Season 15 NSFL Draft Analysis
By Mike Boss, NSFL Hall of Fame Inductee Class of Season 11
The Season 15 NSFL Draft has come and gone, and the future of the league has undoubtedly been changed forever. The San Jose Sabercats were crowned the top cats of the NSFL for Season 14, but there is some belief that the changes made to rosters via this Season 15 Draft may impact their title reign immensely. Throw in the added elephant in the room of Season 16 expansion looming over everyone’s heads, and we have a concoction for a perfect storm of sorts to see where the future of this league will go. As with every draft, some players may be good, and most will probably be bad. Not everyone is going to be a superstar, and if I don’t think you’re up for the responsibility, then I will say so.
ROUND ONE
Pick One // Arizona Outlaws // WR Brock Landers:
The first overall pick has so much pressure on them, most of the time, it is almost impossible for the prospect to live up to the needs and the pressure placed upon them. The pressure is probably tenfold when you’re expected to single-handedly ignite a pathetic offense that is as dry as the desert that the team calls home. Landers put up halfway decent numbers in the DSFL but did not exactly light the world on fire. He is a route-runner but lacks the intelligence to remember most of the routes, so he easily gets confused or lost. This means that any QB working with him will need to pay close attention to the youngster and perhaps dumb-down the playbook a bit to be more up to his speed. Luckily for Arizona they will have a capable QB leading the offense next season with pocket-passer Andrew Reese. Reese will be able to stay in there and allow Landers to develop his route, and he will have the accuracy to create windows for him. Landers is lucky he is going into a situation like this, but he has a lot of responsibility. Arizona fans are longing for the days where they were on top of the NSFL world. Can Landers take them there? I’m not sold on him, just yet. The Outlaws will expect him to make an immediate impact, and I just don’t see it happening. Expect a modest, but unimpressive season for Landers. Leave him off your rookie of the year ballots. He has a high ceiling, but Arizona will have to wait and see.
Pick Two // New Orleans Second Line // LB Quenton Bode:
If first is the worst, does that make second inherently the best? Some may argue this point, but I’m not so sure of it. I do like the idea that New Orleans decided to go defense with this pick. The offenses in the league are truly exploding, and a solid defense is the only way to stop it. New Orleans saw what San Jose did and their incredible defense leading them to a championship, so they have decided to do the same. As currently assembled, the Second Line are a complete dumpster fire and they need to basically start over from scratch aside from maybe Tyler Swift. Otherwise, Bode is going to be expected to be part of the new generation of thumpers in New Orleans, and I think he will be up for the challenge. It is not going to be pretty when the other teams are destroying their secondary, but an important linebacker corps starts with Bode and it could cement a stranglehold on the position for years to come in New Orleans, thus allowing them to focus on other needs in the future.
Pick Three // New Orleans Second Line // LB Johnny Slothface:
This is a tremendous selection from the New Orleans squad, and it all but ensures that no matter what, they will have a difference-making linebacker come out of this draft class. Slothface has one of the best names in the draft, and that is for reason. Slothface was allegedly so hideous when he exited his mother’s birth canal that the doctors refused to let them leave the premises unless he was officially given the surname Slothface. While this was a horrible disappointment to family and friends, it turns out that it paid off for them almost 20 years later. Slothface will be the face of the Second Line defense, and that face is going to be disgusting. Slothface and Bode will compliment each other greatly and will allow each of them to have a buddy in the linebacker meetings. The buddy system is underrated in regards to developing prospects. Who would possibly say no to a buddy who is similar to you and you are both striving towards a common goal? Slothface and Quenton will not Bode well for opposing offenses in a few seasons. Either that, or both of them completely bust due to the captivating nightlife of downtown New Orleans. If both young men stay away from loose women of the night, and Mardi Gras, they will be successful and bring the Second Line back to the front line of NSFL royalty.
Pick Four // Yellowknife Wraiths // DE Nero Alexander:
The Yellowknife Wraiths continued the run on defense, this time opting for help on the line. I like this pick for the Wraiths, since defense is going to be such a huge part of any successful team moving forward. Perhaps seeing the trend of New Orleans doubling up made them reach for Alexander, but I disagree, and I think they got themselves a steal of a pick at the four spot. Alexander could have been a nice pick for the Second Line, but they chose to solidify the linebackers instead. Yellowknife has decided that an edge-rushing defenseman is important, and they are absolutely correct. With the quarterbacks getting more calls and more room to run around, it will be important for young players like Alexander to contain the quarterback and force him to make mistakes. Alexander is great at creating problems for quarterbacks, tallying up 8 sacks last season in the DSFL. I would expect more of the same in Yellowknife, and a high ceiling for growth. Alexander is already playing at a higher level than others in this draft class, and he projects to continue to fill out his frame and become a strong, and fast edge rushing problem.
Pick Five // Austin Copperheads // TE Chase Jensen:
The first pick of the Austin Copperheads era is brought in by…a tight end? As shocking as it may seem to those of us who have watched a game of football before, this was actually a pick made by a professional team. While the previous selections were for defensive stalwarts or an offensive threat, the Copperheads decided to make the interesting decision of making a tight end their franchise player. With visions of Rob Gronkowski in their brains, I think that Austin made a poor decision. There are so many other positions of need, especially for an expansion team, that tight end is nearly indefensible. I know they may be going with what they believe is the best player available, but there needs to be a serious step back in the Austin management moving forward. Luckily for them, they won’t be playing any games this season, but there is going to be a lot of pressure on management to fill the holes they may have created here by not making a better pick. Austin is clearly depending big time on the Expansion Draft, so it will be a few years before we can truly judge their decision making. Right now? It was a horrible choice.
Pick Six // Chicago Butchers // LB Lightsout Lewis:
In stark contrast to their expansion brethren in Austin, Texas, Chicago actually made a smart selection for themselves. They took promising young linebacker Lightsout Lewis with the sixth overall selection, and I stand by it. The team realizes that in order to win, especially as an expansion team, you are going to need a stout defense. The beginning of this defense is found right here, with Lewis. He is also a competitor for best name in the draft, but his story is not much better. There were rumors going around that his name was Lightsout because in high school he once hit an opposing player so hard they were knocked unconscious, and therefore, their “lights were out”. Well, after a little bit of investigative reporting, I found out this was a complete fabrication. According to my sources, Lewis was given the name instead when he was bullied by other kids on the playground. Lewis’ family was poor as dirt and every few weeks or so, the electric company would show up and turn the power off. Thus, Lightsout Lewis was born, a tongue in cheek mockery of his impoverished upbringing and having the lights go out.
Pick Seven // Arizona Outlaws // DT Ricardo Morris:
We see yet another defender come off the board here, this time going to the Arizona Outlaws. The selection of Morris in this spot makes the first overall pick of Landers make a bit more sense. Morris will bring a big body to the Outlaws defensive line that seriously needs to create pressure on the big time quarterbacks in San Jose and Orange County. Morris is one of the strongest defenders in the draft, and that was something that excited Arizona management. He is a large-bodied individual who is deceptively fast and can get to the quarterback quicker than you would imagine. Despite this talent, he stands out possibly even more as a run-stuffer. He will sometimes demand double teams from the offensive line, which should open up the flood gates for the rest of the Outlaws defense. Morris joins a defense that does have some potential in the linebacker spot, so Morris will be expected to be the anchor of the defensive line for years to come.
Pick Eight // Orange County Otters // DT AJ Lattimer:
This is a fantastic selection at a place of value for Orange County. They saw how their defense responded to the mobile and high-flying San Jose offense, and they are hoping that Lattimer is someone who will help prevent that from happening in the future. He could add on a decent amount of muscle to his big frame, so he should fill out rather nicely. Right now, he does not project as any sort of Rookie of the Year candidate, but then again, how many defensive tackles could say that? Lattimer is represented by a relatively new agency, which could provide some questions from management and could also be the reason Lattimer fell this far. If he were represented by a more well-known agency, there is a chance their hype machine could have done a number with him. However, this gives Lattimer the opportunity to be the premier client of a new agent and be representative of the entire brand. He is a player that Orange County can depend to play three of four downs someday and will be a consistent presence up-front if he continues to grow at this pace. His lack of speed and versatility is the only head-scratcher here, as the Otters usually try to find players who can play multiple positions on defense, but Lattimer is not this type of player.
Pick Nine // Philadelphia Liberty // S Richard D’Attoria V:
Another pick, another defensive prospect has been taken off the board. D’Attoria is a solid pick up for a secondary who could use a talent like his. D’Attoria comes from a renowned player agency, unlike Lattimer taken before him, so Philadelphia is all smiles with this selection. D’Attoria comes from the Paul DiMirio family of agencies, so they already have one Hall of Famer under their belts, and they expect D’Attoria to be the same. With the league seeing such a high volume of passing and an influx of talented receivers, teams should be scrambling to find themselves lockdown defenders, and this is what the Liberty think they have acquired with this selection. D’Attoria is not the bone-crushing headhunter like other famous Philadelphia safeties, but he has speed that will keep up with nearly every receiver in the NSFL immediately. He is ready to play on day one of the season, and he could end up making an impact right out of the gate. He had a modest career in the DSFL with the Portland Pythons, but expect a journey across the country to treat this player and this team well. A solid, yet perhaps safe selection here for the Liberty.
Pick Ten// San Jose Sabercats // WR Ahri Espeeyeeseetee:
The most problematic name for a team sewer, Ahri Espeeyeeseetee closes out round one by going to the Season 14 Champions. The Sabercats had their pick of the litter, and they decided to improve on their already stellar offense. The Sabercats project to be a problem for the league to handle, until of course the expansion draft comes in and destroys their foundation. Until that happens, though, San Jose is going to be a problem. Taking a WR here shows that they are dedicated to surrounding the offense with high-skill, high-ceiling caliber players. A player like Ahri should be impactful down the line after expansion to help protect the team from suffering any devastating losses. He should begin the season fighting in training camp for an opportunity to land a starting job. We will see how quickly he can pick up the offense, and how quickly Christ starts to trust him.
ROUND ONE RECAP
It is clear that most of the teams had a solid plan going into the draft, but it is also clear that there were some who had no idea what they were doing out there. I am pointing my finger directly at Austin, who in my opinion, made a horrible decision going with a tight end in the first round. They had a chance to start building up a tough defense and instead opted for a player who will not make an immediate impact, nor will he ever be the number one option of his offense. The Copperheads settled for a complimentary piece that could have easily gone in rounds two or three, but they reached big time and selected a tight end. I have a feeling that this pick will go down more like Kyle Brady and less like Tony Gonzalez. In contrast to their expansion counterparts in Chicago, Austin has cemented themselves as a sure-fire bet to be at the bottom of the barrel, and picking at the top of the draft board for many years to come. Chicago made the intelligent decision to pick up as much defense as they could in this round, and took advantage of their positioning by taking someone who could end up being a bona fide franchise linebacker. Chicago and Austin will be compared to each other for the rest of history, so this is only the beginning of the party.
By Mike Boss, NSFL Hall of Fame Inductee Class of Season 11
The Season 15 NSFL Draft has come and gone, and the future of the league has undoubtedly been changed forever. The San Jose Sabercats were crowned the top cats of the NSFL for Season 14, but there is some belief that the changes made to rosters via this Season 15 Draft may impact their title reign immensely. Throw in the added elephant in the room of Season 16 expansion looming over everyone’s heads, and we have a concoction for a perfect storm of sorts to see where the future of this league will go. As with every draft, some players may be good, and most will probably be bad. Not everyone is going to be a superstar, and if I don’t think you’re up for the responsibility, then I will say so.
ROUND ONE
Pick One // Arizona Outlaws // WR Brock Landers:
The first overall pick has so much pressure on them, most of the time, it is almost impossible for the prospect to live up to the needs and the pressure placed upon them. The pressure is probably tenfold when you’re expected to single-handedly ignite a pathetic offense that is as dry as the desert that the team calls home. Landers put up halfway decent numbers in the DSFL but did not exactly light the world on fire. He is a route-runner but lacks the intelligence to remember most of the routes, so he easily gets confused or lost. This means that any QB working with him will need to pay close attention to the youngster and perhaps dumb-down the playbook a bit to be more up to his speed. Luckily for Arizona they will have a capable QB leading the offense next season with pocket-passer Andrew Reese. Reese will be able to stay in there and allow Landers to develop his route, and he will have the accuracy to create windows for him. Landers is lucky he is going into a situation like this, but he has a lot of responsibility. Arizona fans are longing for the days where they were on top of the NSFL world. Can Landers take them there? I’m not sold on him, just yet. The Outlaws will expect him to make an immediate impact, and I just don’t see it happening. Expect a modest, but unimpressive season for Landers. Leave him off your rookie of the year ballots. He has a high ceiling, but Arizona will have to wait and see.
Pick Two // New Orleans Second Line // LB Quenton Bode:
If first is the worst, does that make second inherently the best? Some may argue this point, but I’m not so sure of it. I do like the idea that New Orleans decided to go defense with this pick. The offenses in the league are truly exploding, and a solid defense is the only way to stop it. New Orleans saw what San Jose did and their incredible defense leading them to a championship, so they have decided to do the same. As currently assembled, the Second Line are a complete dumpster fire and they need to basically start over from scratch aside from maybe Tyler Swift. Otherwise, Bode is going to be expected to be part of the new generation of thumpers in New Orleans, and I think he will be up for the challenge. It is not going to be pretty when the other teams are destroying their secondary, but an important linebacker corps starts with Bode and it could cement a stranglehold on the position for years to come in New Orleans, thus allowing them to focus on other needs in the future.
Pick Three // New Orleans Second Line // LB Johnny Slothface:
This is a tremendous selection from the New Orleans squad, and it all but ensures that no matter what, they will have a difference-making linebacker come out of this draft class. Slothface has one of the best names in the draft, and that is for reason. Slothface was allegedly so hideous when he exited his mother’s birth canal that the doctors refused to let them leave the premises unless he was officially given the surname Slothface. While this was a horrible disappointment to family and friends, it turns out that it paid off for them almost 20 years later. Slothface will be the face of the Second Line defense, and that face is going to be disgusting. Slothface and Bode will compliment each other greatly and will allow each of them to have a buddy in the linebacker meetings. The buddy system is underrated in regards to developing prospects. Who would possibly say no to a buddy who is similar to you and you are both striving towards a common goal? Slothface and Quenton will not Bode well for opposing offenses in a few seasons. Either that, or both of them completely bust due to the captivating nightlife of downtown New Orleans. If both young men stay away from loose women of the night, and Mardi Gras, they will be successful and bring the Second Line back to the front line of NSFL royalty.
Pick Four // Yellowknife Wraiths // DE Nero Alexander:
The Yellowknife Wraiths continued the run on defense, this time opting for help on the line. I like this pick for the Wraiths, since defense is going to be such a huge part of any successful team moving forward. Perhaps seeing the trend of New Orleans doubling up made them reach for Alexander, but I disagree, and I think they got themselves a steal of a pick at the four spot. Alexander could have been a nice pick for the Second Line, but they chose to solidify the linebackers instead. Yellowknife has decided that an edge-rushing defenseman is important, and they are absolutely correct. With the quarterbacks getting more calls and more room to run around, it will be important for young players like Alexander to contain the quarterback and force him to make mistakes. Alexander is great at creating problems for quarterbacks, tallying up 8 sacks last season in the DSFL. I would expect more of the same in Yellowknife, and a high ceiling for growth. Alexander is already playing at a higher level than others in this draft class, and he projects to continue to fill out his frame and become a strong, and fast edge rushing problem.
Pick Five // Austin Copperheads // TE Chase Jensen:
The first pick of the Austin Copperheads era is brought in by…a tight end? As shocking as it may seem to those of us who have watched a game of football before, this was actually a pick made by a professional team. While the previous selections were for defensive stalwarts or an offensive threat, the Copperheads decided to make the interesting decision of making a tight end their franchise player. With visions of Rob Gronkowski in their brains, I think that Austin made a poor decision. There are so many other positions of need, especially for an expansion team, that tight end is nearly indefensible. I know they may be going with what they believe is the best player available, but there needs to be a serious step back in the Austin management moving forward. Luckily for them, they won’t be playing any games this season, but there is going to be a lot of pressure on management to fill the holes they may have created here by not making a better pick. Austin is clearly depending big time on the Expansion Draft, so it will be a few years before we can truly judge their decision making. Right now? It was a horrible choice.
Pick Six // Chicago Butchers // LB Lightsout Lewis:
In stark contrast to their expansion brethren in Austin, Texas, Chicago actually made a smart selection for themselves. They took promising young linebacker Lightsout Lewis with the sixth overall selection, and I stand by it. The team realizes that in order to win, especially as an expansion team, you are going to need a stout defense. The beginning of this defense is found right here, with Lewis. He is also a competitor for best name in the draft, but his story is not much better. There were rumors going around that his name was Lightsout because in high school he once hit an opposing player so hard they were knocked unconscious, and therefore, their “lights were out”. Well, after a little bit of investigative reporting, I found out this was a complete fabrication. According to my sources, Lewis was given the name instead when he was bullied by other kids on the playground. Lewis’ family was poor as dirt and every few weeks or so, the electric company would show up and turn the power off. Thus, Lightsout Lewis was born, a tongue in cheek mockery of his impoverished upbringing and having the lights go out.
Pick Seven // Arizona Outlaws // DT Ricardo Morris:
We see yet another defender come off the board here, this time going to the Arizona Outlaws. The selection of Morris in this spot makes the first overall pick of Landers make a bit more sense. Morris will bring a big body to the Outlaws defensive line that seriously needs to create pressure on the big time quarterbacks in San Jose and Orange County. Morris is one of the strongest defenders in the draft, and that was something that excited Arizona management. He is a large-bodied individual who is deceptively fast and can get to the quarterback quicker than you would imagine. Despite this talent, he stands out possibly even more as a run-stuffer. He will sometimes demand double teams from the offensive line, which should open up the flood gates for the rest of the Outlaws defense. Morris joins a defense that does have some potential in the linebacker spot, so Morris will be expected to be the anchor of the defensive line for years to come.
Pick Eight // Orange County Otters // DT AJ Lattimer:
This is a fantastic selection at a place of value for Orange County. They saw how their defense responded to the mobile and high-flying San Jose offense, and they are hoping that Lattimer is someone who will help prevent that from happening in the future. He could add on a decent amount of muscle to his big frame, so he should fill out rather nicely. Right now, he does not project as any sort of Rookie of the Year candidate, but then again, how many defensive tackles could say that? Lattimer is represented by a relatively new agency, which could provide some questions from management and could also be the reason Lattimer fell this far. If he were represented by a more well-known agency, there is a chance their hype machine could have done a number with him. However, this gives Lattimer the opportunity to be the premier client of a new agent and be representative of the entire brand. He is a player that Orange County can depend to play three of four downs someday and will be a consistent presence up-front if he continues to grow at this pace. His lack of speed and versatility is the only head-scratcher here, as the Otters usually try to find players who can play multiple positions on defense, but Lattimer is not this type of player.
Pick Nine // Philadelphia Liberty // S Richard D’Attoria V:
Another pick, another defensive prospect has been taken off the board. D’Attoria is a solid pick up for a secondary who could use a talent like his. D’Attoria comes from a renowned player agency, unlike Lattimer taken before him, so Philadelphia is all smiles with this selection. D’Attoria comes from the Paul DiMirio family of agencies, so they already have one Hall of Famer under their belts, and they expect D’Attoria to be the same. With the league seeing such a high volume of passing and an influx of talented receivers, teams should be scrambling to find themselves lockdown defenders, and this is what the Liberty think they have acquired with this selection. D’Attoria is not the bone-crushing headhunter like other famous Philadelphia safeties, but he has speed that will keep up with nearly every receiver in the NSFL immediately. He is ready to play on day one of the season, and he could end up making an impact right out of the gate. He had a modest career in the DSFL with the Portland Pythons, but expect a journey across the country to treat this player and this team well. A solid, yet perhaps safe selection here for the Liberty.
Pick Ten// San Jose Sabercats // WR Ahri Espeeyeeseetee:
The most problematic name for a team sewer, Ahri Espeeyeeseetee closes out round one by going to the Season 14 Champions. The Sabercats had their pick of the litter, and they decided to improve on their already stellar offense. The Sabercats project to be a problem for the league to handle, until of course the expansion draft comes in and destroys their foundation. Until that happens, though, San Jose is going to be a problem. Taking a WR here shows that they are dedicated to surrounding the offense with high-skill, high-ceiling caliber players. A player like Ahri should be impactful down the line after expansion to help protect the team from suffering any devastating losses. He should begin the season fighting in training camp for an opportunity to land a starting job. We will see how quickly he can pick up the offense, and how quickly Christ starts to trust him.
ROUND ONE RECAP
It is clear that most of the teams had a solid plan going into the draft, but it is also clear that there were some who had no idea what they were doing out there. I am pointing my finger directly at Austin, who in my opinion, made a horrible decision going with a tight end in the first round. They had a chance to start building up a tough defense and instead opted for a player who will not make an immediate impact, nor will he ever be the number one option of his offense. The Copperheads settled for a complimentary piece that could have easily gone in rounds two or three, but they reached big time and selected a tight end. I have a feeling that this pick will go down more like Kyle Brady and less like Tony Gonzalez. In contrast to their expansion counterparts in Chicago, Austin has cemented themselves as a sure-fire bet to be at the bottom of the barrel, and picking at the top of the draft board for many years to come. Chicago made the intelligent decision to pick up as much defense as they could in this round, and took advantage of their positioning by taking someone who could end up being a bona fide franchise linebacker. Chicago and Austin will be compared to each other for the rest of history, so this is only the beginning of the party.
WR- JAMAL SLICK JR.
"THE NEW ERA"
MR 8X ULTIMUS CHAMPION
QB Mike Boss - HOF
TE Johnny Blaze - HOF
QB Mike Boss Jr
WR Johnny Blaze Jr
QB Mike Boss - HOF
TE Johnny Blaze - HOF
QB Mike Boss Jr
WR Johnny Blaze Jr
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