Every Sunday big plays change games. Whether its Chris Johnson going off for another 69 yd TD run or a CT&TBG favorite DeSean Jackson for a 64 yd TD catch. With the impressive immediate impact of these players as well as the new QB triumvirate of Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco and Mark Sanchez, the NFL is chock full of young talent. It is in this theme I pick my 3rd year and younger all-NFL team.
QB- Joe Flacco, Baltimore- While Flacco didn't put up the numbers Ryan did as a rookie last year, he did become the first rookie QB in NFL history to win 2 playoff games. Flacco is going off this year for 6 TD and 839 yds with a 101.4 rating. Flacco is also more of a runner than Ryan, outrushing him last year 180-104. While Ryan may put up the better numbers over his career, Flacco will finish with more rings.
RB- Adrian Peterson, Minnesota and Chris Johnson, Tennesse- It's all about the two back attack in the NFL now and can you beat this combination? All Day Peterson is the unanimous pick for best RB in the NFL nowadays and the East Carolina product Johnson ran for 1228 yds last year and is averaging a ridiculous 6.6 ypc this year. While it may not be a traditional Lightning and Thunder combination, I would call this backfield Blaster and Faster.
FB- Quinn Johnson, Green Bay- Yes, I would use this fast disappearing position in my offense and Johnson would be a valuable factor. A fifth round pick out of LSU this year, Johnson carries his 255 lbs. well on his 6'1 frame. Anyone who says a FB doesn't matter in an offense needs to look up Lorenzo Neal and who he blocked for. (See Warrick Dunn, Eddie George, Corey Dillon and LaDainian Tomlinson all of whom ran for 1000 yds behind him.)
WR- Calvin Johnson, Detroit, DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia, Davone Bess, Miami- Calvin Johnson is already one of the best WRs in the game today, leading the league in TD catches last year. At 6'5 236 he has the size and ability to become a Randy Moss type force. Jackson is a big play threat and is starting to come into his own after last weeks 6 catch, 149 1 TD day. Finally Davone Bess would be the Wes Welker of this team. (Yes, I did just break the unwritten rule of comparing a white athlete to a black athlete! Get used to it here on CT&TBG) A catch machine his 3 years in Hawaii, he finished with 293 catches for 41 TDs. A great underneath route runner, he'd be Flacco's safety blanket.
TE- Greg Olsen, Chicago- A big, athletic tight end with solid hands he can block better than Dustin Keller.
Tackle- Jake Long, Miami and Joe Thomas, Cleveland- Two studs who would open holes for Peterson and Johnson all day and keep Flacco upright. The only question is who would play the more profitable position of left tackle?
Guard- Ben Grubbs, Baltimore and Davin Joseph, Tampa Bay- These guys are top ten guards on Scout's Inc. list of best guards. Gotta trust the insiders on a position like this.
Center- Ryan Kalil, Carolina- The USC grad learned how to win in college and fronted a solid ground game last year.
Defensive Ends- Chris Long, St. Louis and Glenn Dorsey, Kansas- We're running a 3-4 defense so we are going to need some guys who can control some O-lineman and worry about sacks later. Both men were stars in college and look ready to have solid sophomore seasons.
Nose Tackle- Sedrick Ellis, New Orleans- The most important position in the 3-4 scheme, Ellis has the size to demand a double team every down. Possibly a better college defensive tackle than media favorite Doresey, Ellis dominated at USC and will continue to do so in the pros.
Outside Linebackers- Aaron Curry, Seattle and Clay Matthews, Green Bay- The Wake Forest product, Curry was the highest draft OLB of the past 3 years for a reason. 4.52 speed in the 40 doesn't come along often in a 254 lb. body. He got his first sack and forced fumble last week. Expect many more. Matthews, another USC product on the list, was drafted by the Packers this year specifically for his ability to fit in a 3-4 D.
Middle Linebackers- Patrick Willis, San Francisco and Rey Maualuga, Cincinnati- Willis is Pacman on the field, gobbling up ball carriers at an amazing rate: 344 tackles in 35 career games. Maualuga, the most intimidating player in college last year, has transitioned well into the NFL as a part of the new and improved with 17 tackles a sack and 2 forced fumbles in his first three NFL games.
Corner backs- Darrelle Revis, Jets, Dominique Rodgers-Cromarite and Antoine Cason, San Diego- Revis shut down Randy Moss in Week 2. Not many people can ever say they did that. DRC picked off 4 passes last year made a name for himself with solid playoff performances. Antoine Cason, besides having a profoundly dulcet name, he was a TBG fav in Arizona and already matched his season total of 2 INTs in his rookie year in three games this season. His 74 tackles last year also shows a willingness to come up in run support.
Safety- Craig Steltz, Chicago and Michael Griffin, Tennessee- Steltz may not start for the Bears, yet, but won TBG's heart with clutch, hard-hitting play in college at LSU. He would lay down the law in my secondary. With 10 career INTs already in 35 games, Griffin is a dangerous ball hawk and would compliment Steltz well.
Punter- Daniel Sepulveda, Pittsburgh- A 45.6 yd average on his punts this year is solid.
Kicker- Dan Carpenter, Miami- Any guy who went to college in Montana is good with me!
Disagree? Can't believe I left your guy out? Let me know! Comment below!
TBG
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There's only one position I disaree with and that would be running back. While I tend to aree with you on Adrian Peterson I feel like Chris Johnson might not be the second running back. Felix Jones proves on a week to week basis that he will undoubtedly be the premiere back in Dallas for years to come. Once the Cowboys are ready to let him step up and become the number one back he will be up there with the greats of today like Adrian. Although Marion Barber is a great back I think they need to give him one more year at premiere back, then hand it off to Felix and make Marion the secondary back. As much as I hate to see the Cowboys become a finesse running team I think it will be best for them. For now though I'm going to watch the Cowboys tear it up and run some people over. That's real. Beer out
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