| Position | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QB | Ryan Leaf | JaMarcus Russell | Heath Shuler | |||
| RB | Lawrence Phillips | Ki-Jana Carter | Trent Richardson | Curtis Enis | Blair Thomas | |
| WR | Charles Rogers | Justin Blackmon | Johnny Lam Jones | AJ Jenkins | Peter Warrick | Troy Williamson |
| TE | Derek Brown | David LaFleur | ||||
| T | Tony Mandarich | Jason Smth | Andre Johnson | Mike Williams | Derek Sherrod | |
| G | Steve Schindler | Robert Gallery | ||||
| C | Steve Everitt | |||||
| DE | Steve Emtman | Courtney Brown | Dion Jordan | Aaron Maybin | Kenneth Sims | |
| DT | Jonathan Sullivan | Reggie Rogers | Dewayne Robertson | Wendell Bryant | ||
| ILB | Mike Junkin | Brian Bosworth | Quentin Coryatt | Trev Alberts | ||
| OLB | Aundray Bruce | Vernon Gholston | Aaron Curry | Keith McCants | Huey Richardson | |
| CB | Bruce Pickens | Rashard Anderson | Chris Canty | Andre Woolfolk | ||
| S | Patrick Bates | Mossy Cade | Rickey Dixon | Matt Elam | ||
| K | Roberto Aguayo | |||||
| P | Russell Erxleben | |||||
| LS | Tyler Schmitt | |||||
| Head Coach | Bobby Petrino | |||||
| OC | Steve Spurrier | |||||
| DC | Greg Schiano |
The quarterback position has arguably the 2 greatest busts of all time. I went back and fourth a lot over whether to start Leaf or Russell, but ultimately gave Leaf the start for his off the field issues. The offense would run a 3 wide spread out of the gun. Phillips gets the start at running back for his multitude of off-the-field issues that kept him from performing on the field. Carter provides back-up duties, while Richardson gets the short yardage carries as he blindly smashes into the line. The wide receivers line up with Rodgers at the Z, Blackmon at the X, and Lam in the slot. The offensive line is filled with tackles, as their position lends itself to higher draft positions and a greater bust probability. The “Best Offensive Line Prospect Ever” gets the start at LT (drafted just ahead of Barry Sanders, Derrick Thomas, and Deion Sanders, in that order). The RT is another failed 2nd overall pick. Yet another 2nd overall pick, Gallery gets the start at one of the guard spots (despite being drafted as a tackle), as he was a serviceable guard after failing to live up to his draft position.
The defense would run a base 3-4 cover 3. A pair of former 1st-overall picks take the starting DE spots. Sullivan takes the NT after eating his way to bust status. Junkin and Bosworth woud start at Mike and Will with Gholston and Bruce at Sam and Jack. Both Jordan and Maybin would see time at edge rusher in passing situations. Pickens and Anderson start at the corners, but for different reasons. Pickens’ inexperience left him vulnerable to getting smoked and Anderson couldn’t stay off the smoke. Bates at FS and Cade at SS, both on the roster for their off-the-field legal troubles after being 1st-round picks.
Aguayo earns the kicker spot even only having one year under his belt. You can’t be that high of a pick as a kicker and be that bad. Erxleben was the 11th overall pick by the Saints in the 1979 draft (a punter in the first round!) and never came close to his 3-time All-American Status. He averaged only 37 yards per punt his rookie season. Schmitt handles the long snapping duties after being the first true long snapper to be drafted, then only lasting one season due to injury. UPDATE: Aguayo was cut by the Bucs before the start of his sophmore season
Petrino gets the head coaching job for his bizarre, quick exit from the Falcons. Spurrier at the OC for his terrrible attempt at the fun and gun with former Florida players with the Skins. Schiano gets the DC spot for diving at olinemen on kneel downs during his awful time with the Bucs.
Leave a Reply