Defensive Line Standouts – Season 4 Review
Welcome to our defensive line standouts season 4 review for defensive tackles! This year will be handled a little differently as I will be breaking it up into 3 pieces, defensive ends, defensive tackles, and team over-view. I decided to write more in-depth at the top 4 for each position, while a more team focused breakdown will follow later. Enjoy!
Defensive Tackle Top Performers
D. Miller ($ x12) 52 TCK, 1 TFL, 16 SCK, 1 forced fumble, 2 fumbles recovered (127 points)
If you followed my articles with any type of consistency over last season, it should come as no surprise to you that not only is Dan Miller the highest scoring defensive tackle, he’s also the highest scoring defensive lineman of the season. His twelve appearances were the most of any player this season, and the second most all-time. Miller finished the season with an impressive 16 sacks, the most of any defensive lineman and second most of any player in the NSFL. Miller wasn’t just a one-trick pony though, as he provided valuable run support as well. His 52 tackles were the third most by a defensive tackle and the fourth most of any defensive lineman. One considered the, “King of the Strip Sack” Miller was able to record 1 forced fumble and 2 fumbles recovered, but that was a sharp decline over season 3 where he finished with 4 and 2, respectively. Miller is the SaberCats defensive line, and an invaluable piece for their defense. If Miller ever leaves the SaberCats, the defense will take a massive hit, but youngster Chamber III has shown himself to be an emerging star, no doubt helped by the tutelage of the best defensive tackle in the league.
A. Asipi ($ x10) 39 TCK, 4 TFL, 12 SCK (95 points)
Arbin Asipi has had an interesting career. To get a better understanding, we have to go all the way back to the beginning, the inaugural season of the NSFL. Asipi finished with a solid 37 tackles and 4 sacks, showing himself to be a solid building piece for the Arizona Outlaws. He improvement continued in season 2 where he finished with 42 tackles and 9 sacks, while also adding 3 recovered fumbles. In season 3, after the addition of rookie sensation, Godfrey King, Asipi was asked to move to guard to help shore up their offensive line. After a solid season, which saw him record 44 pancakes and allow 6 sacks, Asipi was asked to once again change positions, this time back to defensive tackle. He returned to the defense with a renewed vigor, recording career highs in tackles for loss and sacks, while also recording the second most tackles of his career. His 12 sacks were the third most of any defensive lineman, and tied for the third most of any player in the NSFL. Great things are expected from Asipi this year, who is returning to defensive tackle for his final season, as he has announced that he will be retiring at season’s end.
R. Sandoval ($ x9) 47 TCK, 13 SCK (99 points)
Last year, there were 2 fantastic rookie campaigns by defensive tackles, King (who finished the year with a respectable 5 appearances this season) and Ricardo Sandoval. While King regressed a tad (as did most defensive linemen due to league changes), Sandoval actually exceeded his rookie campaign in some ways. Although his tackle number regressed a fair amount (61 to 47), his sack numbers actually increased from 12 to 13, which is incredibly remarkable considering those 13 sacks were enough to place his second among defensive linemen and third in the league overall. Things looked great in Baltimore, 2 of the best defensive linemen in the league would create headaches for QBs for season to come… then everything went sideways. Sandoval was named GM of the Las Vegas Legion and was promptly traded. After a very short and tumultuous tenure, Sandoval stepped down from his GM spot and was, again, promptly traded, this time to Colorado. This was a boon for Sandoval as he would now able to line up next to his brother, defensive end Antonio Sandoval. It will be interesting to see how Sandoval handles the transition to a new city. Colorado has always been clamoring for a pass-rush to support Fuego Wozy, but he was recently traded to Arizona. Have they finally found their answer with the Sandoval brothers?
E. Kamaka, ($ x8) 68 TCK, 1 TFL, 5 SCK, 1 forced fumble (95 points)
Talk about an unknown. Eli Kamaka came out of nowhere to prove himself as the best run support defensive linemen in the NSFL. Well, out of nowhere may be stretching it a tad. As a season 3 rookie defensive end, Kamaka started out well enough, but was asked to convert to guard to fill a massive team need. Ever the team player, Kamaka obliged and finished the season with 20 pancakes and 7 sacks allowed. In what seems to be a reoccurring theme, after league wide changes were made, Kamaka made the transition back to defense, but this time to the interior of the line, as a defensive tackle. To say that his impact was immediate would be an understatement. In his first game as a defensive tackle, he finished with 3 tackles and 2 sacks. Many thought Kamaka would be challenging Miller for the DT sack crown after that first week, but his season quickly pivoted. Kamaka took on a much more under-appreciated, yet equally important role, that of a run-stopping specialist. Kamaka finished with an impressive 68 tackles, the most of any defensive lineman, and 15 more than his next closest competitor. Being a run-stopper is not a glamourous role. They rarely get any respect or attention. However, Eli Kamaka, you’ve gained the respect of this writer.
@7hawk77 @DeathOnReddit @cosbornballboy @PDXBaller
Graded!
Welcome to our defensive line standouts season 4 review for defensive tackles! This year will be handled a little differently as I will be breaking it up into 3 pieces, defensive ends, defensive tackles, and team over-view. I decided to write more in-depth at the top 4 for each position, while a more team focused breakdown will follow later. Enjoy!
Defensive Tackle Top Performers
D. Miller ($ x12) 52 TCK, 1 TFL, 16 SCK, 1 forced fumble, 2 fumbles recovered (127 points)
If you followed my articles with any type of consistency over last season, it should come as no surprise to you that not only is Dan Miller the highest scoring defensive tackle, he’s also the highest scoring defensive lineman of the season. His twelve appearances were the most of any player this season, and the second most all-time. Miller finished the season with an impressive 16 sacks, the most of any defensive lineman and second most of any player in the NSFL. Miller wasn’t just a one-trick pony though, as he provided valuable run support as well. His 52 tackles were the third most by a defensive tackle and the fourth most of any defensive lineman. One considered the, “King of the Strip Sack” Miller was able to record 1 forced fumble and 2 fumbles recovered, but that was a sharp decline over season 3 where he finished with 4 and 2, respectively. Miller is the SaberCats defensive line, and an invaluable piece for their defense. If Miller ever leaves the SaberCats, the defense will take a massive hit, but youngster Chamber III has shown himself to be an emerging star, no doubt helped by the tutelage of the best defensive tackle in the league.
A. Asipi ($ x10) 39 TCK, 4 TFL, 12 SCK (95 points)
Arbin Asipi has had an interesting career. To get a better understanding, we have to go all the way back to the beginning, the inaugural season of the NSFL. Asipi finished with a solid 37 tackles and 4 sacks, showing himself to be a solid building piece for the Arizona Outlaws. He improvement continued in season 2 where he finished with 42 tackles and 9 sacks, while also adding 3 recovered fumbles. In season 3, after the addition of rookie sensation, Godfrey King, Asipi was asked to move to guard to help shore up their offensive line. After a solid season, which saw him record 44 pancakes and allow 6 sacks, Asipi was asked to once again change positions, this time back to defensive tackle. He returned to the defense with a renewed vigor, recording career highs in tackles for loss and sacks, while also recording the second most tackles of his career. His 12 sacks were the third most of any defensive lineman, and tied for the third most of any player in the NSFL. Great things are expected from Asipi this year, who is returning to defensive tackle for his final season, as he has announced that he will be retiring at season’s end.
R. Sandoval ($ x9) 47 TCK, 13 SCK (99 points)
Last year, there were 2 fantastic rookie campaigns by defensive tackles, King (who finished the year with a respectable 5 appearances this season) and Ricardo Sandoval. While King regressed a tad (as did most defensive linemen due to league changes), Sandoval actually exceeded his rookie campaign in some ways. Although his tackle number regressed a fair amount (61 to 47), his sack numbers actually increased from 12 to 13, which is incredibly remarkable considering those 13 sacks were enough to place his second among defensive linemen and third in the league overall. Things looked great in Baltimore, 2 of the best defensive linemen in the league would create headaches for QBs for season to come… then everything went sideways. Sandoval was named GM of the Las Vegas Legion and was promptly traded. After a very short and tumultuous tenure, Sandoval stepped down from his GM spot and was, again, promptly traded, this time to Colorado. This was a boon for Sandoval as he would now able to line up next to his brother, defensive end Antonio Sandoval. It will be interesting to see how Sandoval handles the transition to a new city. Colorado has always been clamoring for a pass-rush to support Fuego Wozy, but he was recently traded to Arizona. Have they finally found their answer with the Sandoval brothers?
E. Kamaka, ($ x8) 68 TCK, 1 TFL, 5 SCK, 1 forced fumble (95 points)
Talk about an unknown. Eli Kamaka came out of nowhere to prove himself as the best run support defensive linemen in the NSFL. Well, out of nowhere may be stretching it a tad. As a season 3 rookie defensive end, Kamaka started out well enough, but was asked to convert to guard to fill a massive team need. Ever the team player, Kamaka obliged and finished the season with 20 pancakes and 7 sacks allowed. In what seems to be a reoccurring theme, after league wide changes were made, Kamaka made the transition back to defense, but this time to the interior of the line, as a defensive tackle. To say that his impact was immediate would be an understatement. In his first game as a defensive tackle, he finished with 3 tackles and 2 sacks. Many thought Kamaka would be challenging Miller for the DT sack crown after that first week, but his season quickly pivoted. Kamaka took on a much more under-appreciated, yet equally important role, that of a run-stopping specialist. Kamaka finished with an impressive 68 tackles, the most of any defensive lineman, and 15 more than his next closest competitor. Being a run-stopper is not a glamourous role. They rarely get any respect or attention. However, Eli Kamaka, you’ve gained the respect of this writer.
@7hawk77 @DeathOnReddit @cosbornballboy @PDXBaller
Graded!
[OPTION]Johnny Snuggles || CB || Yellowknife Wraiths || Hall of Fame [OPTION]Height/Weight: 6'1", 205 [OPTION]Number: 21 [OPTION] Draft History: S13 #1 Overall [OPTION]=========================================== [OPTION]Trophy Case/Achievements:[OPTION] Ultimini Champs: S12 [OPTION] Defensive Rookie of the Year: S13 [OPTION] Pro Bowl: S14, S15, S16