Well, it appears we have made it through the minor observation nonsense and are heading face-first into the blood and guts of the real fantasy football evaluation period... Training Camp! I have noticed that the panning for gold tends to be les tainted with the iron pyrites of flash in the pan exhibition game monsters (like say, Robert Meachum the Saints WR or Dominic Hixon WR, NYG - who both looked like Jerry Rice's secret sons at times before anything actually counted and then disappeared like morning fog with the sunrise when it did). Camp, in short, is the real sorting grounds for roster cuts and starting slot decisions for the great mass of players who are truly in the coach's balance.
In the meantime, there seems to be a number of "slip through the cracks" pieces of info which I am happy to post and pass your way...
First off, for all of you IDP leaguers out there who are hunting that elusive super sleeper sack artist in the waining rounds of your draft, I would throw you this little bone. . . Cameron Wake.
"Uhhmm... Who???" you ask... well, that reaction is well understood but get ready to learn that name as it is a distinct possibility that he could be the surprise defensive player of the year in the NFL in 2009. Briefly, Wake was a superstar CFL sack-monster who has been the CFL's Defensive Player of the Year the last TWO YEARS! Feel free to try and remember the last person in either the NFL or CFL (or NFLE, AFL, etc. for that matter) to pull that trick off... now to put this little pick-up in better perspective for you, keep in mind that he now potentially moves from DE to OLB (or even to DT/NT to ILB) and vice-versa through out the game (hell, during ANY PLAY!) with 2008 NFL sack leader JoeyPorter and 2007 Defensive MVP/sack leader Jason Taylor (among other dangerous Dolphin Defenders) drawing added blocking attention and a vastly upgraded secodary (to slow opponents' quick route passes) and young stud D-Line over the last 15 months since the 'Parcells-Soprano syndicate' took ov'a da sout' beec', yo'. Even for regular DST fantasy needs, you may want to consider the possibility of Miami if these pieces seem to be meshing. As an added bonus... you may want to watch a rookie WR turned CB from Utah named Sean Smith (?) there in Miami now too... impressive physically (plays like a 7 footer) and even while just learning the position in college was simply incredible!
More tidbits to come... stay tuned and join as a follower!
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Cameron Wake turned out to be quite the tidbit for the last 5 seasons after all, it seems. As per Wikipedia:
ReplyDelete"Wake started the first game of his NFL career during the 2009 season against the Bills in week four and responded with two sacks, four tackles for a loss, and a forced fumble. During the 2010 season Wake had a memorable Week 6 against the Packers. Wake had 3 sacks including one on 3rd down in overtime bringing his total to 6 sacks in 5 games already surpassing his total last year of 5½ sacks with limited playing time. He ended a game against the Jets with a sack on quarterback Mark Sanchez completing his second of the game. Cameron Wake would lead the NFL in sacks at one point and eventually finished 3rd in the NFL (2nd in the AFC) in sacks. By the end of the season, Wake had recorded 14 sacks, 57 tackles, and 3 forced fumbles.
Wake was named a starter for the 2011 AFC Pro Bowl team at outside linebacker.[11] Wake was also named to The Sporting News 2010 All-Pro Team and AP's Second All-Pro team. He was 3rd in the league with 52 quarterback pressures, behind only Chris Long and Julius Peppers.
On May 5, 2012 Wake signed a 4-year extension with the Miami Dolphins reported to be worth a total of $49 million, $20 million of which is guaranteed.[12]
After being moved from Outside Linebacker to Defensive End for the 2012 season, Wake had, arguably, his best season in the NFL. He totaled 53 tackles and 15 sacks, including 4.5 sacks in one game against the Arizona Cardinals. In addition, Wake was named as a starter to the Pro Bowl for the second time, as well as being named a First-Team All-Pro by both the AP and the PFWA for the first time in his career.
Wake earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performance against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 9 of the 2013 season, racking up five tackles, three sacks, two tackles for loss, two quarterback hits and recorded a safety in the Dolphins’ 22–20 overtime victory.[13] Wake sacked Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton in overtime for a safety to end the game, giving the Dolphins a 22–20 victory. It was only the third game in NFL history to end with an overtime safety.[14] He ended the season with 8.5 sacks and another Pro Bowl selection."
* You are welcome.
I hope to renew this blog as of now after a 5 year absence. looking forward to learning your insights!