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SnakeLH2006
05-24-2012, 04:07 AM
http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_/id/42348/packers-atop-2015-nfl-power-rankings

A committee of ESPN experts -- including Trent Dilfer, Mel Kiper, Gary Horton, Matt Williamson -- assembled this offseason to create a unique version of our traditional Power Rankings.

Naturally, NFC North teams are featured prominently in what amounts to a three-year projection of Power Rankings for the 2015 season (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7937696/nfl-future-power-rankings-projecting-every-franchise-entering-2015-season) http://assets.espn.go.com/icons/in.gif. The Green Bay Packers (http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/gb/green-bay-packers) received the top spot as the team best equipped to compete three years from now, while the Detroit Lions (http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/det/detroit-lions) were not far behind at No. 6.

The file requires an Insider subscription to read in full, but I can pass along where our four teams ranked and also a glimpse at the methodology used. Here is how the committee evaluated each team and the degree of impact each category had:

Roster (32.5 percent of total score): Players under 30 emphasized
Coaching (20 percent): Capability and stability of current staff
Quarterback (17.5 percent): Where quarterback play would be in three years
Draft (15 percent): Based on team's 2012 class and how many picks available in next three years.
Front office (15 percent): Ability to manage roster and market's attraction to free agents.


Now on to the NFC North rankings with comments from me:

1. Green Bay Packers
Seifert comment: The presence of a 28-year-old MVP quarterback and one of the NFL's top general manager-coach combinations puts the Packers on an ideal long-term path.

6. Detroit Lions
Seifert comment: Quarterback Matthew Stafford (http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/12483/matthew-stafford) had a 5,000-yard season before his 24th birthday. That's a nice start. General manager Martin Mayhew (http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/6864/martin-mayhew) has elevated the team's talent level every season of his tenure and most of the Lions' key players -- Stafford, receiver Calvin Johnson (http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/10447/calvin-johnson), tight end Brandon Pettigrew (http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/12549/brandon-pettigrew), defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/13234/ndamukong-suh), safety Louis Delmas (http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/12528/louis-delmas) and linebacker Stephen Tulloch (http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/9702/stephen-tulloch) -- are under 30.

17. Chicago Bears (http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/chi/chicago-bears)
Seifert comment: Jay Cutler (http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/9597/jay-cutler) is a legitimate franchise quarterback, but the best players on the Bears' defense are all over 30. That list includes defensive end Julius Peppers (http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/3530/julius-peppers), linebackers Brian Urlacher (http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/2140/brian-urlacher) and Lance Briggs (http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/4526/lance-briggs), and cornerback Charles Tillman (http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/4493/charles-tillman).

31. Minnesota Vikings (http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/min/minnesota-vikings)
Seifert comment: Questions about quarterback Christian Ponder (http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/13966/christian-ponder)'s long-term prospects made it difficult for the committee to project future success. There are also concerns about a lack of young impact players on defense. Defensive end Jared Allen (http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/5651/jared-allen) is 30 and linebacker Chad Greenway (http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/9603/chad-greenway) is 29.

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Worst D..yet best QB trumps all. Snake agrees we're elite.

Gunakor
05-24-2012, 04:13 AM
It must be the offseason...

SnakeLH2006
05-24-2012, 04:57 AM
Hard to disagree w the rankings tho...wonder where the 9-7 champs wind up?

Gunakor
05-24-2012, 05:13 AM
Thing is, one good move changes everything. Dallas Cowboys trade Hershel Walker to the Vikings for THREE Super Bowl trophies, for example. But back in '89 you wouldn't find a single expert that could project Dallas to be in the top half of the league in '92, nevermind being the cream of the crop.

It's easy to disagree with the rankings depending on which team you pull for. Everybody's optimistic in May. Well, now that Al Davis kicked the bucket, everybody's optimistic in May. Every move their team made over the past 2 months has been the move to put their team over the top, and such good fortune will continue over the next 3 years, and every fan believes their team should be atop the 2015 power rankings. And in the end it's all bullshit, even for Green Bay.

SnakeLH2006
05-24-2012, 05:18 AM
My girl is a Raiders fan...but GB is still 12-14 wins..C'mon Gun...

Gunakor
05-24-2012, 05:19 AM
3 years from now? Are you sure? A lot can change in 3 years. That's why this whole exercise is silly. All the NFL experts at ESPN have too much time on their hands at the moment. Thus, it must be the offseason.

SnakeLH2006
05-24-2012, 05:25 AM
Arod healthy = 12 wins min. 2011 was worst D ever = 15-1.

Gunakor
05-24-2012, 05:38 AM
AR played out of his mind in 2011. I would LOVE for that to be the typical year for his career. But in reality I don't think that'll be the case. He's gonna be a top QB in the league but he's not gonna finish every season with a 120+ QB rating. That's ridiculous to even imagine.

denverYooper
05-24-2012, 10:54 AM
It must be the offseason...

At least we're winning!

denverYooper
05-24-2012, 10:58 AM
AR played out of his mind in 2011. I would LOVE for that to be the typical year for his career. But in reality I don't think that'll be the case. He's gonna be a top QB in the league but he's not gonna finish every season with a 120+ QB rating. That's ridiculous to even imagine.

While I don't think 120+ PR will be his norm, I don't think it's far-fetched to imagine 100+, which with a reasonable D should be enough to get to 12 wins in many years. Snake gave a 3 game discount on the wins. It's also ridiculous to imagine that the pass defense will be so horrible every year.

Bossman641
05-24-2012, 01:38 PM
Read the article, it was stupid. They projected Brady (38 in 2015) to still be going along at the level of a top quarterback. I don't see it.