NFL - Are You Ready For Some Football?! - Off Season

[Al B. Sure!]

Speaking of TD/INT ratio, that's a pretty good measure to determine just how much value a QB is bringing to a team. The higher the ratio, the more TDs per INT a QB is throwing so the more points per opportunity giving up to other team to score points. The only problem is it doesn't consider the absolute number of TDs. You'd probably want a guy who throws 30 TDs and 15 INTs over the game manager who throws 12 TDs and only 3 INTs even though the latter has a TD/INT ratio twice that of the former.

For their whole careers, including injury-shortened and rookie seasons... current players of interest, some recent retirees, and HoFers:

Spoiler:

Rex Grossman: 1.0
Vince Young: 1.0
Jon Kitna: 1.03
Kerry Collins: 1.05
Troy Aikman: 1.17
Warren Moon: 1.24
Jay Cutler: 1.31
John Elway: 1.32
Jim Kelly: 1.35
Matt Hasselbeck: 1.37
Eli Manning: 1.38
Brett Favre: 1.51
Carson Palmer: 1.54
Matt Schaub: 1.59
Michael Vick: 1.60
Kurt Warner: 1.62
David Garrard: 1.64
Dan Marino: 1.66
Ben Roethlisberger: 1.67
Drew Brees: 1.78
Tony Romo: 1.90
Jeff Garcia: 1.93
Joe Montana: 1.96
Donovan McNabb: 2.0
Peyton Manning: 2.01
Steve Young: 2.16
Philip Rivers: 2.34
Tom Brady: 2.53
Aaron Rodgers: 2.72

[H Tower]

What the ****? [B]

Am I crazy or is Ben completely insane?

A little of column A, a little of column B...

[-Jrabbit]

That is an interesting list.
Why not list Ben's mancrushes?

Testaverde 1.03
Flutie (NFL) 1.26

[MRT144]

How did all your teams draft? My seachickens got linemen. We needed them so badly.

[-Jrabbit]

Bears grabbed on OT and a DT with their first two picks. Both positions badly needed and these guys will likely play -- and help -- immediately.

After that, it was meh.

[H Tower]

What's the old saying, you can't reliably evaluate a draft class until after 3 seasons?

For the Bears that would be:
Chris Williams (Round1)((Pick14) - Drafted to be the left tackle, was injured for half his rookie year, in 09 started 11 games at LT and 5 games at RT. In the 2010 he was abysmal at left tackle, was moved to right tackle and ended up playing at guard at the end of the year.
Matt Forte(R2)(P44)- Starting running back for the team the last three years, Averaging 4 yards a rush over those 3 years, has 3236 total rushing yards and is a good receiver catching more than 50 balls in all three years.
Earl Bennett(R3)(P70) - 100 receptions total in the last 2 seasons but only 5 touchdowns.
Marcus Harrison(R3)(P90) - Only played in 5 games last year, and had 3 tackles. He definitely fell out of favor of the coaching staff, Not sure he'll be back.
Craig Steltz(R4)(P120) - Only played in 3 games in 2010, In 2009 and 2008 he mostly played special teams, and had 2 starts at safety.
Zack Bowman(R5)(P142) - Became a starter at cornerback in his second year, had 7 INTs, 67 tackles, in 2010, his numbers in 2010 were way down 0 INTs and 28 tackles
Kellen Davis(R5)(P158)

If Chris Williams can't play at left tackle, or even right tackle, that's a busted pick in my mind. Matt Forte has been an excellent running back for the bears, a good get. Earl Bennet's numbers surprised me, I didn't think he had played all that great, if he catches more TDs next year, the pick will have been ok. Marcus Harrison = Bust, he hasn't performed and when free agency starts should be gone. This next year will decide if Bowman was a worthy draft pick, Steltz hasn't produced enough to be a good pick.

[Al B. Sure!]

H Tower is a Bears' fan, as well?! What the ****?! Did I accidentally wind up on DaBears.com?

[Al B. Sure!]

Giants... the post-SB picking last each round draft...

Kenny Phillips (Round 1, Pick 31): Injured a lot but a good safety when healthy.... B-
Terrell Thomas (Round 2, Pick 63): Ten interceptions over past two years. Solid #2 CB who can now rotate with Prince Amukamara and Aaron Ross.... B
Mario Manningham (Round 3, Pick 95): 944 yards and 9 TDs last year coming out the slot; 822 the year before. Could be #1 receiver if not for Hakeem Nicks/Steve Smith. Bears fans, he was drafted 25 picks AFTER Earl Bennett .... B+
Bryan Kehl (Round 4, Pick 123): In St. Louis now. D-
Jonathan Goff (Round 5, Pick 165): 80 combined tackles last year; C
Andre Woodson (Round 6, Pick 198): No longer backup QB; D-
Robert Henderson (Round 6 Pick 199): No longer in NFL; F


Mario Manningham has been star of the draft while Terrell Thomas and Kenny Philips have been solid. Not much success in later rounds, though I suppose Goff as the second to last pick in the 5th round isn't bad for where he was taken.

Manningham was a steal as the final pick of the 3rd round. Too bad we have these guys named Hakeem Nicks and Steve Smith who are keeping Manningham out of the starting lineup.

[ColdWizard]

How did all your teams draft? My seachickens got linemen. We needed them so badly.

Redskins picked up some DL/OLB help, and some RB/WR depth. Could use more o-line but I read an article about how a bunch of good college linemen weren't drafted so maybe whenever FA starts.

1. Starter OLB (DE)
2. Starter NT/DE
3. Starter WR
4. Backup RB
5. Backup SS, Backup WR
6. Backup RB, Backup WR
7. Backup CB, Backup OG, Backup OLB (DE), Backup DL

[Al B. Sure!]

Redskins picked up some DL/OLB help, and some RB/WR depth. Could use more o-line but I read an article about how a bunch of good college linemen weren't drafted so maybe whenever FA starts.

1. Starter OLB (DE)
2. Starter NT/DE
3. Starter WR
4. Backup RB
5. Backup SS, Backup WR
6. Backup RB, Backup WR
7. Backup CB, Backup OG, Backup OLB (DE), Backup DL

You could use a QB.

[-Jrabbit]

What's the old saying, you can't reliably evaluate a draft class until after 3 seasons?

For the Bears that would be:
Chris Williams (Round1)((Pick14) - Drafted to be the left tackle, was injured for half his rookie year, in 09 started 11 games at LT and 5 games at RT. In the 2010 he was abysmal at left tackle, was moved to right tackle and ended up playing at guard at the end of the year.
Matt Forte(R2)(P44)- Starting running back for the team the last three years, Averaging 4 yards a rush over those 3 years, has 3236 total rushing yards and is a good receiver catching more than 50 balls in all three years.
Earl Bennett(R3)(P70) - 100 receptions total in the last 2 seasons but only 5 touchdowns.
Marcus Harrison(R3)(P90) - Only played in 5 games last year, and had 3 tackles. He definitely fell out of favor of the coaching staff, Not sure he'll be back.
Craig Steltz(R4)(P120) - Only played in 3 games in 2010, In 2009 and 2008 he mostly played special teams, and had 2 starts at safety.
Zack Bowman(R5)(P142) - Became a starter at cornerback in his second year, had 7 INTs, 67 tackles, in 2010, his numbers in 2010 were way down 0 INTs and 28 tackles
Kellen Davis(R5)(P158)

If Chris Williams can't play at left tackle, or even right tackle, that's a busted pick in my mind. Matt Forte has been an excellent running back for the bears, a good get. Earl Bennet's numbers surprised me, I didn't think he had played all that great, if he catches more TDs next year, the pick will have been ok. Marcus Harrison = Bust, he hasn't performed and when free agency starts should be gone. This next year will decide if Bowman was a worthy draft pick, Steltz hasn't produced enough to be a good pick.

You don't have to be a star to be a good draft pick. My take:

CWilliams OL - a disappointment, mostly due to injuries, but seems to have found a home at OG. Bears' version of RGallery - not a bust, but not nearly what we hoped for
MForte RB - very solid pick. A hard worker with a strong skillset and will play hurt. Imagine what he could do with a decent O-line in front of him...
EBennett WR - a chain mover. Look at his 3rd down stats, not his TDs. He's now Cutler's go-to guy under pressure, b/c he's a disciplined route runner. Decent blocker, too.
MHarrison DL - bust. Seems to have some talent but doesn't have the engine or discipline to get it done.
CSteltz S - bust. Special teamer and injury insurance at SS
ZBowman DB - system player at best; no special skills
KDavis TE - good blocker, safety-valve receiver. Just what you would expect late in the draft

Overall, not a disaster. Angelo was epic fail in his attempt to find late-round gems that year.

[Demonbinder]

Gotta agree with JR on both drafts - the one three years ago and this years. And thanks for posting HT. Anytime we can get Alby worked up, esp. about all the Bears fans here, is priceless.

[SlowwHand]

The only reason a Bears fan would like Eli Manning at all is because he looks fairly decent in comparison to most of their own QB's.

[ColdWizard]

What's the old saying, you can't reliably evaluate a draft class until after 3 seasons?

Fred Davis
Everyone else

[EPW]

Football needs to expand its season length to something like 40 games before its considered a real sport. Discuss.