Analysis: He isn't the big hitter some of the other safeties can be, but he's the best playmaker of them all. And he's a willing tackler.
1. Troy Polamalu, Steelers Comment: Polamalu does it all. He hasn't been healthy for two straight seasons, but went to two straight unearned Pro Bowls. Last year, he was the best safety in the NFL. Polamalu displayed Zone Coverage range comaprable to, but not as good as Ed Reed. He also displayed strong Man Coverage and the ability to make plays in the box, evidenced by 73 Tackles and four run stuffs.
Analysis: He showed his value to the nation last year during the Cardinals' Super run. He's a violent tackler and excels in the blitz game.
2. Kerry Rhodes, Jets Comment: While Troy Polamalu was making unwarranted Pro Bowl and All-Pro teams, Rhodes was the guy playing at the level that everyone believed Polamalu had been playing at. Rhodes is so good that in Mangini's system he was simply a "Safety" because he could play both roles well. He showed strong Zone and Man coverage, as well as an ability to time blitzes and stuff the run.
Analysis: He bounced back from a sub-par 2007 season to have a good 2008 season. He's improved in pass protection greatly from his early days.
3. Ed Reed, Ravens Comment: If you prefer a prototypical free safety that merely picks off passes, than Reed is your guy and the best safety in the NFL. If you want a playmaker that can score once he gets the ball in his hands, than Reed is by far the best safety. However, if you want a guy who has an all-around game with coverage ability and can play in the box while blitzing at an elite level, then he isn't your guy. He's only got Zone Coverage left in the tank.
Analysis: The only thing that has held him back has been the injuries. If he can stay healthy, he can be as good as any at this position.
4. Adrian Wilson, Cardinals Comment: Wilson is an absolute monster in the box. In fact, he's 1.5 sacks and two interceptions away from becoming the fourth member of the 20-20 Club. He has 38 plays behind the line of scrimmage since 2005. The 2nd best guy, Kerry Rhodes, is 11 entire plays behind the line of scrimmage behind Wilson. That's how dominating he is. He could easily be higher if not for the fact that his Zone Coverage isn't very strong.
Analysis: Shocked to see him this high? You shouldn't be. He's this good. He's improved as a tackler each of the past two seasons.
5. Chris Hope, Titans Comment: Hope is a guy who usually doesn't get the love he should, but he's one hell of a safety. In Pittsburgh, he allowed Troy Polamalu to flourish in the box. In Tennessee, he's the guy in the box now. Hope has played both safety positions at a high level. He is one of the hardest hitting safeties I have ever seen. He has some of the best range in Zone Coverage, and maneuvers well in the box. He's just not incredibly flashy.
Analysis: In his second season, he showed why he was a first-round pick. He's a good tackler and has good range.
6. Michael Griffin, Titans Comment: Griffin was part of a draft class that included Tanard Jackson, LaRon Landry and Reggie Nelson. These players will look inferior to Griffin if he continues to play like this. Griffin has excellent range in both Zone and Man Coverage and could become the league's premier free safety for years if he tackles better and shed blocks better when he comes into the box.
Analysis: He outplayed Brian Dawkins last season, but nobody noticed. They will now that Dawkins is gone.
7. Yeremiah Bell, Dolphins Comment: If Bob Sanders gets credit for revolutionizing the Colts' rush defense, then Bell should get the same credit for the Dolphins. In 2005, Bell was primarily a special teamer and Miami was ranked No. 17 against the run. The following year, he became the starter after five games and the Dolphins shot up to No. 8.
Analysis: Coming into his third season he has proved to be a better cover player than expected. He's on the verge of really breaking out.
8. Nick Collins, Packers Comment: Collins is a guy that impressed many at the Combine and showed off his blazing 40 time, but he didn't do much until last year. While a lot of guys take advantage of overthrown and underthrown passes, Collins was actually undercutting well thrown passes and then housing them last season. It looks as if he finally understands coverage responsibilities and he's working with a good secondary. What's not to like?
Analysis: He's a good cover safety, which is a must in this era, but he isn't a great tackler. He needs to tackle better.
9. Bob Sanders, Colts Comment: Sanders is one strong player in the box, but not better than Bell, Dawkins, Polamalu, Rhodes or Wilson. Being the 6th best in the box as a strong safety isn't bad. There's no denying that Sanders also has a Dawkins like mentality and wants to be a leader. Sanders knows how to track down the ball carrier. He could be higher on the list if he could stay healthy and was more of a playmaker.
Analysis: He's a rangy safety who provides a leadership to the back four. He has a chance, if he tackles better, to be an elite safety.
10. Brian Dawkins, Broncos Comment: If B-Dawk hadn't gone to Denver this year he wouldn't be on this list. Denver has shown an ability to take old "over-the-top" safeties and revitalize them by placing them in the box. Jim Johnson utilized a three-safety set, which placed Dawkins in the box. When doing so, Dawkins had three sacks, seven stuffs and six forced fumbles. He can play this way at a high level. Just don't ask him to drop 10+ yards. John Lynch did well in Denver his last three years doing this.
It was already rediculous that Prisco decided not to put Clinton Portis on his top 10 running backs list. But it is absolutely inexplicable for London Fletcher to not be on his top 10 ILB list. I believe that London Fletcher has the most tackles of anybody in the league since 2003, and his numbers have yet to drop off. He is a top ILB in the league, and I really don't understand
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Rothlisberger doesn't even warrant a top 10 place in your rankings? he has only won two superbowls and did it last year with the worst offensive line ever by a super bowl champion.
Yes Manning wins... in the regular season... but he is the king of the "one and done" in the playoffs, which happened again last year. Give the 2008 MVP to Warner, who was brilliant in the playoffs... and move Manning down to 4th on your list, with Brady, Warner, and Brees all moving up... and possibly Rivers too...
Tom Brady is still the best qb in the nfl. (PERIOD). I understand Peyton was the league's mvp last season, and I do believe that he deserved to be. However, Tom has proved since 2001 that their is nobody better. He did it without any star receivers, and now that he finally has them, he is showing the type of stats that he can put up on a yearly basis.
The Guru is back. Thanks to the over 115 people who responded to my last post, just 24 hours ago. I appreciate all comments, good and bad. Most people "get it". Most people see that Andre Johnson is all "potential" who has yet to put up an outstanding season. Herm Edwards said "You play to win the games". And you win the games by scoring more points t
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Prisco, you've got no credibility! How can you possibly leave Aaron Rodgers off your top-10 quarterback list? He throws for 4000 yards and almost 30 tds in '08 and you think Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger are going to out-perform him? Taking any bets, Pete? Rodgers has to be the most under-respected player in the NFL, mostly because he inherited the job amidst all this Favre mania, which
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For once I actually agree with Mr. Prisco on the majority of this list. P. Manning, Brady and Brees are exactly as I would have started out the top three and for once Prisco puts aside his love of Brady.
With this said I feel that Big Ben is much too high on this list. Yes, He has two rings, but he also plays for one of the most dominate teams in the NFL on defense every year. Why do
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I guess Jay Cutler is out of the Top 10 because he doesn't have any good wide receivers, right? I am not comparing Cutler to Favre. But I guess guys like Robert Brooks, Antonio Freeman and Donald Driver all would have had the same type of careers no matter who their QB's were. Point: QB's make the WR, not the other way around. But this is another thoug
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I smell a Browns/Ravens fan here. I guess Super Bowls don't matter in your rankings? Big Ben not even in the top ten? And losers/underacheivers like McNabb and Palmer (not to mention Cutler???) are in there. Incredible. Do you realize the Steelers couldn't even RUN the ball last year, and they STILL won the Super Bowl!!! Whose arm took them there? It sure as hell wasn't Romo, McNabb, Plamer, or Cu
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How can you not include Matt Cassell in the top 10 after what...
Ha, I can't even complete the sentence. Of course Cassell doesn't deserve the top 10, as a Chiefs fan, I am not all that sure about him anyways. I don't think he can excel at the same level as last year with the talent the Chiefs currently have.
Good list, I would still have Brady at least at
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Okay, its time to face the facts about everyone's darling, Drew Brees. He's a short QB with a slightly better than average arm. Most of his deep throws are don the middle of the field. His gaudy numbers are in part due to the type of offense this team runs. I think that he's a bit overrated, not a bad QB but there are definately guys I'd take before him. Notice how he never wins big games. I've se
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You've gotta be kidding me. Rodgers has started 1 year. ONE FREAKING YEAR !!!! Ahead of a 2 time SB winner ? Who is this clown ? Palmer ? C'mon. And for those of you who say he plays with a #1 D. Well, did yinz watch the SB ? Anybody on D throwing those last Q passes ? No That was Ben. Doing what he did 6 times last year. Leading the last drive to win it. Just ask any Ravens fan.
