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mhughes0021
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Polian came out with a list of his 12 foundational players in the NFL. 3 of them happened to be lions! Ansah is the only rookie to make the list. Calling him a franchise type player already....nice.
My 12 foundational NFL playersInsider's GM picks the players he would start an NFL franchise withUpdated: August 27, 2013, 8:55 AM ETBy Bill Polian | ESPN Insider Recommend39Tweet0Comments18EmailPrint
US Presswire
Andrew Luck and Luke Kuechly are both terrific young players for the Colts and Panthers, respectively.
Twelve blue-chip players. When we'd do research as a front office and try to determine what level of talent you needed to build a true Super Bowl contender, we'd end up at that number. There can be a debate about what a "blue chip" talent looks like, but to me, there's no debate about how much of it you need. And if you had the ability to pick any 12 current players to build the ultimate NFL roster, a team built to win for a while, which players would you choose? That's precisely what I've done below, identifying the 12 players I believe would provide the strongest foundation for both immediate and future success.
In a month dedicated to fantasy football drafts, you could consider this a "fantasy" draft for a real NFL GM.
In making these evaluations, I didn't simply select the best players in the NFL today. I wanted players who have much of their careers ahead of them so we could maximize the production we receive from them over the long term. To that end, I avoided players over age 26 in most cases, simply because we want to enjoy the most productive seasons of their careers. I also avoided players with any significant injury issues. If you're going to rely on a player to be a pillar of your organization, he needs to be available to carry the load.
As you'll see from these personnel decisions, I crafted this roster with the intent of building:
1. Dynamic offense that create matchup problems
2. Scheme-versatile defense that can be mobilized in an array of different packages.
Looking at these dozen selections -- six on offense and six on defense -- our coaching staff is going to have a lot of options.
With only 12 players, I obviously don't have enough to make a full lineup, so you'll get a sense of how much I value not only these players, but also the positions they fill. Of course, there's no disputing that the most important of all these roles is the quarterback, and that is the first slot filled.
Luck
Andrew Luck, QB, Indianapolis Colts
I could have gone with Robert Griffin III here -- during their draft season, I actually had them graded the same -- but the injury history is enough of a red flag that I leaned to Luck. When all is said and done, RG III might be the single greatest mobile quarterback we've ever seen in the NFL. But the history of the league suggests that Griffin's career, or ability to utilize his running skills, could be shorter. So you're left with a quandary: Do you want a guy who will likely give you 10 good seasons working under center, or do you want an electrifying performer who can be dazzling but -- based on the odds -- will likely have a shorter career? Picking between these two talented quarterbacks was one of the hardest decisions I had to make for this roster. On this team, I'm playing the percentages, though, and we will get all we need from Luck. The numbers he put up as a rookie -- 4,374 yards and 23 TDs on a 54.1 percent completion rate -- are only going to improve.
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Martin
Doug Martin, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
With an eye towards future success, I couldn't pick Adrian Peterson here. There's too much risk and he's already had a lot of carries. Even though he's a little bit older (26), part of me wanted to pick Ray Rice. He just provides so much to the Ravens offense with a versatile skill set out of the backfield. In the end, I settled on Martin (just ahead of C.J. Spiller). Like Rice, Martin is capable of carrying the heavy workload of a featured back and doesn't need to come off the field on passing downs since he's an effective pass-catcher and decent blocker. I leaned toward Martin over Spiller because Martin's got a little bit bigger frame at 215 pounds, so he might be more durable.
Some might be surprised I included a running back at all, but consider the truly great Super Bowl teams -- the Steelers, the Niners, the Cowboys, the Bills -- and you'll almost always see a successful running game led by a featured back. To be successful in the NFL, even today, I believe you need a running back who can carry a heavy load and provide versatility. We'll have one with Martin. And his best seasons are still ahead of him.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Johnson
Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit Lions
It's not hard to make this choice, even though it required an exception to my age-26 rule. But at 27, Johnson is the best receiver in the game, and his size and speed make him a nearly impossible assignment to contain. He's topped 1,600 yards each of the past two seasons despite defenses knowing exactly where the Lions want to go with the ball when Matthew Stafford drops back. That's a testament to just how effective a receiver Johnson is. And he'll improve matchups better for my other receivers.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jones
Julio Jones, WR, Atlanta Falcons
Megatron is a potent weapon, but adding a second dynamic receiver like Jones will prevent defenses from committing too much help to one target. Jones is a terrific deep threat, and I like his frame -- 6-foot-3, 220 pounds -- which gives him the edge in my mind over A.J. Green, another excellent young receiver. With Jones and Johnson, we'll be able to take the top off any defense.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Graham
Jimmy Graham, TE, New Orleans Saints
Graham is one of the toughest covers in the NFL. His size (6-foot-7) and leaping ability make him a terrific target in the red zone and a nightmare for defensive backs. And there aren't many linebackers who are going to have any success keeping up with him.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clady
Ryan Clady, OT, Denver Broncos
With all of these terrific options in the passing game, we're going to need to buy Luck some time to work through his progressions and his targets to get downfield. Clady will help keep him upright. I really like his size, strength and maneuverability. He moves his feet well, is balanced and gets back to the intersection point. He's a natural left tackle because of his speed and length. Matt Kalil is in Clady's class, but he doesn't have the same strength just yet. I believe you need a top-notch center in constructing a championship contender, but there isn't a young one out there that I'd hang my hat on. With these six players serving as the cornerstones of my offense, I'd probably wait a year and target a center in the next draft.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Suh
Ndamukong Suh, DT, Detroit Lions
Tony Dungy always used to say that defensive tackles have the biggest impact of any player on the defense because they're closest to the ball. Suh will certainly provide a big impact. He will be hard to run against, and he's also good at creating pressure up the middle. I love his motor and how hard he plays. That's not always the case with big guys. And I'm not concerned with his past penalty issues.He's still a young player, is an intimidating presence on the football field, and he will let you know he's out there.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Watt
J.J. Watt, DE, Houston Texans
Watt is so valuable not only because of his talent, but because of his position. Watt can play end or tackle, but he'll play tackle in our nickel package and be a sensational every-down player. The pressure he generates on the interior of the pocket forces the quarterback to move and prevents him from stepping up into his throws. Watt's ability to get separation from linemen and bat down passes is just a bonus.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ansah
Ezekiel Ansah, DE, Detroit Lions
Surprised? I think Ansah is going to be ready for NFL stardom sooner than people think. His build and athleticism make him such a unique player and give him the tools he will need to dominate. He can play either as a 7- or a 9-technique, and he's big enough to just run you over. Once he's able to learn the game a little more and apply some of those lessons, look out. With Watt and Suh driving on the interior, Ansah will provide the pressure off the edge. I was tempted to pick Von Miller here, but his off-field issues give me pause. I'm concerned about his recent suspension.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Matthews
Clay Matthews, OLB, Green Bay Packers
Detecting a theme yet? We are going to get after the quarterback and give him zero time to operate. More on this a little later. Matthews will give us 5-6 seasons of elite production as an edge rusher. Some believed he declined after just six sacks in 2011, but I saw that as a misdiagnosis, and his 13 sacks in 12 games proved it last season. He's really had little help on that defense and no one to take the pressure off him and see fewer double-teams.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kuechly
Luke Kuechly, MLB, Carolina Panthers
I believe that Kuechly is already the best middle linebacker in the NFL, and I want him on my roster even if people feel this is an easier position to fill. He can play weakside linebacker in the 3-4 and weakside or middle in a 4-3, so he's versatile. More importantly, though, he is smart, resourceful and the best see-and-diagnose linebacker in football. He can run exceptionally well, has great hands and everyone looks up to him in the locker room. What more could you want in a foundational player? He's also still just 22.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revis
Darrelle Revis, CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
I'm taking a risk here -- and breaking my rule -- by taking Revis. I'm assuming that smarts, savvy, toughness and instincts are going to make up for any lost steps from what was a serious injury. Even if he's not what he was before, he's still a pretty darn good corner. If I'm going to take a chance, I'll take it on him. When healthy, he can play in any type of coverage scheme -- man, press, off coverage -- and he's still young enough (28) that we could get five or six good seasons out of him. There are other talented corners out there, but none of them can do what Revis can do. Charles Tillman is coming to the end of his career, and he's really more of a Cover 2 guy, while Joe Haden hasn't shown me quite enough yet. Richard Sherman can play bump-and-run press coverage but isn't quite fast enough to play the multiple-style defense we're aiming for. Patrick Peterson is a candidate -- and he'd give us the benefit of being a great return man -- but I still kept coming back to Revis.
As you can see, the focus is going to be on the pass rush rather than the secondary. If you look at some of the truly historic teams, they were built around great front rushers. The Fearsome Foursome, the Purple People Eaters, the Steel Curtain, the Patriots from 2001 to 2003 with Willie McGinest, Mike Vrabel and Richard Seymour. Third down is where the game is decided, and if you're going to win, you need great inside rushers and great outside rushers to limit the quarterback's time on that all-important down. This roster certainly has them.
My 12 foundational NFL playersInsider's GM picks the players he would start an NFL franchise withUpdated: August 27, 2013, 8:55 AM ETBy Bill Polian | ESPN Insider Recommend39Tweet0Comments18EmailPrint
US Presswire
Andrew Luck and Luke Kuechly are both terrific young players for the Colts and Panthers, respectively.
Twelve blue-chip players. When we'd do research as a front office and try to determine what level of talent you needed to build a true Super Bowl contender, we'd end up at that number. There can be a debate about what a "blue chip" talent looks like, but to me, there's no debate about how much of it you need. And if you had the ability to pick any 12 current players to build the ultimate NFL roster, a team built to win for a while, which players would you choose? That's precisely what I've done below, identifying the 12 players I believe would provide the strongest foundation for both immediate and future success.
In a month dedicated to fantasy football drafts, you could consider this a "fantasy" draft for a real NFL GM.
In making these evaluations, I didn't simply select the best players in the NFL today. I wanted players who have much of their careers ahead of them so we could maximize the production we receive from them over the long term. To that end, I avoided players over age 26 in most cases, simply because we want to enjoy the most productive seasons of their careers. I also avoided players with any significant injury issues. If you're going to rely on a player to be a pillar of your organization, he needs to be available to carry the load.
As you'll see from these personnel decisions, I crafted this roster with the intent of building:
1. Dynamic offense that create matchup problems
2. Scheme-versatile defense that can be mobilized in an array of different packages.
Looking at these dozen selections -- six on offense and six on defense -- our coaching staff is going to have a lot of options.
With only 12 players, I obviously don't have enough to make a full lineup, so you'll get a sense of how much I value not only these players, but also the positions they fill. Of course, there's no disputing that the most important of all these roles is the quarterback, and that is the first slot filled.
Luck
Andrew Luck, QB, Indianapolis Colts
I could have gone with Robert Griffin III here -- during their draft season, I actually had them graded the same -- but the injury history is enough of a red flag that I leaned to Luck. When all is said and done, RG III might be the single greatest mobile quarterback we've ever seen in the NFL. But the history of the league suggests that Griffin's career, or ability to utilize his running skills, could be shorter. So you're left with a quandary: Do you want a guy who will likely give you 10 good seasons working under center, or do you want an electrifying performer who can be dazzling but -- based on the odds -- will likely have a shorter career? Picking between these two talented quarterbacks was one of the hardest decisions I had to make for this roster. On this team, I'm playing the percentages, though, and we will get all we need from Luck. The numbers he put up as a rookie -- 4,374 yards and 23 TDs on a 54.1 percent completion rate -- are only going to improve.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Martin
Doug Martin, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
With an eye towards future success, I couldn't pick Adrian Peterson here. There's too much risk and he's already had a lot of carries. Even though he's a little bit older (26), part of me wanted to pick Ray Rice. He just provides so much to the Ravens offense with a versatile skill set out of the backfield. In the end, I settled on Martin (just ahead of C.J. Spiller). Like Rice, Martin is capable of carrying the heavy workload of a featured back and doesn't need to come off the field on passing downs since he's an effective pass-catcher and decent blocker. I leaned toward Martin over Spiller because Martin's got a little bit bigger frame at 215 pounds, so he might be more durable.
Some might be surprised I included a running back at all, but consider the truly great Super Bowl teams -- the Steelers, the Niners, the Cowboys, the Bills -- and you'll almost always see a successful running game led by a featured back. To be successful in the NFL, even today, I believe you need a running back who can carry a heavy load and provide versatility. We'll have one with Martin. And his best seasons are still ahead of him.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Johnson
Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit Lions
It's not hard to make this choice, even though it required an exception to my age-26 rule. But at 27, Johnson is the best receiver in the game, and his size and speed make him a nearly impossible assignment to contain. He's topped 1,600 yards each of the past two seasons despite defenses knowing exactly where the Lions want to go with the ball when Matthew Stafford drops back. That's a testament to just how effective a receiver Johnson is. And he'll improve matchups better for my other receivers.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jones
Julio Jones, WR, Atlanta Falcons
Megatron is a potent weapon, but adding a second dynamic receiver like Jones will prevent defenses from committing too much help to one target. Jones is a terrific deep threat, and I like his frame -- 6-foot-3, 220 pounds -- which gives him the edge in my mind over A.J. Green, another excellent young receiver. With Jones and Johnson, we'll be able to take the top off any defense.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Graham
Jimmy Graham, TE, New Orleans Saints
Graham is one of the toughest covers in the NFL. His size (6-foot-7) and leaping ability make him a terrific target in the red zone and a nightmare for defensive backs. And there aren't many linebackers who are going to have any success keeping up with him.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clady
Ryan Clady, OT, Denver Broncos
With all of these terrific options in the passing game, we're going to need to buy Luck some time to work through his progressions and his targets to get downfield. Clady will help keep him upright. I really like his size, strength and maneuverability. He moves his feet well, is balanced and gets back to the intersection point. He's a natural left tackle because of his speed and length. Matt Kalil is in Clady's class, but he doesn't have the same strength just yet. I believe you need a top-notch center in constructing a championship contender, but there isn't a young one out there that I'd hang my hat on. With these six players serving as the cornerstones of my offense, I'd probably wait a year and target a center in the next draft.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Suh
Ndamukong Suh, DT, Detroit Lions
Tony Dungy always used to say that defensive tackles have the biggest impact of any player on the defense because they're closest to the ball. Suh will certainly provide a big impact. He will be hard to run against, and he's also good at creating pressure up the middle. I love his motor and how hard he plays. That's not always the case with big guys. And I'm not concerned with his past penalty issues.He's still a young player, is an intimidating presence on the football field, and he will let you know he's out there.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Watt
J.J. Watt, DE, Houston Texans
Watt is so valuable not only because of his talent, but because of his position. Watt can play end or tackle, but he'll play tackle in our nickel package and be a sensational every-down player. The pressure he generates on the interior of the pocket forces the quarterback to move and prevents him from stepping up into his throws. Watt's ability to get separation from linemen and bat down passes is just a bonus.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ansah
Ezekiel Ansah, DE, Detroit Lions
Surprised? I think Ansah is going to be ready for NFL stardom sooner than people think. His build and athleticism make him such a unique player and give him the tools he will need to dominate. He can play either as a 7- or a 9-technique, and he's big enough to just run you over. Once he's able to learn the game a little more and apply some of those lessons, look out. With Watt and Suh driving on the interior, Ansah will provide the pressure off the edge. I was tempted to pick Von Miller here, but his off-field issues give me pause. I'm concerned about his recent suspension.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Matthews
Clay Matthews, OLB, Green Bay Packers
Detecting a theme yet? We are going to get after the quarterback and give him zero time to operate. More on this a little later. Matthews will give us 5-6 seasons of elite production as an edge rusher. Some believed he declined after just six sacks in 2011, but I saw that as a misdiagnosis, and his 13 sacks in 12 games proved it last season. He's really had little help on that defense and no one to take the pressure off him and see fewer double-teams.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kuechly
Luke Kuechly, MLB, Carolina Panthers
I believe that Kuechly is already the best middle linebacker in the NFL, and I want him on my roster even if people feel this is an easier position to fill. He can play weakside linebacker in the 3-4 and weakside or middle in a 4-3, so he's versatile. More importantly, though, he is smart, resourceful and the best see-and-diagnose linebacker in football. He can run exceptionally well, has great hands and everyone looks up to him in the locker room. What more could you want in a foundational player? He's also still just 22.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revis
Darrelle Revis, CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
I'm taking a risk here -- and breaking my rule -- by taking Revis. I'm assuming that smarts, savvy, toughness and instincts are going to make up for any lost steps from what was a serious injury. Even if he's not what he was before, he's still a pretty darn good corner. If I'm going to take a chance, I'll take it on him. When healthy, he can play in any type of coverage scheme -- man, press, off coverage -- and he's still young enough (28) that we could get five or six good seasons out of him. There are other talented corners out there, but none of them can do what Revis can do. Charles Tillman is coming to the end of his career, and he's really more of a Cover 2 guy, while Joe Haden hasn't shown me quite enough yet. Richard Sherman can play bump-and-run press coverage but isn't quite fast enough to play the multiple-style defense we're aiming for. Patrick Peterson is a candidate -- and he'd give us the benefit of being a great return man -- but I still kept coming back to Revis.
As you can see, the focus is going to be on the pass rush rather than the secondary. If you look at some of the truly historic teams, they were built around great front rushers. The Fearsome Foursome, the Purple People Eaters, the Steel Curtain, the Patriots from 2001 to 2003 with Willie McGinest, Mike Vrabel and Richard Seymour. Third down is where the game is decided, and if you're going to win, you need great inside rushers and great outside rushers to limit the quarterback's time on that all-important down. This roster certainly has them.
