If you happen to be a backup on the Yellowknife Wraiths depth chart at any position, the rookies of the Season Two draft class would like to have a word with you. Actually, that’s not true at all. They don’t want your company at all. All they want are your jobs.
And they are probably going to take them.
It’s only been a couple of weeks since team training camp started, but cornerback Rafael Reyes, selected as the fifth pick in the eleventh round of the Season Two draft, was initially thought to be nothing more than a camp body, someone for the other borderline camp bodies to practice against before being cut and placed on the practice squad in case of injury. Teams, good ones, at least, simply aren’t looking for starting-level talent that deep in the draft, right?
Reyes only needed rookie minicamp to show that the versatile run-stopping cornerback was a surprisingly valuable asset to have on the field as both a cover corner and backup tackler. Once team training camp began, Reyes quickly challenged the Henri Rivere’s place on the depth chart in all packages, and we’ve heard from a source inside the camp that he succeeded. We’ve heard reports that Rivere, who last year racked up 36 tackles, 3 passes defensed, and 1 interception, is no longer second on the depth chart behind starter Alex Hansen and presumed starter Marcus Kane, who was drafted with the first pick of the fourth round. We have since heard rumors that Bzerkap, the team’s general manager, has made Rivere available for trade, though it would appear that there have not been any offers worth taking. Rivere, who is currently playing on a one year, $500,000 contract, was unavailable for comment, though his agency issued a statement saying that the new depth chart position is only due to a scheme adjustment following a bevy of defensive players acquired in the Season Two draft and that the vet is still in "the best shape of his life."
The trade makes more sense upon realizing that Rivere has been replaced with Reyes as the third cornerback on the team, but that position has had a minor upset as well. Number one draft pick Dermot Lavelle, who played in Yellowknife last year as a waiver claim, appears to be lining up across from number one receiver Josh Garden, with veteran Dirk Cutter on the opposite end of the field. The decision is not a surprising one, as a first overall pick is expected to take on a large role, and Lavelle is already well-versed in both NSFL play and even the Wraiths’ defensive system.
Big moves are also being made on offense. Pro Bowl wide receiver Josh Garden, recently signed to a one year, $3 million dollar extension, is currently listed as the number one option, which is unlikely to change. Darren Smallwood, selected with the fifth pick of the seventh round, has already managed to move himself up past both Wizard Stephen, who only accounted for five receptions and 57 yards, and is now competing with Jonathan Shaloiko. Shaloiko, who put up 442 yards and 2 touchdowns on 37 catches, was brought to the Wraiths for two years and 8 million dollars, and expected to be capable of serving as the number two receiver in Yellowknife, with most projections stating that he would retain the role until Smallwood worked on his route running, which had been described as raw by many scouts. It would seem that Smallwood has overcome those limitations faster than expected, though learning from a receiver like Josh Garden likely accelerated his learning curve. However, while Shaloiko and Smallwood began their competition for the number two position, a more surprising battle was raging for the number four spot. There are some indications that Shaloiko may even lose the number three receiver spot to Reyes by the end of the season. While that currently seems extremely unlikely, the fact that it’s being considered at all shows that the eleventh round rookie may end up being among the biggest steals of the Season Two draft, and will be a part of the league a long time.
Rafael Reyes, having only recently jumped ahead of Rivere, began trying out against Wizard Stephen, who’d been signed to a one year deal with no guaranteed salary. Despite being a different position, it would seem that Reyes was deemed a better option, as the team shortly announced that Stephen was being released. Stephen was unavailable for comment, but we were able to get in contact with Reyes. “I’d prefer to be a first string cornerback, but that clearly isn’t happening with two pro bowlers already on the roster, so it’s good that I get some playing time on other areas of the field as I develop. I can give the management another option so that’s positive, I hope I can be a useful asset,” he said. With the depth he offers at cornerback, safety, and wide receiver, we think it’s a safe bet that he will definitely be useful.
On the offensive line, Tyron Smith and Matt James are taking reps with the first team offense, with each having taken a very different route to get there. Tyron Smith was drafted 29th overall, the fifth pick of the fourth round, whereas new teammate Matt James was acquired via a trade with Philadelphia. Despite being selected with the second pick of the 5th round, Yellowknife gave up a 4th rounder and 9th round offensive guard to acquire the malcontent from the Liberty after a contract holdout. The two appear to be penciled in to play OG, though it has yet to be determined which one will play next to Mat Akselsen and which one next to Jogn Floggity.
Finally, at linebacker, Kevin Cushing has entered into a three way competition for the role of middle linebacker. While Cushing appears to be more talented than veterans Lindarius Shelton and Reginald Hampshireton, it is difficult to imagine the less powerful Cushing not only being ready to be what many consider to be the defensive quarterback, but simply being enough of a “thumper” to stop power runs up the middle. Either way, it does seem clear that at some point this season, Cushing will be the top linebacker on this team, which really means just one more rookie taking a spot from a veteran on what was already a winning team.
((1073 words, 60% to @Julio, 20% to @tlk742, 20% to me))
And they are probably going to take them.
It’s only been a couple of weeks since team training camp started, but cornerback Rafael Reyes, selected as the fifth pick in the eleventh round of the Season Two draft, was initially thought to be nothing more than a camp body, someone for the other borderline camp bodies to practice against before being cut and placed on the practice squad in case of injury. Teams, good ones, at least, simply aren’t looking for starting-level talent that deep in the draft, right?
Reyes only needed rookie minicamp to show that the versatile run-stopping cornerback was a surprisingly valuable asset to have on the field as both a cover corner and backup tackler. Once team training camp began, Reyes quickly challenged the Henri Rivere’s place on the depth chart in all packages, and we’ve heard from a source inside the camp that he succeeded. We’ve heard reports that Rivere, who last year racked up 36 tackles, 3 passes defensed, and 1 interception, is no longer second on the depth chart behind starter Alex Hansen and presumed starter Marcus Kane, who was drafted with the first pick of the fourth round. We have since heard rumors that Bzerkap, the team’s general manager, has made Rivere available for trade, though it would appear that there have not been any offers worth taking. Rivere, who is currently playing on a one year, $500,000 contract, was unavailable for comment, though his agency issued a statement saying that the new depth chart position is only due to a scheme adjustment following a bevy of defensive players acquired in the Season Two draft and that the vet is still in "the best shape of his life."
The trade makes more sense upon realizing that Rivere has been replaced with Reyes as the third cornerback on the team, but that position has had a minor upset as well. Number one draft pick Dermot Lavelle, who played in Yellowknife last year as a waiver claim, appears to be lining up across from number one receiver Josh Garden, with veteran Dirk Cutter on the opposite end of the field. The decision is not a surprising one, as a first overall pick is expected to take on a large role, and Lavelle is already well-versed in both NSFL play and even the Wraiths’ defensive system.
Big moves are also being made on offense. Pro Bowl wide receiver Josh Garden, recently signed to a one year, $3 million dollar extension, is currently listed as the number one option, which is unlikely to change. Darren Smallwood, selected with the fifth pick of the seventh round, has already managed to move himself up past both Wizard Stephen, who only accounted for five receptions and 57 yards, and is now competing with Jonathan Shaloiko. Shaloiko, who put up 442 yards and 2 touchdowns on 37 catches, was brought to the Wraiths for two years and 8 million dollars, and expected to be capable of serving as the number two receiver in Yellowknife, with most projections stating that he would retain the role until Smallwood worked on his route running, which had been described as raw by many scouts. It would seem that Smallwood has overcome those limitations faster than expected, though learning from a receiver like Josh Garden likely accelerated his learning curve. However, while Shaloiko and Smallwood began their competition for the number two position, a more surprising battle was raging for the number four spot. There are some indications that Shaloiko may even lose the number three receiver spot to Reyes by the end of the season. While that currently seems extremely unlikely, the fact that it’s being considered at all shows that the eleventh round rookie may end up being among the biggest steals of the Season Two draft, and will be a part of the league a long time.
Rafael Reyes, having only recently jumped ahead of Rivere, began trying out against Wizard Stephen, who’d been signed to a one year deal with no guaranteed salary. Despite being a different position, it would seem that Reyes was deemed a better option, as the team shortly announced that Stephen was being released. Stephen was unavailable for comment, but we were able to get in contact with Reyes. “I’d prefer to be a first string cornerback, but that clearly isn’t happening with two pro bowlers already on the roster, so it’s good that I get some playing time on other areas of the field as I develop. I can give the management another option so that’s positive, I hope I can be a useful asset,” he said. With the depth he offers at cornerback, safety, and wide receiver, we think it’s a safe bet that he will definitely be useful.
On the offensive line, Tyron Smith and Matt James are taking reps with the first team offense, with each having taken a very different route to get there. Tyron Smith was drafted 29th overall, the fifth pick of the fourth round, whereas new teammate Matt James was acquired via a trade with Philadelphia. Despite being selected with the second pick of the 5th round, Yellowknife gave up a 4th rounder and 9th round offensive guard to acquire the malcontent from the Liberty after a contract holdout. The two appear to be penciled in to play OG, though it has yet to be determined which one will play next to Mat Akselsen and which one next to Jogn Floggity.
Finally, at linebacker, Kevin Cushing has entered into a three way competition for the role of middle linebacker. While Cushing appears to be more talented than veterans Lindarius Shelton and Reginald Hampshireton, it is difficult to imagine the less powerful Cushing not only being ready to be what many consider to be the defensive quarterback, but simply being enough of a “thumper” to stop power runs up the middle. Either way, it does seem clear that at some point this season, Cushing will be the top linebacker on this team, which really means just one more rookie taking a spot from a veteran on what was already a winning team.
((1073 words, 60% to @Julio, 20% to @tlk742, 20% to me))