08-25-2021, 10:54 PM
(This post was last modified: 08-28-2021, 11:55 PM by allbetsonjames. Edited 1 time in total.)
This is the second part of a two-part review of the Season 26/2041 ISFL Entry Draft. You can read Part 1 as part of the Ultimus Week Point Task, found here!
Should be over 1000 words.
8) OL Alexander Franklin -- Chicago Butchers
Although the top half of the first round produced some great players, we have to go all the way to the eighth pick before we come to our first Pro Bowler (although it would not be with the team that drafted him!) Franklin had a shaky rookie year for the Butchers, charged with allowing 5 sacks as the rest of the offensive line combined to allow just 4. However, he also showed off his outstanding upper body strength in making 70 pancake blocks. Chicago acquired free agent OL Mo Magic prior to Season 28, and Franklin found himself surplus to requirements and a surprise camp cut. He found a landing spot with Philadelphia and showed signs of improvement in S28, laying down 70 pancakes again while allowing just two sacks. In the past two seasons though, Franklin has truly come into his own, posting 132 and 130 pancakes in Seasons 29 and 30 while allowing just a single sack. He was a Season 29 Pro Bowler and seems nearly certain to have made it two years in a row once the Season 30 teams are announced. With Mo Magic now retired, Julio Jones traded to Arizona, and Icebox Riposte about to enter regression, the Butchers suddenly look bereft at OL and may be second-guessing their decision to move on from Franklin so quickly. Philadelphia, meanwhile, has extended Franklin’s contract and expects he will capably protect his classmate Ryan Negs’ blind side for seasons to come.
9) S Moe Skeeter -- Arizona Outlaws
Moe Skeeter was a difficult prospect for scouts to evaluate; at 6’-5” and 265 pounds, his body type was extremely unusual for a player who typically lined up at safety. That fact made this selection a surprise to most draft analysts, but it made more sense when Arizona announced plans to transition the talented but raw player to offensive line. Consequently, Skeeter spent an unusual amount of time in the DSFL for a 1st-round pick, adjusting to the position switch and bulking up to 300 pounds. However, when he finally made his ISFL debut at OL in Season 29, it was not for Arizona but for the Austin Copperheads. The circumstances which led to the change of teams are unclear, whether it was a trade or being released. In his two seasons in the league so far, he has essentially been a league-average lineman, with 54 pancakes per season and 5 total sacks allowed in two years. Although still in the league, overall Skeeter has not developed into the kind of player teams hope to take with their 1st-round pick.
10) DE Demon Jaxson -- Sarasota Sailfish
While perhaps not the most productive of the first-round DEs to come out of this draft, Demon Jaxson has still proven himself to be a worthy first-round selection, an explosive edge rusher whose speed and disruptive abilities affect the game in ways that don’t always appear in the box score. He posted his first 10-sack season this past year, and he is a master of the “QB hurry,” flying off the edge and scaring quarterbacks into throwaways or bad passes. Sailfish fans might tell you he prefers quality over quantity; his stats have never been eye-popping, but he has a knack for making plays in the most critical moments. Jaxson should remain a presence on Sarasota’s D-line, and a familiar face in the local sportsbooks, for the foreseeable future.
11) S Derek Wildstar -- Berlin Fire Salamanders
Berlin sent the first pick of the 2nd round and an additional 2nd-round pick in the S27 draft to Chicago in order to jump back into the first round for safety Derek Wildstar, who rewarded them by producing a statline of 46 tackles, 6 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, a safety, and 9 pass break-ups in his rookie season. In his weakest season to date, Season 29, he still produced 52 tackles and 4 sacks. Season 30 was a bounce-back year that saw Wildstar grab his first 2 career interceptions, and he appears to be on his way to a long and productive career in the black-yellow-red.
Chicago used the extra picks acquired in the trade on WR Raphael Delacour and CB HeHateMe PickSix II, a decidedly mixed result for them. PickSix has been a long-time fan favorite for the Butchers, but Delacour barely featured for Chicago before opting out and establishing himself as a star with the Colorado Yeti: yet another example of the trend in this particular draft for players who become successful only after departing their original team.
12) LB Leonard Taylor -- Yellowknife Wraiths
Orange County Otters made the rather unusual decision to simply defer making any 1st-round selection until the following season, giving this pick to Yellowknife in a straight swap for Yellowknife’s Season 27 1st-round pick. With no additional draft compensation, there seemed to be no real benefit in the move for Orange County, and they quite likely came to regret the decision when they saw the player they could’ve had. The Wraiths converted Taylor from a linebacker to a pass-rushing defensive end, and after two seasons of adjustment to the position change, Taylor popped off for 65 tackles (3 for loss) and 15 sacks, adding 2 safeties and 4 forced fumbles, a performance that saw him named to the Pro Bowl. He was named a defensive captain for Season 30 and could make a second Pro Bowl after posting a nearly identical statline. Curiously, nearly all his Season 30 numbers were exactly 1 less than his numbers from S29, with the lone exception being an increase in TFLs from 3 in S29 to 7 in S30. Orange County would go on to draft Bean Beanman with one of their S27 1st-round picks, who made an immediate impact and was a Pro Bowler as a rookie, but even his Pro Bowl season doesn’t match Taylor’s numbers from the past two years.
13) DT Redbeard McFredbeard -- Colorado Yeti
After a difficult and unimpressive rookie season, Redbeard made the highly unusual decision to move from defensive tackle to cornerback, a move which involved losing more than 100 pounds in a single off-season. Asked how he accomplished the incredible weight-loss feat, Redbeard gave a pained stare into the middle distance and quietly said, “You really, really don’t want to know.” Whatever horrors he endured seem to have paid off, as he can point to 10+ pass breakups and steadily increasing tackle numbers each year, with a healthy number of turnovers and even multiple quarterback sacks mixed in. A popular figure in the Colorado locker room and among the fans, Redbeard will find it difficult to maintain his cultivated image of lovable ineptitude for much longer.
14) WR Tugg Speedman -- San Jose SaberCats
With just over 600 yards on 55 catches for no touchdowns in his rookie season, Speedman grew frustrated by what he saw as a lack of opportunities in San Jose, and opted out of his contract to sign with the New York Silverbacks. This was unfortunate for the ‘Cats, but great for New York and the player himself, as he made a nearly immediate star turn. Tugg followed up the Silverbacks’ Ultimus-winning season in S29 with his best season to date in S30, finishing 4th in catches and 5th in receiving yards with 6 touchdowns, a performance that earned him a contract extension and helped take New York to the ASFC Championship game. Although the Hall of Fame talk that currently follows Speedman is probably still ambitiously grandiose at this point, San Jose certainly must be viewing their former player's success on the other side of the country with some chagrin after they finished 4-12 this season behind an unremarkable passing attack that could use a receiver of Speedmans' abilities.
Should be over 1000 words.
8) OL Alexander Franklin -- Chicago Butchers
Although the top half of the first round produced some great players, we have to go all the way to the eighth pick before we come to our first Pro Bowler (although it would not be with the team that drafted him!) Franklin had a shaky rookie year for the Butchers, charged with allowing 5 sacks as the rest of the offensive line combined to allow just 4. However, he also showed off his outstanding upper body strength in making 70 pancake blocks. Chicago acquired free agent OL Mo Magic prior to Season 28, and Franklin found himself surplus to requirements and a surprise camp cut. He found a landing spot with Philadelphia and showed signs of improvement in S28, laying down 70 pancakes again while allowing just two sacks. In the past two seasons though, Franklin has truly come into his own, posting 132 and 130 pancakes in Seasons 29 and 30 while allowing just a single sack. He was a Season 29 Pro Bowler and seems nearly certain to have made it two years in a row once the Season 30 teams are announced. With Mo Magic now retired, Julio Jones traded to Arizona, and Icebox Riposte about to enter regression, the Butchers suddenly look bereft at OL and may be second-guessing their decision to move on from Franklin so quickly. Philadelphia, meanwhile, has extended Franklin’s contract and expects he will capably protect his classmate Ryan Negs’ blind side for seasons to come.
9) S Moe Skeeter -- Arizona Outlaws
Moe Skeeter was a difficult prospect for scouts to evaluate; at 6’-5” and 265 pounds, his body type was extremely unusual for a player who typically lined up at safety. That fact made this selection a surprise to most draft analysts, but it made more sense when Arizona announced plans to transition the talented but raw player to offensive line. Consequently, Skeeter spent an unusual amount of time in the DSFL for a 1st-round pick, adjusting to the position switch and bulking up to 300 pounds. However, when he finally made his ISFL debut at OL in Season 29, it was not for Arizona but for the Austin Copperheads. The circumstances which led to the change of teams are unclear, whether it was a trade or being released. In his two seasons in the league so far, he has essentially been a league-average lineman, with 54 pancakes per season and 5 total sacks allowed in two years. Although still in the league, overall Skeeter has not developed into the kind of player teams hope to take with their 1st-round pick.
10) DE Demon Jaxson -- Sarasota Sailfish
While perhaps not the most productive of the first-round DEs to come out of this draft, Demon Jaxson has still proven himself to be a worthy first-round selection, an explosive edge rusher whose speed and disruptive abilities affect the game in ways that don’t always appear in the box score. He posted his first 10-sack season this past year, and he is a master of the “QB hurry,” flying off the edge and scaring quarterbacks into throwaways or bad passes. Sailfish fans might tell you he prefers quality over quantity; his stats have never been eye-popping, but he has a knack for making plays in the most critical moments. Jaxson should remain a presence on Sarasota’s D-line, and a familiar face in the local sportsbooks, for the foreseeable future.
11) S Derek Wildstar -- Berlin Fire Salamanders
Berlin sent the first pick of the 2nd round and an additional 2nd-round pick in the S27 draft to Chicago in order to jump back into the first round for safety Derek Wildstar, who rewarded them by producing a statline of 46 tackles, 6 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, a safety, and 9 pass break-ups in his rookie season. In his weakest season to date, Season 29, he still produced 52 tackles and 4 sacks. Season 30 was a bounce-back year that saw Wildstar grab his first 2 career interceptions, and he appears to be on his way to a long and productive career in the black-yellow-red.
Chicago used the extra picks acquired in the trade on WR Raphael Delacour and CB HeHateMe PickSix II, a decidedly mixed result for them. PickSix has been a long-time fan favorite for the Butchers, but Delacour barely featured for Chicago before opting out and establishing himself as a star with the Colorado Yeti: yet another example of the trend in this particular draft for players who become successful only after departing their original team.
12) LB Leonard Taylor -- Yellowknife Wraiths
Orange County Otters made the rather unusual decision to simply defer making any 1st-round selection until the following season, giving this pick to Yellowknife in a straight swap for Yellowknife’s Season 27 1st-round pick. With no additional draft compensation, there seemed to be no real benefit in the move for Orange County, and they quite likely came to regret the decision when they saw the player they could’ve had. The Wraiths converted Taylor from a linebacker to a pass-rushing defensive end, and after two seasons of adjustment to the position change, Taylor popped off for 65 tackles (3 for loss) and 15 sacks, adding 2 safeties and 4 forced fumbles, a performance that saw him named to the Pro Bowl. He was named a defensive captain for Season 30 and could make a second Pro Bowl after posting a nearly identical statline. Curiously, nearly all his Season 30 numbers were exactly 1 less than his numbers from S29, with the lone exception being an increase in TFLs from 3 in S29 to 7 in S30. Orange County would go on to draft Bean Beanman with one of their S27 1st-round picks, who made an immediate impact and was a Pro Bowler as a rookie, but even his Pro Bowl season doesn’t match Taylor’s numbers from the past two years.
13) DT Redbeard McFredbeard -- Colorado Yeti
After a difficult and unimpressive rookie season, Redbeard made the highly unusual decision to move from defensive tackle to cornerback, a move which involved losing more than 100 pounds in a single off-season. Asked how he accomplished the incredible weight-loss feat, Redbeard gave a pained stare into the middle distance and quietly said, “You really, really don’t want to know.” Whatever horrors he endured seem to have paid off, as he can point to 10+ pass breakups and steadily increasing tackle numbers each year, with a healthy number of turnovers and even multiple quarterback sacks mixed in. A popular figure in the Colorado locker room and among the fans, Redbeard will find it difficult to maintain his cultivated image of lovable ineptitude for much longer.
14) WR Tugg Speedman -- San Jose SaberCats
With just over 600 yards on 55 catches for no touchdowns in his rookie season, Speedman grew frustrated by what he saw as a lack of opportunities in San Jose, and opted out of his contract to sign with the New York Silverbacks. This was unfortunate for the ‘Cats, but great for New York and the player himself, as he made a nearly immediate star turn. Tugg followed up the Silverbacks’ Ultimus-winning season in S29 with his best season to date in S30, finishing 4th in catches and 5th in receiving yards with 6 touchdowns, a performance that earned him a contract extension and helped take New York to the ASFC Championship game. Although the Hall of Fame talk that currently follows Speedman is probably still ambitiously grandiose at this point, San Jose certainly must be viewing their former player's success on the other side of the country with some chagrin after they finished 4-12 this season behind an unremarkable passing attack that could use a receiver of Speedmans' abilities.
![[Image: michigan.gif]](https://sig.grumpybumpers.com/host/michigan.gif)
![[Image: lip-chap.jpg?width=383&height=468]](https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/461498035348701185/777250920941223966/lip-chap.jpg?width=383&height=468)
![[Image: k4AYgU9.gif]](https://i.imgur.com/k4AYgU9.gif)
