Rating our defensive starters.

[Coach]

Rating our defensive starters.

10. HOF player
9. Pro Bowl player in his prime
8. Pro Bowl player on the decline
7. Very good NFL starter
6. Better than average NFL starter
5. Slightly below average NFL starter
4. Below average NFL starter. Best suited as a backup
3. Fringe player, would not start on 75% of the teams
2. The 45th to 53th man on most teams. A 3rd string man.
1. Practice-squad type of player


My grades.

Starters


Timmons 7.5 our best overall defender. You could argue he's an 8.

Heyward 7.5 Our best defensive draft pick in years. Team Captain

Gay 7 Very underrated. He's rarely beaten for big plays and make his share of interceptions.

Shazier 6.5 ( when healthy ).

Tuitt 6, but the arrow is pointing up as he's very young.

Mitchell. 6 Better this season.

W. Allen 5, though this season he was a 6.5

Dupree 5, but he's a rookie with upside.

McLendon 5. Limited production and not a force to hold OL players

Berry 3. A punter is often listed as part of the defense.

Jones. 3. He's a bust and should be phased out

Blake 2.5 Our worst starter playing an important position.



Backups.

Harrison 6 as he's old. A 9.5 to 10 in his prime

Cockrell. 5.5 Why he doesn't start over Balke is mystifying.

Golden. 5.5 When called upon, he's solid

 

[slashsteel]

I would give Blake a -3

 

[Coach]

I would give Blake a -3

Zing. I just downgraded him to a 2.5. #41 is a target. Everyone knows it.

 

[POP]

If we extrapolated Harrison's prime across the board, he would be a 10. But, part of HOF evaluation is longevity. He was too late a bloomer to put up a long enough stretch of great seasons together.

But a 2008 James was one of the best OLB to ever play. Almost LT-esque.

 

[Coach]

If we extrapolated Harrison's prime across the board, he would be a 10. But, part of HOF evaluation is longevity. He was too late a bloomer to put up a long enough stretch of great seasons together.

But a 2008 James was one of the best OLB to ever play. Almost LT-esque.

Agreed. I think Harrison is good enough to get his name into the hat, but won't make the cut into the hall of fame. If he does, it will be a long wait. Me personally I'd vote him in. Like Blount, they put in a rule because of Harrison.

 

[AvonOhioSteeler]

A lot of the scale descriptions don't make much sense. I'd rank Heyward an 8. He's close to being a pro bowl level player, but he's rising not declining. You have a 6 as slightly above average, and 5 being below average. Why isn't 5 just average? I'd rate Mitchell a little higher. I think his arrow is pointing up.

 

[Coach]

A lot of the scale descriptions don't make much sense. I'd rank Heyward an 8. He's close to being a pro bowl level player, but he's rising not declining. You have a 6 as slightly above average, and 5 being below average. Why isn't 5 just average? I'd rate Mitchell a little higher. I think his arrow is pointing up.

I have Heyward as a 7.5. You could argue 8. On my scale 5.5 is average as it's in the middle. 1,2,3,4,5 - 5.5 - 6,7,8,9,10

As for Mitchell, in hindsight, I'd move him up .5. to a 6. He's just a bit penalty prone for my tastes, but he has made his share of plays this season ( 3 ints, 2 FF, 9 PD ).

 

[AggieSteel]

I actually like Mitchell more as well.. I hated on him hard last year but I think he's proven that last year he was injured and this year is closer to what we should expect from him. But otherwise can't argue with much of that. Maybe give Heyward and McClendon slight bumps. But the rest of our D is meh

 

[stillwright]

I would put Tuitt a bit higher.