ESPN's Williamson Ranks AFC South Teams' Positions

[Derakynn]

I am surprised that I haven't seen any sort of thread on this, if it has been discussed and I am just missing it, feel free to lock it mods.

Matt Williamson from ESPN is going through and ranking the "units" of each division, I have been watching these, finding them very interesting, so I thought it would be good to share with all of you. AFC South Blogger Paul Kuharskey questions Williamson on his thought process and gives his opinion afterwards.

 

Quarterback:

http://espn.go.com/blog/afcsouth/post/_/id/51224/unit-by-unit-ranking-the-afc-south-quarterbacks

The Colts are ranked 1st. Obviously have to agree with this one.

 

Running Backs:

http://espn.go.com/blog/afcsouth/post/_/id/51264/unit-by-unit-ranking-the-running-backs

The Colts are ranked 4th. I can't disagree with this. AFC South is probably the best running back division now, and MJD, CJ2K, and Foster are all considered top 10 backs by most.

 

Wide Receivers:

http://espn.go.com/blog/afcsouth/post/_/id/51287/unit-by-unit-rating-the-wide-receivers

The Colts are ranked 2nd behind the Texans. I think this is disputable, as in my opinion Wayne is better than AJ, but I suppose technically speaking a first rounder pick in DeAndre Hopkins should be considered better than a late 3rd rounder in TY Hilton.

 

Tight Ends:

http://espn.go.com/blog/afcsouth/post/_/id/51301/unit-by-unit-ranking-the-tight-ends

The Colts are ranked 1st. Our tight ends have the potential to be the best duo in the league. IMO this is completely accurate. Texans fans don't seem to agree, however.

 

Offensive Line:

http://espn.go.com/blog/afcsouth/post/_/id/51326/unit-by-unit-ranking-the-offensive-lines

The Colts are ranked 4th here. I think our offensive line has great potential, but since I am uninformed about the situation of the other teams' OL, I won't say it is incorrect to rank us there.

 

Defensive Line:

http://espn.go.com/blog/afcsouth/post/_/id/51351/unit-by-unit-ranking-the-defensive-lines

The Colts are ranked 4th here as well. I really think we should be ranked higher here, but with the many "unknowns" of FA and Josh Chapman not being proven, I can see where the ranking is coming from.

 

Linebackers:

http://espn.go.com/blog/afcsouth/post/_/id/51392/unit-by-unit-rating-the-linebackers

The Colts are ranked 2nd here, behind the Texans. This seems pretty accurate. With Werner being unproven I don't think you can put the Colts above the Texans. I think it could be a toss up by the end of the season, as Robert Mathis and Jerrell Freeman are beasts, while everyone else is very solid.

 

Defensive Backs:

http://espn.go.com/blog/afcsouth/post/_/id/51434/unit-by-unit-ranking-the-defensive-backs

The Colts are ranked 3rd here, above the Jaguars. I think this is a very close ranking between the Colts and Titans, but do believe the Colts come out on top overall. Of course, I am pretty high on Butler in the nickle spot, perhaps higher than I should be. I guess when we signed him I adopted him as "my guy". The Texans secondary really wasn't that great last year, but people say JJ is supposed to be pretty great. Their safeties are pretty great, but I'm not sure overall that their CBs are better than ours. 

 

That is all he has posted for now, although I can't really think that there are any more positions to ranked besides perhaps K/P/ST in general.

 

I took the liberty to calculate the overall rankings of Williamson based on these here, assigning 1st place a 4 point value and 4th place a 1 point value. The highest sum is the highest ranked and so on. Not sure if this is flawed math but here you go.

 

Colts: 4 + 1 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 1 + 3 + 2 = 19 

Texans: 3 + 4 + 4 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 4 + 4 = 28 

Jaguars: 1 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 1 = 11

Titans: 2 + 3 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 3 = 22

 

So in conclusion: If Williamson were to rank a team based solely on talent, assuming each position has no more importance in the game than another, he would rank the teams as follows:

 

1st: Texans by a large margin

2nd: Titans

3rd: Colts

4th: Jaguars

 

This math was just for fun since I'm bored at 2 AM in the morning. Take it with a grain of salt. It's seriously flawed. We all know that having Andrew Luck obviously puts us ahead of the Titans due to the fact that some positions are more---impactful (yes, say that instead of important)---- than others. Matt Williamson would not even consciously agree that the Titans are better than the Colts. 

 

Enjoy

[bayone]

Nice concept, but some positions would be worth more than others depending on schemes utilized and some just in general, like QB is most important no matter how good WR are

 

Finally how all play as a team  and also team depth encase of injury is important

[Albaby]

This doesn't really tell you anything.  He might as well have had a column on who's uniform he liked better.

[TKnight24]

This doesn't really tell you anything. He might as well have had a column on who's uniform he liked better.

We'd be 2nd in that behind the Texans too

They'd pick the Texans all red uniform over ours

[SilentHill]

obviously he's a Titans fan.

[Albaby]

We'd be 2nd in that behind the Texans too

They'd pick the Texans all red uniform over ours

Still just as scientific though.  I prefer blue, just saying.

[superrep1967]

I am surprised that I haven't seen any sort of thread on this, if it has been discussed and I am just missing it, feel free to lock it mods.

Matt Williamson from ESPN is going through and ranking the "units" of each division, I have been watching these, finding them very interesting, so I thought it would be good to share with all of you. AFC South Blogger Paul Kuharskey questions Williamson on his thought process and gives his opinion afterwards.

 

Quarterback:

http://espn.go.com/blog/afcsouth/post/_/id/51224/unit-by-unit-ranking-the-afc-south-quarterbacks

The Colts are ranked 1st. Obviously have to agree with this one.

 

Running Backs:

http://espn.go.com/blog/afcsouth/post/_/id/51264/unit-by-unit-ranking-the-running-backs

The Colts are ranked 4th. I can't disagree with this. AFC South is probably the best running back division now, and MJD, CJ2K, and Foster are all considered top 10 backs by most.

 

Wide Receivers:

http://espn.go.com/blog/afcsouth/post/_/id/51287/unit-by-unit-rating-the-wide-receivers

The Colts are ranked 2nd behind the Texans. I think this is disputable, as in my opinion Wayne is better than AJ, but I suppose technically speaking a first rounder pick in DeAndre Hopkins should be considered better than a late 3rd rounder in TY Hilton.

 

Tight Ends:

http://espn.go.com/blog/afcsouth/post/_/id/51301/unit-by-unit-ranking-the-tight-ends

The Colts are ranked 1st. Our tight ends have the potential to be the best duo in the league. IMO this is completely accurate. Texans fans don't seem to agree, however.

 

Offensive Line:

http://espn.go.com/blog/afcsouth/post/_/id/51326/unit-by-unit-ranking-the-offensive-lines

The Colts are ranked 4th here. I think our offensive line has great potential, but since I am uninformed about the situation of the other teams' OL, I won't say it is incorrect to rank us there.

 

Defensive Line:

http://espn.go.com/blog/afcsouth/post/_/id/51351/unit-by-unit-ranking-the-defensive-lines

The Colts are ranked 4th here as well. I really think we should be ranked higher here, but with the many "unknowns" of FA and Josh Chapman not being proven, I can see where the ranking is coming from.

 

Linebackers:

http://espn.go.com/blog/afcsouth/post/_/id/51392/unit-by-unit-rating-the-linebackers

The Colts are ranked 2nd here, behind the Texans. This seems pretty accurate. With Werner being unproven I don't think you can put the Colts above the Texans. I think it could be a toss up by the end of the season, as Robert Mathis and Jerrell Freeman are beasts, while everyone else is very solid.

 

Defensive Backs:

http://espn.go.com/blog/afcsouth/post/_/id/51434/unit-by-unit-ranking-the-defensive-backs

The Colts are ranked 3rd here, above the Jaguars. I think this is a very close ranking between the Colts and Titans, but do believe the Colts come out on top overall. Of course, I am pretty high on Butler in the nickle spot, perhaps higher than I should be. I guess when we signed him I adopted him as "my guy". The Texans secondary really wasn't that great last year, but people say JJ is supposed to be pretty great. Their safeties are pretty great, but I'm not sure overall that their CBs are better than ours. 

 

That is all he has posted for now, although I can't really think that there are any more positions to ranked besides perhaps K/P/ST in general.

 

I took the liberty to calculate the overall rankings of Williamson based on these here, assigning 1st place a 4 point value and 4th place a 1 point value. The highest sum is the highest ranked and so on. Not sure if this is flawed math but here you go.

 

Colts: 4 + 1 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 1 + 3 + 2 = 19 

Texans: 3 + 4 + 4 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 4 + 4 = 28 

Jaguars: 1 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 1 = 11

Titans: 2 + 3 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 3 = 22

 

So in conclusion: If Williamson were to rank a team based solely on talent, assuming each position has no more importance in the game than another, he would rank the teams as follows:

 

1st: Texans by a large margin

2nd: Titans

3rd: Colts

4th: Jaguars

 

This math was just for fun since I'm bored at 2 AM in the morning. Take it with a grain of salt. It's seriously flawed. We all know that having Andrew Luck obviously puts us ahead of the Titans due to the fact that some positions are more---impactful (yes, say that instead of important)---- than others. Matt Williamson would not even consciously agree that the Titans are better than the Colts. 

 

Enjoy

All these rankings don't mean anything right now everything just based on last season really. 

[In Luck We Trust]

I think we have the best 1,2 punch in the AFC south in RB's if Bradshaw can stay healthy. Him and Ballard could make for a scary duo. I still believe Ballard can be a 1,000 yard back which is why i do not like the move in starting bradshaw. 

 

at WR i dont like the rankings. I think we have the best WR group in the AFC south. I think he is giving DeAndre Hopkins a little to much credit before he even takes a snap in the NFL. sure he was good in College, but he will be facing better DB's in the NFL and at a much faster pace. The Colts have proven WR's across the board.

 

I think DHB will be better (although i was not really for the signing of him) because he will have a better QB and not have to worry about a QB change every half season.

 

 Hilton, well he is Hilton, the Game Changer. The kid I think could be better then Percy Harvin and could be a # 1 with the Colts in a couple years.

 

Whalen in Hamilton's system again could be very valuable to Luck and the Colts entire offense coming off the bench. he is a slippery little guy. BUT he hasn't proven anything in the NFL yet but the comparability with the offensive playbook will help him in the NFL.

 

I think our defensive secondary will be better then the titans also. Davis, Toler, Bethea (one of the best safeties in the game) and Landry could make for a scary secondary if they stay healthy.   

[Qwiz]

Still just as scientific though.  I prefer blue, just saying.

We have blue uniforms too. A flavor for everybody.

[Albaby]

We have blue uniforms too. A flavor for everybody.

Yeah, but your helmets are black and have a robotic/artsie-fartsie bullhead thingy on them.  It looks too much like a bad guy helmet.  I gotta go with the white helmet with a calm blue horse shoe on it.  It not only is a symbol of good luck and prosperity but it looks like a good guys helmet.

[Valpo2004]

Quarterback rating should be multiplied by at least 4 because of how important the position is.  

 

The Titans and the Jags arn't going to be ahead of us in the win column because their quarterbacks suck.  

 

I can see the Texans being competitive and possibly beating us because Shaub is decent and has more talent around him then Luck does.  But not the Titans or the Jags.

[Derakynn]

Read the last paragraph, I stated that it would be a flawed system to base it that way. I was bored and felt like doing math. The last numbers have nothing to do with anything really. Just an irrelevant comparison on how he technically speaking ranked talent, this system foes not allow for reflection of variations of importance of the positions nor the various gaps between teams in talent at each position.

[Qwiz]

Yeah, but your helmets are black and have a robotic/artsie-fartsie bullhead thingy on them.  It looks too much like a bad guy helmet.  I gotta go with the white helmet with a calm blue horse shoe on it.  It not only is a symbol of good luck and prosperity but it looks like a good guys helmet.

 I don't know. A bull signifies toughness, no one needs calm or peace on the football field. But to each his own. Our helmets are blue by the way, not black lol.

[Albaby]

 I don't know. A bull signifies toughness, no one needs calm or peace on the football field. But to each his own. Our helmets are blue by the way, not black lol.

I can't tell.  I'm a bit colored blind.  It looks black to me.