Comparing Players from 2004 and 2005 Drafts

[Surferosa]

Below is a post from another Football board. It ranks the top rated prosepcts from the 2004 and 2005 drafts according to The Sporting News's Annual Draft Guide. Its an excellent source of discussion when comparing players from this years and last yearss draft:


I've got both the 2004 and 2005 draft guides here, and here is how the top-10 at each position both years stacks up. 2005 rooks in bold:

QB
Overall grade 2004 B
Overall grade 2005 C

8.9 Ben Roethlisberger, Miami OH
8.8 Eli Manning, Mississippi
8.8 Aaron Rodgers, Cal
8.6 Alex Smith, Utah
8.4 Philip Rivers, NC St
8.0 J.P. Losman, Tulane
7.9 Charlie Frye, Akron
7.8 Andrew Walter, Arizona St
7.4 Jason Campbell, Auburn
6.8 Dan Orlovsky, Connecticut
6.8 Matt Schaub, Virginia
6.7 Derek Anderson, Oregon St
6.4 Kyle Orton, Purdue
6.1 John Navarre, Michigan
5.9 David Greene, Georgia
5.7 Josh Harris, Bowling Green
5.4 Walter Washington, Temple
5.2 Cody Pickett, Washington
4.9 Matt Mauck, LSU
4.6 Ryan Dinwiddie, Boise St

RB
Overall grade 2004 B
Overall grade 2005 A-

8.8 Cedric Benson, Texas
8.7 Ronnie Brown, Auburn
8.6 Carnell Williams, Auburn
8.5 Steven Jackson, Oregon St
8.3 Kevin Jones, Virginia Tech
8.1 Ciatrick Fason, Florida
8.0 Chris Perry, Michigan
7.9 Verand Morency, Oklahoma St
7.7 Maurice Clarett, Ohio St (2004 ranking)
7.6 Greg Jones, Florida St
7.1 Eric Shelton, Louisville
7.0 T.A. McClendon, NC St
6.9 Cedric Cobbs, Arkansas
6.9 Julius Jones, Notre Dame
6.6 Walter Reyes, Syracuse
6.5 Anthony Davis, Wisconsin
6.4 Quincy Wilson, W Virginia (says 3.4, but I'm assuming that's a typo)
6.2 Marion Barber, Minnesota
6.1 Michael Turner, N Illinois
5.9 Tatum Bell, Oklahoma St

WR
Overall grade 2004 A
Overall grade 2005 B+

8.9 Mike Williams, USC (2004 rating)
8.9 Larry Fitzgerald, Pittsburgh
8.7 Braylon Edwards, Michigan
8.7 Roy Williams, Texas
8.6 Mike Williams, USC (2005 rating)
8.5 Troy Williamson, S Carolina
8.4 Reggie Williams, Washington
8.4 Michael Clayton, LSU
8.2 Mark Clayton, Oklahoma
8.1 Lee Evans, Wisconsin
7.9 Chris Henry, W Virginia
7.9 Michael Jenkins, Ohio St
7.6 Devery Henderson, LSU
7.5 Roddy White, UAB
7.4 Fred Gibson, Georgia
7.2 Bernard Berrien, Fresno St
7.2 Craphonso Thorpe, Florida St.
7.1 Terrence Murphy, Texas A&M
7.0 Reggie Brown, Georgia

TE
Overall grade 2004 C+
Overall grade 2005 C

8.7 Kellen Winslow, Miami
8.5 Heath Miler, Virginia
8.3 Ben Troupe, Florida
7.8 Ben Watson, Georgia
7.6 Alex Smith, Stanford
6.6 Ben Utecht, Minnesota
6.5 Kevin Everett, Miami
6.2 Garrett Cross, Cal
6.1 Jason Peters, Arkansas
5.9 Joel Dreessen, Colorado St
5.7 Steve Fleming, Arizona
5.7 Ben Hartsock, Ohio St
5.5 Chris Cooley, Utah St
5.4 Adam Bergen, Lehigh
5.2 Ronnie Ghent, Louisville
5.1 David Kashetta, Boston College
4.8 Alex Holmes, USC
4.8 Sean Ryan, Boston College
4.4 Eric Knott, Michigan St
4.4 Keith Willis, Virginia Tech

Here is what the numerical grades mean:
9.0 - 8.0 = Franchise player.
7.9 - 7.0 = Potential Pro Bowl player.
6.9 - 6.0 = Could start as a rookie.
5.9 - 5.0 = Eventual starter.
4.9 - 4.0 = Quality backup.
3.9 - 3.0 = Chance to make roster.
2.9 - 2.0 = Not likely to make roster.
1.9 - 1.0 = Free agent possibility.



Two quick comments from me:

- The second tier QB's in this years drft are much better then the second tier QB's from 2004. Also, Smith and Rodgers are not ranked much lower than last years top 2 QB's - Manning and Roethlisberger.

- This years RB class is clearly better from top to bottom. It is both top heavy and filled with excellent depth.

I think whether we go QB/RB or RB/QB, we are bound to make out ok due to the excellent depth this year at those two positions.

 

[rafael]

While I don't agree with every ranking, I do think that overall it is accurate.

 

[Justasportsfan]

how does Rogers and Smith rate higher than Rivers and Losman? If it's based on potential then fine but Rothlesberger was not rated higher than Manning or Rivers.

 

[rafael]

how does Rogers and Smith rate higher than Rivers and Losman? If it's based on potential then fine but Rothlesberger was not rated higher than Manning or Rivers.

Rogers and Smith have better accuracy and field vision than Losman and better physical skills than Rivers.

Roth was rated higher on several boards, just not on the teams that took drafted Manning and Rivers.

 

[Justasportsfan]

Rogers and Smith have better accuracy and field vision than Losman and better physical skills than Rivers.

Roth was rated higher on several boards, just not on the teams that took drafted Manning and Rivers.

Okay.

 

[Surferosa]

how does Rogers and Smith rate higher than Rivers and Losman? If it's based on potential then fine but Rothlesberger was not rated higher than Manning or Rivers.

Its all subjective - every scout is entitled to their opinion. In general, TSN has fairly adequate draft analysis. While there are certainly better scouting services, the War Room is still a largely competent organization backed by a epartment of former NFL scouts.


BTW, as far as the consensus goes, Rivers was rated below Manning and Roethlisberger going into the draft.

 

[McDuffie81]

Losman shouldve been a 2nd rounder. In Sporting News Ben Roth was their #1 guy.

 

[Justasportsfan]

Losman shouldve been a 2nd rounder. In Sporting News Ben Roth was their #1 guy.

haha! Acoording to whom? The only knock on him was his ****iness. NOT talent.

 

[rafael]

haha! Acoording to whom? The only knock on him was his ****iness. NOT talent.

The knocks on him were more substantial than that. It wasn't just ****iness, but whether he lacked leadership. Also, his accuracy was streaky and there were questions about his reading defenses and whether he was a student of the game. Not saying these are all valid, only time will tell, but the questions were out there and as a result many had him rated as no better than a 2nd rounder.

 

[NorFlaFin]

8.8 Eli Manning, Mississippi
8.8 Aaron Rodgers, Cal
8.6 Alex Smith, Utah


This rating system has Aaron Rodgers and Eli Manning equal?:roflmao:

 

[Justasportsfan]

The knocks on him were more substantial than that. It wasn't just ****iness, but whether he lacked leadership. Also, his accuracy was streaky and there were questions about his reading defenses and whether he was a student of the game. Not saying these are all valid, only time will tell, but the questions were out there and as a result many had him rated as no better than a 2nd rounder.

Like soeone said, it's all subjective. JP was playing behind an OL in college that looked like the fins OL from last year. :D .

 

[SCall13]

8.8 Eli Manning, Mississippi
8.8 Aaron Rodgers, Cal
8.6 Alex Smith, Utah


This rating system has Aaron Rodgers and Eli Manning equal?:roflmao:

I sort of agree with why you think this is humorous. But, Eli didn't exactly light it up last year.

 

[Justasportsfan]

I sort of agree with why you think this is humorous. But, Eli didn't exactly light it up last year.

you can't compare. Rodgers didn't light it up in the NFL either , did he?

 

[rafael]

Like soeone said, it's all subjective. JP was playing behind an OL in college that looked like the fins OL from last year. :D .

It is subjective, my point was that Losman was not a consensus 1st rd pick. There were questions and there were doubters.

 

[rafael]

8.8 Eli Manning, Mississippi
8.8 Aaron Rodgers, Cal
8.6 Alex Smith, Utah


This rating system has Aaron Rodgers and Eli Manning equal?:roflmao:

Manning's rating may be inflated b/c of his name. His stats certainly aren't as good as Smith and Rogers. There were questions about Manning being a student of the game (none exist about Rogers and Smith). Manning isn't as accurate and doesn't read defenses as well. On the other hand, Manning has more prototypical size, a stronger arm than Smith and played against better comp. than Smith.