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.
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.