Issue #37: The Roster Building Game #2
It's time to look at the defense of this state-based roster.
Hello, my name is Colin. Welcome to the 37th issue of The Wood Report, an eclectic smorgasbord of sports “news” and humor.
After an extended break, I am back to bring you more weekly fun. We are in full winter sports swing. The Super Bowl is just a couple weeks away, the NHL and NBA All-Star breaks are ready to mark a shift to the 2nd part of their respective seasons, and the Winter Olympics are already underway in Beijing. We have plenty to cover so let’s not delay my return any longer.
This Week’s Main Story
In the last newsletter I wrote, I constructed an NFL offense based on picking players from different states. Today we continue that fun by taking a look at the defense for this fictional team that will bring everyone across the USA together. As a reminder of the rules:
We are going to be building an NFL team. That will be every starting position on both sides of the ball. 11 offensive players, 11 defensive players, a kicker, and a punter. 24 total players. They have to be active players; this is not an all-time team. The twist: no two players can be born in the same state. If I want to take Patrick Mahomes from Texas, I cannot use Justin Tucker who is also from Texas. This goes for both sides of the ball. Sadly, this exercise excludes any foreign born players (apologies to Younghoe Koo).
These two teams tie together so any state that was used by the offense is off-limits to the defense. That eliminates the following 12 states: Texas, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Ohio, Maryland, California, New Jersey, Minnesota, Indiana, Michigan, and Nebraska.
Defense was a little more tricky because of the amount of choices available in terms of defensive scheme. I had 11 starter positions to fill, but how would my team lineup to best use the talent. I eventually decided to go with a Nickel formation (5 defensive backs on the field) considering teams are using it far more than their “base defense”. I went with 4-2 defense that removes a Linebacker in favor of a slot corner. That left me with the following positions: 2 defensive tackles, 2 edge rushers, 2 linebackers, 3 cornerbacks, and 2 safeties. I will also be naming the punter this week.
Here we go with my Different State Defense.
Defensive Tackle: Aaron Donald - Pittsburgh, PA
What can I write about Aaron Donald that hasn’t been written 200 times before? You know he’s been a 1st Team All-Pro for seven straight seasons. You know he’s won 3 Defensive Player of the Year awards. You know that he came into the league as an undersized tackle and was immediately so dominant he continues to put pressure on an offense even though he is double teamed more often than not. He is in a tier of his own when it comes to defensive players. I am thankful that I can make him the foundation of my team because of his yinzer background. In a world where Donald did not exist, I might have taken Cameron Heyward, also from Pittsburgh, to hold down the interior of my line. But there is no one holding a candle to the impact of Aaron Donald.
Defensive Tackle: DeForest Buckner - Wainanae, HI
Hawaii joins Nebraska on this list as the state with fewest active NFL players born there (16 for each). At 6’7” and 295 lbs., Buckner is a massive run stopper up the middle of the defense. And he still knows how to get after the QB. Since he entered the league in 2016, he ranks 4th in sacks from a defensive tackle (45.0). He is exactly what the Colts hoped he would be when they traded the 13th overall pick for him in 2020. Pairing him with Aaron Donald in the middle of the line causes a ton of disruption for even my own offense. The only possible other Hawaiian player that could have made my team is kicker Kaʻimi Fairbairn, but that really would have only been for his incredible name (John Christian Kaʻiminoeauloamekaʻikeokekumupaʻa "Kaʻimi" Fairbairn).
EDGE: T.J. Watt - Pewaukee, WI
It’s as if this list was just waiting for Wisconsin to put a Watt on the team. The trio of brothers have been putting their stamp on the league for the past decade. While J.J. ruled the first half of the 2010s, it’s now T.J.’s time to shine as the scariest edge rusher in the league. He has led the entire NFL in sacks in both 2020 and 2021, and he tied Michael Strahan’s single season sack record this year with 22.5. He is far and away the favorite to win his first Defensive Player of the Year award, potentially the first of many if he wants to catch up to his brother. He is unstoppable. He had a 4 sack performance in a must win game against Cleveland to keep Pittsburgh in the playoff race. Sure, Wisconsin boasts great talent at other positions like George Kittle or Ryan Ramczyk, but Wisconsin’s true son is T.J. Watt.
EDGE: Cameron Jordan - Chandler, AZ
Cameron Jordan might not be as flashy as T.J. Watt, but he is one of the most reliable edge defenders in the league, and has been for some time. In his 11 year career, all for the Saints, 2021 was the first time he has missed a game for any reason at all. He missed a single game after being placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Even he wasn’t sure what to do.
He’s played 176 games and still is on the field for over 80% of snaps. His durability combined with fantastic sack numbers make him ideal to play opposite Watt. Jordan has reached double digit sacks in 6 different seasons including 12.5 this season. He hasn’t slowed down and doesn’t get injured. He ranks 4th on the active sack list with 107.
Linebacker: Roquan Smith - Montezuma, GA
The inside linebacker spot was difficult for me to figure out. It seemed like every player I wanted here got pushed out for a better player at a different position from that state. Fred Warner and Bobby Wagner both being from California was tough. I also missed out on guys like Lavonte David and Darius Leonard. For a while, I thought I might have to plug in Blake Martinez, who might be the Mendoza Line of linebackers (the Mendoza Linebacker?). But I eventually worked through it to find two above average players to mind the middle of the field. Roquan Smith is the first (and is my pick to wear the headset helmet and run communication for the defense). He’s an exceptional tackler, making 163 combined tackles during 2021 and having just 6 missed tackles. He’s also a star in coverage able to match up with almost any TE or RB leaking out to the middle. The last 2 seasons he’s allowed a passer rating of 76.8 (2021) and 59.6 (2020), along with snagging 5 career interceptions. This pick did come at a price as Georgia has the 4th most active NFL players. Superstars like Tyreek Hill, Darius Slay, and Casey Hayward had to be given up. There’s also the trio of running backs I left off: Alvin Kamara, Nick Chubb, Aaron Jones. But Roquan Smith is an essential part of this defense.
Linebacker: Demario Davis - Collins, MS
Davis is another great linebacker who doesn’t grab a lot of headlines. But he is above average in every aspect of the game with no glaring weakness. He is another stout tackler to pair with Roquan. He is slightly worse in pass coverage, but he is a better rusher and extremely effective on the blitz. Since going to New Orleans 4 seasons ago, he has racked up 16 sacks, 45 tackles for a loss, and 42 QB hits. He has made an All-Pro team each of the last 3 years (one 1st team, two 2nd team). He runs right through blockers instead of trying to go around or put moves on them. It’s all power for Davis. Mississippi was ripe with defenders to roster, with Fletcher Cox and Chris Jones also available, but Demario Davis gave me another great run defender as well as a top notch blitzer.
Cornerback: Jalen Ramsey - Smyrna, TN
The 5th overall pick in the 2016 draft has been one of the best cornerbacks in the league since he started. He’s never had a PFF rating below 70.0, impressive for a defender often tasked with guarding the best WRs. In 2020, he allowed just 36 receptions on 71 targets. This season he grabbed 4 INTs and allowed a 71.1 passer rating when targeted, helping the Rams tear through the playoffs earning a Super Bowl appearance. He is always in the conversation for best cover man in the sport making this choice easy. Tennessee is another state that offered more high end defenders. I had to pass up an elite linebacker in Dont’a Hightower and a phenomenal safety in Harrison Smith.
Cornerback: Adoree’ Jackson - Bellevill, IL
Jackson lines up opposite Ramsey on my defense. He’s had injury problems throughout his career that make this choice a bit concerning. His 2020 season was completely derailed by a knee injury and he has not played a full season since 2018. But when healthy, he profiles as one of the best coverage corners. After switching teams in 2021, he allowed a passer rating of just 69.0 on 4.8 yards/target. He is a master covering deep routes, forcing more incompletions on passes 20-plus yards downfield (18) than receptions allowed (14) since 2017. He is also the best value coming from Illinois which surprisingly lacked high end talent outside of a couple well renowned offensive lineman.
Cornerback: Marlon Humphrey - Hoover, AL
As a nickel defense, it was imperative to find a special slot cornerback. In Marlon Humphrey, I not only get a top 3 corner in the slot, but a guy that is versatile enough to still be an elite corner when lined up out wide. He frequently switches between both for the Ravens and rates highly anywhere he plays. While Humphrey had a down year in 2021 owing to a stint on the reserve/COVID-19 list and later a season-ending trip to the IR, he is still one of the best. In 2020, he flashed a Peanut Tillman-esque ability to rip the ball from the offense, forcing a league-leading 8 fumbles. It’s no doubt that Alabama has plenty of players to pick from, but Humphrey gives me a chess piece to move around no matter what the offense does.
Cornerback: Tyrann Mathieu - New Orleans, LA
The Honey Badger might be a bit inconsistent throughout his career, but he’s been a difference maker since signing with the Chiefs 3 years ago. He’s an aggressive player who can both read the QB to snag INTs and also lay down brutal hits when he creeps into the box as the strong safety. The 3-time 1st Team All-Pro has 13 interceptions since joining KC, with 2 of those being pick-sixes. Mathieu’s also a all-time trash talker, even getting Tom Brady to go after him during the Super Bowl.
There was a version of this list where I took the young superstar Justin Jefferson from Louisiana. It was one of the tougher decisions, but I figured a star safety was harder to replace than a star WR.
Cornerback: Justin Simmons - Manassas, VA
The final member of my defense comes from the Broncos loaded secondary. Simmons has been playing at a high level for years now. In 2019 and 2020, Simmons had the No. 1 overall PFF grade at the position and is the only safety who has put up a 90.0-plus grade over that time. This season he added another 5 INTs to his totals and gave up just 3 TDs. He’s the centerfielder of the defense, with speed to pick up routes and jump even the best QBs.
Punter: Johnny Hekker - Bothell, WA
Punter was a low priority on my first few passthroughs of the states. I didn’t list any for a while. So imagine my surprise when Hekker was just sitting there in an unused Washington, ready to just drop into my team. He made 6 straight All-Pro teams from 2013 to 2018 and has some of the most unique punting techniques ever. He’s even an ace when it comes to trick plays, picking up 14 first downs on 24 pass attempts. While he hasn’t gotten the same recognition in recent years, part of that stems from being part of a team that has a top 10 offense, limiting the number of opportunities he gets each game. This year just had just 51 punts, 3rd fewest.
That completes my team. A full roster of starters as well as special teams. As a bonus I went through all the current head coaches in the league to see who would be left available to lead this team all-star team. There was only a single coach left from an unchosen state. Zac Taylor from Norman, OK. He may not have been my first choice, but he is also coaching in the upcoming Super Bowl, so obviously he’s doing something right.
Let me know in the comments the best and worst selections from this roster. Who do you think would win between my offense and my defense?
Gold Medal – Cleveland Cavaliers
There have been a lot of fun and unexpected storylines throughout the 2021-22 NBA season, but my favorite has been the meteoric rise of the Cleveland Cavaliers. This is a franchise that has had seemingly no direction since the 2nd departure of Lebron James. In the 3 seasons following Lebron’s escape to LA, the Cavs managed just 60 total wins. Without fail, they sat at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Going into this season, Vegas put their win total around 26.5.
They hit the over in just 45 games.
The young core of the team has taken a massive step forward when no one was expecting it. Jarret Allen and Darius Garland are carrying huge loads for the team, Evan Mobley is the heavy favorite for Rookie of the Year, and even 33-year old veteran Kevin Love is having one of his best seasons in years. The size of the team and defensive acumen has combined to form a top 3 defensive unit.
Right now they sit at 31-21, 5th in the Eastern Conference. But Basketball Reference gives them a projected final record of 49.9 wins and 1st in the conference. This is in large part to one of the easiest remaining schedules in the league. They have the 6th easiest, while teams they are battling are on the opposite end. Milwaukee, Philly, Chicago, and Charlotte all have a top-10 hardest remaining schedule. If all goes right, Cleveland could be sporting home court advantage late in the playoffs.
Villain of the Week – Arizona Coyotes
In last month’s newsletter, we talked about how the Arizona Coyotes owed $1.3 million to Arizona and the city of Glendale. While they did finally pay after pressure mounted, they were in danger of being locked out of their home at Gila River Arena. Although the owners and Gary Bettman continue to assure everyone that “everything is fine”, it feels more like they are trying to distract us from the fire raging just behind the curtain.
It is clear that this is the Coyotes last season in Gila River Arena. They are now in “the advanced stages of discussions” with Arizona State University to use their new multipurpose arena as a temporary home for 3-4 years while they await approval and construction of their proposed arena in Tempe. This raises red flags for many reasons, the most glaring being that this new arena seats just 5,000 spectators. Even the least attended team this season, Buffalo, is averaging over 8,500 fans per game. To have a team in the NHL that could be capped at just 5k per game for up to 4 years feels like a risky gamble, especially when that team already ranked 30th in attendance before that.
If you were wondering what a 5,000 capacity arena looked like, it’s this:
Super normal stuff for the top level hockey league in the world. This doesn’t even get into the other potential landmines of this agreement. First, according to NCAA rules, the Coyotes would be barred from using any of the Sun Devil’s team areas. They would be required to build their own which could cost up to $20 million of their own money. The smaller space and NCAA rules would also limit the amount of corporate sponsorships or ancillary revenue the team could make back.
Then there is the scheduling. Sun Devil hockey will maintain priority with scheduling throughout the agreement. The 2022-23 NCAA hockey schedule is already established, and ASU is planned to host “ASU’s wrestling and gymnastics teams, concerts, conferences, youth competitions and other events.” The Coyotes might be getting very low priority in their own home arena.
The franchise is floundering both on the ice and off. They are at or near the bottom of the league in virtually every metric. The dysfunction of the roster mirrors that of an owner that is struggling to keep his head above water. For a team that is 5-13-1 at home this season, maybe a move to a much worse situation won’t matter. But when your minor league affiliate players are playing in a barn nearly double the size of your “major league” arena, the rot may be too deep to save.
This is very young newsletter still. I am working to grow it as much as possible. The best way support my work is by subscribing to the newsletter and sharing it.
Is This How You Play?
When your goalie is a magician, but in the worst possible way.
Bobby Portis showing you how to fastbreak dunk.
“So you’re probably wondering how I got into this situation”
Giving up a shorthanded goal is embarrassing. But scoring an own goal during a delayed penalty is when you just have to skate to the locker room and quit.
I have legitimately never seen this before (unfortunately, it was ruled no goal).
This is an elite celebration. Just sprint off the court after nailing the miracle shot.
News by the Numbers
1 - Players who were elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame during this year’s voting process. The lone inductee was David Ortiz, on the ballot for the first time. Big Papi is undoubtedly deserving, having hit 541 homers and being one of the most important players on 3 World Series winning teams. Controversially, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Curt Schilling, and Sammy Sosa failed to meet the voting requirement in their 10th and final year of eligibility. They will now fall off the writers ballot. The writers have used the vague shield of the “Character Clause” to keep these players from the Hall. This means MLB’s all-time hits leader (Pete Rose), all-time HR leader (Barry Bonds), and all-time Cy Young leader (Roger Clemens) are all NOT in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
9 - Number of 3 point shots Rudy Gobert has attempted in his entire 9 year career. He has yet to connect on a single one. From this clip, maybe that’s why he wasn’t voted as an All-Star Starter this season.
12 - Goals scored by rookie Trevor Zegras so far this season. He’s the most exciting in a loaded rookie class. His most recent goal is a Michigan goal in stride, because of course it is.
13 - The losing streak of the Philadelphia Flyers set last Tuesday. It breaks the franchise record for longest losing streak of 12, set in the 1998-99 season. While that seems very bad already, it gets worse. This is the Flyers 2nd double digit losing streak this season (a season that is barely over the halfway point). In just 43 games have had a 10 game losing streak and now a 13 game losing streak. Philly fired their head coach amidst the first losing streak. Now on a worse streak, could they fire a 2nd head coach before the season is over? Frustration has definitely set it.
33.9 - Points Joel Embiid is averaging over his last 18 games. He is doing this in the same building as the Flyers, which must give visitors of the Wells Fargo Center massive whiplash from night to night. In one of the most dominant stretches of his career, Embiid is averaging more points than minutes played, including a 50 point performance in just 27 minutes on the court. He has powered the Sixers to a 14-4 record in these games and putting himself directly in the MVP discussion, especially amid all the chaos surrounding the rest of the 76ers season.
44” - The vertical leap of Ja Morant before being drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies. That seems low based on this ridiculous block. If you told me his vert was 7 feet, I’d have to believe you.
2007 - The last time a goaltender was suspended by the NHL for on-ice actions. It is extremely rare for a goalie to do something bad enough for the league to taken action beyond fines. But on January 25th, Sabres netminder Aaron Dell crossed a line. He took a cheap shot on Drake Batherson, who is now likely out for a couple months. Dell has since been waived by the team. The 2007 incident came when Jamie McLennan slashed Johan Franzen during a playoff tilt. McLennan never actually served the suspension as he played in Japan the following season and later retired. It’s possible Dell also never finishes his sentence if no teams decides he’s worth the headache.
Homer Bias Restricted Area
The Clippers aren’t dead until the game clock hits triple zeros. In the month of January alone, they completed 3 different comeback wins after being down 24 or more points. Against the Wizards, they had the 2nd largest comeback win in NBA history, erasing a 35 point deficit. They are also doing this without the two superstars they built the entire team around, Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. It is absolutely stunning to watch them fight when most teams would accept their fate.
End Of Restricted Area
It has been over a year since I started writing this newsletter and I have enjoyed every minute of it. I want to thank everyone who has read and been a part of this. It is very encouraging to know there are people out there that enjoy it.
Keep Sports Fun.
Colin
Twitter - @ColinRingwood12
The Buzzer Beater
When you lie on your resume but get the job anyway.
Everything NHL in this article was a Rollercoaster in both the best and worst ways. Go CAVS!