Sports Illustrated NFL Power Rankings

[captain stone]

Generally agree. But I’m thinking Hawkins, with Dugger or Woodson protecting the deep field. I think Hawkins would be a bit better than Dugger in coverage and I like Dugger more in the traditional FS role. OTOH it might be that Dugger would be more physical on Bowers, and I’m thinking the DL should have Geno under enough duress that it’s more important to shut down Bowers right away rather than keep him covered for very long.

Surely you can't be serious.

 

[captain stone]

Except our depth in key areas is particularly dire. LB/OL

CB...

 

[mgteich]

CB...

I suspect that our three starting CB's are comparable to most teams competing for the playoffs.

I suspect that our #4 and #5 CB's are comparable to most teams competing for the playoffs.
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While backup CB's aren't a strength, I don't think that it is a serious weakness.

 

[mgteich]

Surely you can't be serious.

I strongly agree. I like Dugger a lot. However, he should never be in any role resembling that of free safety.

Dugger is a strong safety and a good one. I expect him to be on the field at that position as long as he is healthy, with Mapu as his emergency backup.
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Our free safeties are Hawkings and Woodson, which could become a strength.

 

[TommyD4207]

Sunday is going to be very interesting. This board is going flip out if he gets lit up by Meyers or Cooper.

Carlton Davis doesn't get lit up by anyone, usually.

 

[stinkypete]

#21 has been more or less a consensus. I’ve seen about a dozen power rankings and we seem to fall at 21 in nearly all of them.

Wild to me that Dallas is suddenly so low. It’s amazing how Starker need your reaction is when one non-QB player is traded.

 

[Real fan 02]

Sunday is going to be very interesting. This board is going flip out if he gets lit up by Meyers or Cooper.

Callahan: Why the Patriots’ season opener will be more telling than most

If the Patriots win on Sunday, it will mean more than just a 1-0 start to the Mike Vrabel era.

www.bostonherald.com

 

[Real fan 02]

Carlton Davis doesn't get lit up by anyone, usually.

He's a very physical CB who's crafty and knows how to use his length.

 

[Real fan 02]

Our roster still kind of sucks. But honestly, reading each of the teams behind us, fair argument could be made that we’re deserving of being ranked higher. Sad reflection of the state of the NFL.

I would not say our roster "sucks ".. it's a roster that is better than it was and has pieces to work with. Outside of Josh Allen take a look at the bills roster in comparison.

 

[Triumph]

If the Pats finish 21st, Wolf and Groh will be fired.

That's the way it works. Mayo fired and then the GMs (Folks doing the drafting and writing up awful contracts) are next to go.

Vrabel already CYA and fired a bullseye cruise missile shot when he trashed the Patriots drafting lately.

 

[Wozzy]

Having a roster crunch at WR doesn’t mean we don’t have a weak WR group. It just means we had some solid competition for who was going to be the 5th WR that is one of the game day inactives. Sure, a roster crunch. But it means little for how good the unit will actually be on the field.

A dead last in "worst weapons" team doesn't have a roster crunch period.

 

[Real fan 02]

Besides the Fecals, you mean.

If hurts or AJ go down it's donta Smith and some average guys... no team has this great depth... that's why the NFL is survival of the fittest Cap.....

 

[Real fan 02]

If we can't prevent them from dictating down & distance - i.e.: making their running attack feeble & untrustworthy - then we're Screwed.

Spot on Cap.. the style and scheme we are playing is attacking and a dictating Defense.. if we can't control down& distance like you said then we're in deep Sh.... with Barmore, Tonga and Williams on the defensive front they best be sure to stuff the run...

 

[captain stone]

I would not say our roster "sucks ".. it's a roster that is better than it was and has pieces to work with. Outside of Josh Allen take a look at the bills roster in comparison.

I would.

 

[1960Pats]

Right off the bat the NFC looks like the power conference. We are potentially better than Teams 17-20. Don't get how they have Houston @ 16 and the overrated Chargers @ 7.

Looking at the SI rankings by division this is how it shakes out;

AW - 39
NN - 47
NW - 49
AN - 63
NE - 64
AE - 77
AS - 94
NS - 95

Totals - NFC 255, AFC 273

How the hell are the Ratbirds rated #1? When was the last time they were in a title game, let alone a SB? Philly is clearly the #1 team.

It looks like you want the two souths for your team. They're miles behind the rest of the divisions. That honor this year goes to the NFCW.

 

[Real fan 02]

I would.

Have you watched any patriots football last season...

 

[captain stone]

Have you watched any patriots football last season...

Much of this roster churning has the feel of shuffling the deck chairs on the Titanic, in no small part because some of the same people who were doing the shuffling last year are doing so again this year, and it shows... This is actually a worse team entering Week One than the one which entered Day One of TC barely a month-1/2 ago.

I really hope after this game that they take good, long looks at some of the still-available vet free agents whose contracts won't have to be guaranteed after Week One...

 

[mikey m]

Callahan: Why the Patriots’ season opener will be more telling than most

If the Patriots win on Sunday, it will mean more than just a 1-0 start to the Mike Vrabel era.

www.bostonherald.com

Interesting cherry picking to paint the OL, especially the rookies in as bad a light as possible. Saying Wilson barely held off Ben Brown for starting LG. Pretty sure it was clear the Wilson outplayed him throughout the summer. It was just a question of would they push Wilson to LG or C and how much could the rookie handle. Then using his PFF pass blocking grade as evidence while not using Campbell’s, instead saying that WC did nothing to offset concerns about some of his rep losses during practice. Interesting.

 

[Real fan 02]

Much of this roster churning has the feel of shuffling the deck chairs on the Titanic, in no small part because some of the same people who were doing the shuffling last year are doing so again this year, and it shows... This is actually a worse team entering Week One than the one which entered Day One of TC barely a month-1/2 ago.

I really hope after this game that they take good, long looks at some of the still-available vet free agents whose contracts won't have to be guaranteed after Week One...

I'll say this Captain.. this team is probably in the best position it's been in heading into a regular season since 2021. You have stability at Coaching and QB. And your implementing year 1 of the redirection. Of course the roster is far from a finished product. However in FA you can't force guys to sign. That's what multiple seasons of being at the bottom does and has a effect on the roster. As mentioned previously go back to 2001. BB has to endure the exact same things. The draft misses as we all know going back 8,9 seasons is why the roster was where it's at. Vrabel is bever going to just settle on his roster and not try to improve it. This is a 2-3 year process. Starting it off right this season sets the stage going forward.

 

[Real fan 02]

Interesting cherry picking to paint the OL, especially the rookies in as bad a light as possible. Saying Wilson barely held off Ben Brown for starting LG. Pretty sure it was clear the Wilson outplayed him throughout the summer. It was just a question of would they push Wilson to LG or C and how much could the rookie handle. Then using his PFF pass blocking grade as evidence while not using Campbell’s, instead saying that WC did nothing to offset concerns about some of his rep losses during practice. Interesting.

Benny brown was never going to threaten Wilson for the starting LG that's just journalism speak. Wilson is the better player and athlete. Wilson was dealing with a strain of some sort so he was kept out as a precaution from practice and preseason games. Benny brown has some position versatility so he has value on the 53 man roster.