BKL 2022: From Worst to ???

[mrkordell]

Thru Week 6:

Well QB Desmond Kaplan went down for the year, and although he wasn't having a great season, it certainly puts a damper on the playoff hopes. The real story of the season has been the defensive play. The switch from a 4-3 to a 3-4 has helped tremendously, and the defense went from ranked #31 last season to top 10 this season.

CB Tommy Leyba has been the difference maker. He has been a serviceable corner for the past three seasons, averaging a 78% PD%. This season he's over 100% PD%, allowing only 5 catches, and has 3 INT. On the other side CB Kerry Carpenter continues to be a disappointment. However, Carpenter's hamstring injury has opened the door for rookie CB Gilbert Benton to step into the starting rotation and has shined. Through the three games he has started he has over 90% PD% and has allowed only six catches. He will certainly start the rest of the season, and Carpenter will move to the nickel, which he may be better suited for anyhow.

The real question of the season was WLB Perry Caldwell. Moving to the 3-4 meant that he would become a pass rusher on every passing down. He had never recorded more than 2 sacks in a season, and through three games he has already recorded 2.5 sacks. The team is now #6 in sacks/game from #22 a year ago.

While the defense is playing well, offensively we need to transition to the OJ Musselman era. He didn't play well last season, but was probably asked to do too much too soon. This is an offense that will have to rely on running backs Rufus Glover and Corwin Blades to lead the charge, and hope Musselman can make the necessary plays to win. Certainly its not the style of play we would have liked to play coming into the season, but we'll play the hand we're dealt.

Season outlook: 7-9

[mrkordell]

2019 Draft Review

2019 Draft Review

This was my first draft in the OSFL, and I came into the draft looking for 2 things: secondary and WR. Ultimately, I've got a few contributors out of this draft, but its a disappointing start.

1.14 CB Kerry Carpenter (49/49)
He's been a disappointment as a starting CB, but he's always been suited better for the nickel, and he's finally getting a chance to play in that position with the emergence of Gilbert Benton. Ultimately, I'm kicking myself for taking Carpenter over Kurt McCloud.

2.39 CB Tommy Leyba (47/47)
Everything changed for Tommy this season. He's finally broken out into the player I thought he could be. No telling if he keeps it up, but he's having a great season and looks to be the best player of this draft by far.

2.52 WR Jeff Borczon (36/36)
Another disappointment in this draft. He's never been good enough to start, and has been alright in the slot.

3.83 S Bryce Worchester (37/37)
Bryce had every chance to start early on but injuries and poor play have kept him off the field. We've moved on at the safety position.

4.114 WR Archie Kirk (48/48)
I thought Kirk had potential, and still do, but his production has never been there. After a good rookie season his production has never been the same. Most of that can probably be blamed on poor QB play.

4.115 C Brady Prescott
Cut

4.145 DE Travis Miller
Cut

4.146 CB Travis Sanford
Cut

6.176 TE Harvey Culpepper (47/47)
Harvey started for a couple of seasons, and was okay, but we've moved on to Donald Bullock. Culpepper is great for 2 TE sets though.

7.207 ILB Deron Bell
Cut

[Aston]

I wish you had taken Kurt McCloud, too...

Over 100% PD through 6 games? That's unbelievable!

[mrkordell]

The season is winding down with only three games to play. We sit at a respectable 6-7, hoping to eek out an 8-8 record. No matter what happens these last 3 games, this was a big turnaround year for us. We're back on track, with a young nucleus to build around. We were able to turn things around from a year ago (2-14) by playing much better defensively and playing to our strengths offensively (running the ball).

2022 Offseason Review

Free Agent Signings

QB Desmond Kaplan
I'm willing to admit OJ Musselman may not have been the smart choice at 1.8 in the 2021 draft. His rookie season was rough (10 TD, 13 INT, 50% CMP%). With the rest of the roster ready to make a playoff run, I felt like I needed to address the QB situation. Kaplan seemed like a decent choice, and although he had never been a big numbers guy, he wasn't going to be asked to do much anyhow.

Long story short, he was no better than Musselman, and his season was cut short by injury after five weeks.

RB Corwin Blades
The decision to let RB Daryl Rendon go was not an easy one after a season in which he averaged over five yards a carry. But he was coming off of a knee injury and had a been a bit of a fumbler. Blades may be nearing the end of his career, but he's been a top 5 back and he can still contribute as a change of pace back.

WR Dustin Burrell
Eh, not a great signing, but he's a BPR guy and has had a decent season.

S Thurman Joyner
Picked him up as a run stopper on first and second down. The run defense has improved, but that's more due to Thomason's presence than anything else. Bryce Worcester has played much better than Joyner throughout the year, and will probably get a look as the full time starter again.

Draft

1.1 traded to BOS for 1.15, 3.15, 5.3 and ILB Ricky Thomason
I knew this wasn't a great deal the moment I made it. But at the same time, this wasn't a draft class for me. Without a stud QB or WR it was an easy decision to try to move the pick. There was no way I was going to take Max Montano with Rufus Glover on the roster. I did, for a moment, consider taking Jerry Drake, but it would have been a reach and this was a relatively deep class of CB.

Ultimately, by moving the pick I addressed the biggest need I had (stud playmaker on defense), and got some decent draft picks out of it. Thomason has been a beast and finally allowed me to move to the 3-4 that I've wanted to play since taking over the team.

1.15 TE Donald Bullock
Outside of Rufus Glover, we have no real playmakers on offense. The thought was to bring in Bullock and make him the centerpiece of the passing game. That hasn't happened yet, but he's slowly getting worked into the offense.

2.1 traded to PXT for 2023 1st & 4th
This was a trade I was excited to make. I wasn't thrilled with the 2nd round talent in this class so moving this pick for a future 1st rounder was a no brainer (even though it'll probably wind up being a high 20s pick).

3.9 CB Gilbert Benton
I was very high on Benton coming into the draft. I think he was my #2 CB behind Jerry Drake. My scout had him VU, and I was getting nervous sitting at 3.15 so I moved up to get him. Trading up may have been a mistake (other scouts had him VO), but picking him was not. He's been a very solid corner for us, and is a borderline rookie of the year candidate.

4.1 S Marty Risley
He's been mostly a special teamer for us, but provides good depth at the safety position.

5.1 CB Howie Nkwenti
I moved him straight into the nickel after Kerry Carpenter's injury. I'm excited to see how his bars move in the offseason, as I really liked him coming into the draft. He's been alright in the nickel, but nothing special... yet.

All other picks were non-factors this season.

Top 5 Brooklyn Hitmen in 2022

1. RB Rufus Glover
No surprise here as Glover is far and away the best player on our roster. This may end up being his best season, and he looks to finish second in rushing yards, touchdowns, and 10+ yd runs.

2. ILB Ricky Thomason
Leads the team in tackles (78), second in INT (3) and PD% (85.6). He's had an outstanding year.

3. LT Craig Monroe
He's only allowed 4 sacks this season and is top 10 in KRB.

4. RT Desmond Welch
He's having a career year, with only 3 sacks allowed, a career best 5 pancakes, and 22 KRB.

5. CB Tommy Leyba
Although Gilbert Benton has had a more consistent season, he wasn't the starter from day one. Tommy has been the starter at LCB every game this season and is having, by far, his best season. At one point in the season he had over 90% PD%. He's finishing off the season with around 85% PD% and 4 INT.

[BradZ]

Good stuff.

[Aston]

Indeed! That RB is a beast! Interested in seeing how Nkwenti turns out as well. He looked very similar to my current nickelback, Chuck Horton, coming out of the draft.

We have RB Darryl Rendon on the Bees now. He was nearly cut for the midweek though. I still haven't decided who to get rid of, he was my first thought. Definitely the numbers he put up that drew me to him in the first place, although I didn't look at fumbles.

[mrkordell]

We have RB Darryl Rendon on the Bees now. He was nearly cut for the midweek though. I still haven't decided who to get rid of, he was my first thought. Definitely the numbers he put up that drew me to him in the first place, although I didn't look at fumbles.

I'm not saying he was a fumble machine, but:

With Rendon
2020: BKL #25 fumbles (1.6/game)
2021: BKL #30 fumbles (1.8/game)

Without Rendon
2022: BKL #10 fumbles (1.2/game)