This is the first of a series of articles projecting the depth charts of each DSFL team based on the first update since the DSFL draft. Today I will projecting the depth chart for my own team, the Tijuana Luchadores. This depth chart is based on current TPE, activity level, draft position, and other factors. It will not list every player on each team, but will list all active players.
Quarterback
1. Ben Slothlisberger TPE 137
2. Jim Waters TPE 140
Analysis: While Waters has slightly higher TPE than Slothlisberger after the first update, it is clear that Slothlisberger will be the starter for the Luchadores. Many considered Slothlisberger the best QB in this draft, and the Luchadores agreed, using their first round draft pick and fourth pick overall on Slothlisberger. Shockingly, despite Waters's high TPE and activity level, he dropped all the way to 180th in the draft after concerns surfaced about his maturity and reliability. In fact, one of the draft broadcasters openly berated Waters for his decision to recreate as a quarterback, and said he deserved to fall in the draft. I, for one, would love to see Waters prove the disenchanted broadcaster wrong by sticking with this player and becoming the best QB in the DSFL. Many have called for Waters to change positions, but like Lamar Jackson, among other famous NFL QBs, Waters has repeatedly said that he is a quarterback and will not change positions. He has announced his intention to sit and learn behind Slothlisberger for a year, and then start the following season, presuming that high pick Slothlisberger gets promoted to the NSFL. The Luchadores will benefit from having two high earning and QBs, and can either save Waters for next season, or trade him this season to a team whose QB situation goes worse than planned.
Running Backs
1. Ed Barker TPE 270
2. Ben Bortboy TPE 159
3. Richard Gilbert TPE 98
4. Julio Tirtawidjaja 69
Analysis:
Barker is the clear number one back for this squad, and is the highest rated player on the team. Drafted to the NSFL, he is on loan to the Luchadores for one last season, and I expect him to have a big year. Behind him right now is #2 back Ben Bortboy, and inactive player with a fairly high rating. Third on the depth chart is draft steal Richard Gilbert. Drafted 98th overall, Gilbert has shown interesting in improving his game, and if he continues to train, will easily overtake Bortboy as the change of pace back behind Barker, and could even feature in the offense next season after Barker leaves. Tirtawidjaja is a wild card who has shown limited activity, but could get a few snaps if he remains active.
Wide Receivers
1. Jordan McCann TPE 192
2. Thomas Passman TPE 64
3. Friedrich Vequain TPE 71
4. Jesse Jackson TPE 89
5. Ron Mexico TPE 85
Analysis:
The Luchadores are relying heavily on inactives at this position, with their three highest rated player, McCann, Jackson, and Mexico, all stuck in the DSFL due to inactivity. They are hoping that two rookies, Passman, and Vequain, can improve their numbers and become favorite targets for Slothlisberger. The Luchadores must see something in Passman despite his low TPE, as they used the 36th pick on him.
Tight End
1. Gronk Robertowski TPE 154
2. Ben Kenobi TPE 144
3. Max McClure TPE 65
Analysis:
Expect a lot of two tight end sets from Tijuana this season, as they have two highly rated players in Robertowski and Kenobi. Though Kenobi is recently inactive, Robertowski is still active and could continue to grow into quite a good player to help supplement the weak wide receiving core. Max McClure is an interesting late-round rookie who still needs to develop as a player.
Offensive Line
1. Calvin Golladay TPE 129
2. Sylvester Berlin TPE 77
Analysis:
Tijuana's love for offensive linemen is well-documented, and they hope to continue the tradition of great line play with the addition of two players in the draft. After Golladay was snubbed by scouts early in the draft process, Golladay proved the doubters wrong, developing significantly and turning into a top lineman in the draft in addition to dominating the Prospect Bowl for Buffalo. He and Berlin will lead a ferocious running game blocking for Ed Barker.
Cornerback
1. Andrew Witten TPE 124
2. Ozamataz Buckshank TPE 93
3. Justin Kehoe TPE 83
Analysis:
The Luchadores identified cornerback as a position of need in this year's draft, and they filled it with their second and third picks of the draft. Recognizing how incredibly deep the S22 cornerback class was, they wisely traded back in the draft and still got Witten, who Tijuana considered a top 5 CB in the class, with the 28th overall pick and Buckshank with the following pick at 29th. They will immediately start over Justin Kehoe, an inactive who will likely see snaps as the nickelback.
Safety
1. Howard Ryan TPE 268
2. Dillard Holcombe TPE 81
3. Magnus Valdyr TPE 57
4. Literally Just A. Hexagon TPE 57
Analysis:
Ryan, a S18 holdover, was recently active, and the second highest rated player on the team. If he stays active, he has the chance to finally have a breakout season for the Luchadores. Holcombe is the default second safety as an inactive 81 rated player, but one of the two late-round flyers in Valdyr or Hexagon could push for playing time with a little development.
Linebacker
1. Junior Lopez TPE 206
2. Ugarth the Dissector TPE 170
3. George ’Corpse Grinder’ Fisher TPE 93
4. Devaunte Sackpieder TPE 69
5. Nat Wright TPE 69
Analysis:
Linebacker is the most intimidating and deepest position group for the Luchadores. Veteran players Lopez (IA) and Ugarth lead the way and will play in the nickel defense, but the trio of rookie prospects look talented and could work their way into more playing time as they mature.
Defensive Tackle
1. Jacob Rowan TPE 166
2. Cameron West TPE 71
3. Bucky Laurence TPE 57
4. John Nesbitt TPE 57
The Luchadores will be relying on inactive veterans Rowan and West, unless rookies Laurence and Nesbitt, who are looking like practice squad guys, can surprise some people.
Defensive End
1. D'Brickashaw Cannon TPE 67
2. Farrior Deschain TPE 59
Analysis:
A very weak postion group, rookies Cannon and Deschain will have an open path to immediate playing time, and this position will live or die by their development.
Kicker/Punter
1. Jacob Small TPE 50
Analysis:
Small isn't very good, but he's the only kicker on the roster.
Quarterback
1. Ben Slothlisberger TPE 137
2. Jim Waters TPE 140
Analysis: While Waters has slightly higher TPE than Slothlisberger after the first update, it is clear that Slothlisberger will be the starter for the Luchadores. Many considered Slothlisberger the best QB in this draft, and the Luchadores agreed, using their first round draft pick and fourth pick overall on Slothlisberger. Shockingly, despite Waters's high TPE and activity level, he dropped all the way to 180th in the draft after concerns surfaced about his maturity and reliability. In fact, one of the draft broadcasters openly berated Waters for his decision to recreate as a quarterback, and said he deserved to fall in the draft. I, for one, would love to see Waters prove the disenchanted broadcaster wrong by sticking with this player and becoming the best QB in the DSFL. Many have called for Waters to change positions, but like Lamar Jackson, among other famous NFL QBs, Waters has repeatedly said that he is a quarterback and will not change positions. He has announced his intention to sit and learn behind Slothlisberger for a year, and then start the following season, presuming that high pick Slothlisberger gets promoted to the NSFL. The Luchadores will benefit from having two high earning and QBs, and can either save Waters for next season, or trade him this season to a team whose QB situation goes worse than planned.
Running Backs
1. Ed Barker TPE 270
2. Ben Bortboy TPE 159
3. Richard Gilbert TPE 98
4. Julio Tirtawidjaja 69
Analysis:
Barker is the clear number one back for this squad, and is the highest rated player on the team. Drafted to the NSFL, he is on loan to the Luchadores for one last season, and I expect him to have a big year. Behind him right now is #2 back Ben Bortboy, and inactive player with a fairly high rating. Third on the depth chart is draft steal Richard Gilbert. Drafted 98th overall, Gilbert has shown interesting in improving his game, and if he continues to train, will easily overtake Bortboy as the change of pace back behind Barker, and could even feature in the offense next season after Barker leaves. Tirtawidjaja is a wild card who has shown limited activity, but could get a few snaps if he remains active.
Wide Receivers
1. Jordan McCann TPE 192
2. Thomas Passman TPE 64
3. Friedrich Vequain TPE 71
4. Jesse Jackson TPE 89
5. Ron Mexico TPE 85
Analysis:
The Luchadores are relying heavily on inactives at this position, with their three highest rated player, McCann, Jackson, and Mexico, all stuck in the DSFL due to inactivity. They are hoping that two rookies, Passman, and Vequain, can improve their numbers and become favorite targets for Slothlisberger. The Luchadores must see something in Passman despite his low TPE, as they used the 36th pick on him.
Tight End
1. Gronk Robertowski TPE 154
2. Ben Kenobi TPE 144
3. Max McClure TPE 65
Analysis:
Expect a lot of two tight end sets from Tijuana this season, as they have two highly rated players in Robertowski and Kenobi. Though Kenobi is recently inactive, Robertowski is still active and could continue to grow into quite a good player to help supplement the weak wide receiving core. Max McClure is an interesting late-round rookie who still needs to develop as a player.
Offensive Line
1. Calvin Golladay TPE 129
2. Sylvester Berlin TPE 77
Analysis:
Tijuana's love for offensive linemen is well-documented, and they hope to continue the tradition of great line play with the addition of two players in the draft. After Golladay was snubbed by scouts early in the draft process, Golladay proved the doubters wrong, developing significantly and turning into a top lineman in the draft in addition to dominating the Prospect Bowl for Buffalo. He and Berlin will lead a ferocious running game blocking for Ed Barker.
Cornerback
1. Andrew Witten TPE 124
2. Ozamataz Buckshank TPE 93
3. Justin Kehoe TPE 83
Analysis:
The Luchadores identified cornerback as a position of need in this year's draft, and they filled it with their second and third picks of the draft. Recognizing how incredibly deep the S22 cornerback class was, they wisely traded back in the draft and still got Witten, who Tijuana considered a top 5 CB in the class, with the 28th overall pick and Buckshank with the following pick at 29th. They will immediately start over Justin Kehoe, an inactive who will likely see snaps as the nickelback.
Safety
1. Howard Ryan TPE 268
2. Dillard Holcombe TPE 81
3. Magnus Valdyr TPE 57
4. Literally Just A. Hexagon TPE 57
Analysis:
Ryan, a S18 holdover, was recently active, and the second highest rated player on the team. If he stays active, he has the chance to finally have a breakout season for the Luchadores. Holcombe is the default second safety as an inactive 81 rated player, but one of the two late-round flyers in Valdyr or Hexagon could push for playing time with a little development.
Linebacker
1. Junior Lopez TPE 206
2. Ugarth the Dissector TPE 170
3. George ’Corpse Grinder’ Fisher TPE 93
4. Devaunte Sackpieder TPE 69
5. Nat Wright TPE 69
Analysis:
Linebacker is the most intimidating and deepest position group for the Luchadores. Veteran players Lopez (IA) and Ugarth lead the way and will play in the nickel defense, but the trio of rookie prospects look talented and could work their way into more playing time as they mature.
Defensive Tackle
1. Jacob Rowan TPE 166
2. Cameron West TPE 71
3. Bucky Laurence TPE 57
4. John Nesbitt TPE 57
The Luchadores will be relying on inactive veterans Rowan and West, unless rookies Laurence and Nesbitt, who are looking like practice squad guys, can surprise some people.
Defensive End
1. D'Brickashaw Cannon TPE 67
2. Farrior Deschain TPE 59
Analysis:
A very weak postion group, rookies Cannon and Deschain will have an open path to immediate playing time, and this position will live or die by their development.
Kicker/Punter
1. Jacob Small TPE 50
Analysis:
Small isn't very good, but he's the only kicker on the roster.
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