rankings.

 

[chook]

Generally, the face-offs are driven by our rankings. If one of us has a player significantly higher or lower than the other, that player is profiled.

That makes sense. Cheers.

 

[chook]

One thing I'd like to see across all perspectives is some discussion about where the player might finish. Not hardcore numbers mind you, because there's plenty of great numbers content on the site. But something more along the lines of "X player could very well finish in the top 5 at his position" and "I expect X player won't even make the top 20 at his position". It's done sporadically some, but I think it might help give some perspective on what you could expect from each player IF that particular writers comments turn out to be true.

Wouldn't that information come across from our rankings?

The distinction I'm trying to make I guess is that you might rank someone at a certain spot, but acknowledge that they have a higher ceiling, and that wouldn't necessarily come across from pure rankings.

Jeff, I was thinking the same thing reading the first couple of lines in Stunt Rock's first post, however after reading his follow up I agree with what he's saying. Ceilings (and basements) aren't always indicated in rankings.

 

[Jeff Pasquino]

One thing I'd like to see across all perspectives is some discussion about where the player might finish. Not hardcore numbers mind you, because there's plenty of great numbers content on the site. But something more along the lines of "X player could very well finish in the top 5 at his position" and "I expect X player won't even make the top 20 at his position". It's done sporadically some, but I think it might help give some perspective on what you could expect from each player IF that particular writers comments turn out to be true.

Wouldn't that information come across from our rankings?

The distinction I'm trying to make I guess is that you might rank someone at a certain spot, but acknowledge that they have a higher ceiling, and that wouldn't necessarily come across from pure rankings.

Jeff, I was thinking the same thing reading the first couple of lines in Stunt Rock's first post, however after reading his follow up I agree with what he's saying. Ceilings (and basements) aren't always indicated in rankings.

Fair enough - I agree with his point.

 

[bcr8f]

I'd like to see Sean Taylor profiled.

 

[TheGreatest]

Great read guys! As always, outstanding job.

I would like to see a profile done on some of these guys in the future if possible....

DL - Mario Williams

LB - Will Witherspoon

LB - Bart Scott

LB - Lofa Tatupu

LB - Jonathan Vilma

DB - Gibril Wilson

DB - Bob Sanders

Thanks!

 

[BLOX]

A thought which just crossed my mind would be to add one more after you conclude with the ones you have planned which would incorporate some "no-name" players that some of you guys think would have a shot to be legitimate fantasy scorers were a player to get suspended or injured.

For example:

Abdul Hodge/Korey Hall (may be moved back to LB if the UD FBs pan out)/or Bishop if Barnett gets a 4 game suspension

something along those lines. You know, in case you guys feel like you need to do a little extra writing

 

[Jene Bramel]

17 new faceoffs posted this morning.

 

[lawrence phillips]

Good stuff. The Gibril Wilson faceoff was a good read. He is one of the more intriguing players out there. Like many people, I had really high hopes for Gibril last year, and he obviously disappointed. Did the toe nail injury bother him that much that his play lagged or was 2005 just a flash in the pan. My gut tells me the former, but its definately something I will be monitoring in the preseason. Should Spagnuolo taking over the defensive reigns be seen as a good thing?

 

[Jene Bramel]

Good stuff. The Gibril Wilson faceoff was a good read. He is one of the more intriguing players out there. Like many people, I had really high hopes for Gibril last year, and he obviously disappointed. Did the toe nail injury bother him that much that his play lagged or was 2005 just a flash in the pan. My gut tells me the former, but its definately something I will be monitoring in the preseason. Should Spagnuolo taking over the defensive reigns be seen as a good thing?

I don't think the production was that far off. He missed one full game and a couple series in another because of the toe injury. He would have almost certainly again topped 80 solos had he played those series. He made the same number of big plays but differently distributed. He made more coverage plays despite the concerns that his coverage ability had regressed last year. Dynasty leaguers should be a little nervous about James Butler and Michael Johnson but I can't see much reason to worry about the tackle production this year with a couple of question marks at OLB and a more aggressive scheme. Michael Lewis had good value in the Eagle scheme behind a similar group of OLB in past years.

 

[Jene Bramel]

Few more posted this AM. Should be trickling out more quickly now, with close to 40 more (including today's) posted over the next couple weeks.

 

[bcr8f]

Few more posted this AM. Should be trickling out more quickly now, with close to 40 more (including today's) posted over the next couple weeks.

Great news. I enjoy reading most of them. The podcasts(different issue I know) are good too.

 

[Sigmund Bloom]

I'm very interested in what the IDP forum folks think of the Richard Marshall faceoff, definitely one of the faceoffs I felt most strongly about while I was writing it.

 

[Anthony Borbely]

I'm very interested in what the IDP forum folks think of the Richard Marshall faceoff, definitely one of the faceoffs I felt most strongly about while I was writing it.

I'm on the Richard Marshall bandwagon. He is a great tackler for a CB, along the lines of Barber, Tillman and Winfield, and with better ball skills than all 3 in my opinion. I currently have him 20th in dynasty, only because of mild concerns that he will not start. I personally think he wins a starting job, but until he does, I can't justify raising him past 20. I see a perennial Pro Bowl CB in the near future. He is a top 5 caliber talent among CBs in my opinion. CBs who are great tacklers and have any kind of ball skills are usually top 10 DBs.

 

[Jene Bramel]

I like Marshall a lot, too. He's the 5th corner on my list right now and 29th overall -- clear DB2 upside. If I were convinced that the Panthers would sit Gamble, I'd rank him even higher. I don't believe 70 solos and 15 passes defended is sustainable as a part-time player, though, so he's risky until he earns the bulk of the snaps.

 

[Sigmund Bloom]

One angle I didn't write about in the faceoff is that DBs tend to really level off around DB20-25, so I advocate drafting mainly on upside when you're in that segment of your draft. If Marshall doesnt win the starting job early, you can easily drop him for someone that will produce at the same level as the safe DB you would have taken instead of him, but if he wins the job, there's little chance you'll get someone like him from the WW. As long as you're patient and wait until DB25 (or later) to snag Marshall, I dont think you can go wrong.

 

[chook]

Can someone please edit some paragraphs into Norton's pieces?