
SG Staffer Dennis Vance feels that Brian Westbrook will soar over the competition in 2007, despite the ever-present injury concerns.
|
Explain your pre-draft strategy for this type of draft format.
In
this format I prefer to take RBs in Rounds One and Two, but I look for the best
player available in the second round. Good WRs are very valuable in the WCOFF
format due to the PPR scoring, so I tend to look for a WR in the second round
and beyond, if I think the RB value has dropped significantly. I look for a QB
in Round Five or later, a D/ST anywhere after the seventh round, TE after the
seventh or eighth round unless I have a sleeper that I can take late, and PK
anywhere in the ninth and beyond if there is a specific player that I value
highly.
Explain the
thought process behind your first-round selection.
My first pick was at the 1.07 and I selected Brian Westbrook. He had career highs in rushing and
receiving yardage as well as carries and receptions last season and has caught
between 61 and 77 passes in each of the
last three years. While he has shown some durability issues in the past his
upside is too good to be ignored.
Which was your best value pick, and why?
Michael Bush in round eleven is my best value
pick. While this is a boom or bust selection, I believe he will be healthy by
midseason at worst and should take the starting job from Dominic Rhodes at that point. Lamont Jordan has shown nothing since week 14
of the 2005 season, and I don’t believe he will really even be in consideration
by week one.
Which pick would you “do over” if you had the
chance, and why?
If I
had a chance to “do over” a pick I believe I would have passed on Marshawn Lynch in round four and taken Marques Colston, who I think may finish as a
top ten WR. It was a quirk of our early mock that the player rankings were
still being adjusted and Colston was listed near the bottom of the WR rankings.
I thought that he might get overlooked for another round but I should have
known better in this expert group. Lynch, or perhaps Adrian Peterson of Minnesota who I also had
ranked highly might still have been available in round five.
Not including yourself, which owner had the best
overall draft, and why?
Justin Maki may have had the best overall
draft. Jon Kitna supported by Philip Rivers is a monster. Edgerrin James is a solid running back and
should improve on his slow start last season, Clinton Portis is an easy top ten back when he’s in one
piece, and Adrian
Peterson
should have a great season if his collarbone has healed. Roy Williams, Anquan Boldin and Braylon
Edwards are
formidable receivers and rookies Anthony Gonzalez and Craig
Davis
should provide solid support at the worst. Todd Heap is always near the top of the TE class and Jason Witten isn’t far behind, but he does have a bye
issue for week eight. With the Jacksonville Jaguars for team DST and Mike Nugent doing the placekicking Justin has a very complete club.
Not including yourself, which owner had the worst
overall draft, and why?
TC Cannon may have had the worst draft, although it’s more that the
other clubs may be slightly better. I like Fast
Willie Parker at the 1.06, but Brandon Jacobs and Vernand Morency are unproven, and Chris
Henry may never get the chance. I can’t argue against Peyton Manning at the 2.07, but with all their off-season subtractions Vince Young may not be much more than a backup if Manning should become injured. Antonio Gates is the best TE in the game at present, but the WRs leave a bit to be
desired. Randy Moss has shown nothing over the last three years and a change in
locale may not make up for a loss of physical ability. Derrick Mason may be out of favor as I expect
Mark Clayton and Demetrius
Williams to get more looks, and Muhsin Muhammad has been a WR2 at
best since 2004. I like Kevin Curtis to take the WR1 spot for the Eagles but if Donovan McNabb cannot stay healthy it may be moot. The Cowboy D should be respectable and Jason
Hanson should do well as a PK, but John Carney was released by New Orleans.
See you in the next draft!
|
Vance Roster
|
|
(7) Brian Westbrook
|
RB
|
Phi
|
|
(18) Terrell Owens
|
WR
|
Dal
|
|
(31) Donald Driver
|
WR
|
GB
|
|
(42) Marshawn Lynch
|
RB
|
Buf
|
|
(55) Drew Brees
|
QB
|
NO
|
|
(66) Jerricho Cotchery
|
WR
|
NYJ
|
|
(79) D.J. Hackett
|
WR
|
Sea
|
|
(90) Baltimore Ravens
|
Def
|
Bal
|
|
(103) Vernon Davis
|
TE
|
SF
|
|
(114) Ron Dayne
|
RB
|
Hou
|
|
(127) Tony Romo
|
QB
|
Dal
|
|
(138) Michael Bush
|
RB
|
Oak
|
|
(151) Adam Vinatieri
|
K
|
Ind
|
|
(175) Jason Hill
|
WR
|
SF
|
|
(162) Adrian Peterson
|
RB
|
Chi
|
|
(186) Dennis Northcutt
|
WR
|
Jac
|