Part Eight: AFC Offensive Players / Who Deserves To Be A Pro Bowlers In 2011?

First of all, this list is based upon stats from Week One through Week Fifteen. Secondly, I am a firm believer in using statistics- especially advanced statistics such as DVOA, DYAR, and WPA. You can see the statistics to back up my selection here

QUARTERBACK
Starter: Tom Brady
Back Up #1: Ben Roethlisberger (PIT)
Named Back Up #2 But Can't Play Due To Injury: Matt Schaub (HOU)
Subjective Back Up #2: Andy Dalton (CIN)
Objective Back Up #2: Philip Rivers (SD)

You can read about my struggles to rank the second back up and I explore the possibility of making the last back up Tim Tebow here

Apologies to: No One

RUNNING BACK
Starter: Maurice Jones-Drew (JAX)
Should Be Named But Can't Play Due To Injury: Fred Jackson (BUF), Darren McFadden (OAK)
Actual Back Ups: Arian Foster (HOU), Ray Rice (BAL)

Apologies to: Ben Tate (HOU), Ryan Matthews (SD)

WIDE RECEIVER
Starters: Wes Welker (NE), Mike Wallace (PIT)
Back Ups: A.J. Green (CIN), Vincent Jackson (SD)

Apologies to: Brandon Marshall (MIA), Dwayne Bowe (KC), Anquan Boldin (BAL)

TIGHT END
Starter: Rob Gronkowski (NE)
Back Up: Antonio Gates (SD)

Apologies to: Aaron Hernandez (NE)

Part Seven: NFC Offensive Players / Who Deserves To Be A Pro Bowler in 2011?

First of all, this list is based upon stats from Week One through Week Fifteen. Secondly, I am a firm believer in using statistics- especially advanced statistics such as DVOA, DYAR, and WPA. You can see the statistics to back up my selection here

QUARTERBACK
Starter: Aaron Rodgers (GB)
Back Up #1: Drew Brees (NO)
Subjective Back Up #2: Jay Cutler (CHI)
Objective Back Up #2: Tony Romo (DAL)

Apologies to: Matt Ryan (ATL), Matthew Stafford (DET), and Eli Manning (NYG)

RUNNING BACK
Starter: LeSean McCoy (PHI)
Should Be Named But Can't Play Due To Injury: Matt Forte (CHI), DeMarco Murray (DAL), Adrian Peterson (MIN)
Actual Back Ups: Marshawn Lynch (SEA), Frank Gore (SF)

Apologies to: Michael Turner (ATL), Jonathan Stewart (CAR)

WIDE RECEIVER
Starters: Calvin Johnson (DET), Jordy Nelson (GB)
Back Ups: Victor Cruz (NYG), Laurent Robinson (DAL)

Apologies to: Steve Smith (CAR), Roddy White (ATL), Hakeem Nicks (NYG), Greg Jennings (GB), Marques Colston (NO)

TIGHT END
Starter: Jimmy Graham (NO)
Back Up: Tony Gonzalez (ATL)

Apologies to: Jason Witten (DAL), Jermichael Finley (GB)

Part Three: Stats Of AFC Offensive Players / Who Deserves To Be A Pro Bowler in 2011?

EDITOR'S NOTE: If you do not understand DVOA or DYAR click here. Essentially DYAR is total value throughout the year and DYAR is value per play.

QUARTERBACK

QBR
1) Tom Brady (NE)
2) Matt Schaub (HOU)
3) Ben Roethlisberger (PIT)

Completion Percentage
1) Tom Brady (NE)
2) Ben Roethlisberger (PIT)
3) Philip Rivers (SD)

Yards Per Attempt
1) Tom Brady (NE)
2) Matt Schaub (HOU)
3) Ben Roethlisberger (PIT)

Passing Touchdowns
1) Tom Brady (NE)
2) Philip Rivers (SD)
2) Mark Sanchez (NYJ)

Interceptions
1) Ryan Fitzpatrick (BUF)
2) Philip Rivers (SD)
3) Ben Roethlisberger (PIT)

WPA
1) Tom Brady (NE)
2) Ben Roethlisberger (PIT)
3) Joe Flacco (BAL)

DYAR
1) Tom Brady (NE)
2) Ben Roethlisberger (PIT)
3) Philip Rivers (SD)

DVOA
1) Tom Brady (NE)
2) Matt Schuab (HOU)
3) Jason Campbell (OAK)

RUNNING BACKS

Rushing Yards
1) Maurice Jones-Drew (JAX)
2) Ray Rice (BAL)
3) Arian Foster (HOU)

Rushing Yards Per Attempt
1) Ben Tate (HOU)
2) Fred Jackson (BUF)
3) Darren McFadden (OAK)

Rushing Touchdowns
1) Ray Rice (BAL)
2) Arian Foster (HOU)
2) BenJarvis Green-Ellis (NE)

WPA
1) Ryan Matthews (SD)
2) Fred Jackson (BUF)
3) Darren McFadden (OAK)

DYAR
1) Maurice Jones-Drew (JAX)
2) Ben Tate (HOU)
3) Fred Jackson (BUF)

DVOA
1) Donald Brown (IND)
2) Ben Tate (HOU)
3) Fred Jackson (BUF)

WIDE RECEIVERS

Receiving Yards
1) Wes Welker (NE)
2) Mike Wallace (PIT)
3) Vincent Jackson (SD)
4) Brandon Marshall (MIA)
5) A.J. Green (CIN)

Receiving Touchdowns
1) Wes Welker (NE)
2) Mike Wallace (PIT)
2) Vincent Jackson (SD)
2) Santonio Holmes (NYJ)
2) Plaxico Burress (NYJ)
2) Eric Decker (DEN)

Receptions
1) Wes Welker (NE)
2) Brandon Marshall (MIA)
3) Dwayne Bowe (KC)
4) Stevie Johnson (BUF)
5) Mike Wallace (PIT)

WPA
1) Wes Welker (NE)
2) A.J. Green (CIN)
3) Anquan Boldin (BAL)
4) Torrey Smith (BAL)
5) Antonio Brown (PIT)

DYAR
1) Wes Welker (NE)
2) Mike Wallace (PIT)
3) A.J. Green (CIN)
4) Vincent Jackson (SD)
5) Malcolm Floyd (SD)

DVOA
1) Malcolm Floyd (SD)
2) Mike Wallace (PIT)
3) A.J. Green (CIN)
4) Wes Welker (NE)
5) Brian Hartline (MIA)

TIGHT ENDS

Receiving Yards
1) Rob Gronkowski (NE)
2) Aaron Hernandez (NE)
3) Dustin Keller (NYJ)

Receiving Touchdowns
1) Rob Gronkowski (NE)
2) Aaron Hernandez (NE)
2) Antonio Gates (SD)
2) Scott Chandler (BUF)
2) Joel Dressen (HOU)

Receptions
1) Rob Gronkowski (NE)
2) Aaron Hernandez (NE)
3) Antonio Gates (SD)

WPA
1) Rob Gronkowski (NE)
2) Owen Daniels (HOU)
3) Antonio Gates (SD)

DYAR
1) Rob Gronkowski (NE)
2) Antonio Gates (SD)
3) Owen Daniels (HOU)

DVOA
1) Joel Dressen (HOU)
2) Rob Gronkowski (NE)
3) Kevin Boss (OAK)

I will not be doing adjusted line yards or any measurement of how offensive linemen are measured. Not only am I too apathetic but I just think we as fans can not accurately measure individual offensive lineman still.

Part Two: Stats Of NFC Offensive Players / Who Deserves To Be A Pro Bowler in 2011?

EDITOR'S NOTE: If you do not understand DVOA or DYAR click here. Essentially DYAR is total value throughout the year and DYAR is value per play.

QUARTERBACK

QBR
1) Aaron Rodgers (GB)
2) Drew Brees (NO)
3) Tony Romo (DAL)

Completion Percentage
1) Drew Brees (NO)
2) Aaron Rodgers (GB)
3) Tony Romo (DAL)

Yards Per Attempt
1) Aaron Rodgers (GB)
2) Eli Manning (NYG)
3) Drew Brees (NO)

Passing Touchdowns
1) Aaron Rodgers (GB)
2) Drew Brees (NO)
3) Matthew Stafford (DET)

Interceptions
1) Rex Grossman (WAS)
1) Josh Freeman (TB)
3) Cam Newton (CAR)
4) Eli Manning (NYG)
5) Matthew Stafford (DET)

WPA
1) Aaron Rodgers (GB)
2) Drew Brees (NO)
3) Tony Romo (DAL)

DYAR
1) Drew Brees (NO)
2) Aaron Rodgers (GB)
3) Tony Romo (DAL)

DVOA
1) Aaron Rodgers (GB)
2) Drew Brees (NO)
3) Tony Romo (DAL)

RUNNING BACKS

Rushing Yards
1) LeSean McCoy (PHI)
2) Michael Turner (ATL)
3) Frank Gore (SF)

Rushing Yards Per Attempt
1) DeMarco Murray (DAL)
2) DeAngello Williams (CAR)
3) Pierre Thomas (NO)

Rushing Touchdowns
1) LeSean McCoy (PHI)
2) Adrian Peterson (MIN)
2) Marshawn Lynch (SEA)

WPA
1) Jonathan Stewart (CAR)
2) LaRod Stephens-Howling (ARI)
3) DeMarco Murray (DAL)

DYAR
1) LeSean McCoy (PHI)
2) DeMarco Murray (DAL)
3) Adrian Peterson (MIN)

DVOA
1) LeSean McCoy (PHI)
2) DeMarco Murray (DAL)
3) Jonathan Stewart (CAR)

WIDE RECEIVERS

Receiving Yards
1) Calvin Johnson (DET)
2) Steve Smith (CAR)
3) Victor Cruz (NYG)
4) Larry Fitzgerald (ARI)
5) Roddy White (ATL)

Receiving Touchdowns
1) Calvin Johnson (DET)
2) Jordy Nelson (GB)
3) Greg Jennings (GB)
3) Laurent Robinson (DAL)
3) Dez Bryant (DAL)

Receptions
1) Roddy White (ATL)
2) Calvin Johnson (DET)
3) Victor Cruz (NYG)
4) Steve Smith (CAR)
4) Percy Harvin (MIN)

WPA
1) Calvin Johnson (DET)
2) Hakeem Nicks (NYG)
3) Victor Cruz (NYG)
4) Larry Fitzgerald (ARI)
5) Jordy Nelson (GB)

DYAR
1) Calvin Johnson (DET)
2) Jordy Nelson (GB)
3) Victor Cruz (NYG)
4) Marques Colston (NO)
5) Laurent Robinson (DAL)

DVOA
1) Jordy Nelson (GB)
2) Laurent Robinson (DAL)
3) Marques Colston (NO)
4) Victor Crus (NYG)
5) Robert Meachum (NO)

TIGHT ENDS

Receiving Yards
1) Jimmy Graham (NO)
2) Jason Witten (DAL)
3) Tony Gonzalez (ATL)

Touchdowns
1) Jimmy Graham (NO)
2) Tony Gonzalez (ATL)
3) Jermichael Finley (GB)

Receptions
1) Jimmy Graham (NO)
2) Tony Gonzalez (ATL)
3) Jason Witten (DAL)

DYAR
1) Jimmy Graham (NO)
2) Tony Gonzalez (ATL)
3) Jake Ballard (NYG)

DVOA
1) Jake Ballard (NYG)
2) Jimmy Graham (NO)
3) Tony Gonzalez (ATL)

I will not be doing adjusted line yards or any measurement of how offensive linemen are measured. Not only am I too apathetic but I just think we as fans can not accurately measure individual offensive lineman still.

The Suns High Scoring Offense

The Phoenix Suns used to have a high powered fast temp offense a few years ago under Mike D'Antoni. This is when they had Shawn Marion with Steve Nash and Admare Stoudmire. Then they traded for Shaquille O'Neal and he slowed the tempo of the team down and their offense. So they had to trade Shaquille O'Neal and move on. This season they tried to go back to their run and gun tempo and surprisingly it has worked. Even with Steve Nash being older at 35 and new comers like Jason Richardson, the Suns are scoring and winning. I thought the Suns missed their opportunity when they had the big three of Nash, Marion, and Stoudmire and needed to trade away their key players to re-build. Well it turns out they are scoring and winning like they used to. The Suns are 19-12 with a .613 winning percentage. They also have an impressive 11-2 record at home. The Suns rank number one in the league averaging 109.5 points per game, number one in field goals made per game at 40.9, more impressively number one at field goal percentage at .496, and number one at three point percentage at .425. So the Suns are the best scoring team in the league and winning. The question is can they continue to win and win in the playoffs?

The Best Offense Ever?

I mentioned this is my last podcast (sameless plug: which you can visit here or via iTunes- if you search "gameofinches" at the iTunes store, it's under podcasts) that I think the New England Patriot offense this upcoming year, barring good health, will be the best offense Tom Brady has ever player with and might be the best offense in the history of the NFL. While the passing offense won't be as good as it was in 2006 and Tom Brady may not eclipse 50 TDs, I think the overall offense, as whole, will be better than any team he's ever played on.

The new main reasons I say that is because this year the team added WR Joey Galloway and RB Fred Taylor. First Taylor.

Taylor is a borderline HOFer who is proven to be successful. He has a career 4.6 YPC (which is fantastic. Hell I thought he had a career 4.2 YPC which I thought was really good) and he doesn't fumble the ball or lose them (He's only lost three fumbles in a year which was in '03 and only has 20 career fumbles and 13 lost fumbles in 11 years and 2,428 attempts). His worst YPC was last year with 3.9 (which again extremeley impressive) and that I mainly contribute that to his below average (19th ranked) rushing offense line. Taylor is now moving to a team with an amazing rushing offense line. Last year New England's rushing O-line was ranked 2nd overall and ranked first in '07. They have also increased their run blocking between 2005-2007. Now while Taylor really only gets about 10-15 touches a game, I think him platooned with any of NE four RBs they used last year/ when Laurence Mauroney is healthy will make the NE running game the best running game Brady has ever had. I also think Taylor will do amazing things with his limited touches.

The second main addition is Joey Galloway. Galloway is also a borderline HOFer has has been proven successful in recent years. And while Galloway will not be the same reciever he was in Tampa Bay, he doesn't need to be. He'll be the third wide out in NE. Last year (with Matt Cassel throwing to them) Randy Moss was 13th in the AFC in YPG and was first in TDs. Wes Welker was third in the AFC in YPG. In 2007, when Brady played, Moss was first in DVOA and DYAR and Welker was 4th in DYAR and 11th in DVOA. In 2007, Galloway's last healthy season, he was 12th in DYAR and 16th in DVOA. This will be an upgrade to Donte Stallworth (the Pats #3 reciever in '07) who, last year, was the bottom of the league in DYAR ansd DVOA. In '07, when he had Brady throwing to him, Stallworth was 29th in DYAR and 30th DVOA. This means, if Galloway can stay healthy (which I think he can because he won't be the go-to guy), Galloway will be an upgrade to Stallworth, especially with Tom Brady thowing to him.

The the key factor here is Bill Bellichick. The first game of the '07 season, Bill Bellichick was caught taping the Pats/Jets game. So on the heels of Spygate, Belichick decided to say "fuck you" to the league and decided to throw more and run up the scoreboard which led to Brady and Moss barely setting league records. Peyton Manning had a better TD/attempt in his record setting year (mainly because he sat a lot during the 4th quarter) and Jerry Rice had one less TD than Moss but did it in four less games.) So I know it's hard to think Brady and Moss and the others will put up 2007-like numbers, and in fact they probably won't, but when you include the huge upgrade in the running game and the slight upgrade in the passing game, on paper, this teams seems better than it was in 2007. But will they put up more TDs? I guess probably not because Belichick probably won't be as much of a dick as he was 2 years ago. But does this team have the potential to? Absolutely. So I know it's kind of hard to say this NE offense will be better than it was in 2007 because they score less TDs, but the team and individual talent seems better.

I am also not saying the Pats will go undefeated again. I think their defense has decreased the past few years due to age and free agency and I don't like their secondary. And even if this team does end up having a better overall offense, it's just so so so so hard to go 16-0 and obviously hard to go 19-0. But I do think the offense alone will be better.

Some concerns TBO mentioned: 1) the AFC East is much improved sicne '07 and 2) the Pats have had too much coaching turnover. My response to that is 1) I agree the division is harder but when you're that talented it doesn't matter. 2) That team is Bill Belichick's team. I don't care if Charlie Weis, Josh McDaniels, Romeo Crennel, Eric Mangini or whoever is on the sidelines, Bill Belichick is the master of that team and as long as he is there, the specific coordintors will make no difference.

So, Patriots, don't prove me wrong!