Mad's Very Early Power Rankings

[Game]

ESPN's Power Rankings have the Vikings at #31.
In 2015.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/story...ng-2015-season

When they say the WRs are aging for GB, does that mean now or 3 years from now?

[A-NDVikingsFan]

I think a little packer homerness went into your evaluation of the vikings. I agree on the Ponder statement, but putting them dead last I don't agree with. I am not saying they are top ten, in fact I wouldn't put them top 20, I would put the vikings around 25. They were close in a lot of games and did get better.

Pains me to say this but I would agree with the packers being 2, if not 1.

[SU Nittany Tide]

ESPN's Power Rankings have the Vikings at #31.
In 2015.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/story...ng-2015-season

That's an insider thing. How do they justify their rankings and what is the entire list?

[A-NDVikingsFan]

Is it just me or is the whole idea of that completely absurd?

It's not just you, I think it is too.

With Free Agency and and draft a team can turn over its entire roster in 3 years. Hell, teams can go from worst to first in a season or two.

Even consider the title of this thread, going into the 2012 season Mad titled it a "very early power ranking"

[moses.]

I think a little packer homerness went into your evaluation of the vikings. I agree on the Ponder statement, but putting them dead last I don't agree with. I am not saying they are top ten, in fact I wouldn't put them top 20, I would put the vikings around 25. They were close in a lot of games and did get better.

Pains me to say this but I would agree with the packers being 2, if not 1.

Peterson injury, how did they get better?

[MadNova]

That's an insider thing. How do they justify their rankings and what is the entire list?

Here's the methodology:
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/79...ology-rankings

The list from 32 to 1 goes as follows:

32. Browns
31. Vikings
30. Jags
29. Raiders
28. Dolphins
27. Colts
26. Cards
25. Chiefs
24. Rams
23. Titans
22. Bills
21. Seahawks
20. Redskins
19. Bucs
18. Broncos
17. Bears
16. Jets
15. Chargers
14. Cowboys
13. Falcons
12. Panthers
11. Bengals
10. Ravens
9. Texans
8. Saints
7. Eagles
6. Lions
5. Steelers
4. 49ers
3. Giants
2. Patriots
1. Packers

[MadNova]

When they say the WRs are aging for GB, does that mean now or 3 years from now?

I'm assuming 3 years from now. Unless they feel certain that Driver makes the team, and Gurley and Borel walk.

[A-NDVikingsFan]

Peterson injury, how did they get better?

We drafted a kicker....

[MadNova]

Is it just me or is the whole idea of that completely absurd?

It's absurd as I go through reading the comments on certain categories...the idea of basing rankings for the future on the categories they use make sense....Until the coach and GM are fired and they take a new QB #1 in the draft....

[A-NDVikingsFan]

Here's the methodology:
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/79...ology-rankings

The list from 32 to 1 goes as follows:

32. Browns
31. Vikings
30. Jags
29. Raiders
28. Dolphins
27. Colts
26. Cards
25. Chiefs
24. Rams
23. Titans
22. Bills
21. Seahawks
20. Redskins
19. Bucs
18. Broncos
17. Bears
16. Jets
15. Chargers
14. Cowboys
13. Falcons
12. Panthers
11. Bengals
10. Ravens
9. Texans
8. Saints
7. Eagles
6. Lions
5. Steelers
4. 49ers
3. Giants
2. Patriots
1. Packers

So basically the author of the article assumes all team remain roughly the same over three years, no team improves too much, and no team fall off too much. Kind of surprised that he isn't sucking the Luck Shlong like everyone else and doesn't have the Colts #1 by 2015.

[SU Nittany Tide]

So basically the author of the article assumes all team remain roughly the same over three years, no team improves too much, and no team fall off too much. Kind of surprised that he isn't sucking the Luck Shlong like everyone else and doesn't have the Colts #1 by 2015.

Give or take. It is pretty odd that they have the Colts so low.

[MadNova]

So basically the author of the article assumes all team remain roughly the same over three years, no team improves too much, and no team fall off too much. Kind of surprised that he isn't sucking the Luck Shlong like everyone else and doesn't have the Colts #1 by 2015.

Well, authors. The categories were ranked by the following:

Overall: Bill Polian
Roster: Gary Horton/Matt Williamson (roster only takes into account non-QB's under contract through 2015
Quarterback: Trent Dilfer
Draft: Mel Kiper
Front Office: Gary Horton/Matt Williamson
Coaching: Gary Horton/Matt Williamson

[PnkPanther]

trying to predict 3 years out is insane.
I mean, GB after a slight glitch last year, will win the next 5 superbowls...so, they got number 1 right

[MadNova]

Give or take. It is pretty odd that they have the Colts so low.

Current roster is weak, with some of the better players getting way up in years and not likely to be around in 2015. Having new, inexperienced people in the GM and head coaching spots affected the rating as well.

Roster: 2.5 (out of 10)
QB: 7
Draft: 6.75
Front Office: 5
Coaching: 4.75

[PnkPanther]

Peterson injury, how did they get better?

Jerome Simpson.

Hopefully the biggest impact will be improved and healthy Ponder. If Ponder doesn't progress, could be a brutal year....most vike fans are only hoping for 5-7 wins, so it's not like we think we're a playoff team...we just dont feel we're dead last.

[PnkPanther]

I'm assuming 3 years from now. Unless they feel certain that Driver makes the team, and Gurley and Borel walk.

I'm told Gurley is better than anyone on the vikings.

ok, that's an exaggeration

[SU Nittany Tide]

Current roster is weak, with some of the better players getting way up in years and not likely to be around in 2015. Having new, inexperienced people in the GM and head coaching spots affected the rating as well.

Roster: 2.5 (out of 10)
QB: 7
Draft: 6.75
Front Office: 5
Coaching: 4.75

If Luck is anywhere near as good as the scouts think he'll be then they should at the very least be somewhat competitive. I would assume they'll get a high draft pick again next year that will help them out.

[MadNova]

I think a little packer homerness went into your evaluation of the vikings. I agree on the Ponder statement, but putting them dead last I don't agree with. I am not saying they are top ten, in fact I wouldn't put them top 20, I would put the vikings around 25. They were close in a lot of games and did get better.

Pains me to say this but I would agree with the packers being 2, if not 1.

Not at all, but I can imagine some homerness would have you rail against me putting them last. Get Peterson healthy, and have Ponder make some strides, and they can move up.

Hell, I'd be willing to flip-flop them with the Jags based on training camp reports or preseason results. The very things that had Colt McCoy tabbed as a future Pro Bowler last year. 32-24 are pretty swappable, in my mind. With the exception of the Panthers, who I probably have way too low.

[MadNova]

If Luck is anywhere near as good as the scouts think he'll be then they should at the very least be somewhat competitive. I would assume they'll get a high draft pick again next year that will help them out.

For the high draft pick to help them out, they'll need the GM to hit on it--he's unproven thus far.
And coaching goes a long way in this league, so Pagano has to be a hit as well for the team to rise much in 3 years.

I'm a little more optimistic for them. I wasn't a huge fan of Fleener so early, because I see him as a one trick pony type of player, but I think they were able to nail down a solid nose tackle, and that's huge in making a quick transition from a 4-3 to 3-4 defense. They should be helped by some very nice WR/CB/OLB prospects in next year's draft.

[MadNova]

Jerome Simpson.

Hopefully the biggest impact will be improved and healthy Ponder. If Ponder doesn't progress, could be a brutal year....most vike fans are only hoping for 5-7 wins, so it's not like we think we're a playoff team...we just dont feel we're dead last.

Unfortunately, he's missing time on suspension. But hoping for 5-7 wins...If that's your ceiling, you have to admit that the floor could be 3 or 4 wins, which is enough to finish last.

Right now, Minnesota has the shakiest QB situation in my eyes. But that could change quickly.