About damn time Drew Brees is on a writers team, don’t you think? Sam Monson builds a team that a defensive back would like: a passing game he only has to face in practice and a defensive unit geared to defend an aerial assault. Photo by eschipul.
Sam Monson is an analyst at Pro Football Focus. He’s a sales and marketing director in Dublin, Ireland. Apparently, Monson is also a ball-hawking defensive back for his local football league (see his Twitter profile). Jene Bramel was sent across the pond to scout him. His report is forthcoming.
In the spirit of Monson’s football position, the PFF writer built a RSP team that I believe places heavy emphasis on taking away the pass as well as testing good passing defenses. He has a strong 1-2 punch at receiver, a promising all-around tight end, and throwing the ball to them is none other than Drew Brees, who makes his first appearance on a RSP Writers Project Team.
Just from the initial scan of Monson’s roster, he has built a unit with defensive backs capable of sticking to receivers like flypaper and relentless edge rushers along the defensive line. While I’m not a fan of some of his depth, it’s easy to nitpick any of these teams in that department. What I do know is that Monson’s team will be competitive as long as it stays healthy and when I say competitive, I mean compiling stats in the left-hand column labeled “W.”
Offense
Nothing like having rapport on your offense. That’s what Monson acquired when he paired Drew Brees with Marques Colston. Photo by Modenadude.
| 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 | Drew Brees | 18 | Maybe Aaron Rodgers is the best quarterback in the game, but for $2 million more it’s not worth the cost difference. Brees is elite and flawless. | |
| QB2 | Zach Robinson | 0.5 | We’re taking the Peyton Manning approach. If Brees goes down we’re sunk, so back ups are development guys we’re interested in. | |
| QB3 | Stephen McGee | 0.5 | McGee has seen game time and can come off the bench and bring something different in case of injury. | |
Running Back Depth Chart
 Want hint that Sam Monson wants a “multiple” offense, look no further than Danny Woodhead. Photo by Beth Hart. |
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| 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 | Chris Ivory | 2 | Ivory provides the inside rush presence for when we need it. He can pound the ball and carry a load inside, but this will be primarily a passing team. | |
| RB2 | WR | Danny Woodhead | 2.5 | Danny Woodhead gives us serious flexibility and will align as a receiver at times as well in this spread offense. Match up problems. |
| RB3 | Aaron Brown | 0.5 | Brown is a player I’ve always liked and felt he could do a job as a Reggie Bush type player for somebody. Will emulate Woodhead’s role. | |
| Jackie Battle | 0.5 | Battle is another hard-nosed runner who can fill multiple roles in the offense and carry the ball well. | ||
Wide Receiver Depth Chart
 The love for Golden Tate among some writers in this project fascinates me. Stay tuned for more about this in Sam Monson’s Q&A. Photo by Amber Grundy. |
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| 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 is the game’s best deep threat. Capable of running off any coverage and breaking loose at any time. | |
| WR2 | Marques Colston | 5.5 | Colston may have the best hands in the game and goes over the middle with a fearlessness few can match. He’s a money possession guy. | |
| WR3 | Danny Amendola | 3 | Amendola is Wes Welker-lite. He’ll move the chains with short yardage catches and multiple breaking routes underneath. | |
| WR4 | Golden Tate | 1.5 | Golden Tate has great hands and some real wiggle to his game. Should be higher up anyone’s depth chart and we’ll work him into the offense. | |
| WR5 | Darius Reynaud | 0.5 | Reynaud is a wide receiver-running back who can do a job for this offense if we get this far down on the depth chart. Also adds value as a return man. | |
| WR6 | Returner | Jaymar Johnson | 0.5 | Jaymar Johnson has speed to burn, and enough quickness to succeed on simple routes. |
Fullback and Tight End Depth Chart
 When it comes to Tony Moeaki’s potential to become an all-around tight end in an NFL offense, I’m on board. The health issues does make the investment a risk. Photo by GoIowaState. |
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| 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) |
| TE1 | Tony Moeaki | 1.5 | Moeaki is a bargain at this price and has receiving skills to be split out, but blocking skills to be an in-line force as well as pass protect. | |
| TE2 | Martellus Bennett | 1.5 | Bennett is a monster blocker but also a huge body who can handle catches despite underachieving in this area. | |
| RB | Jason Snelling | 1 | Jason Snelling is a jack of all trades and can do a number of jobs for the offense, great depth player to have. | |
| H-Back | Hayden Smith | 0.5 | Smith is a former rugby player with awesome development potential. Will earn his spot on special teams but could develop into more. | |
Tackle Depth Chart
 Another Jared Gaither sighting. This time Drew Brees earns the dividends of this left tackle’s skill. Photo by theblackdog2071. |
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| 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) |
| RT1 | Todd Herremans | 5 | Herremans played better than people gave him credit for at right tackle. Always looked more like a tackle than a guard to me, and he’ll backup left tackle if Gaither goes down, prompting a re-shuffle off the offensive line. | |
| LT1 | Jared Gaither | 7 | Gaither is one of the league’s best left tackles, and easily the most physically imposing left tackle in the game. Elite blind side protector for Brees. | |
| RT2 | Ryan Cook | 1 | Ryan Cook will be our swing lineman and can backup the entire right side of the offensive line including center. | |
Guard Depth Chart
 A first-time acquisition of Bobbie Williams as a guard. Sam Monson extols Williams’ virtues below. Photo by Elise Michelle. |
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| 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 | Backup T | Harvey Dahl | 3.5 | Dahl starts at right guard but also played well at right tackle and would move there if Herremans had to move to left tackle at any time. He can handle himself on the edge as well as inside. |
| LG1 | Bobbie Williams | 2.5 | Bobbie Williams is a great veteran player who was still playing well before injury. Moving to the more enclosed left guard spot will only help him. | |
| RG2 | John Greco | 0.5 | Always played well when he has gotten playing time, Greco will be off the bench at right guard if needed. | |
| LG2 | Ryan Wendell | 0.5 | Solid backup player graded well in limited snaps last year for Pro Football Focus, we would not be disappointed if he had to play. | |
| 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 | Will Mongomery | 1.5 | Played very well last season at center and at this price is easily the best value guy around. | |
| C2 | Joe Hawley | 1 | Can backup center and guard for us, but wouldn’t be expected to play without injury striking. | |
Cornerback and Safety Depth Chart
 “Revis! I dunno who the commissioner of the RSP Writers Project is, but there’s no way you can play on 20 teams, is there?” Photo by Marianne O’Leary. |
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| 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) |
| LCB1 | Darrelle Revis | 12 | Will play much like the Jets use him – tracking No.1 receivers and taking them out of the game in man coverage. | |
| SS1 | Tyvon Branch | 5 | In the box strong safety and will take hybrid wide receivers and tight ends out of the game in man coverage when needed. Best man coverage skills of any safety and the only player capable of neutralizing these new super athlete tight end. | |
| RCB1 | Lardarius Webb | 8 | May emerge into Revis territory next season and is capable of playing left and right corner as well as the slot – vital to accommodate Revis tracking receivers | |
| FS1 | Returner | Danieal Manning | 2.5 | Excellent single-high free safety. He has range like nobody outside of Ed Reed and will be using it in a lot of Cover-1 calls. |
| LCB2 | Nickel CB | Chris Cook | 0.5 | Has awesome coverage ability and physical tools like few cornerbacks. Vikings gambled on him and he’ll play the edge in nickel sets for us with either Revis or Webb taking the slot. |
| SS2 | Craig Steltz | 0.5 | Tough, solid strong safety that could and should be starting for somebody. We’re happy to have him on the roster as backup and special teams help | |
| RCB2 | Roderick Hood | 0.5 | Another player that just plays well and never stays long. Great depth. | |
| FS2 | Dwight Lowery | 0.5 | Can play cornerback and safety and gives us some flexibility and great depth should injuries hit. | |
| Sterling Moore | 0.5 | Showed a lot of very good play in limited snaps for the Patriots last season. We’ll carry him and see what he can develop into | ||
| Mistral Raymond | 0.5 | You have to have at least one awesome name in the team. Raymond will start for the Vikings this year but is worth a look for this team as depth and a player who will run all day on special teams. | ||
Linebacker Depth Chart
 Middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch is a nice bargain for Sam Monson’s team. He’s not a superstar, but he can get the job done and then some when surrounded with talent. Photo by Tim Kernell. |
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| 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 | Stephen Tulloch | 6 | With a potentially light interior defensive lineman we need Tulloch to shore things up behind it. Unrivaled ability to cover a wide interior and clean things up. | |
| WLB1 | Erin Henderson | 3.5 | Played like one of the best outside linebackers in football last year, can play all three positions giving flexibility and does everything well, will be a three-down player. | |
| SLB1 | Chris Chamberlain | 0.5 | Earned a look at a two-down SAM linebacker last year. Solid vs the run. | |
| MLB2 | D.J. Smith | 0.5 | Very talented backup at middle linebacker and should be starting for the Packers (though won’t), but he provides some excellent cover at value. | |
| SLB2 | David Vobora | 0.5 | Vobora is a very capable two-down SAM linebacker who attacks lead blocks like few players. Great depth at the spot and may push to start with a good enough showing | |
| WLB2 | Brian Rolle | 0.5 | WLB backup who could push to start if Henderson slips. | |
| Heath Farwell | 0.5 | Special teams ace. | ||
Defensive End and Tackle Depth Chart
 Letroy Guion will be the Vikings NT this year and that suits Monson fine for depth with his squad. Photo by Michael Wifall. |
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| 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 | Trent Cole | 11.5 | May be the best 4-3 defensive end in football. Relentless, athletic, great against the run, and almost impossible to prevent applying pressure. He will be elite in this defense. | |
| DT1 | Kyle D. Williams | 8 | Became a terror in the Buffalo Bills defense. Amazing quickness, burst, and leverage. Surrounded by these players, he will be unstoppable. | |
| DT2 | Justin Smith | 11 | Plays 3-4 defensive end for the 49ers but plies his trade as a three-tech in sub-packages. Could easily handle that role full time. May be the most dominant defensive player in the game. | |
| LDE1 | Brian Robison | 3 | More than good enough to take advantage of favorable match ups given his teammates. Brings pressure constantly, doesn’t play run badly and rarely comes off field. | |
| DT3 | Terrance Knighton | 0.5 | Two-down run stuffer and rotational body when needed. | |
| DT4 | Letroy Guion | 0.5 | Will play nose tackle for Vikings this year but will be developed as three-tech backup here, where he has physical tools to succeed. Quick, athletic, light, and he can penetrate and disrupt. | |
| RDE2 | John Chick | 0.5 | Talented situational pass rusher. Won’t play many snaps, but will be effective when he does. | |
| LDE2 | Raheem Brock | 0.5 | Capable 4-3 defensive end backup that can play pass and run well enough if called upon. | |
| Final Special Teams Roster | ||||
| 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 | Jay Feely | 1 | Feeley is a solid kicker at a decent value, and his career will be helped by not needing to Kick off. | |
| P1 | Pat McAfee | 1.5 | Decent punter who adds value by being able to kick off. | |
| Kick Coverage Team | |||
| Role (optional) | Name | Commentary (Why did you choose the player for special teams and what Role (optional) will he play?) | |
| OU1 | Mistral Raymond | Capable player to run down field, stay in his lane and tackle. Focused on good special teams players as our depth, so this applies to all the coverage team. | |
| OU2 | Darius Reynaud | ||
| OU3 | Sterling Moore | ||
| OU4 | Roderick Hood | ||
| OU5 | Craig Steltz | ||
| OU6 | Aaron Brown | ||
| IN1 | Heath Farwell | ||
| IN2 | Brian Rolle | ||
| IN3 | David Vobora | ||
| IN4 | John Chick | ||
| IN5 | Hayden Smith | ||
| Punt Coverage Team | |||
| Role (optional) | Name | Commentary (Why did you choose the player for special teams and what Role (optional) will he play?) | |
| Gunner(SE1) | Jaymar Johnson | Two speed guys for the gunners, and a mixture of linemen and linebackers who can run and cover on the line. | |
| Gunner(SE2) | Darius Reynaud | ||
| RG | David Vobora | ||
| LS | Joe Hawley | ||
| LG | John Chick | ||
| SB1 | Brian Rolle | ||
| SB2 | Heath Farwell | ||
| RT | Ryan Wendell | ||
| LT | Ryan Cook | ||
| Backup | |||
| PP | Jason Snelling | ||
Trent coke best defensive end in football? JPP is the best. He’ll prove it sooner than later. Also Jared Allen is great too.. Sorry. Appreciate that Trent Cole is great. But JPP will dominate this year. But I like the Drew Breeze pickup. Paired w Colston and Wallace this team will be scary. Wallace could easily score 15-20 tds w/Breeze at the helm. Another great job by a fantastic wrighter
Wonderful blog you have here but I was wanting to know
if you knew of any user discussion forums that cover the same topics discussed here?
I’d really love to be a part of community where I can get opinions from other knowledgeable individuals that share the same interest. If you have any recommendations, please let me know. Cheers!
Can’t say I do Wayne.