I predict Hartford to take Connor O'Rourke. Even early in football, a good QB matters. With what appears to be a weaker RB class, Hartford makes the pick that best sets them up for offensive success.

1953 NAAF Draft 

ROUND 1

Hello everyone, welcome to the 1953 NAAF draft. I am Jeff Montgomery and I am joined today by author of “The Gains Report”, Lawrence Gainsborough, and New England’s resident NAAF expert, Johnny Singleton. We will also be joined by several other scouts today to talk about other prospects. Without further ado let's get to the stage where the Hartford Hawks will soon make the first selection of the draft.  

Moments later commissioner Ryan Jameson announces the pick:

“With the first selection in the 1953 NAAF draft the Hartford Hawks select, from London, Ontario, Quarterback, Lee Rogers”  

1 - Hartford Hawks - QB Lee Rogers - London, ON
The Hawks have taken who they hope will be their franchise quarterback. After a rough season jumping between Andrew Sexton and Michael Kramer, it is a much-needed change for the Hawks.  

Johnny Singleton’s Scouting Report
Rogers is a classic Gunslinger. He loves throwing it deep and scoring loads of touchdowns. He has an arm much like Duane Logan and Oliver Callahan and can lead an explosive offense. However, with his natural abilities, Rogers' decision making and recklessness have resulted in many interceptions. He has cleaned it up over the last year, but this is a definite high-risk, high reward pick at #1. 

2 - Worcester Athletics - OL Cliff Strautzenberger - Cheesequake, NJ
The Athletics grab what should be the true centerpiece to their offensive line of the future and what looks to be the best talent in the entire class.  

George Stefanakis’ Scouting Report
The man is known as the “Baby-Faced Mauler” for his baby-face, yet mean and brutal style of play. Strutzenberger is a tough guy to get through, and the last guy you wanna see barrelling down the field to block for his running back. Cliff does lack a bit of speed with his size which means he gets beat sometimes on the pass coverage, but pretty sound otherwise. Great pick for Worcester. 

3 - Ontario Tigers - OL Ulysses Fairgrove - New Haven, CT
With their first selection as the Ontario Tigers, the team takes an Offensive Lineman to address their biggest need heading into the offseason and should be the first piece to keeping Duane Logan happy in Kitchener.  

The Gains Report - Lawrence Gainsborough
One of the best linemen I have ever scouted. He is technically sound and has the ability to cover both the run and pass quite well.  He will add a lot to a line that has to protect Logan and make a hole for Laurent Brazeau. Fairgrove plays with loads of confidence but has the skill to back it up, we will see if he can keep it up at the next level. 

4 - Montreal Rouge - LB Rusty McVee - Brampton, ON
Head Coach Guy Clarke loves both strong defensive players and those native to Quebec. Seems about right to go back to the defense with the best defender in the draft. McVee should be able to grow under the leadership of superstar LB Quinton Brewer.  

Roger Roy’s Scouting Report
McVee is a hit machine through and through. He will always go for a game shaking hit over a simple tackle any day. While his aggressive nature can take over, it can usually fire a team up and keep the defense going and he still has an ability to see what’s happening on the field to make the stop. McVee only makes Montreal’s defense scarier.

5 - Providence Gold Stars - QB Connor O’Rourke - Weymouth, MA
With the first true surprise in the draft, the Gold Stars decide to go quarterback over O-Line or D-Line which are far more dire needs at least I would say so. To be fair, we don’t know what to expect from GM Virgil Gross in his first season. The good news is O’Rourke can grow under QB Bruce Woodard who is getting up there in age. 

The Gains Report
To me, Connor O’Rourke is the best QB in the draft. He is scary accurate. Rarely misses the mark and has a great ability to see what’s going on out on the field. Fits the field general style of Larry Larson and Jean Matieau which bodes well for the young QB. The weakness for O’Rourke would be his abilities down the field as he lacks the arm strength that Rogers has, and can play it too safe at times.  

TRADE ALERT!!
The Royals have traded the 6th overall pick to the Hartford Hawks for the 9th overall pick and a third-rounder for next year.  

6- Hartford Hawks (via OTT) - RB Pierre LeStrange - Montreal, QB
The Hawks missed out on RB Alexei Volkov after the Royals had jumped them in last year’s draft, and now they trade up with that very team to get a running back this year. This does come just one year after the Hawks took RB Johnnie Stafford in the second round and RB Maurice Fergerson in the fourth. It is clear they were not quite satisfied with the two. 

Dewey Thomas’ Scouting Report
LeStrange is an intense running back. Loads of power and strength that makes him hard to take down and a great blocking back. LeStrange’s size and strength with bring many comparisons to Laurent Brazeau and it is rightfully deserved. He is also a leader in the locker room and has been praised for his speeches. LeStrange should be a major factor for the Hawks moving forward and bring some success in the backfield.  

7 - Boston Independents - WR Ellis Lindholm - Rochester, NY
Boston was definitely interested in getting either O’Rourke or McVee, but they end up being too far back, but they still grab the top receiver in the class which will hopefully back up Walters and Floyd in the Boston offense which has been looking for a strong 3rd WR.  

The Gains Report
Lindholm is an expert route runner, that plays primarily in the slot. He is a very coachable player, takes criticism well, and is always willing to improve. He has a bit of a disadvantage in height but his shiftiness more than makes up for it. Looks to be the next Eugene Burns or Jean-Yves Vallotton, with potential to surpass both of them 

8 - Buffalo Blue Wings - OL Jean Mathieu-Baptiste - Laval, QB
With the final pick of the first round the Blue Wings add to an already fantastic O-line with Mathieu-Baptiste. The Blue Wings want to keep Medina healthy to continue their march towards more titles in the future, a smart pick for Buffalo. 

The Gains Report
Mathieu-Baptiste is an excellent blindside blocker that will provide great protection for Medina. He is a smart player that is as disciplined as it gets. For the Blue Wings to add this to the great O-line that had All-Stars Casey York and Melvin Marshall on it, will only make Buffalo that much better. 

That concludes the first round of the draft, Ottawa will kick off the rest of the draft with the 9th selection coming up. I'm Jeff Montgomery joined by Lawrence Gainsborough and Johnny Singleton, as well as many other today, we will be carrying on the draft fairly shortly, but let's get the thoughts from everyone on the first round, what surprised you? Who has made the best decision so far? Who has made the most concerning move?

*The rest of the draft will be up either later this evening or tomorrow, haven't decided yet, but I wanted to get the first round out to break it up a little bit*

O'Rourke to my Gold Stars?! I'll take it. Hopefully the OL and DL can be addressed in the coming rounds.

Captain Mort 3D wrote:

Now I know how all the packers fans are feeling like right now. I really hope O’Rourke will be worth the pick for us. I’m still scratching my head but I have faith in gross so week see what happens

I am a Packer fan. A reasonable one, but I am one. So I love Jordan Love as a player, but I hate the pick. We had needs that needed filling (PATRICK QUEEN WAS RIGHT THERE AT 26!), and passing on ALL of them was pretty lousy.

Captain Mort 3D wrote:

Now I know how all the packers fans are feeling like right now. I really hope O’Rourke will be worth the pick for us. I’m still scratching my head but I have faith in gross so week see what happens

Gross is still a complete wildcard, but that may be exactly what Providence needs to finally get over the hump. The other interesting fact would be Bruce Woodard's contract did expire this season, the starting job is completely up in the air not to mention the team also has a young back up in Brian Meadows who hasn't had the chance to get much action. 

Last edited by Wallflower (5/09/2020 12:47 am)