NLB '29

[Guest]

2029 North Liberty Enforcers

Free Agency

QB Luke Sinclair 33/33
I honestly have no idea why I signed this guy. He's a conflict. He doesn't have accuracy or sense rush. Maybe because he was a former 1st rounder that I figured someone saw something in. Who knows? Weird.

FB Brent Kerby 42/42
Solid blocker and 3rd down runner.

RT Bo Landers 48/48
We only had 1 tackle going into free agency. This guy is a strong all-around blocker. He gets winded easily, but should play well for us.

RT James Bussey 41/41
We needed tackles. Here's another decent all-around guy that has the endurance to make up for Landers.

NT Kennedy McDaniel 38/47
Run defender, punishing hitter, big body, strong affinity. Key signing for the D-line.

SLB K.C. Parrish 44/44
Can defend the run and rush the passer. His coverage skills can be questionable, but he'll be a capable back-up to Browning.

WLB Carlos Melnick 32/32
I wanted some help in case the aging Sosinki took a plunge in training camp. So I signed a guy the same age. Sigh. He's been a big sack guy his whole career. He'll give us depth in the pass rush.

P James Goricki 56/56
Big leg with lots of hang time. He's directionally challenged, but should put up good numbers for us.

Draft

1.13 Jose Olivarez RCB 46/67
We traded away last year's starter because he was unhappy with our contract talks. So we had to find a replacement early in the draft. Jose fell into our laps at 13. He is a great all-around corner that can help in special teams as well.

1.19 Rick Lehmkuhl SS 54/76
Slightly undersized, but strong in all aspects of the defense. We actually had him rated higher than Olivarez but skipped him at 13 with the depth we saw at safety in this draft. He should lead the secondary for many years.

2.2 Clifton Monroe FL 27/41
Speed, agility, position drill. This downfield threat can hold onto the ball. Our scouts gave him a 1st round grade. We were very happy to get him at 2.2.

2.5 Leo Jefferson RG 40/80
Not much to say here. A starting guard for many years taken early in the 2nd. Seemed like good value.

2.26 Ian Carter FB 37/62
Carter was actually way down our board when the 26th pick of the 2nd round came up. At that point though, I was trying to find a guy that I felt could start for the team early in his career. His average combine didn't excite many of our scouts, but I felt that he would be a strong pass blocker at the very least. His above average bench press makes me think he could be a bit of a creeper.

4.2 Devin Blake LDE 23/39
He's got speed to rush the passer. Blake should provide depth at DE that we needed.

5.3 Gary Jenkins WLB 18/39
He's got the strength and speed to be a WLB on our D. We needed some youth at the position after signing another 11 year veteran.

6.2 Bruce Torrez NT 27/50
He's a big gamble with his small frame, but what are 6th round picks for? Hopefully, he can use his speed and agility to make up for his diminutive size.

7.3 Dominic Hopper RCB 14/31
He's a 7th round flier. A big Sparty m2m corner with some speed and special teams ability. Training camp will decide his fate.

[Aston]

Nice! I like the formatting

Bussey was one of the guys we wanted to shore up our own tackle depth for this training camp, but you won out.

Melnick was a mf'n hero in Utah, and will always be remembered for making games immensely fun to watch. I think he owns or at one time owned the league hurries record in a single season.

Looks like you did incredibly well with this one, and with landing the 1.13 CB and that mauler at 2.5, probably guys that couldn't have dropped down any further.

[Guest]

Thanks. I think I really gave it my own feel.

Hopefully they can hold on to most of their ratings. First drafts with a team feel like they mean more. I'll be watching these guys as I grow to like the team as a whole.

[Guest]

I was interested in Monroe but not quite sure what to think of him. Getting him where you did is probably just about where he should have gone, I imagine.

I had Jenkins targeted after you that round if you didn't pick him and went with my second option, who has slightly more endurance but doesn't project as ferocious a pass rusher. (Or even as good of a LB, IMO.)

Leo Jefferson was on my round 2 list, but there was no way he was falling to me.

[Guest]

PH had their eye on RG Jefferson in the draft and we were hoping he would have fell to us...I should've tried harder trading up

and my 1st rd pick was either between DE O'Neill and CB Olivarez...i'm still happy with my pick but curious to see how Jose will turn out (yes I call him by his first name lol)

[Guest]

Training Camp

1.13 Jose Olivarez RCB 46/67 51/66
Day 1 starter.

1.19 Rick Lehmkuhl SS 54/76 61/73
Day 1 starter.

2.2 Clifton Monroe FL 27/41 30/42
Will compete with Louie Shanklin for WR3/4.

2.5 Leo Jefferson RG 40/80 47/79
Day 1 starter.

2.26 Ian Carter FB 37/62 41/62
Day 1 starter.

4.2 Devin Blake LDE 23/39 28/41
Solid camp. Will be a backup to Perry Colclough.

5.3 Gary Jenkins WLB 18/39 23/39
Decent camp. With the decline of Melnick, he may start or at least share time with Raymond Sosinski.

6.2 Bruce Torrez NT 27/50 30/49
Decent camp. He'll be in the rotation.

7.3 Dominic Hopper RCB 14/31 16/28
Not a great camp. We need help at CB though. He may stick.

[Guest]

Pretty awesome draft for NLB! Gonna have to watch out for this guy!

[Guest]

Smoke & Mirrors.

The CyFL guys can attest for the fact that I wallow in mediocrity.