Yet another preseason publication — The Sporting News — has come out and tabbed the Patriots to win Super Bowl XLI. The magazine has New England at 14-2, while winning the division by five games over the Jets on the way to a fourth championship with victory over the Cowboys in February.
But what’s more interesting in this work is the grades given to each starter on each team, based on the War Room scouts’ evaluations.
First the scoring system: A grade of 10.0-9.0 for a “rare player”; 8.9-8.0 for an “outstanding player”; 7.9-7.5 for a “solid starter”; 7.4-7.0 for a “good starter”: 6.9-6.5 for an “adequate starter”; 6.4-6.0 for a “marginal starter/good backup”; 5.9-5.5 for an “adequate backup”; 5.4-5.0 for a marginal backup”. And now, the grades for the 2007 Patriots:
OFFENSE
QB Tom Brady: 9.7
RB Laurence Maroney: 8.1
WR Randy Moss: 8.5
WR Donte’ Stallworth: 7.2
TE Benjamin Watson: 7.0
TE Kyle Brady: 6.5
OT Nick Kaczur: 7.5
OT Matt Light: 7.5
G Logan Mankins: 7.9
G Stephen Neal: 7.9
C Dan Koppen: 7.5
DEFENSE
DE Richard Seymour: 9.0
DE Ty Warren: 8.2
NT Vince Wilfork: 8.2
LB Adalius Thomas: 8.5
LB Tedy Bruschi: 8.4
LB Mike Vrabel: 8.0
LB Rosevelt Colvin: 7.1
CB Asante Samuel: 8.5
CB Ellis Hobbs: 7.8
S Rodney Harrison: 7.5
S Eugene Wilson: 7.5
ANALYSIS: By this measure, the Patriots start two “rare players”, eight “outstanding players”, eight “solid starters”, three “good starters” and one “adequate starter.” The average grade for a Patriot offensive starter is 7.75 (in the “solid starter” range) and it’s 8.06 for the defensive starters (in the “outstanding player” range). For the team, the number is 7.91.
For a comparison, take a look at the Patriots’ chief competition atop the AFC. The Colts average a grade of 7.78 on offense, 7.3 on defense and 7.54 among the 22 starters. The Chargers average a 7.63 on offense, a 7.64 on defense (among 10 starters; rookie Eric Weddle was not graded), and a 7.63 among the 21 rated starters.
But what’s pretty telling is the balance among those starters. While the Patriots have two “rare players,” the Colts have four and the Chargers have three (with two graded higher than any Patriot.) New England makes up for it on the other end. The Patriots have just one player marked as an “adequate starter” and none tagged in the “marginal starter/good backup” or “adequate backup” categories. The Colts have four “adequate starters”, three “marginal starter/good backups” and one “adequate backup” among the ranked 22. The Chargers, meanwhile, have seven “adequate starters”, and a “adequate backup” in their graded 21. That means each of those teams have eight projected starters ranked with grades under 7, while the Patriots have just one.
This, of course, is not an end-all, be-all. The War Room could be wrong, young first-time starters taking departed vets spots in Indy and San Diego could emerge, and there’s little question that some of the listed starters won’t be starters and unlisted backups will step up. Still, it’s interesting that in these guys’ eyes, perception holds that the Patriots’ roster composition is as balanced as anyone’s.
