Trendsetters 2014

[Coltsfan]

David,

The point is, it's a 14 team league primarily drafted in February, and you don't have to hit on much to win it. Plus by drafting this early, there will be many players that emerge during training camps that we not even have heard of it so they go unrostered. Lots of the picks will look like bad picks now but things change so fast that it's hard to remember which player was where back in February.

Anyways, Glenn probably has a top 3 team. I'm sure if you were in the league your's would be much better.


Wayne

[David U Kennedy]

Ha ha ha yes my team would probably be better . Tate and Hopkins could very well pan out but I think Detroit will pass a lot less with new coaching. Tate didn't do much in Seattle so why is he going to be better in a Lion's uniform. Hopkins showed a lot of promise as a rookie but with questionable QBing and all new coaching and offense who knows? Maybe Andre gets traded leaving him the number one gig. At least Tate is probably better than what DET has had prior at the 2 spot.

On another note it sounds like Finley is going to sign somewhere soon. He could be a nice late round DC gamble that pays off in these early drafts.

[Glenneration X]

Thanks Bill, thanks Wayne. I appreciate the kind words about the team.

David, I'm guessing you don't like the team? Figures, I think Nelson drafted it for me.

[Sandman62]

I think Detroit will pass a lot less with new coaching.

Between Jim Caldwell (formerly with pass-happy Indy) and Joe Lombardi (from pass-happy Saints), why do you think DET will pass less?
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1934 ... hing-staff
Maybe they finally get the most out of the uber-talented, but inconsistent, Stafford - especially with Tate and Ebron added, Bush another year older, and Bell already not 100%.

Tate didn't do much in Seattle so why is he going to be better in a Lion's uniform?

Last year, SEA was 26th in passing yards, with 3236. DET was 3rd with 4482. Tate led SEA in receptions and yards, with 64 for 898. He also tied for the TD lead with 5.
In 2012, SEA was 27th in passing yards with 3031 yards. DET was 2nd with 4927. Tate was second to Sidney Rice in receptions and yards, and tied him for the TD lead with 7.
Tate has averaged 14.5 YPC the past two years.
Last year, DET's nobody WRs 2-4 combined for 90 receptions for 1150 yards. One of them (Burleson) is no longer a Lion.
I don't think a season of 70/1000/5 is a reach for Tate in DET. That'd be 200 NFFC points, making him a top-25 WR and a regular DC contributor.

Hopkins showed a lot of promise as a rookie but with questionable QBing and all new coaching and offense who knows? Maybe Andre gets traded leaving him the number one gig.

Last year, HOU's questionable QB corps still combined for almost 4200 yards, with Hopkins hauling in 52/802 (15.4 YPC) - 2nd only to Andre.
Though Keenan Allen blew away rookie WRs, Hopkins was 4th among them in NFFC scoring, just single digit points behind Terrance Williams and Cordarelle Patterson. And that was with only 2 TDs, which are hard to predict; but if HOU wasn't so horrible, he probably could've had 4 or 5, like Cordarelle and TWill, which would've put him ahead of them.
And is Fitzpatrick really any worse than the version of Schaub we saw last year?
As for the coaching change, under former HC Kubiak, HOU was 1st and 4th in rushing attempts in 2011 and 2012, before the wheels fell off when Foster got hurt last year. In 2012, with a healthy Foster aiding the play-action game, HOU was also 11th in passing yards.
I think we can expect an increase in passing from new HC and OC, Bill O'Brien, based on his 5 years on New England's offensive coaching staff. Plus it's looking like Foster could bounce back.

Yeah, I guess it's safe to say that I disagree with your assessment of Tate and Hopkins.

[BigBlueNation]

Mike, don't confuse him with facts

[David U Kennedy]

I think Jim Shwartz was a bad head coach who was way too pass happy. I don't see them passing like they have the last 3 years. Tate was outperformed by Kearse through out the playoffs. I don't see Tate as anything special. I do see he has a good opportunity as a second WR beside Megatron. Maybe he reaches a 1000 yards. I'm betting 800 or less. Hopkins like I said had a credible rookie season. I just don't see him as all that talented but with Andre unhappy with the team maybe Hopkins ends up the number one guy. I'd be interested then.

[RedRyder]

Mike, don't confuse him with facts

Exactly! We want to run into him in our leagues, no need to school him pre-draft!

[David U Kennedy]

I will be doing the schooling!!!!!!!

[BigBlueNation]

Dave, I don't think anybody is calling Tate or Hopkins WR1's with 90-100 catches and 1200 yds. I was simply saying they are serviceable WR3's in a 14 team league behind AJGreen and Colston for this team in question. That being said, as WR2's on their respective teams, they could come up with 64-900-5 this year, which is very respectable for WR3 and WR4 in a 14 team league.

[Sandman62]

Dave, I don't think anybody is calling Tate or Hopkins WR1's with 90-100 catches and 1200 yds. I was simply saying they are serviceable WR3's in a 14 team league behind AJGreen and Colston for this team in question. That being said, as WR2's on their respective teams, they could come up with 64-900-5 this year, which is very respectable for WR3 and WR4 in a 14 team league.

+1

Last year, WRs that finished the regular season ranked:
• 29th-42nd (WR3s) scored 145-177
• 43rd-56th (WR4s) scored 120-143

Bill's projection above would yield 184 points.
Even Dave's projection of 800 (or less), assuming 750 yards, based on 14 YPC would be 53 receptions.
Add in just 3 TDs and they'd still score 146.
Squarely in the WR3 range.
Well done Glenn!

Class dismissed.