Defensive Line Standouts - Week 5
Welcome to week 5 of our Season 3 Defensive Line Standouts! Well, two weeks ago, we had one record broken and one record tied. This week, we have yet another record breaking performance to add to our list and a new sack leader in the NSFL. Although sack numbers are down across the league this week, tackles for loss are WAY up. Has there been a renewed interest in the ground game throughout the league? Is Bjornsson the best defensive lineman in the NSFL? Is Bercovici color-blind? Only time will tell! Enough chit chat… Let’s begin!
Defensive End Top Performers
A. Tomlinson
($$$) 5 TCK, 5 TFL
Here he is, the new single game record holder for tackles for loss with 5. To put into perspective how impressive his 5 tackles for loss truly is, if you were to just take his performance from this week, he would still rank fifth in the NSFL for tackles for a loss. This is the type of performances that pro bowl voters need to pay attention to. Although he never got to the quarterback, he’ll have plenty of opportunities this next week as Orange County hosts the Las Vegas Legion, who this year, have already surrendered an impressive 27 sacks.
C. Okonkwo
($$$$) 4 TCK, 2 SCK
The only defensive end in the NSFL who recorded multiple sacks this past week, his inclusion on our list was all but a guarantee. The SaberCats are looking like a whole new team compared to Season 1 and Season 2, thanks in large part to the play of Okonkwo and Dan Miller. Okonkwo is tied for fifth among defensive ends for sacks with 5, and tenth in tackles for loss with 3. Although some would suggest the re-emergence of Miller has drawn double teams and created more openings for Okonkwo, he has continued to work hard and develop into the player San Jose thought he could be.
O. Taylor
($$$) 6 TCK, 1 TFL, 1 SCK
Making his third appearance on our list after appearing only 4 times all last season, Taylor continues to have a breakout year. His 6 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, and 1 sack were good enough to put him in the third defensive end spot on our list this week. A “way too early to call it” candidate for breakout player of the year, Taylor is currently tied for fourth in the NSFL for sacks (second among defensive ends) and tied for sixth in the NSFL for tackles for loss. He’ll have his work cut out for him next week as he heads to San Jose to face a SaberCats team that is currently undefeated at home.
Other Great Performers
F. Wozy
($$$) 8 TCK, 2 TFL
B. Blade
($$$) 5 TCK, 3 TFL
V. Lockkeu ($) 5 TCK, 3 TFL
Although none of the players listed immediately above recorded a sack, they all recorded at least 5 tackles and 2 tackles for loss. Wozy and Blade are both making the third appearance, while Legion rookie, Lockkeu, is making his first of the season. Blade and Lockkeu were the only defensive end pair from one team to qualify this week, and only the fifth to do so all year.
Defensive Tackle Top Performers
B. Bjornsson
($ x5) 7 TCK, 1 TFL, 3 SCK, 1 safety
Earning the top spot on our list this week, Bjornsson had the most sacks of any player this week, and finished second in tackles among defensive linemen. He also added a tackle for loss and the only safety on the season, just for the fun of it. As the new sack leader (he currently sits at 13 through only 5 weeks), Bjornsson is on pace to finish with an NSFL record 36 sacks, 13 more than the current record of 23. The Wraiths will be hosting a Colorado Yeti team next week that has allowed 19 sacks, third most in the NSFL.
R. Sandoval ($ x5) 4 TCK, 3 SCK
As one of only three players to appear on our list every week, Sandoval is playing well beyond where anyone could’ve expected him to be. His 4 tackles and 3 sacks this past week earned him the second overall spot on our list, just one point ahead of Tomlinson’s record breaking performance. Sandoval is currently tied with teammate Owen Taylor and fellow rookie Godfrey King (who has narrowly missed our list three times now) for fourth most sacks in the NSFL, at 6.
M. Ramrio
($$$) 3 TCK, 1 forced fumble
After going through what appears to be a bit of an adjustment period, Ramrio has, once again, been a mainstay on our list. Making his third appearance here in as many weeks, Ramrio didn’t have a particularly memorable game, but, it was more than enough to help lead the Liberty to their first win of season 3. After finishing second in the NSFL last season with 17 sacks, Ramrio clearly has a long way to go to catch his number from last season, but has the skill and raw talent to change a game at any moment. Philadelphia has a nightmare matchup next week as the head to the desert to face an undefeated Arizona Outlaws.
Other Great Performers
D. Miller ($ x5) 3 TCK, 1 SCK
V. Cox ($$$) 5 TCK, 1 TFL
S. Skidmarks ($$) 4 TCK, 1 TFL
Miller is the last player on our list that has qualified every week. Cox and Ramrio, one the most dangerous defensive tackle duo in the NSFL have now each qualified 3 times after finishing with 11 and 12 appearances last year, respectively. Skidmarks is making his second appearance and is one of only 3 rookies to make our list this week.
Team Appearances After Week 5
Baltimore: 12
San Jose: 10
Las Vegas: 8
Yellowknife: 7
Orange County: 7
Arizona: 6*
Philadelphia: 5
Colorado: 5
This week saw last year’s D-line champ, the Las Vegas Legion, make a big jump from sixth to third with 3 players appearing on our list. Baltimore continues to hold the top spot on our list and it still the only team to have 4 players appear on our list. San Jose is holding firm at the #2 spot, mostly on the backs of Miller and Okonkwo, who have an impressive 9 of the team’s 10 appearances between them. Colorado and Philadelphia closed the gap a tad, but are still holding firm at the bottom. Every team had a player on our list this week except for the Arizona Outlaws. For a team that prides themselves on a great defense, out of their 6 appearances, 4 of them are from one player, Justin Tuck. Clearly, the defense lives and dies mainly on his performance. Miller, Sandoval, and Bjornsson all continued their streaks of appearing on our list to make it an impressive 5 out of 5 weeks. As always, if you have any comments, corrections, or question, I’d love to hear them below.
GRADED
Welcome to week 5 of our Season 3 Defensive Line Standouts! Well, two weeks ago, we had one record broken and one record tied. This week, we have yet another record breaking performance to add to our list and a new sack leader in the NSFL. Although sack numbers are down across the league this week, tackles for loss are WAY up. Has there been a renewed interest in the ground game throughout the league? Is Bjornsson the best defensive lineman in the NSFL? Is Bercovici color-blind? Only time will tell! Enough chit chat… Let’s begin!
Defensive End Top Performers
A. Tomlinson
($$$) 5 TCK, 5 TFLHere he is, the new single game record holder for tackles for loss with 5. To put into perspective how impressive his 5 tackles for loss truly is, if you were to just take his performance from this week, he would still rank fifth in the NSFL for tackles for a loss. This is the type of performances that pro bowl voters need to pay attention to. Although he never got to the quarterback, he’ll have plenty of opportunities this next week as Orange County hosts the Las Vegas Legion, who this year, have already surrendered an impressive 27 sacks.
C. Okonkwo
($$$$) 4 TCK, 2 SCKThe only defensive end in the NSFL who recorded multiple sacks this past week, his inclusion on our list was all but a guarantee. The SaberCats are looking like a whole new team compared to Season 1 and Season 2, thanks in large part to the play of Okonkwo and Dan Miller. Okonkwo is tied for fifth among defensive ends for sacks with 5, and tenth in tackles for loss with 3. Although some would suggest the re-emergence of Miller has drawn double teams and created more openings for Okonkwo, he has continued to work hard and develop into the player San Jose thought he could be.
O. Taylor
($$$) 6 TCK, 1 TFL, 1 SCKMaking his third appearance on our list after appearing only 4 times all last season, Taylor continues to have a breakout year. His 6 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, and 1 sack were good enough to put him in the third defensive end spot on our list this week. A “way too early to call it” candidate for breakout player of the year, Taylor is currently tied for fourth in the NSFL for sacks (second among defensive ends) and tied for sixth in the NSFL for tackles for loss. He’ll have his work cut out for him next week as he heads to San Jose to face a SaberCats team that is currently undefeated at home.
Other Great Performers
F. Wozy
($$$) 8 TCK, 2 TFLB. Blade
($$$) 5 TCK, 3 TFLV. Lockkeu
($) 5 TCK, 3 TFLAlthough none of the players listed immediately above recorded a sack, they all recorded at least 5 tackles and 2 tackles for loss. Wozy and Blade are both making the third appearance, while Legion rookie, Lockkeu, is making his first of the season. Blade and Lockkeu were the only defensive end pair from one team to qualify this week, and only the fifth to do so all year.
Defensive Tackle Top Performers
B. Bjornsson
($ x5) 7 TCK, 1 TFL, 3 SCK, 1 safetyEarning the top spot on our list this week, Bjornsson had the most sacks of any player this week, and finished second in tackles among defensive linemen. He also added a tackle for loss and the only safety on the season, just for the fun of it. As the new sack leader (he currently sits at 13 through only 5 weeks), Bjornsson is on pace to finish with an NSFL record 36 sacks, 13 more than the current record of 23. The Wraiths will be hosting a Colorado Yeti team next week that has allowed 19 sacks, third most in the NSFL.
R. Sandoval
($ x5) 4 TCK, 3 SCKAs one of only three players to appear on our list every week, Sandoval is playing well beyond where anyone could’ve expected him to be. His 4 tackles and 3 sacks this past week earned him the second overall spot on our list, just one point ahead of Tomlinson’s record breaking performance. Sandoval is currently tied with teammate Owen Taylor and fellow rookie Godfrey King (who has narrowly missed our list three times now) for fourth most sacks in the NSFL, at 6.
M. Ramrio
($$$) 3 TCK, 1 forced fumbleAfter going through what appears to be a bit of an adjustment period, Ramrio has, once again, been a mainstay on our list. Making his third appearance here in as many weeks, Ramrio didn’t have a particularly memorable game, but, it was more than enough to help lead the Liberty to their first win of season 3. After finishing second in the NSFL last season with 17 sacks, Ramrio clearly has a long way to go to catch his number from last season, but has the skill and raw talent to change a game at any moment. Philadelphia has a nightmare matchup next week as the head to the desert to face an undefeated Arizona Outlaws.
Other Great Performers
D. Miller
($ x5) 3 TCK, 1 SCK V. Cox
($$$) 5 TCK, 1 TFL S. Skidmarks
($$) 4 TCK, 1 TFLMiller is the last player on our list that has qualified every week. Cox and Ramrio, one the most dangerous defensive tackle duo in the NSFL have now each qualified 3 times after finishing with 11 and 12 appearances last year, respectively. Skidmarks is making his second appearance and is one of only 3 rookies to make our list this week.
Team Appearances After Week 5
Baltimore: 12
San Jose: 10
Las Vegas: 8
Yellowknife: 7
Orange County: 7
Arizona: 6*
Philadelphia: 5
Colorado: 5
This week saw last year’s D-line champ, the Las Vegas Legion, make a big jump from sixth to third with 3 players appearing on our list. Baltimore continues to hold the top spot on our list and it still the only team to have 4 players appear on our list. San Jose is holding firm at the #2 spot, mostly on the backs of Miller and Okonkwo, who have an impressive 9 of the team’s 10 appearances between them. Colorado and Philadelphia closed the gap a tad, but are still holding firm at the bottom. Every team had a player on our list this week except for the Arizona Outlaws. For a team that prides themselves on a great defense, out of their 6 appearances, 4 of them are from one player, Justin Tuck. Clearly, the defense lives and dies mainly on his performance. Miller, Sandoval, and Bjornsson all continued their streaks of appearing on our list to make it an impressive 5 out of 5 weeks. As always, if you have any comments, corrections, or question, I’d love to hear them below.
GRADED
![[Image: bam_bam.png]](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/742845006389444778/780215137557807124/bam_bam.png)
[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
![[Image: image.png]](https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/332292285788192788/401385203261636609/image.png)
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