FanPost

Rank The Starters

Even though we are fewer than 100 days until the season opener, we are still in the off-season, and probably sick of hearing the Seahawks and 49ers talk about how they will win the Super Bowl. Since we definitely do not want any of that to happen, us fans need to make sure our squad is ready to tear down these two teams, and have the personnel to do so.

(not sure where I was going with that one)

Anyhow, I thought an interesting idea would be to rank all the starters on the team (or at least who I think will be the starters), in order to see where we are still weak, and so we know which players to ridicule come preseason (don't tell me I am the only one). I gave pro-bowlers (or should be pro-bowlers) a (P), while very very good players get a sticker.

The list is as follows:

  1. Fitzgerald (P)
  2. Peterson (P)
  3. Campbell (P)
  4. Washington (P)
  5. Dansby (Sticker)
  6. Zastudil (P)
  7. Cooper (Sticker)
  8. Palmer (Sticker)
  9. Dockett
  10. Massie (P)
  11. Feely
  12. Williams
  13. Brown (Sticker)
  14. Floyd
  15. Colledge
  16. Housler
  17. Johnson
  18. Roberts
  19. Acho
  20. Mathieu/Bell
  21. Mendenhall
  22. Sendlein
  23. Cason
  24. Schofield
What did I learn while compiling this list? These are all legitimate starters, and there are very few players that I would want replaced. I think there is no question about the top 2, but I know the bottom 5 is a bit more controversial. I didn't see much over the last 2 years from Lyle Sendlein that impressed me, either in the run game or pass blocking. I additionally think Schofield is too injury-prone and inconsistent to be a full time starter (although I think he will hang onto the job for at least 8 to 9 weeks in the season). Greg Toler to Antoine Cason was a downgrade in my mind, as Cason has not been the most consistent starter (if he could prove me wrong that would be great).
Other than that, I think the starting lineup is set. Daryn Colledge is nowhere as bad as everyone thinks he is, and Dockett will have a come-back season.
I will probably make another version of this right after the last preseason game, when this list may have some real meaning.
---- Rant Over ----

<em>This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Revenge of the Birds' (ROTB) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of ROTB's editors.</em>