Tim Graham: Are 32 players better then Tom Brady?

[flgreen]

Are 32 players better than Tom Brady?

May, 9, 2011

May 9

11:24

AM ET

By Tim Graham

While I stepped away from the AFC East blog for a week, Khaled Elsayed of Pro Football Focus released a series of articles in which he rated the 101 best players from last season.

The list generated murmurs about Elsayed's sanity because he listed New England Patriots quarterback and reigning (unanimous) MVP Tom Brady at No. 33.

Although grading players off television isn't the same as grading coaches' game film, and grades are only as good as the evaluators and the consistency of their systems, Pro Football Focus at least puts the time in to scrutinize every play from every game in myriad ways.

Elsayed has a basis for his opinion beyond pulling names out of the air, which many readers will assume he did.

Bart Scott, not considered the best inside linebacker on the New York Jets roster, was No. 29.

Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Kyle Williams was rated third behind only Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and San Francisco 49ers defensive end Justin Smith and way ahead of superstars such as Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning and Houston Texans receiver Andre Johnson.

Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis isn't on the list anywhere.

The list is, to be diplomatic, interesting.

The AFC East representatives who did make the list:

3. Kyle Williams, Bills defensive tackle: The only Bill on the chart.

26. Jake Long, Dolphins left tackle: The highest-rated tackle -- right or left.

29. Bart Scott, Jets inside linebacker: Elsayed calls David Harris "inferior" and didn't include him.

30. Nick Mangold, Jets center: The highest rated at his position.

31. Cameron Wake, Dolphins outside linebacker: Dolphins should offer him for Brady, straight up.

33. Tom Brady, Patriots quarterback: Brady was the sixth QB. Hey, at least he beat out Antonio Garay (37th).

60. Rob Gronkowski, Patriots tight end: rated fourth behind Dallas Clark, Marcedes Lewis and Antonio Gates.

67. Logan Mankins, Patriots guard: Run blocking was dominant enough to overcome a half-season of work.

70. D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Jets left tackle: Ahead of Joe Thomas.

71. Devin McCourty, Patriots cornerback: Ahead of Asante Samuel and Brent Grimes.

73. Sione Pouha, Jets nose tackle: Combination of size and hustle mentioned as reason he's so highly rated.

85. Shaun Ellis, Jets defensive end: Division-leading fifth Jets player on the list.

89. Paul Soliai, Dolphins nose tackle: Elsayed said his final nine weeks graded among best in the NFL.

99. Anthony Fasano, Dolphins tight end: On the list for his blocking acumen.

[Klecko73isGod]

Are 32 players better than Tom Brady?

May, 9, 2011

May 9

11:24

AM ET

By Tim Graham

While I stepped away from the AFC East blog for a week, Khaled Elsayed of Pro Football Focus released a series of articles in which he rated the 101 best players from last season.

The list generated murmurs about Elsayed's sanity because he listed New England Patriots quarterback and reigning (unanimous) MVP Tom Brady at No. 33.

Although grading players off television isn't the same as grading coaches' game film, and grades are only as good as the evaluators and the consistency of their systems, Pro Football Focus at least puts the time in to scrutinize every play from every game in myriad ways.

Elsayed has a basis for his opinion beyond pulling names out of the air, which many readers will assume he did.

Bart Scott, not considered the best inside linebacker on the New York Jets roster, was No. 29.

Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Kyle Williams was rated third behind only Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and San Francisco 49ers defensive end Justin Smith and way ahead of superstars such as Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning and Houston Texans receiver Andre Johnson.

Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis isn't on the list anywhere.

The list is, to be diplomatic, interesting.

The AFC East representatives who did make the list:

3. Kyle Williams, Bills defensive tackle: The only Bill on the chart.

26. Jake Long, Dolphins left tackle: The highest-rated tackle -- right or left.

29. Bart Scott, Jets inside linebacker: Elsayed calls David Harris "inferior" and didn't include him.

30. Nick Mangold, Jets center: The highest rated at his position.

31. Cameron Wake, Dolphins outside linebacker: Dolphins should offer him for Brady, straight up.

33. Tom Brady, Patriots quarterback: Brady was the sixth QB. Hey, at least he beat out Antonio Garay (37th).

60. Rob Gronkowski, Patriots tight end: rated fourth behind Dallas Clark, Marcedes Lewis and Antonio Gates.

67. Logan Mankins, Patriots guard: Run blocking was dominant enough to overcome a half-season of work.

70. D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Jets left tackle: Ahead of Joe Thomas. 71. Devin McCourty, Patriots cornerback: Ahead of Asante Samuel and Brent Grimes.

73. Sione Pouha, Jets nose tackle: Combination of size and hustle mentioned as reason he's so highly rated.

85. Shaun Ellis, Jets defensive end: Division-leading fifth Jets player on the list.

89. Paul Soliai, Dolphins nose tackle: Elsayed said his final nine weeks graded among best in the NFL.

99. Anthony Fasano, Dolphins tight end: On the list for his blocking acumen.

I got no problem with Brick being ahead of Joe Thomas. He had a significantly better year than Joe Thomas in 2010. In fact, he should have been the starting LT on the AFC ProBowl squad last year. Thomas got the nod based on rep alone.

[Maxman]

Bart Scott was 29th? Revis didn't make the list? Is that true?

Crazy list if so.

[Matt39]

33rd? Me?

[jason423]

They have a very interesting grading system at PFF which is where the rankings come from (and considering ESPN is partnered with FO I have to think mentioning PFF is a no-no). The thing with the PFF grading is that a player like Brady, who last year played a very efficient style of football, on a team with an offensive design that saw guys getting wide open will be penalized for not making the plays that they consider special. The hard throw into coverage, the deep pass to a guy with a 1/2 step lead on the coverage, the 3rd and 10 completion, etc...Its different than FO which more or less does not take those things into consideration and the efficient QB is usually graded higher than the chance taker. Bradys 2nd and 5 throw to Woodhead that goes for 30 yards gets graded a 0 (average and expected) by PFF whereas FO probably grades it highly.

For a player like Scott they try to evaluate what he should be doing and the end result. The fact is most plays Scott is basically a battering ram designed to take out a lead blocker to allow Harris or a safety to make a play. Most of the time he does well and rarely grades negative. He grades better than Harris simply because Harris is not making impact plays right now and his pass coverage has been poor at times. Even when the completion isnt given up if they can see Harris trailing a RB or simply not covering the flats when they believe he is supposed to he will grade negative.