ESPN: Mayo one of the top 5 most overrated players in the league - Page 6 - New England Patriots Forums

Bostonian1962 · 11-07-2008, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pats726

I usually do not care what many commentators think..but Joyner is "a scientist"..and usually has something a BIT deeper...but this is ODD... I think he said OVERATED because he was voted Def Rookie of the month...THAt simple. u name a rookie PLYAER of teh MONTH give out an award and OF COURSE one (like ESPN who hates teh Patriots) has to spit on it like that was the task here...BUT it seems a stretch with so many things he doesn't seem to get about what a LB in a 3-4 has to do..It seemed a REAL stretch...and I would like to see his analysis of other LBs in the same position..I THINK this was an analysis done MORE for the fact he plays for the Pats and was named rookie defensive player of the month than any REAL analysis of LBs...
The context?? NOT there..shoddy in fact..NOT ANY comparisons with OTHER LBs in a 3-4 ...WHY?? It's OBVIOUS ESPN pushed the results MORE than the facts..and THAT my friends is shoddy journalism.. MORE like deciding upon an answer and then going back to find facts to back it up.. VERY disappointed in Joyner.. he's one of them...scientist?? More like one of those scientists who believes in "intelligent design"...FAR FAR from the facts.

Very, very well said!

JAYHAWKS34 · 11-07-2008, 10:37 AM

Espn is what it is it’s the sports network for the US. They take shots at all players and teams, most people here are way to critical of them. People need to take it easy

Bostonian1962 · 11-07-2008, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gunnails

FWIW, I never thought that Mayo received that much hype, except on Pats message boards. He is starting as a rookie, and playing above a Jag level.
Great draft pick,

Thanks Gunnails! I agree with you. I live in the DC area, and except, like you said, for the Pats' Boards, don't hear boo about Mayo. The author used the fact that he was Defensive Player of the Month as his entire basis for saying Mayo has been overrated. Very strange addition to that list.

primetime · 11-07-2008, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris_in_sunnyvale

P.S. I have a lot of respect for KC Joyner's analysis in general; He was hired by ESPN well into his career as the Bill James of football so he's not just some talking head. His books (very much like Baseball Abstract for football) are highly praised.

The problem with comparing KC Joyner to Bill James is that baseball is a game that inherently lends itself to statistical analysis because at its heart it is a one-on-one battle between a pitcher and a batter. Though there are odd happenings, for the most part it's just guy throws the ball, guy swings and either gets on base or gets out. With football, there is so much inherent variety because of the 11-on-11 nature of the game and the flow of play that to break it down statistically requires so much guesswork as to render the work scientifically irresponsible at best. Joyner's statistics come from film study and his data is often subjective. What does it mean that Brandon Marshall is "covered by someone," for instance? Does that mean in man-to-man? My opinion of this might be different from yours which might be different from KC Joyner's. Why are Mayo's numbers low at the point of attack when they would likely be significantly higher while playing in a 4-3 defense, for example? There's just too many variables in football.

Also, Bill James' doctrines have been adopted by several teams and have turned out well. KC Joyner's doctrines are almost completely for entertainment purposes for rubes reading ESPN. James also seems to make statistical analysis and then make assessments, while Joyner appears to make assumptions and then invent statistical calculations in order to prove it. His statistics aren't statistics, they're fun little distractions with no merit in the actual realities of the game of football.

STFarmy · 11-07-2008, 12:39 PM

ESPN would be overrated even if purported to be a piece of s#$t.

Ochmed Jones · 11-07-2008, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phlash

L O L

ESPN - Joyner: Mistakes stunting Jay Cutler's growth

He's accusing Jerod of being an overrated linebacker/player because his tackles are on average 7.2 yards up the field. He doesn't take into account that the D-line and OLBs are supposed to have the first shot at the RB, generally speaking.

ESPN is dead on accurate with this assessment. However I expect Mayo to grow and by year 3 he will be making tackles near the LOS instead of 7 yards down field.

JMarr · 11-07-2008, 01:18 PM

"Right now he is a little slow to react when compared to the better LBs in the league...huge suprise."

I totally agree. But I would take Mayo over half of the veteran LBs in the league right now. Where does this guy come up with the "overrated" label? From reading this board after the draft? Def. rookie of the month? Big deal. And stats are virtually meaningless in evaluating any football player IMO--there are so many variables in play.

As a LB on a BB coached team, the fact that Mayo has started every game and played virtually every down says it all. I wasn't convinced that Mayo would make much of an impact this year, but he's been the most pleasant surprise of the year so far. At this point saying he's overrated is a joke.

jdk19 · 11-07-2008, 11:43 PM

I think I remember a QB who was called overated.

3 Superbowl rings and the NFL Touchdown record later.

I will take our chances with Mayo.

We can only hope we have another overated player.