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Tavern talk: blue-chip players, part 5

A look at the NFC East and North. Michael Lombardi

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Today, we look at the NFC East and North in our discussion of blue-chip players. It might not have been easy being green, but it’s harder being blue....

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 ten at his position in the league.

NFC EAST

Dallas

Jason WittenAPJason Witten

BLUE CHIP

Jason Witten: Great combo player. Can run, block and really catch.

Jay Ratliff: Effective inside player.

DeMarcus Ware: Dominating pass rusher.

Tony Romo: He’s a top player, now he needs to win a playoff game.

ALMOST, BUT NOT BLUE

Terence Newman: 30 years old; missed games the last two years.

Andre Gurode: Good player, but not a blue.

Leonard Davis: Has blue moments, but is not always consistent.

Felix Jones: Flashed blue skills, but isn’t a blue -- yet.

COACH/QB COMBO

They may not be tied at the hip, but Wade Phillips and Tony Romo need to have big years. Romo needs to have a year like ‘07, and Phillips needs to prove he can be a coach who can inspire this team.

New York Giants

BLUE CHIP

Chris Snee: Talented player.

Brandon Jacobs: He has power, speed and production.

Justin Tuck: Very hard to block anywhere he lines up.

Osi Umenyiora: Can change the game with his rush skills.

Antonio Pierce: Key player, run and pass, for the defense.

Eli Manning: Had his best season last year; cut INTs in half.

ALMOST, BUT NOT BLUE

Corey Webster: He fits the scheme well and had a good year in ‘08.

COACH/QB COMBO

The Giants have the perfect blend of good coach and good quarterback. The head coach, Tom Coughlin, knows Manning’s strengths and weaknesses, and Manning is improving each season.

Philadelphia

BLUE CHIP

Donovan McNabbAPDonovan McNabb

Donovan McNabb: He is still a very good player.

Brian Westbrook: Can make plays, big plays.

Trent Cole: Best rusher on the team.

Jason Peters: Didn’t have a blue year last year but can have one this year.

ALMOST, BUT NOT BLUE

DeSean Jackson: Very close to a blue -- very very close.

Shawn Andrews: Hard to make a player you never see a blue.

Asante Samuel: He’s a blue when the rush is a blue, but when it’s not, well...

COACH/QB COMBO

I’m not a fan of Andy Reid’s game management, but I am a fan of his ability to develop the offense around McNabb’s skill level. McNabb is not a pure west coast passer, but when he’s accurate down the field, the Eagles are tough to beat.

Washington

BLUE CHIP

Clinton Portis: Still a very good player.

LaRon Landry: Very good on every level.

Carlos Rogers: Covered well all season.

Albert Haynesworth: Commands two blockers all the time.

ALMOST, BUT NOT BLUE

Santana Moss: Had his worst year last year, which was still good, but not blue.

Chris Horton: Played as well as any safety last year; very close to blue.

Chris Cooley: Very effective making plays, but one TD in ‘08? Needs to block better to be a complete blue.

COACH/QB COMBO

This is a big year for head coach Jim Zorn and QB Jason Campbell. Zorn must find the system that suits Campbell’s skill level.

NFC NORTH

Chicago

Devin HesterAPDevin Hester

BLUE CHIP

Jay Cutler: He’s a blue player, now he needs to be a blue winner.

Matt Forte: Does it all -- run, catch, protect -- very well.

Devin Hester: Not sure he’s a blue player, but he’s a blue playmaker.

ALMOST, BUT NOT BLUE

Brian Urlacher: If blockers get to him, he’s blocked, so he’s not a blue.

Lance Briggs: No one on the Bears’ defense is a blue.

COACH/QB COMBO

A coach, Lovie Smith, who’s gone to the Super Bowl and now has a very talented player at quarterback. This is a huge year for both. This evaluation remains to be determined.

Detroit

BLUE CHIP

Calvin Johnson: Vertical-play wideout.

ALMOST, BUT NOT BLUE

Ernie Sims: He has blue skills, but he’s not a blue player.

COACH/QB COMBO

New coach (Jim Schwartz), new quarterback (Matthew Stafford). The Lions took the right approach this year. The key is to have the right coach and right quarterback if they’re going to rebuild this team. Time will determine if they hit on both.

Green Bay

Aaron RodgersAPAaron Rodgers

BLUE CHIP

Greg Jennings: Big time wideout.

Aaron Rodgers: Expect him to have a big year.

Cullen Jenkins: Their best defensive lineman; his injury last year hurt them.

ALMOST, BUT NOT BLUE

Donald Driver: Still very effective.

Al Harris: Injuries affected his year last season

Charles Woodson: Injuries affected his year last season

Nick Barnett: Expect big things.

Aaron Kampman: New defense, blue third-down rusher.

COACH/QB COMBO

The Packers have a young coach (Mike McCarthy) and quarterback who are growing and developing.

Minnesota

Jared AllenAPJared Allen

BLUE CHIP

Bryant McKinnie: Has had inconsistent moments but is still good.

Steve Hutchinson: Very good player.

Kevin Williams: Effective on all downs.

Jared Allen: Can control games.

Adrian Peterson: Big, fast, and very productive.

Antoine Winfield: At 31, had his best season.

ALMOST, BUT NOT BLUE

Pat Williams: Blue on run downs only.

Bernard Berrian: Down-the-field wideout, but not blue.

COACH/QB COMBO

This is bad in both directions, but they did make the playoffs and win the NFC North last year because of their run game and defense. They need to find a passing game, which is why Brad Childress was hired as head coach.

Comments

Add a Comment
Sean in GB
Aug 17, 2009
04:49 PM

I think Charles Woodson should still be in the blue chip category. He had 7 picks (2 for TDs) and 3 sacks last year while playing hurt on a bad defense, and should be even better this year if he can stay healthy and the Packers have an improved pash rush.

Also think that Lance Briggs is a blue chip player. I saw him almost single-handedly win the Bears-Packers game at Lambeau 2 years ago, I think he had something like 16 tackles that night.

Jack
Aug 17, 2009
05:03 PM

I gotta call foul here.

Your definition of Blue Chip includes top 10 at their position. You had 5 Blue Chip QBs in the AFC, and you just added 5 in 2 divisions of the NFC, with Drew Brees, Kurt Warner and Hasselbeck still to go.

Brees and Warner are no doubt blue chips. Hasselback, Romo, Rodgers, Cutler, E. Manning are competing for three spots.

I'd say Eli and Rodgers miss the cut.

Pete
Aug 17, 2009
05:04 PM

Charles Woodson definitely belongs as a blue chip player. He is EASILY still a top 10 cornerback in this league, and all he has done since coming to GB is make big play after big play. Injuries did affect his year last year, and he STILL played at a high level.

Pete
Aug 17, 2009
05:09 PM

Charles Woodson definitely belongs as a blue chip player. He is EASILY still a top 10 cornerback in this league, and all he has done since coming to GB is make big play after big play. Injuries did affect his year last year, and he STILL played at a high level.

meateater
Aug 17, 2009
05:12 PM

Re Redskins. I question Clinton Portis as a blue. He hasn't broken a big play for three years. He's hardnosed, a great blitz blocker, etc but he gets what's there, nothing more. He's not really a power back but he doesn't have breakaway burst either. I would have thought Chris Samuels would rate at least a mention as a multiple Pro Bowl LT. You have Cooley exactly right. He's overrated by fans because he is a good receiver and runs hard after the catch, but he is a terrible blocker. Thsi team is basically a worse version of the Vikes, ie a decent team held back by questionable coaching/QB play.

Dayne
Aug 17, 2009
05:25 PM

I agree that Charles Woodson shouldn't be a Blue Chip...he should have his own category above Blue Chip. Possibly Royal Blue Chip?

The guy has so much influence on the Packers' defense with his play-making ability that not including him on the list seems odd.

Can create mismatches? TO vs. C. Wood in '08? Reggie Wayne vs. C. Wood in '08?

Featured player? On the field at all times on D...despite injuries.

Impact on the outcome? Detroit interceptions in Week 2 of '08 and the pick 6 against Tampa come to mind off the top of my head. Skins in '07.

Besides Kampman he's probably the most consistent player on the D although I'll give you credit there since it's not saying much for the Packer D in '08.

Seems to step up his play when the game means more.

Seems that most rank him with the top ten corners in the league if not the top five.

Winfield - Yes and Woodson - No also is interesting. Nothing against Winfield. That guy can play.

Interesting argument.

Tako
Aug 17, 2009
05:36 PM

Woodson and Kamp are blue chip players.

Chris
Aug 17, 2009
05:42 PM

Remarkable you wouldn't put Charles Woodson as a blue chip player. Makes me question the validity of the rest of the list.

Andrew N.
Aug 17, 2009
05:49 PM

Jack-

I agree with you that is too many QBs. But I would pick Rodgers over Hasselback.

Michael-

Really? You recognize DeSean Jackson but not Eddie Royal?

Dan
Aug 17, 2009
05:59 PM

I can't believe you don't have Lance Briggs as a blue chipper. This guy does it all from the weak side LB position - he never misses tackles, lays big hits, causes fumbles, does well in coverage. He's by far the best player on the Bears D right now, and he has been for at least two years, even if the unit isn't what it used to be. He's almost as good as Urlacher was in his prime, and he won Defensive POY. Shocking that you don't have him on that level. He's so much more important to the Bears success than Hester.

Michael C.
Aug 17, 2009
07:06 PM

I'm glad to see Ernie Sims mentioned as not quite a blue, which is actually a compliment to a Lion. The guy is a playmaker on Defense. When he gets a few guys around him, I could see him a blue chipper.

Theo
Aug 17, 2009
07:08 PM

A 12 year old going through one season of Madden could figure this out.

But he did more work than you did.

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