What AFC Team has a better roster than Pats?

[captadamnj]

Ok, so let's put aside the QB position for a minute. As much as I support Cassel, he'd have to be considered in the bottom third of the QB's in the AFC. What about how you rank the rest of the roster?

Considering the overall combination of RB, OL, WR on Offense, DL, LB, DB on Defense, and Special Teams, which teams do you think have a better roster than the Pats right now? These are the teams I'd consider.

Broncos - WR is close, I think the Pats have the RB edge. On Defense, Broncos get the nod for DB's, but DL and LB would go to Pats.

Colts - OL would be better but is presently decimated. WR are a wash. Defenses are pretty close all over. I like Gostkowski over Vinatieri right now, but I don't think I could take Hanson over anyone.

Steelers - Pats maybe with the edge at OL? WR, maybe, but Holmes is improving and Ward is pretty good. On D, I'd say the DL and LB are close, but would give the edge to the Steelers in the secondary.

Chargers - LT when healthy would give them the RB edge, but the loss of Turner hurts their depth at the position, a strength of the Pats. Gates is an a level at which we can't even compete, but our 1-2 receivers would get the edge. On D, I think SD has a big advantage with the DB's.

Titans - Edge to Titans at RB, certainly not at WR. DL's are about even, and I'd give the Pats the edge at LB.

Jests - Pains me to put them here, but with the money they've spent and the draft picks, I think they deserve comparison. Jones and Washington in the backfield I think gives the Jests the edge at that position. The OL is better, Pats with the WR edge. DL/LB combo edge to Pats, the Jests might get the DB edge.

Overall, I'm not sure I could pick between the Pats, Colts, Steelers and Chargers. I think they are all pretty even across the board. Even though the Jests look close, due the slap shod way they've been thrown together, as a unit, I don't think they compare.

 

[ScottieC]

Ok, so let's put aside the QB position for a minute. As much as I support Cassel, he'd have to be considered in the bottom third of the QB's in the AFC. What about how you rank the rest of the roster?

Considering the overall combination of RB, OL, WR on Offense, DL, LB, DB on Defense, and Special Teams, which teams do you think have a better roster than the Pats right now? These are the teams I'd consider.

Broncos - WR is close, I think the Pats have the RB edge. On Defense, Broncos get the nod for DB's, but DL and LB would go to Pats.

Colts - OL would be better but is presently decimated. WR are a wash. Defenses are pretty close all over. I like Gostkowski over Vinatieri right now, but I don't think I could take Hanson over anyone.

Steelers - Pats maybe with the edge at OL? WR, maybe, but Holmes is improving and Ward is pretty good. On D, I'd say the DL and LB are close, but would give the edge to the Steelers in the secondary.

Chargers - LT when healthy would give them the RB edge, but the loss of Turner hurts their depth at the position, a strength of the Pats. Gates is an a level at which we can't even compete, but our 1-2 receivers would get the edge. On D, I think SD has a big advantage with the DB's.

Titans - Edge to Titans at RB, certainly not at WR. DL's are about even, and I'd give the Pats the edge at LB.

Jests - Pains me to put them here, but with the money they've spent and the draft picks, I think they deserve comparison. Jones and Washington in the backfield I think gives the Jests the edge at that position. The OL is better, Pats with the WR edge. DL/LB combo edge to Pats, the Jests might get the DB edge.

Overall, I'm not sure I could pick between the Pats, Colts, Steelers and Chargers. I think they are all pretty even across the board. Even though the Jests look close, due the slap shod way they've been thrown together, as a unit, I don't think they compare.

Pretty easy. If Brady was the QB, none. Without Brady? None, possibly the Colts - But that would have to mean a healthy team (Sanders, Saturday, etc).

Difference is, without Brady any team can win on Sunday.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Ok, so let's put aside the QB position for a minute. As much as I support Cassel, he'd have to be considered in the bottom third of the QB's in the AFC. What about how you rank the rest of the roster?

Considering the overall combination of RB, OL, WR on Offense, DL, LB, DB on Defense, and Special Teams, which teams do you think have a better roster than the Pats right now? These are the teams I'd consider.

Broncos - WR is close, I think the Pats have the RB edge. On Defense, Broncos get the nod for DB's, but DL and LB would go to Pats.

Colts - OL would be better but is presently decimated. WR are a wash. Defenses are pretty close all over. I like Gostkowski over Vinatieri right now, but I don't think I could take Hanson over anyone.

Steelers - Pats maybe with the edge at OL? WR, maybe, but Holmes is improving and Ward is pretty good. On D, I'd say the DL and LB are close, but would give the edge to the Steelers in the secondary.

Chargers - LT when healthy would give them the RB edge, but the loss of Turner hurts their depth at the position, a strength of the Pats. Gates is an a level at which we can't even compete, but our 1-2 receivers would get the edge. On D, I think SD has a big advantage with the DB's.

Titans - Edge to Titans at RB, certainly not at WR. DL's are about even, and I'd give the Pats the edge at LB.

Jests - Pains me to put them here, but with the money they've spent and the draft picks, I think they deserve comparison. Jones and Washington in the backfield I think gives the Jests the edge at that position. The OL is better, Pats with the WR edge. DL/LB combo edge to Pats, the Jests might get the DB edge.

Overall, I'm not sure I could pick between the Pats, Colts, Steelers and Chargers. I think they are all pretty even across the board. Even though the Jests look close, due the slap shod way they've been thrown together, as a unit, I don't think they compare.

Actually he's in the top 50%...

I think you are making the mistake of equating name recognition with performance across the board. Talent on paper doesn't win championships, football players who execute on the field do.

NFL Stats: by Player Position

 

[captadamnj]

I think you are making the mistake of equating name recognition with performance across the board. Talent on paper doesn't win championships, football players who execute on the field do.

In considering each position, I was trying to look past both name recognition and stats on paper, and trying to consider the individual merits of each player, taking into consideration both past performance and the likelihood of future results. There's no way I could put Carson Palmer (BTW, thanks for posting that link, based on the performance of the Bungles, seeing Palmer that high is a testament to him as a qb) and Tyler Thigpen in the same breath nor could I possibly suggest Cassel (today) is a better qb than Manning.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

When 100% the overall talent roster has to be the Colts and Chargers right up there with the Patriots

Since these teams kind of go back and forth on different players and positions you have to make a call for all 3

 

[TheComeback]

It really does suck we lost Brady--I believe in Cassel, but having Brady this season would have made us virtual locks for a deep run into the playoffs.

 

[JSn]

Actually he's in the top 50%...

I think you are making the mistake of equating name recognition with performance across the board. Talent on paper doesn't win championships, football players who execute on the field do.

NFL Stats: by Player Position

That link is interesting. Look at the INT's of the top three guys. 4.

It's because they're whipping down the field a lot. I think when Matt goes to the air (which will probably be pretty common now) we'll see similar numbers. INT's will climb, but so will TD's and big plays. No denying it, Cassel has a big-time arm. Learn to buy time in the pocket and I think he becomes a downright scary QB.

The National Football Post | Stats

There's Matty, #8 in the AFC and the climb to #7 isn't even 1 full percentage point.

 

[JoePats]

Doesn't matter. Unless you are dealing with defenses that are the elite of the elite, you still need something resembling high level QB play. Whether we get that from Cassel remains to be seen. We'll find out a lot more over the next four games.

 

[Rob0729]

Broncos - WR is close, I think the Pats have the RB edge. On Defense, Broncos get the nod for DB's, but DL and LB would go to Pats.

Offensively I would say the Broncos are superior just because of the QB position right now. Defensively, the Pats are clearly better.

Colts - OL would be better but is presently decimated. WR are a wash. Defenses are pretty close all over. I like Gostkowski over Vinatieri right now, but I don't think I could take Hanson over anyone.

I think the Colts defense is overrated. I would take the Pats defense over the Colts defense any day even with Bob Sanders in it. The Colts when 100% is a better offense at the skill positions and obviously Manning over Cassel, but I like the Pats' o-line and top 2 WRs over the Colts. I would also take the Pats' RBs.

Steelers - Pats maybe with the edge at OL? WR, maybe, but Holmes is improving and Ward is pretty good. On D, I'd say the DL and LB are close, but would give the edge to the Steelers in the secondary.

The Steelers' defense is better. I think the Steelers' running game is better, but their o-line is suspect and could have Roethlisberger dead by Novemebr.

Chargers - LT when healthy would give them the RB edge, but the loss of Turner hurts their depth at the position, a strength of the Pats. Gates is an a level at which we can't even compete, but our 1-2 receivers would get the edge. On D, I think SD has a big advantage with the DB's.

The Chargers' DBs are overrated. Their secondary has been suspect all year long. Jammer and Cromartie have been barely speed bumps in the passing game. The Chargers are dead last in passing defense. Granted stats at this point in the season are skewed, but they have consistently given up passing yards and TDs all season. As of right this minute, the Pats secondary is better than the Chargers.

Titans - Edge to Titans at RB, certainly not at WR. DL's are about even, and I'd give the Pats the edge at LB.

The Titans may have the best defense in the NFL right now. Their passing offense is mediocre, but with a dominant defense and a strong running game they don't need it.

Jests - Pains me to put them here, but with the money they've spent and the draft picks, I think they deserve comparison. Jones and Washington in the backfield I think gives the Jests the edge at that position. The OL is better, Pats with the WR edge. DL/LB combo edge to Pats, the Jests might get the DB edge.

You would put the Jets' RBs over the Pats. I wouldn't trade any of our top 4 RBs for Thomas Jones right now. Jones is clearly the #1 back in NY and not in a RB by committee like in NE and he is 26th in the NFL.

The Jets' biggest weakness is at secondary. I don't think they are better. Justin Miller has been picked on quite a bit.

Personally, I don't think the Jets should be discussed, but the Bills. The Bills are a bigger threat to the division than the Jets. I think the Dolphins could end higher than the Jets. Remember the Dolphins did beat two teams the Jets lost to.

 

[dhamz]

Ok, so let's put aside the QB position for a minute.

This is sort of like asking besides that Mrs Lincoln, how did you like the play.

How are you going to compare rosters without the most important position on the team? And if you are, what purpose does it serve. I mean, teams in the AFC are going to play their QBs, aren't they?

 

[captadamnj]

How are you going to compare rosters without the most important position on the team? And if you are, what purpose does it serve.

The reason being is that for the teams I listed, the QB's are pretty much a proven commodity, you have a good idea what you will get from them every game. Cassel, on the other hand, will hopefully, be a much better quarterback in week 8 than he was in week 2, and even better in week 12. I view this position as a variable for the Pats that should continue to improve and isn't fair to compare given Cassel's inexperience.

 

[K-Ro 25]

The Jets' biggest weakness is at secondary. I don't think they are better. Justin Miller has been picked on quite a bit.

By who? Miller has not been beat one time this season. Its kind of hard to give up anything when your inactive all season

 

[Rob0729]

By who? Miller has not been beat one time this season. Its kind of hard to give up anything when your inactive all season

My bad. It is his replacements, Lowery and Barrett who has been smoked. Had a brain fart there for some reason. Had a few of them when it comes to the Jets this year.

 

[K-Ro 25]

My bad. It is his replacements, Lowery and Barrett who has been smoked. Had a brain fart there for some reason. Had a few of them when it comes to the Jets this year.

David Barrett and our nickel Drew Coleman have been atrocious but Lowery has been solid and Revis has been pretty good.

 

[Rob0729]

David Barrett and our nickel Drew Coleman have been atrocious but Lowery has been solid and Revis has been pretty good.

Maybe I have lumped in Lowrey with Barrett because I know Barrett has sucked and Lowery is starting at the other spot now.