[div align=\\\"center\\\"]The Specialist
Volume 2, Issue 3
”Professional football’s only Special Teams focused publication.”[/div]
Volume 2 began with two NSFL articles, but now we return to The Specialist’s origins: DSFL news! Because while the NSFL may be the big leagues, the DSFL is also importa-
“No it’s not.”
Yes it is. Shut up.
Team Analysis
I’ll be looking at how each team is set (or not set) for special teams in the coming season, and I’ll be analyzing their draft choices - as they relate to special teams. This is the key point. Don’t tell me “oh but they got (name)!” I’m just looking at special teams potential.
You may notice four teams absent from our list below... that’s because the Chicago Blues and Norfolk SeaWolves have been replaced by robots. The robot designs aren’t yet public, and I can’t really talk about how well a robot can kick a ball when I don’t know what robots are what, so... tough luck. Meanwhile, Tijuana and San Antonio will be covered in the next issue.
Kansas City Coyotes
The coyotes had the first overall pick of the DSFL draft, and with it, they selected quarterback Borkus Maximus III. As amusing as it would be to see a quarterback return a kick, it probably won’t happen, so let’s move on. Their next pick didn’t come till the third round, when they selected... linebacker Jack Dwyer. Again, minimal special teams potential.
But the fourth round is where things get good. Kansas City traded away their fourth round pick to the Marshals, only to trade back for it (these GMs are playing 4d chess) and select one of the draft’s two kicker prospects: Micycle McCormick. The young kicker is shades of Dean Jackson; a small guy with balanced kicking ability. Unlike Jackson, he’s an east coast man, from New Jersey. It was a very solid selection by KC in my opinion, because even though they missed out on high potential wide receiver Grey Slax, if they hadn’t drafted McCormick (who has plenty of potential of his own), they’d be stuck with Filler University kicker Patrick Greene. Greene is one of the better kickers to come out of Filler U, but, well, that’s still not really saying much. Their next four rounds of picks were all tight ends and defensive lineman. Then comes their pick of the final (ninth) round, a running back!... who’s a power back only as fast as their fifth round DT.
Then comes the dispersal draft. With the first pick, they selected cornerback Eric Forman, passing on a different cornerback, Kiko Bakari (that Tijuana would proceed to take). Well, Forman has better catching skills than Bakari, but is also noticeably slower. I can understand why the coyotes took that trade-off, but from a special teams standpoint, it’s no good at all. At the end of the second round, they took receiver Hunter Mason who, when it comes to returning, is essentially a more agile Bakari. As a stagnant season two player, he’s unlikely to ever be called up, but his DSFL eligibility is waning. He’ll be okay-ish while he’s with them, though. The next two picks from KC were a receiver and a running back, but they’re much slower than Mason, and as season one flops, are even closer to their forced retirement from the DSFL. Then, another almost average returner (but nothing special), cornerback Jackie Jordan is somewhat speedy, but has a 1% chance of breaking through a tackle once they’ve got a hand on him.
Draft Grade: C+
The coyotes got no real special teams talent other than their Jersey kicker, but that kicker is a huge pickup. With only two possible kickers to select in the DSFL draft, they did well to pick one up. But even then... just not a great special teams draft class overall. One rookie kicker can not redeem a whole draft. That said, I look forward to seeing what McCormick is capable of.
Portland Pythons
The Pythons picked up a safety, cornerback, and wide receiver in the late rounds of the DSFL draft who are right on the edge of being serviceable returners. They all have great agility, but are going to have to improve on their 40 time before they step on the field to receive a kick or punt. Things are a bit more interesting for them in the dispersal draft. They started by grabbing Nata Asuke. Although a wide receiver, he also would need to improve his speed to be a good returner. Not long later: Pablo Sanchez, a season one safety, who is... even slower. There really wasn’t a ton of speed in this draft. But eventually, after much waiting, they selected kicker Peg Leg! The young season 5 kicker was drafted by the Las Vegas Legion in the third round of the NSFL draft, but with Wayne Gooney and Bojo Kicksit on their roster, I don’t see Peg Leg being called up this season. This makes Leg a great value pick, as he’s better than any Filler U kicker at the very least, and they managed to get him with the last pick of the fifth round.
Draft Grade: B
The key thing for the Pythons was value. They never had a chance at the most “elite” DSFL available kicker Al Sims, but they managed to pick up low end but proven kicker Peg Leg very late in the dispersal draft. And in both drafts, they snagged returners who are real close to being game ready with late round picks that couldn’t have offered them much else. However, they still missed on chances to grab one of the two new rookie kicker prospects in the DSFL draft. Overall, their draft wasn’t good for special teams, but it wasn’t all bad either. That earns them a B.
Hot Takes
Micycle McCormick will ball out in the preseason. No more than one missed field goal and no missed extra points.
Wrap-Up
Kansas City got a kicker and not much else, but that kicker is looking to do big things.
The Pythons got some shiny new rookie returners, but they have a lot to learn. Still, Portland may not have a league worst returning unit this season!
That’s all for now. Like I said earlier, Tijuana and the Marshals will come in the next issue. As always, thanks for reading!
--------------------
1,060 words. Ready to be graded.
GRADED
Volume 2, Issue 3
”Professional football’s only Special Teams focused publication.”[/div]
Volume 2 began with two NSFL articles, but now we return to The Specialist’s origins: DSFL news! Because while the NSFL may be the big leagues, the DSFL is also importa-
“No it’s not.”
Yes it is. Shut up.
Team Analysis
I’ll be looking at how each team is set (or not set) for special teams in the coming season, and I’ll be analyzing their draft choices - as they relate to special teams. This is the key point. Don’t tell me “oh but they got (name)!” I’m just looking at special teams potential.
You may notice four teams absent from our list below... that’s because the Chicago Blues and Norfolk SeaWolves have been replaced by robots. The robot designs aren’t yet public, and I can’t really talk about how well a robot can kick a ball when I don’t know what robots are what, so... tough luck. Meanwhile, Tijuana and San Antonio will be covered in the next issue.
Kansas City CoyotesThe coyotes had the first overall pick of the DSFL draft, and with it, they selected quarterback Borkus Maximus III. As amusing as it would be to see a quarterback return a kick, it probably won’t happen, so let’s move on. Their next pick didn’t come till the third round, when they selected... linebacker Jack Dwyer. Again, minimal special teams potential.
But the fourth round is where things get good. Kansas City traded away their fourth round pick to the Marshals, only to trade back for it (these GMs are playing 4d chess) and select one of the draft’s two kicker prospects: Micycle McCormick. The young kicker is shades of Dean Jackson; a small guy with balanced kicking ability. Unlike Jackson, he’s an east coast man, from New Jersey. It was a very solid selection by KC in my opinion, because even though they missed out on high potential wide receiver Grey Slax, if they hadn’t drafted McCormick (who has plenty of potential of his own), they’d be stuck with Filler University kicker Patrick Greene. Greene is one of the better kickers to come out of Filler U, but, well, that’s still not really saying much. Their next four rounds of picks were all tight ends and defensive lineman. Then comes their pick of the final (ninth) round, a running back!... who’s a power back only as fast as their fifth round DT.
Then comes the dispersal draft. With the first pick, they selected cornerback Eric Forman, passing on a different cornerback, Kiko Bakari (that Tijuana would proceed to take). Well, Forman has better catching skills than Bakari, but is also noticeably slower. I can understand why the coyotes took that trade-off, but from a special teams standpoint, it’s no good at all. At the end of the second round, they took receiver Hunter Mason who, when it comes to returning, is essentially a more agile Bakari. As a stagnant season two player, he’s unlikely to ever be called up, but his DSFL eligibility is waning. He’ll be okay-ish while he’s with them, though. The next two picks from KC were a receiver and a running back, but they’re much slower than Mason, and as season one flops, are even closer to their forced retirement from the DSFL. Then, another almost average returner (but nothing special), cornerback Jackie Jordan is somewhat speedy, but has a 1% chance of breaking through a tackle once they’ve got a hand on him.
Draft Grade: C+
The coyotes got no real special teams talent other than their Jersey kicker, but that kicker is a huge pickup. With only two possible kickers to select in the DSFL draft, they did well to pick one up. But even then... just not a great special teams draft class overall. One rookie kicker can not redeem a whole draft. That said, I look forward to seeing what McCormick is capable of.
Portland PythonsThe Pythons picked up a safety, cornerback, and wide receiver in the late rounds of the DSFL draft who are right on the edge of being serviceable returners. They all have great agility, but are going to have to improve on their 40 time before they step on the field to receive a kick or punt. Things are a bit more interesting for them in the dispersal draft. They started by grabbing Nata Asuke. Although a wide receiver, he also would need to improve his speed to be a good returner. Not long later: Pablo Sanchez, a season one safety, who is... even slower. There really wasn’t a ton of speed in this draft. But eventually, after much waiting, they selected kicker Peg Leg! The young season 5 kicker was drafted by the Las Vegas Legion in the third round of the NSFL draft, but with Wayne Gooney and Bojo Kicksit on their roster, I don’t see Peg Leg being called up this season. This makes Leg a great value pick, as he’s better than any Filler U kicker at the very least, and they managed to get him with the last pick of the fifth round.
Draft Grade: B
The key thing for the Pythons was value. They never had a chance at the most “elite” DSFL available kicker Al Sims, but they managed to pick up low end but proven kicker Peg Leg very late in the dispersal draft. And in both drafts, they snagged returners who are real close to being game ready with late round picks that couldn’t have offered them much else. However, they still missed on chances to grab one of the two new rookie kicker prospects in the DSFL draft. Overall, their draft wasn’t good for special teams, but it wasn’t all bad either. That earns them a B.
Hot Takes
Micycle McCormick will ball out in the preseason. No more than one missed field goal and no missed extra points.
Wrap-Up
Kansas City got a kicker and not much else, but that kicker is looking to do big things.
The Pythons got some shiny new rookie returners, but they have a lot to learn. Still, Portland may not have a league worst returning unit this season!
That’s all for now. Like I said earlier, Tijuana and the Marshals will come in the next issue. As always, thanks for reading!
--------------------
1,060 words. Ready to be graded.
GRADED
![[Image: unknown.png]](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/735279101711220767/761677188524277830/unknown.png)
![[Image: HtYhYYf.png]](https://i.imgur.com/HtYhYYf.png)
