Training camp 2009 is almost here, and the NFL news is still cluttered with typical soap opera type nonsense, I figured it would be a good time to start my annual rankings. I will rank teams in each division by several position category. Of course, some teams are close enough at certain position to go either way, and some of you may simply think higher of your team's players or coaches than is realistic. BTW, I am NOT ranking the entire division (that will be done in my preseason preview), just by positions. I will start with the NFC Conference.
NFC EAST: Philadephia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants
Quarterbacks:
1. Eagles: A healthy McNabb is an effective McNabb.
2. Giants: For a Super Bowl winning QB, Eli does not receive much respect.
3. Cowboys: No more distractions, no more excuses for Romo.
4. Redskins: Campbell in same offensive system two consecutive years for first time.
Running Backs:
1. Cowboys: With Marion Barber, Felix Jones and Tashard Choice, why throw???
2. Eagles: Rookie LeSean McCoy should keep oft-injured Westbrook fresh.
3. Giants: With Derrick Ward gone, Brandon Jacobs needs to stay healthy.
4. Redskins: Portis wore down late in 2008. Or is he just finished?
Pass catchers:
1. Eagles: Curtis, Jackson, and rookie Jeremy Maclin arguably fastest trio in conference.
2. Redskins: Receiving options much better than 23rd passing rank would suggest.
3. Giants: Will passing game struggle without Plaxico Burress?
4. Cowboys: Roy Williams and Witten are solid...everyone else just average.
Offensive Line:
1. Giants: Big reason for league #1 rushing attack in 2008.
2. Eagles: FA pickups should serve offense well.
3. Cowboys: Aging, but effective line.
4. Redskins: Line is as solid as any in division. Someone has to be last.
Defensive Line:
1. Giants: It's amazing how one team can horde so many play-making ends.
2. Eagles: Darren Howard and Trent Cole are solid bookends.
3. Redskins: Haynesworth signing could be a boom or bust move.
4. Cowboys: How will ???Boys deal with loses on line...
Linebackers:
1. Cowboys: ...the answer may be group led by DeMarcus Ware.
2. Giants: Addition of Michael Boley should help already solid group.
3. Redskins: London Fletcher is another ageless competitor.
4. Eagles: Nothing spectacular about this group.
Defensive Backs:
1. Eagles: Even with the loss of Brain Dawkins and Lito Shepard, still best in division.
2. Redskins: Talented group, lead by Landry. Not enough turnovers, though.
3. Giants: Young, developing group who may move higher soon.
4. Cowboys: At least they are finally rid of Roy Williams.
Special Teams:
1. Eagles: With Jackson and maybe Maclin returning kicks, how can you go wrong?
2. Cowboys: Felix Jones' return skills not too shabby, either.
3. Giants: Long time NFL specialists John Carney and Jeff Feagles still effective.
4. Redskins: Kicker and punter are inconsistent.
Head Coach:
1. Giants: Super Bowl winning coach who has won everywhere he's been.
2. Eagles: Only Belichick has as many conference championship appearance this decade.
3. Cowboys: Phillips' star has to be nearly burnt out.
4. Redskins: Self proclaimed ???worse coach in America'.
NFC CENTRAL: Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions
Quarterbacks:
1. Bears: They have their QB. Now, about those receivers...
2. Packers: Aaron Rodgers had a good first season starting, statistically speaking.
3. Lions: Culpepper will keep the seat warm until Stafford is ready.
4. Vikings: This is where the logic Rosenfel is an upgrade over anyone will get you.
Running Backs:
1. Vikings: Adrian Peterson, the next future 2,000 yard rusher (yes, I said it).
2. Bears: Matt Forte is the real deal.
3. Lions: When (if) the Lions' offense is fix, Kevin Smith will be a star, too.
4. Packers: Maybe the Packers should think about drafting a REAL back, also.
Pass Catchers:
1. Packers: Two 1,000 yard receivers, and three more with at least 30 catches in 2008.
2. Lions: Calvin Johnson had best stats on winless team (1,331 yards, 12TD).
3. Vikings: Berrian averaged 20yards a catch. Percy Havin should help group.
4. Bears: Is there any team whose QB is so much better than his receiving options???
Offensive Line:
1. Packers: Don't let the 34 sacks allowed fool you, this is a solid group.
2. Bears: Veteran laden group who is strong run-blocking.
3. Viking: See Bears.
4. Lions: Rookie TE may be best blocker on line this season. It's that bad.
Defensive Line:
1. Vikings: Jared Allen and over 600lbs of Williams. Enough said.
2. Bears: Tommie Harris and Alex Brown leads solid group.
3. Packers: Rookie B.J. Baji building block for switch to 3-4 defense.
4. Lions: 2nd year end Cliff Arvil lone bright spot on porous line.
Linebackers:
1. Bears: Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs is as good a duo as any.
2. Packers: Rookie Clay Matthews joins talented A.J. Hawk and Nick Barnett.
3. Lions: Adding Larry Foote and Julian Peterson is a good start.
4. Vikings: Chad Greenway is an emerging player. Everyone else is average.
Defensive Backs:
1. Packers: Extremely opportunistic secondary in 2008. Corners are old, though.
2. Bears: Corners are solid. If Mike Brown finish season, secondary will have good 2009.
3. Vikings: Antoine Winfield best tackling corner in league.
4. Lions: In rebuilding mode, just like rest of defense.
Special Teams:
1. Bears: First Devin Hester. Now Danieal Manning. Where do they find them?
2. Vikings: Ryan Longwell deadly from deep (6 of 6 in 2008).
3. Lions: Jason Hanson also not bad from beyond 50+ (8 of 8 in 2008).
4. Packers: Not that they are bad, just that the others are better.
NFC SOUTH: New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Quarterbacks:
1. Saints: Brees fell just short of Dan Marino's passing mark in 2008.
2. Falcons: Can Matt Ryan avoid a sophomore slump?
3. Bucs: Golden chance for Leftwich to resurrect his career.
4. Panthers: How much patience will fans have with Delhomme after 2009 playoffs?
Running Backs:
1. Panthers: Williams and Stewart could each gain 1,000 yards in 2009.
2. Falcons: Jerious Norwood need more carries to keep Turner fresh.
3. Bucs: Derrick Ward was a big pickup.
4. Saints: With a passing game like theirs, who needs to run???
Pass Catchers:
1. Falcons: Signing Tony Gonzalez makes them automatic #1.
2. Saints: Solid group, benefits from Brees' accuracy.
3. Panthers: Steve Smith still best receiver in division.
4. Bucs: Adding Winslow with Antonio Bryant gives offense options.
Offensive Line:
1. Bucs: One of top young lines in league.
2. Panthers: Just as good as Bucs, overall. Definitely better run blockers.
3. Atlanta: Young talent will have them comparable to Bucs and Panthers soon.
4. Saints: Best pass blocking line in division (13 sacks in 2008).
Defensive Line:
1. Panthers: Rookie Everette Brown and Peppers make idea bookends (if Pepper stays).
2. Bucs: Gaines Adams getting better. Rest of line solid, but old.
3. Saints: More potential than production so far.
4. Falcons: Loss lots of beef in middle...hopes rookie Peria Jerry can fill gap.
Linebackers:
1. Panthers: Jon Beason leader of productive group.
2. Saints: Johnathan Vilma productive again in 4-3 defense.
3. Falcons: Losing Brooking and Boley addition by subtraction?
4. Bucs: Losing potential Hall of Famer always hurt.
Defensive Backs:
1. Bucs: Good mix of youth and vets.
2. Panthers: Talented young secondary should improve 2008 pass ranking (16th).
3. Saints: Big reason Saints missed 2008 playoffs. Rookie Malcolm Jenkins should help.
4. Falcons: Big reason Falcons may miss 2009 playoffs.
Special Teams:
1. Saints: Excellent returner in Bush. Unfortunately, he was not drafted for that.
2. Falcons: Good returns team, and that Jason Elam guy.
3. Panthers: John Kasay is solid...inside of 50 yards, anyways.
4. Bucs: Underrated returner in Clifton Smith.
Head Coaching:
1. Panthers: Disappointing end to great 2008 regular season.
2. Saints: A competent defense away from Super Bowl contender.
3. Falcons: Has put the Falcons ahead of schedule.
4. Bucs: If comparisons to Mike Tomlin are accurate, Bucs in for real treat.
NFC WEST: San Franisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks, St. Louis Rams
Quarterbacks:
1. Cardinals: Warner nearly won second Super Bowl.
2. Seahawks: Hasselbeck should bounce back from injury plagued 2008.
3. Rams: Playing behind leaky offensive line has taken its toll on Bulger.
4. 49ers: Shaun Hill, Alex Smith, Nate Davis...we assume a rushing attack in 2009...
Running Backs:
1. 49ers: ...lead by a heavy dose of Frank Gore.
2. Rams: Steven Jackson is a beast, but needs more help around him.
3. Cardinals: Rookie Beenie Wells should contribute immediately.
4. Seahawks: Have yet to address this position properly.
Pass Catchers:
1. Cardinals: The best receiver in the league resides here.
2. Seahawks: Houshmandzadeh finally THE #1 receiver.
3. 49ers: Rookie Michael Crabtree would do well to learn from Issac Bruce.
4. Rams: Both receivers from "the greatest show on turf" are gone.
Offensive Line:
1. Cardinals: Needs to run block better in 2009.
2. Seahawks: Injuries are their main issue.
3. Rams: Can Rookie Jason Smith replace Orlando Pace?
4. 49ers: More effective run block than pass blocking.
Defensive Line:
1. Cardinals: Signed to a new contract, will Darnell Dockett play hard?
2. 49ers: Justin Smith leads an effective front three.
3. Rams: More potential than production so far.
4. Seahawks: Lawrence Jackson needs to step up before they move any higher.
Linebackers:
1. Seahawks: This may soon be the best trio in NFL.
2. 49ers: Patrick Willis already top 5 middle linebacker.
3. Cardinals: Underachieving group came on in 2008.
4. Rams: Rookie James Laurinaitis should solidify middle of group.
Defensive Backs:
1. Cardinals: Adrian Wilson finally did not have to do everything by himself.
2. Seahawks: Secondary much more talented than last place ranking suggests.
3. 49ers: Nate Clements may not be worth big contract after all.
4. Rams: Oshiomogho Atogwe has 13 ints over the last two seasons.
Special Teams:
1. Rams: One of best kicker/punter duo in NFC.
2. 49ers: Resigning Rossum keeps return game strong.
3. Seahawks: Rookie Deon Butler could help with return team.
4. Cardinals: May be last, but definitely not bad.
Head Coach:
1. Cardinals: Will not make Super Bowl in 2009, but still best coach in division.
2. Seahawks: Receives second chance with a roster to work with.
3. 49ers: Can 49ers build on late 2008 success???
4. Rams: Could move up list by end of 2008.
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Comments (1) Add A Comment
Quarterbacks:
No arguments, but just because a QB has won a SB doesn't make him a better QB than his competition. Eli still has much to prove.
Running Backs:
No arguments, but McCoy has a penchant for getting into trouble and we all know money doesn't improve a players character, it reveals it.
Pass catchers:
I disagree with the Eagles being considered the top of the division. First, Maclin if fast, but it normally takes a year or two for a WR to adjust. Curtis was injured or ineffective much of last year and Donovan McNabb, Westbrook, and the West Coast offense make the pass offense work.
And in regards to the Cowboys, Martellus Bennet is a star on the rise, and Miles Austin can probably take Macklin and Jackson in a foot race. Crayton is above average, and when it all comes down to it, it depends on if Tony throws to who is open. Apparently at 1/2 time, one of last years WR's would complain and they offensive game plan would be thrown out to satisfy that WR. Maybe throwing to the guy who is wide open will help the passing offense along.
Offensive Line:
All of the lines are incredibly effective and I think the Giants are at the top, and I think the Cowboys with the age factor and the stupid mistakes should be toward the bottom, but for the entire league are still well above average. Peters, the Eagles new LT has difficulty with speed rushers when he was with Buffalo. Can we count the speed rushers in the NFC east? Ware, Osi, maybe the Skins new guy, Orakpo. Point being, the Eagles better hope that Peters can backpeddle.
Defensive Line:
I agree for the most part, but I will say that Canty was a run stuffer who was replaced by a run stuffer, Igor Olshansky, for 1/2 the price. And I don't think anyone thinks that Tank Johnson was a huge loss.
Linebackers:
No arguments or even commentary.
Defensive Backs:
The Cowboys will be much improved with Sensabaugh rather than Williams at Safety, and the 2 young CB's drafted last year are an upgrade over Henry. They may be listed last in this ranking, but I don't think that means they are very far away from the top. Also, pressure and the amount of time to throw dictates the quality of the defensive backs.
Special Teams:
Let's give Maclin at least one kick off/punt return in the pre-season before we assume he is a capable returner in the NFL.
With the Cowboys, Beuhler maybe the most important addition to a crew that didn't have one kickoff touchback last year. ZERO! Punt returns will still be a question.
Head Coach:
I'd put Andy Reid ahead of Coughlin, but otherwise I think the order based on past performance is right. The Cowboys teams will be much improved (potentially), and has just as good of a chance to win the division as the Giants and the Eagles.
jdramirez
Mechanicsburg, PA
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