#14 Oakwood 2015 Year-In-Review

Preview: (Posted before the 2015 Draft)
Oakwood has been mostly unfortunate through two years in the league, but made no excuses, battling their way to relevancy and a consolation bid both times. In their third year, anything short of seven wins will be a disappointment- and the Drivers know it. Drafting mid-round, expect them to count on some known commodities and bet on upside, as they try to make their first playoff run in 2015.

Final Record: 
Three Wins, Ten Losses (2,129.40 points; 163.8 avg - 12th)

Playoffs: 
None (14th Place)

Synopsis:
There was hope for the Drivers early in the year- after a tough start they won three in a row, and clawed their way over .500% at 3-2. In each of their previous two seasons they failed to stay above water, and 2015 was even worse: Oakwood lost its final eight games, free falling into last place. Bottom was at the bottom: the Drivers only barely scored triple digits in week thirteen. There's not a lot to say: The team was broken, bereft of high level talent and unable to find adequate coverage off the scrap heap. A lost season for a franchise that enters its fourth year with an overall record of 13-26, the franchise has yet to show it can put together a full season of competitive football.

Draft Analysis:

VALUABLE ; TRADED ; DROPPED; RECYCLED; INJURED

Well, injuries took a major toll here- Their season effectively ended when Bell got hurt, and Peyton Manning never really looked like Peyton Manning. Gio Bernard was a reach in the third, who ended up a pleasant surprise. If he had been taken in the fifth or later, it would have been an even better selection. Trading Julian Edelman at the right time was about the only good break Oakwood got- Roddy White's skills, already suspected of being gone, proved eroded. There's a lot of green in the middle of their draft, but very few difference makers- just a lot of safe, average guys, stability for the sake of it, limiting upside. The back end of this roster is a mess, though Nate Washington had a pretty good season elsewhere in the league.

Projected Points by Position versus League Average Projections (POST DRAFT)

OAK: D GRADE
Strength: TE
Weakness: Primary Weapons

Martellus Bennett is a very good all around TE that should rarely leave the field and see a ton of targets. Le'Veon Bell should be superb after his suspension. Peyton is Peyton, Clay is Clay. Everyone else is just another guy.


Trade Review: (Listing each player's point total following the trade)

• NOV 5th traded Julian Edelman (21.85) to DVH for Darren McFadden (136.6), Ronnie Hillman (98.5), and Leonard Hankerson (12.5)

Oakwood's only trade was a coup de grace to Deputy; Edelman was hurt in his second game with the Van Halens. McFadden was an elite RB down the stretch, ably replacing the injured Le'Veon Bell; Ronnie Hillman was a viable bench option down the stretch, and Leonard Hankerson actually had one very solid game as a Driver. It was too late to stop the bleeding, but a shrewd move that shows that Oakwood has some tact and gumption, if they good just get some good breaks.

Player of the Week Awards:

• WK09 DPotW: CB Antwon Blake (20 pts)

All Larkspur Team Members:

• Kicker: Stephen Gostkowski (173.5 pts)

Depth Chart:

• QB: Peyton Manning, Ryan Tannehill
• RB: Gio Bernard, Darren McFadden, Le'veon Bell, Charles Sims
• WR: Rueben Randle, Terrance Williams, Rishard Mathews, Jamison Crowder, Roddy White
• TE: Martellus Bennett, Jordan Reed
• K: Stephen Gostkowski
• DL: Carlos Dunlap, Rob Ninkovich
• LB: KJ Wright, Clay Matthews, Brandon Marshall
• CB: Adam Jones, Antwon Blake, Terrance Newman, Bradley Fletcher
• S: Barry Church, Glover Quin, Tony Jefferson