ffdh win championships

fourth week update

Hmm. A good team and yet...

Leftwich is simply not a quarterback that will take you to a Superbowl. He's a competent back-up. In fact, if he went down they would win more games as the actual back-up is a better game manager.

Fred Taylor is a fantasy disappointment. After one promising break-out year he has been drafted and drafted as each new owner falls into the luring, seductive trap of his obvious potential.

At best he's an option as Maurice Jones-Drew solidifies his great desire into a promising career.

These two are a study in contrasts. One an aging underachiever with a perfect running-back's body. The other an undersized rookie hungry for more then the money, for the respect of his peers.

If your running-back options are weak then get Jones-Drew because he will score.

Leftwich just can't find his receivers consistently. He has good ones too. Ernest Wilford, Matt Jones, Reggie Williams, all young and talented. All fantasy duds.

Leftwich just can't seem to read defenses and execute complicated plays. He was the courageous college quarterback who was carried by teammates between plays. He was a McNabb, another Culpepper, he was part of the new mold of quarterbacks; the large, strong, athletic gridiron gods.

But, Leftwich is no McNabb.

The schedule is difficult and too often the offense will falter and the defense will be left trying to overcompensate.

I'm not excited about the kicker here either.

86. Byron Leftwich

I'm not exactly sure why Leftwich has been a fantasy disappointment year after year. I've certainly put forth some theories already.

I think the team isn't sure either, but, they are committed to him.

My brother feels that the light hasn't gone off in Leftwich's head. I'm skeptical that it ever will, but, TJ puts him on his team every year.

He's a Cannon Fodder player.

This offense just can't seem to come together since they let go of Brunell. The running game has been anemic, the receivers a rotating crop, and the line play average at best.

Yet, Jacksonville is always dangerous.

They are the foil to Manning's Colts, the second fiddle, the also rans.

They did nothing in the off-season to make anyone feel that they can overcome the Colts and make it deep into the post season.

They are a winning team with an aura of failure hanging around them. They feel like the Stockton-Malone Jazz in the Jordan era.

With a very good defense and a solid, tough-minded coach, what holds them back, year after year, from the ultimate success?

They say no one ever remembers second place.

The quarterback is the emotional leader of the team. His personality defines them, his confidence elevates them; so, his deficiencies, eventually, are glaringly evident.

Leftwich cemented his place in college football lore when he was basket carried by two teammates between plays in an important late season game. His fortitude and bravery cemented him in the draft as a Culpepper/McNabb clone.

'05 19th, 65 total: 7, 0, 6, 6, 6, 3, Bye, 7, 10, 4, 16, 0, out, out, out, out, out

'04 17th, 76 total: 3, 3, 4, 8, 11, 16, 9, 1, Bye, out, out, 4, 4, 7, 6, 0, 0

'03 16th, 66total: 0, 3, 3, 5, 10, 6, Bye, 5, 3, 11, 0, 0, 8, 3, 3, 3, 3

I'm sorry, but, I don't think Leftwich will help anyone win fantasy championships this year, either.

Jacksonville has a very difficult schedule, with a very tough start. If they start 0-4 then things will go downhill from there. Anticipate a .500 season or better. The defense is just too good, the O-line is solid and there are decent runningbacks and two, ready-to-break-out, receivers.

Maybe Leftwich can find his grove, his bravery, his confidence and lead his team back into the playoffs.

Maybe.

74. Matt Jones

At 6' 6" 242, Jones, the former quarterback, is tight end sized. If he succeeds to elite status as a receiver, he may create a new mold to aspire to.

Leftwich seems to have plateaued in talent. By putting the hard working 6' 2" Wilford and Jones into his sights it will be hard to miss them. At 6' 5", Leftwich and his receivers will tower above the field and play in a different atmosphere then the grinders on the field.

Jones is still developing his receiving skills, and, is becoming a dangerous weapon on the field.

I expect his numbers to rise this year and with all the buzz around him it will be interesting to see how soon owners draft him.

I think he is on the rise and next year will be even better. He is officially, a sleeper.

Jacksonville will take a small step back this year, but, will still be a very formidable team.

Jones is a great late round choice for yours.

66. Ernest Wilford

Wilford has been the designated favorite player of Tuesday Morning Quarterback. (accessible on ESPN.com, page 2) Now that he's coming into his own, there will be some prescient pride shown by the Easterbrook clan.

He is tall (6' 3"), hungry and talented. He's in his third year; touted as the breakout year for receivers.

With Jimmy Smith retiring, he has a shot at being the #1 wide-out and I think he will succeed in holding onto the job.

Byron Leftwich is only an adequate passer. His numbers, year after year, are not spectacular. He is a physical specimen, but, as a field general, he seems to come up short.

The Jaguars are an interesting study in N.F.L. football.

Under a John Fox protege in Jack Del Rio, their defense is a clone of Carolina. As much as you can be with different personnel, Del Rio has created a formidable, well coached group.

Unfortunately, he is defensive minded and desperately needs an offensive genius to get him over the hump. It's ironic that Brunell is on track for the Superbowl, while Jacksonville, can't win their division and struggles to make the playoffs.

The running game is alternately brilliant and missing, and, above that reigns the dangerous but easily diffused (did I say confused?) Leftwich.

Jacksonville is strong and dangerous, but, until they figure out why the offense doesn't seem to work, they will not win the Superbowl.

Maybe they just keep the wrong people too long. Brunell wasn't finished when they brought in the Culpepper/McNabb clone Leftwich, and, Taylor has been letting them down for a while.

They have a promising young player in LeBrandon Toefield, and the U.C.L.A. rookie.

Matt Jones is a huge talent and Reggie Williams is fast.

Most cornerbacks are rather small. If the runningbacks can get close to the end-zone it will be hard for Leftwich to miss either of his starting giants; or, at least Del Rio hopes so.

Wilford has been progressing nicely and is really, in the best place to succeed. I look for him to have an excellent season and a long career.   

62. Fred Taylor

OK, let's see if I'm wrong.

'05, 41st, 31 pts., 13 games under 2 pts., 5 to injury, one 100 yd. game, one 150 yd. game.

'04, 30th, 41 pts., 11 games under 2 pts., 2 to injury, three 100 yd. games, one 150 yd. game.

'03, 17th, 58 pts., 11 games under two pts.0 to injury, three 100 yd. games, three 150 yd. games.

'02, 12th, 66 pts., 8 games under two pts., 0 to injury, four 100 yd. games, one 150 yd. games.

Most distressing is the loss of his receiving yards. Most of his career, Taylor, was like a poor man's Marshall Faulk.

He has had magnificent games. The promise of his fantasy potential has had him picked higher then he should have been every year. He is a favorite among list pundits and rookies. He is an archetypal, cannon fodder player.

He always comes in to camp with the buzz of how much he's worked out, and, what a great year he will have if he can keep healthy.

I can't believe it.

I love it when someone takes him because that leaves a player, I'd rather have, untouched.

Jones is developing the toughness, layers of muscle, and experience necessary to capture the primary runningback's job, but, is listed as the fullback. Alvin Pearman has Westbrook size and will only be a contributor.

Yet, LeBrandon Toefield has the right size, and is slowly gaining respect. This could easily be the year he steps from Taylor's shadow.

Oh, and I guess I'm not wrong.

Still, Taylor's mystique earns him this spot on the list, but, keep an eye on the young Toefield.