ESPN's Ultimate Depth Chart

[andybren]

First of all, Stuart Scott starts off the segment with something like "sure Carson Palmer's great, but how good will the Bengals be if they have to count on Craig Krenzel..." Hey Stuart, double check the roster before you make your random name drops. I liked you better when you made pointless hip hop references.

The segment is supposed to rank the 32 teams based on the overall skill and depth of each position, first string, second string, etc. Tonight's position is quarterback. Bengals rank at #9, right above the Steelers at #10. The so-called experts don't mention Charlie Batch, but have all sorts of questions about Anthony Wright. I guess the depth of some teams is more important than others.

But get this, not only does Sean Salisbury note Marvin's confidence in Wright, but wonders aloud how things would change if Kerry Collins ends up wearing stripes. First time I've heard anybody mention this option seriously.

At the top of the list, Colts and Patriots. Of course, Manning and Brady are great quarterbacks. But backups Jim Sorgi and Matt Kassel barely get a mention. And rightfully so. When have these guys ever demonstrated anything? Is this really supposed to be an overall evaluation of a team's depth? Don't teams like the Falcons, who have very reliable backups, or teams like the Titans with potential superstars at #2, deserve a little more credit?

Or are the skills of the first string so great that the second string doesn't matter? If so, why isn't Carson above guys like Matt Hasselback and Jake Delhomme?

Please tell me ESPN doesn't suck this bad. I swear if they don't put the Bengals in the top 3 for WR's, I'm giving up on the whole freakin' network.

[kingwilly]

saw it. one word...abysmal.

[CPalmer9]

that whole espn segment was terrible

[Stripes]

I saw them give a teaser for it before going to commercial break, and I got off the couch and left before I could see it. Glad I did.

[bengalboomer7]

WHile I certainly don't agree with it, I can see the Bengals there. Carson Palmer is one HUGE ?

[PMThor]

I think you have to take it with a grain of salt. I believe they still have some very serious questions about Carsons knee. Those mentioned ahead of the Bengals don't have a question mark physically with their starting QB.

I didn't see the segment though.

[CJBestInAFC]

I don't know I think the Bengals should have been higher. Is Mcnab a better QB than Palmer? I don't think so, and he also is coming back from injury. What about Mike Vick? Is he better than Palmer? I would also say no. See stupid Espn didn't base the picks on the entire qb position but on who's starting. If the Bengals aren't in the top 3 at WR the whole list is pointless.

[HoTbOy]

I hope that CPalmer starts the season and make all these fools with their predictions eat crow after after we win the SB...

[andybren]

For what it's worth, the online poll currently has Cincy at #5 for QB's, #14 for RB's, and #2 for WR's.

[GROIIIDayton]

They ranked The Bengals RB position at 7 last night. They said Washington and Cincinati was even and Washington took 6.

[bengalindian]

Long time no see, everybody.

I saw the end of the QB show and I would have to say the Bengals would be top 3-5 with a healthy Carson. The "analysts" said that themselves. Peyton and Brady deserve to be up there because they have been stellar QBs the last 5 years and don't get hurt. Atlanta is up there because of Matt Schaub.

But yes, I do agree that the Bengals should be higher, and the Steelers lower, especially with Stunt Man Ben at the helm and washed up Charlie Batch backing him up. But whatever, the Bengals will disprove all the haters when the time comes.

Who Dey!

[ttilt]

We got 4th in Wide Reciever/ Tight End the only thing they had to say about us is that we don't have a stable Tight End, and actually is something i agree with.

[CJBestInAFC]

Just watched the pass defense rankings and what do you know the Bengals are ranked 18. Leadintg the entire NFL in interceptions last season and the Bengals ranked 18. They had 7 more interceptions than 2nd most intercepting team in the NFL. All they get is 18. Wow that is pretty bad, not to mention that the Bengals have upgraded their pass D this offseason.

[lando griffin]

Just watched the pass defense rankings and what do you know the Bengals are ranked 18. Leadintg the entire NFL in interceptions last season and the Bengals ranked 18. They had 7 more interceptions than 2nd most intercepting team in the NFL. All they get is 18. Wow that is pretty bad, not to mention that the Bengals have upgraded their pass D this offseason.

Just watched this as well....I really have no idea what these clowns are looking at. The top ten alone had the Patriots, Steelers, Ravens, 49ers, etc. Most interceptions last year, plus Dexter, Madieu, and JJoseph? Listening to them banter back and forth about whether the Ravens should be in spot 3, 4, or 5 was ridiculous. I think they were thinking of the 2000 defense when evaluating them. Retarded...

[derekshank]

Just watched the pass defense rankings and what do you know the Bengals are ranked 18. Leadintg the entire NFL in interceptions last season and the Bengals ranked 18. They had 7 more interceptions than 2nd most intercepting team in the NFL. All they get is 18. Wow that is pretty bad, not to mention that the Bengals have upgraded their pass D this offseason.

Just watched this as well....I really have no idea what these clowns are looking at. The top ten alone had the Patriots, Steelers, Ravens, 49ers, etc. Most interceptions last year, plus Dexter, Madieu, and JJoseph? Listening to them banter back and forth about whether the Ravens should be in spot 3, 4, or 5 was ridiculous. I think they were thinking of the 2000 defense when evaluating them. Retarded...

That is because 15 of our interceptions came in 3 games, and we were in the bottom 3 in a pass rush. Do I think we are better than 18? Sure... but not by much. Our safeties being better will help, but if we don't get a pass rush, the QB just sits there patting the ball until someone gets open.

If we can get a pass rush, we'll be top 10, maybe top 5. But that's a big if.

[Sig312]

The ESPN "depth" chart was a complete joke. In the final/overall breakdown they had the top three teams all from the NFC...What? Carolina, Washington, and Seattle ahead of Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, New England, Indianapolis, and Denver? What kind of crack were these idiots smoking? What came after that was even more of a joke. They had Baltimore and Kansas City in the playoffs with Cincinnati out. I am a die-hard Steeler fan, but the Bengals are a damn good football team, and will be in the playoffs. Who cares about Steve McNair? He will be a permanent fixture on Baltimore's injury report and then they will be back to the same old Kyle Boller disaster at QB. KC? We have been hearing for 5 years that "if the defense can just improve a little the Chiefs will be Super Bowl Contenders"...another joke...their defense sucks and nothing will change that anytime soon. Arrowhead is one tough place to play, but when the Chiefs go on the road, they collapse. I can't wait for football season to get going...and hopefully both Carson Palmer and Ben Roethlisberger will be healthy when the Steelers-Bengals matchup this year.

[Casey]

That's why it's called BSPN. Those rankings were a joke.

[andybren]

I don't blame them for questioning our pass defense, because I don't expect them to see how much better we'll be this year. But I do have a problem with them putting the Steelers pass defense towards the top. Quite frankly, I think a lot of people were too willing to jump blindly onto the Steelers bandwagon.

Don't get me wrong, their playoff run was impressive, but their regular season was not. Their last 4 games were against the Browns and the same NFC North teams that we dominated, so it's not so special that they won 8 straight.

Add to that the two games leading up to their streak, in which they gave up 26 points to the Colts and 38 points to the Bengals. Earlier in the season, they also gave up 23 to the Patriots and Jaguars and 22 to the Chargers. Good passing teams don't have a problem scoring against the Steelers. And now they've lost their starting free safety.

I just don't see why people are so sure the Steelers will be able to maintain their position in the league.

[Dan2330]

Which ass monkey at ESPN thought up this crap? If I was watching the same thing, this morning they were actually playing out who would face who and win each game of the playoffs- why bother, I should of TIVO'ed this mess because I would love to see just how many of these so called 'experts' will even come close to the teams that end up in the playoffs.

The only thing ESPN accomplished with this segment was knock the credibilty of these guys down a notch (as if Stuart Scott had any left). Thank God they at least did not have Chris Mortensen (sp) on here since IMHO he is the true Insider of NFL knowledge and information.

[jjakq27]

They just did their final four yesterday. They've got Pittsburgh v. NE in the AFC and Carolina v. Seattle in the NFC, with a NE v. Carolina Super Bowl.

Personally, I think this year could see alot of unknown teams make the playoffs. NE is older and Pittsburgh has had some turnover. How will Ben's wreck affect him? I don't know if McNair will make that much difference in Baltimore and Jake Plummer will implode shortly in Denver. And who knows if Indy will recover from their playoff loss and the death of Dungy's son. So these lead pipe locks all have as many question marks as the also-rans (Jax, Miami, Cincinnati).

[ArmyBengal]

I still don't get the whole "Patriots in the Super Bowl" thing, let alone the playoffs. I think this is the year they fail to make it to the playoffs if Miami and Culpepper put things together...

WHODEY !!!

[bengalspride1219]

this is the dummest thing i have ever seen in my life.

so i was looking at it onlione here

and it shows the bracket for the playoffs

what i dont get is why they put the chiefs in there.. now i would pick the chiefs to make the playooffs and i think that they will be a very strong team next year.. but they ranked them 18th over all and predicted them to get the sixth spot.. now look they are in a tough division and are forced to have a tough schedule... what also pisses me off is that the bengals were ranked 9th over all and the dolphins were ranked 13th and they dont give them the spot?? i have no idea why the ravens are randomly ranked so high and i always thought they would be back next year but come on.. not last year, but the year before palmer tore up that defense in the second meeting and ive always felt the bengals have got them figured out from there, but if u predict theyll get a wild card next year.. u gotta go with the bengals to get the otehr one...

now the patriots may be strong.. but do you think theyll beat out miami? cuase they are for sure going to be a strong team next year

then u got the nfc.. i liked the panthers before they went on their super bowl run and predicted them to go back when they were a run first team and had a strong defense.. their defense is still good but its not the same super bowl defense.. they need to get a running game before they can become super bowl favorites.. and keyshawn johnson wont help much.. delhomme is a 1 wr guy, he locked in on mushin muhhammad 2 years ago and mushin had 17 touchdowns, most of them in the second half of the season (i remember cause i was dropped him in fantasy football after him playing bad in the first couple weeks) now keyshawns a talented wr and id like to see delhomme get them both the ball but i wouldnt be surprised if he doesnt

why are the redskins all of a sudden ranked 3rd?? lol it doesnt make sense.. and no they do not have better pass catchers than the bengals

didnt most people pick this pats/panthers super bowl last year.. and maybe even the year before?? lol

[Dan2330]

this is the dummest thing i have ever seen in my life.

so i was looking at it onlione here

and it shows the bracket for the playoffs

what i dont get is why they put the chiefs in there.. now i would pick the chiefs to make the playooffs and i think that they will be a very strong team next year.. but they ranked them 18th over all and predicted them to get the sixth spot.. now look they are in a tough division and are forced to have a tough schedule... what also pisses me off is that the bengals were ranked 9th over all and the dolphins were ranked 13th and they dont give them the spot?? i have no idea why the ravens are randomly ranked so high and i always thought they would be back next year but come on.. not last year, but the year before palmer tore up that defense in the second meeting and ive always felt the bengals have got them figured out from there, but if u predict theyll get a wild card next year.. u gotta go with the bengals to get the otehr one...

now the patriots may be strong.. but do you think theyll beat out miami? cuase they are for sure going to be a strong team next year

then u got the nfc.. i liked the panthers before they went on their super bowl run and predicted them to go back when they were a run first team and had a strong defense.. their defense is still good but its not the same super bowl defense.. they need to get a running game before they can become super bowl favorites.. and keyshawn johnson wont help much.. delhomme is a 1 wr guy, he locked in on mushin muhhammad 2 years ago and mushin had 17 touchdowns, most of them in the second half of the season (i remember cause i was dropped him in fantasy football after him playing bad in the first couple weeks) now keyshawns a talented wr and id like to see delhomme get them both the ball but i wouldnt be surprised if he doesnt

why are the redskins all of a sudden ranked 3rd?? lol it doesnt make sense.. and no they do not have better pass catchers than the bengals

didnt most people pick this pats/panthers super bowl last year.. and maybe even the year before?? lol

I am not sure anything you just wrote here made sense...

[Dadraftnick]

1) No one on the Bengals will have double digit sack totals for what has to be the 16th year .

2) No respect or love for the Bengals from the media no matter what they do.

3) The first 4 or 5 games will depend on the Bengals running game, even if Carson is heathy.

4) Perry and Rudi will get a lot more carries.

5) Sam Adams will make a BIG difference in the run defense if, he stays healthy.

6) Because of Adams keeping people off Odel, he will have over 140 tackles(if he is not suspended).

7) The Bryan Robinson experiment at DE will be a friggin disaster,(if he makes the roster)he will be just as bad as Geathers as it is pretty hard to be worse.

8) Who ever wins the divison will be no better than 10-6 and they will win with tie breakers.

9) The Steelers will play dirty, cheet and have refs cheat for them HA, I had to get one I knew was 1000% positive to happen!

10) In next years draft the Bengals will waste half of their draft picks on unnecessary,un needed WR's and LB's and not adress the D-line again.

11) Peko will turn out to be a stud if the Bengals dont get stupid and put him on the practice squad.

[ArmyBengal]

I for one am looking forward to see if Geathers can gain his rookie form at DE, since the DT position move was a disaster. If Robinson can do what Geathers did the year he played DE, I think he sticks...

If Peko would go to the practice squad, he wouldn't be there long, as some other team would snatch him up QUICKLY !!!

WHODEY !!!