Nick Whalen’s RSP Writers Team
Eric Berry, Earl Thomas, and Patrick Willis headline a young and athletic defense for Ryan Whalen’s Readers Team. Whalen has assistant coaching experience with four different college teams. Photo by Wade Rackley.
Nick Whalen is a regular at the Footballguys.com message board and a guy I’ve corresponded with frequently over the years. He’s a writer at Dynasty Rogues. Whalen has a variety of experiences in football and he’s person I’ve enjoyed trading info.
A former high school quarterback, Whalen also has experience on coaching staffs as an assistant student coach with Drake University, Carthage College, and Montana State. He also spent two years as an assistant student coach with Western Kentucky. He has been a quarterback, wide receiver, and defensive back coach for three different high school teams.
His RSP Writer’s Team has one of the more balanced distributions of talent at each position that I’ve seen thus far. I like that Ryan simply didn’t look at the offensive line positions and automatically slot those players at those positions. He has the awareness to see Brandon Albert as a quality guard than a middling to sub par tackle. It’s going to be fun to see his philosophy and scheme behind his choices.
Tomorrow, stay tuned for Nick’s Q&A.
Offense
While I worry about Tate’s hands and route skills, there are plenty of writers with football experience at the college and pro level that have confidence in him developing. Whalen is one of them. Photo by Glenn Simmons.
| Quarterback Depth Chart |
| Starting Position |
Role (optional) |
Name |
Value |
Commentary (Why you picked the player: specific skills and talents you like, potential upside, and/or fit within the system) |
| QB1 |
|
Andrew Luck |
12.5 |
Potential franchise QB with the skill set to become one of the best in the league. Luck has the intelligence to pick defenses apart and make smart decisions with the football. Strong arm and very good footwork. |
| QB3 |
|
Darron Thomas |
0.5 |
Backup to Pryor in the zone read concepts. |
| QB2 |
|
Terrelle Pryor |
2 |
A very athletic QB that needs time to develop. He will have a small package of plays that will be zone read. |
| Running Back Depth Chart |
| Starting Position |
Role (optional) |
Name |
Value |
Commentary (Why you picked the player: specific skills and talents you like, potential upside, and fit within the system) |
| RB1 |
|
Jonathan Stewart |
7 |
Thick RB with the power to run over defenders and the speed to run past them. Also the 3rd down RB. |
| RB2 |
|
Peyton Hillis |
5 |
Hillis will help spell Stewart and wear down defenses with his physical style. |
| RB3 |
|
Chad Spann |
1 |
Spann is very physical and can help fill in if injuries happen to Stewart/Hillis. |
|
|
Montell Owens |
0.5 |
Two-time Pro Bowl special teams player will be a huge asset to that unit. |
| Wide Receiver Depth Chart |
| Starting Position |
Role (optional) |
Name |
Value |
Commentary (Why you picked the player: specific skills and talents you like, potential upside, and fit within the system) |
| WR1 |
|
Mike Wallace |
7 |
Wallace will by the WR1 and provide a deep threat to keep defenses honest. |
| WR2 |
|
Jonathan Baldwin |
4 |
Big, athletic talent that will be a difficult match up problem for CB2’s and provide a big red zone threat. |
| WR3 |
|
Emmanuel Sanders |
3.5 |
Good athlete that has a chance to be a good receiver and is a very good run blocker. |
| WR4 |
|
Golden Tate |
1.5 |
Has a chance to develop into a solid receiving threat and a good run blocker. |
| WR5 |
|
Eric Weems |
1.5 |
Special teams Pro Bowler, who will earn his keep as a returner and special team contributor. |
| Fullback and Tight End Depth Chart |
| Starting Position |
Role (optional) |
Name |
Value |
Commentary (Why you picked the player: specific skills and talents you like, potential upside, and fit within the system) |
| FB |
|
Vonta Leach |
3 |
The best run blocking FB in the NFL will provide as a great asset in this run first based offense. |
| TE1 |
|
Martellus Bennett |
1.5 |
Martellus is one of the better run blocking TE’s in the NFL and hopefully get a better work ethic. |
| TE2 |
|
Kyle Rudolph |
3 |
Rudolph is a huge TE that can be a solid blocker as well as a good receiving threat. |
| Tackle Depth Chart |
| Starting Position |
Role (optional) |
Name |
Value |
Commentary (Why you picked the player: specific skills and talents you like, potential upside, and fit within the system) |
| LT1 |
|
J’Marcus Webb |
2.5 |
Huge, athletic LT that needs to develop his technique if he wants to keep his job. |
| RT1 |
|
Michael Oher |
6 |
One of the better RT’s in the NFL. |
| LT2 |
|
Jason Smith |
3 |
Very high draft pick that can play both OT positions. He needs to shake the injury bug and develop as an OL though. |
| LG1 |
|
Branden Albert |
6 |
Albert has the ability to be one of the best Guards in the NFL, he was out of place at LT. |
| Guard Depth Chart |
| Starting Position |
Role (optional) |
Name |
Value |
Commentary (Why you picked the player: specific skills and talents you like, potential upside, and fit within the system) |
| RG1 |
|
Harvey Dahl |
3.5 |
Dahl has lots of experience and is a very good run blocker. |
| RG2 |
|
Chilo Rachel |
1.5 |
Rachel has a big opportunity to become a starter in future years, but will be a good backup until then. |
| LG2 |
|
Rex Hadnot |
1.5 |
Lots of starting experience and has a big frame to use as an asset in his run blocking. |
| Center Depth Chart |
| Starting Position |
Role (optional) |
Name |
Value |
Commentary (Why you picked the player: specific skills and talents you like, potential upside, and fit within the system) |
| C1 |
|
John Sullivan |
4 |
Top five Center last season and is a good run blocker. |
| C2 |
|
David Molk |
1 |
Molk had 41 reps at 225 at the combine and bulked up in the offseason. Hopefully he can develop into the scheme eventually. |
Defense and Special Teams Units
The Bengals aren’t the only ones giving the thumbs-up to Adam Jones. Photo by Navin Rajagopalan.
| Cornerback and Safety Depth Chart |
| Starting Position |
Role (optional) |
Name |
Value |
Commentary (Why you picked the player: specific skills and talents you like, potential upside, and/or fit within the system) |
| FS1 |
|
Earl Thomas |
6 |
Thomas is one of best safety’s in the NFL and is only 23 years old. He leaves endless possibilities for coverages. |
| SS1 |
|
Eric Berry |
6 |
Berry is a bigger version of Thomas, but is recovering from an ACL injury. He also increases the variability of coverages. |
| LCB1 |
|
Adam Jones |
2 |
Jones played well last season and will fit in perfect in the press man scheme at CB. |
|
Nickel CB |
Brice McClain |
1 |
Best nickel CB in the NFL, will played often in the pass happy league. |
| RCB2 |
|
Kareem Jackson |
1 |
Jackson is a former first round pick and could develop into a starting CB. |
| LCB2 |
|
Ras-I Dowling |
1 |
Very big, athletic CB with a chance to be special. Will matchup with big WRs for the time being. |
|
|
DeMarcus Van Dyke |
1 |
Very good athlete, but needs to work on tackling. |
|
|
Corey Graham |
1 |
Pro Bowl special teamer and will thrive in that unit. |
| RCB1 |
|
Roderick Hood |
0.5 |
Hood played very well last season and I can hopefully pull some more solid play out of his abilities. |
| SS2 |
|
Dwight Lowery |
0.5 |
Solid backup safety with starting experience, surprised he’s available for .5 |
| FS2 |
|
Joe Lefeged |
0.5 |
Same as Lowery |
|
|
Craig Steltz |
0.5 |
Steltz will help out in special teams. |
| Linebacker Depth Chart |
| Starting Position |
Role (optional) |
Name |
Value |
Commentary (Why you picked the player: specific skills and talents you like, potential upside, and fit within the system) |
| MLB1 |
|
Patrick Willis |
9.5 |
Stud MLB that will be able to flow sideline to sideline and lead a physical defense. |
| SLB1 |
|
Erin Henderson |
3.5 |
SLB with tons of potential. Very good versus the run and solid in coverage. |
| WLB2 |
|
Koa Misi |
1 |
Compete with Geno Hayes for starting Will job. |
| WLB1 |
|
Geno Hayes |
1 |
Solid Will LB and brings experience to the position. |
| SLB2 |
|
Chris Chamberlain |
0.5 |
Solid OLB that won’t make mistakes, but nothing special. |
| MLB2 |
|
Martez Wilson |
1 |
Very good athlete that will learn very well behind Willis. |
|
|
Brendon Ayanbadejo |
0.5 |
Pro bowl special teamer a few years back, he will only contribute there. |
| Defensive End and Tackle Depth Chart |
| Starting Position |
Role (optional) |
Name |
Value |
Commentary (Why you picked the player: specific skills and talents you like, potential upside, and fit within the system) |
| RDE1 |
|
Bruce Irvin |
6.5 |
Great pass rusher with a high motor, he will pressure quarterbacks and will thrive in a 9 technique. |
| LDE1 |
|
Jeremy Mincey |
5.5 |
Good pass rusher and solid versus the run as well. Mincey can help teach both Irvin and McClellin the position. |
| RDE2 |
|
Shea McClellin |
4.5 |
Good pass rusher and a high motor, he has the potential to be a solid DE in this scheme. |
| DT1 |
|
Cam Thomas |
4 |
Two-gap DT that will play in a 2-i technique, very huge DT that will occupy space and blockers. |
| DT2 |
|
Paul Soliai |
4 |
Cam Thomas II |
| DT3 |
|
Terrance Cody |
1 |
Cody is an immovable object and he will help spell Cam Thomas/Paul Soliai and be a short yardage specialist. |
| DT4 |
|
Stephen Paea |
0.5 |
Good potential and will come in as a pass rushing DT. |
| LDE2 |
|
Corey Liuget |
0.5 |
Situational run defender at DE and pass rusher at DT. |
|
Kicker and Punter Depth Chart |
| Starters |
Name |
Value |
Commentary (Why did you choose the player for special teams and what Role (optional) will he play?) |
| K1 |
Neil Rackers |
1.5 |
Solid kicker that has played in some big time games. |
| P1 |
Zoltan Mesko |
1.5 |
Solid punter that has played in the super bowl and I had to have a player with the name Zoltan! |
|
Kick Coverage Team |
| Role (optional) |
Name |
Commentary (Why did you choose the player for special teams and what Role (optional) will he play?) |
|
Montell Owens |
Pro bowl special teamer |
|
Brendan Ayanbadejo |
Former pro bowl special teamer |
|
Corey Graham |
Pro bowl special teamer |
|
Eric Weems |
Pro bowl special teamer |
|
Craig Steltz |
Experience in one of the best Special Team units in the league |
|
Martez Wilson |
Great athlete that can help out this unit |
|
Golden Tate |
Good athlete that is physical enough to excel in this unit. |
|
Chad Spann |
Hard enough worker to want to make the team and do anything to be successful on this unit. |
|
DeMarcus Van Dyke |
Very good athlete and he would quickly get down the field on coverage. |
|
Kareem Jackson |
Good athlete that can excel on this unit. |
|
Punt Coverage Team |
| Role (optional) |
Name |
Commentary (Why did you choose the player for special teams and what Role (optional) will he play?) |
|
Montell Owens |
Pro bowl special teamer |
|
Brendan Ayanbadejo |
Former pro bowl special teamer |
|
Corey Graham |
Pro bowl special teamer |
|
Eric Weems |
Pro bowl special teamer |
|
Craig Steltz |
Experience in one of the best Special Team units in the league. |
|
Martez Wilson |
Good athlete that can excel in this area |
|
Chris Chamberlain |
Team player that will do anything to succeed |
|
Stephen Paea |
Strong enough to block and quick enough to get down the field. |
|
Shea McClellin |
Same as Paea |
|
Martellus Bennett |
Good blocker and can get down the field to make a tackle. |
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