Drew Brees' accuracy is what makes him one of the NFL's top quarterbacks. Heinz Kluetmeier/SI
Bucky Brooks's Mailbag
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The opportunity to play GM was a lot tougher than I expected, but I had a great time putting together this team. From picking the head coach to selecting the final guy on the roster, each decision was made with the goal of building a Super Bowl winner. I eschewed the temptation to build a team that would compile gaudy individual statistics like a fantasy team, and concentrated on shaping a roster that would thrive in the scheme crafted by the coaches on both sides of the ball.
Offensively, I wanted to create a roster that could present a myriad of offensive looks while maintaining a power running game as a foundation. Although the offense will be built around the run, the goal was to assemble enough weapons on the outside to attack down the field in the passing game.
Defensively, the goal was to build the team around a dominant front seven. Stopping the run and pressuring the passer are keys to fielding a championship defense, so the emphasis was to acquire great talent with versatility to allow us to attack from a variety of fronts to keep offenses off-balanced. The roster was assembled with a 3-4 defense in mind, but the versatility of front seven will allow us to run some 4-3 and "46" schemes as well.
On special teams, I wanted to create a unit that had the ability to create scoring opportunities in the kicking game. The third phase of the game is often overlooked, but by dominating in the kicking game, we will be able to win the field-position battle in an effort to win games by being fundamentally sound.
I don't expect this roster to be loved by all, but I'm confident that this team would seriously contend for a Super Bowl title based on its overall talent, versatility and depth.
Click here for Bucky Brooks' 53-man roster.
COACHING
Head Coach: Marty Schottenheimer
I'm sure the decision to pick Schottenheimer as a head coach is surprising to many, but based on his credentials and coaching style, I think that he is the perfect guy to lead this team. Schottenheimer ranks fifth on the all-time list in regular-season wins (200) and his .613 winning percentage is ninth-best among coaches who have coached more than 200 regular-season games. Though critics will point to his disappointing postseason record (5-13), few can match his track record and consistency as a head coach (13 playoff appearances and only two losing seasons in his 21-year career). Regarded as one of the game's finest teachers, Schottenheimer's teams are fundamentally sound and physical on both sides of the ball. In addition, he commands the respect of his players despite being a stickler for details in all aspects of the game. Although "Marty-ball" isn't always pretty, the man consistently wins and that is what drove me to pick him as the head coach of my team.
Offensive Coordinator: Cam Cameron, Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens' offensive coordinator is one of the most creative minds in the business and has experience working with Schottenheimer. As the Chargers' offensive coordinator, Cameron orchestrated an offense that led the National Football League in scoring in 2006, and registered top-five finishes in that category in 2004 and 2005. Cameron has designed top offensive attacks by using a power running game to set up an explosive vertical pass attack. Under his direction, the Chargers' offense became only the sixth offense in NFL history to produce a 3,500-yard passer (Drew Brees), 1,000-yard rusher (LaDanian Tomlinson) and 1,000-yard receiver (Antonio Gates) in the same season (2005). In addition, he helped Tomlinson become only the first player in league history to rush for more than 1,000 yards while catching 100 passes (2003) and developed Brees into a Pro-Bowl quarterback (2004-2005) while directing Chargers' attack. With a proven track record as a play caller and a knack for tailoring game plans to suit the strengths of his personnel, I think Cameron is the right choice to be the offensive coordinator for this team.
Defensive Coordinator: Rex Ryan, Baltimore Ravens
As the Ravens' defensive coordinator since 2005, Ryan has demonstrated the ability to field a top-ranked defense while using unconventional methods at times. Ryan's defense is a 3-4 by design, but his willingness to mix up his fronts with a variety of personnel packages makes it extremely challenging for offenses. His Ravens' defenses have finished in the top five in overall defense in two of his three seasons as defensive coordinator, including his 2006 unit that ranked first in the league in points allowed (201), total defense (264.1), interceptions (28) and fewest first-downs permitted (236) while ranking second in sacks (60) and takeaways (40). Despite dealing with a spate of injuries last season, Ryan's defense still ranked sixth in total defense and second in rush defense. With extensive experience dealing with a star-studded lineup and a creative mind willing to take an innovative approach to defense, I think Ryan is the ideal fit for the defensive coordinator job.
QUARTERBACKS
Drew Brees ($9,000,000) is the perfect triggerman for this offense. As an accurate passer with surprising long-ball touch and accuracy, Brees' skills are ideally suited to thrive in Cam Cameron's offense. The two-time Pro Bowler has consistently completed more than 63 percent of his passes throughout his career, and his willingness to spread the ball around to multiple receivers makes this offense dangerous. Though other franchise quarterbacks were available, I think he is the right fit for this system.
Damon Huard ($2,672,906) is a smart backup who has proven he is able to effectively manage a game when given the opportunity.