Tuesday, we began our look at the NFL’s blue-chip players by examining the AFC East and North. Today, we look at the AFC South and West. It might not have been easy being green, but it’s harder being Blue....
APPeyton Manning
DEFINING A BLUE-CHIP PLAYER:
Player has abilities that can create mismatches vs. most opponents in the league. Is a featured player on the team and has impact on the outcome of the game. Not one player can take him out of the game. Each week he has a consistent level of performance. Plays at a championship level performance. He rates in the top 10 at his position in the league.
AFC SOUTH
Houston
BLUE CHIP
Andre Johnson: Tremendous talent.
Mario Williams: He’s their defensive line right now.
Steve Slaton: A top-10 back in the NFL.
Owen Daniels: 133 catches the past two years, great run team.
ALMOST, BUT BLUE
Dunta Robinson: Injuries keep him from being blue.
DeMeco Ryans: Tackling machine, but not many plays in passing game.
Chester Pitts: Solid player has started every game in his NFL career.
COACH/QB COMBO
The “if” factor weighs heavily for the Texans. If Matt Schaub can stay healthy, if the defense can make a few plays, if the Texans can win on the road. Too many ifs for me, but just the right amount for Mr. Bowen.
Indianapolis
BLUE CHIP
Peyton Manning: Not a hard one to figure.
Reggie Wayne: Gets better every year.
Dallas Clark: Might be borderline now, but when healthy, he makes the offense explode.
Dwight Freeney: Hard for most left tackles to handle.
Bob Sanders: If he stays healthy, he’s explosive.
ALMOST, BUT NOT BLUE
Robert Mathis: Very effective in this scheme.
Marlin Jackson: The scheme fits him well.
COACH/QB COMBO
New coach, but not a new quarterback -- which means the same results are in store. The Colts have it right because every place team president and GM Bill Polian has been has placed tremendous value in making sure the quarterback position is well covered.
Jacksonville
BLUE CHIP
Maurice Jones-Drew: Can do it all – run, catch and block.
John Henderson: Hard to handle inside.
Rashean Mathis: Very good cover man who could use some rush.
ALMOST, BUT NOT BLUE
Reggie Nelson: At times, he looks like a blue, then he misses too many tackles.
COACH/QB COMBO
This is a big season for Jack Del Rio and for David Garrard. Right now, they’re in the very average grade area. Both must step up their games.
APCortland Finnegan
Tennessee
BLUE CHIP
Michael Roos: One of the best left OTs in the game.
Chris Johnson: He’s an elite player.
Cortland Finnegan: Makes plays all the time. One of the best corners in the game.
ALMOST, BUT NOT BLUE
Tony Brown: Had a great season last year, was it because of Haynesworth? We’ll find out.
Kyle Vanden Bosch: Injuries have affected his play.
Keith Bulluck: Still a very good player, but not a blue.
Michael Griffin: 16 starts 7 interceptions get him very close.
COACH/QB COMBO
Jeff Fisher is a tremendous coach, one of the top five in the NFL. QB Kerry Collins knows his role, and the assistants know what he can and, most importantly, can’t do.
AFC WEST
Denver
BLUE CHIP
Brandon Marshall: One of the best wideouts in the game. Very talented.
Ryan Clady: Very impressive as a rookie; will keep getting better.
ALMOST, BUT NOT BLUE
Champ Bailey: Had a down year last season. Was it the lack of a pass rush, or him losing speed? Either way, he’s not a shut-down corner.
COACH/QB COMBO
New is the word in Denver this year. The Broncos have to determine if this will work, but Josh McDaniels understands how to maximize the quarterback position. Given the right time, I feel he’ll be successful.
Kansas City
BLUE CHIP
NONE
ALMOST, BUT NOT BLUE
Branden Albert: Next year at this time, he might be a blue.
Larry Johnson: He might be able to regain his old form.
COACH/QB COMBO
Another first-year coach and first-year starter in a new system.
Oakland
BLUE CHIP
Nnamdi Asomugha: Best press cover man in the NFL.
Shane Lechler: Best punter in the NFL.
ALMOST, BUT NOT BLUE
Sebastian Janikowski: Big leg, but too inconsistent in too many areas.
COACH/QB COMBO
New coach. Time will tell with Tom Cable and QB JaMarcus Russell.
APVincent Jackson
San Diego
BLUE CHIP
Vincent Jackson: Big-play receiver who’s gotten better.
Antonio Gates: When healthy, he’s a top-five player.
Philip Rivers: He wins in December (14-0 in his career).
LaDainian Tomlinson: He must stay healthy.
Darren Sproles: All the plays he makes are blue.
Shawne Merriman: One of the best in the NFL.
ALMOST, BUT NOT BLUE
Jamal Williams: He can still control the center but not as he once did. Age is creeping up.
Antonio Cromartie: Needs to rebound this year.
COACH/QB COMBO
The quarterback has had his best years with Norv Turner as the head coach. Norv has won playoff games both years, something Chargers fans have not seen too often.
Aww Michael I am disappointed.
Vincent Jackson, Darren Sproles and Antonio Cromartie are all stretches to even be mentioned.
Especially after not giving Royal, Dawkins, and DJ Williams (who was having a great year until his injury and should excel in the Patrick Willis role in the Denver 3-4) honorable mentions.
Okay DJ Williams is a stretch but he wont be come season end.
You forgot Eddie Royal.
Vincent Jackson is not a top 10 receiver.
What about Zach Miller, Thomas Howard and Kirk Morrison. And if you place Sproles and V.Jackson as Blue chip, then you can easily make a case for Darren McFadden and Michael Bush.
You can argue blue v. almost blue for these Chargers, but you can't leave them off the list:
Marcus McNeil
Kris Deilman
Mike Scifres
Nate Kaeding
Quentin Jammer
Good work i agree with almost all of these.
Quentin Jammer should definatly be in there tho.
He is wayyyyyyy better than cromartie and you saw what happens when he is out of the game
ex. against pitt in the playoffs when he was out of the game they went right after cletis gordon and never would have gotten away with it if it was jammer.
and jamal is still a stud.
good work!
Dwayne Bowe should at least make the 'almost blue' category, if not a blue-chipper. 156 catches for over 2000 yards and 12 touchdowns in first two seasons for a WR is outstanding.
He got dissed on this list.
I love Michael's analysis, but in this case I feel his blue chip definition is too broad. If 10 QBs are blue chippers, that's a third of the league. And it seems like we're already at 10 RBs and WRs, or getting very close, without reaching the NFC yet.
Not sure I agree with your assessment of the Jags. John Henderson needs to step up again before he could be considered a Blue Chipper. Also Reggie Nelson is a long way off based on his performance last year. He seemed to get burnt every other play.
I would put Vince Manuwai in the Blue Chip category. A great player who does not get anywhere near the coverage he deserves. And yes he is key, look what happened to the run game and protection after he went down last year.
Tra Thomas might still be a top 10 LT in the league. At least on the fringe anyway.
Also, if you mentioned McClain as an almost there for the Ravens, how can you leave Greg Jones off this list?
The way Griffin of the Titans played last year he deserves to be a Blue.
I'd also put Jeff Saturday up there for the Colts. He drives their entire line.
Show some love for the big guys...
Mike wrote:
"You forgot Eddie Royal."
This.
And I would add Casey Wiegmann
i think he was rushing when he got to the chiefs. he forgot about brian waters. he has only been a top 5 offensive guard for the past 6 years or so. the chiefs get no respect its rediculus.he didnt even put anything under the coach section for the chiefs its just a link to an article about the joke of a head coach thats in denver
Houston Omobi Okeye ???
Cromartie is a bum; he owes much of his success to the San Diego pass rush and his reputation as a cover corner was blown way out of proportion because of his highlight reel 2007 season. He is shaky at best in pass coverage and his 'big play ability' has more to do with Shawne Merriman's (And at times even Luis Castillo's) amazing pass rushing ability.
Stick to your guns with Vincent Jackson--he's special.
I can't help but think you forgot about Brian Waters... and a 34 year old Tony Gonzalez.
As a charger fan, I have to disagree with you Mike. I don't think Vincent Jackson is a blue-chipper just yet. He could be next year if he has the same season he had in 08 but it's too soon right now. Same goes for Cromartie. He had one huge year but that's it. He has to rebound this year to at least be considered in the 'almost blue' category.
I would definitely put Kris Dielman and Quentin Jammer there though.
I'm not a San Diego fan, but thank you, Mike, for giving Vincent Jackson some respect here. People who understand fully the position know how much talent he has, and the fact he isn't putting up Brandon Marshall-like numbers has more to do with the system he's in rather than the physical characteristics he possesses. Stats don't tell the whole story; put him in New Orleans and you're talking 80+ catches at 18 yards a pop and 14+ touchdowns.
A few issues with today's list:
I don't think Dunta Robinson should be a blue chipper ,so I agree with that, but to leave Dunta off because of injuries and not Bob Sanders is ridiculous. Bob Sanders has missed 23 games in the past 3 years with injuries while Robinson has only missed 12. I don't understand how Sanders can miss almost 50% of games and still be a blue chipper.
Vincent Jackson - Really? He had less than 60 catches and barely over 1000 yards last season. How he makes it and TO doesn't is ridiculous. Neither player should have made it but Jackson doesn't deserve this at all.
Darren Sproles - All it takes to be a blue chipper: 1 good playoff game. He has some ability in the return game. But as a tailback he is a good #2 who is great at catching the ball out of the backfield. Not a blue chipper, not a top-10 RB.
Also up to this point we have 6 RBs and 7 WRs already and we still have the entire NFC left.
NFC RBs: Barber, Jacobs, Westbrook, Portis, Peterson, Gore, D. Williams, J. Stewart, Turner,S. Jackson (only 4 can make it but I don't see how you take less than 6 at least)
NFC WRs: C. Johnson, G. Jennings, D. Driver, S. Smith, R. White, A. Bryant, L. Fitzgerald, A. Boldin, T. Holt
(only 3 WRs left, unless you argue that since there are 2 WR positions he can pick up to 20, which is stupid. If you're only picking 3 I would go Smith, Fitzgerald, White but you could make the case for every other guy that they should be on the list over guys like Jackson and Evans)
Like everyone else I am going to question the Vincent Jackson pick. When is the rubber going to meet the road for this guy? I always hear about the talent but i don't see the numbers and if he has a supposed "blue chip" qb passing to him shouldn't the numbers be rolling in? Is it his fault he is not getting the numbers or rivers? Much like you didn't give santonio holmes the blue chip then I would also call jackson a close call but show me the numbers.
Two offensive lineman that didn't even get a mention that i thought was strange were:
1. Marcus McNeill - premier player whose has been very effective against top pass rushers (Freeney)
2. Jeff Saturday - calls all offensive line protections in a complicated offense. The quality of the entire ol's effectiveness can be seen when he is not present.
Like everyone else I am going to question the Vincent Jackson pick. When is the rubber going to meet the road for this guy? I always hear about the talent but i don't see the numbers and if he has a supposed "blue chip" qb passing to him shouldn't the numbers be rolling in? Is it his fault he is not getting the numbers or rivers? Much like you didn't give santonio holmes the blue chip then I would also call jackson a close call but show me the numbers.
Two offensive lineman that didn't even get a mention that i thought was strange were:
1. Marcus McNeill - premier player whose has been very effective against top pass rushers (Freeney)
2. Jeff Saturday - calls all offensive line protections in a complicated offense. The quality of the entire ol's effectiveness can be seen when he is not present.
Bob Sanders and Dallas Clark are not blue chippers. You just can't repeatedly miss 1/3 of the games and be considered blue chip.
Man, I was mad when AJ Smith let Drew Brees go, but the man really has an eye for talent...A Charger almost there is Luis Castillo: as a 34 DE he doesn't get the love he deserves but he is a key cog in Chargers line. Go BOLTS!
Ya this list is completely bogus! Skipped over kc chiefs. Brian waters is a lock and larry johnson , and d-bowe are both blue chips all three more so than vincent Jackson for sure. Larry and bowe will prove it this year!
Eddie Royal and Casey Wiegmann should be considered almost blue. Probably Ryan Harris as well. The Denver o-line despite the credit it gets is vastly underrated. It may just be the best in the league.
Vincent Jackson and Darren Sproles should be downgraded to almost blue. They're not top 10 in their respective positions in the NFL yet.
Quentin Jammer should be almost blue, Dwayne Bowe as well. Even if he's in Haley's doghouse that doesn't mean he shouldn't be almost blue. Even as a Broncos fan I gotta give him credit for being an absolute beast at times. Just as tough to cover as Vincent Jackson.
I'm not saying DeMeco Ryans is a blue chip player. But you can't say he is almost blue and make Jerod Mayo a blue chip player. Isn't he the same thing (a tackling machine but doesn't make many plays in the passing game)?
Q-Jam should at least be mentioned...he shuts out Randy Moss every year.
Michael Griffin is definite a blue, he's only second to Ed Reed.
Derrick Johnson is on the verge of a breakout year.
A-Hall is one the best blocking full backs in the NFL.
Vince Young is a future Super Bowl winner/Hall of Famer.
I find it funny that there are no blue chip players for KC when Simmons named 5-6 on the podcast
If lechler is blue, scifres is definitely at least an "almost blue". maybe throw nate kaeding in there too. marcus mcneil is a stud too: pro bowl year rookie year and fought through injuries all year last year. matt cassell, tamba hali, deserve some love too.
Biggest oversight in my mind in terms of league recognition by ALL the "experts" is Robert Gallery. Everyone needs to get over his draft slot and the fact that he is not playing left tackle. He is clearly one of the top 4 guards in the NFL, if not the best (sorry Hutchinson, you're not as quick as you were). Watch a Raiders game and key in on Gallery's block on every play. He DESTROYS whatever is in his way. And he's over the offsides and holding that plagued him early in his career. Gallery has developed into a beast of a LG.
LOL...Darren Sproles.
You forgot Eric Winston. One of the best RTs in the league.
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Aug 12, 2009
06:29 PM
The biggest surprise by far (in my book, at least) is: Vincent Jackson. Mike do you really think that he is one of the top 10 receivers in the NFL? I see him having a big year, but I don't think he's a top 10 player (at least not yet)...