| 2014 PFL DRAFT - HAMMERHEADS RE-BUILD DEFENSE |
 |
| OCEAN CITY HAMMERHEADS DRAFT HEADQUARTERS |
 |
| Round (Pick) Player College |
| 1st (6th) K.Norton JR OLB UCLA
1st (14th) K.Ayi OLB UMass 1st (18th) A.Pierce MLB North Dakota 2nd (35th) O.Lops CB Stanford 3rd (43rd) M.Jones CB Purdue 3rd (46th) Y.Scott C Arizona 3rd (47th) B.Hamilton HB UL Lafayette 4th (75th) D.Newton OG West Virginia 4th (78th) Z.Wilkinson OT Arizona 5th (86th) V.Hunt DT Tulane |
| The Ocean City Hammerheads entered the 2014 PFL Draft ready to re-build a team that showed signs of a prolific passing offense in 2013 while dealing with one of the worst defenses in the league when the offense was on the sidelines. The focus on defense was evident when Head Coach/GM Joshua Biddle spent his first five draft picks on defensive personnel. Coach Biddle hopes he helped to re-kindle the Hammerheads' tradition of speedy sideline-to-sideline linebackers patrolling one of the top defenses in the league. The linebacker core was something coach Biddle was disappointed in last season so he hopes that this draft infused talent into an otherwise average defensive unit. |
| 1st round selections OLB Ken Norton Jr., OLB Kole Ayi, and MLB Anthony Pierce all have the upper hand heading into training camp for a starting job at their respective positions. Ayi is expected to play strong side linebacker while Norton Jr. is expected to patrol the weak side. Both are balanced linebackers who can break away from defenders to make a tackle as well as drop back in coverage to defend a tough tight end. MLB Anthony Pierce is arguably the best coverage middle linebacker in the draft. He has height, jumping ability, and the speed to drop back and make plays in the 3rd level of the defense if necessary. The fact that Pierce is so superb in a coverage made him a must grab for Biddle in the draft. Biddle said, "I don't think I reached for any of them. That's always a concern with early picks that if you pass on them at one point, they'd be available later...but I don't think it would have been the case with any of those guys. All three of those guys were the best ranked at their respective positions on my draft board and I wanted all three - I'm just happy we were lucky enough to get them, especially with the fact that the linebacker class in this draft was extremely shallow in my opinion".
2nd round pick CB Onterrio Lops and 3rd round (43rd overall) pick CB Mario Jones will both compete for starting jobs with CB Billy Burrough and CB Nijrell Eason. Eason and Burrough weren't much of a takeaway threat last season - although Burrough has been in the past and likely just had an off year - so Biddle will try to achieve the optimum combination of playmaking ability and coverage ability in whomever he deems starters. The offense got a bit of a makeover - primarily the offensive line - with the remaining two third round picks and the two fourth round picks. The 3rd round (46th overall) selection was spent on C Yusef Scott and the 3rd round (47th overall) selection was spent on HB Bert Hamilton - the only runningback drafted. Scott was number one on the Hammerheads' draft board at center, making him another commodity that the team wanted to add to their roster. Incumbent C Roberto Garza was puzzled by the draft pick because of his abilities as center and the fact that he was a 3rd rounder two years ago under a different coach. "I've done everything I've been asked to do here so I don't know why a new center was brought in" Garza said, "I believe I am one of the better centers in this league and I refuse to be a backup". HB Bert Hamilton is expected to split carries with HB Larry Brown. Hamilton, a speedy yet strong power back provides a different build than that of the undersized agile Brown. The two hope to become the dynamic duo in Ocean City and hope to provide Coach Biddle with the option to run effectively to make the offense more than a one-dimensional threat. The offensive line continued to be revamped with the drafting of OG Dontae Newton (4th round, 75th overall) and OT Zach Wilkinson (4th round, 78th overall). Newton is expected to start at right guard, replacing RG Steve Ott, who was a disappointment this past season. Wilkinson looks to take over the left tackle position for LT Drew Hamm, who struggled to contain speed rushers but played well as a fifth week free agent selection. The sole fifth round selection (86th overall) was used on DT Victor Hunt. Hammerheads' defensive tackle Ken Kennard underachieved, so this pick was used to inspire Kennard to play to his capabilities while providing another talented body in the interior defensive line. Hunt and Kennard will compete for the nose tackle position in 3-men defensive fronts and both will get extensive time in 4-man defensive fronts. On the draft, coach Biddle said "I love the fact that the team is now built around guys I brought in here...guys I believe can get the job done and play to their abilities. I can't wait for the season to begin". The only question marks about the draft were the facts that the team didn't draft a quarterback or a wide receiver - two glaring needs heading into the season. The team openly has said that they will bring in another quarterback to compete with incumbent QB Joe Namath - which remains an option through free agency or trade. The team also is in desperate need of a third and fourth wide receiver as the team has no depth behind starters WR Jim Smith and WR Kelley Washington. This issue could also be addressed through free agency or trade as well. |