Redwood Shores, CA -Team TAG opened the 2001 season with a strong sense of optimism. However a combination of injuries and dismal performances have left the team at 5-7. Here are our expert's grades and comments for the TAG players.
Donovan McNabb, QB: Rumors have GM Ping Shen renaming this squad "Donovan's Dudes" for next year. Seriously, though, Donovan has been the one consistent force for Team TAG this season. His numbers, 18TDs, 6 INTs, and 2 rushing TDs, are not unheard of, but are reflective of the inconsistent nature of the receivers that McNabb has had to work with. While his fantasy scoring has been a tad too inconsistent this year, we look for Donovan to be a top 5 QB for the next ten years. Grade: A-
Stephen Davis, RB: Davis, a second round draft pick, has put up respectable rushing totals this year, 895 yards through 11 games, well on pace for another 1000 yard season. But, and this is a big BUT, he has scored only one TD all year. Davis' inability to find the end zone is reason enough to label him a "bust" for this season. League experts had expected Davis to post between 10 and 15 TDs this year. His lack of scoring is inexplicable, and GM Shen is surely very frustrated. Davis' obvious talent and second round pick status will still make him an obvious keeper selection. Grade: C+
Emmitt Smith, RB: Like Stephen Davis, Emmitt has scored only one TD all season. Unlike Davis, Emmitt has not posted respectable yardage numbers, with only 589 yards through 11 games. As Smith continues to age and as his injuries continue to mount, one has to wonder how much longer Smith will play. As a seventh round pick, Smith is not as big of a disappointment as Davis. However, there are numerous RBs in the league who went undrafted who have outplayed Emmitt. Grade: D+
Michael Bennett, RB: Well, the jury is still out on Bennett. Certainly, his numbers are disappointing. But anyone who expected a rookie to step in and produce Robert Smith-like numbers in his first season may have been expecting a bit much. To be fair, the entire Viking offense has struggled, making life even harder for the rookie running back. However, you would figure that nearly anyone on the Viking team would have found the end zone at least once (Bennett does have one receiving TD, but 0 rushing) in 11 games. With Bennett failing to score one rushing TD, we can say that, 1) the TAG RBs are on pace to score one TD per month, and 2) That Donovan McNabb has the same number of rushing TDs as all three TAG RBs combined. Maybe they should call this team, "Mount McNabb." Bennett's youth, blazing speed, and natural running ability make him an intruiging keeper prospect. Shen certainly has his hands full with this decision. Grade: C
Keyshawn Johnson, WR: Well, if you thought that the TAG RB core had a hard time finding the end zone, just look at Key. He's now 2 catches away from setting the NFL record for most receptions without a TD catch. For anyone else, 83 receptions for 976 yards after 11 games would make for a standout year, but the zero in the TD column is a big big negative. We can only surmise that this season has been an aberration for Keyshawn and that the USC product will return to his normal, productive, touchdown scoring ways next season, making him a guaranteed keeper selection. Grade: B+
Marcus Robinson, WR: A talented enigma of a WR, if ever there was one. In the two games he played this year, Robinson posted 23 receptions for 269 yards and two scores (or two more than Keyshawn has scored in 11 games, or the same number of TDs that the TAG RBs have combined to score in 33 total games). Unfortunately for TAG, Robinson not only tore up opposing corners, but also decided to tear up his ligaments in his knee in week 4. Who knows where this team would be with a healthy Marcus Robinson. His injury, combined with his history of injuries, make him a very risky but also a potentially very rewarding keeper pick. Grade: Incomplete.
James Thrash, WR: Thrash has been the one pleasant surprise on this team. Through 11 games Thrash has caught 44 passes for 575 yards and, most importantly, 7 touchdowns. Surprisingly enough, Thrash is the leading WR on this team and is one of Donovan McNabb's favorite redzone targets. Grade: A
Chris Chambers, WR: A mid season acquisition by Ping Shen, Chambers is perhaps the most exciting WR on the TAG team. With 31 receptions for a mind bending 604 yards and 5 scores in his rookie season, Chambers is clearly loaded with potential and is polished enough to excel right away at the NFL level. Chambers is the big play threat that every team covets, and TAG would be wise to hang onto him. Grade: A-
Plaxico Burress, WR: Plaxico, in his second year of professional football, has caught 42 passes for 609 yards and 2 scores. While these are certainly respectable numbers, and while Burress is outscoring Keyshawn Johnson 2-0, it must be noted that these numbers still amount to a disappointment for Burress, who many figured to be the next Michael Irvin. Granted, Kordell Stewart is no Troy Aikman, but Plaxico must become a more consistent threat in order to be considered an elite fantasy receiver. Grade: B
Ping Shen, General Manager: This is the guy who managed to find three running backs in the 2001 draft who would combine for 3 TDs after 11 weeks. Same guy who found the receiver who might end up setting the NFL record for most receptions without a touchdown. Same guy who drafted Patrick Ewing, Shawn Kemp, and Vin Baker in the same fantasy basketball draft. Ok, ok...so the basketball stuff doesn't figure into his football grade, but still...Shawn Kemp? After all, we readily admit that we really liked the TAG backfield following the draft. Who wouldn't like a combination of Stephen Davis and Emmitt Smith. We figured those two alone would be a lock for 20TDs this season. Hindsight is 20-20, and it's hard to fault Shen for those picks. Smith was, and should still be considered a great pick in the 7th round. James Thrash was a great pick as well, and Marcus Robinson was too, for at least a couple of games. Once again, it's no fault of the GM that Robinson got hurt. Where you can fault Shen is for not making any moves to help his team get better.
Granted, the player with the most trade value is also the most untradeable player on the team (McNabb). However, suffering through a season with a dismal running attack and a 5-7 record without a single trade should raise a few eyebrows. However, Shen's free agent acquisitions have been solid. Chris Chambers is the top rookie WR, and an excellent keeper pick. Plaxico has contributed to this offense, as has Willie Jackson. So while this team has had a disappointing year, and while we would have liked to see some trades, it's hard to completely fault Shen for the dismal years of Davis, Smith, and Keyshawn. Like they always say, "Who'da thunk it?" Grade: B
Weeks after the actual victory over the Battle Angels in the SuperBowl I, analysts are still shaking their heads in disbelief as they look back at team Buffy's accomplishments this past year.
Monkey's GM Evan Shiue commented after the season, "Roger did a spectacular job over there. While most teams had a few holes somewhere in their lineup, Buffy had none." Commissioner Jon Yang was one of the first into the locker room to congratulate the team after their championship victory. "This game was just an example of what Buffy had been doing all season -- dominating. I certainly don't look forward to playing them next year."
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