My way too early 1st round draft recap. Everyone likes to grade draft picks but im not going to just simply recap what each team did and why I agree or disagree. In reality everything on paper doesn't always work out or things that seem unusual work out when no one expects it. I could be completely wrong about all of these a few seasons from now.
There were a ton of very good defensive players available in this draft and the first round proved that. Some teams drafted very well and filled needs with great players, some took great players to add depth and a few head scratchers. No offensive skill players picked in the first round which was very surprising because of the needs of a few teams and that there were great players available.
Pick 1. CB Swantavius Jones - Berlin Fire Salamanders
TPE - 224
Hard to go wrong when you're an expansion team because there are a lot of holes to fill, but screwing up your first pick in the ISFL can have long lasting negative impacts. This was a very good pick for Berlin. Jones gives Berlin two solid cbs who are versatile. Jones should be able to make an impact right away and clearly Berlin is focusing in there defense first. Jones had 2 int and 9 pass deflections last year along with a sack. Jones clearly in the top 5 in potential growth for CB and his style fit best with what Berlin is going for. Berlin will set at corner back for a long time.
Pick 2. CB Dan Foster - Yellowknife Wraiths
TPE - 236
The wraiths were able to take a great player and fill their biggest need on defense at the same time. Exactly what they needed to do with this pick. The Wraiths had a league low 12 turnovers, 9 ints and 3 fumbles. They need to generate more turnovers next season if they want to make it back to the playoffs.
Foster gives them a solid nickel CB that will eventually be a starter down the road. Foster was also top 5 in potential growth at the corner back position. The wraiths defense should improve next season and a pick I liked a lot.
Foster had 2 int and 15 pass deflections last season
Pick 3. DE Tex Wrecks - Philadelphia Liberty
TPE - 275
I don't fully understand this selection. He earned the most Training points out of any draft selection in the first round and has an enormous upside. Tex Wrecks had a great year and will be a great player in the ISFL, DE wasn't a huge need for Philly. They had the top DT ( Goat Tank ) and LB ( Guy Fields ) available but went with depth over an instant starter. Philly wasnt in a position to take vest available player but they did anyway. Unless there intention is to move him or someone else into another position they used the 1st round pick to build depth which there defense is in need of immediate help. Wrecks had 4 sacks and 17 tackles for loss which was second
in the DSFL.
He will certainly help Philadelphias atrocious defense and he will be a great player in the ISFL, but I think they should have gone in a different direction. Only time will tell if Philadelphia was correct.
Pick 4. DE Raylan Crowder - San Jose SaberCats
TPE - 239
Good pickup for the champs. Help build depth on the Defensive line. They struggled to generate sacks and being able to have someone help rotate on guys the defense line to keep guys fresh. Last year he only had 3 sacks but did have 11 tackles for loss. Lots of potential with Crowder.
I think they would have benefited more by taking Guy Fields or Hank Winchester because they lack depth at LB and only had two solid LB.
Pick 5. DE Albert Ruschmann - Colorado Yeti
TPE - 232
Colorado had a great season last year and don't have many holes to fill. CB was a need but wasn't a priority to fill in the first round. Ruschmann provides added depth to the defensive line which only makes Colorado much better. They led the league in sacks last year with 60 and the look to add more next year with another DE who can come in and attack the QB. While Ruschmann only had 5 sacks lash year, he did have 15 tackles for loss. He has time to go because there isnt a rush to get him on the field.
Pick 6. OL Felix Archstone - Baltimore Hawks
TPE - 231
Another team that had a huge need and was able to fill it without reaching for a player. Archstone had a decent year last season but shows huge potential. Baltimore lead the ISFL in sacks allowed so he will certainly help Baltimore correct this. Filling a need with one of the best available players is how you improve you team.
Archstone had 34 pancakes last year as a rookie and only allowed 2 sacks.
Pick 7. LB Guy Fields - Honolulu Hahalua
TPE - 235
I'm surprised by this pick being that Honolulu didn't need a LB. Honolulu had 3 LB with 97 or more tackles last season. This pick looks like they were surprised he fell to them and they took him for depth. Much like Baltimore, they need offensive line help. They were second to last in sack allowed.
Fields did have 120 tackles last season which was second best in the dsfl. He was a tackling machine in the DSFL but wasn't in the backfield much disrupting plays last season. I assume Honolulu intends on letting him grow before he sees the field. He will also be a great player in the ISFL, it just make take some time before he sees significant playing time.
Pick 8. S Tayshawn Crunk - Arizona Outlaws
TPE - 235
They had a need at safety so why not take one of the best safeties available? He not only led all safeties last year in ints but also tied the DSFL lead with 5 ints and also had 7 pass deflections. He should be able to find his way on the field this season and make and immediate impact. I think this was one of the best picks in the first round. Filled a need with the best available player at that position. A lot of mock drafts had Crunk going to the Outlaws so not surprising they took him but filled a huge need.
Pick 9. CB James Gath - Chicago Butchers
TPE -228
Running back was a need for them but they decided to go with depth and potential. While Gath didn't have the stats to back up his play, there is a lot of potential here and he will be a starter at some point. I'm not sure why you go for depth when you have the top running backs available.
Gath had no ints last season and 7 pass deflections.
Mike Rotcnburns was available and would have been a great fit for the Butchers. Rotchburns had over 1000 yards last season. 4.7 yards per a carry and 6 tds to go along with that. 19 yards was his longest rush but he is a workhorse and will get better and better.
Pick 10. OL Medicinal Toblerone - New Orleans Second Line
TPE - 254
Wide receiver, strong safety and defensive end were needs but they decided to go depth. It was certainly hard to pass up Toblerone with his massive upside and offensive line depth is always good to have. New Orleans did give up 27 sacks last year which was in the top half of the ISFL in sacks given up.
Toblerone didnt have a stellar year giving up 4 sacks; but he has the potential to be very good.
Alex Reed and Killian Chambers were available. Both top Wide Recievers were right there for the picking.
Pick 11. DT Goat Tank - Orange County Otters
TPE - 269
Shockingly Goat Tank was available at number 11. He was slated to go in the top 4 picks and would have been an instant starter on at least one team in the top 3. DT was not an area if need for Orange County, but sometimes you just need to take the best available player. Orange county had 55 sacks last season which was third in the ISFL in sacks and they just got more productive.
Goat Tank led all defensive tackles with 7 sacks 3 forced fumbles and 3 fumble recoveries. He was a beast last season and will be a force to reckon with in the ISFL.
This was the only pick that wasn't a need that I liked. I wouldn't have passed on Goat Tank either and i think a lot of teams will regret that. This kind of talent doesn't fall outside of the top 10 very often but when it does you need to take that player if you need him or not.
Pick 12. CB Peter Patterson - Sarasota Sailfish
TPE - 228
Running back and corner back were needs and they filled one. Patterson will be able to be a nickle corner right away next season and he will make an impact right away. This might be the pick that gets the Sailfish over the hump next season.
Patterson had a very productive season last year. He had 3 ints, 12 pass deflections and 2 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries.
Pick 13. LB Hank Winchester - New York Silverbacks
TPE - 248
Great addition for New York, they get an immediate stater with tons of upside. Expansion team needing to fill a lot of holes got an outside line backer who has super productive last season. I thought he would have went a lot higher so New York got a lot of value with their first pick in franchise history.
Last season he had 3 pass deflections, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 4 tackles for loss and 111 tackles.
Pick 14. CB Rich Triplet - San Jose SaberCats
TPE - 236
With the second pick in the first round the defending champs build more depth with Triplet. He has tons of potential and had a good season last year with 1 forced fumble, 2 ints and 10 pass deflections. Within the next season or two I can see him starting for San Jose.
San Jose got a lot better for years to come on defense with there two first round picks. Pretty damn good to win the championship then turn around and have two picks in the first round, especially with how loaded this draft was.
Austin Copperheads - no pick in the first round.
Overall I don't think there were any reaches in the first round. The five corner backs taken in the first round all are pretty close in TPE and potential. Hard to go wrong picking any of them. I do think some teams built depth when they needed to fill other positions and a few teams nailed their first round picks which will have immediate impacts next season. Lastly, congratulations to all the draftees and good luck to all of you next season.
There were a ton of very good defensive players available in this draft and the first round proved that. Some teams drafted very well and filled needs with great players, some took great players to add depth and a few head scratchers. No offensive skill players picked in the first round which was very surprising because of the needs of a few teams and that there were great players available.
Pick 1. CB Swantavius Jones - Berlin Fire Salamanders
TPE - 224
Hard to go wrong when you're an expansion team because there are a lot of holes to fill, but screwing up your first pick in the ISFL can have long lasting negative impacts. This was a very good pick for Berlin. Jones gives Berlin two solid cbs who are versatile. Jones should be able to make an impact right away and clearly Berlin is focusing in there defense first. Jones had 2 int and 9 pass deflections last year along with a sack. Jones clearly in the top 5 in potential growth for CB and his style fit best with what Berlin is going for. Berlin will set at corner back for a long time.
Pick 2. CB Dan Foster - Yellowknife Wraiths
TPE - 236
The wraiths were able to take a great player and fill their biggest need on defense at the same time. Exactly what they needed to do with this pick. The Wraiths had a league low 12 turnovers, 9 ints and 3 fumbles. They need to generate more turnovers next season if they want to make it back to the playoffs.
Foster gives them a solid nickel CB that will eventually be a starter down the road. Foster was also top 5 in potential growth at the corner back position. The wraiths defense should improve next season and a pick I liked a lot.
Foster had 2 int and 15 pass deflections last season
Pick 3. DE Tex Wrecks - Philadelphia Liberty
TPE - 275
I don't fully understand this selection. He earned the most Training points out of any draft selection in the first round and has an enormous upside. Tex Wrecks had a great year and will be a great player in the ISFL, DE wasn't a huge need for Philly. They had the top DT ( Goat Tank ) and LB ( Guy Fields ) available but went with depth over an instant starter. Philly wasnt in a position to take vest available player but they did anyway. Unless there intention is to move him or someone else into another position they used the 1st round pick to build depth which there defense is in need of immediate help. Wrecks had 4 sacks and 17 tackles for loss which was second
in the DSFL.
He will certainly help Philadelphias atrocious defense and he will be a great player in the ISFL, but I think they should have gone in a different direction. Only time will tell if Philadelphia was correct.
Pick 4. DE Raylan Crowder - San Jose SaberCats
TPE - 239
Good pickup for the champs. Help build depth on the Defensive line. They struggled to generate sacks and being able to have someone help rotate on guys the defense line to keep guys fresh. Last year he only had 3 sacks but did have 11 tackles for loss. Lots of potential with Crowder.
I think they would have benefited more by taking Guy Fields or Hank Winchester because they lack depth at LB and only had two solid LB.
Pick 5. DE Albert Ruschmann - Colorado Yeti
TPE - 232
Colorado had a great season last year and don't have many holes to fill. CB was a need but wasn't a priority to fill in the first round. Ruschmann provides added depth to the defensive line which only makes Colorado much better. They led the league in sacks last year with 60 and the look to add more next year with another DE who can come in and attack the QB. While Ruschmann only had 5 sacks lash year, he did have 15 tackles for loss. He has time to go because there isnt a rush to get him on the field.
Pick 6. OL Felix Archstone - Baltimore Hawks
TPE - 231
Another team that had a huge need and was able to fill it without reaching for a player. Archstone had a decent year last season but shows huge potential. Baltimore lead the ISFL in sacks allowed so he will certainly help Baltimore correct this. Filling a need with one of the best available players is how you improve you team.
Archstone had 34 pancakes last year as a rookie and only allowed 2 sacks.
Pick 7. LB Guy Fields - Honolulu Hahalua
TPE - 235
I'm surprised by this pick being that Honolulu didn't need a LB. Honolulu had 3 LB with 97 or more tackles last season. This pick looks like they were surprised he fell to them and they took him for depth. Much like Baltimore, they need offensive line help. They were second to last in sack allowed.
Fields did have 120 tackles last season which was second best in the dsfl. He was a tackling machine in the DSFL but wasn't in the backfield much disrupting plays last season. I assume Honolulu intends on letting him grow before he sees the field. He will also be a great player in the ISFL, it just make take some time before he sees significant playing time.
Pick 8. S Tayshawn Crunk - Arizona Outlaws
TPE - 235
They had a need at safety so why not take one of the best safeties available? He not only led all safeties last year in ints but also tied the DSFL lead with 5 ints and also had 7 pass deflections. He should be able to find his way on the field this season and make and immediate impact. I think this was one of the best picks in the first round. Filled a need with the best available player at that position. A lot of mock drafts had Crunk going to the Outlaws so not surprising they took him but filled a huge need.
Pick 9. CB James Gath - Chicago Butchers
TPE -228
Running back was a need for them but they decided to go with depth and potential. While Gath didn't have the stats to back up his play, there is a lot of potential here and he will be a starter at some point. I'm not sure why you go for depth when you have the top running backs available.
Gath had no ints last season and 7 pass deflections.
Mike Rotcnburns was available and would have been a great fit for the Butchers. Rotchburns had over 1000 yards last season. 4.7 yards per a carry and 6 tds to go along with that. 19 yards was his longest rush but he is a workhorse and will get better and better.
Pick 10. OL Medicinal Toblerone - New Orleans Second Line
TPE - 254
Wide receiver, strong safety and defensive end were needs but they decided to go depth. It was certainly hard to pass up Toblerone with his massive upside and offensive line depth is always good to have. New Orleans did give up 27 sacks last year which was in the top half of the ISFL in sacks given up.
Toblerone didnt have a stellar year giving up 4 sacks; but he has the potential to be very good.
Alex Reed and Killian Chambers were available. Both top Wide Recievers were right there for the picking.
Pick 11. DT Goat Tank - Orange County Otters
TPE - 269
Shockingly Goat Tank was available at number 11. He was slated to go in the top 4 picks and would have been an instant starter on at least one team in the top 3. DT was not an area if need for Orange County, but sometimes you just need to take the best available player. Orange county had 55 sacks last season which was third in the ISFL in sacks and they just got more productive.
Goat Tank led all defensive tackles with 7 sacks 3 forced fumbles and 3 fumble recoveries. He was a beast last season and will be a force to reckon with in the ISFL.
This was the only pick that wasn't a need that I liked. I wouldn't have passed on Goat Tank either and i think a lot of teams will regret that. This kind of talent doesn't fall outside of the top 10 very often but when it does you need to take that player if you need him or not.
Pick 12. CB Peter Patterson - Sarasota Sailfish
TPE - 228
Running back and corner back were needs and they filled one. Patterson will be able to be a nickle corner right away next season and he will make an impact right away. This might be the pick that gets the Sailfish over the hump next season.
Patterson had a very productive season last year. He had 3 ints, 12 pass deflections and 2 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries.
Pick 13. LB Hank Winchester - New York Silverbacks
TPE - 248
Great addition for New York, they get an immediate stater with tons of upside. Expansion team needing to fill a lot of holes got an outside line backer who has super productive last season. I thought he would have went a lot higher so New York got a lot of value with their first pick in franchise history.
Last season he had 3 pass deflections, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 4 tackles for loss and 111 tackles.
Pick 14. CB Rich Triplet - San Jose SaberCats
TPE - 236
With the second pick in the first round the defending champs build more depth with Triplet. He has tons of potential and had a good season last year with 1 forced fumble, 2 ints and 10 pass deflections. Within the next season or two I can see him starting for San Jose.
San Jose got a lot better for years to come on defense with there two first round picks. Pretty damn good to win the championship then turn around and have two picks in the first round, especially with how loaded this draft was.
Austin Copperheads - no pick in the first round.
Overall I don't think there were any reaches in the first round. The five corner backs taken in the first round all are pretty close in TPE and potential. Hard to go wrong picking any of them. I do think some teams built depth when they needed to fill other positions and a few teams nailed their first round picks which will have immediate impacts next season. Lastly, congratulations to all the draftees and good luck to all of you next season.
