ESPN's Bill Williamson Ranks AFCW's Top 40 Players

[CoMoChief]

http://espn.go.com/blog/afcwest/post...n-the-afc-west


1. Philip Rivers, San Diego: He is an elite player at the most important position on the field.

2. Nnamdi Asomugha, Oakland: There’s a reason he’ll be the top prize in free agency.

3. Jamaal Charles, Kansas City: One of the NFL’s most dynamic young players.

4. Antonio Gates, San Diego: He should end up in Canton.

5. Tamba Hali, Kansas City: One of the NFL’s best defensive players.

6. Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City: He is a game-changing talent.

7. Richard Seymour, Oakland: Respected veteran changed Oakland’s defense.

8. Vincent Jackson, San Diego: Expect a strong rebound in 2011.

9. Ryan Clady, Denver: One of the game's premier left tackles.

10. Champ Bailey, Denver: Even at 33, he is special.

11. Eric Berry, Kansas City: He should be the game’s best safety soon.

12. Nick Hardwick, San Diego: An anchor to a strong offensive line.

13. Darren McFadden, Oakland: He is developing into a star.

=> 14. Matt Cassel, Kansas City: Cassel has to continue to make strides.

15. Zach Miller, Oakland: He can make Oakland’s offense special.

16. Derrick Johnson, Kansas City: He is a serious playmaker.

17. Quentin Jammer, San Diego: Solid veteran is an anchor to a good defense.

18. Kris Dielman, San Diego: A steady hand on the Chargers’ line.

19. D.J. Williams, Denver: He is a tackling machine.

20. Marcus McNeill, San Diego: He’s an upper-echelon left tackle.

21. Shaun Phillips, San Diego: He is one of the division’s best pass-rushers.

22. Brandon Flowers, Kansas City: One of the game’s best young cornerbacks.

23. Eric Weddle, San Diego: A hard-nosed playmaker at safety.

24. Glenn Dorsey, Kansas City: He came on strong in 2010.

25. Tommy Kelly, Oakland: Massive defensive tackle had a big season in 2010.

26. Elvis Dumervil, Denver: If Dumervil bounces back from sitting out in 2010, he should be ranked higher next year.

27. Rolando McClain, Oakland: McClain has a chance to be one of the division’s better linebackers.

28. Brandon Lloyd, Denver: Lloyd came out of nowhere for a special 2010.

29. Shane Lechler, Oakland: The game’s best kicking specialist.

30. Ryan Lilja, Kansas City: A gritty, tough veteran guard.

31. Malcom Floyd, San Diego: He can make the spectacular catch look easy.

32. Brian Waters, Kansas City: A great veteran presence on a good line.

33. Jason Campbell, Oakland: Oakland will be depending on Campbell a lot this season.

34. Kamerion Wimbley, Oakland: He can get sacks in bunches.

35. Tony Moeaki, Kansas City: Second-year tight end is a player to watch.

36. Lamarr Houston, Oakland: He has a chance to be special.

37. Antonio Garay, San Diego: He had a strong 2010 season at 31.

38. Ryan Mathews, San Diego: He showed flashes as a rookie.

39. Michael Bush, Oakland: He and McFadden form a nice tandem.

40. Thomas Jones, Kansas City: He can still help the Chiefs at 33.

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by milkman

I am not saying that he hasn't.

I am simply pointing out that there's a lot of talent on this team that hasn't, and that's why there some disagreement.

I won't argue that players like DJ, Berry, Hali, Bowe, and even guys like Belcher and Gilberry have more upside. More physical talents.

But they haven't put it all together. They don't have their complete game down yet.

Flowers is a James Hasty. He isn't flashy, he doesn't put up big numbers, but he prevents completions by any means necessary.

Consistently. And he's a spectacular tackler.

When you consider his size he's playing above his ability...

[keg in kc]

Originally Posted by Rausch

Based on numbers (sacks, INT's, etc.) or production?

Passes defensed, times thrown at, etc?...

Well, I was joking about going all day, but if you want an answer, I'd say that it's based on watching the games last season. His injuries clearly hobbled him. Carr appeared to be a better corner for most of the season, particularly in the second half of the year, which is why his complete absence from the list is curious. Flowers was not I thought, for the majority of the year, what he was the first couple of games. I don't disagree that he can be James Hasty, but the fact remains that once he got hurt, he just wasn't the same. Although I thought he was still very good.

And I don't think he's playing above his ability at all. He's exactly the player I thought he would be when they drafted him. Maybe in a perfect world he's an inch taller, but I think that's overblown. The guy's a football player. He was at Tech and he is here.

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

Well, I was joking about going all day, but if you want an answer, I'd say that it's based on watching the games last season. His injuries clearly hobbled him. Carr appeared to be a better corner for most of the season, particularly in the second half of the year, which is why his complete absence from the list is curious. Flowers was not I thought, for the majority of the year, what he was the first couple of games. I don't disagree that he can be James Hasty, but the fact remains that once he got hurt, he just wasn't the same. Although I thought he was still very good.

And I don't think he's playing above his ability at all. He's exactly the player I thought he would be when they drafted him. Maybe in a perfect world he's an inch taller, but I think that's overblown. The guy's a football player. He was at Tech and he is here.

Carr is a more talented player. He's gifted, but less......polished.

It reminds me a lot of the Hasty/Carter days.

Flowers doesn't have the strength or size of a Hasty but he plays that polished, mature role. Carr doesn't have the pure talent and limitless upside Carter had but he's got the bigger upside and unrealized potential.

This could be THAT KIND of secondary.

Berry has the talent to be better than any safety we've ever had. And we've had some damned good safeties.

All I'm saying is that, AS OF NOW, none are more valuable or polished than Flowers.

Flowers is a player NOW. Probowl contender NOW.

[Gadzooks]

Originally Posted by H5N1

my objective analysis (trying to remove homerism from the picture) of the chiefs on the list (and the ones NOT on the list)

ranked too low: brandon flowers and brandon carr (criminal that he's not on the list).

ranked too high: matt cassel (though he could go higher if he has another good year) and thomas jones (shouldn't BE on the list).

the rest are about right, really.

guys from other teams that I question... champ bailey, antonio gates (he's freaking injured too much to be that high), nick hardwick/kris dielman/marcus mcneill (all three are good, but not top 20 good), quentin jammer (way too high--solid doesn't=top 20), ryan clady (he's coming off of injury--be interesting to see if he comes back as good as when he was healthy), ryan mathews (what did he REALLY show as a rookie?!?)

there are others, but those are the only ones that pop out to me.

Jammer is underrated He's well above solid and while he's not a Nnamdi, he's almost up there with Champ right now in terms of coverage and is a more punishing tackler.
Ryan Mathews was probably picked based on potential.

[keg in kc]

Originally Posted by Rausch

All I'm saying is that, AS OF NOW, none are more valuable or polished than Flowers.

Flowers is a player NOW. Probowl contender NOW.

I was simply talking on-field performance last season. Flowers was not a better player then, not by midseason. I think the larger factor, as I mentioned, was Flowers being slowed by injury, but Carr made a great deal of progress.

If you ask me which one will be better in 2011, I would assume Flowers, if he's healthy.

[Reaper16]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

And I don't think he's playing above his ability at all. He's exactly the player I thought he would be when they drafted him. Maybe in a perfect world he's an inch taller, but I think that's overblown. The guy's a football player. He was at Tech and he is here.

I think he is playing above his scouted, perceived ability, just a little bit. He was pegged by scouts before the draft as a cover-2 specialist, as a guy who can be lockdown for 10-15 yards from the line of scrimmage. That's why he was available in the 2nd round, and likely why the Herm/Tampa 2 Chiefs took him. As evidenced by his marvelous play last season before he got hurt, Flowers has transcended that cover-2 specialist perception. He's capable of playing at a high level in a scheme that lots of scouts didn't see him playing in.

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by Gadzooks

Jammer is underrated He's well above solid and while he's not a Nnamdi, he's almost up there with Champ right now in terms of coverage and is a more punishing tackler.
Ryan Mathews was probably picked based on potential.

Jammer is being punished by the media for not being the standout they expected.

I think if Marty was still HC he'd be getting much better publicity...

[Gadzooks]

I love how Bronco Billy never gives the criteria for his lists.

[Gadzooks]

Originally Posted by Rausch

Jammer is being punished by the media for not being the standout they expected.

I think if Marty was still HC he'd be getting much better publicity...

Yeah, he's taken a lot of time to develop considering he was a 5th overall pick.

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

I was simply talking on-field performance last season. Flowers was not a better player then, not by midseason. I think the larger factor, as I mentioned, was Flowers being slowed by injury, but Carr made a great deal of progress.

If you ask me which one will be better in 2011, I would assume Flowers, if he's healthy.

I love Flowers, but I hope not.

Carr does have more upside. I'd hope we could find a way to pull it out.

Even with the f'ed up offseason and perhaps non-preseason...

[keg in kc]

Originally Posted by Reaper16

I think he is playing above his scouted, perceived ability, just a little bit. He was pegged by scouts before the draft as a cover-2 specialist, as a guy who can be lockdown for 10-15 yards from the line of scrimmage. That's why he was available in the 2nd round, and likely why the Herm/Tampa 2 Chiefs took him. As evidenced by his marvelous play last season before he got hurt, Flowers has transcended that cover-2 specialist perception. He's capable of playing at a high level in a scheme that lots of scouts didn't see him playing in.

Well, you know me and my opinion of 'draft experts'. I loved the pick at the time.

At least I think I did.

[ChiefsCountry]

Man just think if we had Rivers. We would own this next decade so easily it wouldn't even be close.

[Gadzooks]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Man just think if we had Rivers. We would own this next decade so easily it wouldn't even be close.

Nobody wants Rivers. Didn’t you hear, he’s a whiney bitch.

[JohnnyV13]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

It's the Bicep Effect. In any pickup game in any sport, the guy with big biceps will get picked earlier than he warrants.

You see this truth in the great sport of poon chasing.

[Mr. Laz]

if CoMo keeps it up Cassel should have a fine season