Dream Team

Neil3030

Someone made the point of business quietening up a tad around here so I figure this may get a bit of banter going.

Money being no object, what would be your dream team?

Feel free to use whatever formations you want and don't worry about backups, let's just concern ourselves with the starters.

And....hmmm... keep it to players currently playing.

And...ehhh....Go Seahawks!

Neil3030

Ok I'll kick it off so:

Offense

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QB - Michael Vick - ATL
Toss up between himself and Manning. Though Manning is clearly seen as the best in the business at the moment, I just love watching Vick and it'd also be great to see him with a better o-line than what he has at Atlanta.

HB - Shaun Alexander - SEA
An absolute cannon-ball of a running back. Clocked up over 1600 yards last season, averaging over 100/game.

FB - Tony Richardson - KC
Always liked this guy. Delighted at his selection to the Probowl this year.

TE - Tony Gonzalez - KC
Though splitting the Vick and Crumpler partnership could be likened to splitting slappers and fake-tan, this guy is just amazing.

WR - Tyrell Owens - PHI
Although it could be argued that his partnership with McNabb is the main reason he is as good as he is, I think he would really work well with Vick.

WR - Randy Moss - OAK
Ugh... I really didn't want to... but I had to!

LT - Tarik Glenn - IND
Only 14 sacks allowed last year by the Colts has a little to do with Peyton (ok, a lot), but let's not forget those Tackles, holding their blocks! Had to battle my conscience to allow this guy in ahead of Walter Jones.

LG - Steve Hutchinson - SEA
Part of the reason Alexander is as effective as he is.

C - Olin Kreutz - CHI
Solid Centre. Also opens some nice doors for running plays.

RG - Marco Rivera - DAL
Another team with only 14 sacks last season was Green Bay and let's face it... that was not down to Favre...

RT - Willie Anderson - CIN
A 340lbs monster. Any blitzing back will find running through a wall easier.

Defense: 4-3/Nickel

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RE - Dwight Freeney - IND
16 Sacks in '04. The pass rusher all defenses crave.

LE - Patrick Kerney -ATL
13 sacks and 54 tackles last year. Booyeah!

DT - Keith Tralyor - NE
Generating a pass rush means you need solid DTs. Though he usually plays 3-4 with the Pats, at 340lbs and 14 years experience, I can't think of a better defensive lineman, regardless of formation.

DT - John Henderson - JAC
The old supporting the new. Traylor had his rookie year when this man was a mere 12 years old, but Henderson's first 3 seasons in the NFL averaged over 61 tackles/yr.

ROLB - Keith Bullock - TEN
Would have said Brooking from Atlanta, but this guy just looked so effective last year.

MLB - Tedy Bruschi - NE
His experience, awareness and work ethic is second to none.

LOLB - Terrell Suggs - BAL
Not the easiest position to pick, given the outstanding LOLBs in the league tend to play a 3-4 setup, but I decided to go for Suggs. Any o-line would have enough problems with this defense already without this human sacking machine bearing down on them.

LCB - Marcus Trufant - SEA
At only 25 he's already established himself as a world class defensive back. 5 interceptions, 20 passes deflected and 86 tackles last season speaks for itself really. I seriously rate this guy.

RCB - Ronde Barber - KC
Though I think Champ Bailey is a better CB than Barber, the fact that himself and Trufant are both left sided players means Barber's the smarter pick for right CB.

SS - Rodney Harrison - NE
I'm not entirely certain how a strong safety can register over 130 tackles in a season... but he did!

FS - John Lynch - DEN
Beware this man.

Special Teams

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K - Adam Vinatieri - NE
Timeout called. 1 second left in the superbowl. 45 yards out. Wind blowing left to right at 5mph. 2 points down. Who do you want taking that kick?

P - Brad Maynard - CHI
Picked him over the aging old reliable Tupa. I could explain why, but it's a moot point really. I can hardly see this offense ever having to punt!

KR - Terrence McGee - BUF
This guy is another young'n that looks set for something big. TD return specialist last year, topping the charts with 3, he also averaged 26.3 yards per return over 52 returns which is an immense contribution with regard field position.

PR - Allen Rossum - ATL
I like this guy. Get's great field position for the Falcons, averaging 12.4 yards from 37 returns and 1 touchdown.

Pherekydes

Neil3030 wrote:

...could be likened to splitting slappers and fake-tan...

I love it!

LOL.

Can't complain with your picks either. I wouldn't necessarily go for the same, but there are hardly any controversial ones. Good ones.

Neil3030

Well I'm sure many would argue Champ Bailey is superior to Marcus Trufant but that's not quite how Seahawks fans see it

What yould be your picks?

Neil3030

Oh for the love of...not ONE team other than mine??? Come ON!!!

Vikings

I'll make up mine when I get home from work later ... just didnt want to be typing for ages but I will to spruce up the thread.

Nexus

Ive noticed neil that u seem to ommited Tom brady from ure QT's. Im shocked to be perfectly honest!

Neil3030

Probably more reliable than (OK certainly more reliable than Vick...) but as stressed above, I just love watching Vick play!

ozhawk66

Offense

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QB/ Peyton Manning (his brain functions faster than Vick's legs)


RB/ LaDainian Tomlinson, SD- putting up similar numbers to Priest Holmes, with a very average offensive line. Moves of Sanders, with more power and can catch.

FB/ Tony Richardson - Chiefs (made the 2004,5) Pro Bowl - better than his NFC counterpart)

TE - Antonio Gates, SD - Started over Tony Gonzalez in 2005 pro bowl for a reason. I had both players on my fantasy team as WRs, cause our league had no TE position. Both were key to my (fantasy) team winning it all. And I had Moss and Harrison! LOL

WR/ Randy Moss - got to have game to get the name (Superfreak), and Moss' game is in a different league than the elite receivers of the NFL. He's the Gale Sayers of WR's. This guy could push Jerry Rices stats when all is said and done - and that was an unthinkable thought just a few years back.

WR/ Marvin Harrison - 1-2 years left in his prime/ splitting stats with 2 other teammates. But still putting up elite numbers.

Honorable mention at WR : Terrell Owens. Too much of a jerk and me 1st attitude. And I was on his side to come back and play in the Super Bowl.


LT/ Jonathan Ogden, BAL An elite tackle still hanging in there with injuries - one of the main cogs/reasons the Ravens put up those historic? rushing yds over the past 2 seasons. And this on a team with NO passing game.

LG/ Larry Allen, DAL - This dude will be a 1st round, hands down, inductee to the Hall. And for good reason. A main cog for those Dallas Bowl winners from the 90's - and he's still going - made the 2005 pro bowl. Who else is left from those 90's Dallas teams? It's a rarity for lineman to start/dominate throughout their careers without major injuries.

C/ Olin Kreutz, CHI - Started the 2005 pro bowl over Matt Birk. Enough said, there. Especially when the Bears had nothing but a RB on offense.

RG/ Alan Faneca, PIT - One of the best amongst the elite guards, left or right.

RT/ Orlando Pace, STL - stick him on the right side. Another 1st round Hall inductee that's been around for years that made the 2005 pro bowl. Domination with few injuries on that freakin astro-turf, no less.

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DEFENSE
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DE / Julius Peppers, CAR and Dwight Freeney, IND - I only saw Freeney a couple of times last year. The Colts don't really have anyone on defense and yet other teams had to account for Freeney. Rare, when that happens. Julius Peppers? He's living up to his draft hype.


DT / Marcus Stroud, JAC and Sam Adams, BUF - both from the AFC - and both better than their NFC pro bowl counterparts.

OLB / Takeo Spikes, BUF and Terrell Suggs, BAL - Spikes and Adams from the Bills were main reasons for the Bills run at the playoffs after disastrous start.


MLB / Ray Lewis. You could mention this guy in the same breath as Lawrence Taylor. I'll still take Taylor, though.


CB's / Ronde Barber, TB - Champ Bailey, DEN - Antonio Winfield, MIN

All three have different strengths to their game, but all three are as good as they get, for their respective teams and over the past two seasons.

SS/ Ed Reed - The best SS this year. And that was backed up by his appearance on Jacked Up! on punt coverage. A playmaker who ran 50+ yds to find a guy to deck and level. Wow. One has to see that one to appreciate.

FS/ John Lynch. Still has the game. But his fines are proof why we call the NFL, the No Fun League.




k / Adam Vinatieri, NE - not the best fantasy choice, but this guy's brain goes on ice when history is on the line.


P / Reggie Roby (RIP) - the only guy who could hang with Ray Guy in the history of the punting game. Roby was the one who started the concept of timing one's own hang-time. Not any coach. It's now a major measurement of punters these days.

Roby was the only (successful) punter, that I knew of, who never let his non kicking foot leave the ground. More power/leverage that way, he said. He also mastered the 3-step punt. Something I'm gonna look into next season and see how many punters actually are able to use this technique.

I also had the privilege of seeing Roby punt in the '83 Rose Bowl. It's pretty bad, when your only (good) memories of the game was from a punter. We had 45 yd line seats, past the halfway mark of the stadium, altitude-wise, and I still remember two Roby punts just crawling above the skyline of the stadium. It helped to witness something like that, but it was the collective "wows" from both sides/fans that stuck in my head.

Wow.


http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=1997214

BizzyC

I-form Offense

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QB -Tom Brady. if your going to have a QB with all stars around him, want a solid, intelligent QB, who wont get rattled like Manning.

RB - Jamal Lewis. the man is a beast. When he gets past the line, he's gone. He's too fast for linebackers and too powerful for DB's to stop.

FB - Mike Allstot. Who else could it be? Put him lead blocking for lewis, and you're going to have safties getting trampled on.

T's - Matt Light. Any tackle who consistantly contributes to 3 superbowl winning teams deserves a spot.
Bryant McKinnie. Huge guy, gives Dante a lot of time back there.

G's - Damien Woody. Plays C/G, I think he's still the NFL's highest paid interior lineman, and with good reason.
Joe Andruzzi. Couldn't name any more good guards......

C - Chris Mawae. One of the more agile centers in the NFL, really drives the Jets O Line.

TE - Jeremey Shockey. Gonzalez is a big time player, but Shockey is probably a better guy to have in there for the short yardage plays.

WR's - Terrell Owens. He may be a complete to**er, but he can play.
Joe Horn. He keeps getting solid numbers for a team who are failing.

3-4 Defense

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DE's - Dwight Freeney. He can't be left out, he's too good.
Patrick Kerney. Real force in the backfield.

DT's - Chris Hovan. He's a real student of the game, hard to find a tackle that intelligent.

OLB's - Derrick Brooks. Great tackler, solid against the run.
Terrell Suggs. One of the best pash rushers in the league.

ILB's - Bruschi! never stops running, a real general.
Brian Urlacher. Huge talent, just a shame he's at chicago.

CB's - Patrick Surtain. Great nose for the ball.
Ty Law. Amazing player, great jammer. Interesting to see where he goes.

FS - Brian Dawkins. Put him and Harrison togethor ,and you'll get some bruised receivers.

SS - Rodney Harrison. Had a huge season, one of the real forces in the patriots defenses.

Special

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K- Adam Vinatieri. Holds the record for most game winning kicks.

P- Lechler. A Really powerful leg there.

PR - Dante Hall

KR - Dante Hall. Best kick returner in the league.