A May 2007 unit by unit comparison of Pats, Colts, Chargers on paper

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://sport.monstersandcritics.com...mmage_Pats_Colts_and_Bolts_-_2007s_Elite_Trio

May is 'National Hyperbole Month' in the NFL, a time for prognosticators from coast to coast to scour over projected 2007 rosters and make breathless pronouncements about the imminent ascendance of whatever team has improved itself in the most tangible manner during the preceding months.

In the spring of 2007, the object of our collective affection has been the New England Patriots. In fact, earmarking the Pats for greatness is so easy Sean Salisbury can do it.
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And so we gush, even though New England is but one of three potentially elite- level teams that will be wading through a contentious AFC in 2007.
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With apologies to other probable double-digit-win teams like the Bears, Ravens, Saints, and Bengals, it is New England, Indianapolis, and San Diego that will begin the upcoming season as those against which all others will be measured.

Which of the three will actually match the hype, if any? That's where we come in.

Below we take a 'Tale of the Tape'-style look at the rosters of the Patriots, Colts, and Chargers, evaluating the strongest areas of all three teams entering the 2007 campaign and identifying the true favorite:

 

[Bostonian1962]

http://sport.monstersandcritics.com...mmage_Pats_Colts_and_Bolts_-_2007s_Elite_Trio

Good post Box. Enough to quench my desire for May football STUFF!! Thanks.

 

[Tunescribe]

I was surprised to see the intro didn't even mention Denver. The Broncos scare me this year just as much as San Diego. If Cutler makes strides, watch out.

 

[fair catch fryar]

Good read! I pretty much have to agree with most of their rankings, based on predictions and '06 performances. I like that the Pats were picked first in the secondary, linebackers, and defensive line. Most SD fans would throw a hissy fit at this because they don't seem to realize how a great offense will help keep a defense off the field, thus making your defense appear better than it really is. Less exposure doesn't allow opposing offenses to pick their weaknesses. Most Indy fans don't fool themselves, because they know who butters their bread and don't claim to have a superior defense that wins football games. Which leads me to my OBVIOUS point as to why it is hard to pick against the Pats..depth through the entire roster!

 

[fair catch fryar]

I was surprised to see the intro didn't even mention Denver. The Broncos scare me this year just as much as San Diego. If Cutler makes strides, watch out.

Agreed! I believe they will knock SD down a notch in the West. As a Pats fan, the Broncos always worry me. I hate those guys!

 

[Patriotic Fervor]

Well, guys, except for '05's 13 - 3 record, which appears to have been very much the exception rather than the rule, the Broncos perennially have to worry about their late season swoon, which seems to have become a staple of Shanahan coached teams since Elway retired.

So you'll have to excuse me if I'm less than a little enthralled by this team that seems to "scare" everyone.

I maintained since before last season began that it was to Denver's great and good fortune to have faced us last season in the 3rd game, rather than, say, the 10th game. They surprised me in '05 with their adrenaline-induced level of play, but in the end, a rose by any other name...All those guys they got from the Browns fizzled, and except for Gerard Warren, who is a starter, they are fading from the scene, if not now gone altogether.

While they were active in the off season (Daniel Graham comes to mind!), one should never equate quantity with quality. The effects of their signings and drafting remain to be seen.

And while they do have an easy schedule this year, I'm still much more inclined to keep my eyes on Indy and San Diego.

So for now, let's relegate the Broncos to the status of "second tier teams", OK?

 

[zippo59]

I was surprised to see the intro didn't even mention Denver. The Broncos scare me this year just as much as San Diego. If Cutler makes strides, watch out.

The Broncos aren't that good except against us.

 

[TomBrady'sGoat]

the exclusion of denver is easy. ne and indy have been elite afc teams for years now. san diego went 14-2 last year, didn't lose any players, and Rivers starts the season with experience. the 3 of them are no-brainers, though I think the loss of an entire coaching staff is being underrated.

denver has been really good but not quite great. they didn't make the playoffs last year and have a big question mark at the most important position. they COULD be great this year, but it is not a sure thing.

 

[denverpatsfan]

Mark my words Denver will be there at the end of the season. Wildcard opponent for the Pats in Foxboro possibly.

Wicked easy schedule at the start of the season. Cutler will get more experience and not be pressured with quality opponents. It gets tougher later in the season with the majority of the games away from Mile High, but 11-5 is very attainable for this Broncos team.

You are all forgetting about the new defensive coordinator. He will make a huge impact on that defensive line that has been the weakness of this team.

 

[Fixit]

Watch the Charger fans' heads spin when they read that the article gives the edge at linebackers (and D-Line) to NE.

 

[j00fek]

good read :rocker:

 

[patchick]

Watch the Charger fans' heads spin when they read that the article gives the edge at linebackers (and D-Line) to NE.

It's hard to give anybody the nod over a line of Seymour, Wilfork and Warren. But LBs are TBD, and they may have been a little generous with the Patriots in the return game.

Really strong article overall, though.

 

[sieglo]

Watch the Charger fans' heads spin when they read that the article gives the edge at linebackers (and D-Line) to NE.

And DBs. Our whole D rates higher across the board. But what about all those Charger Pro Bowlers?

 

[1BoltFan Here4Fun]

And DBs. Our whole D rates higher across the board. But what about all those Charger Pro Bowlers?

The Chargers are starting two new inside linebackers this year. You guys have veterans and Thomas. That rating is not as much of a surprise as the Dline rating. Between the veterans and the coaching unknowns in SD, I think the rating are fair.

However, I wouldn't trade our Dline and LBs with NE. Jamal Williams is used to beating double teams and both Oshansky and Castillo are in their 3rd years. Both had significant leg injuries last year as well...

One thing the article didn't address is team depth. It was one of the better articles written this May... God, will July never come?

Edit: no argument with the DB's. SD clearly has issues at safety. Samuels>Jammer but Hobbs<Florence.

 

[sebman2112]

The Chargers are starting two new inside linebackers this year. You guys have veterans and Thomas. That rating is not as much of a surprise as the Dline rating. Between the veterans and the coaching unknowns in SD, I think the rating are fair.

However, I wouldn't trade our Dline and LBs with NE. Jamal Williams is used to beating double teams and both Oshansky and Castillo are in their 3rd years. Both had significant leg injuries last year as well...

One thing the article didn't address is team depth. It was one of the better articles written this May... God, will July never come?

Edit: no argument with the DB's. SD clearly has issues at safety. Samuels>Jammer but Hobbs<Florence.

Hobbs is better than you think, and if we're going to talk injuries let's talk about him playing with a cast on for the majority of the season.

 

[mgcolby]

Hobbs is better than you think, and if we're going to talk injuries let's talk about him playing with a cast on for the majority of the season.

Hobbs IMO is better than Samuel, but he played the entire year with a cast. It was obvious by the end of the 2005 season he was our #1 CB.

 

[AzPatsFan]

This was a pretty fair evaluation. Pats are stronger 5 first, 5 seconds, among eleven groups evaluation criteria from QBs to ST and Coaching. The only missing criteria is depth although depth was addressed in some component group reviews.

The Pats have a slightly better chance of winning but the proof will be on the gridiron. Any of the three could win and represent the AFC but the Colts the current champs have by far the most questions to answer and the poorest depth after all the free agency losses. They need to replace 7 of the 11 starters on Defense, for example. In some cases there are players groomed to play but other positions are wide open. There is little in the way of redundancy there is only the groomed replacement and then unknowns.

 

[1BoltFan Here4Fun]

Hobbs is better than you think, and if we're going to talk injuries let's talk about him playing with a cast on for the majority of the season.

Fair enough, maybe he is... I think Drayton Florence is underrated. He may as well played with a cast for all his missed INT's last year. Did you know that Florence has been working out with Moss during the off season? He's hungry...

Jammer just sucks at getting his body in position and his head turned back for the ball. He's a great hitter and has fantastic speed, but can't seem to put it all together. He'll never be a Pro Bowler in my book.

I can't wait to see who pans out to be a better safety, Merriweather or Weddle? I have to admit I was disappointed when the Pats took him, but Weddle may have the intangibles that a guy like Lynch has in Denver. The Chargers were terrible at defending the deep middle last year. Weddle appears to be more of a defender, Merriweather a hitter. Prolly a good pick for the Bolts real need.

BTW, its easier to play CB with a cast than it is to play Dline with a bad knee or ankle.

 

[coltsfan]

The Chargers are starting two new inside linebackers this year. You guys have veterans and Thomas. That rating is not as much of a surprise as the Dline rating. Between the veterans and the coaching unknowns in SD, I think the rating are fair.

However, I wouldn't trade our Dline and LBs with NE. Jamal Williams is used to beating double teams and both Oshansky and Castillo are in their 3rd years. Both had significant leg injuries last year as well...

One thing the article didn't address is team depth. It was one of the better articles written this May... God, will July never come?

Edit: no argument with the DB's. SD clearly has issues at safety. Samuels>Jammer but Hobbs<Florence.

I was a little surprised that they ranked Indy above SD in the secondary. I think Cromartie has a chance to be very good, and this type of analysis often overlooks young, ascending players like that. I have some confidence in Hayden, Jennings, and our rookies, but I haven't been impressed with what Marlin Jackson has shown at corner so far.

I'm not sure why you guys would disagree with their DL ranking. Jamal may be the best NT in the league, but New England has three studs on the DL and one or two good backups as well. I'm not sure I'd qualify Olshanksky as a stud, and NE probably has better backups.

 

[coltsfan]

The Broncos aren't that good except against us.

Yeah zippo, you guys have some great fans on here, but I do laugh a little bit every time I read how highly people talk of Denver on here. This team couldn't beat a well below average 49er team at home in the season finale with the playoffs on the line. Sure, they've had a great offseason, but so have those 9ers and other teams that weren't very good last year.