Board 8 > Board 8 National Football League League (B8NFLL) Season 9: FA + preseason

(+) Yeah! (+)

Preseason will be simmed momentarily
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I have signed for the Bucs SS Daniel Bullocks to a 1 year deal due to a post-trade roster hole
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Due to injuries during the preseason I have signed:

FB Tim Castille to the Packers on a 1 year deal
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KCF0107 posted...

Due to injuries during the preseason I have signed:

FB Tim Castille to the Packers on a 1 year deal

Ughhhhh :/
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Injury sheet is updated
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*looks at injuries*

Well the only bad one is only for two weeks so.

I got off really lucky for once.
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Depth Chart sheet has been updated. Please, please, for the love of god please look at it at least 10 times.

Each season, without fail, someone asks me why is X player starting at Y position over Z player. After the preseason, the AI optimizes you depth charts based on a combination of rating and preseason performance. All I do is simply copy what the post-preseason depth charts say and copy it down on the spreadsheet. If you want to change your depth chart in any way, just let me know. We aren't simming Week 1 of the regular season for several weeks.

League Leader sheet has now been wiped of last season's stats.
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Ugh injury bug bit hard. Those free agent signings are huge now, though 3 of my 4 injuries are only for a game or two. Langston Walker being out until week 10 hurts though, makes that Dockery signing that much more important.
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Bears have released MLB Stephen Cooper
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Schedule and Standings sheet has been updated.

Tomorrow I hope to post my third annual predictions for each division and conference
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4 starters injured at ratings of 92, 89, 87 and 85. 3 of those positions with back up rating drop offs of 9, 6 and 10.

Thanks Madden!

Downside - Stewart is hurt after i entrusted the future of my team to him

Upside - Apparently Isaiah Pead is developing well which softens that blow.
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Great to see Dez move up the depth chart naturally, i was worried he wouldn't get enough targets. And it's a nice feeling having confidence in my backup DE for once.

Oh great, yet another week 3 bye and i get to face the meat grinder that is the NFC East.
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Man I have to face the NFC East twice every season welcome to my nightmare.
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Week 3 bye, and basically my most winnable 5 games don't come until the last 5 weeks of the season. Yikes.

Could be worse, you could have had Jay Cutler outplay your starting QB in preseason to the point where he's top of the depth chart

Hey now, going 6-10 again gets me last place in my division, not 1st place like the Steelers!

ShatteredElysium posted...

Could be worse, you could have had Jay Cutler outplay your starting QB in preseason to the point where he's top of the depth chart

And to think you only signed him cause of Scare's threat! (you know you have both Rexman and Cutler on your roster right...two former great Bears QBs in the house)

Well huh. A nice bye week at week 9...but we play 4 divisional games before the bye and 7/8 of those games are home games with lone away game against the Jaguars. Thanks a fuck ton, Maddon. And then weeks 12-14 are against AFC West teams. I always laugh at Maddon's scheduling cause it's ridiculous and would never happen in real life lol

You mean to tell me that in real life teams won't have seven home games in seven weeks like the Pioneers will do?
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I was actually going to sign him prior to Scare saying that. I remembered him being a high 1st that plummeted. Grossman is 33 and my 2 young 80 QBs aren't ready yet (and might not ever be)

I really lament Gant losing an entire season to IR. He's the one I lean towards out of him and Griffin but he's also on the shorter contract and retirements pending, I could be in serious cap trouble next year

Also I'm an irl Bears fan if you didn't know

KCF0107 posted...

You mean to tell me that in real life teams won't have seven home games in seven weeks like the Pioneers will do?

A+ scheduling for sure!

Oh hey, I almost offered Cutler a contract too! I almost traded one of my QB's and would have needed another one if I had. It was between Cutler and another player and I would have opted for the other QB. So yeah! But no, I didn't know you were a Bears fan! That makes 3 of us in B8NFLL. And I know SpeedYoshi was a Bears fan too when he was in charge of the Bears. I'd move the Titans to Chicago if I could but the fans won't let me. =/

Huuuuge bears fan! Been trying to get the bears back to Chicago! Hasn't given me that option yet. Moved them from Richmond to LA, so at least it's a big market again!
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I don't know if people remember but I wanted Cutler in that draft. Or at least I wanted him to drop to me. Bears took him a few spots above me in the 2nd iirc and so Grossman got years as starting QB

KCF0107 posted...

You mean to tell me that in real life teams won't have seven home games in seven weeks like the Pioneers will do?

thats a huge double edge sword though, at least in real life
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As for my own depth charts...

Surprised to see Justice beat out McKinnie for the RT job. Gonna make it easier to shift around the O-Line.

Also surprised to see Wayne atop the WR depth chart. Gonna have to monitor that.

Happily surprised to see I have a new return man. Was hoping Blake Cronin would be good enough to win the job. Especially since I drafted him specifically for that purpose and was getting worried that he wasn't going to fall to me since his name was getting thrown around a lot during the draft.
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My biggest preseason depth chart surprise was seeing the 75 CB beat out the 81, 80 and 80 CB to be CB1 after being CB4 all last season and quite possibly never seeing a snap. Like I don't know if that means they are shit or he's really good and I was stupid for sitting him all last year (3rd rnd pick iirc)

Patriots have released HB Cedric Benson
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lololololololololololol

AFC West Prediction

1. Washington Hawks
2. Oakland Raiders
3. Denver Broncos
4. Kansas City Chiefs

This division could finish in any order and it wouldn't surprise me.

The Hawks's offense far eclipses any of their divisional peers. It might be a small sample size, but it seems that QB Philip Rivers has found his home on his fourth team (it just so happens to be the team formerly known as the San Diego Chargers). HB LaDainian Tomlinson averaged over 100 yards a game last season, and WR Roddy White has showed no signs of relinquishing his title for best AFC West WR. You could even argue that the Hawks have the best TE and OL in the division. While not the best defense in the division, the differences in quality between theirs and the Raiders/Broncos is far less than the . Statistically, the Hawks were the fifth best team (via rankings for total offense, total defense, and turnover differential) in the AFC last season. They didn't really lose much last season, and what they did lose, they added superior players to those who departed. This team finished 7-9 last season and a fourth-place finish in the AFC West, but they had the best record in the division after rising star ROLB Koa Misi returned from a preseason injury. This team is as good of a bet as any to go from worst-to-first.

The Raiders are basically the same team from last season. Instead of A.J. Feeley starting at QB, Tavaris Jackson takes control of the offense. Every other starter returns. Is that enough though? The offense is a little deeper this season, but the margin for error is slim given the lack of playmakers. Barring the unexpected, their stellar defense should lead their team, which is always a plus in a defensive-oriented division. Their out-of-conference foes are the NFC East, and this Raiders team might match up worse against them than any other AFC West team. That could end up being the difference for a team aiming to make the playoffs in back-to-back seasons.

The Broncos have always had an elite defense, and that will always make them a threat to win any game. That's not going to change this season. Their offense however took a couple of hits in losing Daunte Culpepper and Walter Jones. They also took some hits in their depth as cap space issues forced them to downgrade at the interior OL. This team has always been defined by their rushing attack, and with LaMarcus Coker and Brian Leonard leading the way, they will get their way. However, things typically don't end well for one-dimensional teams. They have looking-like-a-bust QB Ryan Perrilloux penciled in as Culpepper's replacement and that young WR corps is still likely a couple seasons a way from being respectable, so I don't have a lot of confidence in the Broncos scoring. Even an elite defense still needs their offense to be good for 17 or more points a game, and that might be asking too much from the Broncos.

Easily the most active team in the division, the Chiefs might still be another season away. HB Domanick Davis can never be counted on to play a full season, and nobody on that Chiefs offense has stepped up whenever Davis is absent. It's unsure how new QB Omar Jacobs will fare on a new squad, but the Chiefs are built somewhat similarly on offense to what Jacobs was accustomed to in Baltimore. In many other divisions, that defense would look good on paper, but it's easily the weakest in the division. Every other team finished in the Top 14 in the NFL in Total Defense, but the Chiefs finished 27th. RE Ryan Riddle is the only new starter for that squad, but I doubt that's enough to improve the unit to the level of the Broncos, Hawks, and Raiders. Still, the team finished with a surprise 8-8 record last season. Who's to say it can't happen again?
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AFC East Prediction

1. Miami Dolphins
2. New England Patriots
3. New York Jets
4. Buffalo Bills

The reigning SB champs have lost a 91 MLB to retirement and traded a 99 LT, 94 WR, 90 DT, and 89 DT since that game. Even though they are being replaced by 83, 88, 85, 87, and 82 players respectively, that is still a lot to lose. Without those trades, they would probably have been the runaway favorites to be the AFC representative in the SB, but now they are probably co-favorites along with a few teams. The good news is that they lost three 90+ players the season before due to retirement and finished with the top seed. The bad news is that it took until Week 17 to get that #1 seed. Their work is certainly cut out for them this season, but this is clearly a playoff-caliber team. This could end up being their first playoff appearance as a Wild Card team, but I will have to see it to believe it.

The Patriots lost a good OL but then went out and got four more via trade and the draft. They otherwise return 20 of their 22 starters (19 of 20 still with a starting gig) from last season. The Patriots just unexpectedly released HB Cedric Benson. While Benson, as Stan can attest, hasn't had a great career, Benson did have the second-best season by a Patriot/Cougar HB since Ronnie Brown in S2 and actually set a franchise record for most rushing TDs in a season. While new starter at HB Dexter McCluster had a good rookie campaign, it remains to be seen if that small sample size will translate over a full season as a starter. That could very well be the difference between competing for a division and a Wild Card.

Who was the third-best team in the AFC (same rankings as Hawks)? If you guessed the Jets, you would be correct. The Jets fielded a Top 12 offense and defense and had the NFL's best turnover differential. The Jets lost one starter and had, in my opinion, the best rookie draft class. None are expected to start, but three or four are the #1 backup to several players. I have been high on the Jets for the past few seasons now, and while their record hasn't been been good, the stats suggest they are more than a good team. If there's one cause for concern, it's Drew Brees. Brees has been the most overrated QB in B8NFLL. Through eight seasons, four have resulted in sub-70 passer ratings. Another was around 80. The other three though resulted in being a QB of the Year candidate. Unfortunately, it seems he has a max of one QB of the Year season for each team he plays for, and he has already used that up for the Jets. Luckily, they have MVP candidate Romance Taylor at HB to carry the offense if Brees continues his trend.

This Bills team is too talented to suck and not talented enough to win the division. They are also in what is easily the AFC's toughest division, and given where I have ranked them in the division, they will not be a playoff team. Talent-wise, this team has taken one step backward for every step forward. There's less depth at OL, QB, and LB but more at HB and DE. They lost their top TE and FB, but they added the top DT in the game. The Bills have seven projected starters with sub-80 ratings, easily the most in the league. With the Dolphins and Patriots seemingly set to own the division for years to come, I'm not sure when to expect the Bills in the playoffs next.
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AFC North Prediction

1. Pittsburgh Steelers
2. Mexico City Browns
3. Baltimore Ravens
4. Cincinnati Bengals

I'm not sure if the Steelers really improved from last season (WR Deion Branch is a slightly lesser Chris Chambers and WR Robert Meachem has been nothing special), but they certainly didn't get worst. With as many as six starters potentially facing retirement after the season, the Steelers are definitely in win-now mode. They did suffer a few notable injuries this preseason but at least they can take solace that they came out better than the Browns, their biggest threat to the division and the team that nearly cost them a playoff spot in a third consecutive season. It probably won't be a runaway division, but the Steelers are clearly the favorites

The Browns made the surprising decision the draft MLB Dont'a Hightower instead of RT Mitchell Schwartz. Hightower will be out until at least Week 4 and starting RT Barry Richardson is out for the season. It seems the Madden gods are punishing the Browns for that. While not the most talented defense, the Browns' defense has performed better than the Steelers the past few seasons. They will need that to continue to have any hope of winning the division as I don't trust that offense at all.

In S6 and S7, the Ravens made the AFC Championship Game (including winning it in S6). Last season, their defense was still lights-out (finished in the Top 5). It was their offense that cost them, including a bizarre and historically awful season from QB Omar Jacobs. Instead making a few changes to retool the team and go for another SB run, the Ravens decided to blow things up (not a full-blown rebuild though). They will likely have 9 new starters this season. Their defense should still be great, but this offense likely will likely hold them back this season. In as early as next season, they might be playoff contenders, but this season is likely just to see if anybody new (via trade, draft, or free agency) clicks.

The Bengals are easily the most-improved team in the division, but the improvements were exclusively on the defensive side of the ball. That offense, which has had just one new starter since S5 (WR Matt Jones after Dennis Northcutt was not re-signed), hasn't been great for a long time. Unless QB Brad Smith, who has shown very little in seven seasons, somehow plays up to his ability, we are likely looking at another Top 10 draft pick.
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AFC South Predictions

1. Jacksonville Jaguars
2. Tennessee Titans
3. Columbus Pioneers
4. Indianapolis Colts

The Jags were statistically the worst playoff team last season, but that didn't stop them from being the first team to clinch a playoff spot by winning the division for what, the sixth straight season? I have learned my lesson and will stop doubting their ability to continue winning the division. This is their last hurrah though as half of the defense is seemingly about to retire within the next two seasons. Tebow has been shockingly good to start his career and the OL continues to impress, so this might the year that the Jags become an offensive-oriented team. SS Michael Lewis aims to win his fourth straight DB of the Year Award.

Could the Titans really finish second? They have acquired a lot of talent via trade (most notably LT Travelle Wharton and CB Asante Samuel) and signed the highest-rated FB that they've ever had. These are also the Titans though, so I hate to give anyone false hope, but this is probably the best Titans team on paper that they've ever had. Because they aren't in the AFC East, that means they could potentially win the division.

I look at the Pioneers team every season, and I see a playoff contender. They are easily the best team in the division when it comes to drafting and player development. Yet, they routinely end up picking in the Top 10. I just don't understand this team at all. After picking them to dethrone the Jags the previous two seasons, I have decided to stop believing in that notion. This does allow me to make them my AFC Dark Horse Playoff Team this season even with stud FS Earl Thomas out for roughly half the season.

The Colts lost some key players, and their team is just really old now. Being old isn't a bad thing. Typically, the oldest teams in the league each season end up in the playoffs or at least a winning record. The Colts though are old and not very talented. That's just not a good combo. They had a scorching start last season before falling off a cliff and losing out on the second Wild Card in Week 17. They start the season against the Wildcats, Hawks, and Seahawks before getting a bye in Week 4. If leave the bye with a 3-0 record and their best OL Matt Light healthy again, maybe, just maybe will there be some reason for playoff hopes this season. Otherwise, I would just look toward next season.
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AFC Conference Seeding Predictions

Playoff Teams
1. Pittsburgh Steelers
2. Jacksonville Jaguars
3. Miami Dolphins
4. Washington Hawks
5. New England Patriots
6. New York Jets

Playoff Contenders
7. Oakland Raiders
8. Tennessee Titans
9. Denver Broncos
10. Buffalo Bills
11. Mexico City Browns

Dark Horse Contender
12. Columbus Pioneers

Perhaps Next Season
13. Kansas City Chiefs
14. Baltimore Ravens
15. Cincinnati Bengals
16. Indianapolis Colts
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Wow high expectations for THE JAGS
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Playoff seed projections are not based on how good I think each team will be though. I think that the top three AFC teams are in the East, but they are more likely to beat each other up.

The AFC North and South are less talented divisions and they each face the weakest NFC divisions, so I think that the Steelers and Jags can take advantage of having a relatively easier schedule.
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As usual, KCF totally dismisses the Bills. smh.

I mean, our schedule is pretty rough, and I don't have high hopes, but screw that - GO BILLS

KCF0107 posted...

The bad news is that it took until Week 17 to get that #1 seed...

Can you remind me again what team it is that always beats the Dolphins late in the season?

GO BILLS!

That's a fair assessment, and much more positive than i was expecting tbh. Can't wait to see your thoughts on the NFC North, that should be a fun division to watch.

Every other team finished in the Top 14 in the NFL in Total Defense, but the Chiefs finished 27th.

daaamn. I think i was 21st around mid-season too, which isn't tons better, but yeesh...
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Can you remind me again what team it is that always beats the Dolphins practice squad late in the season?

ftfy
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KCF0107 posted...

AFC West Prediction

1. Washington Hawks

While not the best defense in the division, the differences in quality between theirs and the Raiders/Broncos is far less than the the divide between their offenses.

This is what it should have said. I had just over an hour to type these up before I had to hit the road, so I got sloppy.
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Hype for NFC predictions
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Coming tomorrow. I have outlines on what to talk about for each team and my seeding predictions.

Also, I am officially on my break for B8NFLL, meaning I am nowhere near my Xbox, so I won't be booting up the game for a couple weeks.

You can still ask me to do things like change coaching strategy and depth charts, but I won't be able to make any changes until around Thanksgiving.
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No worries man! Take the time you need!
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DoubleTangicide posted...

No worries man! Take the time you need!

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It's looking less and less likely the NFC predictions are going up today.
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No worries

What is hype will never not be hype
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No worries

One more day I get to go believing I have a chance before being predicted 3rd in the division
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NFC West Predictions

1. San Francisco 49ers
2. St. Louis Rams
3. Seattle Seahawks
4. Toronto Wildcats

I hate to throw out locks out there given my track record, but the 49ers are a virtual lock to win the division. The rest of the division went something like 14-34 last season and only the Rams can you definitively say look better this season. The 49ers added the top-rated WR in the league, and have upgraded from the combo of Chris Clemons and Bobby Carpenter at ROLB with their 1st round pick, John Simon. They return their elite OL, Ben Roethlisberger, and reigning MVP Tatum Bell. Their young defense continues to develop and improve. The 49ers also have a highly favorable schedule. Playing the Rams/Seahawks/Wildcats six times, the AFC South, Lightning, Lions, and Panthers, those are 13 games that they will likely be the favorite in. While not as talented as the Cowboys, Pumpkins, or Vikings, the 49ers are as good of a bet as any to end up as the #1 seed in the NFC. Their Week 8 home game against the Cowboys could end up being the deciding game.

The Rams have historically been the best team in the division. Last season saw their offense and defense fall of a cliff. That defense in particular finished as the league's worst. Their first two draft picks were on the offensive side. They spent their fourth 1st round pick on a QB in Ryan Tannehill, but I have a feeling this is the one that sticks. They even got a steal selecting HB Lamar Miller in the 2nd, one of the five highest-rated players to come out of the draft. Back to that defense though, it's unlikely that a complete turnaround will occur, but there's enough talent there to be somewhat respectable, especially with an easier schedule on their plate (faced AFC East last season for starters).

The Seahawks have one of the highest team ratings in the league. Like the Pioneers, I have been believers in them for many seasons and have just not gotten it done. The OL is always in flux, but on paper, this looks to be the best they've had since the early years. QB Carson Palmer had a huge down year, which may have prompted the Seahawks to draft for the future in Kirk Cousins. That WR corps is one of the most underrated in the NFL, but Bethel Johnson and Charles Rogers are close to retirement. It is imperative that HB Lynell Hamilton, a former Offensive RotY winner, stays healthy. The defense took a step back last season even with a pair of 90 additions in LE Johnny Stegall and DT Matt Kroul. That front seven is still very fierce-looking, but if they don't perform up to their ability, then it might be time for the Seahawks to make some changes. The secondary continues to be a work in progress, but theirs is in a better state than the Wildcats and Rams. It wouldn't surprise me if they end up with a winning record given their talent, but I'm done putting my faith into them.

The Wildcats have some ways to go before I consider them to be playoff contenders. Free Agency has been ripe with defensive talent the past several seasons, but a poor cap situation prevented them from adding the defensive talent needed to become a balanced team. There are some young bright spots on the defense with MLB Bobby Wagner, LE Eugene Germany, and maybe FS Eric Reid or DT Earl Mitchell after this season. Unfortunately for Wagner and Germany, their development appears to be stunted as the Wildcats year in and year out have a Bottom 10 defense. The Wildcats/Cardinals franchise does have two playoff appearances to its name, but the offense had to be so prolific to get them there. With WR Larry Fitzgerald now gone via trade and without a high-rated defensive player coming in return, I highly doubt the offense will perform well enough to overcome what should be another porous defense. A third-straight Top 10 pick is probably in the cards.
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NFC East Predictions

1. Dallas Cowboys
2. Las Vegas Pumpkins
3. New York Giants
4. Washington Redskins

The Cowboys lost WR Drew Bennett to retirement and return basically everyone else. This team is so loaded, the Vegas odds for a SB title must be better than the NBA's Golden State Warriors' odds this season and last. That being said, that passing game is probably their achilles heel. That defense is going to stifle everyone, and the combined running attack of Darius Walker and Vince Young will put up high numbers. Young isn't really a prolific passer though, and even by B8NFLL standards, TE Jason Witten isn't anywhere near his real life counterpart. The Cowboys will have to rely on 33-year-old WR Koren Robinson to keep opposing secondaries honest.

The Season 2 disaster of trotting out Ryan Fitzpatrick at QB is well known among B8NFLL vets. The then Eagles franchise truly hit rock bottom, but between former GM MMX and the AI, the now Pumpkins have drafted, traded, signed, and developed players about as well as any other team since that failed experiment. The NFC East has been the best division for what seems to be almost every year, so it has yet to result in a playoff spot. However, the Pumpkins have been in the playoff hunt until Week 17 in the past two seasons. With several teams that finished ahead of them last season noticeably weaker this season (Buccaneers, Lions, and Falcons), this is their year to make their first playoff appearance and contend for a SB. They will need their offense to stay healthy to make their long-awaited dream a reality.

The Giants lost (among five total) three franchise cornerstones to retirement last season, including one of B8NFLL's best players in its history in HB Edgerrin James. They have signed and drafted players to replace their losses, but they are lesser players in the ratings department. QB Ben Olson had such a fluky statline that he's one of best bets for a regression season. This is all probably enough for the Pumpkins to overtake the Giants again, but the Giants are very much alive in the Wild Card discussions with a defense that routinely finishes in the top half of the league.

The Redskins, even with all the cap issues that forced them to say goodbye to some starters and depth, continue to be one of the most talented teams in the NFL. QB Matt Moore is expected to be the starter Week 1. He was taken in the same draft as current backup QB Cam Newton. The real life Redskins drafted Kirk Cousins in the same draft they selected Robert Griffin, and Cousins ended up being the better player for them. Perhaps history will repeat itself and Moore will be their answer at QB. Unfortunately for Moore, his crop of pass-catchers flat out suck. He does have a stellar OL, but that's only a small comfort. This will still be a team led by its defense. I just don't think it will be enough in such a brutal division.
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NFC North Predictions

1. Minnesota Vikings
2. Los Angeles Bears
3. Green Bay Packers
4. Detroit Lions

The Vikings may not have the pedigree of teams like the Buccaneers, Dolphins, Giants, and Redskins, but did you know that it is the Vikings who have the most seasons (4) finishing in the Top 10 in both offense and defense? I'm pretty sure that the Vikings are one of the three oldest teams in the league, so they have and will continue to see a lot of players retire as the seasons go on, but that hasn't slowed them down or hindered their ability to develop players. QB Josh Portis had a huge breakout season after being handed the keys of the offense from now-retired QB Donovan McNabb. HB Julius Jones, unlike most HBs, continues to be healthy and highly productive in his 30s. The defense though is where this team really shines. That is where the majority of their youth is located with six starters under the age of 30. There is no reason to believe that this team won't be among a handful of teams to make the playoffs with an active streak of three straight playoff appearances.

The Bears are in win-now mode. A lot of their best players are slated to retire in the next season or two, and for a franchise with no playoff appearances and on its third city, the desperation for the Bears players, fans, and maybe GM is probably high. They don't seem to be talented enough to be SB contenders, but they are talented enough to be in the playoffs. The schedule includes the AFC North and the Lions twice, but they have to face the entire NFC East. If they can somehow split those games, that will go a long way in their quest to make the playoffs.

The Packers went hard in the offseason to acquire talent, which was necessary after losing four starters to retirement. I have my doubts about this team though. The health of the offense is always a concern with QB Tyrod Taylor and members of the OL having a lengthy medical history. That secondary has never been known to make plays, and the LB corps is inconsistent. They will likely have to rely on HB Carnell Williams and their DL to limit their opponents' offenses, but that might not be the case with the latter when they have to line up against OL like the Vikings, Lions, and NFC East eight times this season. I am not at liberty to discuss specifics about certain things concerning teams, but I also have some issues with let's say the current vision of this team related to its personnel. They are my NFC Dark Horse Playoff Pick though because if things break right, which is a huge if, I could see them getting to double-digit wins.

The Lions were labeled as the worst team according to Madden's team ratings after losing B8NFLL's best QB in Peyton Manning, Defensive Player of the Year MLB Danny Clark, and several vets they told to pack their bags. They have enough high-end talent to where they could conceivably not end up with a Top 5 pick, but things do look grim for the Lions in the short and long-term. While I don't know what Nee's thinking, I feel that the trade of stud DT Claude Wroten during the draft basically means that he's given up on defense. I feel bad for players like ROLB Willie Williams and FS Tyvon Branch because this defense might go the way of the Wildcats in that sub-80 starters might be all too common for many seasons. Horribly imbalanced teams with the offensive side having most of the talent tend to fare poorly, so we might be seeing the Lions in the NFC North basement for awhile.
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