2016 Draft a Franchise: Division 1 Voting

[Mt. Crushmore]

Who has the best team in division 1 for the upcoming season and who would have the best team in 3 years time?

The candidates are:

@Jaybirds Roster

@Mt. Crushmore Roster

@Italian Raven Roster

@harfordravenfan Roster

You can also find the rosters here, on the Google Spreadsheet.

Please only take into effect selections made in the 26 rounds, do not factor in the continuation. 

Use this thread to discuss your thoughts on the teams and the vote.

[Mt. Crushmore]

Obviously I'm biased, but I think I have the best team in this division right now. 

Coaching Staff: Bill Belichick is the best HC in football right now and it isn't close. 

Offense: Tom Brady is suspended 4 games, but he is still one of the best QBs in the game and Paxton Lynch provides a QB for the future. Jamaal Charles and Danny Woodhead provide a good 1-2 punch that fit the NE offensive scheme and are playmakers. Martellus Bennett and Dwayne Allen provide a talented 2 TE set and can both block and give Brady another good TE group. Julian Edelman is Brady's favorite WR and the perfect scheme fit while Kamar Aiken quietly had a good season and is in line for another one. The OL of Joe Thomas, Joel Bitonio, Matt Paradis, Brandon Linder, Bryan Bulaga is probably at least top 3 in the game.

Defense: At DE Michael Bennett is and elite pass rusher and run defender while Junior Galette is a high-level pass rusher and Devin Taylor had 7 sacks playing 50% of the Lions snaps and provides insurance for Galette and will play a lot when Bennett kicks inside. DT Jurrell Casey is a borderline elite player who excels vs the run and pass and Steve McLendon is a good run-stuffing NT, which is all I need. Only 2 LBs as I chose a 5th DB over a 3rd LB, but DeAndre Levy is one of the best WILLs in the game and Ben Heeney is a rising player who played well when he took over as a starter last year. At CB, Malcolm Butler has become a top CB, Joe Haden has been a top CB in the past and is still young and Buster Skrine is a solid #3 option and is in a good spot to succeed. At S, neither Eric Reid or Ron Parker are top talents, but both are solid players who are best in coverage and Parker can move all around and even play slot CB.

 

I don't think there is a standout team for the best in 3 years. I honestly could see all 4 of them being the best. 

For my team, I have older players and people in their primes now and not many players still on rookie contracts, but if Paxton Lynch develops well him and Belichick could do a lot of damage and my interior OL are all 3rd or 2nd year players.

[ravensdan]

I like crushs team a lot and I have it as #2 in both categories. Harfords team is lead by John harbaugh who has been bellichicks only real nemesis. Alex smith has shown the ability at times to do more than he does with kc right now so I think he can raise his level of play. Elliot behind a good looking Oline should carry the team. 

[harfordravenfan]

1 hour ago, ravensdan said:

I like crushs team a lot and I have it as #2 in both categories. Harfords team is lead by John harbaugh who has been bellichicks only real nemesis. Alex smith has shown the ability at times to do more than he does with kc right now so I think he can raise his level of play. Elliot behind a good looking Oline should carry the team. 

Appreciate the thumbs up, I went crush now, me later as I tried to build a team for the future that could still compete now.

[Mt. Crushmore]

1 minute ago, harfordravenfan said:

Appreciate the thumbs up, I went crush now, me later as I tried to build a team for the future that could still compete now.

Once I took Brady in the 1st round I went full win now. Fact that I landed Lynch gives my team some hope for the future (as I doubt Brady is still going well then).

[regz1997]

Personally I really like @Italian Raven's team as the best team in three years. The defense is rock solid up front and will be for years to come. The offense is a little shaky but anybody he drafts on the offensive side will be walking into a great situation with a fantastic defense on the other side of the ball. I think his numerous investments in defensive cornerstones will pay dividends.

[Italian Raven]

wow, so we're at it, finally
Sorry for my late absence; I've been busy with my last semester's exams..like some others did on the discussion thread I wanted to thank everybody for having me again this year, especially Crush (who put so much time in the game) and everybody who lent his own picks or made them on someone else's behalf, in order to keep it fast.

This said, this evaluation part is a very interesting initiative (and a very clear, organized spreadsheet).

HC: Bill Belichick (Crush)

I don't think @harfordravenfan and I are particularly far with Harb and Zimmer, but Bill is the best game manager/mind in football. There isn't much to be said. 

OFFENSE: 

• QB: It's pretty much between Cam and Brady/Lynch.. I'd still give the edge to the latter due to the presence of BB. In the short run, despite the suspension and age, that's a crazy good combination. In the long term I'd rather have Cam.   
• Oline: I'd say Crush team's again, with @Jaybirds following.
• Skill positions: that's quite a jump in the dark. I might sound biased but I think that in few years, even with Gates retired and the need for a pass-catching TE, mine is still a young group whose members complete each others very well.
   

overall- I think @Mt. Crushmore has this one.

DEFENSE:

• Dline: mine. Short is not meant to play all of his snaps at 1t and I guess that if I kept playing for a few more rounds I'd have certainly added a NT to rotate in there. He can play a good amount of that, tho (around 60%) and the combination of so many pass-rushers at once is going to be a nightmare for any QB. Crush linemen do mesh well together and aren't too far.
• LBs: I think I maintain the edge again. Davis and B.Williams are great tacklers and both play very solidly in cover situation, whether it's zone (the former) or press-man (the latter). They're also in the mid 20s and team capitains. Floyd will play only between 20-40% of the snaps but providing versatility either rushing the passer or dropping in the zone.
• Secondary: Gillmore and Diggs are perfect for my team and Graham provides great experience and versatility, but I think my lack of depth is weighing in much here. So I'd go with Crush secondary. The latest addition (Skrine) can play both inside and outside and he made the scale speak in favour of Crush. The other secondaries are also balanced (Jaybirds' is very close), but then I remember that there's BB on one side, improving the overall performance, and there's almost no doubt left. 
  
  overall- I like my D the best, always in complete honesty and trying to be as less biased as possible

ST: 

Mine. Possibly the best P in the league (or top 3 at least), who will definitely help my D by having the opponents' O start from uncomfortable situations, and an above average K.
 

TEAM: I think I started to draft with a philosophy and kept it pretty straight, adding some functional players here and there.. like @regz1997 said (thanks for the trust bro :D), my D will put the O in comfortable situation where that functionality may come into play and put up points regardless from the talent on that side.
Overall, the most complete team in the division is Crush's, no doubt, but I think my team can play at high level against any team in the league both now and in few years. 

[Mt. Crushmore]

1 hour ago, Italian Raven said:

wow, so we're at it, finally
Sorry for my late absence; I've been busy with my last semester's exams..like some others did on the discussion thread I wanted to thank everybody for having me again this year, especially Crush (who put so much time in the game) and everybody who lent his own picks or made them on someone else's behalf, in order to keep it fast.

This said, this evaluation part is a very interesting initiative (and a very clear, organized spreadsheet).

HC: Bill Belichick (Crush)

I don't think @harfordravenfan and I are particularly far with Harb and Zimmer, but Bill is the best game manager/mind in football. There isn't much to be said. 

OFFENSE: 

• QB: It's pretty much between Cam and Brady/Lynch.. I'd still give the edge to the latter due to the presence of BB. In the short run, despite the suspension and age, that's a crazy good combination. In the long term I'd rather have Cam.   
• Oline: I'd say Crush team's again, with @Jaybirds following.
• Skill positions: that's quite a jump in the dark. I might sound biased but I think that in few years, even with Gates retired and the need for a pass-catching TE, mine is still a young group whose members complete each others very well.
   

overall- I think @Mt. Crushmore has this one.

DEFENSE:

• Dline: mine. Short is not meant to play all of his snaps at 1t and I guess that if I kept playing for a few more rounds I'd have certainly added a NT to rotate in there. He can play a good amount of that, tho (around 60%) and the combination of so many pass-rushers at once is going to be a nightmare for any QB. Crush linemen do mesh well together and aren't too far.
• LBs: I think I maintain the edge again. Davis and B.Williams are great tacklers and both play very solidly in cover situation, whether it's zone (the former) or press-man (the latter). They're also in the mid 20s and team capitains. Floyd will play only between 20-40% of the snaps but providing versatility either rushing the passer or dropping in the zone.
• Secondary: Gillmore and Diggs are perfect for my team and Graham provides great experience and versatility, but I think my lack of depth is weighing in much here. So I'd go with Crush secondary. The latest addition (Skrine) can play both inside and outside and he made the scale speak in favour of Crush. The other secondaries are also balanced (Jaybirds' is very close), but then I remember that there's BB on one side, improving the overall performance, and there's almost no doubt left. 
  
  overall- I like my D the best, always in complete honesty and trying to be as less biased as possible

ST: 

Mine. Possibly the best P in the league (or top 3 at least), who will definitely help my D by having the opponents' O start from uncomfortable situations, and an above average K.
 

TEAM: I think I started to draft with a philosophy and kept it pretty straight, adding some functional players here and there.. like @regz1997 said (thanks for the trust bro :D), my D will put the O in comfortable situation where that functionality may come into play and put up points regardless from the talent on that side.
Overall, the most complete team in the division is Crush's, no doubt, but I think my team can play at high level against any team in the league both now and in few years. 

Nice breakdown, I agree with most.

One thing that you mentioned about my team that I think is important is units working together well. This is a pretty big thing that I think can get overlooked in this game. 

For your team in a few years, the D is obviously fine, but a 36-year old Jay Cutler doesn't inspire too much confidence IMO.

1 hour ago, Italian Raven said:

wow, so we're at it, finally
Sorry for my late absence; I've been busy with my last semester's exams..like some others did on the discussion thread I wanted to thank everybody for having me again this year, especially Crush (who put so much time in the game) and everybody who lent his own picks or made them on someone else's behalf, in order to keep it fast.

Thanks for playing and being active!

[Italian Raven]

3 hours ago, Mt. Crushmore said:

Nice breakdown, I agree with most.

One thing that you mentioned about my team that I think is important is units working together well. This is a pretty big thing that I think can get overlooked in this game. 

For your team in a few years, the D is obviously fine, but a 36-year old Jay Cutler doesn't inspire too much confidence IMO.

Thanks for playing and being active!

ahah yeah.. I don't know bout Cutler either, I guess my very next picks would've been: NT, slot CB, 2nd QB in no specific order.

Now one of this season's main goals is to see how the rookies we've drafted are going to play and IF they're asked to play the same role we had planned for them.. just can't wait for this preseason to kick off

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

Crush has the best NOW team I've evaluated so far. But, with Brady and Joe Thomas as arguably his best two players... its tough to get by with the WRs without that QB. Takes quite a blow for the future vote, and had to go with Jay there.

Good tight division though. Has gotten my highest average grade for the now teams.

[Mt. Crushmore]

45 minutes ago, BOLDnPurPnBlacK said:

Crush has the best NOW team I've evaluated so far. But, with Brady and Joe Thomas as arguably his best two players... its tough to get by with the WRs without that QB. Takes quite a blow for the future vote, and had to go with Jay there.

Good tight division though. Has gotten my highest average grade for the now teams.

Thanks. Trying to win now was definitely the goal for me.

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

1 hour ago, Mt. Crushmore said:

Thanks. Trying to win now was definitely the goal for me.

I think it almost has to be the primary goal with something like this - since we're selecting from a pool of current players.

No franchise is really behind in a sense, and the SB is wide open and for the taking. I get wanting to have keep an eye to the future as well to open a window longer, but building a team with contending in the future as the primary goal in an exercise like this seems to be off base to me. Why put yourself behind the 8 ball? Plus, building for the future means that at least to some extent you're building with a questionable foundation. Obviously guys like Mack, Luck, Wilson, Odell, etc... are exceptions bc while they obviously give you a great shot at contending in the future - they're definitely still picks for the now.

Anyways, i think winning now has to be the primary goal... but you keep an eye to the future. Like, if I had two players evaluated as equal but ones 26 and the others 32... i take the 26 year old since he should give me equal play now, but a much better chance at being a key piece going forward. If a 33 year old is hands down the best player available, im definitely not taking a worse player just bc im afraid i may have to replace that guy in a year or 2. That guy may help me win the SB in this next year or two, while the other guy may never do anything.

 

So, I care most about winning the now vote... bc honestly... in 3 years lets re-look at the teams and see if the teams winning the 3 year vote hold up. They really may not, so enjoy that trophy from 3 years ago that said you might be the best, while im still polishing my 3 year old ring that said i was the best team right now... 3 years ago.