And the Results are in. Winners and Losers in the draft

Football is a team sport.  Having the best QB or RB in the pros is not enough to insure success.  In fact, often times if you have the very best it means the rest of your team is weak.  So, prior to the games starting in earnest, it would seem like a good time to review how the draft went.  I want to thank the Commish for setting up a live draft - looked to me like about half were on the live draft and half let Yahoo choose their teams for them. 

In order to make this a bit more scientific I separated each team into five categories - QB, WR's, RB's, Other and Bench.  Each team was given a letter grade in all the categories.  Simple enough?  From the bottom up here are the team rankings, pre-season odds to win and an individual comment.  I put about 15 minutes into doing this - so if I mess up, well, this is free.

Grade                             Team                                 Odds
C minus                          Badgers                             7-1
C minus                          Old Skoolers                      7-1
C plus                             Bloody pulp                       5-1
B minus                          Boof Licks                         4-1
B minus                          Ball Bloke                          4-1
B                                   Morning Missles                  3-1
B                                   Death Panels                       3-1
B                                   MacAttack                          3-1
B plus                            Red Dragon                         2-1
B plus                            MeSoHorney                       2-1

Badgers - you are the worst team in the league on paper.  But, have faith, you got such a low score because everyone on your bench is going to miss the first 4 or more games.  Ben, Jackson and Holmes.  Two because they are felons, Jackson because he was too greedy - so even if he gets traded he can't play.  That got you an F for your bench score.  Your QB has upside, and your running backs are both stars.  If you can get your bench to come back and play you could be the next Bloody pulp - worst to first by seasons end!

Old Skoolers - you would be the worst, but didn't get an F in any category, you did get two D's however.  Your wideouts are good, running backs are going to be fine if Green is the player that everyone thinks he is, but you have a retread QB on a bad team, no bench and - literally - no defense.  Better pick one up brother.  You have Flacco on the bench backing up McNabb - if either has a great season you could do fine.  If not, I would be looking to trade me for one of my STUD QB's!  Oh - and that assumes you DO pick up a defense.

Bloody Pulp - The strength of your team is the wideouts.  The weakness of your team is QB.  Stafford backed up by Orton.  Might think about throwing Lineart in there - he just got picked up!  You have two handcuffed running backs - which will work well some weeks.  Your bench is so-so at best, but you have a great defense.  Just don't see the upside on this team.......

Boof Licks - Nicely balanced team.  Brady is an A level QB, Colston, Knox and Jones are good wideouts.  Your running backs are the big question mark.  Does Jackson repeat his 4 TD performance running for the worst (yep the WORST) team in football?  Is Mendenhall healthy?  Your pickup of Tate with the Hawks could pay off - especially with TJ being cut from the team.  Your weakness is the bench, plus how the heck did you end up with two Tight Ends??????  Also - Brady still has to worry about the knee........

Ball Bloke - You've got a decent QB in Eli, and a strong backup in Palmer (my guess is he will be your starter soon!), have a talented group of wideouts and the best running back of the Jets (no longer) as well as the young Matthews kid who looked good in preseason.  Again, a pretty balanced team, but you have no bench (your best is hurt).  Good group of special teams with Miller and the Philly defense.  Got some upside, but if Jones/Mathews are busts you are in trouble.

Morning Missiles - Not bad for a computer.  I called Romo a B quarterback, but if he has the season everyone expects he could move up to the elite level.  Your wide outs are average at best, but Hester might score with return yards.  MJD is still a stud and will score some points, but he is getting older and Carolina is not what you would call a dynamic offensive team.  Gave you the highest grade for special teams with V Davis and the Minnesota D.  You also have a pretty deep bench with the exception of Vince Young - but he might be a lot better this year.  You got a shot.

Death Panels - Another well balanced team.  Farve is still an elite quarterback, but is older than Moses.  Weak on the wide outs - lucky for you that TJ got picked up by Baltimore - Flacco will like him.  Two solid runningbacks, solid special teams and a strong bench, except for your backup QB.   CJ Spiller might be your best pickup of the season.  If Favre plays like he did last year, and makes it till the end you got a solid shot Commish.

MacAttack - Squiggy has two of the top 5 QB's in the league.  One of the reasons I do that is to have a solid trade, and would be open to one - but if somebody wants to try your going to have to give me a stud.  Either way, just sitting on my bench one of them won't be scoring any points for you suckers!  The rest of my team is much stronger than I had any hope for, Percy Harvin should be able to fight through a few headaches and score, TO is going to love catching for Palmer,  and Collie is slowly becoming a favorite of Peyton.  Both my RB's are #1's and I have another number 1 on the bench. My weakness is the special teams, but my kicker will do great if he can hold it together and the Cowboys score like they should.  Oh - and I got the Cripps guy who scores so many points from returns! I like my chances.........

Red Dragon - Elite QB, stud WR's (assuming Fitz is OK) and the second best RB in the NFL.  You would have got an A but you do not have a bench, which means on bye weeks or any injuries and your season could be over.  You also have a great defense.  If you stay healthy I would make you the favorite to win, but staying healthy isn't easy in the NFL.  How in the heck did you get Johnson and Rivers??????

MeSoHorny - You have the second best QB, stud wider receivers and good special teams.  RB is a little weak with Charles and Barber and your bench isn't real strong.  It was a close call deciding between Red Dragon and you, but I just had to go with you because of the name.  MeSoHorny kinda makes me so horny.............

Overall the league is pretty balanced, more so after looking close than I had originally thought.  Was going to give the Commish a $10 fine for picking up TJ because they were saying he might be cut, but since he was picked up and will play it seemed excessive.  Was going to give Badgers a $10 fine for filling his bench with guys who are out - but its a long season, and it might pay off later.  Was going to fine Boof Licks $10 for having such a hard time signing up - but then he made the live draft.  So, no preseason fines!

Good luck all,

Squiggy