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Make that 2 for Ndukwe, same question as above. My question pertains to dynasty format.
+ 1
Negative is a relative word I guess. He was working behind Dexter Jackson with the second team before his injury, that's true, but he saw plenty of playing time in nickel packages with Madieu Williams and Jackson around last year. The linebackers are better this year, but Ndukwe should get more playing time regardless of whether he starts. He was so productive last year, both on the field and in the boxscores, that it was to be only a matter of time before he closed the door on Jackson.The injury is a major issue, if only because it's entirely unclear what it is. The only surely positive thing thus far is that he's not on IR or PUP. I think Ndukwe's time as a full-time player isn't likely to start until closer to midseason at this point -- but it's coming. If you've got room on a dynasty roster for him, he's definitely worth keeping. Don't lose sight of the 11 solos, 3 assist, FF, FR, 2 INT, 3 PD finish over the last two games last season as a starter and the 23 solos, 2 sack, FF, INT and 3 PD he put up in part time duty prior to that. I think he's much more likely to be the real thing than a single season Keith Lewis, Hamza Abdullah, etc type by sometime in 2008.
We hype the Tampa-2 WLBs plenty -- and deservedly so -- but only in relation to their more traditional, less Cover-2 WLB counterparts. Their hype isn't necessarily at the expense of their MLB teammates, and certainly not with a guy like Urlacher in the middle. These guys are pretty close, but I think I'd rather have the all-around play of Urlacher over Briggs at this point. Briggs had some off-field issues last year and should rebound a little if more focused this year, but I'm not fussed enough about Urlacher's back injury woes to risk Briggs 85- solo floor.
Hard to lose two potential Pro Bowl players like Jared Allen and (potentially) Donnie Edwards and improve. Of course, outside of Allen, that defense wasn't all that good last year, so there's not much room to drop and plenty of room to get better. I think Hali and Dorsey and Boone will be better than some give credit and the linebacker unit won't be terrible. If Brandon Flowers can improve the secondary coverage significantly, there may be some improvement.Right now, I think Johnson is locked in at WLB and Thomas in the middle. I've yet to see Thomas, but there are some indications that he could become what we thought Niko Koutouvides was going to be in Denver. A guy who was stuck behind a decent group of backers on one team who grew into a solid stopgap at another. I don't think he's a "Mr. August" -- that's probably Tony Taylor in Atlanta right now -- but he's not likely to be a sleeper every-down talent like Shelton Quarles once was either.
You aren't kidding about a playmaking defense. We've had some FBG observers, notably Chaos Commish, breakdown Weddle very favorably over the past two seasons. He's got the big play profile, but probably won't be better than a Ken Hamlin type FS. Depending on your setup, that may be pretty valuable. QBs are going to start throwing at Jammer, and they've had some success doing that in the past so it'll be interesting to see if he'll improve enough to keep Cromartie relevant. I gave Cromartie a 0% chance of repeating his double digit INT season; I just don't see the opportunity for him to rack up bunches of plays. There's been a lot of hype around Anthony Waters, but, while I'm intrigued by his scouting reports, he's yet to make it through a month without tweaking a knee. I still think Cooper is a very good player and have come around on Wilhelm a bit. I don't think Brandon Siler is too much more than a special teams guy. Barring injury or additional suspensions, I see it as Cooper/Wilhelm until 2009.I'm off the Castillo bandwagon. I pimped him hard for 2 1/2 years and was repeatedly burned by injury. Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice, see my sig. In other words, this'll probably be the season he breaks out.The really interesting thing here to me is Shawne Merriman's knee. If that's significant enough to slow him down at all, it might keep the defense on the field longer and it might make Matt Wilhelm a 95 solo tackle guy.
I have never played in a league that awarded points for return yards and I haven't made the time to get coached up on kick returning DBs. Mike Herman watches this very closely in his Returnerguys series. I'm more than happy to comment ad nauseum on the IDP value of those DBs that return kicks, but I'm not qualified to advise on who may and may not return kicks.
I didn't draw this question, but I saw it exactly as Sig and John did. Translated, it's really a question of how likely one feels that Jon Vilma stays healthy all year. A healthy Vilma leads this team in tackles going away. Without a healthy Vilma, Fujita is in the mix. However, he's no lock then either. Albeit in one less game, Fujita had 76 tackles to Roman Harper's 75 last year.
I haven't heard much about Dunbar, good or bad. Mays has been impressive and I know Sig likens him to a shorter version of Jeremiah Trotter in some ways. There's a NFLDraftGuys video profile of him that's worth watching. Downhill guy, sure tackler, but may or may not be an every-down player. Strikes me as a little bit of a camp flash without much long term substance today, but then I thought Stewart Bradley was a SLB who had little chance of becoming an every-down player before I saw him against real competition so what do I know.Sig hit on Crable in one of the episodes. He's probably been the most impressive of the bunch and the most likely to contribute to his team in 2008. His IDP value is probably limited, in the same way that Rosie Colvin and Willie McGinest and Mike Vrabel have been over the years.Highsmith is impressing everybody and has the shiny preseason boxscores to get everyone excited, but that's a deep group of ILBs in Arizona. Still, Karlos Dansby isn't a lock to be a Cardinal in 2009 yet, so there's a window cracked for Highsmith if he can prove he's more than a guy that can handle second teamers.I think Biermann is now a nickel DE, isn't he? He's sort of fallen off my watch list, as those kinds of tweeners don't make it that often and are niche values in most leagues. Maybe I should go back and revisit him.
You've seen my head shot on the FBG articles now, are you sure you don't mean a face made for radio?
I dub thee "Dr. Smooth"
Well hey, you have a good personality.
McGowan was held out as a precautionary measure with what's been described as a mild ankle sprain. He was already back at practice with the first team. He looks as safe as a guy who good play was never as impressive to the coaches as it looked in the boxscore and who has a history of poor durability can be as the starter.
I haven't seen the Buccaneers yet this preseason, but I haven't seen anything that suggested that the knee issues that Ruud played through in the second half of 2007 could be a chronic problem. If he's healthy, I don't see any reason he can't get back on his 95+ solo tackle pace of early last season.
He's in a relatively deep group of players that have a shot at out-tackling Ryans or Harris. I think he finishes closer to 90 solos than 120 this season. He'll still have LB1 value, though, as he'll still be the primary tackler in the Jet defense, whether it's an improved unit overall or not. Calvin Pace and Kris Jenkins are nice players, but they aren't a major threat for tackles and the Packers always had solid tackle opportunity whether Brett Favre was getting them off the field quickly or not.
Hard to tell just from the preseason looks, but I'm not sure the Eagles have the depth to make it work yet. Jerome McDougle is reportedly playing well, but Victor Abiamiri and Chris Clemons aren't healthy. Darren Howard may or may not be able to handle 30 snaps. That really leaves just Cole and Juqua Parker. Cole has done well in either situation, but he's much more likely to have a solid second half impact if he's rested at times.
Rookie DBs in a redraft?I think Kenny Phillips and Brandon Flowers are comfortably draftable. Depending on your setup, Charles Godfrey may be as well. After that, I think we're left watching Leodis McKelvin, Chevis Jackson, Antwaun Molden, Brandon Carr, Dwight Lowery, Terrence Wheatley, Tyrell Johnson and Aqib Talib.
it's actually a keeper league, but this still helps. Although I like them, Flowers and Godfrey are not options for me. I kept Pollard and R. Marshall this year. Phillips was on my short list, but I wanted to be prepared incase he eludes me in the draft this weekend. So is it safe to assume you think the others you mentioned will end up starting? TIA Jene
I think they have opportunities to start, yes.And why avoid two players from the same team? Bye week issues? If that's not a primary concern, I'd be careful before dismissing Flowers because you have Pollard.it's actually a keeper league, but this still helps. Although I like them, Flowers and Godfrey are not options for me. I kept Pollard and R. Marshall this year. Phillips was on my short list, but I wanted to be prepared incase he eludes me in the draft this weekend. So is it safe to assume you think the others you mentioned will end up starting? TIA Jene
Thanks Jene! Loved the podcast and thorough answers.McGowan looked so good in the first game that maybe not playing will keep him off the radar until I can find a way to roster him. Payne sure didn't seem as aggressive when given time with the first team in game 2Jene Bramel said:
it is strictly because of bye weeks. we only roster 3 DB's and start 2, so only starting one is pretty roughJene Bramel said:I think they have opportunities to start, yes.And why avoid two players from the same team? Bye week issues? If that's not a primary concern, I'd be careful before dismissing Flowers because you have Pollard.eric rymer said:it's actually a keeper league, but this still helps. Although I like them, Flowers and Godfrey are not options for me. I kept Pollard and R. Marshall this year. Phillips was on my short list, but I wanted to be prepared incase he eludes me in the draft this weekend. So is it safe to assume you think the others you mentioned will end up starting? TIA JeneJene Bramel said:
I hinted at it a little in my answer to E-A-G-L-E-S above, but if Merriman's loss keeps the defense on the field more often (and likely in the base 3-4), I think Matt Wilhelm gets the biggest bump in value. Marques Harris was the first off the bench last year to replace either OLB, so if you're looking for a big play replacement, it'll be Harris, though he falls in that category of being more intriguing than useful in those leagues. He'll be relevant in big play rank lists but still won't get enough tackles or sacks to have value.ETA: Forgot the part about Tucker. He certainly could have an impact. Plenty of good things coming out about him, but I've not seen enough to know whether he's the next Shaun Phillips or not. He's probably got better upside than Harris.
So far, it looks like Nick Collins has done enough to keep his job. But, at minimum, Rouse will play a good number of snaps -- as he did late last season when the Packers started rotating all three players. I think Rouse has an excellent chance of starting before year's end, but I've got nothing substantial on which to base that opinion.
