Coming into 2013 the Purists looked like a team ready to compete for a title...well that didn't go so well. After a 6-8 season and second consecutive year missing the postseason Ant has in a lot of ways pulled the plug and begun the rebuilding process. While 2014 has them looking like a strong bet to finish in the bottom three, they have the young pieces and the picks to potentially build something great.
2014 PROJECTED STARTING LINE UP *() = 2014 season age
QB Cam Newton (25) - While his passing is still far from elite, the way the Panthers use him at the goal line has him as a sneaky top 5 dynasty QB. Give him a couple of weapons this year and have the Panthers open up their passing game a bit and Newton could be a fantasy force. Still super young Ant is set at this position for 7-10 years minimum.
HB1: Doug Martin (25) - The muscle hamster had a disastrous 2014 season due to ineffectiveness and injury. The loss of Schiano isn't great as few commit to the run as much as him, but while Martin may never touch his rookie stats as long as he's given feature back duties he's capable of being a top 10 back or right around it for 3-4 more seasons. Bottom line as long as Martin can get somewhere close to his 2013 form Ant has a solid even if unspectacular HB1.
HB2: Lamar Miller (23) - Lamar, Lamar, Lamar. There's no denying the kid has shown flashes but there are still many who believe he runs too soft and add to that the Dolphins' coaching staff not believing in him at all and we've got a classic case of a "what might have been". There have been rumors of the Dolphins drafting a tailback or even signing Blount no matter what happens it seems as if Miller blew his chance and now has a long way to go to be anything more than a high end HB3 or low end HB2 for the foreseeable future.
FLEX: David Wilson (23) - Wow if Lamar Miller was disappointing, then David Wilson was down right soul crushing. This kid has ELITE speed and I thought the Purists or at the time Bi Polar Bears had a STUD but that obviously didn't happen. Coughlin, lack of vision, fumbleitis, no trust from the organization, and now a potential career threatening spinal stenosis diagnosis, Wilson is now a whole lot closer to being out of the league than he is to being a HB1. With that being said the best thing Ant can do now is just hold this guy cause the talent is there...I think.
WR1: Aaron Dobson (23) - Dobson has loads of talent and in year 2 with Brady I could see him being a solid and serviceable WR2 in 2014 with potential to be better in future years. However having a guy that could be a serviceable WR2 if all goes well as your WR1 is a recipe for a bottom three finish.
WR2: Kendall Wright (24) - Doesn't have a lot of upside in my opinion but he's not a bad player. I'd hate to have him as my WR2 for 2014 but I think after the draft he won't be so no big deal. Wright just seems like a chain mover to me and a guy whose upside is maybe 1,000 yards and 5-7 TD's, there's nothing wrong with that and I could definitely be wrong.
TE: Julius Thomas (26) - As long as Manning stays around Thomas is a top 5-7 tight end and every week starter without question. Best case scenario Decker leaves and the Broncos aren't able to adequately replace him resulting in more targets for Orange Julius.
BENCH
HB Danny Woodhead, WR Robert Woods, WR Brian Hartline, WR Kenny Stills, HB Benny Cunningham, WR Cecil Shorts, TE Kyle Rudolph, WR Santonio Holmes, HB Marcel Reece
Not too many people that jump out as future studs, there are some okay role players and I think Woods and Stills could become WR3-low 2's and help out a bit. Cunningham is one Stacy injury away from being a solid HB2. Rudolph has a shot to burst on to the scene with Norv Turner calling the shots. Woodhead and Shorts should be on the chopping block at the first chance to get something good back.
DRAFT PICKS
2014: 1.04, 1.05, 1.06, 2.19 - In a draft rich with wide receiver talent Ant should be able to fix his weakest position in a big way with talents like Evans, Benjamin, Lee most likely still available in that 4-6 range.
2015: 1st (Tots), 2nd (BSL), 3rd, 3rd(BSL) - While it would be nice if Ant had his own pick, on the bright side at least he has some 2015 picks to look forward to or make some moves with. It's too early to tell what the 2015 draft will yield in the potential back half of it with the Tots pick, but it should be a nice draft where Ant will be able to pick up another piece in his turn around effort or use the pick to better the Purists.
2014 EVALUATION
If Wilson and Miller are just a year late and Ant can find some production out of the receiver position it's not crazy to think he could have a shot, but barring an unreal turn around from those two or some big time moves Ant on paper is all but a lock to finish in the bottom three, but as owners Dylan Gibson and Luke Zente have shown that's not a guarantee he'll finish there.
FUTURE
The future looks bright for the Purists, Newton, Martin, Dobson, JT, (3) 1sts that's a lot to build around and could have them looking like a contender as early as 2015 and at least by 2016. While anytime you're listed as a bottom team sucks, sometimes you have to take a step back to take a giant leap forward. The league is about winning championships not finishing in 7th place and Ant has started on a rebuilding process he believes will eventually get him to the top of the Ultimate Dynasty mountain.
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