One of the greatest things about the Digital Age of Sports is the amount of info available—the saturation of breakdowns and in-depth videos with overlays and zoom-ins, and even GIFs—helping to shape our expertise-level vocabulary and schematic understanding. Where the casual NFL couch potatoes of yesterday are seasoned tomorrow—we’re all Sean McVay.
And, oh man, the complexities are mind-boggling. The NFL is full of scheming and creating illusions—on both sides of the ball—with hopes that the organized deception will lead to a victory. The NFL playbooks are vast and dictionary-level thick, with quirky terms that sound more like ’90s alt bands than touchdown-producing concoctions: Lookie. Banana. Viper Right. Slippy.
Huh?
The personnel groupings alone are enough to make you scream “AP Calculus!” and then go shiver in a dark corner until the equations stop cascading through your mind.
Basically…there are a lot of layers within the NFL think space.
So, when it comes to looking at the league at the midpoint—where it started and where it might be going—and then having a little harmless fun by creating a Hypothetical Juggernaut, we find ourselves in a bit of a gray area.
That is to say, if you had the opportunity to send out such a squad, one that would be your ultimate Super Bowl contender—from the offensive side, at least—some immediate decisions mustn’t be overlooked. Sure, in the olden days, one might be able to start rattling off top-tier names—while mumbling through the O-line—and letting that be that. Now? Well, most folks will immediately “shhh” you and ask: What type of personnel are you sending out there, bub?
And so, with all the ramble above considered, this Midseason Juggernaut that I have created will be taking the fantasy field in the NFL’s most common offensive grouping—the 11 personnel.
Here’s a schematic:
Got it? Good.
And now that we all know—or are refreshed and now reign as a more polished Knower—here’s the offense that I’m sending out after the commercial break.
QB: Russell Wilson
The most crucial element—outside of the system, as we’re learning—the QB has got to be able to keep defenses guessing: Run? Pass?
A-ha: Play Action!
For me, that quarterback is Russell Wilson. Sure, Lamar Jackson has been incredible, Tom Brady makes me want to give up tomatoes and strawberries tomorrow, and the calmness and understanding of an offense, the execution, that Aaron Rodgers possesses is next-level.
But Wilson can control the game in so many ways. So far this season, he has thrown for 2,505 yards, 22 touchdowns and one—yes, one!—interception. His 68.3 completion percentage is solid, and his shifty ability and vision outside the pocket—where he’s run for 203 yards and three touchdowns—makes him seem like…well, he’s the 12th man.
QB :: RB :: WR :: WR :: WR :: TE :: C :: RG :: LG :: RT :: LT
RB: Christian McCaffrey
Begone, Importance of the Running Back Naysayers!
Filling this position was a difficult decision because there is value in having a dual-threat back who can disrupt defenses while also being able to block an occasional stunt or lend a hand to the outside folk struggling to seal the end.
The Panthers’ Christian McCaffrey has been the best so far. He’s so versatile the athletic uniqueness he provides at running back makes me think it’s better off called, “McCaffrey Back.”
He has 881 yards on 165 carries and 10 touchdowns—note: 117 of that output was against the wildly impressive 49ers defense. He’s been useful in the passing game, too, adding another 383 yards and three touchdowns to the 2019 resume.
Add it all up, and he’s the current total yards leader.
And this team’s multipurpose running back.
QB :: RB :: WR :: WR :: WR :: TE :: C :: RG :: LG :: RT :: LT
WR (Slot): Cooper Kupp
One year, when Keyshawn Johnson was asked to compare himself to some of the newer generations at the receiver position, he mentioned a specific element as a separating factor of greatness—to paraphrase: “Yeah, but I block.”
Cooper Kupp doesn’t fit that shade of Hot Take, though, and that’s why he’s a perfect fit for not only Sean McVay and the Rams’ offense, but also this squad. (Yep, Cooper Kupp: Willing blocker. You’re in, man!)
Kupp’s talent at the receiver position doesn’t hurt either and is on full display in 2019. The Rams’ slot man ranks third in yards with 792—second in yards after the catch with 404—and he’s tied for 10th with five touchdowns. He’s the inedible proof in the pudding as to why the Rams have ran one of the most successful 11 personnel groupings.
QB :: RB :: WR :: WR :: WR :: TE :: C :: RG :: LG :: RT :: LT
WR (Edge): Michael Thomas
Giving the Saints’ Michael Thomas a starting nod might seem like a lazy move—one that doesn’t have any more insight than a simple understanding of, “Wideout with the most yards so far in 2019 should be out there.”
But there’s more than just yards with Thomas—although, I’ve never seen anyone smirk because the team is moving forward and not backward. (We’re not building the next Northwestern squad, guys.)
Anyway, with Thomas, one of the most impressive stats is his catch percentage (catches dived by times targeted). When you go down the list, one of the first receivers, at 19th, is Thomas, who has caught 82 percent of the passes thrown to him this season.
Some of that can be placed on the quarterback’s accuracy and the defense’s pass coverage, without question. But a lot of that is Thomas’ unique talents to make plays, to take the QB’s possibly off-target ducks and turn into a significant gain.
QB :: RB :: WR :: WR :: WR :: TE :: C :: RG :: LG :: RT :: LT
WR (Edge): Mike Evans
Mike Evens fits the prototypical big-bodied receiver, which causes mismatches and poses a real threat downfield. That doesn’t mean he’s the Supreme Order of 11 personnel receivers—but if we’re going to repeat this system like it’s the 10 o’clock SportCenter, there’s a real need to add some go-up-and-get-it talent off the play-action pass.
Even with some of the inconsistencies from the Buccaneers’ passing game this season, Evans has stood out as a top, go-to receiver. He has 842 yards after eight games and is tied for the league lead with seven touchdown catches. And talk about a downfield threat for the defenses to game plan for (fear): Of the 842 yards, 702 of that came before Evans even made the catch, putting him tops in the league for pass yards traveled before the reception.
QB :: RB :: WR :: WR :: WR :: TE :: C :: RG :: LG :: RT :: LT
TE: Travis Kelce
If we’re taking this team to the Super Bowl, then Travis Kelce has got to be the tight end. Kelce can be used in the 11 personnel to create headaches for the defense—while providing pay-dirt celebrations for the offense. Split, in motion, staying in as an additional blocker… there are so many ways his versatility works within this grouping that he’s basically a Swiss Army Knife with shoulder pads and bright yellow gloves.
There are others to consider; I get that. But Kelce’s 2019 output isn’t a dismissive effort. He leads all tight ends in yards with 666 and has added two touchdowns to the Chiefs’ midseason tally. The 225 yards after the catch highlights Kelce’s strength. And really, few people in the NFL bring the sort of energy—the feels—that Kelce does before, during, and after the game.
QB :: RB :: WR :: WR :: WR :: TE :: C :: RG :: LG :: RT :: LT
C: Jason Kelce
There are a few things that are more certain in the NFL than the greatness of Eagles’ center, Jason Kelce. He is basically the opposite of a catch.
The Pro-Bowler has continued adding to his impressive resume so far in 2019, leading a solid O-line in Philadelphia.What he (allegedly) did in Chicago, however, caught my eye and basically swayed any thoughts about other centers:
Full disclosure: I don’t condone cheating—I want a collective bunch who work hard and do things the old fashioned, gritty way. But! When looking over this (alleged) issue against the Bears, I’m not so sure he did or did not do such acts, so it would be crazy to punish someone or not give them a chance just because So-and-So complained.
You know what? It’s an excellent time to introduce you to the team’s compliance director, who will be dealing with this issue henceforth:
QB :: RB :: WR :: WR :: WR :: TE :: C :: RG :: LG :: RT :: LT
RG: Brandon Brooks
Brandon Brooks has been one of the top—if not the top—guards in the league this year.
Although he didn’t practice the last few days because of an illness, it would be crazy not to have this man on the line, helping clear the way for McCaffrey and Wilson—while also protecting the latter. And now that there are two Eagles on the team, we can officially invite Bradley Cooper to the mixer.
QB :: RB :: WR :: WR :: WR :: TE :: C :: RG :: LG :: RT :: LT
LG: Will Hernandez
It’s pretty remarkable how good some of the guard play has been in 2019. That’s great, while also a drag, teetering on a curse. Because we can only start one guy, this grouping calls for a left guard and right guard. Nothing more. Nothing less.
Initially, I wanted to squeeze/sneak Marshal Yanda into this position and then tell you something like, “Yanda’s incredible ability as guard translates to either side of the football.”
But, alas, I can not do that—because I’m always reminded of the funny phrase about switching that Geoff Schwartz quoted in this article.
But let’s not act like Hernandez is a pair of socks on Christmas morning. He’s been holding his own (and not getting caught holding the defenders) in 2019, protecting rookie QB Daniel Jones while opening lanes and providing an excellent push at the line for Saquon Barkley.
Plus, there’s his willingness to add some fire to the team, protecting the QB and sending the message to anyone who gets a little handsy with our star QB, Russell Wilson.
QB :: RB :: WR :: WR :: WR :: TE :: C :: RG :: LG :: RT :: LT
RT: La’el Collins
La’el Collins was another no-brainer for the team. Collins’ blocking abilities in the running game are some of the strongest in the league, on display in Week 1 against the Giants—his highest rated game according to PFF:
He’s got the strength and technique to be extremely useful in pass protection, too, which will give Russell Wilson the time and space to make plays downfield.
QB :: RB :: WR :: WR :: WR :: TE :: C :: RG :: LG :: RT :: LT
LT: Ronnie Stanley
It would be crazy not to include a Ravens lineman on this team—especially someone as talented as left tackle, Ronnie Stanely.
Stanley’s been a brick wall—that has legs—for the Ravens, protecting Lamar Jackson in the most statistically in-your-face way: Zero sacks.
That’s the kind of edge protection I want for Wilson, too. Adding the additional running lanes by keeping Travis Kelce in, complemented with Stanley’s length… McCaffrey and Wilson might go through the second half of the season with the cleanest uniforms in the history of the NFL.
History: What this Hypothetical Juggernaut just might achieve…
Assuming the defense doesn’t screw it up!
QB :: RB :: WR :: WR :: WR :: TE :: C :: RG :: LG :: RT :: LT
