Utah Herald: 2021

[Aston]

past reports: (2018) End of the Wynn Era?, (2020) Draft Results, (2020) Bees Report

Viva Los 2021 Bees!

<blockquote style="width: 550px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 10px; border-left: 1px solid #bbb"><small><a href="http://simgamingnetwork.com/forums/showpost.php?p=137957&postcount=732021" style="color:#009 !important;"> 2021 Reset</a>: The Bees begin their offseason with an extension for lead scout Calvin Myers (aged 49) and the hiring o Alfred Johnstone (aged 52) as the new defensive coordinator. The previous longtime DC of the Bees was let go after a disastrous season that probably was more the fault of the front office than him...but somebody had to take the fall.

Now the Bees have more draft picks than they know what to do with, and a lot of players on the roster already. Look for some moving-the-pieces around, in both draft assets and players...</small></blockquote>

Thus began the unassuming 2021 offseason, kicked off quietly by a Bees management that looked to sit back and stay out of the action. Plans quickly changed, and several short weeks later, UTA is capping off its most frenetic FA season in recent memory, draft picks and tradees in tow, and preparing for FA2 and '21 camp.

It was a very different FA1 than usual in Utah, one which saw the Bees go after two star veterans early and hard: Memphis QB Britt Meyer and Port City WR James Harden.

As a consequence, the Bees found themselves repeatedly knocked out of the bidding for the middle-of-the line, stopgap starting options they usually stocked their roster with in free agency. Nonetheless, we found some solid players at the CB spot, and of course, it's not an offseason in Utah without the signing of ex-Chicago, ex-Bee, ex-Washington, ex-Bee again, ex-Denver, and now Bee again receiver Myron Jarvis.

Offseason signings: (20) WR James Harden (PC), CB Vinny Preston (PXT), ILB Dexter Hoover (ANC), OLB Lamont Heim, OLB Conrad Luthye, DT Jerald Berrios, WR Myron Jarvis (DEN), CB Dana Darchi (PXT), TE Ellis Harden (KAL), K Damon Scott, QB Patrick Whalen, C Lamar Hymes, RB Bobby Kudlacz (DEN), QB Britt Meyer (MEM), C Damon Moss (LA), DE Kyle Gaudet (STP), WR Brock Rosalez, RB Irving Dotson (BKL), DE Nathan Newton, DT Trent Collins

Contract extensions: (3) QB Randy Boone, C Stephen Wells, DE Robbie Kerr

Re-signed: (13) TE Cary Ross, WR Hunter Vandersommen, OLB Bennie Austin, G Mo Fujimoto, T Zack Everett, DE Lionel Cook, DT Billy Johns, ILB Horace Vance, OLB Charles Jamison, CB Benjamin Chmelik, CB Jason Tapp, OG Moe Palmer, S Lester Stoddard

Released: (2) C Ray Owens, RB Bobby Kudlacz

Lost in FA: (2) CB Robert Chapman (MEM), CB Joseph Testa (LV)

[Aston]

The Draft

<blockquote style="width: 550px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 10px; border-left: 1px solid #bbb"><small><span style="color:#009;"><b>Initial draft stock</b> (11)</span>: 1.23, 1.29, 2.22, 3.09, 3.21, 4.20, 4.22, 5.09, 5.24, 7.22, 7.27</small></blockquote>

Last season, Utah suffered one of the worst defenses in the league (CLB game notwithstanding! my finest hour ). As a result, the Bees launched into a draft that was at once both its most defensive, and its most aggressive, ever, under this GM.

Aggressive, because the Bees moved up and down the board, at times being loose with both its draft and player assets (key FA acquisition and former pro-bowler Dana Darchi was gone to Kalispel by the time to smoke cleared on the 4th round). Defensive, because the Bees spent six of the Top 106 picks in the draft on defenders - 4 rookie draft picks, and 2 veteran trades.

All told, the Bees added 8 rookies and 3 veterans-via-trade. We didn't keep all our top picks, but we got our 11. Actually a bit more than planned for, from a numbers standpoint. We'll make it work.

2021 UTA Draft Class

1.21 - CB Quinn 'Batman' Robinette
Robin will give us our first shutdown presence at corner (let's not get that far - our first reliable starter) since at least 2014, when I first took over this team. I never have good corners in Utah. I'm stoked.

2.20 - S Brent Driscoll
Both 1st and 2nd round picks came via SFO. We moved up from 23 in the 1st and from 30 here. Driscoll should be a solid addition, but I may have screwed the pooch on two other safeties, Berdys (ANC - 2.27) and Bonds (YUM - 2.31).

3.23 - DT Junior 'Si Vis Pacem Para' Bello
Toughest pick I had to make in the draft. We shuffled around a couple times in the third, going from 9 to 12 and finally to 23, without any players in mind Didn't really want a DT, but couldn't pass up what I seemed like BPA at this point. He doesn't look like a 3-4 nose, and we might kick him out to left end. If RB C.J. Shannon (BOS - 4.2) turns out well, we'll be kicking ourselves here.

4.10 - ILB Troy 'Cannot, mon, ' Conant
One of two really aggressive moves made in the 4th. Really hope he's worth it. I am not too excited about sending him into coverage.

4.17 - RB Herman Woods
Finally turning to offense. Woods reminds me a lot of another guy I took in the 4th, 2018 RB Ken Schacht. RB, like CB, is another position that I have not done well in in all these seasons as Utah GM. Hope Woods ends that streak and both he and Schacht start performing like they should. I paid a steep price to get him - 5.09, and Utah's '22 fourth.

5.24 - OT Gene Sinclair
Allen Rivers at 5.21 was considered by many to be the 'last of the last' of the tackles in this draft. As the man with the dubious distinction of being the first tackle taken after Rivers, Sinclair will have a chip on his shoulder. With a 40 like that though, I'm thinking move to WR.

6.21 - FB Mario Bradford
Utah selected its starting FB, Kerry Duran, in the 6th round of last year's draft. Bradford is not here to give him competition, though. He's part of the extensive "Let's find TE Nate Barlow some backups" project, one that started with the failed acquisition attempt of Washington TE Brandon Klutz, er, Klotz, and ended with the shipping of 7.22 over to Boston for a 2nd-year guy.

7.27 - S Vinny 'Jurgen Sven Von' Hurnblad
Probably one of the toughest calls in the draft. Really would have liked to just move out of this pick, but didn't think anyone would be interested. Like lour 6th round safety J.J. Whalen last year, Hurnblad is a gamble. He could be a solid get, or he could be like Whalen, 10/23->12/23.

2021 UTA Honorary Draftees

After the Patriots flubbed all their 2007 draft picks, a common defense has been 'keep in mind, Welker and Moss should be included in the evaluation of that class.' With that said, when this class flubs, let's give honorary titles to...

*2.22* DE Emmanuel Logan
LDE or RDE. Wherever he plays, we hope he shores up the position vacated by Tito Terrell last season.

*3.21+* WLB Carlos 'The Ricohunter' Melnick
You can never have enough pass-rushers in a 3-4. I hope. 'Cause that makes 3 for me.

*7.22* TE Mitch Johnson
The TE situation is a bit crowded now. This pickup is promising, but ensures at least one of him, this year's 6.21 Mario Bradford, and last year's 5.22 Rich Esquivel, will be a casualty.

*6.23* WR Hunter Vandersommen
Last but certainly not least! Can't count as an addition, because he was added prior to the '20 season for Utah's '21 6th. This ended up packaged in a move to Boston for their 2022 4th, and Boston took K J.J. Farrow. Hunter struggled to find much PT last season and it won't get any easier, but we hold him in high regard here within the organization ;)

A Fond Farewell

All is fair in FOF drafts and war, and in war, there are casualties. A moment, then, to honor those brave ex-Bees that, well... didn't make it.

NT/DT Lance Orbik - Fell way down in the 2020 draft and was lauded by many. Orbik struggled to claim a starting spot in the preseason before losing out to Billy Johns. A likely better fit in a 4-3, that's where he's now headed. A shocking quick exit after just being sent by Utah to summer league, and it casts a shadow over the once-prized 2020 draft of the Bees.

CB Kirk Marsh - A pleasant surprise in camp last year who held down the top corner position, even as a rookie, until he got hurt late in the year. Even more of a shadow over last year's class, which has dwindled considerably in a short time. We moved Marsh and Orbik in a bid to land Jorge Whitson, but failed. This year, we have nothing to show in return for these two losses.

CB Dana Darchi We hardly knew ye! Looked like the best corner currently on the roster, but we really fell in love with Conant in the fourth and gave up what we had to in order to get him. One of my favorite gets during this FA, but I'm betting on third-year man Chuck Horton to hold down the fort at nickel.

Initial Reactions

This draft is all about "The Quinn." I think he might be one of my favorite first round picks ever, and I'm elated to have gotten him. Would have been a coup to score Whitson, too, but we passed on that chance at 29 and didn't get it back at 32.

Everyone else we took in this draft, was just to inject some fresh blood and add some competition to positions. They could work out, or they might not. There's no second-round Robbie Kerr or Stephen Wells, or even something like Orbik last year; no fourth round Chuck Horton or sixth round Kerry Duran either.

Really, outside of Robin, what I feel surest about are the two defenders from Denver we got with 2nd and 3rd rounders. Along with the Hunter trade last year, I'm starting to see the growing value of paying for more established players, versus drafting the same mid-round or late-round busts, year after year.

Can't wait for the Rookie Reveal, and 2021 training camp!

[scorp]

FWIW it was hard to not take Quinn at 1-16. Need at RB tipped the scales.
Can't say I am displeased with Harmon he should be a feature back, But I think you got a Cb to build around in QR.

[Guest]

"3.23 - DT Junior 'Si Vis Pacem Para' Bello"

hahah

[Aston]

FWIW it was hard to not take Quinn at 1-16. Need at RB tipped the scales.
Can't say I am displeased with Harmon he should be a feature back, But I think you got a Cb to build around in QR.

Yeah, and I think you really got a deadly running attack now! There were some real good RBs in the middle of that first round. grr, Denver.

Haha, okay, so I drafted some turds:

<table cellspacing="5" cellpadding="5" style="border:1px solid #000; background: #eef;"><tr style="padding:3px;"><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">4.17</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">RB Herman Woods</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">22/26</td></tr><tr style="padding:3px;"><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">6.21</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">FB Mario Bradford</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">20/33</td></tr><tr style="padding:3px;"><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">5.24</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">LT Gene Sinclair</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">15/29</td></tr><tr style="padding:3px;"><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">3.23</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">LDT Junior Bello</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">18/40</td></tr><tr style="padding:3px;"><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">4.10</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">SILB Troy Conant</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">19/39</td></tr><tr style="padding:3px;"><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">1.21</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">CB Quinn Robinette</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">22/48</td></tr><tr style="padding:3px;"><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">2.20</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">SS Brent Driscoll</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">19/47</td></tr><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">7.27</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">FS Vinny Hurnblad</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">7/29</td></tr></table>

Yeah, I think this draft really was just Quinn Robinette. I am very leery of that 2nd rounder.

[Aston]

The Great Utah Cut of 2021

C Damon Moss
RB Damon Dunne
ILB Winston Guest
OG Vince Slade
SS Lester Stoddard
K Warren Robbins

Have at it! Nobody wanted to trade for Robbins, but I'll be surprised if there aren't several FA offers that go out to him. I've decided to stick with the "sign all your rookies, even if they look like crap" policy and that leaves Robbins out, barring a last-second trade.

TC in focus

Who are the critical players for everyone's camps?

For me, it'll be second rounder Brent Driscoll. I really moved up to get him and though he looks promising at this point, I am counting on him big-time to be a solidifying force in the secondary. I know Robin will be good already, barring VSOD, so the hopes of any kind of pass D this year will be pinned on Driscoll. He is no sure bet to creep, but he will need to.

Two position switches. Bello to DE and Bradford to TE - both look promising, Bello rather moreso than Bradford. Can't wait for Christmas! Please, no VSODs.

[Guest]

My two first rounders will be my most critical, especially the WR, Pat Donaghy. My WR play has been holding my team back.

My RB in the second round, J.B. Trotter, will also figure into things. Rob Wickes, who I drafted last year, probably won't be ready until the season has already begun. Knee explodies aren't fun! Sherdrick Allen is gone and Nanny MacPhee is just a supplemental back.

[Aston]

Make sure to get Donaghy signed! Final pre-Christmas table:

<table cellspacing="5" cellpadding="5" style="border:1px solid #000; background: #def;"><tr style="padding:3px;"><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">4.17</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">RB Herman Woods</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">22/26</td></tr><tr style="padding:3px;"><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">6.21</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">TE Mario Bradford</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">18/35</td></tr><tr style="padding:3px;"><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">5.24</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">LT Gene Sinclair</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">15/29</td></tr><tr style="padding:3px;"><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">3.23</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">LDE Junior Bello</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">18/49</td></tr><tr style="padding:3px;"><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">4.10</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">SILB Troy Conant</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">19/39</td></tr><tr style="padding:3px;"><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">1.21</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">CB Quinn Robinette</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">22/48</td></tr><tr style="padding:3px;"><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">2.20</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">SS Brent Driscoll</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">19/47</td></tr><tr><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">7.27</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">FS Vinny Hurnblad</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">7/29</td></tr><tr><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">UDFA</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">RB Jackie Flynn</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">26/33</td></tr><tr><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">UDFA</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">RB/WR Andy Dawson</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">19/36</td></tr><tr><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">UDFA</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">LT Alonzo Starks</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">17/30</td></tr></table>

Dawson's move to WR looks pretty promising. Only just decided to move him so I don't have "real" post-move numbers yet, but the game promises a 97% conversion. Three rookie free agents! Which I think makes two more than last year.

Yuma and Utah are the only two teams in the league that don't have a single drafted rookie with a potential of 50 or over. Neither of us have any rookies over that line, and this is a mark that most teams beat very handily, either in quantity or quality, or both.

So the pressure is on for me & Yuma, to have some upward-bump-filled camps.

[Guest]

Donaghy is definitely getting signed. I offered him the max short deal before I exported the last one. :)

[Aston]

Utah Post-Camp 2021

Looking over the camp results, we can breathe easy. The Bees were spared from the big age drops that usually plague us.

A big ouch on James Harden, though - crown jewel of the WR class, and a lot of bonus money, only to get hit by a -8/-8 volatility stick. Still 96 big play, though, and creeping. I was just counting on a climb to the low 50s, not back to the mid 40s, when I threw all that money at him.

Antoine Becker, insurance corner we got by way of Columbus...well, he died. That's too bad, since he was already almost dead.

Rookies look like a solid group.

<table cellspacing="5" cellpadding="5" style="border:1px solid #000; background: #cec;"><tr style="padding:3px;"><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">4.17</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">RB Herman Woods</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">22/26</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">24/28</td><td style="background-color: #fff !important; padding: 4px; color:#090">+2</td></tr><tr style="padding:3px;"><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">6.21</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">TE Mario Bradford</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">18/35</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">22/40</td><td style="background-color: #fff !important; padding: 4px; color:#0c0">+5</td></tr><tr style="padding:3px;"><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">5.24</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">LT Gene Sinclair</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">15/29</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">19/33</td><td style="background-color: #fff !important; padding: 4px; color:#0b0">+4</td></tr><tr style="padding:3px;"><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">3.23</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">LDE Junior Bello</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">18/49</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">22/49</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">0</td></tr><tr style="padding:3px;"><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">4.10</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">SILB Troy Conant</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">19/39</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">25/42</td><td style="background-color: #fff !important; padding: 4px; color:#090">+3</td></tr><tr style="padding:3px;"><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">1.21</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">CB Quinn Robinette</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">22/48</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">29/55</td><td style="background-color: #fff !important; padding: 4px; color:#0f0">+7</td></tr><tr style="padding:3px;"><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">2.20</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">SS Brent Driscoll</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">19/47</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">24/49</td><td style="background-color: #fff !important; padding: 4px; color:#090">+2</td></tr><tr><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">7.27</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">FS Vinny Hurnblad</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">7/29</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">9/28</td><td style="background-color: #fff !important; padding: 4px; color:#c00">-1</td></tr><tr><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">UDFA</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">RB Jackie Flynn</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">26/33</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">28/33</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">0</td></tr><tr><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">UDFA</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">RB/WR Andy Dawson</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">19/36</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">22/43</td><td style="background-color: #fff !important; padding: 4px; color:#c00">-2</td></tr><tr><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">UDFA</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">LT Alonzo Starks</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">17/30</td><td style="background-color:#fff !important; padding: 4px;">18/34</td><td style="background-color: #fff !important; padding: 4px; color:#0a0">+4</td></tr></table>

And lastly the big news is the positive development out of my rookie tackles, and my young RBs. Could facilitate some trades of older vets in those positions.

[scorp]

Pretty good draft Nutah, the mighty Quinn jumped up as expected.
Lots of +'s for your guys.

[Aston]

Thanks! The +'s were needed, though. They all started out so low...

One of the bigger surprises has to be Britt Meyer. 10th year QB, thought maybe he'd drop? But he goes +1/+1 and is 59/59 now. Laser accurate. 15 formations. Man. I might have a QB controversy on my hands here. This might be the best QB situation we've ever had in Utah, top to bottom.

[Guest]

Britt Meyer. 10th year QB, thought maybe he'd drop? But he goes +1/+1 and is 59/59 now. Laser accurate. 15 formations.

[Aston]

Hehehee, embarrassment of riches and all At least on the surface. Meyer hasn't really done anything of note yet.

Meyer will draw the start for this next game, with Whalen subbing in, so I guess we'll (begin) to find out.

[Aston]

Utah opens its preseason with two victories, which I think is unusual because we usually lose a lot in the preseason. Rookie RB Herman Woods followed up his game 1 show-stealing performance with a 'solid' (8-32) - he wasn't even supposed to be featured. He is making a case for himself so far.

This game, we got a good look at two of our most exciting offseason imports. WR James Harden got the start at flanker and turned in a very promising performance as a feature receiver, stretching the field with 70 yards in 5 receptions. And QB Britt Meyer was clinical with a 6-of-9, 89 yard, 1 TD performance in about two drives. This guy has a chip on his shoulder and isn't letting the fact that Utah has a franchise QB already get in his way. He is intent on making this a full-blown competition.

Other bright spots: 2nd-year TE Rich Esquivel continues to produce improbably well through the air, something which surprised me all last year. Figured he was a blocking TE only. He's making a case for himself as well in a hotly contested position. 1-of-2 KRB, then 4 receptions (4 targets), 28 yards in just 16 pass plays.

And it was some kind of game for cornerbacks Vinny Preston and Quinn Robinette. They both did a little bit of everything. It's only the preseason, but things are looking up in Utah. We are gunning for taking that division crown back from the Phoenix infidels.