CNFLE II Draft Review - Part 3 - Division 3

And then there was this motley crew......rock on!!!

Following on from Parts 1&2 issued to great acclaim last week, award winning CNFLE II reporters Carl Woodward and Bob Bernstein continue their post draft review by taking a close up look at the draft results of the four remaining teams that completes the deadly dozen, and asks ‘can any of these teams really muster the necessary fire power to mount a challenge for the big prize’

The odds provided by assorted friendly CNFLE bookmakers would suggest it may prove difficult for the participants of Division 3, as this is surely the Division of the underdog.

Having received the details of their allocated draft position, the four Coaches adjourned to the bar, bonded by telling tales about their playing careers and daring do in the face of untold peril as they sat patiently awaiting their turn.

Relaxed to the point of being horizontal, the division 3 Coaches saw the two big guns go at the top of the draft, and then watched as picks 3 & 4 served to open up the draft to those picking later. (Refer to Parts 1 & 2 for details.)

Pick 5 was then on the clock, the first Division 3 pick. 90 seconds were allowed to make the choice, Coach Laurent nonchalantly surveyed the auditorium, took a sip of the vintage Chateau Neuf du Pape perched elegantly upon the porte manteaux, waited till the seconds counted down 7, 6, 5... and then exclaimed ‘Avec choisir numero cinque, French leader choisir Aaron Rodgers’. The first quarterback of the draft was selected, and it was the new King of the Wild Frontier. Laurent would be cheering every Lambeau Leap from here on in.

Brees was then selected by the Commish at 6, which meant that a whole heap of elite running backs were still available. That list was soon reduced however when MJD went at 7 and Ray Rice was grabbed at number 8.
But, when the clock turned over to the ninth pick, Coach Martin and his Seventy Niner FC draft crew had some serious thinking to do. And think he did, and think again, and think some more until he decided that a pint of Indian Pale Ale was just the job, and after a couple of purposeful swigs, he determined that he was to make Peyton Manning the 3rdsignal caller taken in the first round. So much for getting value for the QB later in the draft, was there to be a run on the Field general position?

As it happened no, well not in the first round anyway. Bear Bryant’s Baptists then took Mendenhall at the 10thspot, which then opened up picks 11 and 12 for the remaining two Division 3 teams, Fear Factory and The Hairy Frog Disco. Coach Botond cracked the lid off his second bottle of vodka and licked his lips. ‘Nostrovia’ he saluted before issuing the order to select Randy Moss as the figurehead of the Fear Factory. The lights went out, the dry ice filled the auditorium and Coach Botond rocked out.

And so to the final pick of the 2010 CNFLE II first round, and the honour fell to Coach Calum and his Hairy Frogs. Losing finalists last year after picking first, the final pick was perhaps an appropriate destiny this year. A certain amount of apprehension pervaded the Disco draft crew, they knew that they were at the mercy of the drafting gods and the idiosyncrasies of the 11 coaches that picked before. Imagine the surprise when Michael Turner just kept on slipping to the twelve spot and into the pulsing glow of the feverish Disco lights. Coach Calum subsequently confessed that he had Turner slated at seven on his draft list so popped the cork on a jeraboam of Veuve Cliquot to celebrate such unusually good fortune.

Just for the record, the QB run continued with the next pick as the Disco, fearing that like Old Mother Hubbard, the cupboard would be bare when they got there, and then the poor Frogs they got bums, picked American hero Tom Brady with pick 13.

The atmosphere in the party division grew more raucous once the first picks were locked in. The music grew louder, and the strains of the karaoke could be heard across the auditorium much to the chagrin of the Commissioner, could the four coaches pull together a team that would challenge the best the CNFLE could offer, or would the post draft hangover carry over into the regular season.

French Leader – Pick 5
Projected Points (from starting lineup) – 1642
Verdict : Grade B-

Rodgers will lead this team by example, if not French Leader will follow a familiar tale of woe and despair. The fantasy jury is out on Williams after last year, and McCoy is as yet unproven over the course of a whole season. Boldin is the headline act in the receiving trio in his new Baltimore colours, but whether Maclin and Britt can add sufficient points to secure regular victories remains to be seen. Cooley will benefit from having McNabb throwing the ball his way and the Ravens D is always a sure thing for regular points. Too many questions remain for French Leader to be considered a title favourite, but they are the best bet to make it out of this weak division.

Seventy Niners FC – Pick 9
Projected Points – 1580
Verdict : C-

Is the name representative of the expected weekly score? For Coach Martins sake we hope not. Manning will post big numbers as usual, but Fitzgerald’s production will suffer as a result of the QB chaos in Arizona, at least the Cards aren't stucking with Leinhart. The RB’s are both serviceable, but Thomas will struggle in a committee situation in a pass first offense, and Best is a rookie, albeit a talented one, who will be tailback for a team too often chasing a game. Garcon is an interesting selection, and could be a candidate for sleeper of the year if Peyton decides to keep him high in his pass option rotation. Cribbs makes up the receiving corps,  who on the upside is a flex player that could legitimately grab 500 yards on the ground this year to match the 500 he will claim as a receiver in Cleveland. Miller is Coach Martin’s homage to his beloved Raiders and is the only Raider with any value. The Vikes are a premium D, and will score heavily all season. A lot of work remains to be done if the Niners are to make it to the off season. But with Manning at the helm, anything is possible.

Fear Factory – Pick 11
Projected Points - 1625
Verdict : Grade C+

Can Brett deliver for another year? If the answer is in the affirmative the Coach Botond could well be living it up in the playoffs. If no, then it’s back to the drawing board. Much is expected of Moreno and Matthews, but both have question marks, not so much about the talent, but about production and durability in what is effectively the first season as an NFL starter for both. The Moss Bros. suit Botond’s team philosophy, but can Randy justify his Coach’s lofty opinion as 1stround selection. Steve Smith (no, the New York one!) completes the pass catching trio. As Eli’s favourite target last year he was a big hit as one of the sleepers of last year, however he will attract double team coverage this year and the opposing D’s have had an extra year to scheme against him. Owen Daniels is back from serious injury, but was on course for a career year until disaster struck, good things are expected. The Saints ball hawking D will provide turnovers a plenty. There is much for Coach Botond to look forward to, and much for Coach Botond to fear.

The Hairy Frog Disco – Pick 12
Projected Points from starting lineup – 1611
Verdict : Grade C

Can Turner return to 2008 form? Can Brady return to 2007 numbers? Optimistic perhaps, but the production of these two players will define the season for the Disco. Beanie Wells should see more action in a Cards offensive that will be reigned post Warner, but will lose goal line work to Hightower. The receiving corps is dependable at best. Ochocinco will benefit from having a legitimate target on the opposite side. Driver will catch 60+ balls from pass crazy Rodgers, and Hakeem Nicks will be the big play threat with single coverage in NY. Celek will provide Kolb with a red zone target and the Steelers will terrorize the Browns twice again this year. It is a steady group of players that will produce a regular 90 points a week. But will it be enough. Probably not.

The Coaches of Division 3 decided that the way to go was take the elite QB, (3 of top 4 selected) serviceable running backs, steady wide receivers and punishing defences. This Division will be as tight as a badgers proverbial, and will rest on the division matchups as it is unlikely that much change will be had from picking the pockets of the other divisions. It could be a long season for some. Enough, perhaps to drive a Coach to drink!

And that wraps up the review for the 2010 CNFLE II draft. Waiver transactions have already begun and the starting line ups will almost certainly differ from those contained within the previous reviews, but, hey, thats part of the remit for the modern day fantasy coach.

If you still have a problem with any of the reviews, then you perhaps should have said something instead of chuntering under your breath.

If you choose to stand still the season may just pass you by.

Good luck to all those Coaches who are brave enough to sail in her!!


Coming this Thursday, look out for the pre season predictions and the week 1 matchups.

BB & CW

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