Besides QB, who can you build an NFL team around?

The Game Room
21

OK, I checked the record.

Barry Sanders played 10 seasons for the Lions (1989-1998). In those 10 seasons, the Lions’ overall record was 4 games below .500 (78 winds, 82 losses). In four of those ten seasons, the Lions lost at least 10 games.

In what were, arguably, Sanders’ three best seasons (1994, 1996, 1997), the Lions’ combined record was 23-25.

They made the playoffs five times in Sanders’ 10 seasons. Their overall playoff record during that span was 1-5.

Wayne Fontes was the Lions’ coach through most of that time. It seemed like, in most of those playoff years, the Lions would start the season terribly, and then rally enough to make the playoffs, and save Fontes’ job for another season.

I had said that the Lions “weren’t a particularly good team” during Sanders’ time. A sub-.500 record, and exactly one playoff win? I stand by that.

Now, the Lions been awful since Sanders retired…but that’s another story.

22

I still maintain that drafting a franchise QB without any semblance of talent on the offensive line is a wasted and futile enterprise. Better a stout oline and an average QB than the other way around.

23

Agreed. The David Carr syndrome. Or, a generation ago, the Archie Manning syndrome. :smiley:

24

Yep. I feel bad for Stafford. The kid has got some real talent but I don’t think his career will be long enough to realize it.

But then again, Indy had a nice blueprint for doing it with Petyon.

25

barry sanders, walter payton, and jim brown are the easiest to build around, qb or not, imo. i’d take any of those three over peyton, brady, marino, montana, favreetc.

26

Not that championships are a perfect measure, but, interestingly, between those three great running backs, there’s a total of 2 NFL championships (one for Brown, one for Payton).

Of those five quarterbacks, only Marino failed to win a championship. Montana and Brady each have won 3, Favre and Manning each have won 1.

27

  1. Middle Linebacker

  2. Mike Webster or Jack Lambert, it’s a toss-up.

  3. Yes, you can build a defense around a defensive player. Think Troy Polamalu or (ugh) Ray Lewis.

  4. Linebacker

  5. Nose Tackle

28

If we were drafting for all 32 teams, starting from scratch, with every player in NFL history in the draft pool (and a 53 round draft to fill out our teams), I would think very seriously about drafting O-line with each of my first 5 picks.

You give me the greatest offensive line in NFL history, I can win a Super Bowl with barely-top-32 RBs, WRs and QBs.

Examples of guys you might get if you took their position LAST in a 32 team draft? QBs - Dan Fouts, Drew Brees, Warren Moon. RBs - Ricky Williams, Marcus Allen, maybe a Steven Jackson? WRs - How about Reggie Wayne, John Jefferson or a James Lofton or Herman Moore?

You give me Dan Fouts, Steven Jackson and a WR pair of Reggie Wayne and James Lofton, all operating behind an offensive line giving up no sacks and opening enormous holes in the running game and I like my chances.

29

[quote=“TheBoltEater, post:28, topic:549914”]

Best 5 offensive line never gives up sacks against Deacon Jones, Joe Greene, Warren Sapp (?), and Reggie White?

30

I’m with you. And it doesn’t have to be offense. The right combo of defensive players can also win games. But I’d go oline first every time.

31

You can’t build a great team with just a great quarterback, but you can build a decent team with one.

You can’t build a great defense without at least two great defensive players.

The Patriots won Super Bowls with Ty Law, Richard Seymour, Rodney Harris and a bunch of very-good-but-not-great linebackers.

The Steelers won Super Bowls with Troy Polamalu, Casey Hampton, Jerry Porter, and James Harrison.

The Buccaneers won a Super Bowl with Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks, Simeon Rice, Shelton Quarles and John Lynch.

The Colts won a Super Bowl with Peyton Manning. Nobody else on that team was a top-five player at his position.

32

LOL, Rickey Jackson as good as LT. LOL!!! LT changed the Entire Game! He was the only defensive player that head coaches/OC’s had to Game Plan For!

33

The Colts won a Super Bowl with Peyton Manning. Nobody else on that team was a top-five player at his position.
[/QUOTE]

Really? Dallas Clark, Jeff Saturday, Reggie Wayne, Bob Sanders (Defensive Player of the year in Super Bowl Year, including a huge role in the SB)

Nice Try.

the bottom line is that Football is a Team Game.

Manning has been touched less than any other QB in the history of the game, and it’s not because of his mobility.

34

Sorry - that should have said nobody else on that offense was a top-five player at his position. Saturday, maybe, but he’s undersized and not athletic. His value to the Colts has always been leadership.

I had forgotten that Marvin Harrison was still on the team during the 2006-2007 season, and I’ll certainly give you him as a top-5 player. However, Sanders didn’t go to the Pro Bowl that year, and neither did Dallas Clark.

Wayne, Harrison, Jeff Saturday, Manning and Tarik Glenn did.

35

Yeah, I’ll have to say middle linebacker.

Or maybe left offensive tackle.

36

I’d build around QB, LT, or NT, in that order. Give me a Kris Jenkins or a motivated Albert Haynesworth to build around and I’d be pretty happy.

If I could put any historical player in his prime on the Giants of today, of course I would pick Lawrence Taylor. The Jints need linebackers bad.

I know people love to bash Eli Manning, but mediocre? Put down the haterade. At the absolute minimum he’s good. I personally think he’s closer to very good.

Keep in mind that in 2007, Tom Brady was considerably better than every other QB who ever played the game.