DRAFT REDUX
With Training Camp out of the way, let’s see how those early picks went for folks. Who is celebrating and who is saddened. What would they all do different if we did it again? All numbers are based off my personal ratings and might differ from yours slightly as a result.
1. David Meadows, WR, Santa Fe -5
Meadows drops 5 points at training camp, but Santa Fe isn't crying. Instead of being godlike, Meadows merely appears destined for an elite career that will still be worthy of the first pick.
2. Nicholas Castle, QB, Columbus City -2
The first two picks of the draft both sink, but Castle is still going to be an all-star caliber quarterback, no doubts about it.
3. Marc Jensen, RB, Las Vegas 0
Vegas rolls the dice on 90 vol. Jensen and fate smiles with a training camp that didn’t move his numbers an inch. When you coach in Vegas, it pays to gamble apparently.
4. Charlie Robinson, RB, Arkansas -4
One pick later and 50 volatility points less, Robinson drops 4 points. It can be a cruel game sometimes.
5. Francisco Brady, WR, Brooklyn +1
The first player to gain out of training camp. Bomber fans will love having Brady in uniform for years to come! Given the number of available options on the board at this time at this position, Brooklyn needs to pay its scouts extra for picking the correct name to write on the card.
6. Jon Silva, WR, Columbus City -4
In connection with Castle at QB in pick 2, the Assassins have a good future connection here, even if Silva did sink a few points through camp. But given other early WR’s that come later in the draft, the Assassins probably go with a different name at this slot if armed with a crystal ball on draft day.
7. Lawrence Boyer, CB, Reno -13
Ouch! Reno took a chance on a highly volatile Boyer and got burned when he lost 13 points at camp. He will still be useful in the short term, but this is a promising career that won’t materialize.
8. Randy Douglas, WR, Tacoma -3
9. Laurence Powell, WR, Salem +3Two more members of the early wide receiver run on draft day. Powell’s blossoming at training camp makes this look like a wonderful pick here for the Witches.
10. Kenneth Hertz, QB, Perth +2
The Wallabies had wanted to get in on the WR action, but didn’t foresee a scenario where all of the top tier was already gone by the time this pick hit the board. Hertz gaining at camp will soothe some of that ache and also allows the team to carve nearly $10 million from its payroll this season.
11. Vincent Machin, RB, Bennington 0
Machin rounds out the top third of the draft with a training camp performance that didn’t budge him at all. Probably a player Arkansas would take at 1-4 in retrospect.
