ESPN's Ultimate NFL Depth Charts

If you've been watching ESPN's SportsCenter, you may have seen their attempt at "The Ultimate NFL Depth Chart", a series where they're putting 3 former NFLers (and current ESPN analysts) on a panel to rank and discuss the depth charts at each position. QBs, WRs, RBs, as well as pass and run defenses can be voted on here.

Here's a major problem with ESPN's attempt: They're wildly inconsistent in how they grade a team's depth chart. Not much of a surprise, seeing how they place Sean Salisbury front and center in these types of segments.

For example, last night they were discussing the RB depth charts, and their #1 team was the San Diego Chargers. Why? Because they have LaDanian Tomlinson, that's why! Alright, fine. Tomlinson is, by far, the best RB in the NFL. I don't dispute that. But that doesn't really answer the question now, does it?

The question is which team has the best depth at RB, not who has the best individual running back. The better question would be "Who is likely to have the best rushing attack for 2006", which requires you to factor in free agent additions (and subtractions), as well as players drafted in '06 and those returning from injuries.

Salisbury, Schlereth and Golic gave their best effort to fairly assess each team's rushing attack, but were derailed by personal biases and erratic thought processes that can only be attributed to years of slamming helmets with 300-lb opponents.

Salisbury and Schlereth each have poison pills in their pockets for Steve Hutchinson, a left guard, so they rank Minnesota much higher than one would normally think after they ranked 27th in the NFL in rushing in 2005 and have a RB, Chester Taylor, whose never carried the load at the NFL level. According to Schlereth, the fact that Taylor has never had over 160 carries in an NFL season indicates that he has "fresh legs". Others may view this as Taylor being inexperienced and, at this point, an unknown commodity.

They rank the Chicago Bears relatively low, despite the Bears having a good offensive line and a proven rushing attack (ranked 8th in the NFL in 2005) with two solid running backs (Thomas Jones and last year's 1st round pick, Cedric Benson), because the offense as a whole was anemic. They felt that opponents could put 9 guys in the box and shut them down, because Chicago has an inexperienced QB.

Excuse me, guys, but do you remember what the Philadelphia Eagles did to LaDanian Tomlinson last year (7 yards on 17 carries)? If so, don't you think LT is going to see a lot of that this year now that Drew Brees is in New Orleans and Philip Rivers, who has never started an NFL game, is at QB?

This is why you can't trust the opinion of these so-called "experts". They rarely do their homework, and they almost never remove their own personal biases while forming their opinions.