Post by duckberg on Nov 30, 2011 12:48:16 GMT -5
The Weekly Duck: A Look at the St. Peter Griffins
The UFSL is a new football league breaking open this year and there are four teams determined to take home the first trophy. General Managers were chosen who have a large background in football and fans are excited for the season to get underway. This week, our head writer, Nicholas Hughes, will take an in depth look at the team out of St. Peter Minnesota, the Griffins. more on page 7
7
The St. Peter Griffins are a team that has a lot of upside. If they want to have any hope of being a driving force in the league they must find a way to turn that upside, into pure talent. They stayed balanced early in the draft, picking up a defensive player in round 1 and an offensive player in round 2.
Each team was allowed to take one player before the draft began and the Griffins decided to acquire middle linebacker French Toast. He has a history with GM Tommy Hoang and looks to be the driving force on the Griffins defense.
Pro: Toast is a really smart player. He seems to just understand the game as a whole and rarely makes mistakes.
Con: Toast won't be winning any weight lifting contests with his strength. He needs to hope his defensive line can keep the opposing offensive line in check for him to be effective.
A well-known player with a history of success, Jones was the second of the “Big Three” players that the league had to offer when it opened its doors this Fall. As the second pick in the draft, Jones brings talent, leadership, and a great work ethic into the Griffins locker room right off the bat. With help from middle linebacker French Toast, the Griffins should have a pretty sturdy defense to start with.
Pro: High speed, able to hit top speed fairly quickly.
Con: Ability to cause turnovers are limited due to low catching and agility.
Known more for his past than what he has done recently, Syrup came into the league as a full back; looking to get his feet wet and slowly move back into the game. After extensive talks with Tommy Hoang though, he decided to push himself hard and decided he was ready enough to play at the running back position, becoming the main rusher for the Griffins offense.
Pro: One of the biggest players in the league, able to overpower smaller defenders.
Con: Lack of top speed hinders his ability to make a big play.
Boom came into the league listed as a pure athlete, and he isn’t lying when he says that. His pure speed and general football awareness could allow him to play any position on the field, and the Griffins have decided to line him up at outside linebacker. Boom will be a big part of the pass rush for the Griffins and one would think he may tally up quite a few sacks in the league’s first season since none of the linemen have ever played with one another before.
Pro: High speed allows him to get to the quarterback quickly and effectively.
Con: Low strength means bull rushing linemen is rarely an option.
Even though the Griffins already had a back for rushing, they picked up Kennard because he was also a great receiver in college. They believe they can line him up at wide receiver and he will be a catalyst and a play maker for their offense. Kennard has great speed that allows him to sometimes get behind the defense and set up for a big play.
Pro: High speed allows Kennard to be a big play maker for any offense.
Con: Shotty catching ability means that he is going to drop a lot of passes headed his way.
Forbes is seen as the dark horse in this quarterbacking class. He will either be a big player or a monumental bust. The Griffins see him as a great leader and someone who can work the team down the field without making mistakes.
Pro: His ability to throw the ball has never been a question. He has great fundamentals and won’t throw too many errant passes
Con: His ability to sense the pocket collapsing. He may take a lot of sacks early in his career if he cannot fix that.
Lynch is another athlete the Griffins grabbed to build on their versatility. Lynch has great speed and was always known as a speed demon in college. The question is whether he still has enough speed to keep up with receivers now that he is I the pros. Yes, the Griffins are playing Lynch at cornerback next to Darrell Jones and hope that those two can be a dynamic duo.
Pro: Great speed should allow him to keep up with the leagues number 2 receivers
Con: Does not have much agility, leading him to be out of position sometimes.
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There is a lot of potential talent for this young Griffins team. GM Tommy Hoang hopes that the talent comes out sooner than later. He is not one to hold much patience for success. He wants a trophy in year one and he believes his team is good enough to win it.
The UFSL is a new football league breaking open this year and there are four teams determined to take home the first trophy. General Managers were chosen who have a large background in football and fans are excited for the season to get underway. This week, our head writer, Nicholas Hughes, will take an in depth look at the team out of St. Peter Minnesota, the Griffins. more on page 7
7
The St. Peter Griffins are a team that has a lot of upside. If they want to have any hope of being a driving force in the league they must find a way to turn that upside, into pure talent. They stayed balanced early in the draft, picking up a defensive player in round 1 and an offensive player in round 2.
Pre-Draft Signing: French Toast
Will the Griffin's pre-draft signing be a boom or bust?
They hope for a big BOOM
[/size]Will the Griffin's pre-draft signing be a boom or bust?
They hope for a big BOOM
Each team was allowed to take one player before the draft began and the Griffins decided to acquire middle linebacker French Toast. He has a history with GM Tommy Hoang and looks to be the driving force on the Griffins defense.
Pro: Toast is a really smart player. He seems to just understand the game as a whole and rarely makes mistakes.
Con: Toast won't be winning any weight lifting contests with his strength. He needs to hope his defensive line can keep the opposing offensive line in check for him to be effective.
Round 1: CB Darrell Jones Round 1, Pick 2
Jones will be a key player for the Griffins.
You would always hope a first round pick would be.
[/i][/size]Jones will be a key player for the Griffins.
You would always hope a first round pick would be.
A well-known player with a history of success, Jones was the second of the “Big Three” players that the league had to offer when it opened its doors this Fall. As the second pick in the draft, Jones brings talent, leadership, and a great work ethic into the Griffins locker room right off the bat. With help from middle linebacker French Toast, the Griffins should have a pretty sturdy defense to start with.
Pro: High speed, able to hit top speed fairly quickly.
Con: Ability to cause turnovers are limited due to low catching and agility.
Round 2: RB/FB Maple Syrup Round 1, Pick 3
Will Syrup be able to power through players
like he is used to?
Will Syrup be able to power through players
like he is used to?
Known more for his past than what he has done recently, Syrup came into the league as a full back; looking to get his feet wet and slowly move back into the game. After extensive talks with Tommy Hoang though, he decided to push himself hard and decided he was ready enough to play at the running back position, becoming the main rusher for the Griffins offense.
Pro: One of the biggest players in the league, able to overpower smaller defenders.
Con: Lack of top speed hinders his ability to make a big play.
Round 3: OLB J.D. Boom Round 3, Pick 2
If Boom gets to the quarterback often, expect mistakes to be made.
If Boom gets to the quarterback often, expect mistakes to be made.
Boom came into the league listed as a pure athlete, and he isn’t lying when he says that. His pure speed and general football awareness could allow him to play any position on the field, and the Griffins have decided to line him up at outside linebacker. Boom will be a big part of the pass rush for the Griffins and one would think he may tally up quite a few sacks in the league’s first season since none of the linemen have ever played with one another before.
Pro: High speed allows him to get to the quarterback quickly and effectively.
Con: Low strength means bull rushing linemen is rarely an option.
Round 4: WR Marcus Kennard Round 4, Pick 3
If anyone can keep a fire lit on the team,
Kennard will be the man.
If anyone can keep a fire lit on the team,
Kennard will be the man.
Even though the Griffins already had a back for rushing, they picked up Kennard because he was also a great receiver in college. They believe they can line him up at wide receiver and he will be a catalyst and a play maker for their offense. Kennard has great speed that allows him to sometimes get behind the defense and set up for a big play.
Pro: High speed allows Kennard to be a big play maker for any offense.
Con: Shotty catching ability means that he is going to drop a lot of passes headed his way.
Round 5: QB Lawson Forbes Round 5, Pick 2
The Griffins hope that Forbes can be a smart play caller
for years to come
The Griffins hope that Forbes can be a smart play caller
for years to come
Forbes is seen as the dark horse in this quarterbacking class. He will either be a big player or a monumental bust. The Griffins see him as a great leader and someone who can work the team down the field without making mistakes.
Pro: His ability to throw the ball has never been a question. He has great fundamentals and won’t throw too many errant passes
Con: His ability to sense the pocket collapsing. He may take a lot of sacks early in his career if he cannot fix that.
Round 6: CB Brady Lynch Round 6, Pick 3
Lynch will have to improve along with
his team to keep their defense strong.
[/size][/center]Lynch will have to improve along with
his team to keep their defense strong.
Lynch is another athlete the Griffins grabbed to build on their versatility. Lynch has great speed and was always known as a speed demon in college. The question is whether he still has enough speed to keep up with receivers now that he is I the pros. Yes, the Griffins are playing Lynch at cornerback next to Darrell Jones and hope that those two can be a dynamic duo.
Pro: Great speed should allow him to keep up with the leagues number 2 receivers
Con: Does not have much agility, leading him to be out of position sometimes.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There is a lot of potential talent for this young Griffins team. GM Tommy Hoang hopes that the talent comes out sooner than later. He is not one to hold much patience for success. He wants a trophy in year one and he believes his team is good enough to win it.
