IDP Spotlight: Keith Bulluck (Group 3) (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 hope to make an annual tradition, 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 50-60 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.

Thread Topic: Keith Bulluck, OLB, Tennessee Titans

Player Page Link: Keith Bulluck Player Page

Each published article will include:

Detailed viewpoint from a Footballguys staff member
Highlighted member commentary from the message board threads
FBG Projections
Consensus Member ProjectionsThe Rules

In order for this thread to provide maximum value, we ask that you follow a few simple guidelines:

Focus commentary on the player in question, and your expectations for said player
Back up your expectations in whatever manner you deem appropriate; avoid posts that simply say "I hate him" or "He's the best"
To be included in the final synopsis and consensus outlook, we request that you provide projections for the playerProjections should include (at a minimum):

For DLs: Solos, Assists, Sacks, PD
For LBs: Solos, Assists, Sacks, INT, PD
For DBs: Solos, Assists, Sacks, INT, PDNow let's get on with the conversation! We look forward to your contributions and let me offer a personal thanks in anticipation of the great debate and analysis.

 

[Jene Bramel]

OOOOOOOOOOOOH!

 

[The Man With No Name]

OOOOOOOOOOOOH!

I second that. Should be interesting.

 

[frank_da_tank]

I'm one that will give Bulluck the benefit of the doubt. I have him on my team and really hope i'm right. He is top 10 LB that had a down year and is only 30 years old. It was suprising that he had no sacks last year. And only one game with over 10 tackles. I'm struggling to justify the drop in production other than he should of zig'd when he zag'd.... Hopefully he will use 2007 season as motivation.

115 TOTAL TACKLES

89 SOLO

26 AST

7 SACKS

2 FORCED FUMBLE

2 INTERCEPTION

9 PD'S

1 TD

Thats right 7 sacks in 2008

 

[Jene Bramel]

You're in a competitive redraft league, like, say the Ultimate IDP Survivor. Fifteen linebackers have come off the board. Are you risking Bulluck this year?

 

[Polyethylene Bag]

Bulluck had been the model of consistency until 2007. I didn't see him play much but it seemed to me that, as much as anything, the 2007 TN defense was an excellent cohesive unit (particularly the DL) that limited the number of offensive snaps taken against them; thus limiting the statistical potential of the individual defenders. Since not much has changed in this regard, I think his numbers get a slight bump in '08 but I think his numbers will be more similar to '07 than pre-'07.

85 solos

25 Asst

1 sack

1 FF

3 Int

10 PD

 

[frank_da_tank]

You're in a competitive redraft league, like, say the Ultimate IDP Survivor. Fifteen linebackers have come off the board. Are you risking Bulluck this year?

As always, It depends on what the board looks like. But, yes. IMO, 15 is good value and that iswhere he will go in most redrafts. If for some reason Lofa slips, I wouldn't think twice about snaching me over Bulluck.

 

[Zoomanji]

You're in a competitive redraft league, like, say the Ultimate IDP Survivor. Fifteen linebackers have come off the board. Are you risking Bulluck this year?

I'd feel better with him as a LB3 than a LB2. I think he can bounce back but we have seen numbers that support his decline. Stilla nickle backer though. Couple INTs and TD and he's right back in the top 10-2080 solos20 Asst1 sack2 FF/FR3 Int6 PD

 

[J Giles Band]

Yes, I was a 2007 Keith Bulluck owner expecting certain LB1 numbers. And I waited, and waited, and waited... Burn me once...

Sorry, I'm just not buying Bulluck as a LB2 again.

To his credit, Bulluck is a proto-type 3-down LB with exceptional ability in coverage (5 INT's & 7 PD's in 2007 - the PD's were still remarkably a dip from previous years of 8, 10 & 13), good instincts, solid tackling ability and great leadership skills. No one can deny Bulluck's place on the IDP altar of greatness after all of the 100+ solo tackle seasons for owners over the years.

And while I will primarily attribute his falling off the fantasy map in 2007 almost soley to opportunity... there is little about the Tennessee defense or Bulluck which suggests a significant rebound likely. David Thornton has hit his prime on the opposite side and Albert Haynesworth and the DL should continue to stop a good percentage of ball carriers before they get to the 2nd level. Throw in the fact Bulluck enters his age 31 season (not over-the-hill but not a good sign after a down season), and it is hard to be optimistic for a return to previous form.

This doesn't even begin to account for the Titans run oriented, ball control offense most often giving them a significant advantage in the time-of-possession department.

While certain blasphemy not even a year ago, I can't help but project Bulluck no better than a solid LB3 in 2008. If he were to regain LB2 form it wouldn't shock me (especially since he won't be on my roster again), but I wouldn't count on it...

76 tackles

28 assists

1 sack

2 INT

6 PD

1 FF

1 FR

 

[BigSteelThrill]

Im having a a hard time buying Bulluck in '08 as a top LB option.

Obviously David Thorton pulled a whammy from the SLB position and during the passing down, beating Bulluck and leading the team in total tackles by a large margin. Then came Bulluck and the two starting corners. I have faith in Bulluck, but he is 31 and might be slowing down. Usually the early 30s is not an issue for LBs, but it may be just enough that Thornton is beating him to the stats. It certainly appears that runs up the middle and to the right were getting tackled by Thornton, especially when just these 2 LBs were on the field in the nickle defense. Hard to say. Based on stats from last year he may fall into the #3 LB area and then would be a superior flyer to take.

Stat of doom: Only once last year was Bulluck all alone as the team leader in total tackles. It was the Titans lone blow out loss to the Bengals, 35-6. Not a good indicator.

Tackles: 75

Assists: 20

Sack: 1

Int: 4

P Def's: 8

 

[Nathan R. Jessep]

To answer Jene's question, I would (and have oncea already this year) take Bulluck. Maybe not quite in the 15-19 slot, but definitely in the 25-30 range I think. I suck at projections, admittedly, but have always been a fan of Bulluck, so I will throw out some guesses on him.

Tackles: 85

Assists: 28

Sack: 4

Int: 2

P Def: 9

 

[tec79]

As indicated by several posters in this forum and i recall in other forums, there is a body of evidence that the Titans defense last year did not have the number of tackle opportunities that it had previous years. That would be a partial explanation of Bulluck's decline last year. The real issue is whether this is indicative of a longer term trend due to increasing age, decreasing tackle opportunities due to the better DL in front of him and better LB opposite him......

The Titans DL has taken some hits this offseason, so that in itself is a bit of a flag that perhaps the DL wont make as many tackles as in 2007. Still, I would not think that he would regain his upper level status this year. My predictions are as follows:

Tackles= 85

Assists= 25

Sacks= 2

INT= 2

PD= 4

FF= 2

FR= 2

about on par with last year, perhaps slightly better. Still this would put him at bottom of LB2 standings, perhaps near top of LB3..

tex

 

[BigSteelThrill]

August 23, 2008, 09:12

Titans :: LB

LB Thornton Will Wear Defensive Headset For Titans

Phillip B. Wilson, Indianapolis Star - [Full Article]

Phillip B. Wilson of the Indianapolis Star reports that Tennessee Titans LB David Thornton will wear the communication headset device, not LB Keith Bullock.

Thornton is the dime formation LB then?