*Sigh* Warren I thought we were past this...
Guess not.
Yesterday on NFL Total Access, a panel consisting of Willie McGinest, Tom Waddle and of course, Warren Sapp, debated whether or not the Steelers should still be considered elite.
In the video, which you can watch here, Waddle says that when thinking of the AFC's elite he thinks of the Patriots, Texans and Ravens. Then, the Steelers.
Though I disagree about the Texans and Ravens being ahead, Waddle's reasoning was generally fair so I don't really have an issue with it. I don't understand why people think the Ravens are still so good but we'll get to that in a minute. Bare with me.
Anyway, Waddle discussed the improved offensive line, the reality that the defense wasn't much younger last year either when people said they were old, and that the Mike Wallace situation would resolve itself eventually. I'd agree with all of that.
As always Willie McGinest was quite fair, saying that he considers the Steelers elite and that it comes down to the fact that the defense is still excellent and as long as Ben is under center, the Steelers are fine. Essentially, singing all the usual praises.
Then came Sapp.
For those of you who don't know, Warren Sapp has been "hating" on the Steelers for quite some time now. Some believe it all began after a skirmish in 2002 between he and some former Steelers. It then escalated last month when Ike Taylor brought up the incident and Sapp fought back by attacking Taylor's performance in the playoffs against Denver. I wrote about the skirmish which you can read here.
Regardless, it has become increasingly evident that the former All Pro defensive tackle has some beef with the black and gold.
Prior to the 2011 season, he said the Steelers defense was too old. Their response? Tops in the league in total yardage, against the pass and points allowed. Not bad for supposedly being too old.
The other day when Chad Johnson (still getting used to that), said that he would have a monster year, Warren Sapp defended Miami's new wideout, saying that one of his best years came when he was 34 years old, as a member of the Oakland Raiders. He encouraged Johnson to "keep his nose to the grind stone and keep working at it." Saying, "it can be done." (You can watch the video here)
Now, as a Steelers fan, that infuriates me.
How in the world can someone, let alone an NFL analyst, say that the man once called Ochocinco, who has been relatively awful the last four years, could be expected to bounce back at age 34, but the Steelers can't?
Explain that to me because I don't understand that logic.
He said straight out that because the Steelers average age on defense was over 30, that they would falter in 2011. When they didn't, he tried again a few months ago.
Am I the only one seeing a bit of hypocrisy on the behalf of our overweight, bankrupt friend?
Anyway, back to today's video.
After McGinest and Waddle gave their reasons for why the Steelers should be considered elite or not, it was Sapp's turn.
The first thing he said, was that when he thinks of an elite team he doesn't think of a wild card team or a team that's playing on the road. He's thinking of a home team with 13 or 14 wins.
By that logic, the only teams that would qualify as elite are the Packers, Patriots, Saints and 49ers. And would exclude not just the Steelers, but the Ravens, Texans and the defending Super Bowl champion Giants.
He continued on, saying that the Steelers "have a lot of question marks. They have a brand new starting right guard, the second round pick, you know taking Kemoeuatu's spot. So now the whole right side is a second year and a new guy."
Seriously? David DeCastro is neither replacing Kemoeatu nor was he a second round pick. It's unfathomable to me that a man who does this for a living could mix up when the top interior lineman in this years draft was taken. On top of that, Kemoeatu was a left guard, and he lost his starting job mid way through last season anyway.
So what Sapp meant to say, was that the Steelers will be starting the best guard prospect in a decade on the right side where he will replace Ramon Foster and not Chris Kemoeatu.
I'm sure it was an honest mistake.
Then we have Sapp's final miscue. At the end of the video, he rolls his eyes and says that the Steelers are going to anchor their 3-4 defense this season with a nose tackle that weighs 280 lbs.
Warren, its not just that I think your analysis is blatantly wrong, its that you're factually incorrect.
For those of you who don't know, the Steelers will (likely) start Steve McClendon this year at nose tackle, at least until Casey Hampton returns from injury. Last year's roster had McClendon listed at 280 lbs. So in this sense Sapp is not wrong. However, if he did his research like an analyst should, he would know that McClendon has bulked up and now weighs close to 330 lbs. (Here's an article on it if you don't believe me)
The point is, Sapp is wrong again. And it comes down to a lack of research and care on his part.
Not to mention, to say that a team has to be the host of a playoff game to be elite, and has to win 13 or 14 games seems just a little bit ignorant. Let's review. The Giants won the Super Bowl this season after winning nine games. NINE.
The Packers won the year before after winning ten and doing it as a WILD CARD TEAM.
Maybe I'm assuming too much but I'll bet if you'd asked Warren if the Packers should have been considered elite last year he'd have said yes. Even though they didn't host a playoff game or win 13 games.
I also tend to think he considers the Giants elite after just winning the Super Bowl, but they won their division with again, just nine wins.
So we seem to have circled back to the notion that Warren Sapp is a complete hypocrite.
Here is my solution: Either Sapp should admit that he simply has it out for the Steelers, or the NFL Network should fire him. Soon.
Because if I have to listen to even one more completely biased, factually incorrect, hypocritical rant of his, I'm going to punch a baby.
I don't want to punch a baby. Believe me.
Now that we're all in agreement that Sapp is a joke, I'd like to conclude by defending the Steelers "eliteness."
Let me begin by reiterating something I have pointed out a thousand times over: I don't care that the Steelers defense is old on paper. As long as they aren't playing like it.
The only real issue with Dick LeBeau's defense last year was a lack of turnovers.
I can actually explain this one quite easily: You create turnovers by rushing the passer. It leads to strips and interceptions. So if you don't have a good pass rush, your defense isn't going to create many turnovers. In 2011 the Steelers were so hurt along the front seven, that it severely diminished the pass rush.
Check out these numbers, the Steelers had just 35 sacks, 11 interceptions and four, count 'em, four fumble recoveries!
That's unacceptable, but it's also understandable given the injuries. Keep in mind that of the opening day front seven, only Lawrence Timmons played in all 16 games. Keisel and Farrior missed two, Hampton three, Harrison five, Woodley six and Smith twelve.
That's 30 games missed by the front seven alone!
Moral of the story, if they're healthy in 2012, the pressure will return, the mistakes will increase and the turnovers will again be abundant.
The offense is in great shape. I trust that Mike Wallace will sign his contract soon and everything will work itself out eventually, because he's not going to miss any regular season games. You can hold me to that. He might be rusty for the first half of the season because of it, but I still think this is the most talented an offense the Steelers have had since.... well maybe ever to be quite honest.
One thing Waddle did agree with Sapp on, was that it was hard for him to rap his head around calling a team elite when they are entering the post season via the wild card, because he still expects the Ravens to win the division.
Shall we review the Ravens offseason so far? First they lost a plethora of playmakers via free agency. The most notable of whom was Baltimore's top offensive linemen Ben Grubbs who dashed for New Orleans. In addition, they lost Jarrett Johnson, Cory Redding and Tom Zbikowski. So while Warren Sapp can talk about how the Steelers have a ton of question marks because they plan on starting a rookie at right guard, maybe he should worry about the Ravens having to replace four defensive starters first. (I'm counting Suggs)
Oh and guess who'll be calling the shots for that defense in 2012. Dean Pees, their new defensive coordinator.
Remind me again why the Ravens are favorites.
They now boast an offensive line that's average age is 31.8 years old. In addition, this is a team that has already lost their best defensive player for at least half the year. Plus, Ed Reed and Ray Lewis are coming off their worst seasons as pros and unlike the Steelers defenders, actually have begun to show signs of age.
If anything were to happen to Ray Rice, this team probably wins six or seven games and there really isn't much of a debate there. The games the Ravens lost or struggled in last year were the ones where they diminished Rice's role. When the ball wasn't in his hands, they were in trouble and it was obvious. Joe Flacco and those receivers simply can't be expected to carry them to victory.
I don't think the Ravens should be considered favorites in the AFC North. I still think they're a playoff team capable of making a Super Bowl run if they get hot at the right time, but right now I see no reason to think that they have improved even a little bit this offseason.
So Warren Sapp, I'd appreciate it if you'd do some research because I would kill for your job, a job you clearly don't care about. Your lack of preparation, understanding and passion are why you fail, not just as an analyst but as a functioning member of society. Your bankrupt for a reason and its reflected quite clearly in your work.
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Thursday, July 26, 2012
TOP 10 TIGHTS ENDS
Today we're looking at tights ends in part three of my positional power rankings. If you haven't yet, take a look at parts one and two, on the Wide Receivers and Defensive Backs.
As with the other positions, these rankings incorporate all aspects of play so as to best consider the demands of the position and rank accordingly. I realize there were a couple of guys last year who put up phenomenal receiving numbers but if they can't block that's going to hurt them.
Guys who play with elite quarterbacks, or who are on teams with such good offensive lines that they are rarely asked to stay in and block, are going to see their stock drop.
What I'm looking for are players who I think would replicate their production anywhere. Dominant guys who are more than just a product of this high flying passing league we've become. Its not always about numbers and that is perhaps the biggest thing to remember. Now, I'm not going to count stats against a player by any means, I'm simply justifying putting those who are more well rounded higher, and those who are simply receiving threats lower.
Originally I was thinking I'd look at this the way I ranked the defensive backs, where it was essentially if I were putting together a team for one game, who would I most want? The problem is that a tight end is often times a direct correlation of the offense they are in. For example, a tight end in Green Bay, New England or New Orleans, will not be asked to do the same things as one in Baltimore, Jacksonville or Minnnesota. The former teams, run spreads where the tight end is an every down receiver, whereas the latter run offenses that revolve around their running backs. So a tight end there is used more for blocking and usually receives more out of play action or on 3rd down.
Therefore it wouldn't be practical to talk about who I'd want for one game, because that would depend on who the other players around him were. How good is the quarterback? Are we a passing juggernaut or a team built around the running game? You see there would simply be to many variables to consider.
So unfortunately, I'm having difficulty quantifying how I ranked these. It's truly a culmination of everything I've mentioned. I suppose the easiest way to explain is that I asked the following questions of each player:
1) Are they a one trick pony? (Just a receiver)
2) Are they the product of a great quarterback?
3) Could they succeed on most teams? (Possibly even improve on other teams)
4) As always distractions on/off the field don't help.
5) Imagine them on the best team and then again on the worst team. Guys who you could see doing (decently) well on bad teams are likely better rounded.
6) If I were building a team and everyone were required to use their first round pick on a tight end, who would I take? (I know what I said above, but parts of this aspect do hold merit)
Point is, this isn't (entirely) fantasy football. This is a measure of the best tight ends and that requires a number of variables to be weighed.
Honorable Mentions:
Pettigrew is still young and improving. He proved that he can be very productive when playing with a capable quarterback. He is an elite receiving tight end but will need to continue improving his blocking before moving any higher. Coming off a season in which he caught 83 passes, Pettigrew proved he was worthy of the first round pick the Lions used on him. As long as Matt Stafford stays healthy, Pettigrew will continue to produce at a high level.
I swear, this is only like a 20% homer pick. What any Steelers fan can attest to, is that Pittsburgh's offensive line has been horrendously bad for the last five years... meaning Miller's prime. You see he was so often needed in protection that he wasn't much of a threat in the receiving game. That doesn't mean he can't do it, just that he's been needed elsewhere. The difference in 2012, comes down to two things. The first, is that the addition of Todd Haley will balance the play calling and should lead to an increase in play action. More play action should mean better use of Miller on 3rd down and in the red zone. Not to mention, one of the first things that Haley talked about when he came to the Steelers was how much he liked Miller. Just saying.
The second is that our offensive line should be much better this year. Just look at the difference between last year and now. Protecting the blind side last year was Max Starks who was so overweight he was cut and missed the first month of the season before being brought back out of desperation. This year, he should be ready to go by week one until Mike Adams is ready to step in. At right tackle, Marcus Gilbert played last year without having had an offseason, and the little bit of prep he got in training camp, he slacked off anyway. This year should be a different story now that he has some experience and has gotten legitimate coaching. The guards this year will feature soon-to-be All Pro David DeCastro and Willie Colon, who should have been playing along the interior for the last couple years and has finally made the switch. Of course Maurkice Pouncey is already excellent, but last year he made the Pro Bowl on name alone. His play was mediocre but that can be attributed to the lack of help next to him, and lingering injuries.
Moral of the story, Heath gets to be used in the passing game. His blocking was already some of the best among tight ends but now he gets to show off his hands. He's been underrated his entire career and I think 2012 could be his best year yet. Obviously there are a number of variables involved, but Miller could be great on most teams and is as well rounded a tight end as anyone.
Yes his summary was long, we're called The Burgh' Report for a reason.
As with the other positions, these rankings incorporate all aspects of play so as to best consider the demands of the position and rank accordingly. I realize there were a couple of guys last year who put up phenomenal receiving numbers but if they can't block that's going to hurt them.
Guys who play with elite quarterbacks, or who are on teams with such good offensive lines that they are rarely asked to stay in and block, are going to see their stock drop.
What I'm looking for are players who I think would replicate their production anywhere. Dominant guys who are more than just a product of this high flying passing league we've become. Its not always about numbers and that is perhaps the biggest thing to remember. Now, I'm not going to count stats against a player by any means, I'm simply justifying putting those who are more well rounded higher, and those who are simply receiving threats lower.
Originally I was thinking I'd look at this the way I ranked the defensive backs, where it was essentially if I were putting together a team for one game, who would I most want? The problem is that a tight end is often times a direct correlation of the offense they are in. For example, a tight end in Green Bay, New England or New Orleans, will not be asked to do the same things as one in Baltimore, Jacksonville or Minnnesota. The former teams, run spreads where the tight end is an every down receiver, whereas the latter run offenses that revolve around their running backs. So a tight end there is used more for blocking and usually receives more out of play action or on 3rd down.
Therefore it wouldn't be practical to talk about who I'd want for one game, because that would depend on who the other players around him were. How good is the quarterback? Are we a passing juggernaut or a team built around the running game? You see there would simply be to many variables to consider.
So unfortunately, I'm having difficulty quantifying how I ranked these. It's truly a culmination of everything I've mentioned. I suppose the easiest way to explain is that I asked the following questions of each player:
1) Are they a one trick pony? (Just a receiver)
2) Are they the product of a great quarterback?
3) Could they succeed on most teams? (Possibly even improve on other teams)
4) As always distractions on/off the field don't help.
5) Imagine them on the best team and then again on the worst team. Guys who you could see doing (decently) well on bad teams are likely better rounded.
6) If I were building a team and everyone were required to use their first round pick on a tight end, who would I take? (I know what I said above, but parts of this aspect do hold merit)
Point is, this isn't (entirely) fantasy football. This is a measure of the best tight ends and that requires a number of variables to be weighed.
Honorable Mentions:
Tony Gonzalez (Falcons): Past his prime but still very productive. He'll go down as the greatest tight end of all time and deservedly so, but I no longer consider him elite. Hopefully this is the year he finally wins his first playoff game, because I expect 2012 to be his curtain call.
Fred Davis (Redskins)- Should have a great fantasy season but isn't a real good blocker. Chris Cooley being healthy again doesn't help either. Still, he should be a great target for RG3 this season because let's face it, Washington's weapons on the outside aren't exactly dangerous.
#10 Aaron Hernandez (New England Patriots)
Thus far in his career he has been a product of Tom Brady's arm. He's never been a number one so I have difficulty including him in the top ten. I have no doubt he could succeed on a team like New Orleans or Green Bay but outside that, I don't trust his blocking ability. He'd be a nice slot receiver for any quarterback to have, but at this point I wouldn't feel right about putting him higher. Again, tremendous asset for the Patriots, but at the moment, I don't think he's done enough to prove he deserves higher. I will say that with defenses likely putting more attention on Gronk in 2012, he could end up posting some very impressive numbers. Who knows? It wouldn't shock me if he actually had the better year statistically of the two. Perhaps he'd do better without having to compete with Gronk for targets, but we wont know until Gronk gets hurt or Hernandez is shipped off to a new team.
#9 Jermichael Finley (Green Bay Packers)
STOP DROPPING THE FOOTBALL! Finley might be the most athletic tight end in the game in addition to being the biggest underachiever. There is no excuse that a man with his talent, on an Aaron Rodgers led offense, should be as big a letdown as he has been thus far in his career. He is in the mold of Jimmy Graham but between injuries and apparent laziness he has yet to put it to use. Finley must prove himself in 2012, because so far, all he has been is a waste of talent. He makes this list based on potential and the fact that I believe he has the ability to top this list one day.
#8 Brandon Pettigrew (Detroit Lions)
#7 Heath Miller (Pittsburgh Steelers)
The second is that our offensive line should be much better this year. Just look at the difference between last year and now. Protecting the blind side last year was Max Starks who was so overweight he was cut and missed the first month of the season before being brought back out of desperation. This year, he should be ready to go by week one until Mike Adams is ready to step in. At right tackle, Marcus Gilbert played last year without having had an offseason, and the little bit of prep he got in training camp, he slacked off anyway. This year should be a different story now that he has some experience and has gotten legitimate coaching. The guards this year will feature soon-to-be All Pro David DeCastro and Willie Colon, who should have been playing along the interior for the last couple years and has finally made the switch. Of course Maurkice Pouncey is already excellent, but last year he made the Pro Bowl on name alone. His play was mediocre but that can be attributed to the lack of help next to him, and lingering injuries.
Moral of the story, Heath gets to be used in the passing game. His blocking was already some of the best among tight ends but now he gets to show off his hands. He's been underrated his entire career and I think 2012 could be his best year yet. Obviously there are a number of variables involved, but Miller could be great on most teams and is as well rounded a tight end as anyone.
Yes his summary was long, we're called The Burgh' Report for a reason.
#6 Jermaine Gresham (Cincinnati Bengals)
He had a great year, but I worry about a sophomore slump for Andy Dalton. Regardless, Gresham is an up and coming tight end who has shown he has a strong balance of blocking ability and receiving talent. He could succeed on most teams, so while not the best receiving tight end in the game nor the best blocking one, he is well rounded enough that he is deserving of this spot. What should excite Bengal fans is that he is still young (he just turned 24 last month) and improving.
#5 Jimmy Graham (New Orleans Saints)
I bet he puts up better numbers than Gronk in 2012. In fact, I bet he has the best statistical season of all tight ends in 2012. But that doesn't make him the best as far as I'm concerned. Graham is the perfect tight end for Drew Brees and those two will make magic as long as they're together. My concern is that I don't consider him a good blocker, and despite his amazing receiving totals, he remains extremely inexperienced. As he continues to learn and improve, he will move up, but for now, I think of him as a very large receiver, more so, than a well rounded tight end. In addition, there are only a handful of teams where he could post even half the totals he does in New Orleans. Not that being considered the fifth best tight end in football after just two years is that insulting...
#4 Jason Witten (Dallas Cowboys)
Witten defines well rounded. He has the perfect balance of receiving talent and blocking. Though he missed the Pro Bowl in 2011 after making it every year since 2004, he still posted his fifth straight season of at least 79 receptions and 942 yards. His consistency is unquestioned and its why you can bet he'll have another great year in 2012. I'm not concerned with his age (turned 30 in May), or his health as he has missed just one game in his career (his rookie season). He honestly could have been anywhere from fifth to first and I wouldn't really argue with you. At this point its really apples and oranges when picking these guys because they are so close together. My lone criticism of Witten, and what holds him back is simply that I don't consider his ceiling as high some of the others. He's been so good already that I just cant imagine him improving drastically enough to move much higher on this list in the future. On the other hand I doubt he moves much further down either, given how high his floor is.
#3 Antonio Gates (San Diego Chargers)
His nagging injuries are really the only concern moving forward. When healthy he's incredible and this could be a huge year for him given San Diego's lack of talent on the outside, but his days as the best may be behind him. Despite the recent injuries, he has made the Pro Bowl every year since 2004 and over that time has never had less than seven touchdowns. He was a full participant in offseason workouts which is a good sign and if he is able to maintain that health, he'll remind everyone why this time last year, he topped these rankings.
#2 Vernon Davis (San Francisco 49ers)
I can't say I call many tight ends clutch, but Davis deserves it after his performance against the Saints in the playoffs last year. I can imagine him on a bad offense with a poor quarterback and still doing well, because he's already on a team like that. Hell, he's been on a team like that his entire career. As well as the 49ers played last year their offense was not the reason for it. Their job was simply to not turn the ball over while scoring as much as they could. Which meant a whole lot of field goals. If Alex Smith can improve in the red zone, Davis should see more shots his way in the endzone. I expect a career year for him, but more because of the improvement of the play around him. Keep in mind, that it wasn't just Smith whose had to deal with that rotating door of offensive coordinators throughout his career, Davis has as well. And now that Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman have actually had an offseason to work with these guys, this team is only going to continue to improve. Davis was already an elite talent, combining his blocking and receiving abilities as well as just about anyone. Hopefully that proves especially true in 2012.
#1 Rob Gronkowski (New England Patriots)
Remember what I said at the top about guys who are one trick ponies, or who are strictly receiving threats? Well Gronk aint one of 'em. He's actually on the cusp of being considered an elite blocker. Normally I'd be apprehensive about putting a man with just two years of experience at the top, but this is no one year wonder. Sure there's a case to be made that he is a product of Belichick's system and Brady's arm, but at the end of the day, he and Graham redefined the gold standard for receiving tight ends. I highly doubt he replicates those numbers from last year but he'll still be very productive because no one can cover him on their own. Safeties are too small, and linebackers aren't fast enough. Opposing coaches will do all they can to contain him this season but he's still a virtual lock for 1000 yards, ten touchdowns and a Pro Bowl appearance. There aren't many receivers I can say that about, let alone tight ends. He's going to be great for a long time.
Snubs: Gonzalez, Davis, Owen Daniels (Texans), Jared Cook (Titans), Marcedes Lewis (Jaguars), Dustin Keller (Jets), Kellew Winslow (Seahawks), Tony Moeaki (Chiefs), Zach Miller (Seahawks), Chris Cooley (Redskins), Brent Celek (Eagles) Dallas Clark (Buccaneers)
Next Up: Pass Rushers
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
TOP 10 DEFENSIVE BACKS
This is part two of my positional rankings. Today we're looking at defensive backs. If you haven't already, check out part one on the wide receivers.
What you have to keep in mind is that I'm not grading their performances in 2011, I'm considering their entire body of work, both on and off the field and ranking them based both on their talent and who I'd most want on my team. I think a good way of looking at this, is as if we were playing a game today (just one game, so we dont have to factor in age and long term dependability), and you could pick your team. In what order would you pick them?
What you have to keep in mind is that I'm not grading their performances in 2011, I'm considering their entire body of work, both on and off the field and ranking them based both on their talent and who I'd most want on my team. I think a good way of looking at this, is as if we were playing a game today (just one game, so we dont have to factor in age and long term dependability), and you could pick your team. In what order would you pick them?
Honorable Mentions:
Eric Berry (Kansas City Chiefs)- If not for missing the 2011 season due to injury, he'd likely have cracked the list. I know I'm looking at their entire body of work, but the problem is, that just leaves one season to look at. With a healthy bounce back in 2012, you can expect him to be vying for a spot next year.
Carlos Rogers (San Fransisco 49ers)- A fresh start with the 49ers seems to have been just what he needed. He bounced back in a big way and anchored the secondary of the best defense of 2011. Another season like that and he'll challenge for the top 10 next year.
Lardarius Webb (Baltimore Ravens)- He was the best defensive back on the Ravens last year in what was a career year. Webb is a top tier athlete with amazing footwork and impressive composure both in coverage and with the ball in the air.
Leon Hall (Cincinnati Bengals)- Just a solid corner. Hall was the core of Cincinnati's surprising defense last season and his importance was exemplified after he went down for the year in week 10. In the first nine games with Hall, the Bengals gave up eight touchdowns. In the last seven without him, they gave up twelve.
Brandon Flowers (Kansas City Chiefs)- Great athlete with tremendous upside. He'll be a mainstay at corner for a long time and is only going to continue to improve.
Asante Samuel (Atlanta Falcons)- Great ball hawk and zone corner but his man coverage is mediocre and he is useless in run support. There is a reason the best the Eagles could get for him was a 7th round pick. He was overpaid in Philadelphia, and the fact that they were content with DRC as a number two hurts his ranking. Still a very good player, but I no longer consider him elite.
Now that we've got them out of the way, let's begin:
Now that we've got them out of the way, let's begin:
#10 Charles Woodson (Green Bay Packers)
Though on the back end of his career, Woodson remains an excellent cover man and might be the most aware corner in the game. His seven interceptions last season tied him for the league lead, so despite the fact that he spends more time in the nickel as he ages, he has proven that he is still an elite ball hawk. He was one of the least targeted cornerbacks in the game last season, showing that opposing offenses still have respect for his playmaking ability. At this point in his career, he is no longer a burner, but is still playing at a very high level and has the kind of veteran attitude you love to have on a defense.
#9 Champ Bailey (Denver Broncos)
Admittedly past his prime but still playing at a high level. Between his impending retirement and the young corners listed above all vying for these last couple spots, Bailey probably wont be on this list much longer. However he remains an excellent corner who at this point in his career, is relying more on experience than athleticism. Quarterbacks still respect him enough that they rarely throw at the 11 time Pro Bowler, and with good reason.
#8 Joe Haden (Cleveland Browns)
The only real knock on his 2011 season was the lack of interceptions. He followed his impressive rookie campaign, in which he picked off six passes, with none last year. However, given his combination of athleticism, cover skills and playmaking potential, Haden is an easy candidate to move up this list next year. Despite the lack of picks, he led the NFL with 17 pass deflections, showed high awareness for a player in just his second year and was solid in run support. Where most young corners struggle, he excels, and that is what separates him. He's proven that he can do it all and with more experience he'll be one of the best for the next decade.
#7 Johnathan Joseph (Houston Texans)
Joseph was the centerpiece of one of the surprise stories of the 2011 season. His addition to the Houston secondary helped turn one of the league's worst defenses, into one of it's best. His stellar performance earned him his first Pro Bowl bid and was awarded All Pro honors. He has become one of the best cover corners in football, with high awareness and strong ball skills. Joseph was targeted at an average of just 4.75 times per game, but still managed to finish the season with four interceptions. In the wild card round of the playoffs the Texans were hosting the Bengals, Joseph's former team. His fourth quarter interception off of Andy Dalton helped seal Houston's first ever playoff win. As far as I'm concerned he's the best player on an excellent defense and with continued growth, could continue to climb up these rankings.
#6 Eric Weddle (San Diego Chargers)
The two time All Pro led all safeties with seven interceptions in 2011 and had the second lowest completion percentage allowed. He is a tackling machine and since becoming a starter in 2008, has averaged over 80 solo tackles per year (the most Ed Reed has ever had in a year was 71). At this point he is the most well rounded safety in the game, but his upside isn't quite as great as some of the others on this list, which hurts his ranking. When I watch Weddle, I don't think about what more he could be doing, or how much better he can be. He is a solid playmaker but his ceiling simply is not as high as I'd like.
#5 Nnamdi Asomugha (Philadelphia Eagles)
Nnamdi's first year in Philadelphia didn't go real well while adjusting to a new defense under first year coordinator, Juan Castillo. He gave up twice as many completions in 2011 as 2010, when he was a member of the Raiders, but in the last month of the season, he appeared to return to his usual dominant self showing that his initial struggles could be attributed to learning a new system without having had an offseason to study it. What really holds Nnamdi back in these rankings is that while he is phenomenal as a cover man, he is by no means a playmaker and has never been on a playoff team.
Obviously that is more a reflection of the demands of his position than it is of him, but it makes it difficult to praise him when he is stacked against players who have helped propel their teams to playoff victories and championships. Certainly the lack of postseason success is more because of the lack of talent the Raiders had during his eight year tenure, but even then, he was never known for making signature plays. He is obviously a great player and perennial Pro Bowler, but the reality is that his contributions aren't felt significantly in the win column. Hopefully that changes in 2012, now that Philadelphia's defense has some talent at linebacker and they've had time to learn Castillo's system.
#4 Earl Thomas (Seattle Seahawks)
He represents the next generation of safeties in the NFL as Troy Polamalu and Ed Reed near the end of their Hall of Fame careers. Thomas is a rising star and was rewarded for his play with his first Pro Bowl appearance in 2011. Thomas is a scary athlete and has instincts reminiscent of the greats mentioned above. He has room to improve in man coverage and will miss some tackles but those are great problems to have for such a young player, especially when you consider he has essentially been a two year rookie. He played his first 32 games without a true offseason, so now that he has had some opportunity to improve, Thomas should be expected to show significant growth in his third year. He has the playmaking ability you want to see and is close to dethroning Reed for the title of best free safety in football. Because we're talking about one game, his upside is too high to ignore and its why he comes in ahead of more accomplished players.
#3 Darrelle Revis (New York Jets)
What Revis does in unparralleled...among corners. But when stacked against play making safeties, whose marks on a game often leave scars on the scoreboard, its difficult to put him higher. Its rare that you see Revis make one singular play that turns the tide of a game, so while he is certainly the best cover man in football, his position simply doesn't demand enough playmaking to be considered more important than the men in front of him. If this were a ranking of cornerbacks, he would of course be at the top and I acknowledge that he is just as good at his position, if not better, than the guys in front of him are at theirs. But that's not how I'm ranking.
This one hurts, because I'm a huge fan of his (former Pitt player) while I hate the guy at number two with a passion.
This one hurts, because I'm a huge fan of his (former Pitt player) while I hate the guy at number two with a passion.
#2 Ed Reed (Baltimore Ravens)
Reed is the classic center fielder. Hes been making young quarterbacks pay for their inexperience for damn near a decade, and hes been doing it better than anyone. He is the active leader in interceptions, return yardage and is a lock for the Hall of Fame. If I were factoring in long term dependability, he wouldn't be as high, but for one game, even at this point in his career, his upside as a playmaker is simply unquestioned. For those reasons, many would put him at the top of this list. I wouldn't.
Some (Warren Sapp, our bankrupt friend over at the NFL Network who thinks he knows everything because he was a great defensive tackle ten years ago) might have you believe that having more interceptions makes Reed the best safety in football. I apologize, but anyone who simplifies talent to one stat is a moron. Corners have the same job (as far as what statistic defines them), but no one questions Nnamdi Asomugha's greatness despite a lack of picks. More importanly, Reed essentially just plays deep and uses his great instincts to make plays in the secondary. The cost is that he does little in run support, is a below average tackler, and outside of picks and touchdowns, isn't that productive statistically. Over the last five years, the most tackles he's had is 52. That came last season, a year in which he only had 3 interceptions (two of which came in one game off of Roethlisberger). He appears past his prime, and now is threatening a holdout if the Ravens don't restructure his contract. The Ravens have enough to worry about, trying to lock up Ray Rice (which they did yesterday but the point still stands) and Joe Flacco (as in, the future of the franchise) without having to concern themselves with a man who is already scheduled to make over seven million in base salary in 2012. I realize we're talking about one game, but it is a reflection of his personality and his arrogance and is also why I would rather have the man in front of him on this list.
#1 Troy Polamalu (Pittsburgh Steelers)
Simply put, there will never be another Troy Polamalu. Shutdown corners and free lancing safeties are nothing new. Darrelle Revis is the best cover man in football but hes no better than Champ Bailey was in his prime. Ed Reed is the best free safety of the last decade but there will always be ball hawks. He might have been better at it than everyone else, but the point is, no one, and I mean no one can, nor likely ever will, replicate what Troy has done and will continue to do. There has never been a defensive back who can change a game the way he does. Its not because he gets a ton of interceptions like most great safeties, its because he could. He could stay back and roam but instead spends more time at the line in run support or blitzing and more importantly, always in the heads of opposing quarterbacks.He defines the idea of playing "sideline to sideline." But with Troy, its more like "sideline to sideline to back of the endzone to the backfield." And then some. How many defensive players can say that they are what keeps their team competitive? That they are more valuable than their quarterback? None (Maybe Ray Lewis in his prime, but that's beside the point). He characterizes game changer, defines instinctual and embodies ridiculous. Unlike some pundits in the national media who believe Polamalu is past his prime, Steeler fans can attest to the fact that the reason he was less than sensational last year was because he spent more time in coverage than in the box like usual. He had a solid year but due to injuries was forced to stay back and play more conservatively.
The point is, if I were putting a team together, there is no defensive back, (nor likely any defender for that matter) who I would rather have than Troy Polamalu. No one has the ability to change the entire game like him, because defensive players aren't supposed to be clutch. That's what makes him irreplaceable, and unduplicatable. He is a once in a lifetime player who would have been the same regardless of where he played. I'm just glad the Steelers traded up.
Snubs: Samuel, Berry, Flowers, Webb, Hall, Rogers, Kam Chancellor, Dashon Goldson, Aqib Talib, Ryan Clark, Ike Taylor, Adrian Wilson, DeAngelo Hall.
Next Up: Tight Ends
Thursday, July 12, 2012
TOP 10 WIDE RECEIVERS
For these rankings I tried to focus on a number of aspects. The simplest thing to remember is that you have to look at the whole package. You have to take into account guys who are one trick ponies, products of systems, and those who simply feed off of elite quarterback play. Not to mention, I factored in personalities to an extent. A diva often overshadows his talent, so why would it be any different on a list of the top ten receivers.
You hear about guys like Tom Brady or Drew Brees making no name receivers into playmakers and Pro Bowlers, but what about a receiver who does the same thing for his QB? That is what makes a guy elite, the type who a quarterback can just toss a ball up to, and know that the majority of the time, his guy is going to come down with it. The kind of guy who is so dominant that their very presence strikes fear in a defense, the kind who could be a number one anywhere, the kind who is irreplaceable to an offense. Not just because they're a a threat in the red zone or on 3rd down, or because they can stretch the field, but because they can do it all. That is what embodies a great receiver.
The men on this list are not all perfect examples of those attributes, but they characterize them better than anyone else in the NFL, right now.
Without further ado-
The next day, everything was cool.
How many guys, would not only say something, but do it so effectively? He meant no offense to Floyd, but got his point across. He has become a consumate pro, a true veteran and effective leader. Not to mention, he has the best hands in the game and can still make every play that is asked of him. He is the kind of man who truly thinks team first, realizes winning is the gold standard and wont accept anything less of himself or his teammates. I can say confidently that there is no one I'd rather have on the field or in the locker room than Larry Fitzgerald.
Whether your a fan of his or not, I urge you to read this article from a few months back. It summarizes the Cardinals receiver about as well as anything.
Snubbs: Welker, Britt, Colston, Cruz, Bowe, Vincent Jackson, Miles Austin, Brandon Lloyd, Desean Jackson, Dez Bryant.
Next Up: Top 10 Defensive Backs
You hear about guys like Tom Brady or Drew Brees making no name receivers into playmakers and Pro Bowlers, but what about a receiver who does the same thing for his QB? That is what makes a guy elite, the type who a quarterback can just toss a ball up to, and know that the majority of the time, his guy is going to come down with it. The kind of guy who is so dominant that their very presence strikes fear in a defense, the kind who could be a number one anywhere, the kind who is irreplaceable to an offense. Not just because they're a a threat in the red zone or on 3rd down, or because they can stretch the field, but because they can do it all. That is what embodies a great receiver.
The men on this list are not all perfect examples of those attributes, but they characterize them better than anyone else in the NFL, right now.
Honorable Mentions:
Wes Welker- Understand that outside of Larry Fitzgerald, he is my favorite receiver in the game. Hes who every 5'9" white guy strives to be. The reason he isn't higher is because he is a product of New Englands spread offense and Tom Brady's talent. Hes as good as he could have hoped to be and is incredibly productive but there are only a few teams that he could be this productive on, and all those teams have elite QBs and other receivers to take the pressure off of him. The reality is that its not Welker who scares defenses, its Tom Brady. He could never be a true number one, and that is what holds him back in these rankings.
Kenny Britt- If not for injuries, he'd have cracked the top ten. Talk to me next offseason, because when he plays, hes a beast.
Vincent Jackson- Need to see how he does with a quarterback who isnt as good as Philip Rivers. We'll see how he fares with Josh Freeman this season before I put him in the top 10. He has all the intagables to be a great player but I'm not convinced hes there yet.
Dwayne Bowe- Followed up a great 2010 season with a subpar one last year. We'll see if he can bounce back, or if he simply overachieved two years ago. I do tend to think its the former scenario given the injuries across the board to the Chiefs offense in 2011. He should bounce back and I'll feel more comfortable putting him higher but for now theres a bit of a log jam for the last two spots on this list.
Victor Cruz- He had a great season, but I wouldn't feel right putting him ahead of guys who are more accomplished and proven that they were not one year wonders. I like Cruz, but I learned my lesson from Brandon Lloyd last year.
Marques Colston- He was the last man out. I want to say he is a product of Drew Brees, and while thats true to a certain extent, I fully believe he could succeed anywhere as a true number one. Unfortunately there are only ten spots on this list and while the last couple are almost interchangeable for five players, at this moment Colston misses out.
Without further ado-
#10 Mike Wallace (Pittsburgh Steelers)
I was tempted to leave him off, but Wallace isn't the same one trick pony he was for the majority of his first two years in the NFL. What really tipped the scales is how his presence affects opposing defenses. He was the reason that Antonio Brown was able to go off in the second half of last season, because he was constantly demanding extra attention. He might be the top gamebreaker in the league right now and that is what seperates him. The reality of it is, he could do what hes doing on any team, and is the kind of player any quarterback would want to have in his arsenal. Hopefully he continues to refine his technique and improve as an all around player and though he'll never be a top five wideout, hes an integral part of the Steelers offense and gives them the ability to score form anywhere on the field. No other receiver on this list can say that.
#9 Hakeem Nicks (New York Giants)
One need only have watched the playoffs this year to know just how impressive a receiver Hakeem Nicks is. He had 444 yards in the playoffs, hauling in 4 TDs for the Giants. In only his 3rd year, he has already shown signs of being elite, especially in the red zone where few can match his ability to win jump ball situations. He now has back to back 1000 yard seasons and a Super Bowl ring to boot. He'll be a pernnial Pro Bowler for years to come, and the potential to be a top five receiver. Believe me, if Nicks hadn't been there last season, Victor Cruz would not have been nearly as productive.
#8 Steve Smith (Carolina Panthers)
With Hines Ward retired, Smith now holds the title of grittiest receiver in the NFL. I'm going to go ahead and toot my own horn here because I did say last year that people were giving up on him too quickly. He and Cam Newton played off each other better than I ever expected and hopefully they continue that success in 2012. He is the kind of guy any quarterback would love to have, especially at this stage of his career where he is still talented enough to make plays, but smart enough to understand the intricacies of playing the position that can only come with experience. Though I doubt he replecates last years numbers, he should still be a very productive receiver in 2012.
#7 AJ Green (Cincinnati Bengals)
Believe me, I really wanted to put Green higher, but I'll be reasonable because hes only played one season. This is a man on the cusp of joining the elite, and in other year or two, he'll will be in the conversation among the very best. He is a case of a guy who made his quarterback look better than he actually was. Andy Dalton played admirably for a rookie but a good number of his throws were simply tosses to Green that he felt comfortable knowing his star receiver would be able to come down with. I can remember watching some of those catches and simply staring in bewilderment as Green absolutely stole jump balls from opposing defensive backs (trust me because a good number came against the Steelers). There isn't a receiver in the game who adjusts more gracefully and few have purer hands than the Bengals young star. He's got all the talent, now its just a matter of gaining experience because he is a special player.
#6 Brandon Marshall (Chicago Bears)
Marshall is a case where his personality hurts him. Talent-wise, he could be as good as anyone but between his laziness and stab wounds, hes been quite the underachiever. With an increase in focus and improved quarterback play in 2012, he could move up this list. Its impressive that he was able to put up the kind of numbers he did in Miami given the lack of talent around him which is why this could be a career year for him. Keep in mind that despite everything, this is a guy who has had five straight 1000 yard seasons, and with Jay Cutler throwing him passes rather than Chad Henne and Matt Moore, he should go off in Chicago. Hes proven he can be productive anywhere, which is what makes him great, and is why I expect big things from him in 2012.
#5 Greg Jennings
I have concerns that he, like Welker in New England or Colston in New Orleans, is a product of a great system. However, he was good before Rodgers was, and I believe he could be a great player on another team. He is the kind of talent who could be a number one anywhere and in one sense, he might actually be more productive on another team because he wouldnt have to split targets with so many other receivers. He fits what Green Bay does perfectly and remains the best skill on their offense.
#4 Roddy White (Atlanta Falcons)
You know your good when you catch 100 passes and it feel like a down year. White now has five straight 1000 yard seasons, 4 straight Pro Bowls and has yet to miss a game going into his eighth year. The addition of Julio Jones stole some targets but not by much and as Jones matures, he should continue to relieve the pressure on White. Though he still has the occasional drop that frustrates the hell out of fantasy owners (this guy), he could succeed anywhere.
#3 Andre Johnson (Houston Texans)
Nagging injuries ruined his 2011 campaign, but he remains one of the three truly elite receivers in the game today. Prior to last season, Johnson was coming off four straights years where he averaged 93 yards or more per game, and had 8 or more TDs each of those seasons. Oddly enough yesterday was Johnson's birthday, and I have to wonder if at 31 he can be the same dominant receiver we've come to know. Assuming hes healthy and back to normal, you can expect a Pro Bowl season from him. Not to mention, with Matt Schaub back under center and defenses having to focus on Arian Foster, you can bet Johnson will again be a centerpiece in Houston's talented offense.
#2 Calvin Johnson (Detroit Lions)
Easily the best wideout last season, a year in which he led all receivers with 1682 yards and 16 TDs. If Matt Stafford stays healthy, there is no reason to believe he won't hold the top spot on this list in another year or two. What keeps him at number two isn't much. I do want to see him play at that level consistenly, and like I said earlier, I am taking into account personality. It isn't that Johnson has done anything wrong, in fact by all accounts he has been a consumate pro. What tips the scales is simply that the man at number one goes above and beyond in the locker room and off the field, whereas Johnson is still young and learning. If this were simply based on expected production, he'd be number one, but I'm talking about who I'd want on my team, and while I'm a big fan of the Lions superstar, I'm not ready to anoint him the king, just yet.
#1 Larry Fitzgerald (Arizona Cardinals)
No receiver can do so much, with so little and its why hes been at the top of my receiver rankings for the last five years. The man had 1411 yards last season, with John Skelton and Kevin Kolb throwing him the football. Not to mention, it wasn't as if he had an Anquan Boldin on the other side to relieve the attention he received from opposing secondaries. The man who has come in to do just that, rookie first rounder Michael Floyd, was missing practices, so Fitz called him out on twitter:
The next day, everything was cool.
How many guys, would not only say something, but do it so effectively? He meant no offense to Floyd, but got his point across. He has become a consumate pro, a true veteran and effective leader. Not to mention, he has the best hands in the game and can still make every play that is asked of him. He is the kind of man who truly thinks team first, realizes winning is the gold standard and wont accept anything less of himself or his teammates. I can say confidently that there is no one I'd rather have on the field or in the locker room than Larry Fitzgerald.
Whether your a fan of his or not, I urge you to read this article from a few months back. It summarizes the Cardinals receiver about as well as anything.
Snubbs: Welker, Britt, Colston, Cruz, Bowe, Vincent Jackson, Miles Austin, Brandon Lloyd, Desean Jackson, Dez Bryant.
Next Up: Top 10 Defensive Backs
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