FPF to NFL Comparison: Defensive Players Part 2

Welcome to Part 2 of the FPF/NFL Defensive Player comparison article. Last week I looked at 15 players in our league and compared them to Linebackers, Halfbacks, Cornerbacks, and Safeties. In this edition, I will compare 17 players. This is where games are won and lost. 

Defenders

Tanner Burrell – Matt Milano

If you were to judge a book by it’s cover, you would think that Burrell might only be a Linebacker who could help stop the run, and cover Receivers on swing passes. That isn’t the case, as the veteran has proven capable of covering players on both shallow and deep routes. While speed isn’t his calling card, Burrell, uses his smarts, guile, positioning, strength, and size to disrupt passes.   

While his interception totals since his rookie season in 2010 won’t blow you away (12), Burrell’s biggest impact comes as a tackler, and is routinely among the team leaders on his squad in stops.

Milano isn’t the best players on the Buffalo Bills defense, but he is a leader who makes plays every game and shows up on the statsheet.

William Paquette – Jamel Dean

Being surrounded by some of the biggest names in FPF, Paquette has held up his end of the bargain, as he leads the contending Braves in interceptions with four and is second in tackles with 18. While he probably won’t match his career-high of 12 INTs and six touchdowns he posted in 2019 with the BBallers, he is on pace to end with five picks. More important than his numbers, he has been providing elite coverage to a unit that is looking to stay in the top half among defenses in Division A.

Just like Paquette, Jamel Dean, is a young up and coming Cornerback who is starting to make a name for himself. With the departure of Sean Murphy-Bunting to the Tennessee Titans this off-season, Dean, will be in the limelight as a fulltime starter in the Tamp Bay Buccaneers secondary. Can the Bucs CB follow Paquette’s lead?

Jonathan Benoit – J.C Jackson

The leader of the Beer Belly Brigade defense, Benoit, has proven to be a ballhawk this season, as he has interceptions in two straight games, and three out of his last four contests overall. If you thought that was impressive, since his rookie season in 2020, he has hauled in 27 INTs.  

Before suffering a season-ending injury last season with the Los Angeles Chargers (his 1st with the Bolts), J.C Jackson, was an interception machine with the New England Patriots. Since 2018, the Maryland product has led the NFL with 25 INTs.

The Beer Belly Brigade will need Benoit to produce a turnover or two, as they take on Ambush this coming Sunday in a game that will decide who gets the eighth and final playoff spot in Division B.

Gabriel Marcoux – Darius Slay

If you start for the Laval Rouge et Or, your chances of playing football professionally are a lot higher than most on the list. In flag, Marcoux has taken what he learned playing for arguably the best university team in Canada and has displayed those skills in FPF.

Just like Darius Slay, what Marcoux lacks in height, he makes up for in speed, strength, positioning, and toughnes. While he does gamble a lot by jumping routes, the Cornerback usually doesn’t make the same mistake twice. What makes him unique in FPF, is his ability to cover from all three spots in the secondary, and he isn’t afraid to go against his opponent’s top Receiver. Both players are leaders who make those around them better.

Mathieu LePage – Sauce Gardner

It has been a quiet season for Lepage so far, as through six games played, he only has 11 tackles. The blame however doesn’t fall on his shoulders, as he is rarely tested by Quarterbacks, and when he is, he provides shutdown coverage and can erase his Receiver from the play.

For an NFL comp, I couldn’t think of a better player than Sauce Gardner, the reigning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, and the man who many consider is the best Cornerback in the NFL. Lepage, has stake to that claim in FPF.

Stephan Osman – Talanoa Hufanga

Both players are not afraid to put their bodies on the line to make a play. Flying to bat down a pass, being on the receiving end of a shoulder to the chest because he’s standing in the way between the ball-carrier and the first down marker, or making a diving tackle to save a touchdown, just like Hufanga, Osman does all that and then some.

Physical play comes second-nature to both players, as they like to set the tone when they’re on the field. Solid tackling and leading by example are also some of the attributes they bring to the table. The pair are the type of defenders any defense could use.

Adam Rockman – Stephon Gilmore

Both Cornerbacks have height and reach on their side, and they use it to make plays on the ball. Rockman, has 11 tackles, one interception, and three pass deflections in seven games for Run It Once. His low stat line can be explained by the fact that opposing Quarterbacks don’t throw at him all that often.

Gilmore, the NFL Defensive Player of the Year, was one of only a few bright sports last year with the Indianapolis Colts, but just like Rockman, he has a long history of providing great and sometimes elite coverage.

Jordan Lessard – L’Jarius Sneed

Lessard is a young up and coming DB who is making a name for himself and putting himself into the conversation as one of the best at his position in the game. The more experience he gets the better he will become. That should be a scary thought for Receivers. The same can be said for Sneed, who in just four short seasons, has become the best and most important defender on the Kansas City Chiefs not named Chris Jones.

Lessard seems to have a magnet in his gloves, as the third-year player has amassed a jaw-dropping 16 interceptions, five of which he returned for a touchdown. To put those numbers into perspective, in any season that he has played three games or more, Lessard has recorded at least one interception. In four games this season with the Party Crashers, the Defensive Back has one INT and a TD. The Quarterback he picked off, was none other than the GOAT Kevin Wyeth.

Samuel Emilio Pelchat – Marlon Humphrey

Pelchat is the type of player every team needs, as he is a leader, who is scrappy, plays hard to the final whistle, and makes those around him better.

What makes the comp even more realistic, is that Pelchat and Humphrey both play multiple spots in their respective secondaries, and thrive either outside, or inside covering the slot. When you need a play on defense, both are usually the ones to rely on.

Juwan Edghill – Trevon Diggs

He will talk from the beginning of the game till the last whistle and then some, put Edghill backs up his big talk with play-making ability especially in coverage. Edghill is not the stoutest defender, but he uses his speed and length to routinely make plays on the ball. Just like Digs, Edghill will give up the big play occasionally, but neither plyer lacks the confidence to get right back on the horse and go for it again, sometimes even on the next play.

Jean-Christophe Ferland – Denzel Ward

Another leader who sets a great example for teammates, and makes at least one big play a game makes the list. Just like the Cleveland Browns Cornerback, Ferland, has shutdown ability, and is never afraid to shadow the opposition’s best Receiver all over the field. Both Defensive Backs can be physical when need be, and are more than capable of coming up with an interception when tested.

Jeremy Augustin – Derwin James Jr.

Augustin and James Jr. use their size and reach to their benefit, as they blanket Receivers, and make Quarterbacks have to throw over and around them to complete passes. Both players who can play in both a man and zone scheme, are able to quickly transition to Receiver when the ball is in the air, as evidenced by the turnovers they produce. This season, Augustin has five interceptions for Beers and Brownies, while James Jr., has produced at least two in three out of his last four seasons for the Los Angeles Chargers.

Jeanslee Alexis – Charvarius “Mooney” Ward

Speed, aggression, solid instincts, some trash-talking, and exciting to watch, both players deliver on all fronts. Ward and Alexis are also difference-maker on defenses that boast some big names already, so their performances standout even more. Ward, delivered a standout performance in his first season with the San Francisco 49ers last season, as he provided the team with a true number one Cornerback, something they were lacking in recent seasons.

Alexis, leads Star City in tackles with 29. Besides being good at stopping defenders, he is also a constant threat to return any interception he hauls in to the endzone, as his speed and length allow him to slide into the passing lanes, and pickoff Quarterbacks.

Nicolas Blais – Jessie Bates lll

Both players don’t get mentioned among the best defenders at their position, but Blais and Bates lll are underrated ballhawks, that have provided big plays for their teams.

This off-season, Bates lll, signed a massive free agent deal with the Atlanta Falcons, who are looking to make the post-season for the first time since 2017. Blais and his team EZW, are done as far as their playoff aspirations are concerned in Division B, but the team can still finish on a high note, as they look to build towards the future.

Alexandre Poulin-Rioux – D.J Reed Jr.

Scrappy is a perfect way to describe these two players, as both like to snick their nose in the action and will make a play most times when the ball is thrown in their direction. Poulin-Rioux and Reed Jr., are surrounded by player with bigger names, but they have experience, and are keys to what makes their defenses better.

Brendan Parm – Kevin Byard

Both veteran defenders have a nose for the football, as Parm has registered 31 career interceptions, while Byard has recorded 27. It isn’t just about the takeaways, as the duo are solid tacklers as well.

Parm plays next to bigger name players on defense in Phil Cutler, Jonathan Garfinkle, and Quaysie Gordon-Maule, while Byard does as well in Jeffery Simmons and Denico Autry, and Azeez Al-Shaair, but the two are arguably the most important pieces to their defense’s success.

James Acker – Jaire Alexander

Both veteran defenders might give up the occasional big play, but their teams have wisely continued to rely on them to make a big play in crunch, time and both KGP and the Green Bay Packers have rarely been left disappointed.

The duo has an abundance of speed to go with resiliency, and can routinely be seen baiting Quarterbacks into throws, and then making plays on the ball to either produce a turnover, or an incomplete pass.

Picks

Royaume Luminaire vs #NR – #NR

Allstars vs Star City – Allstars

Bless Up vs Party Crashers – Party Crashers

Silent Ticklers vs Ambush – Silent Ticklers

Beers and Brownies vs Poseidon’s Kiss – Beers and Brownies (My pick for Game of the Week in Div. B)

Last Week: (3-3)

That is it for this week. I hope you are all enjoying the long weekend. The Jazz Fest is here, the weather is beautiful, go outside and enjoy it. Next week will be the last FPF/NFL comp article. I will look at players from various positions. Good luck to everyone in their games tonight and this week!

If you haven’t had a chance, check out my interview with two-way threat, 9-time All-Star, and good guy Rory Semerjian. https://www.flagplusfootball.com/en/article/flagplus-football-interview-series-part-5-rory-semerjian/

If you liked the article, hated it, or simply felt like I left something out, please feel free to contact me at [email protected], or reach out to me on the FPF Facebook page.