Off-season NFL power rankings

[Sam Hall]

Some people think early power rankings don't matter, but I always get lots of replies when I post them. The Patriots own the top spot and the Chiefs open at #20, which I think is fair.

Damon Huard played well last year and Brodie Croyle might have a bright future, but it's pretty clear that QB is a major issue in Kansas City right now.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/powerr...t&lid=tab1pos2

[Buck]

I dont get it...I think that the Chiefs should be ranked higher solely on the division they play in...They may be mediocre again, however, mediocre in the AFC West is pretty good. Hell they even made the playoffs last year being less than mediocre.

[CoMoChief]

Originally Posted by BuckinKaeding

I dont get it...I think that the Chiefs should be ranked higher solely on the division they play in...They may be mediocre again, however, mediocre in the AFC West is pretty good. Hell they even made the playoffs last year being less than mediocre.

The thing you gotta realize is that everyone in our division got better as well. Not to mention we are starting pretty much a rookie QB this season with an at best mediocre Oline. I think the rating we got is just about right. Though there are some teams that shouldnt be ranked as high as they are but its like that with just about any power rankings list that comes out at this time of year.

[ClevelandBronco]

Well, they have the Broncos at #7 in the league, but that's only good enough for #5 in the AFC, which means they're still on the bubble according to these premature rankings.

We'll see.

[Direckshun]

I have the Chargers at #2.

Broncos at #8.

Chiefs at #12.

Raiders #26.

[CoMoChief]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

I have the Chargers at #2.

Broncos at #8.

Chiefs at #12.

Raiders #26.

Thats way too high for the Chiefs considering we are starting a rookie QB pretty much along with a shaky Oline with sub par WR's.

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

Thats way too high for the Chiefs considering we are starting a rookie QB pretty much along with a shaky Oline with sub par WR's.

WRs got upgraded, OL was slightly upgraded, and QB situation will be better with a much better D.

12 seems fair.

[beer bacon]

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

Thats way too high for the Chiefs considering we are starting a rookie QB pretty much along with a shaky Oline with sub par WR's.

We need to get Croyle a concussion to open up the season. Maybe that we can make the playoffs again. A broken QB, shaky O-line, and below average WRs carried us surprisingly far last season.

[CoMoChief]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

WRs got upgraded, OL was slightly upgraded, and QB situation will be better with a much better D.

12 seems fair.

We are basically playing a QB that has never played a full game in the NFL. Our defense isn't good enough yet to really carry us either. I wanna be proven wrong believe me, but I think you need to take off the homer glasses. WR core is still amongst the worst in the NFL/ Oline improved a little bit but not much. McIntosh is better than Black but that's not really saying much considering half the people on this board are better than Black.

[CoMoChief]

Originally Posted by beer bacon

We need to get Croyle a concussion to open up the season. Maybe that we can make the playoffs again. A broken QB, shaky O-line, and below average WRs carried us surprisingly far last season.

We are playing a ROOKIE QB pretty much. Do people really forget that around here? Croyle isn't better than Cutler and Rivers. Will he be eventually?? Maybe, only time will tell. We play alot of great defenses this season which doesnt go well with our situation. I think we will have a couple 5-6 win seasons before we get really suited in the position to make a SB run.

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

We are basically playing a QB that has never played a full game in the NFL. Our defense isn't good enough yet to really carry us either. I wanna be proven wrong believe me, but I think you need to take off the homer glasses. WR core is still amongst the worst in the NFL/ Oline improved a little bit but not much. McIntosh is better than Black but that's not really saying much considering half the people on this board are better than Black.

Hey, we had a square-shaped tire for a LT and we rolled into the playoffs. This time we have one that fits. Spin it how you want to, but that's an upgrade at a major position of vulnerability.

Bowe + Kennison knocks dead Kennison + Parker. We also have a slew of young guys who, if just half of them pan out, solidify our WR unit for the next five to ten years.

Our D features two of the most prolific CBs in the game, two of the most promising S's in the game, two of the most potent DEs in the game, three incredibly fast, proven LBs, and an upgraded DT unit. Better than last year's unit and a threat to go top 10.

Count in the Arrowhead bump and we're a much more solid team than you give us credit for.

[CoMoChief]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

Hey, we had a square-shaped tire for a LT and we rolled into the playoffs. This time we have one that fits. Spin it how you want to, but that's an upgrade at a major position of vulnerability.

Bowe + Kennison knocks dead Kennison + Parker. We also have a slew of young guys who, if just half of them pan out, solidify our WR unit for the next five to ten years.

Our D features two of the most prolific CBs in the game, two of the most promising S's in the game, two of the most potent DEs in the game, three incredibly fast, proven LBs, and an upgraded DT unit. Better than last year's unit and a threat to go top 10.

Count in the Arrowhead bump and we're a much more solid team than you give us credit for.

I never said we didnt upgrade at LT. We did, but it's not that great of an upgrade. Almost anyone in this league that starts at LT is better than Black. I truly believe that Black was the worst LT in this league.

We are playing a ROOKIE QB in the NFL.

Bowe is a rookie, which history will tell you that most rookie WR's don't have that much of a impact in this league.

Our CB's arent getting any younger. We saw what I thought, the declining of Ty Law right before our very eyes last season and Surtain will be 31 yrs old. Oh yeah, just who in the ****ing blue hell is gonna play CB after those 2?!?!?!? Sapp is TERRIBLE in coverage. I can't even name off the top of my head who is on the depth chart behind them.

Jared Allen is out for 4 games. Hali was better than McBride coming out as a rookie.

We have promising safeties, but Pollard never saw the field last season. Page didn't have a bad season, but the jury is still out whether he can be consistant as a starter.

This defense if it gels can go top 10 IMO. That's a HUGE if. This team is in the biggest transition of youth since I can remember. There are gonna be some major bumps along the way. There are gonna be games that we will lose because of lack of experience. I wouldnt count the Arrowhead factor all that much because if we are losing no one is gonna go to games. Thats a fact. We have some of the best fans in all of professional sports but its just human nautre to not go to the games if the team is losing. This team has never had a 5-11 season under Carl. Having that said our offense I think is gonna be in the bottom 6-7 in the NFL. Can't win games if you dont score points.

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

I never said we didnt upgrade at LT. We did, but it's not that great of an upgrade. Almost anyone in this league that starts at LT is better than Black. I truly believe that Black was the worst LT in this league.

We are playing a ROOKIE QB in the NFL.

Bowe is a rookie, which history will tell you that most rookie WR's don't have that much of a impact in this league.

Our CB's arent getting any younger. We saw what I thought, the declining of Ty Law right before our very eyes last season and Surtain will be 31 yrs old. Oh yeah, just who in the ****ing blue hell is gonna play CB after those 2?!?!?!? Sapp is TERRIBLE in coverage. I can't even name off the top of my head who is on the depth chart behind them.

Jared Allen is out for 4 games. Hali is better than McBride coming out as a rookie.

We have promising safeties, but Pollard never saw the field last season. Page didn't have a bad season, but the jury is still out whether he can do that as a starter.

This defense if it gels can go top 10 IMO. Having that said our offense I think is gonna be in the bottom 6-7 in the NFL. Can't win games if you dont score points.

I'm not saying this team is bulletproof.

Croyle needs a learning curve. So does most of our receiving corps. So do our young safeties. Our OL is far from stellar and Allen's gone four games.

Only a couple of those are major problems that I can see: Croyle and Allen. Our safeties, OL, and receiving corps are all upgrades.

I'm not concerned if our CBs are declining just yet -- Surtain played very well at times last year and Law garnered 7 interceptions. I'll live with that.

It's a good team, with loads of upside. What I'm saying is that this team has more going for it than 19 other teams in the league.

[CoMoChief]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

I'm not saying this team is bulletproof.

Croyle needs a learning curve. So does most of our receiving corps. So do our young safeties. Our OL is far from stellar and Allen's gone four games.

Only a couple of those are major problems that I can see: Croyle and Allen. Our safeties, OL, and receiving corps are all upgrades.

I'm not concerned if our CBs are declining just yet -- Surtain played very well at times last year and Law garnered 7 interceptions. I'll live with that.

It's a good team, with loads of upside. What I'm saying is that this team has more going for it than 19 other teams in the league.

It's a HUGE problem when one of your "major" problems is the teams QUARTERBACK!!! By far this is the most important position on the field. Does it not concern you that Allen isn't working out or doing shit to get prepared for the season? Allen hands down is better than Turk, which is a huge loss as you said.

I dont see how you can say that Pollard basically playing as a rookie on the field is an upgrade. Wesley had a down year no doubt, but the guy nearly grabs 5-6 INT's a season before last year. There's gonna be a large learning curve for a lot of players. We are in transition of being a young team. young teams have to go through this and thats fine. But you can't say certain positions are upgrades when those certain positions are being replaced by players who have yet to see the field.

The jury is still out on this team. There are alot of changes. Many new faces, alot of them being rookies. 20 is a fair grade.

[luv]

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

It's a HUGE problem when one of your "major" problems is the teams QUARTERBACK!!! By far this is the most important position on the field. Does it not concern you that Allen isn't working out or doing shit to get prepared for the season? Allen hands down is better than Turk, which is a huge loss as you said.

I dont see how you can say that Pollard basically playing as a rookie on the field is an upgrade. Wesley had a down year no doubt, but the guy nearly grabs 5-6 INT's a season before last year. There's gonna be a large learning curve for a lot of players. We are in transition of being a young team. young teams have to go through this and thats fine. But you can't say certain positions are upgrades when those certain positions are being replaced by players who have yet to see the field.

The jury is still out on this team. There are alot of changes. Many new faces, alot of them being rookies. 20 is a fair grade.

For some reason, this post really makes me want to go to mini camp that much more.

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

It's a HUGE problem when one of your "major" problems is the teams QUARTERBACK!!! By far this is the most important position on the field. Does it not concern you that Allen isn't working out or doing shit to get prepared for the season? Allen hands down is better than Turk, which is a huge loss as you said.

I dont see how you can say that Pollard basically playing as a rookie on the field is an upgrade. Wesley had a down year no doubt, but the guy nearly grabs 5-6 INT's a season before last year. There's gonna be a large learning curve for a lot of players. We are in transition of being a young team. young teams have to go through this and thats fine. But you can't say certain positions are upgrades when those certain positions are being replaced by players who have yet to see the field.

The jury is still out on this team. There are alot of changes. Many new faces, alot of them being rookies. 20 is a fair grade.

Your problem, said with all due respect, is the "curse of knowing too much."

I guarantee you if you were as into the other 31 teams in the NFL as you were the Chiefs, privy to every rumor and intimate knowledge of their depth charts and training camps, you'd be as hamstrung by doubts about 27 teams in this league.

The guys you name -- Croyle, Allen, Pollard, Turk -- these guys are gamers. They show up. They play. And when they will, we are among the better teams in the NFL.

You can't just think yourself out of this stuff due to the 15,000 fears you have specifically because you're a Chiefs fan. Other teams have them, many of the elite teams have gigantic questions that dwarf ours in comparison.

We're set. We're going to be okay. We have the talent, we have Arrowhead, and we have lots of upgrades on a playoff team with very few downgrades.

Being a fan can be fun. I'd welcome the experience if I were you.