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Any thoughts?
1. Kenyon Heflin, Memphis Admirals- Here is your 2007 Offensive Player of the Year. Heflin is also a two time All League award winner and the OSFL’s current all-time leading rusher. He’s also a very reliable receiver with an average of 62 receptions in each of the last two seasons. Kenyon also passes the big game test with 2 100 yard rushing games in the 2007 playoffs. He’s also just entering his prime and is only in his sixth season. That’s bad news for the other teams in the AC South.
2. Kenneth Clements- Motor City Mechanics- This was a tough one because you could make an argument for both Clements and Skip Alig at the #2 spot. Here is why I chose Clements: Clements has and MVP award (2006) and is the main focus of the entire offense. Kenneth ran for almost 2,000 yards in 2006. He is the main reason the Mechanics are two time division champs and have never missed the playoffs. Still there are some concerns. It appears that the Mechanics coaching staff may have run him into the ground with his 442 carry 2006 season. While Clements had a decent 2007, his total yardage and yards per carry dropped significantly. Also, the Mechanics ownership has a big decision to make this year. Clements is entering his eighth year and his contract ends at the end of the year. He is currently the highest paid RB in the league (7.6 mil salary and 10.8 mil against the cap) and will surely want to get a bigger contract. Will GM Clay Shaver be willing to risk giving his star RB another big contract during the downswing of his career? If not, I’m sure another team will be more than willing to spend their cap money on the former MVP.
3. Skip Alig, Waco Warhawks- One word describes Skip and that’s consistent. He’s received 19 player of the week mentions and 10 player of the game awards. He is the 2007 2nd team All-League RB. He is the league leader in rushing TDs. Alig is Waco’s all time leading rusher and ranks second in receptions. Just looking at the stats, you could make an argument that he’s the best RB in the league. When you look deeper, you see that while he has been consistently good, his team has been consistently average. In two seasons, the team has been 8-8 each year and has failed to make the playoffs. Now Alig isn’t solely to blame for the Warhawks 8-8 records but his average performances against good teams and in games down the stretch are concerns. With that said he is young and will improve over the next few years.
4. Vince Shapiro, Boston Fighting Irish- In the OSFL, there are three great running backs but there are a bunch of good old running backs and a bunch of good young running backs. Vince Shapiro is a good old running back and I mean this as a compliment. Entering his tenth season, he is 4th all time in rushing yards and touchdowns. He is Boston’s unquestioned star and he is a bargain at only 4.4 mil this year. Shapiro has never played on a winning team and looking at his current team and playing in the tough NC East, he may never play on a winning team. Still, Boston’s defense is tough and if its GM can find a QB through the draft or FA, they could surprise some people. Boston’s front office may need to do something soon because Shapiro is known to be a little volatile and could be and could become disgruntled if they don’t bring him some offensive help.
5. Rob Cote, St Paul Bandits- Cote had a dream season in 2007. His St Paul Bandits won the OSFL Championship and named the OSFL MVP. Cote also had a good run during the 2007 playoffs. So why is he only #5? First, his yards per carry average isn’t even in the top 30. Second, He is an average receiving threat out of the backfield. Finally, I would like to see Cote perform at this high level for more than one year before I put him in the same caliber of Heflin, Clements and Alig.
Honorable Mention- Randy Richardson, Washington; Emmanuel Jamison, Columbus; Russell Estell, Lake County.
1. Kenyon Heflin, Memphis Admirals- Here is your 2007 Offensive Player of the Year. Heflin is also a two time All League award winner and the OSFL’s current all-time leading rusher. He’s also a very reliable receiver with an average of 62 receptions in each of the last two seasons. Kenyon also passes the big game test with 2 100 yard rushing games in the 2007 playoffs. He’s also just entering his prime and is only in his sixth season. That’s bad news for the other teams in the AC South.
2. Kenneth Clements- Motor City Mechanics- This was a tough one because you could make an argument for both Clements and Skip Alig at the #2 spot. Here is why I chose Clements: Clements has and MVP award (2006) and is the main focus of the entire offense. Kenneth ran for almost 2,000 yards in 2006. He is the main reason the Mechanics are two time division champs and have never missed the playoffs. Still there are some concerns. It appears that the Mechanics coaching staff may have run him into the ground with his 442 carry 2006 season. While Clements had a decent 2007, his total yardage and yards per carry dropped significantly. Also, the Mechanics ownership has a big decision to make this year. Clements is entering his eighth year and his contract ends at the end of the year. He is currently the highest paid RB in the league (7.6 mil salary and 10.8 mil against the cap) and will surely want to get a bigger contract. Will GM Clay Shaver be willing to risk giving his star RB another big contract during the downswing of his career? If not, I’m sure another team will be more than willing to spend their cap money on the former MVP.
3. Skip Alig, Waco Warhawks- One word describes Skip and that’s consistent. He’s received 19 player of the week mentions and 10 player of the game awards. He is the 2007 2nd team All-League RB. He is the league leader in rushing TDs. Alig is Waco’s all time leading rusher and ranks second in receptions. Just looking at the stats, you could make an argument that he’s the best RB in the league. When you look deeper, you see that while he has been consistently good, his team has been consistently average. In two seasons, the team has been 8-8 each year and has failed to make the playoffs. Now Alig isn’t solely to blame for the Warhawks 8-8 records but his average performances against good teams and in games down the stretch are concerns. With that said he is young and will improve over the next few years.
4. Vince Shapiro, Boston Fighting Irish- In the OSFL, there are three great running backs but there are a bunch of good old running backs and a bunch of good young running backs. Vince Shapiro is a good old running back and I mean this as a compliment. Entering his tenth season, he is 4th all time in rushing yards and touchdowns. He is Boston’s unquestioned star and he is a bargain at only 4.4 mil this year. Shapiro has never played on a winning team and looking at his current team and playing in the tough NC East, he may never play on a winning team. Still, Boston’s defense is tough and if its GM can find a QB through the draft or FA, they could surprise some people. Boston’s front office may need to do something soon because Shapiro is known to be a little volatile and could be and could become disgruntled if they don’t bring him some offensive help.
5. Rob Cote, St Paul Bandits- Cote had a dream season in 2007. His St Paul Bandits won the OSFL Championship and named the OSFL MVP. Cote also had a good run during the 2007 playoffs. So why is he only #5? First, his yards per carry average isn’t even in the top 30. Second, He is an average receiving threat out of the backfield. Finally, I would like to see Cote perform at this high level for more than one year before I put him in the same caliber of Heflin, Clements and Alig.
Honorable Mention- Randy Richardson, Washington; Emmanuel Jamison, Columbus; Russell Estell, Lake County.
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