All-Time Football Draft: The Picks

[Vince]

Originally Posted by JAG

Hey Vince, for what it's worth, I agree with you. I personally would rather have a really good coach than one more star player as I think a good coach can improve the whole team. I can see the other side of the coin as well though, because a star player can bring something to the table that even a great coach can't scheme.

I was VERY torn...my team could really have used an excellent pass rush specialist...I think with one, I might be considered one of the strongest field teams in the competition. However, I didn't feel that any of the remaining players would be 'impact' enough to justify my pick of them over a coach. I'm certain that within the next 10 posts, three people are going to be mentioned who I didn't think of, and I'll sit here and wonder what people would have thought of my team with them instead of Madden...but that's the way the cookie crumbles

[JAG]

WSUCougar's team:

1.9 - Jerry Rice, WR
2.4 - Dan Fouts, QB
3.9 - Alan Page, DT
4.4 - Willie Brown, CB
5.9 - Art Shell, T
6.4 - Ray Lewis, LB
7.9 - Marcus Allen, RB
8.4 - Joe DeLamielleure , G
9.9 - Ozzie Newsome, TE
10.4 - Steve Atwater, S
11.9 - Jack Youngblood, DE
12.4 - Dan Dierdorf, T

Best selections: Jerry Rice, Art Shell, Alan Page, Marcus Allen

"Worst" selections: Dan Fouts (too high, I felt), Dan Dierdorf.

Positives: A wicked passing game with the best receiver of all-time, one of the top receiving RB's, Newsome at TE, and three OLers. Solid D with players covering all the important areas. A lot of players with very long careers (Rice, Allen, Page, Brown for some).

Negatives: No head coach (outside of Ray Lewis, haha), no special teams help from the roster.

Overall: A team with little weakness, although I would've rather seen a head coach than adding another block to the OL. Still, at least Coug's team will make Barry Switzer look good.

VPI97, I think it's ok for you to make your pick. Chubby's been around and been pm'ed, so I think he's bowed out of draft.

[VPI97]

With my final pick, I'll take a receiver whose skills may have exceeded any other wideout in NFL history not named Rice. Unfortunately, a freak injury forced him out of the game early in his career, so we may never know if he could have made a run at Rice's dominance at the position.

Sterling Sharpe, WR
- Until career-ending neck problems, he had not missed a game in his seven year career.
- Five time All-Pro
- 595 career receptions (Packers franchise leader)
- Packer record 103 consecutive games with a reception
- First player in NFL history with consectutive 100 catch seasons


Roster
QB - John Elway (2.6)
RB - Jim Brown (1.7)
WR - Sterling Sharpe (12.6)
TE - Mike Ditka (10.6)
C - Dwight Stephenson (6.6)
G - Gene Upshaw (5.7)
DT - Art Donovan (9.7)
DE - Richard Dent (11.7)
LB - Mike Singletary (3.7)
LB - Ray Nitschke (4.6)
CB - Mike Haynes (8.6)
S - Paul Krause (7.7)
Head Coach - Mike Ditka (10.6)

[JAG]

Nice choice of Sharpe.

VPI97's team

QB - John Elway (2.6)
RB - Jim Brown (1.7)
WR - Sterling Sharpe (12.6)
TE - Mike Ditka (10.6)
C - Dwight Stephenson (6.6)
G - Gene Upshaw (5.7)
DT - Art Donovan (9.7)
DE - Richard Dent (11.7)
LB - Mike Singletary (3.7)
LB - Ray Nitschke (4.6)
CB - Mike Haynes (8.6)
S - Paul Krause (7.7)
Head Coach - Mike Ditka (10.6)

Best Selections: Jim Brown, Ray Nitschke, Mike Haynes, Mike Ditka (note: I don’t think he was one of the all-time great coaches, but to get a guy who was a HOF TE and a head coach at the same time is pretty good).

Worst Selections: Art Donovan, Dwight Stephenson (I preferred Jim Otto who went two rounds later).

Positives: Elway and Brown will be the best QB/RB pair selected. Excellent well-rounded defense. Again, getting a head coach and tight end together saves a pick.

Negatives: ...Overconfidence? Ditka not a top head coach (IMO).

Overall: I wouldn’t want to face these guys. Could be the best team.

[JAG]

Final pick. I told myself I had to take either a full-time wide receiver for additional help in the passing game or a strong safety to round out my defense. I had the perfect WR for my team and a few guys at safety I was considering. However, I finally couldn’t pass up another guy who I think, with all due respect to John Hannah, was the best ever at his position:

Larry Allen, G-T

His accomplishments include:

7 consecutive years as an All-Pro. That includes a one-year change to left tackle, 3 years as right guard, and 3 years at left guard, becoming only the third OLer to become an All-Pro at more than one offensive line position (Bruce Mathews and Chris Hinton are the other 2). Part of an OL that gave up the four fewest season sack totals in Cowboys history along with helping Emmitt get >11000 of his 17000+ yards. Able to bench 700 pounds and squat 900 pounds (he's considered to be the strongest man to ever play professional football). Two favorite plays I saw of his stand out. One is a Monday night game his rookie year where he chased and caught a New Orleans LB after a 40 or so yard INT return. The second was a pass play where he flattened a DT to the ground with one arm, used it to hold him down, and then held out his other arm as he moved side-to-side, looking for someone else to block.

Selection by round:

1.5 – Brett Favre, QB
2.8 – Deion Sanders, CB etc.
3.5 – Reggie White, DE
4.8 – Roosevelt Brown, T
5.5 – Marion Motley, RB/LB
6.8 – John Mackey, TE
7.5 - Sam Huff, MLB
8.8 - Willie Davis, DE
9.5 - Tony Dorsett, RB
10.8 – Tom Landry, Head Coach
11.5 – Dan Hampton, DT-DE
12.8 – Larry Allen, G-T

Lineup:

QB – Brett Favre
RB – Tony Dorsett
FB – Marion Motley
WR – Deion Sanders
TE – John Mackey
OT – Roosevelt Brown
OG – Larry Allen
DE – Reggie White
DE – Willie Davis
DT – Dan Hampton
LB – Sam Huff
LB – Marion Motley
CB – Deion Sanders
KR – Deion Sanders
PR – Deion Sanders
Waterboy – Deion Sanders
Head Dancer - Deion Sanders
Head Coach – Tom Landry


Best Selections: Marion Motley, Deion Sanders, Reggie White in Round 3, Larry Allen in Round 12.

Worst Selections: Willie Davis, Brett Favre at 5 overall (although I like it, my guess is most consider this too high),

Positives: Good offensive options with two complimentary backs, receiving options at RB, TE, and WR, and two of the top linemen available. Great DL. Tough against the passing game on defense with three great pass rushers and Deion at corner. Deion is a weapon on special teams (if he’s not too tired from playing offense and defense).

Negatives: Defense could use another (full-time) player at LB or S to guard run/pass. Deion was not the most polished receiver, leaving the offense a WR short of having all the needed weapons.

Overall: I think I got some of the top talent available at quite a few positions and that my team might not be as balanced as a couple of the past teams were, but match up well player-for-player.


Noble Platypus is on the clock

[VPI97]

IMO, Dorsett in the ninth round was a steal...

[JAG]

Shrug, I thought so too, otherwise I wouldn't have taken an RB, but it didn't seem like anyone else thought so.

[Noble_Platypus]

I'll take Mike Munchak, 9 time pro bowler
My Team:

Dan Marino QB
Emmitt Smith RB
Kellen Winslow TE
Steve Largent WR
Marvin Harrison WR
Cris Carter WR
Mike Munchak OG
Bruce Smith DE
Leslie O'neal DE
Buck Buchanon DT
Junior Seau LB
Rod Woodson CB/S/Return Man

[JAG]

For Noble Platypus' team:

Best Selections: Junior Seau in 11th Round (bastard ), Kellen Winslow, Cris Carter, Rod Woodson.

"Worst" Selections: Bruce Smith, Leslie O'Neal.

Positives: No team here or ever has had a secondary that could contain Marino throwing to these weapons. Strong pass rush with 2 130+ sack guys. Woodson is a great jack-of-all trades in the secondary and aiding special teams.

Negatives: Good thing Marino has a quick release, because he's got little blocking ahead of him. Poor Emmitt gets only one Pro Bowl blocker in front of him instead of the 2-4 (not counting Moose) he's been accustomed to. No head coach.

Overall: A uniquely built team essentially for passing teams into submission. A shame there's no brilliant head coach to devise the best way to use this passing talent (outside of "Run, turn around, catch pass.", which would probably work). Not my personal favorite, but I'd love to watch that aerial attack in action.

[Noble_Platypus]

With a few more rounds I could have put more of a line in fron of Marino. Since we are only drafting 12 rounds you can address all positions. I didnt draft a coach, but I felt Marino and Seau would be fantastic leaders on both sides of the ball. I went big play on both sides as well. With my sack masters and Woodson, who has a ton of career INTs, and seau patrolling the middle and sucking up what gets by my D line I felt my D was pretty good. I also knew I could draft a whole line, so I put the most fearsome air attack I could to get the opposing D on its heels, then let Emmitt run wild. I think everyone did a good job, but I would put this team out against anybody and feel confident in a W.

[mckerney]

Ed Reed, S

Maybe a little young to be taken in the draft, but 2 years in the league and he has 13 picks and 150 tackles. Looks to be a top safety in the league for years to come.

[JAG]

Hey Noble,

Thanks for your team explanation, I actually like it more after hearing your thoughts on it. I probably would've been more upset had you drafted Marino and NOT given him anyone to throw to. And I agree that we can't address every position, but that's a good thing or else it'd be hard for me to comment on a team's weaknesses. Good show.

[Noble_Platypus]

I understand Jag. I wasnt upset, I just wanted to let you know I had a method to my madness.

[TLK]

Comey is up.... hopefully he'll see this before I leave for work tomorrow..... also Chubby still has 3 picks if he sees this....

[JAG]

mckerney's team by draft choice:

1.3 – Jim Thorpe, RB (and others)
2.8 – Randy White, DT
3.3 - Bronko Nagurski, FB/DE
4.10 - Sammy Baugh, QB
5.3 - Forrest Gregg, T
6.10 - Red Grange, RB
7.3 - Ron Yary, T
8.10 - Derrick Brooks, LB
9.3 - Dave Casper, TE
10.8 – Bear Bryant, Head Coach
11.5 – Randall McDaniel, G
12.8 – Ed Reed, S

Lineup: (or so)

QB – Sammy Baugh
RB – Jim Thorpe
RB – Red Grange
FB – Bronko Nagurski
TE – Dave Casper
T – Forrest Gregg
T – Ron Yary
G – Randall McDaniel
DE – Bronko Nagurski
DT – Randy White
LB – Derrick Brooks
S – Ed Reed
(DE-DT-LB) – Jim Thorpe
DB – Red Grange
K – Jim Thorpe
P – Jim Thorpe

Head Coach – Bear Bryant


Best Selections: Jim Thorpe (the more I thought about it, the more I liked it), Sammy Baugh in Round 4, Forrest Gregg.

Worst Selections: Jim Thorpe (probably could’ve gotten him in a later round), Ed Reed (two seasons does not make him an all-time great, plenty other good safeties available), Red Grange.

Positives: What Noble_Platypus had for passing, mckerney has for running. Outstanding compliment of backs and blockers. Jim Thorpe is a big boost for special teams.

Negatives: Defense, especially against the passing game, is suspect.

Overall: I’d like to see this team play Noble’s team.

[Comey]

Well, this might not be a particularly great pick, but here goes:

DE Chris Doleman

He's among the top five in sacks over his career, and he was an eight-time Pro Bowler, spanning those appearances over ten years. So he was very good for a long time.

[Comey]

Draft by Round:

1.2 Barry Sanders, RB
2.11 Dick Lane, CB
3.2 Otto Graham, QB
4.11 Gale Sayers, RB
5.2 Lance Alworth, WR
6.11 Ken Houston, S
7.2 Don Shula, Coach
8.11 Joe Schmidt, LB
9.2 Randy Moss, WR
10.11 Bruce Matthews, OT
11.2 Shannon Sharpe, TE
12.11 Chris Doleman, DE
Lineup:

QB - Otto Graham
RB - Barry Sanders, Gale Sayers
WR - Lance Alworth
WR - Randy Moss
TE - Shannon Sharpe
OT - Bruce Matthews
DE - Chris Doleman
LB - Joe Schmidt
CB - Dick Lane
S - Ken Houston
KR - Gale Sayers
PR - Gale Sayers
Head Coach - Don Shula

[JAG]

For Comey's team:

Best Selections: Joe Schmidt in Round 8, Gayle Sayers in Round 4, Lance Alworth in Round 5, Randy Moss in Round 9.

Worst Selections: Barry Sanders (I would’ve preferred Jim Brown or Payton).

Positives: Best skill position players of any all-time team. Dominant passing game with three potent weapons for Graham. Big play capability all over the roster, including special teams with Sayers returning kickoffs and punts. Even though there’s only 4 defenders, 3 (Schmidt, Houston, and Lane) were the most dominant at their positions in their own era.

Negatives: Defense, especially the DL and against the run, is lacking. Run and pass blocking on the offensive side of the ball is almost non-existent (although Barry having one All-Pro blocker is one more than he ever had ).

Overall: This team would probably be somewhat uneven with the lack of defense and OL, but would probably hit enough big plays to stick around. Not my favorite team, but I’m not sure there’s a team with more playmakers.

One more pick to go!

[TLK]

Jackie Slater, T

QB- Joe Montana
RB- Earl Campbell
WR- Don Hutson
WR- Raymond Berry
C- Mike Webster
T- Jackie Slater
OL/LB- Mel Hein
DE/LB- Bobby Bell
LB- Jack Ham
CB- Emlen Tunnel
CB- Lem Barney
Head Coach- Bill Walsh

[JAG]

Wow, I thought Slater had already been picked. Nice grab.

TLK's team by draft pick:

1.1 – Joe Montana, QB
2.12 – Jack Ham, LB
3.1 – Don Hutson, WR
4.12 – Mike Webster, C
5.1 – Emlen Tunnel, CB
6.12 – Earl Campbell, RB
7.1 – Bill Walsh, Head Coach
8.12 – Bobby Bell, DE-LB
9.1 - Raymond Berry, WR
10.12 – Mel Hein, OL/LB
11.1 – Lem Barney, CB
12.12 – Jackie Slater, T


Best Selections: Don Hutson, Bill Walsh (I liked it to team him with Montana), Raymond Berry in Round 9, Jackie Slater in Round 12.

Worst Selections: Jack Ham.

Positives: Solid team all over, but passing game is especially sharp with Montana, Berry, and Hutson. Awesome coverage ability in the defense (Mel Hein was considered one of the few who could contain Don Hutson).

Negatives: A little soft defensively up the middle. One of Hein/Webster will be out of place as a non-center. Not a big pass rushing crew.

Overall: TLK got some of the big steals in the draft. I like how the team was put together, but I would’ve preferred say Alan Page in place of Jack Ham for the team to be the best.