A few weeks ago, I talked about bringing unique content to the football products that are coming out with one of the draft classes with the most potential in years. Stepping up the game will be an absolute necessity, and today we saw a little bit of what Topps is planning to make this a reality. From the looks of the recent tweets from them, they are teasing a new product called Topps Strata, which, for all intents and purposes is a product based around one of my favorite cards of all time – the Shadowbox.

As far as I can tell, not only are these based on the Shadow Box, they are an improvement, with the addition of swatches to the third level of the card. Of course, there will likely be more of an explanation as we get to market with these, but hot damn, they look ridiculously cool. I love the big player on the front with full action shots from the premiere that draw the eye. Behind that with a second shot, followed by a jumbo swatch makes me immediately make the comparison to the forerunners that came in 2009 and 2010 SPX.

UPDATE: After seeing the solicitation, the cards dont look to be the same as the shadowboxes, but the swiss army knife action is completely awesome on the Riveted cards out of 5. What will happen is an effect similar to the shadowboxes, where the layers will combine to present a multiple exposure player display with a hard signed autograph on the acetate.  With the rivet to fan out the layers, the card presents something that has never been done before. Love it.

Additionally, the Clear Cut cards look to be the box hit, which is fine with me, especially with how cool they look. The swooping acetate signatures, which look to be the design mark of this product, will not only help prevent fakes, but it is a stunning way of highlighting the signature over the swatch, without having them sign the actual swatch. The big prominent pictures help sell these cards, and I think they could be one of the cards that collectors will chase all year long.

Panini recently teased both Momentum and Rookies & Stars, but both are not even close to this type of approach to a product. With Prestige being pushed back another week, and further questions over what is actually going to be coming out of their camp, Topps continues to run laps around the offerings they are trying to make a reality. Its not even fair when you put them side by side.

Then to add in the booklet cards with two of the layered jersey autos side by side, its like Topps is rolling with Joe Montana and Panini is rolling with Marc Bulger. Its not even a competition, as I honestly have to say that Panini doesn’t even look like they are taking this challenge seriously. Their constant reluctance to raise the bar is insulting, where Topps is reinventing their product line with each new solicitation.

The quad autograph is the only card that I have an aversion to, as I really hate the way it looks. Although I couldn’t care less about cards like that when there are ones like the previews in play, I wish Topps would get it through their heads that quad booklet autographs should ALWAYS be done like the ones in 2011 Five Star, with each player done side by side instead head over head.

Bottom line, Strata looks to be a game changer, with a huge new name to bring to the hobby. I have every belief that if these cards end up coming out the way they look, we could have a new Inception like title to add to the mix. Dealers have often stated that the cards in each product need to bring something special over the next one, and Strata takes that to a new level. I cannot wait.

Here are the pictures: