*DSFL Draft Retrospective

Modern_Duke · 09-21-2019, 03:27 PM

Round 1
1. DT Bjorn Ironside - Norfolk SeaWolves
Stats: 45 Tackles, 3 TFL, 1 FF, 5 Sacks
It's obviously difficult to make a huge statistical impact as a defensive tackle, and Ironside struggled to show up on the stat sheet for most of the season, but ended strong, picking up 3 sacks in the final two weeks. Not to mention his status as the face of this rookie class, I'm sure Norfolk has no regrets with this pick. Don't be surprised if Ironside goes first overall in the upcoming NSFL draft either.
Grade: B+

2. CB Stuart Little IV - Palm Beach Solar Bears
Stats: 56 Tackles, 1 Int, 9 PD
Little was an early entrant into the draft class and the head start paid off as he went second overall. Palm Beach wasn't satsified with Little's early season production and traded him to San Antonio for a first round pick in the next DSFL draft. Little has shown to be a good addition to the Marshals secondary, and while he did not have a bad statistical season, I'm not sure if this level of production was worth two different teams spending first rounds picks on.
Grade: C

3. S Pete Parker - San Antonio Marshals
Stats: 98 Tackles, 1 TFL, 2 FF, 1 FR, 1 Sack
The amazing Pete Parker has been a key cog in the Marshals defense, particularly in run support. Parker's 98 tackles ranked fourth among all defensive backs. The only knock on Parker's game is he has not made too many big plays in the passing game.
Grade: B

4. LB Maurice Virtanen - Kansas City Coyotes
Stats: 157 Tackles, 3 TFL, 2 FF, 1 FR, 2 Sacks
Virtanen's 157 tackles rank second in the league and he has been right up there with Norfolk's Marlo Smart for the title of best linebacker in the league. Smart took the tackles title with an impressive 173, but Virtanen contributed slightly more big plays, including a blocked punt. The Coyotes were certainly satisfied with this selection.
Grade: A

5. QB Jay Cue - Portland Pythons
Stats: 205/340, 2400 Yards, 60.3% Comp%, 22 TD, 13 Int, 87.4 Rating
Portland cruised this season to the best record in the league, which is bound to happen if you take the probably league MVP with your first pick. Cue tied the DSFL record of 22 touchdowns set in 2028 by current Orange County Otter Franklin Armstrong, and also finished with the fourth highest QB rating ever, despite throwing six interceptions in the Pythons' final two games.
Grade: A+

6. RB Marcella Toriki - Norfolk Seawolves
Stats: 430 Carries, 1785 Yards, 4.2 YPA, 9 TD, 11 Receptions, 51 Yards
A true workhorse back, Toriki's 430 rushing attempts ranks as the fourth most ever in a single season. The gap between Toriki's 1785 yards and the next highest total is the same as the gap between 2nd and 9th. However, her 4.2 yards per carry was the lowest among qualified rushers. One could argue that Norfolk hurt Toriki's efficiency by going to the well too often.
Grade: B+

Round 2
7. RB Jake Utler - Palm Beach Solar Bears
Stats: 220 Carries, 1181 Yards, 5.4 YPC, 7 TD, 8 Receptions, 36 Yards
This proved to be a solid pick for the Solar Bears. The only issue being Palm Beach was working from behind in most games and therefore did not have the luxury of running the ball often. Utler made the most of his limited carries though, putting up the third highest yards per carry average in the league.
Grade: B+

8. DT Trae Bacon - Portland Pytons
Stats: 39 Tackles, 2 FF, 7 Sacks
Just like with their first round pick, the Pythons hit a home run in round two, this time on the defensive side of the ball. Bacon tied for the league lead in sacks with 7. The only surprising there is the lack of tackles for loss. However, Bacon did contribute two forced fumbles.
Grade: A

9. WR Tyrone Biggums - San Antonio Marshals
Stats: 56 Receptions, 774 Yards, 13.8 YPC, 6 TD
San Antonio was more focused on the run game than gaining yards through the air, but Biggums still managed a respectable season, finishing fifth in both receptions and yards and tied for third in receiving touchdowns with 6.
Grade: B

10. LB Net Gaines - Kansas City Coyotes
Stats: 110 Tackles, 5 TFL, 1 FF, 5 Sacks, 9 PD
Despite not reaching the level of tackles of Marlo Smart and Maurice Virtanen, Gaines may have the most impressive stats of any linebacker. Five sacks puts him in the company of the good defensive ends, and an impressive 9 pass deflections puts him in the company of good defensive backs.
Grade: A

11. WR Jake Watson - Tijuana Luchadores
Stats: 44 Receptions, 449 Yards, 10.2 YPC, 6 TD
After landing with Portland after a draft day trade, Watson had a shockingly slow start to the season, only grabbing 17 receptions in the Pythons' first 8 games. From there things picked up a bit, but the damage was done. Though he did pick up a solid 6 touchdown receptions, Watson finished last among qualified wide receivers in yards per reception.
Grade: C-

12. LB Thudd Kassel - Tijuana Luchadores
Stats: 126 Tackles, 1 TFL, 2 Sacks, 1 Int, 3 PD
Kassel put together a solid season, not too far behind what Maurice Virtanen was able to accomplish. Despite some off the field drama, I think Tijuana has to be happy with the production Kassel was able to bring to the table.
Grade: A

Everyone Else
You're all winners in my book. However, I do want to highlight just a few of the real late round steals.

28. CB Louisiana Purchase - San Antonio Marshals
Stats: 58 Tackles, 2 FF, 2 FR, 2 Sacks, 7 Int, 15 PD
I mean, what can you really say about this type of season? Purchase fell to the fifth round before San Antonio made likely the best decision of the draft traded up with Tijuana to acquire the most productive defensive player in the league. Purchase's 7 interceptions fell one shy of the DSFL record, and were nearly double what anyone else could grab. Not to mention the league leading 15 pass deflections and 2 sacks for good measure.
Grade: A+

33. RB Mathias Hanyadi - San Antonio Marshals
Stats: 275 Carries, 1430 Yards, 5.2 YPA, 8 TD, 6 Receptions, 52 Yards, 1 TD
45. RB Ruff Ruff - San Antonio Marshals
Stats: 279 Carries, 1438 Yards, 5.2 YPA, 14 TD, 10 Receptions, 84 Yards
San Antonio was patient with regards to running backs, waiting until rounds 6 and 8 to pick up the best running back duo in the league. Ruff and Hanyadi finished third and fourth respectively in rushing yards with nearly identical numbers, other than the amazing 14 touchdowns by Ruff which put him well into the league MVP conversation.
Grade: A+/A+

52. RB Orien Drake - Kansas City Coyotes
Stats: 211 Carries, 1152 Yards, 5.5 YPA, 8 TD, 10 Receptions, 62 Yards
Speaking of waiting for running backs, Orien Drake fell into round 9 and ended up just behind backfield mate Michael Vincent for the second highest yards per carry mark in the league.
Grade: A

61. OL Samuel Bakhtiari - Norfolk SeaWolves
Stats: 48 Pancakes, 2 Sacks Allowed
You have to give the big boys in the trenches their due. Bakhtiari finished with the third most pancakes in the league and highest among the rookie class, while only allowing 2 sacks.
Grade: A

62. WR Will Smith - Palm Beach Solar Bears
Stats: 58 Receptions, 761 Yards, 13.1 YPC, 5 TD
Fifth most receptions and sixth most yards is not too shabby for a 10th round pick. Smith essentially had the same numbers as 9th overall pick Tyrone Biggums, proving to be a superb value pick.
Grade: A

92. CB Noah Grimmer - Norfolk SeaWolves
Stats: 117 Tackles, 2 TFL, 2 FF, 1 Sack, 2 Int, 3 PD
I'm not a fan of using tackles to measure cornerback play, but you just can't ignore what Grimmer was able to do in run support, picking up the sixth most tackles in the league, to go along with a handful of interceptions and forced fumbles. Not bad for a 16th round pick.
Grade: A

98. WR Bug Daldwin - Palm Beach Solar Bears
Stats: 76 Receptions, 937 Yards, 12.3 YPC, 1 TD
Finally we come to the absolute steal of the draft. The unheralded Daldwin quietly had a huge year for Palm Beach after falling all the way to the 17th round, racking up the most receptions in the league and second most yards. If he had found the endzone more than a single time, Daldwin would probably be looking some serious end of year award hype.
Grade: A+