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Who would you build franchise around? (1 Viewer)

Tornacl

Tornacl

Footballguy
Taken from Shick's comment in the "QB to win one game" thread, if you could pick one offensive and one defensive player to build a franchise around, who would you choose? This is as of right now, so their current age/ability are factors, but disregard any current injuries.

I'd take Champ Bailey on defense, although I strongly considered Julius Peppers. Both are guys that offenses have to plan around, but there are very few players who are true "shut down" corners. As Joe puts in the Random Shots just about every week: "Note to (insert QB name), the receiver covered by Champ Bailey is not open."

On offense, I wanted to pick an "all-world" tackle/lineman that is very young, so DBrick comes to mind, however, I haven't seen much of his play yet, and I just wouldn't want to put all of my stock into someone who isn't proven. LT2 is possibly one of the best RBs of all time and at the peak of his career, but he's got plenty of mileage for a RB. That lead me to QB, and my choice was between Peyton and Brady. I chose Brady. He's a winner, and it doesn't seem to matter who his supporting cast is. (This comes from a Manning owner in a dynasty league).

Just curious who others might take.

 
Larry Johnson

-Reason is that LJ is a physical beast that can carry the rock 30 times a game and who can run behind a high school line and still get his yards. I think the Chiefs have really misused him this year. Not because they are running him a lot but because they are not using the passing game and play-action to open up the lanes. Nothing against LT2, I just would take LJ.

Champ Bailey

-I would have a tough time picking between Bailey (28), Ed Reed (28) and Troy Polamalu (25) but I'd definitely want a shutdown corner if I had the choice. Since Bailey is really the only one in the NFL I think I'd go with him. He can probably play corner for two or three more years then make a fine free safety. DeAngelo Hall might be the second best cover corner and he'd be up there as well. Reed and Polamalu make such a huge difference and make big plays it's almost like having another player on the field. But I'd take the best corner over the best safety any day so I would choose Bailey.

 
Peyton Manning - easy choice

Brian Urlacher - this one is tough, I'll give it to Urlacher based on the Bear D performance the last 2 years.

 
Doctor Detroit said:
DeAngelo Hall might be the second best cover corner and he'd be up there as well.
Click to expand...
Not even remotely close...if anything, Hall is one of the weaker starting corners. People just think he's good because he is an excellent athlete and he talks himself up like he's the best ever. However, he still doesn't really understand how to play the position - any intelligent Falcons fan can give you many instances of blown coverages on his part.Heck, he is among the league leaders in giving up big plays...

As for other top cover corners, Chris McAlister and Shawn Springs come to mind. If you're interested in younger ones, though, then Pac-Man Jones is the guy to take (especially given his excellence as a return man). Another is the Browns' Leigh Bodden, who is just about as underrated as Hall is overrated. Don't laugh...even Ocho Cinco has admitted in interviews that he is one of the toughest corners he's ever faced.

To add my answer: Peyton Manning & Richard Seymour. Manning for obvious reasons, but Seymour's versatility (can play DE or DT) is a major plus that few realize. He is a tad injury-prone, but I think I'd still have him over Peppers; the latter lacks that versatility and occasionally disappears in games.

 
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Josh the FunkDOC said:
Doctor Detroit said:
DeAngelo Hall might be the second best cover corner and he'd be up there as well.
Click to expand...
Not even remotely close...if anything, Hall is one of the weaker starting corners. People just think he's good because he is an excellent athlete and he talks himself up like he's the best ever. However, he still doesn't really understand how to play the position - any intelligent Falcons fan can give you many instances of blown coverages on his part.Heck, he is among the league leaders in giving up big plays...

As for other top cover corners, Chris McAlister and Shawn Springs come to mind. If you're interested in younger ones, though, then Pac-Man Jones is the guy to take (especially given his excellence as a return man). Another is the Browns' Leigh Bodden, who is just about as underrated as Hall is overrated. Don't laugh...even Ocho Cinco has admitted in interviews that he is one of the toughest corners he's ever faced.
Click to expand...
I agree on Bodden, but this Browns homer is a little worried about weather he can stay healthy through a whole season.
 
Offense: I would choose the best LT in the NFL. The homer in me would like it to be Walter Jones, but his play this season hasn't been up to the standard it was during the past two seasons. Not sure I can make an objective choice with regard to this right now. When writing game reports we focus so much on the skill position players and generally judge the line play as a whole. I know Jones has been dinged up all season and will likely return to form after healing up during the off-season. He hasn't been on the injury reports at all, but I know he's playing hurt. I would entertain suggestions as to who's the best LT in the NFL right now.

Defense: I was very impressed with DT Tommie Harris earlier this season, but have only watched the Bears twice this year. If pressed to make a choice I think I would have to go with DE Julius Peppers. His overall play is insanely great. Not just great. Insanely great. The play that sticks in my head from this year was actually a combination of two plays. It was the Minnesota game. Early in a game he blocked a field goal attempt. Later in the same game the Vikings ran a fake field goal (pass I think) around the right side. Peppers was the player that nearly caught him from behind and made the tackle as the player was crossing the goal line. Oh yeah, he had three sacks just for kicks that day. Peppers isn't just special. He may be one of the greatest DE's ever, and he's in his prime.

 
Josh the FunkDOC said:
Doctor Detroit said:
DeAngelo Hall might be the second best cover corner and he'd be up there as well.
Click to expand...
Not even remotely close...if anything, Hall is one of the weaker starting corners. People just think he's good because he is an excellent athlete and he talks himself up like he's the best ever. However, he still doesn't really understand how to play the position - any intelligent Falcons fan can give you many instances of blown coverages on his part.Heck, he is among the league leaders in giving up big plays...

As for other top cover corners, Chris McAlister and Shawn Springs come to mind. If you're interested in younger ones, though, then Pac-Man Jones is the guy to take (especially given his excellence as a return man). Another is the Browns' Leigh Bodden, who is just about as underrated as Hall is overrated. Don't laugh...even Ocho Cinco has admitted in interviews that he is one of the toughest corners he's ever faced.
Click to expand...
Pro Bowl corner is not even remotely close? Ok. Shawn Springs? :eek: I agree on Jones, he'd be my second guy. But Hall is a very good player and one of the best corners in the league.

 
I'll view this as my "first stud" on either side of the ball.

Sure you can build around a RB or a QB, but if I have only one player who is going to be Pro Bowl caliber, I want him to be multi-faceted and a threat in multiple ways.

On offense, I want a guy who can be a threat in at least 2 of these ways - passer, runner, receiver, return man. That leaves me with two names at the top - Reggie Bush and Michael Vick. I'll take the RB that can pass (Vick) over the runner/receiver/return man threat, but it is close.

On defense, I want someone who can take someone out of the game on the other team (like a shutdown corner) and is also multi-dimensional, possibly also able to return kicks or play offense. Deion Sanders would have been great, but I have a few names on my short list - Champ Bailey (mentioned in OP), Pacman Jones (not quite on that elite level, but still multi-dimensional), Jason Taylor (tough to go with an end), and one other that hasn't been mentioned yet who is also going to be a free agent next year - "AD" - Adalius Thomas. He can play all 11 defensive positions so I can move him all over the place (much like Reggie White could pick and choose his O-lineman to beat during a game, but worse) and I think he could play TE.

Only because the name hadn't been chosen yet and Champ's a little long in the tooth, I'll take Adalius Thomas and then Vick on offense.

Good question.

 
Offense: Agree with Shick on the best LT in the game. If not that, then Ladanian Tomlinson. Multifaceted RBs with speed are what you build an offense around.

Defense: No love for Jason Taylor? Is it the age thing? Not only does he have a non stop motor and a sack machine, but he usually creates sacks for other guys along the D line b/c of how much attention is paid to him (and he still gets sacks). On top of that, has there been any defensive player in recent memory that makes as many Game changing plays as this guy does? Fumbles, interceptions for TDs and sacks while constantly being chipped and double teamed. Hell, Bill Belechick (sp) puts 3 guys on him on some plays and he still gets to brady. Peppers is a close second here, along with Merriman (suspension problems in his future may be an issue) and Champ Bailey

 
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Jeff Pasquino said:
I'll view this as my "first stud" on either side of the ball.Sure you can build around a RB or a QB, but if I have only one player who is going to be Pro Bowl caliber, I want him to be multi-faceted and a threat in multiple ways.On offense, I want a guy who can be a threat in at least 2 of these ways - passer, runner, receiver, return man. That leaves me with two names at the top - Reggie Bush and Michael Vick. I'll take the RB that can pass (Vick) over the runner/receiver/return man threat, but it is close.On defense, I want someone who can take someone out of the game on the other team (like a shutdown corner) and is also multi-dimensional, possibly also able to return kicks or play offense. Deion Sanders would have been great, but I have a few names on my short list - Champ Bailey (mentioned in OP), Pacman Jones (not quite on that elite level, but still multi-dimensional), Jason Taylor (tough to go with an end), and one other that hasn't been mentioned yet who is also going to be a free agent next year - "AD" - Adalius Thomas. He can play all 11 defensive positions so I can move him all over the place (much like Reggie White could pick and choose his O-lineman to beat during a game, but worse) and I think he could play TE.Only because the name hadn't been chosen yet and Champ's a little long in the tooth, I'll take Adalius Thomas and then Vick on offense.Good question.
Click to expand...
I also agree with Shick on taking the best OT, but I would want the best that still has a lot of game left in him. I think that Walter Jones was the best LT in the league, but I don't know that he still is, and I'm not sure for how much longer.Almost all of the lineman I know by name have been around for a long time, so I'm not sure that I'd take them to anchor my team if they're on the down-side of their career.The whole reason for starting the thread was because Shick's comment in the other thread made me ask myself who I would take. It was a much harder question than I thought.
 
O= Reggie Bush All around a great RB who can play every down and catch the ball out of the backfield. He gives a offense a lot of looks and makes it very difficult to scheme against. (Young)

I was taking LT, but the youth of Bush and the quick hitter he is on offense made my decision.

D= Demarcus Ware Can rush the QB, but what sets him apart from Merriman is his ability to cover.

 
Marcus McNeill

Troy Polamalu

...and thats with considering age

not considering present age:

Jonathan Ogden

Champ Bailey

honorable mention: jamal williams, vince wilfork, jason taylor, peppers

 
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I should have taken the time to explain my reasoning. Why take a lineman? Why not a skill position? Simply put, I think RBs and QBs are a dime a dozen. There are guys sitting on the end of the bench in the NFL that can make plays, but they're not lineman. They're QBs, RBs, and WRs.

How many "out of nowhere" stud lineman are there? Too many QBs to count. Guys like Brady, Romo, Garcia, Warner, etc are scattered all over the league. Are they the norm? I won't go that far, but it reinforces the idea that there are tons of guys not getting the chance that can make plays. Same at the RB position. Is Thomas Jones good enough to be the starting RB on a Super Bowl winning team? Sure he is, but he was cast aside by two other NFL teams. Michael Pittman anyone? I'm not suggesting you can pick up the phone and just call 1-800-QUARTERBACK (I still love that line from Parcells), but they're more available than stud left tackles and rush ends.

 
Offense

1. Tom Brady

2. Peyton Manning

3. LaDainian Tomlinson

4. Carson Palmer

5. Walter Jones

Defense

1. Shawn Merriman

2. Julius Peppers

3. Richard Seymour

4. Champ Baily

5. Troy Polamolu

 
Offense - Vince Young

Defense- Julius Peppers

In defense of the Vince Young pick for offense, I think he will become a great qb and a great face for a franchise.

 
What would be cool is if ESPN did a special where they brought in one former coach from each of the 32 NFL franchises and did a fantasy draft of current NFL players.

 
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