Young Gunner
New member
caddo man;1338553 said:
I know that. Im not expecting him to be top 20 or 30 though. In the 40's, yeah
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I know that. Im not expecting him to be top 20 or 30 though. In the 40's, yeah
KINGOFDAARCADE
New member
30. DeMeco Ryans [MLB, Houston Texans, 25]
Stats: 123 tackles (93 solo), 1 sack, 11 STF, 1 FF, 1 FR, 2 PD
Maybe it was the addition of Brian Cushing, or maybe just the natural evolution in his game, but DeMeco Ryans put together a fantastic season in the middle for the much improved Texans defense. Though he hasn’t come close to replicating the 156 tackles he has his rookie year, this was easily Ryans’ most complete season in the pros. He has ideal size and athleticism for the position, allowing him to come up and stuff a play in the backfield—as he did as much as any other middle linebacker in 2009—or get deep drops in his zone minimizing the gap between the linebackers and the safeties. Ryans also has the ability to shadow running backs or crossing receivers across the middle and negate the YAC if they do make the catch. Like an elite middle linebacker, he’s quick to read and attack the holes while playing through, rather than around, blockers to track down the ball carrier. In 2009, Ryans made 27 tackles around the sidelines compared to just 17 the year prior, which show a noticeable improvement in his range. The Texans have several great pieces on defense, but it’s the leadership and relentlessness of Ryans that feeds the rest of the unit.
29. D’Brickashaw Ferguson [OT, New York Jets, 26]
Stats: 8 sacks allowed, 8 penalties, 2009 Pro Bowl
Ferguson has matured nicely over the years and become better with each season. His recorded numbers weren’t particularly impressive, but a good portion of the 8 sacks can be attributed to Mark Sanchez holding onto the ball excessively. The other stat, which I mentioned with Mangold, was the Jets finished 3rd in the league in hits allowed. The sack number often gets thrown around, but it’s the pressures and hits also play a large part in pass protection. Ferguson has nice size, length, and athletic ability to spare. Once he locks onto a defender, it’s difficult to slither out of his grasp or obtain a better position. Though a very good pass protector on the whole, Ferguson still doesn’t have the ability to anchor a tough bull-rush consistently, or play with the leverage to withstand moves that force him to bring his pad level low. He’s improved miles as a run blocker since a rookie, but he still doesn’t have the strength to impose his will in the trenches.
28. Brian Orakpo [DE/OLB, Washington Redskins, 23]
Stats: 50 tackles (37 solo), 11 sacks, 4 STF, 1 FF, 2 PD
Orakpo played the true tweener position last year lining up at outside linebacker and more defensive end toward the latter portion of the season. As the Redskins make a more committed switch to the 3-4 defense in 2010, Orakpo will be able to get acclimated to a single position, one in which he seems to have the natural abilities to excel. Orakpo is an explosive player off the snap and has the quickness and speed to turn the corner to the quarterback. Already, he’s shown a nice array of rush moves and a great understanding of hand use to keep offensive tackles off balance. Orakpo also plays the run fairly well, getting off blockers to make plays, but his impact wasn’t necessarily prevalent last season. He’s relatively inexperienced in dropping into coverage, but it’s an area that should improve in the coming years as he fully learns the positions. Still, pass rushers are extremely important to the foundations of any defense and Orakpo, though not a complete defensive player yet, fits the bill very well.
**27. Clay Matthews [OLB, Green Bay Packers, 24] (should be Top 10 after week 1 and 2 this year)
Stats: 51 tackles (37 solo), 10 sacks, 7 STF, 1 FF, 3 FR, 7 PD
Though he played sparingly in the first 3 weeks of the season, Matthews quickly emerged as the Packers’ top pass rusher and arguably their best linebacker as the season aged. Taken from his pedigree, Matthews has prototype measurables for the position. His first step, acceleration, and short area speed are elite, as measured by his remarkable 1.49 10 yard split at the Combine, which compares more favorably with many cornerbacks. The speed rush was his go-to move last year, but he also flashed several nice spins and other moves to keep tackles off-balanced. While his rookie campaign was highlighted by a terrific pass rush and numerous big plays, Matthews was a remarkably assignment-sound, all-around linebacker. He excels in coverage with the ability to comfortably drop into zone coverage. In the run game, he’s incapable of physically dominating at the point of attack, but plays with good position and leverage to maintain gap responsibility. On many occasions, he’ll also beat the blocker off the snap to disrupt run plays in the backfield, which he did more than all but 3 linebackers a year ago. Despite the wicked potential he has as a pass rusher, he has equally impressive all-around ability much like the league’s best, DeMarcus Ware.
26. Maurice Jones-Drew [RB, Jacksonville Jaguars, 25]
Stats: 312 att., 1391 yards, 4.5 avg., 15 TD, 53 rec., 374 yards, 7.1 avg., TD, 2 FUM
It’s easy to forget about MJD’s contributions in the league. Considering the team’s paltry attendance record, I don’t really wonder why this happens. He’s consistently among the top names in Fantasy Football, but rarely garners the same type of attention when the conversation turns to the best at the position. Make no mistake about it though; MJD is one of the league’s premier backs. In his 4 seasons in the league, he’s averaged 1427 yards from scrimmage and 14 touchdowns per season, a mark that exceeds all over that span. Among full-time starters a year ago, only Ricky Williams and Fred Jackson finished with a better stuff percentage than MJD’s 8.3%, which looks even better behind his pedestrian run-blocking offensive line. While he’s 25 with some wear on his tires, his versatility and diminished work load over the first 3 years should keep him going. However, two stats may question his ability to endure the duration of the season. Last year, he averaged 4.8 ypc in the first half of games and 4.2 ypc in the second half. In his first 8 games, he averaged 5.1 ypc with 11 touchdowns, but in the last 8, only 3.9 with 4 touchdowns. Can he hold up throughout the season, especially during a playoff run?
25. Jonathan Stewart [RB, Carolina Panthers, 23]
Stats: 221 att., 1133 yards, 5.1 avg., 10 TD, 18 rec., 139 yards, 7.7 avg., TD, 3 FUM
Stewart’s 5’10, 235 pound frame and nimble feet make him half of the league’s best 1-2 punches. His bruising running style is a great complement to DeAngelo Williams and would make for a great feature back as witnessed by some of his workhorse games down the stretch of last season. Impossible to bring down in the box, Stewart has become one of the league’s best touchdown machines over the last two seasons. While he isn’t quite as elusive as his Carolina counterpart, Stewart did finish in a tie for 3rd last year in runs for 20 or more yards and is at his best when he’s able to attack the defense on its edges. His lingering Achilles injury over the past two seasons reaffirms injury concerns Stewart had coming into the pros, but his ability to play through pain – effectively – has to play to his benefit. With his ability to power through arm tackles and take it the distance in the open field, Stewart is a dynamic runner, but his injury history slightly eats away at his potential to be an elite franchise cornerstone.
24. Brandon Flowers [CB, Kansas City Chiefs, 24]
Stats: 65 tackles (58 solo), 5 STF, 2 FF, 5 INT, 23 PD
Last year I challenged Flowers to duplicate his results once more to solidify himself a position as one of the league’s best young corners. In 2009, aside from No Show Island, Brandon Flowers proved to be the most consistent young corner in the game. Though undersized and lacking in long speed, Flowers makes up for his shortcomings with physicality, swagger, and, well, of course natural cornerback abilities. In coverage, he’s quick with his feet and wastes no movement. He has terrific ball skills and great leaping ability to compete for virtually any pass thrown his direction. While many teams and fans may not be taking notice of his outstanding play over the past two years, his teammates certainly are. In fact, according to once source covering the Chiefs during camp, Flowers went over one week without being targeted in practice and if his shutdown ways continue, he may get quite lonely on Sundays as well. His YPA slipped slightly to 6.9 in 2009, but Flowers’ metrics still fall inside the top 10 in the league. Still, Brandon’s biggest relative strength in comparison to his peers may be his run defense. He’s aggressive and fights off blocks to make plays around and behind the line of scrimmage (few other corners had more stuffs than him). Flowers plays predominantly left cornerback and the Chiefs are significantly better defending runs over right tackle and right end (19th compared to 32nd on the left), which can be partially, if only slightly, attributed to Flowers’ awareness on the edge. On a final note, can you imagine how much his productivity would increase if the Chiefs didn’t finish dead last in the league in sacks during his two years in Kansas City (22 teams finished with more sacks this year alone than the Chiefs had in the past two combined)? It’s quite possible he may be unanimously considered a top 5 corner in the league and just a slight step behind the Big 3.
Stats: 123 tackles (93 solo), 1 sack, 11 STF, 1 FF, 1 FR, 2 PD
Maybe it was the addition of Brian Cushing, or maybe just the natural evolution in his game, but DeMeco Ryans put together a fantastic season in the middle for the much improved Texans defense. Though he hasn’t come close to replicating the 156 tackles he has his rookie year, this was easily Ryans’ most complete season in the pros. He has ideal size and athleticism for the position, allowing him to come up and stuff a play in the backfield—as he did as much as any other middle linebacker in 2009—or get deep drops in his zone minimizing the gap between the linebackers and the safeties. Ryans also has the ability to shadow running backs or crossing receivers across the middle and negate the YAC if they do make the catch. Like an elite middle linebacker, he’s quick to read and attack the holes while playing through, rather than around, blockers to track down the ball carrier. In 2009, Ryans made 27 tackles around the sidelines compared to just 17 the year prior, which show a noticeable improvement in his range. The Texans have several great pieces on defense, but it’s the leadership and relentlessness of Ryans that feeds the rest of the unit.
29. D’Brickashaw Ferguson [OT, New York Jets, 26]
Stats: 8 sacks allowed, 8 penalties, 2009 Pro Bowl
Ferguson has matured nicely over the years and become better with each season. His recorded numbers weren’t particularly impressive, but a good portion of the 8 sacks can be attributed to Mark Sanchez holding onto the ball excessively. The other stat, which I mentioned with Mangold, was the Jets finished 3rd in the league in hits allowed. The sack number often gets thrown around, but it’s the pressures and hits also play a large part in pass protection. Ferguson has nice size, length, and athletic ability to spare. Once he locks onto a defender, it’s difficult to slither out of his grasp or obtain a better position. Though a very good pass protector on the whole, Ferguson still doesn’t have the ability to anchor a tough bull-rush consistently, or play with the leverage to withstand moves that force him to bring his pad level low. He’s improved miles as a run blocker since a rookie, but he still doesn’t have the strength to impose his will in the trenches.
28. Brian Orakpo [DE/OLB, Washington Redskins, 23]
Stats: 50 tackles (37 solo), 11 sacks, 4 STF, 1 FF, 2 PD
Orakpo played the true tweener position last year lining up at outside linebacker and more defensive end toward the latter portion of the season. As the Redskins make a more committed switch to the 3-4 defense in 2010, Orakpo will be able to get acclimated to a single position, one in which he seems to have the natural abilities to excel. Orakpo is an explosive player off the snap and has the quickness and speed to turn the corner to the quarterback. Already, he’s shown a nice array of rush moves and a great understanding of hand use to keep offensive tackles off balance. Orakpo also plays the run fairly well, getting off blockers to make plays, but his impact wasn’t necessarily prevalent last season. He’s relatively inexperienced in dropping into coverage, but it’s an area that should improve in the coming years as he fully learns the positions. Still, pass rushers are extremely important to the foundations of any defense and Orakpo, though not a complete defensive player yet, fits the bill very well.
**27. Clay Matthews [OLB, Green Bay Packers, 24] (should be Top 10 after week 1 and 2 this year)
Stats: 51 tackles (37 solo), 10 sacks, 7 STF, 1 FF, 3 FR, 7 PD
Though he played sparingly in the first 3 weeks of the season, Matthews quickly emerged as the Packers’ top pass rusher and arguably their best linebacker as the season aged. Taken from his pedigree, Matthews has prototype measurables for the position. His first step, acceleration, and short area speed are elite, as measured by his remarkable 1.49 10 yard split at the Combine, which compares more favorably with many cornerbacks. The speed rush was his go-to move last year, but he also flashed several nice spins and other moves to keep tackles off-balanced. While his rookie campaign was highlighted by a terrific pass rush and numerous big plays, Matthews was a remarkably assignment-sound, all-around linebacker. He excels in coverage with the ability to comfortably drop into zone coverage. In the run game, he’s incapable of physically dominating at the point of attack, but plays with good position and leverage to maintain gap responsibility. On many occasions, he’ll also beat the blocker off the snap to disrupt run plays in the backfield, which he did more than all but 3 linebackers a year ago. Despite the wicked potential he has as a pass rusher, he has equally impressive all-around ability much like the league’s best, DeMarcus Ware.
26. Maurice Jones-Drew [RB, Jacksonville Jaguars, 25]
Stats: 312 att., 1391 yards, 4.5 avg., 15 TD, 53 rec., 374 yards, 7.1 avg., TD, 2 FUM
It’s easy to forget about MJD’s contributions in the league. Considering the team’s paltry attendance record, I don’t really wonder why this happens. He’s consistently among the top names in Fantasy Football, but rarely garners the same type of attention when the conversation turns to the best at the position. Make no mistake about it though; MJD is one of the league’s premier backs. In his 4 seasons in the league, he’s averaged 1427 yards from scrimmage and 14 touchdowns per season, a mark that exceeds all over that span. Among full-time starters a year ago, only Ricky Williams and Fred Jackson finished with a better stuff percentage than MJD’s 8.3%, which looks even better behind his pedestrian run-blocking offensive line. While he’s 25 with some wear on his tires, his versatility and diminished work load over the first 3 years should keep him going. However, two stats may question his ability to endure the duration of the season. Last year, he averaged 4.8 ypc in the first half of games and 4.2 ypc in the second half. In his first 8 games, he averaged 5.1 ypc with 11 touchdowns, but in the last 8, only 3.9 with 4 touchdowns. Can he hold up throughout the season, especially during a playoff run?
25. Jonathan Stewart [RB, Carolina Panthers, 23]
Stats: 221 att., 1133 yards, 5.1 avg., 10 TD, 18 rec., 139 yards, 7.7 avg., TD, 3 FUM
Stewart’s 5’10, 235 pound frame and nimble feet make him half of the league’s best 1-2 punches. His bruising running style is a great complement to DeAngelo Williams and would make for a great feature back as witnessed by some of his workhorse games down the stretch of last season. Impossible to bring down in the box, Stewart has become one of the league’s best touchdown machines over the last two seasons. While he isn’t quite as elusive as his Carolina counterpart, Stewart did finish in a tie for 3rd last year in runs for 20 or more yards and is at his best when he’s able to attack the defense on its edges. His lingering Achilles injury over the past two seasons reaffirms injury concerns Stewart had coming into the pros, but his ability to play through pain – effectively – has to play to his benefit. With his ability to power through arm tackles and take it the distance in the open field, Stewart is a dynamic runner, but his injury history slightly eats away at his potential to be an elite franchise cornerstone.
24. Brandon Flowers [CB, Kansas City Chiefs, 24]
Stats: 65 tackles (58 solo), 5 STF, 2 FF, 5 INT, 23 PD
Last year I challenged Flowers to duplicate his results once more to solidify himself a position as one of the league’s best young corners. In 2009, aside from No Show Island, Brandon Flowers proved to be the most consistent young corner in the game. Though undersized and lacking in long speed, Flowers makes up for his shortcomings with physicality, swagger, and, well, of course natural cornerback abilities. In coverage, he’s quick with his feet and wastes no movement. He has terrific ball skills and great leaping ability to compete for virtually any pass thrown his direction. While many teams and fans may not be taking notice of his outstanding play over the past two years, his teammates certainly are. In fact, according to once source covering the Chiefs during camp, Flowers went over one week without being targeted in practice and if his shutdown ways continue, he may get quite lonely on Sundays as well. His YPA slipped slightly to 6.9 in 2009, but Flowers’ metrics still fall inside the top 10 in the league. Still, Brandon’s biggest relative strength in comparison to his peers may be his run defense. He’s aggressive and fights off blocks to make plays around and behind the line of scrimmage (few other corners had more stuffs than him). Flowers plays predominantly left cornerback and the Chiefs are significantly better defending runs over right tackle and right end (19th compared to 32nd on the left), which can be partially, if only slightly, attributed to Flowers’ awareness on the edge. On a final note, can you imagine how much his productivity would increase if the Chiefs didn’t finish dead last in the league in sacks during his two years in Kansas City (22 teams finished with more sacks this year alone than the Chiefs had in the past two combined)? It’s quite possible he may be unanimously considered a top 5 corner in the league and just a slight step behind the Big 3.
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KINGOFDAARCADE
New member
23. Jake Long [OT, Miami Dolphins, 25]
Stats: 5 sacks allowed, 4 penalties, 2009 2nd Team All-Pro
Long has developed into one of the premier tackles in the league because of the consistency and lack of holes in his game, not because of sheer dominance. Early in his career, questions lingered whether he would have the athleticism to hold his own in pass protection at left tackle, but since entering the league, these concerns have quickly been silenced. He’s shown the ability slide his feet and neutralize rushers once locking on. In the run game, Long is a physical run blocker with the ability to blow people off the line and connect with a high percent of second level blocks. However, the numbers didn’t completely reflect this. The Dolphins ran over the left side only 1% more than they did the right side, while Football Outsiders rank the offensive line 31st in runs over left tackle (though they rank 7th in runs over left end). Much blame can be placed on the shoulders of a struggling and now relocated Justin Smiley, but Long will need to continue to prove his dominance, in both the run game and pass protection to move higher. In terms of leadership and work ethic though, let’s just say that there are few better in the game than Jake Long at taking initiative and putting in the effort to make both himself and his teammates better.
22. DeSean Jackson [WR, Philadelphia Eagles, 23]
Stats: 62 rec, 1156 yards, 18.6 avg, 9 TD, 11 att, 137 yards, 12.5 avg, 1 TD, 15.2 PR avg, 2 TD
At 5’10, 175, Jackson is everything you’d expect him to be. He’s far from an elite receiver, but a dynamic playmaker with and without the ball. He lacks the capability of attacking a defense across the middle, but is one of the best at stretching the defense thin vertically, while opening up the rushing attack and short passing game underneath. From year one to year two, Jackson made a huge leap in the ability to find holes in the zone, but his route running still leaves room for improvement. In fact, among the top 50 receivers (by yards, including tight ends), Jackson was 8th from the bottom in reception efficiency and 9th from the bottom in 1st downs per target. A large portion of this can be attributed to the team’s desire to continually throw to him deep—naturally with a low connection rate—but for Jackson to become more than just a playmaker, he needs to take the next step and become more efficient in obtaining his numbers. Until then, he’ll remain behind the pure receivers who can continually make an impact in various ways on offense. Jackson does neutralize this edge slightly with his explosiveness on special teams, but not enough for him to leapfrog some of the other young studs.
21. Vince Young [QB, Tennessee Titans, 27]
Stats: 1879 yards, 58.7%, 7.3 YPA, 10 TD (12 total), 7 INT, 82.8 QB Rating
After the endless “he’s just a winner” comments, Young’s critics quickly attempted to locate other areas of the team’s post-bye week improvements to shift the credit away from Vince Young; they failed. As a team, Tennessee was clearly better than their winless record indicated, but hampered by the aging Kerry Collins, they exploded from a 14 point per game offense to one that averaged 27 per game after the bye. The biggest change came in the form of 3rd down conversions. Disregarding handoffs, Collins led the Titans’ offense to a 32.4% 3rd down conversion rate, while Young managed to improve to an astonishing 46.2% using his own arm and legs. There’s a slight myth that’s perpetuated in the football community that Vince Young is a better 2nd half quarterback, which helps him “win games.” While this proved to be entirely false a season ago, Young is at his best in the last 2 minutes of a half where he had a 104.3 QB Rating in 2009 and even made some improvements during this crucial period as a rookie. While leading the Titans to 7 career 4th quarter comebacks and 11 game-winning drives, Young is proven to be at his best when it counts most and is tough to get off the field on 3rd downs. While his image has taken several shots in the media since the Wonderlic controversy prior to his rookie offseason, Young has won over fans around the league and proven that he can be one of the league’s most exhilarating signal-callers. The only thing left for him to do is show the world he can do it for a full season.
20. Nick Collins [S, Green Bay Packers, 26]
Stats: 53 tackles (44 solo), 1 sack, 2 STF, 2 FR, 6 INT, 13 PD
For two years running, Collins has become one of the best coverage safeties in the league. In the offseason prior to 2008, he worked on improving his hands and spent a lot of more time in the film room with veterans Charles Woodson and Al Harris; the rewards of this hard work became quite evident from that season on. Collins is now rarely caught out of position and consistently breaking on balls a safety should have any business on attacking. The Bethune-Cookman alum is regarded as one of the fastest players on his team and the ability to recover from false steps makes him very consistent in the backend. Though he was asked to do much less of it a year ago due to schematic changes, Collins is also capable of dropping over the slot receiver or tight end to play man coverage, a lost art among safeties in today’s game. Instead of more man coverage, his responsibilities now include blitzing the quarterback, which he has successfully done on many occasions with great timing and closing speed. Over the past two years, Collins has also improved on his run support, taking appropriate angles and wrapping up in the open field. All in all, Collins is a durable player who can consistently shut down the deep ball and bark out signals in the secondary to prevent breakdowns in communications. With the pass-first nature of the modern NFL, pass coverage safeties like Collins allow much flexibility in preventing quick scores and creating big plays for the defense.
19. Miles Austin [WR, Dallas Cowboys, 25]
Stats: 81 rec, 1320 yards, 16.3 avg, 11 TD
After a franchise record 250 yard effort against the Chiefs in Week 5, Miles Austin broke out to capture the hearts of Dallas fans and seize the recognition of the entire league. What seemed like a fluke performance became the beginning of what appears to be a long career for the 4-year undrafted veteran out of Monmouth (NJ). Though Austin has only been a starter for ¾ of a season, he brings size, speed, and strength on the outside and precise route running within his route tree that suggests he’ll be around a lot longer. He has the straight line speed to stretch a defense, but also the moves and strength to break tackles after the catch as witnessed by his league-leading 9.4 YPA on passes thrown 10 yards or fewer and 3rd best 6.9 YAC yards per reception. His 10.7 YPA ranked 4th in the league, which shows the efficiency in which Austin was able to acquire his numbers. Finally Austin proved to be an effective chain-mover, picking up a 1st down on 47.6% of all balls thrown his way. Though he lacks the ability to go across the middle, Austin has emerged as a dynamic receiver who can threaten defenses on the perimeter and pick up many yards on his own, which makes him more than just another productive receiver.
18. Greg Jennings [WR, Green Bay Packers, 26]
Stats: 68 rec, 1113 yards, 16.4 avg, 4 TD
Jennings may have only found the end zone 4 times in the regular season, but his ’08 numbers compare very favorably to those of Miles Austin last year. He has only average size and timed speed, but he shows up on Sundays very polished and with game speed to spare. Jennings is one of the league’s best route runners with an expansive route tree and is capable of lining up out wide or in the slot. He’s able to attack the middle of the field, an area where Austin hasn’t, but can also attack the seams and the sidelines. He’s an outstanding receiver in traffic where he thrives off quick slants and digs. His entire game relies heavily on body control and the savvy manipulation of defenders in which he can bring in balls while having a defender draped on his body. Like Austin, Jennings is an elite YAC receiver, leading all full time starters a year ago in YAC/rec with 7.0 extra yards after the catch. With several years of top flight production and the ability to run a number of routes from a variety of positions, Jennings is a wideout that often goes under the radar, but can really open up an offense while making critical plays on critical downs.
Stats: 5 sacks allowed, 4 penalties, 2009 2nd Team All-Pro
Long has developed into one of the premier tackles in the league because of the consistency and lack of holes in his game, not because of sheer dominance. Early in his career, questions lingered whether he would have the athleticism to hold his own in pass protection at left tackle, but since entering the league, these concerns have quickly been silenced. He’s shown the ability slide his feet and neutralize rushers once locking on. In the run game, Long is a physical run blocker with the ability to blow people off the line and connect with a high percent of second level blocks. However, the numbers didn’t completely reflect this. The Dolphins ran over the left side only 1% more than they did the right side, while Football Outsiders rank the offensive line 31st in runs over left tackle (though they rank 7th in runs over left end). Much blame can be placed on the shoulders of a struggling and now relocated Justin Smiley, but Long will need to continue to prove his dominance, in both the run game and pass protection to move higher. In terms of leadership and work ethic though, let’s just say that there are few better in the game than Jake Long at taking initiative and putting in the effort to make both himself and his teammates better.
22. DeSean Jackson [WR, Philadelphia Eagles, 23]
Stats: 62 rec, 1156 yards, 18.6 avg, 9 TD, 11 att, 137 yards, 12.5 avg, 1 TD, 15.2 PR avg, 2 TD
At 5’10, 175, Jackson is everything you’d expect him to be. He’s far from an elite receiver, but a dynamic playmaker with and without the ball. He lacks the capability of attacking a defense across the middle, but is one of the best at stretching the defense thin vertically, while opening up the rushing attack and short passing game underneath. From year one to year two, Jackson made a huge leap in the ability to find holes in the zone, but his route running still leaves room for improvement. In fact, among the top 50 receivers (by yards, including tight ends), Jackson was 8th from the bottom in reception efficiency and 9th from the bottom in 1st downs per target. A large portion of this can be attributed to the team’s desire to continually throw to him deep—naturally with a low connection rate—but for Jackson to become more than just a playmaker, he needs to take the next step and become more efficient in obtaining his numbers. Until then, he’ll remain behind the pure receivers who can continually make an impact in various ways on offense. Jackson does neutralize this edge slightly with his explosiveness on special teams, but not enough for him to leapfrog some of the other young studs.
21. Vince Young [QB, Tennessee Titans, 27]
Stats: 1879 yards, 58.7%, 7.3 YPA, 10 TD (12 total), 7 INT, 82.8 QB Rating
After the endless “he’s just a winner” comments, Young’s critics quickly attempted to locate other areas of the team’s post-bye week improvements to shift the credit away from Vince Young; they failed. As a team, Tennessee was clearly better than their winless record indicated, but hampered by the aging Kerry Collins, they exploded from a 14 point per game offense to one that averaged 27 per game after the bye. The biggest change came in the form of 3rd down conversions. Disregarding handoffs, Collins led the Titans’ offense to a 32.4% 3rd down conversion rate, while Young managed to improve to an astonishing 46.2% using his own arm and legs. There’s a slight myth that’s perpetuated in the football community that Vince Young is a better 2nd half quarterback, which helps him “win games.” While this proved to be entirely false a season ago, Young is at his best in the last 2 minutes of a half where he had a 104.3 QB Rating in 2009 and even made some improvements during this crucial period as a rookie. While leading the Titans to 7 career 4th quarter comebacks and 11 game-winning drives, Young is proven to be at his best when it counts most and is tough to get off the field on 3rd downs. While his image has taken several shots in the media since the Wonderlic controversy prior to his rookie offseason, Young has won over fans around the league and proven that he can be one of the league’s most exhilarating signal-callers. The only thing left for him to do is show the world he can do it for a full season.
20. Nick Collins [S, Green Bay Packers, 26]
Stats: 53 tackles (44 solo), 1 sack, 2 STF, 2 FR, 6 INT, 13 PD
For two years running, Collins has become one of the best coverage safeties in the league. In the offseason prior to 2008, he worked on improving his hands and spent a lot of more time in the film room with veterans Charles Woodson and Al Harris; the rewards of this hard work became quite evident from that season on. Collins is now rarely caught out of position and consistently breaking on balls a safety should have any business on attacking. The Bethune-Cookman alum is regarded as one of the fastest players on his team and the ability to recover from false steps makes him very consistent in the backend. Though he was asked to do much less of it a year ago due to schematic changes, Collins is also capable of dropping over the slot receiver or tight end to play man coverage, a lost art among safeties in today’s game. Instead of more man coverage, his responsibilities now include blitzing the quarterback, which he has successfully done on many occasions with great timing and closing speed. Over the past two years, Collins has also improved on his run support, taking appropriate angles and wrapping up in the open field. All in all, Collins is a durable player who can consistently shut down the deep ball and bark out signals in the secondary to prevent breakdowns in communications. With the pass-first nature of the modern NFL, pass coverage safeties like Collins allow much flexibility in preventing quick scores and creating big plays for the defense.
19. Miles Austin [WR, Dallas Cowboys, 25]
Stats: 81 rec, 1320 yards, 16.3 avg, 11 TD
After a franchise record 250 yard effort against the Chiefs in Week 5, Miles Austin broke out to capture the hearts of Dallas fans and seize the recognition of the entire league. What seemed like a fluke performance became the beginning of what appears to be a long career for the 4-year undrafted veteran out of Monmouth (NJ). Though Austin has only been a starter for ¾ of a season, he brings size, speed, and strength on the outside and precise route running within his route tree that suggests he’ll be around a lot longer. He has the straight line speed to stretch a defense, but also the moves and strength to break tackles after the catch as witnessed by his league-leading 9.4 YPA on passes thrown 10 yards or fewer and 3rd best 6.9 YAC yards per reception. His 10.7 YPA ranked 4th in the league, which shows the efficiency in which Austin was able to acquire his numbers. Finally Austin proved to be an effective chain-mover, picking up a 1st down on 47.6% of all balls thrown his way. Though he lacks the ability to go across the middle, Austin has emerged as a dynamic receiver who can threaten defenses on the perimeter and pick up many yards on his own, which makes him more than just another productive receiver.
18. Greg Jennings [WR, Green Bay Packers, 26]
Stats: 68 rec, 1113 yards, 16.4 avg, 4 TD
Jennings may have only found the end zone 4 times in the regular season, but his ’08 numbers compare very favorably to those of Miles Austin last year. He has only average size and timed speed, but he shows up on Sundays very polished and with game speed to spare. Jennings is one of the league’s best route runners with an expansive route tree and is capable of lining up out wide or in the slot. He’s able to attack the middle of the field, an area where Austin hasn’t, but can also attack the seams and the sidelines. He’s an outstanding receiver in traffic where he thrives off quick slants and digs. His entire game relies heavily on body control and the savvy manipulation of defenders in which he can bring in balls while having a defender draped on his body. Like Austin, Jennings is an elite YAC receiver, leading all full time starters a year ago in YAC/rec with 7.0 extra yards after the catch. With several years of top flight production and the ability to run a number of routes from a variety of positions, Jennings is a wideout that often goes under the radar, but can really open up an offense while making critical plays on critical downs.
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KINGOFDAARCADE
New member
dunno why they put flacco over ryan, but...
17. Ryan Clady [OT, Denver Broncos, 23]
Stats: 8 sacks allowed, 5 penalties, 2009 1st Team All-Pro
Clady made his second All-Pro team in as many seasons, solidifying a position as one of the league’s premier tackles. Though he suffered a partially torn patella tendon this offseason, Clady has returned to the field on schedule. It remains to be seen how effective Clady can be post-injury, but it’s presumably not the type of injury that will really hamper his ability, but the slight uncertainty does drop him down a notch here. When healthy, Clady has rare athletic ability for his size and knows how to use it to his advantage unlike many gifted athletes. Clady is the consummate pass protector with no glaring holes in his game. He has the bend and leverage to sit and withstand a bull-rush, but the footwork to slide and guide a wide speed rush past the pocket. He also has the hand quickness and discipline to reset and neutralize double moves. After allowing only a half-sack his rookie year, Clady seemingly regressed to allow eight last year, but this came partially as a result of a quarterback with a tendency to hold the ball longer. He hasn’t shown the consistency to be considered as good as his rookie year suggests, but isn’t nearly as bad as his 2009 sack number indicates either. In reality, he’s somewhere in between, which still puts him among the best left tackles in the game. An average offense can become great and a great offense, elite, with a pair of bookend tackles that can negate an outside pass rush. With Clady at left tackle, the offense is halfway there to a decade of success.
16. Matt Ryan [QB, Atlanta Falcons, 25]
Stats: 2916 yards, 58.3%, 6.5 YPA, 22 TD (23 total), 14 INT, 80.9 QB Rating
Though Ryan seemingly regressed in his sophomore campaign, there were a number of factors that contributed to his decline. The injury to Harry Douglas and the potential loss of YAC certainly affected his chances of a breakout season, but importantly the decline of a running game due to the injuries and wear of Michael Turner put more pressure on his shoulders. Ryan has always been known to be a little reckless with the football at times and will need to change that in the coming years. In 2009, though, it’s hard to place the blame on him, as he was often forced to push the football into tight windows due to a receiving cast that struggled to assist him with extra yardage after the catch. In fact, Ryan finished dead last among quarterbacks with 400 attempts in percentage (of total) YAC yards with a mere 36.6% coming after the catch. Despite his average accuracy and questionable decision-making, Ryan is a gutsy leader capable of willing a team to victory. He stands tall against the blitz (90.7 QB Rating in 2009) and can fire passes anywhere on the field, vertically and horizontally. I’ll be honest – I wasn’t his biggest fan coming out of college and I still fail to see All-Pro potential, but he is a terrific leader quite capable of leading a semi-talented team deep into the playoffs.
15. Ray Rice [RB, Baltimore Ravens, 23]
Stats: 254 att., 1339 yards, 5.3 avg., 7 TD, 78 rec., 702 yards, 9.0 avg., TD, 3 FUM
Besides Edgerrin James who did it twice, Ray Rice is the only back in NFL history to produce over 2000 yards from scrimmage before the age of 23. Like James, Rice is the triple threat from the backfield that can handle all running back responsibilities with ease. As a receiver, he has fantastic hands and instincts. In 2009, his 9.0 yards per reception equaled Marshall Faulk’s career average and bettered all but one of Tomlinson’s years. As a runner, his low center of gravity has helped him fight through contact and break off big runs on seemingly dead plays. With a repeat performance in 2010, Rice can cement himself with the league’s elites at the young age of 24. With an abundant supply of running backs, the position has become devalued, but Rice gets a boost because of his well-roundedness and a great record of staying healthy. Furthermore, he has terrific fan appeal because his short stature plays right into the “underdog mentality” of most fans.
14. Joe Flacco [QB, Baltimore Ravens, 25]
Stats: 3613 yards, 63.1%, 7.2 YPA, 21 TD, 12 INT, 88.9 QB Rating
Despite throwing to an underwhelming group of receivers, Flacco made a considerable leap from 2008 to 2009. His numbers improved across the board and helped the Ravens into the playoffs for the second consecutive year. If Flacco is to become the franchise quarterback that his tools and regular season numbers suggest, he’ll have to make significant improvements in the playoffs where his level of play has dramatically fallen. His 46.5 QB Rating, 47.5 completion percentage, and 6 interceptions have created a limit on the team’s playoff potential despite their strength on defense and in the running game. While his resume and value as a franchise cornerstone improves slightly from last year, there’s still a vast distance separating him from the top quarterback, whose regular season numbers set him apart. As I look to his numbers to find a few areas of relative strength, there isn’t too much that stands out head and shoulders above the rest. Flacco’s consistency from game to game and ability to hit targets anywhere on the field will allow the offense to remain competitive every week. His arm has helped open up the running game and as he acquires proven receivers, I expect to see more of Flacco’s potential realized in 2010.
17. Ryan Clady [OT, Denver Broncos, 23]
Stats: 8 sacks allowed, 5 penalties, 2009 1st Team All-Pro
Clady made his second All-Pro team in as many seasons, solidifying a position as one of the league’s premier tackles. Though he suffered a partially torn patella tendon this offseason, Clady has returned to the field on schedule. It remains to be seen how effective Clady can be post-injury, but it’s presumably not the type of injury that will really hamper his ability, but the slight uncertainty does drop him down a notch here. When healthy, Clady has rare athletic ability for his size and knows how to use it to his advantage unlike many gifted athletes. Clady is the consummate pass protector with no glaring holes in his game. He has the bend and leverage to sit and withstand a bull-rush, but the footwork to slide and guide a wide speed rush past the pocket. He also has the hand quickness and discipline to reset and neutralize double moves. After allowing only a half-sack his rookie year, Clady seemingly regressed to allow eight last year, but this came partially as a result of a quarterback with a tendency to hold the ball longer. He hasn’t shown the consistency to be considered as good as his rookie year suggests, but isn’t nearly as bad as his 2009 sack number indicates either. In reality, he’s somewhere in between, which still puts him among the best left tackles in the game. An average offense can become great and a great offense, elite, with a pair of bookend tackles that can negate an outside pass rush. With Clady at left tackle, the offense is halfway there to a decade of success.
16. Matt Ryan [QB, Atlanta Falcons, 25]
Stats: 2916 yards, 58.3%, 6.5 YPA, 22 TD (23 total), 14 INT, 80.9 QB Rating
Though Ryan seemingly regressed in his sophomore campaign, there were a number of factors that contributed to his decline. The injury to Harry Douglas and the potential loss of YAC certainly affected his chances of a breakout season, but importantly the decline of a running game due to the injuries and wear of Michael Turner put more pressure on his shoulders. Ryan has always been known to be a little reckless with the football at times and will need to change that in the coming years. In 2009, though, it’s hard to place the blame on him, as he was often forced to push the football into tight windows due to a receiving cast that struggled to assist him with extra yardage after the catch. In fact, Ryan finished dead last among quarterbacks with 400 attempts in percentage (of total) YAC yards with a mere 36.6% coming after the catch. Despite his average accuracy and questionable decision-making, Ryan is a gutsy leader capable of willing a team to victory. He stands tall against the blitz (90.7 QB Rating in 2009) and can fire passes anywhere on the field, vertically and horizontally. I’ll be honest – I wasn’t his biggest fan coming out of college and I still fail to see All-Pro potential, but he is a terrific leader quite capable of leading a semi-talented team deep into the playoffs.
15. Ray Rice [RB, Baltimore Ravens, 23]
Stats: 254 att., 1339 yards, 5.3 avg., 7 TD, 78 rec., 702 yards, 9.0 avg., TD, 3 FUM
Besides Edgerrin James who did it twice, Ray Rice is the only back in NFL history to produce over 2000 yards from scrimmage before the age of 23. Like James, Rice is the triple threat from the backfield that can handle all running back responsibilities with ease. As a receiver, he has fantastic hands and instincts. In 2009, his 9.0 yards per reception equaled Marshall Faulk’s career average and bettered all but one of Tomlinson’s years. As a runner, his low center of gravity has helped him fight through contact and break off big runs on seemingly dead plays. With a repeat performance in 2010, Rice can cement himself with the league’s elites at the young age of 24. With an abundant supply of running backs, the position has become devalued, but Rice gets a boost because of his well-roundedness and a great record of staying healthy. Furthermore, he has terrific fan appeal because his short stature plays right into the “underdog mentality” of most fans.
14. Joe Flacco [QB, Baltimore Ravens, 25]
Stats: 3613 yards, 63.1%, 7.2 YPA, 21 TD, 12 INT, 88.9 QB Rating
Despite throwing to an underwhelming group of receivers, Flacco made a considerable leap from 2008 to 2009. His numbers improved across the board and helped the Ravens into the playoffs for the second consecutive year. If Flacco is to become the franchise quarterback that his tools and regular season numbers suggest, he’ll have to make significant improvements in the playoffs where his level of play has dramatically fallen. His 46.5 QB Rating, 47.5 completion percentage, and 6 interceptions have created a limit on the team’s playoff potential despite their strength on defense and in the running game. While his resume and value as a franchise cornerstone improves slightly from last year, there’s still a vast distance separating him from the top quarterback, whose regular season numbers set him apart. As I look to his numbers to find a few areas of relative strength, there isn’t too much that stands out head and shoulders above the rest. Flacco’s consistency from game to game and ability to hit targets anywhere on the field will allow the offense to remain competitive every week. His arm has helped open up the running game and as he acquires proven receivers, I expect to see more of Flacco’s potential realized in 2010.
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KINGOFDAARCADE
New member
13. Michael Roos [OT, Tennessee Titans, 27]
Stats: 5 sacks allowed, 6 penalties
Roos is coming off his worst season in possibly 4 years, but still played well enough to be considered a good starting left tackle and based on most of his career, there’s reason to believe he will once again become an elite tackle. Along with being a fairly athletic tackle with ideal dimensions, Roos has developed into a true technician through hard work. He plays with good leverage and can withstand a bull-rush unlike some athletes at the position. Still, Roos has a quick kick step to setup well against a speed rush and the ability to slide to veer a rusher off course. He has a jarring punch to stun linemen off the bat and does a terrific job winning the upper half battle with his hands. Michael Roos became one of the league’s best tackles with down-to-down consistency rather than flash and will need to continue to shows more the same to return to form and become the best offensive tackle in the game, which he is certainly capable of.
12. Jon Beason [LB, Carolina Panthers, 25]
Stats: 142 tackles (112 solo), 3 sacks, 10 STF, 1 FF, 2 FR, 3 INT, 7 PD
After quickly becoming one of the league’s best middle linebackers, the Panthers decided to convert him to WILL linebacker to allow Dan Connor to man the middle, a more natural fit for him. There are some players that don’t play as well as they fill the stat sheet, but Beason is every bit as good as the numbers indicate which is a big reason why the Panthers have the flexibility to move him outside. While the 4-3 OLB position isn’t a glamour piece, Beason has shown plenty of dominance inside where the conversion just adds to his versatility. Though he’s at his best when protected up front and able to roam from sideline-to-sideline, he’s also proven that he can do it with minimal help up front as was the case when the Panthers lost 3 defensive tackles to injury a year ago. His 26 impact plays and 47 tackles (33% of total tackles) near the sidelines fell just short of league leader Patrick Willis in the middle, but show his ability to create havoc with little help. Jon Beason is an instinctive, well-rounded linebacker who provides plenty of leadership on the field and in the locker room just as any middle linebacker should.
11. Joe Thomas [OT, Cleveland Browns, 25]
Stats: 6 sacks allowed, 6 penalties
Though he is far from the level of All-Pro tackles a decade ago (Pace, Ogden, Jones), Thomas is the cream of the crop in today’s NFL. While going up against James Harrison and Terrell Suggs twice a year, Thomas has proven to be the league’s elite pass protector in a division where he is consistently put to test. He is a tall and athletically built with excellent feet and quickness for the position. However, Thomas’s game doesn’t disappear with athleticism as so many nowadays do. He’s a technician through and through and is the left tackle coaches want their own players to emulate. Each year Thomas has added weight and become more physical at the point of attack. In 2009, the results showed in the running game where Jerome Harrison, a back finally capable of reaching the corner, found great success running off left tackle. On many of his highlight runs late in the season, Thomas can be seen executing his first block and hitting the second level on the move creating obvious lanes for Harrison to dart through. Joe Thomas is certainly a player who takes his craft very seriously and will only continue to improve from here on out. While he allows few sacks and even fewer pressures (relatively), with even more consistency and a little more improvement in the run game, he could go down with the best tackles to play the game.
10. Calvin Johnson [WR, Detroit Lions, 24]
Stats: 67 rec, 984 yards, 14.7 avg, 5 TD
If Johnson were somehow able to stay completely healthy for a season, or seasons, there’s no telling how dominant he could become. The dip in production in 2009 may seem alarming to some who see it as a result of more consistent double and triple teams. However, watching Megatron last season simply wasn’t the same pleasure as it typically is and not because of that. Even in college and his rookie year he received constant attention, but last year it was something different. It was the constant nagging injuries that hampered him throughout the season including various ailments to the knee, thigh, and hands. Having worked on his joints this offseason, Johnson appears ready to be able to withstand the season. Coupled with a surrounding cast that seems more professional than amateur this year; expect Johnson to return to top form as one of the league’s best receivers. Calvin is more than just the highlight reel catch—and Stafford and Detroit are certainly willing to let him make them. He’s more than just the hyped up phenom with the absurd size, speed, and vertical he entered the league as. Johnson has found time between the injuries to become a fine route runner with the savvy to gain separation from defenders using his deceptive speed and length to create a larger window to the quarterback. His impact on the game extends beyond that of his numbers and most receivers. It doesn’t take a creative play-caller to create mismatches utilizing his rare set of tools. He can also absorb double teams and open up room single coverage for other targets. He can draw multiple defenders downfield opening up the run game or you can split him out wide and expect him to sustain a block for an extended period of time. With a player as impactful and dominant—when healthy—like Calvin Johnson on the outside, there’s a guaranteed decade of offensive success with an average front office simply due to all the opportunities he can open up for teammates. Few receivers have that type of capability, let alone at the age of 24.
9. Mario Williams [DE, Houston Texans, 25]
Stats: 43 tackles (38 solo), 9 sacks, 6 STF, 2 FF, 3 PD
Mario Williams is a defensive end who must be accounted for on every play. Though his sack number dipped below double digits in 2009, he can now effectively rush the quarterback and stop the run too, making him one of the few elite run/pass ends. In fact, during the last three seasons, he’s averaged 17 stops behind the line of scrimmage. One thing I still can’t comprehend when watching Mario rush the passer is how he weighs 290 pounds with his quickness in getting up field while leaving the tackle on his heels. With his acceleration and speed of his moves, he looks as if he should be at least 20 pounds lighter. However, when you watch him stack up against the run, you begin to see him play to his weight and strength. Early in his career he struggled with blocks below the waist but now aptly handles them. He had always flashed this potential, but 2009 was easily his best as a run defender, possibly because of the alleviated pressures from the additions of Cushing and Pollard. How rare are defensive lineman that can play so many quality snaps? First, there are those that don’t have the endurance to play that many snaps. Then there are those who are simply too lazy to go hard every down. Finally, there are those who are one-dimensional players who can be easily neutralized against either the run or pass. You can find ends that are considered elite by many that fall into any of these three categories, yet very few that fall into none. Defensive ends with the talent, work ethic, and all-around productivity of Mario Williams don’t come around very often, and to think, he still hasn’t fully realized his potential yet.
8. LaMarr Woodley [OLB, Pittsburgh Steelers, 25]
Stats: 62 tackles (50 solo), 13.5 sacks, 5 STF, 1 FF, 1 FR, 5 PD
Woodley has come into his own putting together two excellent, consecutive seasons at the left outside linebacker position, where there is no better in the league today. Typically teams can get a terrific pass rush from the blindside rusher, but rarely can they find two sack artists coming off either edge. Perhaps, sack artist isn’t the best way to describe Woodley because he’s more than just that. Woodley can possibly already lay claim to the title of most complete linebacker in the league. While James Harrison on the other side is probably a better run defender, Woodley holds his own using his arms and leverage to hold his ground. However, the Michigan alum is one the best coverage outside linebackers in the 3-4, which is surprising considering how he’s been playing with a hand in the dirt for much of his career. Woodley has improved vastly since entering the league, displaying terrific instincts in sniffing out routes and breaking on the ball in the air. Of course, above all, Woodley is phenomenal pass rusher blending his moves very well. He’s shown the ability to attack right tackles with a successful speed rush and a wide array of moves, but he still loves going back to his natural bull-rush. At 25, Woodley has found his stride early and because his game relies more on his motor than pure athletic ability, there’s reason to believe he’ll be playing well into his 30s.
Stats: 5 sacks allowed, 6 penalties
Roos is coming off his worst season in possibly 4 years, but still played well enough to be considered a good starting left tackle and based on most of his career, there’s reason to believe he will once again become an elite tackle. Along with being a fairly athletic tackle with ideal dimensions, Roos has developed into a true technician through hard work. He plays with good leverage and can withstand a bull-rush unlike some athletes at the position. Still, Roos has a quick kick step to setup well against a speed rush and the ability to slide to veer a rusher off course. He has a jarring punch to stun linemen off the bat and does a terrific job winning the upper half battle with his hands. Michael Roos became one of the league’s best tackles with down-to-down consistency rather than flash and will need to continue to shows more the same to return to form and become the best offensive tackle in the game, which he is certainly capable of.
12. Jon Beason [LB, Carolina Panthers, 25]
Stats: 142 tackles (112 solo), 3 sacks, 10 STF, 1 FF, 2 FR, 3 INT, 7 PD
After quickly becoming one of the league’s best middle linebackers, the Panthers decided to convert him to WILL linebacker to allow Dan Connor to man the middle, a more natural fit for him. There are some players that don’t play as well as they fill the stat sheet, but Beason is every bit as good as the numbers indicate which is a big reason why the Panthers have the flexibility to move him outside. While the 4-3 OLB position isn’t a glamour piece, Beason has shown plenty of dominance inside where the conversion just adds to his versatility. Though he’s at his best when protected up front and able to roam from sideline-to-sideline, he’s also proven that he can do it with minimal help up front as was the case when the Panthers lost 3 defensive tackles to injury a year ago. His 26 impact plays and 47 tackles (33% of total tackles) near the sidelines fell just short of league leader Patrick Willis in the middle, but show his ability to create havoc with little help. Jon Beason is an instinctive, well-rounded linebacker who provides plenty of leadership on the field and in the locker room just as any middle linebacker should.
11. Joe Thomas [OT, Cleveland Browns, 25]
Stats: 6 sacks allowed, 6 penalties
Though he is far from the level of All-Pro tackles a decade ago (Pace, Ogden, Jones), Thomas is the cream of the crop in today’s NFL. While going up against James Harrison and Terrell Suggs twice a year, Thomas has proven to be the league’s elite pass protector in a division where he is consistently put to test. He is a tall and athletically built with excellent feet and quickness for the position. However, Thomas’s game doesn’t disappear with athleticism as so many nowadays do. He’s a technician through and through and is the left tackle coaches want their own players to emulate. Each year Thomas has added weight and become more physical at the point of attack. In 2009, the results showed in the running game where Jerome Harrison, a back finally capable of reaching the corner, found great success running off left tackle. On many of his highlight runs late in the season, Thomas can be seen executing his first block and hitting the second level on the move creating obvious lanes for Harrison to dart through. Joe Thomas is certainly a player who takes his craft very seriously and will only continue to improve from here on out. While he allows few sacks and even fewer pressures (relatively), with even more consistency and a little more improvement in the run game, he could go down with the best tackles to play the game.
10. Calvin Johnson [WR, Detroit Lions, 24]
Stats: 67 rec, 984 yards, 14.7 avg, 5 TD
If Johnson were somehow able to stay completely healthy for a season, or seasons, there’s no telling how dominant he could become. The dip in production in 2009 may seem alarming to some who see it as a result of more consistent double and triple teams. However, watching Megatron last season simply wasn’t the same pleasure as it typically is and not because of that. Even in college and his rookie year he received constant attention, but last year it was something different. It was the constant nagging injuries that hampered him throughout the season including various ailments to the knee, thigh, and hands. Having worked on his joints this offseason, Johnson appears ready to be able to withstand the season. Coupled with a surrounding cast that seems more professional than amateur this year; expect Johnson to return to top form as one of the league’s best receivers. Calvin is more than just the highlight reel catch—and Stafford and Detroit are certainly willing to let him make them. He’s more than just the hyped up phenom with the absurd size, speed, and vertical he entered the league as. Johnson has found time between the injuries to become a fine route runner with the savvy to gain separation from defenders using his deceptive speed and length to create a larger window to the quarterback. His impact on the game extends beyond that of his numbers and most receivers. It doesn’t take a creative play-caller to create mismatches utilizing his rare set of tools. He can also absorb double teams and open up room single coverage for other targets. He can draw multiple defenders downfield opening up the run game or you can split him out wide and expect him to sustain a block for an extended period of time. With a player as impactful and dominant—when healthy—like Calvin Johnson on the outside, there’s a guaranteed decade of offensive success with an average front office simply due to all the opportunities he can open up for teammates. Few receivers have that type of capability, let alone at the age of 24.
9. Mario Williams [DE, Houston Texans, 25]
Stats: 43 tackles (38 solo), 9 sacks, 6 STF, 2 FF, 3 PD
Mario Williams is a defensive end who must be accounted for on every play. Though his sack number dipped below double digits in 2009, he can now effectively rush the quarterback and stop the run too, making him one of the few elite run/pass ends. In fact, during the last three seasons, he’s averaged 17 stops behind the line of scrimmage. One thing I still can’t comprehend when watching Mario rush the passer is how he weighs 290 pounds with his quickness in getting up field while leaving the tackle on his heels. With his acceleration and speed of his moves, he looks as if he should be at least 20 pounds lighter. However, when you watch him stack up against the run, you begin to see him play to his weight and strength. Early in his career he struggled with blocks below the waist but now aptly handles them. He had always flashed this potential, but 2009 was easily his best as a run defender, possibly because of the alleviated pressures from the additions of Cushing and Pollard. How rare are defensive lineman that can play so many quality snaps? First, there are those that don’t have the endurance to play that many snaps. Then there are those who are simply too lazy to go hard every down. Finally, there are those who are one-dimensional players who can be easily neutralized against either the run or pass. You can find ends that are considered elite by many that fall into any of these three categories, yet very few that fall into none. Defensive ends with the talent, work ethic, and all-around productivity of Mario Williams don’t come around very often, and to think, he still hasn’t fully realized his potential yet.
8. LaMarr Woodley [OLB, Pittsburgh Steelers, 25]
Stats: 62 tackles (50 solo), 13.5 sacks, 5 STF, 1 FF, 1 FR, 5 PD
Woodley has come into his own putting together two excellent, consecutive seasons at the left outside linebacker position, where there is no better in the league today. Typically teams can get a terrific pass rush from the blindside rusher, but rarely can they find two sack artists coming off either edge. Perhaps, sack artist isn’t the best way to describe Woodley because he’s more than just that. Woodley can possibly already lay claim to the title of most complete linebacker in the league. While James Harrison on the other side is probably a better run defender, Woodley holds his own using his arms and leverage to hold his ground. However, the Michigan alum is one the best coverage outside linebackers in the 3-4, which is surprising considering how he’s been playing with a hand in the dirt for much of his career. Woodley has improved vastly since entering the league, displaying terrific instincts in sniffing out routes and breaking on the ball in the air. Of course, above all, Woodley is phenomenal pass rusher blending his moves very well. He’s shown the ability to attack right tackles with a successful speed rush and a wide array of moves, but he still loves going back to his natural bull-rush. At 25, Woodley has found his stride early and because his game relies more on his motor than pure athletic ability, there’s reason to believe he’ll be playing well into his 30s.
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KINGOFDAARCADE
New member
7. Adrian Peterson [RB, Minnesota Vikings, 25]
Stats: 314 att., 1383 yards, 4.4 avg., 18 TD, 43 rec., 436 yards, 10.1 avg., 7 FUM
There are only two running backs right now that really look a cut above the rest. Not that the second tier of Steven Jackson, Frank Gore, and the like aren’t elite themselves, but Peterson is really in a distinct class. He possesses a blend of size and athleticism that only a few have had before and only a few will have again. Peterson can hit top speed in an instant with the lateral agility of backs a fraction of his size. Still, he can bust through arm tackles with ease and push a pile like a power back. In a league and age with some of the finest athletes the world has ever seen, Peterson has still managed to stand out with nearly 4500 rushing yards and 40 touchdowns over the last 3 seasons. I still firmly believe that the league is beyond the point where the road to the Super Bowl lies on the shoulders of the running back, but just the simple threat of an elite back like Peterson touching the ball can do just as much for an offense. My argument is made by simply looking to the film of the 2009 Vikings offense and the impact he had on Favre and more evidently, Sidney Rice last year. The career numbers for Favre isn’t a fluke or because the 40-year old suddenly gained new abilities. It’s difficult for safeties to play on their heels and prepare for the deep ball when a back like Peterson can rip off chunks of yardage in mere fractions of a second only to become more dangerous as he runs free into the secondary. Still, if there’s one area of huge concern, it’s the fumbles (as if it needed to be said after the playoff loss to the Saints). Even more incriminating in a case against Peterson are 900 career carries which amount to a third of a durable running back’s shelf life.
6. Larry Fitzgerald [WR, Arizona Cardinals, 26]
Stats: 97 rec, 1092 yards, 11.3 avg, 13 TD
Though it’s his size and strength that are Fitzgerald’s best tools, he has deceptive speed and terrific body control to dominate on the outside in a variety of ways. His vertical numbers suffered last year with a career worst 11.3 per catch average due largely to Kurt Warner’s inability and unwillingness to consistently push the ball. The decrease in downfield highlights has allowed him to showcase his route-running prowess, strong hands, and courage going across the middle on shorter routes. In traffic, he’s easily one of the best receivers high pointing the ball and using only his hands to make the catch while shielding defenders with his body. He has rare hand-eye coordination and the ability to make some of the toughest catches look simple. If his numbers didn’t reflect deep ball dominance and his YAC ability isn’t elite, it becomes fascinating to understand how Fitzgerald still caught 71.1% of his passes for first down. This stems from his awareness to push his routes past the first down marker and show his numbers to quarterback. In this shorter intermediate area of the field, no receiver in the game is better and this is one reason why I believe Fitzgerald will have success well into his 30s. Jerry Rice’s all-time receiving yardage record is untouchable, and probably the most impressive in all of football, but Fitzgerald has a very good chance of surpassing Bruce, Owens, and Moss into second place. Another area of sheer dominance comes near the goal line in the red zone. Not only can he out-jump and high point the football on a fade, but he has great control and subtle hand use to score consistently on the back shoulder ball as well. As it stands, Fitzgerald’s body of work is impressive enough to earn the title of the league’s second best wideout and easily a top cornerstone, despite the difficulty in building around a receiver.
5. Darrelle Revis [CB, New York Jets, 25]
Stats: 54 tackles (47 solo), 6 INT, 1 TD, 31 PD
In 2009, fans around the league gained a deeper appreciation for the cornerback position, something not often done at any position. Revis taught the casual fan that the best way to judge a cornerback is not by the amount of tackles or interceptions you amass—not that he was short on either—but by their ability to limit a passing attack on any given day. Between Scrabble, Woodson, and Revis, the elite trio are teaching casual fans the different styles of playing the position and creating quite a stir among each fanbase—what more can you ask for? All three players are unquestionably the best players on their respective units and probably the most well-known as well, a difficult task in the secondary. In what became well-publicized, Revis spent much of his Sunday afternoons hosting opponents’ top receivers on Revis Island where top targets could have essentially brought their beach chairs and taken the week off altogether. The Jets allowed 29.4 yards per game to the #1 wideout, or nearly 17 yards per game (266 yards on the season) better than the next best team, the Chargers. With his help, the Jets’ collective pass defense easily finished atop the league in key statistical measures such as Completion % Against, Yards, YPA, Touchdowns, and Quarterback Rating Against without the help of an elite pass rush. It could be argued that the more effective cover corner is the one who is targeted less and capable of shutting down a side of the field as Scrabble has done in Oakland, but the numbers certainly swing into Revis’s favor here too. Generally I’ve been gushing about the player’s technical strengths on the field, but with Revis, the results speak volumes in and of themselves. Sure, he has great size, athleticism, quickness, and balance. Sure, he can ride a receiver’s hip as well as any in the league. He can press at the line and come up strong in run support, Revis’s most underrated asset, but his production in 2009 signs, seals, and delivers the entire case for me that you can, in fact, build a defense around an elite cornerback. In a past-first era, defensive success also first comes from shutting down the pass.
4. Haloti Ngata [DE/DT, Baltimore Ravens, 26]
Stats: 35 tackles (25 solo), 1.5 sacks, 5 STF, 1 FF, 1 FR, 1 PD
I dare you to find me a more undervalued and underrated player in the NFL than Haloti Ngata. He’s made the 2nd All-Pro team in consecutive years, but only last year made his first Pro Bowl appearance. He’s currently playing on the last year of his rookie contract (players still play them out these days?) making a paltry $1.75 million. It shows that maybe he has a bad agent, but more likely that Ngata simply just wants to do something he’s so passionate about—football. In 2009, the Ravens finished 1st for the in run defense (yards per carry) for the second time under Ngata’s tenure, finishing 2nd and 5th in the other two years. The average would have been even better, if only by a little, had Ngata played all 16 games. Haloti Ngata is incredibly tough to move off the line at around 350 pounds, but he’s also a rare athlete for his size with quickness and closing burst that may have never been seen by a man of his proportions. He doesn’t always show up on the stat sheet with two men draped on him each run play and many passing downs as well, but it would be misleading to say that he doesn’t have a huge impact on the flow of the game. Ngata demands double teams, whether he’s playing as a 3-4 DE, 3-4 NT, or a 4-3 DT, but even so, he can absorb it with ease, freeing up teammates in the process, but still push the line of scrimmage backwards. Though Baltimore allowed 3.4 per rush on the year, the left side of the defense (where Ngata typically resides) was even more stout as evidenced by Football Outsiders. In terms of a pass rush, he doesn’t have the overall package—of say a Kevin Williams—but he is capable of shooting the gap, or pushing back a double team to create a ruckus in the face of the quarterback. Additionally, even though he was asked to do less of it last season, Ngata is surprisingly capable of dropping back into coverage in blitz packages, during which he’s picked off 3 career passes. With the versatility he brings and the ability to completely demolish an opposing run game, Ngata is a player you want to go to war with in the trenches.
SMH@Fitzgerald only being 26... Damn i thought he was a bit older than that
Stats: 314 att., 1383 yards, 4.4 avg., 18 TD, 43 rec., 436 yards, 10.1 avg., 7 FUM
There are only two running backs right now that really look a cut above the rest. Not that the second tier of Steven Jackson, Frank Gore, and the like aren’t elite themselves, but Peterson is really in a distinct class. He possesses a blend of size and athleticism that only a few have had before and only a few will have again. Peterson can hit top speed in an instant with the lateral agility of backs a fraction of his size. Still, he can bust through arm tackles with ease and push a pile like a power back. In a league and age with some of the finest athletes the world has ever seen, Peterson has still managed to stand out with nearly 4500 rushing yards and 40 touchdowns over the last 3 seasons. I still firmly believe that the league is beyond the point where the road to the Super Bowl lies on the shoulders of the running back, but just the simple threat of an elite back like Peterson touching the ball can do just as much for an offense. My argument is made by simply looking to the film of the 2009 Vikings offense and the impact he had on Favre and more evidently, Sidney Rice last year. The career numbers for Favre isn’t a fluke or because the 40-year old suddenly gained new abilities. It’s difficult for safeties to play on their heels and prepare for the deep ball when a back like Peterson can rip off chunks of yardage in mere fractions of a second only to become more dangerous as he runs free into the secondary. Still, if there’s one area of huge concern, it’s the fumbles (as if it needed to be said after the playoff loss to the Saints). Even more incriminating in a case against Peterson are 900 career carries which amount to a third of a durable running back’s shelf life.
6. Larry Fitzgerald [WR, Arizona Cardinals, 26]
Stats: 97 rec, 1092 yards, 11.3 avg, 13 TD
Though it’s his size and strength that are Fitzgerald’s best tools, he has deceptive speed and terrific body control to dominate on the outside in a variety of ways. His vertical numbers suffered last year with a career worst 11.3 per catch average due largely to Kurt Warner’s inability and unwillingness to consistently push the ball. The decrease in downfield highlights has allowed him to showcase his route-running prowess, strong hands, and courage going across the middle on shorter routes. In traffic, he’s easily one of the best receivers high pointing the ball and using only his hands to make the catch while shielding defenders with his body. He has rare hand-eye coordination and the ability to make some of the toughest catches look simple. If his numbers didn’t reflect deep ball dominance and his YAC ability isn’t elite, it becomes fascinating to understand how Fitzgerald still caught 71.1% of his passes for first down. This stems from his awareness to push his routes past the first down marker and show his numbers to quarterback. In this shorter intermediate area of the field, no receiver in the game is better and this is one reason why I believe Fitzgerald will have success well into his 30s. Jerry Rice’s all-time receiving yardage record is untouchable, and probably the most impressive in all of football, but Fitzgerald has a very good chance of surpassing Bruce, Owens, and Moss into second place. Another area of sheer dominance comes near the goal line in the red zone. Not only can he out-jump and high point the football on a fade, but he has great control and subtle hand use to score consistently on the back shoulder ball as well. As it stands, Fitzgerald’s body of work is impressive enough to earn the title of the league’s second best wideout and easily a top cornerstone, despite the difficulty in building around a receiver.
5. Darrelle Revis [CB, New York Jets, 25]
Stats: 54 tackles (47 solo), 6 INT, 1 TD, 31 PD
In 2009, fans around the league gained a deeper appreciation for the cornerback position, something not often done at any position. Revis taught the casual fan that the best way to judge a cornerback is not by the amount of tackles or interceptions you amass—not that he was short on either—but by their ability to limit a passing attack on any given day. Between Scrabble, Woodson, and Revis, the elite trio are teaching casual fans the different styles of playing the position and creating quite a stir among each fanbase—what more can you ask for? All three players are unquestionably the best players on their respective units and probably the most well-known as well, a difficult task in the secondary. In what became well-publicized, Revis spent much of his Sunday afternoons hosting opponents’ top receivers on Revis Island where top targets could have essentially brought their beach chairs and taken the week off altogether. The Jets allowed 29.4 yards per game to the #1 wideout, or nearly 17 yards per game (266 yards on the season) better than the next best team, the Chargers. With his help, the Jets’ collective pass defense easily finished atop the league in key statistical measures such as Completion % Against, Yards, YPA, Touchdowns, and Quarterback Rating Against without the help of an elite pass rush. It could be argued that the more effective cover corner is the one who is targeted less and capable of shutting down a side of the field as Scrabble has done in Oakland, but the numbers certainly swing into Revis’s favor here too. Generally I’ve been gushing about the player’s technical strengths on the field, but with Revis, the results speak volumes in and of themselves. Sure, he has great size, athleticism, quickness, and balance. Sure, he can ride a receiver’s hip as well as any in the league. He can press at the line and come up strong in run support, Revis’s most underrated asset, but his production in 2009 signs, seals, and delivers the entire case for me that you can, in fact, build a defense around an elite cornerback. In a past-first era, defensive success also first comes from shutting down the pass.
4. Haloti Ngata [DE/DT, Baltimore Ravens, 26]
Stats: 35 tackles (25 solo), 1.5 sacks, 5 STF, 1 FF, 1 FR, 1 PD
I dare you to find me a more undervalued and underrated player in the NFL than Haloti Ngata. He’s made the 2nd All-Pro team in consecutive years, but only last year made his first Pro Bowl appearance. He’s currently playing on the last year of his rookie contract (players still play them out these days?) making a paltry $1.75 million. It shows that maybe he has a bad agent, but more likely that Ngata simply just wants to do something he’s so passionate about—football. In 2009, the Ravens finished 1st for the in run defense (yards per carry) for the second time under Ngata’s tenure, finishing 2nd and 5th in the other two years. The average would have been even better, if only by a little, had Ngata played all 16 games. Haloti Ngata is incredibly tough to move off the line at around 350 pounds, but he’s also a rare athlete for his size with quickness and closing burst that may have never been seen by a man of his proportions. He doesn’t always show up on the stat sheet with two men draped on him each run play and many passing downs as well, but it would be misleading to say that he doesn’t have a huge impact on the flow of the game. Ngata demands double teams, whether he’s playing as a 3-4 DE, 3-4 NT, or a 4-3 DT, but even so, he can absorb it with ease, freeing up teammates in the process, but still push the line of scrimmage backwards. Though Baltimore allowed 3.4 per rush on the year, the left side of the defense (where Ngata typically resides) was even more stout as evidenced by Football Outsiders. In terms of a pass rush, he doesn’t have the overall package—of say a Kevin Williams—but he is capable of shooting the gap, or pushing back a double team to create a ruckus in the face of the quarterback. Additionally, even though he was asked to do less of it last season, Ngata is surprisingly capable of dropping back into coverage in blitz packages, during which he’s picked off 3 career passes. With the versatility he brings and the ability to completely demolish an opposing run game, Ngata is a player you want to go to war with in the trenches.
SMH@Fitzgerald only being 26... Damn i thought he was a bit older than that
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KINGOFDAARCADE
New member
go ahead and bitch like da bitches you are. i didnt make this list
3. Chris Johnson [RB, Tennessee Titans, 24]
Stats: 358 att., 2006 yards, 5.6 avg., 14 TD, 50 rec., 503 yards, 10.1 avg., 2 TD, 3 FUM
After a 2000 yard rushing season, there’s no question Johnson is one of the hottest names in the game today. While the league has seen its fair share of world class athletes, it’s quite apparent that Johnson is ready to toss his name in with the select few. His elite burst and long speed have made numerous safeties look foolish, forcing them into taking unwise angles to the ball. His combination of these two gifts makes him a specimen unlike any other in the league right now. In fact, each of Johnson’s runs over the next 6-8 years will have the potential to become a spectacle regardless of the defense because of this ability to make people miss. The only thing that concerns me is his slight frame to which he could stand to add a couple of pounds for all aspects of his game. It’s not that he isn’t capable of carrying the load—he’s already proved that he is—it’s that he wants to too much. A case of overconfidence and the desire to carry an unnecessary burden, perhaps? Maybe once he’s taken a couple more licks, he’ll realize to set more realistic goals and accept a complementary back to ease the burden and prolong his career. Until then, fans will still continue to love him for the electric player that he is and defenses will still continue to see him as the most feared offensive weapon in the league. In the chase for Eric Dickerson’s record, I’m not even sure how many fans realize that he handily broke Marshall Faulk’s Single Season Yards from Scrimmage NFL Record a year ago. Fitting, I suppose, because just like Chris Johnson, it was just a blur.
2. Patrick Willis [ILB, San Francisco 49ers, 25]
Stats: 152 tackles (114 solo), 4 sacks, 8 STF, 3 FF, 3 INT, 1 TD, 8 PD
For three years now, Willis has made a huge impact in the middle of the 49ers defense, but played his best season a year ago. He’s taken great strides each year and has already reached a point where he has almost no holes in his game, leaving only refinements for here on out. Willis is the perfect blend of a hard-nosed downhill linebacker and one that can still create plays dropping away from the line of scrimmage. He flows to the ball naturally starting with instinctual reactions at the snap. He then filters through the trash, looking past and playing through obstacles in his way, leaving a lot of angry momentum to finish off ballcarriers. He takes sound angles to the ball, playing runs inside-out, making his way out to the white line to end plays when necessary. In fact, Willis has made monumental improvements in this area of the game to a point where he’s one of the best sideline-to-sideline backers in the game, making 54 tackles near the sidelines, or 35.5% in 2009. In comparison, he had recorded only 17% and 24% of his tackles in these “Wide” areas in his rookie and sophomore years, respectively. In coverage, Willis took very similar strides last year showing that he could drop back into coverage and help complicate a short passing game for the offense. He consistently made plays when quarterbacks tried to test him and limited the yards gained under his watch. With size, strength, instincts, range, ball skills, and “do as I do” leadership, Willis is a complete inside linebacker with the ability to disrupt the flow of the game in a variety of ways. Against Willis, an offense really has to pick its poison near the line of scrimmage and in the middle of the field or altogether avoid it. That type of impact brings flexibility to a defense and has been the biggest factor in the transformation of the 49ers defense. They’ve gone from 25.8 ppg (dead last) the year before he arrived to 17.6 ppg a year ago (4th).
1. Aaron Rodgers [QB, Green Bay Packers, 26]
Stats: 4434 yards, 64.7%, 8.2 YPA, 30 TD, 7 INT, 103.2 QB Rating
After overcoming adversity—about as much as any athlete will ever have to go through—Rodgers comes out on the other side as the best franchise piece in the league. He’s a terrific leader who motivates his teammates to get better. After spending countless dinners with his teammates to develop chemistry and friendship, Rodgers quickly earned the confidence of his targets, locker room, fan base, and the league—in that order. One thing that I’ll always remember about Aaron’s “rise to glory” chapter, is a comment from a Vikings fan, who said as much as he wants to hate Rodgers, he simply can’t bring himself to do so. That type of compliment from a division rival says everything anyone needs to know about Aaron’s character. Through his perseverance, Rodgers has prevailed as the good guy in an ugly chapter of Packers history. On the field, his success has been no different: nothing short of astounding. Barring injury concerns, Rodgers potentially has a decade of All-Pro caliber football ahead of him if he can just take a few more baby steps in the upcoming seasons. It doesn’t take a research analyst to crunch Rodgers’ numbers to find his strengths and predict future success. Rodgers led the league in 2009 for 3 of the best statistical indicators of a great winning quarterback. On 3rd downs, he led the league with a 133.5 QB Rating including a 10.9 YPA, 14 TDs, and 0 interceptions. He tied for the fewest number of picks a year ago and in the red zone, he has yet to throw his first career interception. The one glaring hole in his young career is playoff experience and success, but these indicators, along with the 121.4 QB Rating and 45 point offensive outing in the Wildcard game suggest that this should soon change. Given his remarkable arm strength, athleticism, decision making, work ethic, and the unrivaled value of a quarterback to a team, it’s no surprise, and no question in my mind, that Aaron Rodgers is the best cornerstone in the league.
3. Chris Johnson [RB, Tennessee Titans, 24]
Stats: 358 att., 2006 yards, 5.6 avg., 14 TD, 50 rec., 503 yards, 10.1 avg., 2 TD, 3 FUM
After a 2000 yard rushing season, there’s no question Johnson is one of the hottest names in the game today. While the league has seen its fair share of world class athletes, it’s quite apparent that Johnson is ready to toss his name in with the select few. His elite burst and long speed have made numerous safeties look foolish, forcing them into taking unwise angles to the ball. His combination of these two gifts makes him a specimen unlike any other in the league right now. In fact, each of Johnson’s runs over the next 6-8 years will have the potential to become a spectacle regardless of the defense because of this ability to make people miss. The only thing that concerns me is his slight frame to which he could stand to add a couple of pounds for all aspects of his game. It’s not that he isn’t capable of carrying the load—he’s already proved that he is—it’s that he wants to too much. A case of overconfidence and the desire to carry an unnecessary burden, perhaps? Maybe once he’s taken a couple more licks, he’ll realize to set more realistic goals and accept a complementary back to ease the burden and prolong his career. Until then, fans will still continue to love him for the electric player that he is and defenses will still continue to see him as the most feared offensive weapon in the league. In the chase for Eric Dickerson’s record, I’m not even sure how many fans realize that he handily broke Marshall Faulk’s Single Season Yards from Scrimmage NFL Record a year ago. Fitting, I suppose, because just like Chris Johnson, it was just a blur.
2. Patrick Willis [ILB, San Francisco 49ers, 25]
Stats: 152 tackles (114 solo), 4 sacks, 8 STF, 3 FF, 3 INT, 1 TD, 8 PD
For three years now, Willis has made a huge impact in the middle of the 49ers defense, but played his best season a year ago. He’s taken great strides each year and has already reached a point where he has almost no holes in his game, leaving only refinements for here on out. Willis is the perfect blend of a hard-nosed downhill linebacker and one that can still create plays dropping away from the line of scrimmage. He flows to the ball naturally starting with instinctual reactions at the snap. He then filters through the trash, looking past and playing through obstacles in his way, leaving a lot of angry momentum to finish off ballcarriers. He takes sound angles to the ball, playing runs inside-out, making his way out to the white line to end plays when necessary. In fact, Willis has made monumental improvements in this area of the game to a point where he’s one of the best sideline-to-sideline backers in the game, making 54 tackles near the sidelines, or 35.5% in 2009. In comparison, he had recorded only 17% and 24% of his tackles in these “Wide” areas in his rookie and sophomore years, respectively. In coverage, Willis took very similar strides last year showing that he could drop back into coverage and help complicate a short passing game for the offense. He consistently made plays when quarterbacks tried to test him and limited the yards gained under his watch. With size, strength, instincts, range, ball skills, and “do as I do” leadership, Willis is a complete inside linebacker with the ability to disrupt the flow of the game in a variety of ways. Against Willis, an offense really has to pick its poison near the line of scrimmage and in the middle of the field or altogether avoid it. That type of impact brings flexibility to a defense and has been the biggest factor in the transformation of the 49ers defense. They’ve gone from 25.8 ppg (dead last) the year before he arrived to 17.6 ppg a year ago (4th).
1. Aaron Rodgers [QB, Green Bay Packers, 26]
Stats: 4434 yards, 64.7%, 8.2 YPA, 30 TD, 7 INT, 103.2 QB Rating
After overcoming adversity—about as much as any athlete will ever have to go through—Rodgers comes out on the other side as the best franchise piece in the league. He’s a terrific leader who motivates his teammates to get better. After spending countless dinners with his teammates to develop chemistry and friendship, Rodgers quickly earned the confidence of his targets, locker room, fan base, and the league—in that order. One thing that I’ll always remember about Aaron’s “rise to glory” chapter, is a comment from a Vikings fan, who said as much as he wants to hate Rodgers, he simply can’t bring himself to do so. That type of compliment from a division rival says everything anyone needs to know about Aaron’s character. Through his perseverance, Rodgers has prevailed as the good guy in an ugly chapter of Packers history. On the field, his success has been no different: nothing short of astounding. Barring injury concerns, Rodgers potentially has a decade of All-Pro caliber football ahead of him if he can just take a few more baby steps in the upcoming seasons. It doesn’t take a research analyst to crunch Rodgers’ numbers to find his strengths and predict future success. Rodgers led the league in 2009 for 3 of the best statistical indicators of a great winning quarterback. On 3rd downs, he led the league with a 133.5 QB Rating including a 10.9 YPA, 14 TDs, and 0 interceptions. He tied for the fewest number of picks a year ago and in the red zone, he has yet to throw his first career interception. The one glaring hole in his young career is playoff experience and success, but these indicators, along with the 121.4 QB Rating and 45 point offensive outing in the Wildcard game suggest that this should soon change. Given his remarkable arm strength, athleticism, decision making, work ethic, and the unrivaled value of a quarterback to a team, it’s no surprise, and no question in my mind, that Aaron Rodgers is the best cornerstone in the league.
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MR.CJ;1338778 said:i knew a cracka would be at #1.
lol u stay callin white people out
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KeepOnPushing
New member
Damn Pat Willis over Chris Johnson???....Pat Willis a Stone cold Beast but ...i would have Chris #2 ...
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radaman;1338824 said:lol u stay callin white people out
Belee Dat!!!!
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KeepOnPushing
New member
i Feel Like they just Put Vince Young on there just to Put that nigga on there lol...
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KeepOnPushing;1338882 said:i Feel Like they just Put Vince Young on there just to Put that nigga on there lol...
smh @ gettin on the list just because of his last name
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KeepOnPushing;1338882 said:i Feel Like they just Put Vince Young on there just to Put that nigga on there lol...
they had too. they didn't want to put another cracka on there.
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KINGOFDAARCADE
New member
KeepOnPushing;1338852 said:Damn Pat Willis over Chris Johnson???....Pat Willis a Stone cold Beast but ...i would have Chris #2 ...
CJ has another 3-5 good years left, Pat Willis got another 10
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dmv_use2thewait
New member
KINGOFDAARCADE;1338919 said:CJ has another 3-5 good years left, Pat Willis got another 10
Jonathan Stewart should be somebody's starting RB but in front of Jones-Drew, i don't think so..not yet.
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KINGOFDAARCADE
New member
teams are built around QB's, not Running Backs.
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