Hey guys! Already did the NSFC offensive team, so please check that out. Here we're going to go through the defense and special team players that SHOULD be Pro Bowlers. Again I'm following the constraints of last years teams which means going through two defensive ends, two d tackles, four line backer, and six defensive backs.
Let's start with defensive end.
There's basically three defensive ends I considered for this list, and I could see voting for any two. To me the biggest stats I looked we're sacks and tackle for a loss. The best way for a defensive end to create plays were through that, and three guys stood out. Kurt Hendrix of the Baltimore Hawks, Bjork Bjornnson of the Yellowknife Wraiths and Fuego Wozy of the Colorado Yeti. The first choice is fairly easy as Wozy was dominant this season. Wozys 24 combined sacks and tackles for a loss (12 each) are good for first in the NSFC and second in the NSFL (behind this writers MVP choice Jayce Tuck). Because of that Wozy gets the top nod here. Next is a matter of personal preference. Bjornnsons advantage is in Funbles forced (4 to 1) while Hnendrix has the major advantage in sacks (13 to 8) and tackles for a loss (8 to 5). Bjornsenn also has 10 more tackles, but given the advantage is sacks and tackles behind the line of scrimmage I'm giving it to Kurt Hendrix.
D ENDS - Kurt Hendrix and Fuego Wozy
Next up is defensive tackles
The top dog here is clearly Baltimores Burt Metas. Metas had an incredible season inside and is the best in a very weak NSFC position group. Metas had 9 sacks and four tackles for a loss, both which easily lead the conference for defensive tackles. The final spot comes down the android in Colorado, Big Bot, season 2 Baltimore Hawks waiver wire claim JD Boom and Phillys Greg Taylor. This section took an extra bit of work as all of Boom, Greg Taylor, and Big Bot are listed as defensive ends. These dudes are playing out off position. Taylor wound up with a good amount of tackles but only 3 sacks and on tackle for a loss. JD Boom had the most sacks with 7 but didn't help much in the run having no tackles for a loss and only 40 tackles. He's close but this spot goes to Big Bot who wound up with 53 tackles, five tackles for a loss and two sacks.
Defensive tackles are Burt Metas and Big Bot.
Next up are the four linebackers.
I actually think these first three are fairly easy to choose, and unless people are gonna punish a player for changing teams mid season (which I believe is absurd). We have four players here from three teams, and only one player left out has a complaint. Let's start with everyone's favorite breakout star Erasmo Broadway. Broadway was awesome this season in all facets of the game; coverage, pass rushing and run defending. Dude had 12 sacks, 7 tackles for a loss 115 tackles, with 13 passes defended and 3 picks. He's an absolute no brainer for this spot. Stephen Harrison, Baltimores other stud Line backer is also a no brainer. Harrison had one more tackle than Broadway (116) and four sacks, four tackles for a loss, two interceptions and seven passes defended. Harrison and Broadway are two big reasons the Hawks have home field. But they might not be the best NSFC line backers. Depending on your value of pass coverage in linebackers, Johnathan Saint might just be the best linebacker in the league. Saint did not put up much stats in coverage (no picks and 6 passes defended) but in Colorado he didn't have to. Saint was a monster, leading the NSFC in tackles and coming up with twelve sacks and nine tackles for a loss. I think it's a toss up between him and Broadway for linebacker of the year, it really depends on what your team needs.
These top three were super easy, the final spot was alittle tougher in my opinion. The two guys it's between is Luke Tiernan and AC Hackett. Tiernan had more tackles, and that's where his advantage ends. Tiernans tackles were mostly empty. Yes he had six sacks (same as Hackett) but he had no tackles for a loss. For a Linebacker that is inexcusable. Hacket had three tackles for a loss and two interceptions to go with 8 passes defended. Tiernan did force two fumbles and recovered them, so that cancels out the INTs but I would rather take Hackett.
That makes the linebackers Stephen Harrison, Erasmo Broadway, AC Hackett and Johnathan Saint.
Finally we have defensive backs
For defensive backs I did not care whether a player was a safety or a corner, just went based on performance. The best player in the secondary was the versatile Lincoln Jefferson. Jefferson was awesome in coverage, leading the lead in interceptions to go along with his 9 passes defended. He also was able to sneak by from the safety spot and secure 3 sacks while also finishing first in the NSFC (second in the NSFL) in tackles from the safety position.
Also earning their spot was Hawks duo Darnell Turner and Antoine Delacour. Delacours star power shone through with his defensive touchdowns and both players were excellent is pass coverage finishing near the top of the league in passes defended. Also on the roster is Tyler Oles. Oles was probably the best corner in the conference, with 6 interceptions and 12 passes defended. The final two guys gives us one from each other team in the NSFC. Phillipe Carter and Dermot Lavelle of the Yeti and Wraiths respectively both earn their spots based on pass coverage. Carter had only two interceptions, but his large amount of passes defended (15) gets him on this list. Lavelle was even better, matching the passes knocked away and doubling the interceptions with four total.
Our secondary here is Philippe Carter, Dermot Lavelle, Antoine Delacour, Lincoln Jefferson, Tyler Oles and Darnell Turner.
Finally for kicker and punter
Turk Turkelton and Archibald Booter are competing for the kicker spot. It's a tough call as they missed the same amount of kicks. Booter missed a lot of extra points while hitting almost all his field goals, meanwhile Turkleton was more reliable on extra points but missed more field goals. Turkleton was better from far (3/3 from 50 plus) but Booter was better from close. So I have no idea. I usually would give it to the guy with more volume but their extra point tries plus field goal attempts are equal. Since Field goals are worth more, I'll go with Booter. I would rather a kicker hit a field goal and miss an extra point then the opposite.
Punter is an easy choice. Stephen Harris lead the league in punts inside the 20 and with punting average. He's the best punter in the league and an easy pro bowler.
That wraps the NSFC teams, stay tuned for the ASFC teams coming soon.
Defensive / Special teams totals
BALTIMORE - 6
COLORADO - 4
YELLOWKNIFE - 4
PHILADELPHIA - 3
Totals in the NSFC
YELLOWKNIFE - 12
BALTIMORE - 10
COLORADO - 6
PHILADELPHIA - 5
1219 ready for grading
Let's start with defensive end.
There's basically three defensive ends I considered for this list, and I could see voting for any two. To me the biggest stats I looked we're sacks and tackle for a loss. The best way for a defensive end to create plays were through that, and three guys stood out. Kurt Hendrix of the Baltimore Hawks, Bjork Bjornnson of the Yellowknife Wraiths and Fuego Wozy of the Colorado Yeti. The first choice is fairly easy as Wozy was dominant this season. Wozys 24 combined sacks and tackles for a loss (12 each) are good for first in the NSFC and second in the NSFL (behind this writers MVP choice Jayce Tuck). Because of that Wozy gets the top nod here. Next is a matter of personal preference. Bjornnsons advantage is in Funbles forced (4 to 1) while Hnendrix has the major advantage in sacks (13 to 8) and tackles for a loss (8 to 5). Bjornsenn also has 10 more tackles, but given the advantage is sacks and tackles behind the line of scrimmage I'm giving it to Kurt Hendrix.
D ENDS - Kurt Hendrix and Fuego Wozy
Next up is defensive tackles
The top dog here is clearly Baltimores Burt Metas. Metas had an incredible season inside and is the best in a very weak NSFC position group. Metas had 9 sacks and four tackles for a loss, both which easily lead the conference for defensive tackles. The final spot comes down the android in Colorado, Big Bot, season 2 Baltimore Hawks waiver wire claim JD Boom and Phillys Greg Taylor. This section took an extra bit of work as all of Boom, Greg Taylor, and Big Bot are listed as defensive ends. These dudes are playing out off position. Taylor wound up with a good amount of tackles but only 3 sacks and on tackle for a loss. JD Boom had the most sacks with 7 but didn't help much in the run having no tackles for a loss and only 40 tackles. He's close but this spot goes to Big Bot who wound up with 53 tackles, five tackles for a loss and two sacks.
Defensive tackles are Burt Metas and Big Bot.
Next up are the four linebackers.
I actually think these first three are fairly easy to choose, and unless people are gonna punish a player for changing teams mid season (which I believe is absurd). We have four players here from three teams, and only one player left out has a complaint. Let's start with everyone's favorite breakout star Erasmo Broadway. Broadway was awesome this season in all facets of the game; coverage, pass rushing and run defending. Dude had 12 sacks, 7 tackles for a loss 115 tackles, with 13 passes defended and 3 picks. He's an absolute no brainer for this spot. Stephen Harrison, Baltimores other stud Line backer is also a no brainer. Harrison had one more tackle than Broadway (116) and four sacks, four tackles for a loss, two interceptions and seven passes defended. Harrison and Broadway are two big reasons the Hawks have home field. But they might not be the best NSFC line backers. Depending on your value of pass coverage in linebackers, Johnathan Saint might just be the best linebacker in the league. Saint did not put up much stats in coverage (no picks and 6 passes defended) but in Colorado he didn't have to. Saint was a monster, leading the NSFC in tackles and coming up with twelve sacks and nine tackles for a loss. I think it's a toss up between him and Broadway for linebacker of the year, it really depends on what your team needs.
These top three were super easy, the final spot was alittle tougher in my opinion. The two guys it's between is Luke Tiernan and AC Hackett. Tiernan had more tackles, and that's where his advantage ends. Tiernans tackles were mostly empty. Yes he had six sacks (same as Hackett) but he had no tackles for a loss. For a Linebacker that is inexcusable. Hacket had three tackles for a loss and two interceptions to go with 8 passes defended. Tiernan did force two fumbles and recovered them, so that cancels out the INTs but I would rather take Hackett.
That makes the linebackers Stephen Harrison, Erasmo Broadway, AC Hackett and Johnathan Saint.
Finally we have defensive backs
For defensive backs I did not care whether a player was a safety or a corner, just went based on performance. The best player in the secondary was the versatile Lincoln Jefferson. Jefferson was awesome in coverage, leading the lead in interceptions to go along with his 9 passes defended. He also was able to sneak by from the safety spot and secure 3 sacks while also finishing first in the NSFC (second in the NSFL) in tackles from the safety position.
Also earning their spot was Hawks duo Darnell Turner and Antoine Delacour. Delacours star power shone through with his defensive touchdowns and both players were excellent is pass coverage finishing near the top of the league in passes defended. Also on the roster is Tyler Oles. Oles was probably the best corner in the conference, with 6 interceptions and 12 passes defended. The final two guys gives us one from each other team in the NSFC. Phillipe Carter and Dermot Lavelle of the Yeti and Wraiths respectively both earn their spots based on pass coverage. Carter had only two interceptions, but his large amount of passes defended (15) gets him on this list. Lavelle was even better, matching the passes knocked away and doubling the interceptions with four total.
Our secondary here is Philippe Carter, Dermot Lavelle, Antoine Delacour, Lincoln Jefferson, Tyler Oles and Darnell Turner.
Finally for kicker and punter
Turk Turkelton and Archibald Booter are competing for the kicker spot. It's a tough call as they missed the same amount of kicks. Booter missed a lot of extra points while hitting almost all his field goals, meanwhile Turkleton was more reliable on extra points but missed more field goals. Turkleton was better from far (3/3 from 50 plus) but Booter was better from close. So I have no idea. I usually would give it to the guy with more volume but their extra point tries plus field goal attempts are equal. Since Field goals are worth more, I'll go with Booter. I would rather a kicker hit a field goal and miss an extra point then the opposite.
Punter is an easy choice. Stephen Harris lead the league in punts inside the 20 and with punting average. He's the best punter in the league and an easy pro bowler.
That wraps the NSFC teams, stay tuned for the ASFC teams coming soon.
Defensive / Special teams totals
BALTIMORE - 6
COLORADO - 4
YELLOWKNIFE - 4
PHILADELPHIA - 3
Totals in the NSFC
YELLOWKNIFE - 12
BALTIMORE - 10
COLORADO - 6
PHILADELPHIA - 5
1219 ready for grading