Survivor I - Marc Bulger Commentary

NOTE: this draft was completed on 7/24

Recent Stats

YR	CMP	ATT	PYD	PTD	INT	RSH	RSHYD	RSHTD	FPT	RANK
2002	138	214	1826	14	6	12	-13	1	146.3	29
2003	336	532	3845	22	22	29	75	4	289.8	6
2004	321	485	3964	21	14	19	89	3	295.1	9

Positives - Bulger is at the helm of the most prolific passing attack in the league, and enters his third year as the starter. Not only does he have all his old weapons back, Holt, Bruce, McDonald, Curtis, and Faulk, but this year Steven Jackson will make a greater impact, and the Offensive Line will be shored up with the addition of G Rex Tucker and having Orlando Pace, the premier left tackle in the league, in camp instead of holding out for the first time in recent memory. Bulger threw for nearly 4,000 yards last season, and has 7 Rushing TDs in the last two seasons. More that either Daunte Culpepper or Donovan McNabb can claim. Bulger also reduced his number of interceptions from 22 in 2003 to 14 last year.

Negatives - Bulger takes a lot of hits. A lot. Mainly as a result of the time it takes for Coach Martz’ receiver patterns to develop. Due to this, he has yet to play a full 16 game season without injury. Due to this, if you draft Bulger, it is a must to handcuff him with Jamie Martin in a later round (maybe somewhere near Round 20).

Draft Strategy - One strategy I love to employ is getting a QB and his #1 WR. Nothing brings more joy than racking up double the points for a TD pass. I made the mistake last year in one of my leagues of extending that to the RB from that team as well, and it was a huge mistake. There’s only one ball to go around, no matter how many points the team scores. Bulger can throw for 400 yards a game (he did twice last year), and has only had three games total over the last three years where he did not throw for at least one TD. It was time to take a starting QB, with Manning, Culpepper, and McNabb off the board. Bulger represented phenomenal value in the 5th round. With passing TDs worth only four points, far too high of a price was paid for Manning and Culpepper in Round 1.