Why are the Outlaws the best team in the NSFL? It seems simple to see, but the success stems from one major component, their defense. The defense has had a lot of turnover since it was first put together, but the Outlaws have assembled the best defense that the league has ever seen for the S3 season. They are stacked with top flight players and have at least one Pro Bowler in ever level of their defense. Today I am going to review the defensive line and what makes it so special, and what make it the best in the league.
DE Dental Dam
Dental Dam is one of the more overlooked players in the league. He stared off as one of the best players in the league, but has tailed off a little bit. With that said, he is still a very impressive player playing opposite of Jayce Tuck. He has been an integral part of the Outlaws' defense since he was drafted in the first draft. When Tuck has not stepped up, Dam has often answered the bell and become a great player. This season, Dam has 35 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, and 6 sacks. While that's not the best at anything, you have to realize his statistics won't blow you away because he plays with the best defensive players in the league, causing his stats to be deflated. Especially when Jayce Tuck is on the other side taking away all of your sack opportunities. I think Dental Dam is more than a servicable defensive end and as time goes on, people will lose respect for what he has done. But from season one until now, he has been the perfect Robin to Tuck's Batman and has been an absolute beast for the Outlaws on and off the field.
DT/OL Arbin Asipi
Rest in peace defensive line Arbin Asipi. While he doesn't still play the defensive line, he was still a large part of why the Outlaws had a dominant defensive front last year and this year. He had 8 tackles this season which is nothing impressive, but he was a great run stopper in the middle when he played. Asipi is a leader in the locker room and keeps the defense excited to go out on the field and give a great performance for the fans and the city. Throughout his career, Asipi has been able to provide a strong presence on the field. Playing next to Tuck is no easy task, but he was the only solid defensive tackle on the Outlaws for awhile, but the acquisition of Big Bot made him irrelevant. He still plays for the Outlaws, but he is now on the offensive line. He is an exceptional player, but has switched his role.
DT Big Bot
Big Bot started the season in the DSFL, but has since been called up to play with the Arizona Outlaws. He has come up without a hitch, so far, and has shown that he belongs on the field with the best defense in the NSFL. In his 8 games up, Big Bot has 27 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, and 7 sacks. He has been a dominant force in the middle and has made opposing offenses respect him. Big Bot has been pretty positive in the locker room and understands his role within the defensive line. He and Godfrey King have worked well together as 2 young defensive tackles and have done the best they can do to compliment Jayce Tuck and complete the dominant makeup of the defensive line. He has also made an impact on special teams by blocking a punt. He will continue to develop into a solid force.
DT Godfrey King
Godfrey King has been an Arizona Outlaw special ever since he entered into the league. The Outlaws were the team that grabbed him off of waiver when he first came to the league and they also drafted him in the first round when his first stint with the team ended. King as a great player in his waiver season and has built on it going into his rookie season with the Outlaws. This season, he has 41 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, and 16 sacks! 16 sacks playing next to Jayce Tuck is absolutely incredible, especially for a defensive tackle. He has been a stopgap in the middle of the defense and has been impenetrable for opposing offenses. Many wonder if he or Sandoval would be the better defensive tackle, but I think it is obvious that King has been a more dominant player. Being able to get the kinds of statistics that he has while playing next to a great player like Tuck is very impressive. It will be interesting to see if he can continue to bring the pressure as the Outlaws go into the playoffs.
DE Jayce Tuck
My mom always taught me to save the best for last. That's exactly what I'm doing with Jayce Tuck. Tuck has been a dominant player ever since he entered the league and has continued to evolve every single week. Opposing offenses are looking for ways to stop him, but it has not been successful so far. He was shut down by Angus Winchester in the inaugural season, but he has been unable to be stopped since then. Last year he won the MVP award for his insane performances along the defensive line. This season, he is pushing for 30 sacks, an insane total. So far he has 75 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and 26 sacks. That means that 40 out of his 75 tackles have been behind the line of scrimmage. That is absolutely incredible and shows how dominant he has been when it comes to slowing down opposing teams' offenses. Quarterbacks fear him and offensive lines dread seeing him lined up across from them. It will be interesting to see how Tuck continues to evolve, but for now he is looking like a likely MVP repeat candidate.
The Outlaws' defensive line is among the best in the game, and these 5 guys are the key parts to what they have been able to accomplish.
GRADED
DE Dental Dam
Dental Dam is one of the more overlooked players in the league. He stared off as one of the best players in the league, but has tailed off a little bit. With that said, he is still a very impressive player playing opposite of Jayce Tuck. He has been an integral part of the Outlaws' defense since he was drafted in the first draft. When Tuck has not stepped up, Dam has often answered the bell and become a great player. This season, Dam has 35 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, and 6 sacks. While that's not the best at anything, you have to realize his statistics won't blow you away because he plays with the best defensive players in the league, causing his stats to be deflated. Especially when Jayce Tuck is on the other side taking away all of your sack opportunities. I think Dental Dam is more than a servicable defensive end and as time goes on, people will lose respect for what he has done. But from season one until now, he has been the perfect Robin to Tuck's Batman and has been an absolute beast for the Outlaws on and off the field.
DT/OL Arbin Asipi
Rest in peace defensive line Arbin Asipi. While he doesn't still play the defensive line, he was still a large part of why the Outlaws had a dominant defensive front last year and this year. He had 8 tackles this season which is nothing impressive, but he was a great run stopper in the middle when he played. Asipi is a leader in the locker room and keeps the defense excited to go out on the field and give a great performance for the fans and the city. Throughout his career, Asipi has been able to provide a strong presence on the field. Playing next to Tuck is no easy task, but he was the only solid defensive tackle on the Outlaws for awhile, but the acquisition of Big Bot made him irrelevant. He still plays for the Outlaws, but he is now on the offensive line. He is an exceptional player, but has switched his role.
DT Big Bot
Big Bot started the season in the DSFL, but has since been called up to play with the Arizona Outlaws. He has come up without a hitch, so far, and has shown that he belongs on the field with the best defense in the NSFL. In his 8 games up, Big Bot has 27 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, and 7 sacks. He has been a dominant force in the middle and has made opposing offenses respect him. Big Bot has been pretty positive in the locker room and understands his role within the defensive line. He and Godfrey King have worked well together as 2 young defensive tackles and have done the best they can do to compliment Jayce Tuck and complete the dominant makeup of the defensive line. He has also made an impact on special teams by blocking a punt. He will continue to develop into a solid force.
DT Godfrey King
Godfrey King has been an Arizona Outlaw special ever since he entered into the league. The Outlaws were the team that grabbed him off of waiver when he first came to the league and they also drafted him in the first round when his first stint with the team ended. King as a great player in his waiver season and has built on it going into his rookie season with the Outlaws. This season, he has 41 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, and 16 sacks! 16 sacks playing next to Jayce Tuck is absolutely incredible, especially for a defensive tackle. He has been a stopgap in the middle of the defense and has been impenetrable for opposing offenses. Many wonder if he or Sandoval would be the better defensive tackle, but I think it is obvious that King has been a more dominant player. Being able to get the kinds of statistics that he has while playing next to a great player like Tuck is very impressive. It will be interesting to see if he can continue to bring the pressure as the Outlaws go into the playoffs.
DE Jayce Tuck
My mom always taught me to save the best for last. That's exactly what I'm doing with Jayce Tuck. Tuck has been a dominant player ever since he entered the league and has continued to evolve every single week. Opposing offenses are looking for ways to stop him, but it has not been successful so far. He was shut down by Angus Winchester in the inaugural season, but he has been unable to be stopped since then. Last year he won the MVP award for his insane performances along the defensive line. This season, he is pushing for 30 sacks, an insane total. So far he has 75 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and 26 sacks. That means that 40 out of his 75 tackles have been behind the line of scrimmage. That is absolutely incredible and shows how dominant he has been when it comes to slowing down opposing teams' offenses. Quarterbacks fear him and offensive lines dread seeing him lined up across from them. It will be interesting to see how Tuck continues to evolve, but for now he is looking like a likely MVP repeat candidate.
The Outlaws' defensive line is among the best in the game, and these 5 guys are the key parts to what they have been able to accomplish.
GRADED