Oklahoma Petros

The Mind Behind the Decisions

Terry Cannon is the mind behind the Petros.
This is his reasoning for the Selections he has made.

 

 

QB:Testaverde Harbaugh
RB:Sanders Murrell Phillips Floyd
WR:Jackson AReed Thigpen Anthony
      McCaffrey Brisby
TE:Dilger EGreen
PK:Kasay Cunningham

Pick	Player		Analysis
1.02	RB Barry Sanders		Trade I see it as a can't lose situation. I was aggressive in the trade talks for 2 reasons; I treasure the possibility of drafting RB Barry Sanders as my 1997 lead back. He's a likely 1500yd/15TD fella. Also, there is a chance that Favre may not be the 1.01 selection, and he available may be to me. By dropping 7 slots in the 2nd round and losing my 5.54 for a 7.74, I was able to gain a prime (and favorite!) player that I could not have otherwise had a chance for. This is my history: Target a stud player and deal to get him (1996 = Trade up to 1.04 for Watters.) and live happily everafter. I'm happy-happy-happy. The only difficult part of this selection is the legend of EMMITT THE GREAT in the background. However, Sanders is the premier rusher in the NFL. Simply put, if you want yardage, he is the RB to have! A softer schedule and new team attitude could allow him to the scoring King, too. Baring injury, or another Fantastic Favre season, he could be the FFL MVP.
2.11	RB Adrian Murrell		Trade Analysis: I want Murrell, who may not be available four slots from now. He's a fella that most consider a solid support player, but that I see as a very possible star. Trading a 6 Rd player for a 7th is fair payment. Also, from prior visits with Greg, I knew he had little interest in Murrell, so I "slipped" and let him know that the Petros were not seeking a player he desired. Pick Analysis: The may be the highest slot ever for a Jet player. It may also be my best or worst selection this year. Murrell showed me in 96, that he can be a workhorse rusher (16 gms, 301 att, 1249 yds, 7 scores). I project him as a solid top-10 rusher this season based on Coach Parcell's run-run-run style of offense. Under Parcells Martin had 684 att / 76 rec in 2 seasons. AM may do the same, and be a Pro Bowler. Lastly, Murrell was selected over Warren and the great/proven WRs because of the depth available at the receiver position and the uncertainty of Warren's injury recovery.
3.03	QB Vinny Testaverde		Trade Analysis: Mark contacted me a few hours after his selection time began. After chatting about Warren being "snached" out from under him. he said the magic-to-my-ear words, Wanna trade up?. (Those that know me, knew the answer.) Sooo.. I get a NOW pick in exchange for a trading my 8th for a 7th Rd pick. We're talking a top-25 players here! I had to gotta take it. Pick Analysis: I have strong rushers. I need a passer; a passer with a performance history. My five highest regarded passers were taken. Vinny and Scott Mitchell were next on my list (Elway after them, btw). With Sanders on the roster, I avoided teammate Mitchell. Testaverde is a odd QB. He's played for six zillion years, and only topped 20 TDs once. Bla..bla..bla.. Last season we looked like a winner, zipping balls left-right-over-under for 33 scores in 549 atts. His receivers are solid and he was more productive w/Bam Morris, than without him. VT seemed the last of the productive passers, available. For better of worst, I'm a Vinny Fan in 97!
4.06	WR Michael Jackson		3 of the 4 voices in my head told me to select a wideout here, mainly because there are 20 players to be taken before I get another selection. My other option was to snag a much-liked RB3. Even though Alexander & Jackson were near-equals in 1996 receptions and yardage production, MJ outscored his partner 14 to 9. He is the team's deep threat, and the Raven's best scorer. No one scored more times receiving than Jackson last year. Even the famed Rice-Pickens-HMoore trio. While I am not hypnotized enough to expect a duplication of 96, I do believe that Jackson is a solid centerpiece for my RC corp. Over his career, he's averaged a TD every SIXTH (!!) reception. I also know that 96 was double his normal production, but still prefer him over Irvin/DAL and JSmith/JAX. By selecting & starting Jackson, I get a bonuses, too; That sometimes- exciting-sometimes-disappointing QB-WR power play. Jackson should catch 1/3rd of Vinny's scores, and each time, I'll enjoy a double-big smile.
6.04	RB Lawrence Phillips		Trade Analyses: I traded up to claim a solid RB3, and my 7th + 8th + 11th for Fin's 6th/now + 9th + 12th was fair. My thinking is that Kellogg (the next pick) and I are targeting the same two players, a NFC WR and RB Phillips. It was now or never for getting this player. He would not have lasted another 10 picks, I'm sure. Pick Analysis: Phillips' off-field problems forced him to fall to the 22nd back drafted. This is an big, powerful, explosive, speedy kid who is an excellent football player.. and my RB3. I now sit with 1QB, 3RB, and 1WR. Even if I had selected a receiver (and there is one very desirable one undrafted), I'd be back into my common WR-by-committee routine. The two players besides Phillips that were considered were RB Carter/CIN (taken the prior pick) and WR Muhammad/CAR. This pick, gives me an opportunity to say something else. I want to WIN this league's championship! To do that, I must make smart, semi-risky, players selections. I think Phillips is both.
7.06	TE Ken Dilger		The Petro backfield is certainly set. I need 4 more WRs, and a (mandatory) TE in the final 10 pick slots. My thinking is that one of the two receiver fellas I desire will be here at my 8.07 pick, and I'll use the shotgun approach for my WR3 starter. It, plus this, will give me a solid starting group. The potential quality of TEs fell quite a lot after the first four TE selections. The Colt's Dilger is whom I feel is the #5 player at this position. The only two other TE options considered were Asher/WAS (another player on the rise) and Jones/SF (seems to be fading with only 4 scores in past 2 seasons). Dilger will start each game, catch 50-60 passes, and score 5-6-7 times. He's certainly worth the selection.
8.06	WR Andre Reed		Trade Analysis: It is much easier to trade up before a drafter is on the clock. Just before a drafter's turn comes up, he begins thinking of his selection options, and justifying his to-be selection. For that reason, I like to make a reasonable offer as early as possible, before the drafter has "talked" himself into believing the pre-pick is an asset. I'd been eyeing WRs Reed and Graham for several days. I have decided that both players can be WR starters in Petroville. To have a shot at both, I needed to trade up for a 2nd #8 pick. McClory agreed quickly to a 8+12 for 9+10 trade, that gives me the chance to better my team. This is likely my final chance to make an semi-solid impact on a WR-needed team. Pick Analysis: Buffalo lost QB Kelly, and seems to be a fading team. However, they'll still have 500 to 600 pass plays during the season. Someone has to pitch them... and, of course, someone has to catch about half of them, too. Reed has been the Bills' main pass target for many years. He's played for 12 seasons, and has been a starter for 11. He knows his job, and does it well. Certainly Collins/Hobart will look to Andre over the Early/Mounds combo. This is not to say that Reed is a all-pro worth earlier consideration. He is not. He is a once-star wideout on a pass-often team that will produce 250 yds and 2 scores per month. With luck, he'll start 12-14 Petros games.
8.07	PK John Kasay		I had hoped-hoped-hoped that WR Graham would be my selection here. It is because of him that I made the earlier trade. However, both Dolfi & Kellogg also desired him, and both selected before me (and after the trade). Cuss. Cuss. Cuss! I really wanted Graham, too. Now what? My plan had been to select a WR3 here. After Graham became unavailable (cuss. cuss.), I looked over the my list of possible WR3, and was unexcited. No one can boost about Jett, Stokes, Copeland, Hastings, Thigpen, Harper, or others in the starting slot on opening day. Most all these guys will also be available next week in Rd 9 (and some well after that). Sooooo... I did the forbidden. I passed over a QB2 or WR3 for a PK1. Before you brand me a deluxe fool, allow me to explain WHY. Given a choice between selecting a can-get-later WR or QB2, I prefer a passer. However, there are many backup-quality QBs available later. I feel John Kasay FFL's #1 PK prospect this season. It made no sense to grab a iffy WR3 or seldom-starting QB2 over a week-in-week-out producer that I rate as high as possible. Look at the next WR selected in this draft, and the next QB. I doubt you can tell me you'd rather have them (Detmer/CJones) on your FFL team over Kasay. While not necessarily "overjoyed", I am "pleased" with this selection. (This is silly! I'm almost apologizing for selecting an All-Pro as a starter. Geeee...)
9.09	WR Yancey Thigpen		Thigpen was injured in 96, producing 12 receptions & 2 scores. Whoop-te-do. He is expected to return to his lead receiver role, and won't be on the Pro Bowl ballot. Sooo... why take draft him, here? Bluntly put, there are 30 players to be picked before my next selection and I need a WR3 that can be a frequent starter. I'd prefer a veteran, who is the lead target on his NFL team. YT is all three. I hope for 70-900-7 production.
12.01	WR Reidel Anthony		As I write this, I must admit that I have NEVER seen Mr. Anthony play. Production-wise, he was a NCAA star, and I'm told he'll be a TB starter. The idea this round is draft a handful of starting WRs to find a solid fantasy starter among them. And, while I'm at it... You can certainly laugh at my current WRs (I'm tempted to, at times), but I'd like for you to watch how I use the WR roster during the year. I believe in the SHOTGUN APPROACH of WR selection, and have had success with it for many seasons. Grab one PRIME guy (MJackson this yr) and a lot of lesser ones, knowing that one or two of the minor guys will be transform into solid fantasy starters, based on matchups, production, and injuries. In 96, the Petros drafted 7 WRs, and had 13 total on it's team. The end result was CCarter (trade for Westbrook+Vardell), JSmith (FA), and Freeman (13th rd). I hope for similar results beginning with this Anthony kid.
12.04	WR ED McCaffrey		WR depth needed in Petroville. I thought hard on this one, and selected the Bronco's goal line target over Yatil Green (Why would you name your boy child Yatil, anyway?) McCaffrey has value only because Elway targets him when close in. He is BIG, quick -but unfast-, tall, and a dependable goal line fella. Lastly, I do not believe in the DEN receivers, and expect that it'll be Sharpe & the 3 Pigs as Elway's options. McCaffrey may be the best option, too.
12.06	QB Jim Harbaugh		Harbaugh is a safe pick. He's one of the better "leaders" in the league, and a fine passer who tosses few interceptions.. and few touchdowns. In this last 35 starts, he's had a 39 TDs and 22 INTs. Since he's my backup to Vinny, I'm hoping he has only two starts as a Petro. If he has more, I may be in deep dodo.
12.07	WR Vincent Brisby		Speaking of deep dodo.. Vincent Brisby was 96 Petro. For 14 games, he sat-sat-sat, catching -0- passes for -0- points. He gave no contribution, other than confusing the other FanEx owners at why he had a roster slot. So why select him again? Why gamble on him? Why take him now? 1996 was a fluke for Brisby. He was injured or semi- injured with a hamsting problem all year. In the prior two seasons, he was impressive with a respectible average of 62 rec, 940 yds, and 5 scores per season. Brisby and he seemed to "click". I fully expect Brisby to start over Shawn Jefferson (50-770-4 in 96), and provide a solid alternate to the Glenn and Coates targets. Call it a hunch, but I like Brisby for this price. In fact, I like him over the prior two receivers taken, but knew he'd be here for my selection.
15.06	RB William Floyd		Those 49ers are a talented bunch. I'd like as many of them as possible scoring points for me. However, after you get past the Young/Rice combination, it get's tricky selecting the better prospects. Owens or Stokes at WR2? Kirby or Hearst as HB? Brohm or Druckenmiller to backup the often injured Young? Any idea who is the PK? What is clear is that this team will score early and often. But, the question of questions is which RB will be the more productive. I'm unsure, except for William Floyd. He -and he alone- could emerge as the SF rushing hero (and is certainly worth a 15th rd selection and RB4 slot). Floyd did not seem to be the powerful goalline scorer he was, prior to his 96 injury. Then again... Kirby/Hearst has yet to impress in that area, either. Give Floyd 100 attempts and he'll produce enough to be my backup. Give him 150 rushes, and I'll be thrilled.
16.01	PK Richie Cunningham		Cunningham may be the most underrated picker in the league. If Dallas continues to bog down in the red zone, he could be a surprise scoring leader. The Cowboy kicker has scored 130-124-127-120 pts each of the past seasons. With Kasey as the PK1, I could afford to take a final round gamble on the a possible top scorer. (Besides that, Dallas is the local team, and I needed one fella to root for during those oh-so-exciting 35-10 games.) One more selection to go!
16.07	TE Eric Green		Drafting complete. Eric Green is a fella who I used to really enjoy watching. We was as good as -any- TE in the 90s. If he can somehow get into shape (mental and physical), he could be a top-5 guy, again. However, the truth is that Green is a bad egg, and I'm hoping to make egg salad with him. Do you noticed that my TEs match up with my passers. Not a bad thing. -grin-