We are nearly halfway through the season and now it is time to reevaluate the first round picks from the Season 23 Prospect Draft. Predicting success at the beginning of the season is difficult. Let’s see who is performing thus far. This may turn out to be a hype-fest because it not only comes down to the skills of the player, but also how the team that drafted them uses them.
1. Kansas City Coyotes select - Asher Montain- DE
I liked this high tpe, quick defensive end as the first overall pick. He may only have thirty-five tackles, but he also has five tackles for loss, tied for seventh in the league, and three sacks, tied for third in the league. Thus far the Coyotes have the seasons lowest points against at seventy-seven, and you have to think that it is at least partly due to Montain terrorizing the backfield. The Coyotes have had four home games and two road games, so I am curious how the team finishes up down the stretch. This includes Montain, and if he will be able to continue wreaking havoc the second half of the season.
2. Portland Pythons select – Dorothy Zbornak – DE
While Montain has been disrupting quarterbacks with three sacks, Zbornak has been focused on other players in the backfield with seven tackles for loss, tied for fourth in the league. Zbonak only has seventeen tackles and one sack, but those seven tackles for loss can ruin drives. Not to mention Zbornak has one forced fumble and fumble recovery. Those turnovers can really turn the tide of a game, or solidify a win. The Pythons defense as a whole is mediocre, but it is interesting to see the difference in performance between the first and second overall draft pick. These differences may come down to how they are being used and opponents faced. Both of these defensive ends are making a difference in games with big plays. I wish there was a pressure the quarterback stat, because I am confident that both of these players would be performing well. Sometimes those stats that go unmeasured are the difference makers between good and great players. Those that do great in the DSFL and those that really excel in the NSFL.
3. Myrtle Beach Buccaneers select – Jeremiah Zelos – LB
The first linebacker off the board in a linebacker heavy draft had a lot to prove, and I would argue he still does. Zelos looks like he has been doing a little bit of everything for the Bucs, sitting at forty three tackles, one tackle for loss, three sacks, and two pass deflections. He has been busy doing it all for the Bucs, but not the performance you want to see as they passed on many other options, whom we will talk about later. At the bottom of their division and with an average defense, you have to think that the Bucs expected more out of him. Of course, his performance could be how they are using them, and those intangibles could come into play. This is not me saying he is a bust by any means, just that we need to wait and see, and maybe it is up to the Bucs to get him more involved on defense.
4. Dallas Birddogs select – Zoe Watts – KP
A curious situation with this pick. I do not think I was the only skeptic when Watts came off the board in the first round. They have been kicking with a bot this season and are fifteen for fifteen on field goals and six for seven on extra points. Because of this success with their bot, have to think that there is more immediate need than kicker in the draft. Alas, maybe they had their reasons. The Birddogs moved Watts to running back where she has excelled. She is top 5 in rushing at nearly 500 yards. She is averaging 4.5 yards per carry with two touchdowns. After an interesting pick, the position change makes the pick make sense.
5. Norfolk Seawolves select - Quentin Button – S
I was fairly high on the speedy sideline to sideline safety out of Iowa. I also want to say that I believe the success and stat line of a safety is highly driven by the situations they are put into by their defensive scheme. That being said, Button does have two sacks and a forced fumble, and those big plays can really impact a game. Alternatively, he only has thirty tackles which makes me think he is not always in the right position to make the play. Is that because of Button or because of the scheme? I do not know. Alas, the Seawolves are 5-1 so they may be using Button exactly as they want to. A fine performance for sure, but whether it is worth a first round pick I am not sure. I will say that his performance is comparable to the other safety taken in the first round, but we will get to that a little later.
6. Minnesota Grey Ducks select – Alejandro Chainbreaker – LB
This is where the analysis gets interesting in my opinion. The second linebacker off the board is just outside the top ten in total tackles with forty-nine but boy does he know how to make a big play. He has two tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, the most in the league, one fumble recovery, four sacks the most in the league, and five pass deflections. This guy can do it all. He is flying around the field making big plays. Who is going to stop him? The Grey Ducks are off to a rough start this season at two and four but it is their offense falling short not their defense. Chainbreaker is making big plays, and I am curious to see if he can get his total tackle number up by the end of the season.
7. London Royals select – Juan Domine – LB
The third linebacker off the board is currently leading the lead in total tackles at seventy-six. That goes along with his one sack and three pass deflections. Oh, and did I mention that he has two interceptions this season, tied for third in the league? A fellow Royal, Juan Domine is always where he needs to be. The Royals are off to a shaky start, but that burden does not fall on defense. This rookie of the year candidate is everywhere all at once. A great pick by the Royals, and arguably the best linebacker off the board in the first round.
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8. Tijuana Luchadores select – Maverick Bowie – S
Lastly, Tijuana selected the second safety off the board was a safe pick for the defending Ultimini champions. With thirty-six tackles and one sack Bowie has had an average showing for a rookie. Maybe not what you would want out of a first round pick, but serviceable none the less.
1. Kansas City Coyotes select - Asher Montain- DE
I liked this high tpe, quick defensive end as the first overall pick. He may only have thirty-five tackles, but he also has five tackles for loss, tied for seventh in the league, and three sacks, tied for third in the league. Thus far the Coyotes have the seasons lowest points against at seventy-seven, and you have to think that it is at least partly due to Montain terrorizing the backfield. The Coyotes have had four home games and two road games, so I am curious how the team finishes up down the stretch. This includes Montain, and if he will be able to continue wreaking havoc the second half of the season.
2. Portland Pythons select – Dorothy Zbornak – DE
While Montain has been disrupting quarterbacks with three sacks, Zbornak has been focused on other players in the backfield with seven tackles for loss, tied for fourth in the league. Zbonak only has seventeen tackles and one sack, but those seven tackles for loss can ruin drives. Not to mention Zbornak has one forced fumble and fumble recovery. Those turnovers can really turn the tide of a game, or solidify a win. The Pythons defense as a whole is mediocre, but it is interesting to see the difference in performance between the first and second overall draft pick. These differences may come down to how they are being used and opponents faced. Both of these defensive ends are making a difference in games with big plays. I wish there was a pressure the quarterback stat, because I am confident that both of these players would be performing well. Sometimes those stats that go unmeasured are the difference makers between good and great players. Those that do great in the DSFL and those that really excel in the NSFL.
3. Myrtle Beach Buccaneers select – Jeremiah Zelos – LB
The first linebacker off the board in a linebacker heavy draft had a lot to prove, and I would argue he still does. Zelos looks like he has been doing a little bit of everything for the Bucs, sitting at forty three tackles, one tackle for loss, three sacks, and two pass deflections. He has been busy doing it all for the Bucs, but not the performance you want to see as they passed on many other options, whom we will talk about later. At the bottom of their division and with an average defense, you have to think that the Bucs expected more out of him. Of course, his performance could be how they are using them, and those intangibles could come into play. This is not me saying he is a bust by any means, just that we need to wait and see, and maybe it is up to the Bucs to get him more involved on defense.
4. Dallas Birddogs select – Zoe Watts – KP
A curious situation with this pick. I do not think I was the only skeptic when Watts came off the board in the first round. They have been kicking with a bot this season and are fifteen for fifteen on field goals and six for seven on extra points. Because of this success with their bot, have to think that there is more immediate need than kicker in the draft. Alas, maybe they had their reasons. The Birddogs moved Watts to running back where she has excelled. She is top 5 in rushing at nearly 500 yards. She is averaging 4.5 yards per carry with two touchdowns. After an interesting pick, the position change makes the pick make sense.
5. Norfolk Seawolves select - Quentin Button – S
I was fairly high on the speedy sideline to sideline safety out of Iowa. I also want to say that I believe the success and stat line of a safety is highly driven by the situations they are put into by their defensive scheme. That being said, Button does have two sacks and a forced fumble, and those big plays can really impact a game. Alternatively, he only has thirty tackles which makes me think he is not always in the right position to make the play. Is that because of Button or because of the scheme? I do not know. Alas, the Seawolves are 5-1 so they may be using Button exactly as they want to. A fine performance for sure, but whether it is worth a first round pick I am not sure. I will say that his performance is comparable to the other safety taken in the first round, but we will get to that a little later.
6. Minnesota Grey Ducks select – Alejandro Chainbreaker – LB
This is where the analysis gets interesting in my opinion. The second linebacker off the board is just outside the top ten in total tackles with forty-nine but boy does he know how to make a big play. He has two tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, the most in the league, one fumble recovery, four sacks the most in the league, and five pass deflections. This guy can do it all. He is flying around the field making big plays. Who is going to stop him? The Grey Ducks are off to a rough start this season at two and four but it is their offense falling short not their defense. Chainbreaker is making big plays, and I am curious to see if he can get his total tackle number up by the end of the season.
7. London Royals select – Juan Domine – LB
The third linebacker off the board is currently leading the lead in total tackles at seventy-six. That goes along with his one sack and three pass deflections. Oh, and did I mention that he has two interceptions this season, tied for third in the league? A fellow Royal, Juan Domine is always where he needs to be. The Royals are off to a shaky start, but that burden does not fall on defense. This rookie of the year candidate is everywhere all at once. A great pick by the Royals, and arguably the best linebacker off the board in the first round.
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8. Tijuana Luchadores select – Maverick Bowie – S
Lastly, Tijuana selected the second safety off the board was a safe pick for the defending Ultimini champions. With thirty-six tackles and one sack Bowie has had an average showing for a rookie. Maybe not what you would want out of a first round pick, but serviceable none the less.
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