Tavern talk: a look at blue-chip players

"Kris Jenkins: When healthy, he’s impossible to single block."

I am pretty sure Casey Wiegmann did it. That makes him a blue chipper right?

Also, are these semi-projections for the upcoming year? Because based off last year I would rate Ray Lewis over Jerod Mayo.

But if you take into account Mayo learning more and Lewis getting another year older I might agree with you.

You always feel the love from Lombardi when it comes to those "inside" defensive line positions. If he gets back into the league...his first draft will be all DT's and pass rushers...Look forward to the other teams around the league...well thought out post...

Shaun Rogers a blue chipper? One of the best when he wants to play? What do they think about that in Detroit? A blue chipper comes to play every week, not when the mood suits him.

I picked all 4 of the Jets blue chips on last nite's tavern...well done.

No mention of Merling and Langford @ Miami? The ends take up blockers a lot so their impact will exceed their stats, but the guys should get their share of stats as well.

Would love to see Quentin Moses develop there as well, he has some good potential but is ahving to undergo a position change and they team already has two rushing OLB types ahead of him who are name brand players.

Pat White also deserves mention simply for the fact he makes teams use time to work out the wildcat with a passer back there giving them true double threat ability and still securing numbers on the run game.

Phins nose tackle is also in the 'almost' category. Limited play time, but he has a presence in his game. Ferguson is clearly a high mileage model, he can guzzle gas on stopping the run game. When you have players like that(Sam Adams comes to mind) you also need a contingency plan? What kind of output do you project to stay in the realm of realism?

You'd have to take a hard look at Kerry Rhodes. Down year last year, but when he's been allowed to roam freely, he makes plays. Deep center field covering for Ty Law last year didn't allow Rhodes to be himself.

""Kris Jenkins: When healthy, he’s impossible to single block."

I am pretty sure Casey Wiegmann did it. That makes him a blue chipper right? "

Jenkins wasn't healthy at the end of the season. part of the reason why the jets fell off... and goes to the whole "when healthy." Although I would probably change it to When healthy and motivated.


If he is posting these now I would assume he is talking about this season.

Also surprised you left Rivers off the "almost but not blue" list... he looked like a beast when he was on the field.

wake me when you get to the NFC

Lee Evans? Really??

In the last two years Evans has averaged 69 catches, 933 yards, and 4 TDs a year. Decent numbers for a #2 receiver, but certainly not a #1, and thus not a blue chipper. I don't buy the "well, look at who his QB was" argument, as a true blue-chipper will produce despite a lack of solid QB play.

I could think of 15 WRs off the top of my head I would rather have on my team this year than Evans.

I picked all 4 of the Jets blue chips on last nite's tavern...well done.

"Le’Ron McClain: Excellent fullback, but it’s hard to make a fullback a blue chipper. I never drove to the stadium on game day worrying about the fullback."

obviously Lombardi's not an Eagles fan...

thank god for Leonard Weaver!

I will be disappointed if every team is included. There were no blue chippers in Detroit or Chicago last year, KC traded its only blue guy...

I'm in Detroit, and yes indeed, Rogers is a blue chipper. Millen and Marinelli ran the talented players out of town (except C. Johnson), wanting their kind of "high character" guys. Everyone saw the results.

"Le’Ron McClain: Excellent fullback, but it’s hard to make a fullback a blue chipper. I never drove to the stadium on game day worrying about the fullback."

obviously Lombardi's not a Buccaneers fan...
obviously Lombardi's not a Steelers fan...
obviously Lombardi's not a Cowboys fan...

Or maybe Captain Obvious is only interested in the passing game, like any reporter that isn't above ESPN level.

@ Eik

I understand what you're saying because those teams were so bad but I disagree.

Detroit: Calvin Johnson. Look at the numbers he put up last year with no QB (78 rec., 1331 yards, 12 TD's). He's the only guy on that offense that you really need to worry about and yet he still beats defenses. He's a blue-chipper.

Chicago: Devin Hester. Does anyone command more attention from the opposition than this guy? I mean, I know he's a special teamer but opposing teams NEED to gameplan against him. He's got to be a blue-chipper. Also, even though I don't like his immaturity, Jay Cutler is probably a top 10 QB and therefore a blue-chipper as well.

KC: Brian Waters. He's a guard so he doesn't get much attention but he's probably in the top 10 at his position. Like the Lions, the Chiefs should only have one blue-chipper.

Wow, I am surprised at some of the responses here.

1. Casey Weigman did not single block Kris Jenkins all game last year, and even when he got help Jenkins often penetrated and did his job. The thing you are missing is that the Zone plays allow the RB to select the hole from where the DL are getting blocked. Most zone running plays have at least 3 possible gaps to hit and DEN RB's almost always ran AWAY from Kris Jenkins gap in that game. So, you can believe what you want about Weigman single blocking Jenkins in that game, its simply not true...... Weigman did play extremely well against him, do not get me wrong, but if you go back and watch the tape Jenkins is 3 yards in the backfield over half the time versus running plays. However, Weigman did open a huge hole on one of the inside runs against him.

2. Lee Evans is a fabulous WR toiling in BUF with no QB and a weak OL. Anyone who can not see that if he was in INDY or NE he would be an All-Pro 100 catch WR did not watch him seperate from almost every CB that covered him the last few years. He is one of the top 4-5 Deep threats in the NFL as well, but the offense has been miserable in consistently delivering the ball to him down field the last few years. This is truly the case of the Offense failing a player who usually beats his man play after play.....

3. Shaun Rodgers is a top 5 talented DT int the NFL, unfortunately he has not always brought his A game every week, especially in DET. However, he did not get much help in DET and his weight procluded him playing 50% of the snaps for a defense who could not get off the field. Therefore, he would fade quickly as the games and seasons wore on because he got too many snaps for his conditioning level. Its not like there was anyone else who was dominant on that DL, and after he left the guys who looked above average with him there suddenly became below average players. Like Jenkins, you single block him on any play at your own peril...

4. No blue chippers in CHI or DET last year? I would disagree there were no blue chippers, but there were definitely not enough good players around them to help, just like Lee evans in BUF. Calvin Johnson was absolutely a Blue Chipper last year for DET, but he was it. In CHI, Lance Briggs was definitely a blue chipper and Tommie Harris was for part of the season, but that does not count. Overall, the CHI defense really struggled last year because a lot of their blue chip talent in the past (Urlacher, Harris, and Anderson) were very ineffective at putting pressure on the QB. The good thing for them is Marinelli is the best DL coach in football right now and could resurrect their talent quickly....

5. Also, good call on Kerry Rhodes. He had been a fantastic safety the 2 previous years before 2008, but his on field performance deteriorated last year for some reason.

I am surprised Heath Miller wasn't listed. A really good guy in the Red Zone who also knows how to block.

@Mr Murder, do you realize how idiotic you look when you ring Pat White into this discussion? This is about Blue chippers, not rookies who MAY have a role if they make the team. White doesn't force anybody to do anything different, teams already have to defend the wildcat thanks to Ronnie Brown.

I like the list to start with a few exceptions:

"Leodis McKelvin: As a returner, he’s already in a league by himself. Might make it there as a corner as well."

He only returned punts last season and he only scored 1 touchdown returning. I think he'll become a Pro Bowler sometime but in a league by himself. What would Devin Hester say? This guy does not deserve this.


"Shaun Rogers: One of the best in the NFL when he wants to be the best."

What happened to consistency? There's a reason why everywhere he goes the team loses. He's a tremendous talent who you can never depend on and is only out for himself. He makes this list based on ability not on attitude.

"LaMarr Woodley: Maybe it’s the combination of the two, but Woodley is very effective when he is on his own."

Even as a Steeler fan I question this a little. I would like to see Woodley show a little mor ebefore I put him in this category. I like the fact that Aaron Smith was included. He's been a top-5 player for the steelers for about 7 years now and never gets any credit. Perfect for our defense.

He has unique skill sets for their best scoring series of plays. Not entirely impressive as a pure passer, but he combines with the scheme and teams will spend a good bit of time practicing to face his reps. Tuna brought Hoss along slowly back in the day, true that.

No Jared Gaither for the Ravens as a blue chipper? Ben Grubbs shoujld also be an almost.

Hmmm... What about Cha Johnson for the Bengals? True he had a down year last year, but he seems in shape and always command at least a double team. Changes the game quite often, and owned the recieving title 4 years running, but he's not Blue Chip? Seems odd with his stats thatone injury plagued season with no QB drops him out of Blue Chip status.

Did Hines Ward and James Farrior retire?

Does anyone seriously think the NFC will offer up a team in the superbowl that can possibly compete against the Patriots? Not a chance. The Patriots are stacked and no one in the AFC, let alone the NFC, can control that offense. Bring on the rings.

You seem pretty generous with giving out the blue chip label.

Lee Evans???? Are you serious? Has the guy ever done anything? I understand that he is fast, but there a tons of recievers who have actually capitalized on their talent, and Evans isn't one of them. I don't care who he plays for. If a receiver can't put up elite numbers because he plays for a bad team, well, then, he's not really an elite receiver. We can't go by hypotheticals here. There are 15-20 better wideouts in the NFL. It would have been bad enough if you listed him as an almost blue chip. Something like: "This guy has the speed and talent to reach the next level but his QB/team situation hasn't allowed him to truly breakout yet. The potential is there." That would have been far more reasonable.

No Blue chippers in Detroit??? Umm... Sorry you didn't have the pleasure to watch Calvin Johnson. I'm not a Lions fan or live in Detroit, but despite not winning a game, being triple teamed at times, and horrible QB play he still put up big numbers (78 rec, 1331 yds, 17.1 ypr, 12 TDs). If L. Evans (63 rec, 1017 yds, 16.1 ypr, 3TDs) is considered a blue chip player you can't leave C. Johnson off this list.

I'm surprised Hines Ward hasn't been mentioned at all. Though he probably doesn't have the numbers to put him into the top-10 in the league, he should at least be considered as an "almost" with Santonio. Though he was hampered by injury late last season, he has been a leader on that team through much of this decade. He blocks phenomenally, he is willing to run routes across the middle and take the shots that come with them when he catches the ball, and has consistently made big plays, usually on key third-down conversions, when the Steelers have needed someone to.

Hines ward does not cause match-up problems. Many players can cover him 1:1. He's not in the top ten at his position.

Don't get me wrong, Hines is a good football player, but he's not really a blue chipper. He's a middle of the pack receiver with some nice additional qualities in terms of leadership toughness and blocking.

I would include James Farrior on the Steelers.

Jack: "Hines ward does not cause match-up problems. Many players can cover him 1:1. He's not in the top ten at his position."

And Wes Welker does? Hitches and bubble screens are 90% of his catches. Tell me again why Miami basically gave him away to the Pats?