Pred's Fantasy Football Forums - Bloodsuckers New Swarm: 12 Rookies Drafted

Rookies Fighting to Make Roster
AP

BAY AREA - The Bay Area Bloodsuckers went into the draft with a league high 12 draft picks after losing every single one of their RFA players and trading for couple others by parting away with key veterans. So it would seem plenty obvious that the Bloodsuckers were intent on building through the draft. Just how they would use those draft picks was the question on the minds of many, but it should be no suprise a majority of the picks were used on the defensive side. "Early on the season we identified this as a very good class for IDPs, as the IOPs seemed rather weak this year," said GM/Coach Frank Alonzo, "That definately factored into our off season plans, especially after who we added during the RFA peroid and through trades."

The RFA period netted the Bloodsuckers immediate help on the offensive side of the ball by adding QBs Donovan McNabb and Micheal Vick, WR Chirs Chambers and Jerry Porter, and RB Rudi Johnson. They also added via a series of trades QBs Matt Schuab and Chris Simms and WRs Chad Jackson, Travis Taylor, and Arnez Battle. Gone was the offensive ineptness of the last year with QB Kerry Collins and Mark Brunell leading the team to no where and lack of fire power at WR with Torry Holt and Terry Glenn being the lone threats. Compared that with the alck of activity on defense whose only hold overs are DL Mike Rucker, LBs Derek Smith and Daryl Smith, and DB Terence Kiel.

Another area not addressed during RFA says Alonzo, "We were probably worse off at RB heading into the draft after RFA. We lost Dominick Davis and Bell via RFA and we had planned on keeping at least one of them. DD sold first and we wanted to keep Tatum but his price became absurd. Adding Rudi Johnson is a huge plus because he gives us a workhorse, a guy we can write his name in permanent marker as the starting RB. But losing Bell really hurt out depth with only Foster, Perry, and Arrington on our roster."

Who can blame the coach for feeling uneasy heading into the season with DeShaun Foster penciled in as the #2 RB. While Foster has shown flashes of talent, he is far from durable, Arrington has been unimpressive, and Perry is strictly a 3rd down RB at this point in his career. So when draft day rolled around the Bloodsuckers had a definate need at RB, but with the 6th slot they weren't guranteed to get one of top 5 RBs, who had been projected to go with the first 5 picks. They also were satisfied with the Matt Leinart consolation prize, so they had no desire pre-draft to trade up considering the cost. However, when the draft began to unroll things looked to go the Bloodsucker's way. "When we saw the Pitbulls trade up to 3 and pick Vernon Davis we were elated. We knew we'd get a RB at 1.6 so then our focus moved onto getting another pick to lock up Lienart, who we felt was the best QB and the player with the best chance of making an impact in this draft, even topping Bush."

The Bloodsuckers made attempts to trade for the 5th and 4th picks to no success. However, Jawbone Hill with the 7th pick was their one and only chance of securing QB Matt Leinart and luckily the 11th pick and 2007 1st rounder was enough to entice GM Mike P to pull the trigger. "When we got that deal done for the 7th pick and we were able to get an RB and Matt Leinart, I would have been satsfied had my draft ended there. It's not everyday you could get two franchise cornerstones in a draft. It worked out even better when the RB that fell to us was DeAngelo Williams. He's the perfect insurance for Foster and he'll see action right away."

It is rumoured that the Bloodsuckers had Williams rated as their #3 RB behind USC alumni Bush and Lendale White and just ahead of Maroney. However their draft didn't end there. They ended up picking up LB Ernie Simms in the 2nd, TE Tony Scheffler in the 3rd, DL Broderick Bunkley, and DB Jason Allen in the 4th round. "We expect Sims, Bunkley, and Allen to go straight to our active squad and contribute on defense. We expect big things from those 3 young men. They are all atheltic and play fast and play hard. That's all you could ask from rookies. We hope Scheff can make our active squad to back up Stevens, but right now he's penciled in to start on the Taxi Squad."

With the RB DeAngelo Williams, LB Ernie Sims, DL Broderick Bunkley, and DB Jason Allen heading straight to the active squad, QB Matt Leinart and TOny Scheffler heading to the TS, and 6th round pick QB Gradkowski destined for the practice squad with QB Andrew Walter that leaves 4 IDP rookies battling for 1 spot on he TS and 5 spots on the active defense. However, the active roster spots will probably be trimmed after the UFA with the Bloodsuckers looking to add a veteran DL, LB, and DB. "In total there will probably be 2 spots on defense and 1 spot on the TS for those 4 rookies."

That leaves DB/LB Jon Alston, LBs Gerris Wilkinson, Feddie Keiaho, and Stephen Tulloch battling for 3 spots. It seems Alston has an inside track as he is being tested out at SS leaving the 3 LBs to fight it out for the remaining two spots. Wilkinson has speed and size to play all three LB positions, Keiaho lacks the size but makes up for it with speed and activity, and Tulloch lacks the speed and athleticism of Wilkinson and Keiaho, but is a sure tackler. GM Frank Alonzo says, "All three have the potential to be starters and that's all we want from these latter round picks. We've done well acquiring young talent on the offensive side of the ball and this draft lent itself to building a young defense. I like all 3 LBs and if all pans out I wouldn't mind have all of them on our active roster."

The Bloodsuckers last pick WR Jeff Webb seems to be a longshot to make the roster with the Bloodsuckers loaded with young talent. In addition to the WRs on their active roster they have 2nd year pros Matt Jones, Roddy White, and Mark Bradley on the taxi squad and the offseason reports have been positive for all three. Well at least 11 of the 12 draft picks look to make an impact. GM Frank Alonzo, "Hey I'm very happy with our draft. We have 3 franchise cornerstones at RB, QB, and LB with Williams, Leinart, and Sims, added 4 starters, and have the potential for nice depth at the LB spot. I'd give ourselves an A+"

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Draft Wrap up
1.06 QB Matt Leinart - QB of the future in a great system and personnel
1.07 RB DeAngelo Williams - A real steal in the 7th spot, considered by some the 2nd best RB behind Bush.
2.06 LB Ernie Sims - A stud LB in a great scheme, always plays agressive, tackled his own brother in high school giving him a concussion.
3.06 TE Tony Scheffler - A raw pass catching TE, can do everything but block.
4.04 DL Broderick Bunkley - Potential beast in the middle could be the rare high scoring DT in the mold of Syemour, Coleman, and Sapp. May regret pasisng on Tapp for Bunkley.
4.06 DB Jason Allen - Should see the field plenty, especially if he sticks at S
4.14 DB/LB Jon Alston - Great speed and a move to SS would make him an instant starter
5.06 LB Gerris Wilkinson - Could start at WLB for the NYG, atheltic
5.17 QB Bruce Gradkowski - Could be a suprise if he ever sees the field, espcially in a WCO.
6.06 LB Freddie Keiaho - Could play start for the Colts at WLB or MLB.
6.10 LB Stephen Tulloch - A possible starter at MLB for Titans.
6.13 WR Jeff Webb - A long shot to make the roster.