Once again the Pro Bowl is on the way, and with the now somewhat new "unconferenced" format, we do get to have the exciting Pro Bowl Draft. With the selections in this years draft, Russell Wilson was selected first overall by Michael Irvin. Let's start by looking at the skill position players on Team Irvin.
Team Irvin Offensive Skill Players
First String
Quarterback: Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks
Running Back: Devonta Freeman, Atlanta Falcons
Fullback: Patrick Dimarco, Atlanta Falcons
Wide Receiver: Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons
Wide Receiver: A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals
Tight End: Tyler Eifert, Cincinnati Bengals
In looking at this opening group, it is very heavy on the Falcons and Bengals. Jones and Green are an exciting tandem on the outside, and it will be fun to see who Wilson is going to be able to get the ball to in that lineup. Also, Eifert is arguably the best tight end that Wilson has thrown to this season, which probably explains why the Jimmy Graham experiment didn't go so well in Seattle this year. But with Wilson there is a lot of upside to this set of the roster.
Second String
Quarterback: Jameis Winston, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Running Back: Todd Gurley, St. Louis Rams
Wide Receiver: DeAndre Hopkins, Houston Texans
Wide Receiver: Allen Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars
Tight End: Delanie Walker, Tennessee Titans
When you look at the top, you easily could have the winner and runner up for Rookie of the Year in the backfield. Winston and Gurley are the clear front runners for the award as Marcus Mariota was hurt too frequently and Amari Cooper just didn't finish the same way he started 2015. Hopkins and Robinson are two younger guys who are quickly proving themselves in the NFL.
Third String
Quarterback: Teddy Bridgewater, Minnesota Vikings
Running Back: Latavius Murray, Oakland Raiders
Not too much left here at third string, but Bridgewater should get to throw to better receivers than he normally has, and Murray gets a well deserved nod and will be the second best running back that Bridgewater has handed the ball off to this year.
Team Irvin Offensive Lineman
First String
Offensive Tackle: Tyron Smith, Dallas Cowboys
Offensive Tackle: Branden Albert, Miami Dolphins
Offensive Guard: Zack Martin, Dallas Cowboys
Offensive Guard: David DeCastro, Pittsburgh Steelers
Center: Travis Frederick, Dallas Cowboys
Looks like Irvin could be considered a homer for his former squad. But Dallas has the highest rated offensive line in the NFL, and Smith, Martin, and Frederick are all at their best.
Second String
Offensive Tackle: Andrew Whitworth, Cincinnati Bengals
Offensive Guard: Marshal Yanda, Baltimore Ravens
Center: Alex Mack, Cleveland Browns
So, If you like the AFC North than this is your group that you will like to see rotate in. If they sub them in for all of the Cowboys then you have an all AFC offensive line and the only one out of the North is Albert.
Team Irvin Specialists
Kicker: Dan Bailey, Dallas Cowboys
Punter: Sam Koch, Baltimore Ravens
Returner: Darren Sproles, Philadelphia Eagles
Gunner: Justin Bethel, Arizona Cardinals
Some of the best kickers in the league, and Koch sure was getting plenty of experience with the Ravens this year as they did not meet their preseason expectations. Everyone knows that Sproles is dangerous and it would be great to see him sneak into the backfield or as a wide receiver in the game as well.
Team Irvin Defense
First String
Defensive End: Ezekiel Ansah, Detroit Lions
Defensive Tackle: Geno Atkins, Cincinnati Bengals
Defensive Tackle: Calais Campbell, Arizona Cardinals
Defensive End: Michael Bennett, Seattle Seahawks
Outside Linebacker: Anthony Barr, Minnesota Vikings
Inside Linebacker: NaVorro Bowman, San Francisco 49ers
Outside Linebacker: LaVonte David, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Cornerback: Richard Sherman, Seattle Seahawks
Cornerback: Desmond Trufant, Atlanta Falcons
Safety: Malcolm Jenkins, Philadelphia Eagles
Safety: Reshad Jones, Miami Dolphins
Should be a lot of good ways to rush the passer with all four down lineman and Barr. Bowman and David are both tackling machines. With all due respect to Trufant, the ball is likely to be thrown his way as people will probably want to avoid throwing at Sherman. Jenkins and Jones are well deserved at safety as well.
Second String
Defensive End: Carlos Dunlap, Cincinnati Bengals
Defensive Tackle: Jurrell Casey, Tennessee Titans
Outside Linebacker: Sean Lee, Dallas Cowboys
Inside Linebacker: Derrick Johnson, Kansas City Chiefs
Cornerback: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, New York Giants
Safety: Harrison Smith, Minnesota Vikings
Lee is doing quite well to make the Pro Bowl despite the injuries this season, and brings the total number of Cowboys up to five on Team Irvin. Smith could be arguably a better safety than Jenkins or Jones and could be switched around. Casey is more of a run stuffing defensive tackle, but they might need that based on the other team. Meanwhile, Rodgers-Cromartie will get to be used in nickel packages quite frequently as both teams should be passing the ball a lot.
Team Rice Offensive Skill Players
First String
Quarterback: Eli Manning, New York Giants
Running Back: Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings
Fullback: John Kuhn, Green Bay Packers
Wide Receiver: Odell Beckham, New York Giants
Wide Receiver: Jarvis Landry, Miami Dolphins
Tight End: Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
Well, let's start with the odd. Having John Kuhn as a lead back for Adrian Peterson makes both teams in the NFC North squirm a little bit. Meanwhile, Beckham and Landry both played at LSU and Beckham was one of the Captains and was able to get his quarterback as well in Eli Manning. Kelce is a good pass threat up the middle as well. This is a pretty exciting group to have together.
Second String
Quarterback: Derek Carr, Oakland Raiders
Running Back: Doug Martin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Wide Receiver: Amari Cooper, Oakland Raiders
Wide Receiver: T.Y. Hilton, Indianapolis Colts
Tight End; Gary Barnidge, Cleveland Browns
A younger group and Carr and Cooper get to stay together as Rice keeps their quarterbacks with their receivers. It will be fun to see if Barnidge has to make any miracle catches to make with better quarterbacks throwing the ball in the Pro Bowl. Hilton is still a star despite a quieter year in Indiana. Plus, everyone can see the muscle hamster get the ball going down the field.
Third String
Quarterback: Tyrod Taylor, Buffalo Bills
Running Back: Chris Ivory, New York Jets
If these two gents come in to the game together it will be interesting for all the fans of the AFC East. This writer would like to see them get a read option rushing attack going in the Pro Bowl and then have a fake read option with a nice throw deep to T.Y. Hilton. That would be a thing of beauty.
Team Rice Offensive Lineman
First String
Offensive Tackle: Kyle Long, Chicago Bears
Offensive Tackle: Joe Staley, San Francisco 49ers
Offensive Guard: Richie Incognito, Buffalo Bills
Offensive Guard; Logan Mankins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Center: Nick Mangold, New York Jets
Lots of first round picks in this crew. Kyle Long should get some extra special credibility as he moved from guard to tackle this year and was still awesome. Incognito had a good bounce back year after being back in the league this year after being one of the primary instigators in the "bullygate" scandal, that was quickly forgotten as most NFL fans were primarily moving on to "deflategate."
Second String
Offensive Tackle: Joe Thomas, Cleveland Browns
Offensive Guard: Josh Sitton, Green Bay Packers
Center: Eric Wood, Buffalo Bills
Well, these three gentleman all play up toward the North. Joe Thomas went to the University of Wisconsin, and he'll line up beside Sitton, who of course plays all his home NFL games in Wisconsin. Eric Wood headed up an offensive line that saw a lot of growth in the first year under Head Coach Rex Ryan.
Team Rice Specialists
Kicker: Josh Brown, New York Giants
Punter: Johnny Hekker, St. Louis Rams
Returner: Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks
Gunner: Cedric Peerman, Cincinnati Bengals
Hekker should have a few fake punts up his sleeve as he usually executes a few each season. Lockett is absurdly fast and they should give him a few opportunities since it is an exhibition game. Josh Brown has been a kicker for a long time and he gets to join his Giants teammates in Manning and Beckham so that's always nice.
Team Rice Defense
First String
Defensive End: Khalil Mack, Oakland Raiders
Defensive Tackle: Aaron Donald, St. Louis Rams
Defensive Tackle: Fletcher Cox, Philadelphia Eagles
Defensive End: Everson Griffin, Minnesota Vikings
Outside Linebacker: Tamba Hali, Kansas City Chiefs
Inside Linebacker: Clay Matthews, Green Bay Packers
Outside Linebacker: Julius Peppers, Green Bay Packers
Cornerback: Marcus Peters, Kansas City Chiefs
Cornerback: Vontae Davis, Indianapolis Colts
Safety: Mike Adams, Indianapolis Colts
Safety: Eric Berry, Kansas City Chiefs
When you have the front seven that Team Rice has, who are you going to block? They could literally send any of those front seven guys and you are just going to hope that you have picked the right ones. Peters will be looking to keep up his ways as the Kansas City Thief in the Pro Bowl, as he has two Chiefs and two Colts in the secondary, which should mean they can hopefully communicate with each other fairly well.
Second String
Defensive End: Cameron Jordan, New Orleans Saints
Outside Linebacker: Elvis Dumervil, Baltimore Ravens
Inside Linebacker: Bobby Wagner, Seattle Seahawks
Cornerback: Brent Grimes, Miami Dolphins
Cornerback: Jason Verrett, San Diego Chargers
Safety: Charles Woodson, Oakland Raiders
The first glimpses of the Saints and Chargers are on the roster. Charles Woodson will be playing in his final NFL game. Dumervil and Jordan can both rush the passer as well. Then there are Wagner and Grimes who are both excellent defenders as well.
When it comes down to it, many people will slam the Pro Bowl. But it is an even that should be exciting for the fans. This writer wants to see things that are not normally seen, like Bobby Wagner spying on Russell Wilson in the backfield. Maybe something like Anthony Barr trying to tackle Adrian Peterson, or LaVonte David trying to tackle Doug Martin. Either way, the NFL is doing the best they can to build the hype around the Pro Bowl, and this year's class of players is quite exciting.
