KempBolt

This is pretty much why I am really glad that the Chargers have decided to largely shield Te'o from the media. He spoke to the media yesterday for the first time in a couple weeks. Back when they announced that he wouldn't be available at every practice, the media (predictably) pitched a fit, but what surprised me was how much fans ripped the move. As a fan, why would you want one of your rookies being distracted/affected by over-the-top media attention?

I don't think any of this is unrealistic except for the part about your WR corps. I can see Welker's loss being mitigated by Amendola, but after that I'm not seeing much at all. Who do you think steps up on the outside?

Titan fans are generally aware of his horrendousness. As are nerds like me. But I get the sense that the casual non-Titans fan still perceives him as being a high caliber player.

That's a cool idea. QB: Aaron Rodgers, Packers RB: Adrian Peterson, Vikings RB2: Jamaal Charles, Chiefs TE: Rob Gronkowski, Patriots WR1: Calvin Johnson, Lions WR2: Brandon Marshall, Bears LT: D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Jets LG: Marshal Yanda, Ravens C: Alex Mack, Browns RG: Carl Nicks, Buccaneers RT: Eugene Monroe, Jaguars RDE: J.J. Watt, Texans NT: Geno Atkins, Bengals LDE: Calais Campbell, Cardinals ROLB: Von Miller, Broncos RILB: Patrick Willis, 49ers LILB: Sean Lee, Cowboys LOLB: Cameron Wake, Dolphins CB1: Richard Sherman, Seahawks CB2: Cortland Finnegan, Rams FS: Jarius Byrd, Bills SS: Eric Weddle, Chargers

When I think of overrated players, Arian Foster immediately comes to mind. While he was better a couple seasons ago than he is now, I don't think he was really ever as good as the hype. He's simply a good fit for a Kubiak/Shanahan style zone blocking scheme and he gets what the line gives him. Never thought he was particularly good at creating on his own or gaining yards after contact. The other big one that comes to mind is Michael Griffin. That guy misses tackles like it's his job, and he's not very reliable in coverage either. He loves to free lance and pick off bad passes, but that's a pretty worthless skillset if it's all you can do.

So had Cassel come back to NE for the 2009 season, you don't think he could have done more of the same of what we saw in 2008? And you're saying that SF, with the best offensive line in the game, one of the league's most dominant defenses, plus Frank Gore, Vernon Davis, and Michael Crabtree on offense "doesn't hold a candle" to the 2008 Patriots roster? I don't buy it.

He's apparently playing the MIKE role, so he's going to have to show that he can stack and shed in the running game. Notre Dame didn't ask that of him much, and he was playing behind probably the best DL in college football. Not to say he can't do it, it's just something I haven't seen from him yet. He's reportedly trying to play at just above 240.

That's the part that I struggle with. Don't get me wrong, I think Denver will continue to have a very good pass rush this season. But better than last year? Better because Dumervil moved on? Not sure I buy that. I mean, if Dumervil was so ordinary in that regard that you're actually going to be a stronger team w/out him, why was Elway ready to pay him 8/season? And why did Ozzie, arguably one of the top 5 GM's in the game, jump at the chance to sign him? Something doesn't add up there.

I would argue for safety. They are expected to cover in a league that makes it very easy on passing attacks. And while corners have a tougher job in coverage, safeties are also asked to fill against the run and be physical with ball carriers. Hard job in this era of football. Corner is another valid choice.

I guess I should say that most of the Chiefs fans I heard from on the topic were similarly optimistic about Cassel. Do you really not see any parallels? One good year on a really good team with an excellent supporting cast in a unique offensive context? Doesn't ring any bells?

I think KC fans felt about Cassel in 2009 the same way they feel about Smith now. And I think that Smith may struggle in much the same way now that he's out of the context in which he was successful. It's obviously laughable to compare the two now, after 4 years of garbage play from Matt- but I recall the optimism when he was fresh from the 2008 season in NE.

And if he really believed that about himself, he wouldn't feel compelled to say it to anyone.

Thank you sir. Because half the division runs a 3-4 and half a 4-3, the way I divided things was a little funky. Denver and Oakland's ends got graded against KC and SD's OLB's under the heading of "pass rushers." Hali and Houston are the reason why I have you guys first under than designation. SD and KC's ILB's then were graded against all of Denver and Oakland's linebackers. Which is why I have you guys 3rd in that category, because Derrick Johnson, while a stud, is the only player I like out of that group for Kansas City. And oddly enough, I happen to believe that SD's receivers will be considered 2nd by season's end. What a coincidence!

Floyd has been consistently more productive than Avery. Alexander put up better numbers through only 9 games last season. But I understand that I am basing a lot on Brown and Allen. But I think those two are safe bets. We'll have to wait and see.

Thought we weren't judging on potential?

I guess I'm just not quite as high on him. As of now, he is the best WR between the two teams, but I am so thoroughly unimpressed with the rest of their group that I can't see him alone rating higher than our depth.

I think those numbers are a bit skewed. We've run a lot of screens to make up for the lack of protection and running game. And screens, by design, have the back catching the ball in the backfield. But espn's YAC statistics for receivers will count the yards they gain back to the LOS. So if Rivers throws a screen to a back, the catch is 8 yards behind the LOS, and the back gains 10 yards past the LOS, then the stats will show that as a 10 yard pass by Rivers but 18 yards of YAC. So any QB in a Norv Turner offense is going to be screwed in this regard because Norv loves the screen game. But I'm not really arguing about 2012 Rivers. He was bad. I just think it's hard to argue that he was not great at one time. It remains to be seen if he can get back there.

I think you guys overpaid some of your free agents, but Cherilus and Thomas should still be big upgrades for Luck's protection. If they pan out and Castonzo continues to improve, there could be a big difference in the amount of time Luck has to throw this year. Because no QB in the league, rookie or otherwise, took as much pressure as he did. So for him to have the season he did as a rookie, surrounded by rookies, with next to no time is scary.

Yeah the RB position is a tough one to rate in this division. I'm interested to hear your reasoning on the Chiefs' WR. Are you just really high on Bowe, or do you like their depth? I think the position will be a strength of the offense in 2013. Alexander, Floyd, Brown, and Allen should all realistically contribute significantly. Meachem sucked, but having him as your #5 is still pretty good.

It's a misconception that Freeney's production suffered due to a switch to the 3-4. He still rushed the passer as a down end over 80% of the time and on the rare occasion that he rushed standing up he looked fine. They almost never dropped him into coverage and while his run defense was lousy, that's always been true even when he was a 4-3 DE. The real issue for him last season was his high ankle sprain that he played through for the first half of the season. He said himself that that's the only thing that was holding him back. And according to PFF, his pass rush production was very Freeney-like over the season's second half when he was healthy. He also was working under a guy (Manusky) who I think is a lousy defensive coordinator. I think John Pagano will use him effectively. If the Chargers are smart with it, they'll reserve him almost exclusively for their nickel and dime packages. We use even fronts in those sub packages, so he would be doing what he does best. And we were in those sets about 60% of the time last year, so he would definitely get used. I think using him that way would be the perfect scenario of playing to his strengths, mitigating his weaknesses, and keeping him fresh over a 16 game season.

Thanks! Tried to be as objective as possible.

I'd weigh in on Sherman, but the kid annoys me so much that it wouldn't be anything other than heavily biased. That's a pretty rare combination of talent and insecurity he's got there.

Luck is the boring answer, but I also think the right one. He has all the tools, his protection will be better, he has some nice weapons, and a lot of the rookie mistakes should go away. He's also not one of the guys running very often so I don't worry too much about him missing time with an injury.

Well then I guess this isn't one we can really get to the bottom of. Because if your contention is that he wouldn't be nearly as good in a true 4-3, and he never plays in a true 4-3, how can we know? But I will say that while Cushing coming back is a big boost, that front seven isn't without weaknesses. He doesn't have much at all next to him at NT, and the other three linebacker spots are pretty questionable. Watt, Smith, and Cushing are the only known quantities. I believe Reed is moving inside, so we'll have to see how that goes. And replacing Barwin will be Mercilus who has yet to show anything. And it should be a rookie across from him. Lots of questions.

I could see Reid running an offense that features Charles the way that the Bills have done with Spiller from time to time. I agree that Smith is surrounded by talent- it's just that that hasn't been enough for KC to this point. I've always been scared of the idea of KC's roster with a difference maker under center. But I don't believe you have one. If I was a Chiefs fan, I would be worried about Smith keeping my team mired in mediocrity with 8-8 and 9-7 records (i.e. not good enough for the playoffs, but not bad enough to snag a top QB prospect).