2016 Preview – Batavia Colliders

The Colliders won the division last year, despite having to start QBs called…

[looks back on 2015 games he blacked out]

 

Colin Kaepernick

Brian Hoyer

Michael Vick

Case Keenum [shudders]

 

Really? Case Keenum? At least he stepped up and scored 2.67 points when pressed into action.

Goddamn.

Hopefully Roethlisberger stays healthy this year. If not, they’re in better shape with Osweiler as the backup, a guy they drafted in the 6th round way back when we had a 6th round, and held onto desperately just so he could one day shine as a backup QB.

But it wasn’t all terrible quarterback play in 2015. One of the darts thrown in the 2014 draft stuck in the play of Devonta Freeman, who overcame nearly being benched to lead all running backs in scoring. Starting in week 3, Freeman had the following scoring run:

33.15

29.35

21.05

25.10

Though Freeman never cracked 20 again, that was a fun time to be a fantasy owner. Sometimes we forget to relish the good times, because most of the time it seems like the fantasy gods are sadistic.

While the offense clicked in 2015, despite the QB carousel, the defense left a lot to be desired. Outside of Lavonte David, the Colliders had no reliable scorers on defense. So, has Hammond addressed the glaring weakness in his team for the 2016 campaign? Let’s take a look under the hood.

QB: Ben Roethlisberger and Brock Osweiler. Roethlisberger is definitely in that “good enough” range, with a small chance of cracking the top-5. If he has big games with Antonio Brown that’s twice the scoring, which is nice.

RB: The Colliders are in better shape this year than in years past, with Freeman and Jeremy Langford getting the start. While there’s no way that Freeman comes close to his 2015 campaign, a semi-consistent starter is all that Coach Hammond asks of the position. Isaiah Crowell, the only remaining RB from the 57 late round picks the Colliders have made over the past few years, is there for a spot start or two. These players can hopefully hold down the fort until the Derrick Henry era is ushered in.

WR: It’s a pretty good feeling when you have two of the top five receivers in football. Antonio Brown is straight up fun to own. Julio Jones isn’t half bad either. Rounding out the starting foursome is Brandin Cooks and Alshon Jeffery. If Jeffery can’t stay healthy (likely,) they’ve got up and comers Devin Funchess, Phillip Dorsett, and Kevin White to step in. They also added Corey Coleman this year. It’s a strong group, and Hammond will be sad when he has to break them up.

TE: There is only one on the team: Vance MacDonald. The position was brutal last year and it’s even more brutal this year, especially with Hammond being caught flat-footed on the TE bonanza in free agency.

PK: Justin Tucker, Pig Fucker.

DT: Hammond’s got to like his chances with Johnathan Hankins and Sen’Derrick Marks. These guys are beasts when they are healthy, but they’re hardly ever healthy. Hopefully one can stay alive for a decent stretch of the season. They cost next to nothing, as they should.

DE: The whole Olivier Vernon saga has already been analyzed, so I’ll spare you a retelling. Needless to say, he was only signed to a one-year deal. Hammond also picked up Chris Baker on the cheap, and for the first time in a long time drafted a DE. Adolphus Washington might hold down the position for Batavia in the future.

LB: A pretty good group here, led by Lavonte David and Alec Ogletree. Hammond had to pay dearly to keep the RFA Ogletree thanks to bitter rival Franssen also understanding that Ogletree’s move to MLB signals a big season. Bobby Wagner and Ryan Shazier round it out. Shazier has shown flashes but hasn’t managed to stay on the field. He’ll have to put it together in this, his contract year. The Colliders’ took a flyer on LB Leonard Floyd as well.

CB: The position was mismanaged during free agency with the head-scratching signing of Patrick Peterson. Peterson has since been dumped in favor of rookie Vernon Hargreaves, who went undrafted. Tramon Williams may or may not hold down the starting corner position in Cleveland.

S: Kam Chancellor returns, and newcomers Eric Berry and Clayton Geathers will battle it out for playing time. The three safeties cost just over $3, and Hammond calls the competition “open.”

Listen, this is a good team. It’s good enough to run away with most divisions, but they should get a strong push from Fransburg this year.  Cleveland has also improved, and Madtown always has the 40-point Watt game in them. It’s important to note that there isn’t any money left in Batavia. If they get hit hard with the injury bug, they’re going to have to rely on their depth. As much as I’d like to predict a 15-0 season, that’s just not likely (though they did go 12-1 during one regular season. Didn’t win the title, though.)

I think we’ll see a 9-4 team here. Who knows which tiebreaker with Fransburg will determine the division winner.

© 2016 – 2019, Josh Hammond. All rights reserved.