bored
One Sexy Lemur
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Well, true to my name, I'm a little bored (coming down from watching the USA/Italy game), and I just saw an article from the NFL section of Sports Illustrated's web site posing the question of what would the American team be if American Football, and I, as any fan with a pulse would, started thinking about how I'd do it, so I'm asking my fellow Hypesters (at least the ones who actually know/enjoy the sport) what there picks would be for an All-American team competing on an international level would be. And yes, I did do a thread slightly similar to this several months ago. I don't care. Do you know many threads have been made about how people would organize X-Mean teams? Okay, on with it:
Quarterbacks: Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Matt Hasselback
I'd put Brady in as the starter, since big games are his forte, with Manning and Hasselback as two competent signal callers if the situation should arise. This is the same trio the SI writer chose, and for good reason.
Running Backs: Edgerrin James, Larry Johnson, Clinton Portis, Mack Strong, Tony Richardson
My personal favorite half-back is Tiki Barber, but I left him out in favor of Portis, who is far more talented then most give him credit for. James starts due to pure skill, while LJ can be brought in to shake things up if a defense is having a good day stuffing the run, since he tends to make mince-meat of those types. Strong and Richardson are at equal footing for full-back, as both can clear major lanes, and when Johnson and Richardson are together, magic always happens.
Offensive Linemen: Willie Roaf, Jonathan Ogden, Orlando Pace, Tarik Glenn, Steve Hutchinson, Brian Waters, Alan Faneca, Will Shields, Kevin Mawae, Olin Kreutz
Roaf, the best OT of all time, is an obvious starter, with Pace on the other side for good measure. Hutchinson and Faneca start in the OG positions, with the Chiefs one-two punch of Waters and Shields for depth. Kreutz anchors the starting line.
Tight Ends: Jeremy Shockey, Tony Gonzalez, Alge Crumpler
Antonio Gates is left out in favor of better blockers, which is what the tight end position, when on the field with a team of All-Star wide outs, should focus on. Crumpler starts for when they do want to throw to the tight end.
Wide Recievers: Hines Ward, Torry Holt, Marvin Harrison, Steve Smith, Joe Jurevicious
Don't tell Pittsburgh's front office, but Ward is the man, and in an offense that knew better than to waste him, his numbers would leave T.O. and Randy Moss in the dust every year. He starts, along with Harrison. Smith also acts as return specialist, while Jurevicious is the target in the end zone.
Defensive End: Michael Strahan, Dwight Freeney, Jared Allen, Richard Seymour
Sack monsters all, as well as good run-stuffing at the line. Strahan and Freeney start, due to experience.
Defensive Tackles: Kris Jenkins, Marcus Stroud, Casey Hampton, Richard Seymour (again)
Hole-plugging specialists who can brutalize offenses on good days. Seymour plays both positions, since he's played at All-Pro level at both, and it's good for depth. Stroud and Jenkins start.
Linebackers: Joey Porter, Derrick Brooks, Julian Peterson, Lance Briggs, Brian Urlacher, Zach Thomas
Porter, Brooks, and Urlacher starting. If you have to question any of these people, you've never watched an NFL game.
Defensive Backs: Champ Bailey, Ty Law, Ronde Barber, DeAngelo Hall, Troy Polamalu, Roy Williams, John Lynch, Ed Reed
The cornerbacks are all about speed and craftiness. Bailey and Law start, with Hall as the nickel-back. Williams and Polamalu start at safety for strength.
Kicker: Adam Vinatieri
Good kickers abound, but Vinatieri, like Tom Brady, is all about big games, and you need a clutch kicker.
Punter: Todd Sauerbraun
Because why not?
Now, amuse yourselves.
Quarterbacks: Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Matt Hasselback
I'd put Brady in as the starter, since big games are his forte, with Manning and Hasselback as two competent signal callers if the situation should arise. This is the same trio the SI writer chose, and for good reason.
Running Backs: Edgerrin James, Larry Johnson, Clinton Portis, Mack Strong, Tony Richardson
My personal favorite half-back is Tiki Barber, but I left him out in favor of Portis, who is far more talented then most give him credit for. James starts due to pure skill, while LJ can be brought in to shake things up if a defense is having a good day stuffing the run, since he tends to make mince-meat of those types. Strong and Richardson are at equal footing for full-back, as both can clear major lanes, and when Johnson and Richardson are together, magic always happens.
Offensive Linemen: Willie Roaf, Jonathan Ogden, Orlando Pace, Tarik Glenn, Steve Hutchinson, Brian Waters, Alan Faneca, Will Shields, Kevin Mawae, Olin Kreutz
Roaf, the best OT of all time, is an obvious starter, with Pace on the other side for good measure. Hutchinson and Faneca start in the OG positions, with the Chiefs one-two punch of Waters and Shields for depth. Kreutz anchors the starting line.
Tight Ends: Jeremy Shockey, Tony Gonzalez, Alge Crumpler
Antonio Gates is left out in favor of better blockers, which is what the tight end position, when on the field with a team of All-Star wide outs, should focus on. Crumpler starts for when they do want to throw to the tight end.
Wide Recievers: Hines Ward, Torry Holt, Marvin Harrison, Steve Smith, Joe Jurevicious
Don't tell Pittsburgh's front office, but Ward is the man, and in an offense that knew better than to waste him, his numbers would leave T.O. and Randy Moss in the dust every year. He starts, along with Harrison. Smith also acts as return specialist, while Jurevicious is the target in the end zone.
Defensive End: Michael Strahan, Dwight Freeney, Jared Allen, Richard Seymour
Sack monsters all, as well as good run-stuffing at the line. Strahan and Freeney start, due to experience.
Defensive Tackles: Kris Jenkins, Marcus Stroud, Casey Hampton, Richard Seymour (again)
Hole-plugging specialists who can brutalize offenses on good days. Seymour plays both positions, since he's played at All-Pro level at both, and it's good for depth. Stroud and Jenkins start.
Linebackers: Joey Porter, Derrick Brooks, Julian Peterson, Lance Briggs, Brian Urlacher, Zach Thomas
Porter, Brooks, and Urlacher starting. If you have to question any of these people, you've never watched an NFL game.
Defensive Backs: Champ Bailey, Ty Law, Ronde Barber, DeAngelo Hall, Troy Polamalu, Roy Williams, John Lynch, Ed Reed
The cornerbacks are all about speed and craftiness. Bailey and Law start, with Hall as the nickel-back. Williams and Polamalu start at safety for strength.
Kicker: Adam Vinatieri
Good kickers abound, but Vinatieri, like Tom Brady, is all about big games, and you need a clutch kicker.
Punter: Todd Sauerbraun
Because why not?
Now, amuse yourselves.
