Jake Long ranked 29th-best NFL player by cbssports.com

the 26-50 list:

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/13552822/top-50-players-picking-nos-2650-an-even-harder-task?tag=pageRow;pageContainer

the 1-25 list:

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/13561670/top-25-no-changing-of-guard-with-peyton-brady-around?tag=pageRow;pageContainer

40. Brandon Marshall, WR, Miami Dolphins: The Denver Broncos tired of his act, but they will miss his ability. He doesn't have blazing speed, but he is strong and knows how to get open. A new team will be good for him.

Ryan Clady 13th?

Are they using stats, madden simulation, slytherin studios technology, excell?

This list seems dated...Andre Johnson#7, Charles Woodson#16, Champ Bailey#19. I think the youngins are ready to stage a coup.

The funniest part is that he says he has improved as a run blocker, as if it was a negative when he came out of Michigan. At least thats what I got from his choice of words. His pass pro has improved, or at least it did aside from the Falcons game, but he has always been a bell cow in the run game - bar none. It seems Prisco has it the other way around.

Well, when Belicheck moved Wilfork out to RDE to cover Big Jake, iirc Wilfork got the better of that matchup, something Jake will have to work on.

"Pandarilla wrote:

This list seems dated...Andre Johnson#7, Charles Woodson#16, Champ Bailey#19. I think the youngins are ready to stage a coup.

The only problem with those three you've listed is Bailey at #19. Charles Woodson is still one of the best CBs in the NFL, more or less tied with Nnamdi Asomugha.

"padre31 wrote:

Well, when Belicheck moved Wilfork out to RDE to cover Big Jake, iirc Wilfork got the better of that matchup, something Jake will have to work on.

He's a LT working on a DT to me that's a mismatch in the strength department.

I know Clady is very good in Pass protection but there are better out there over the last two years including Jake. I just don't get it....

{colsp=2}|{colsp=4}2008|{colsp=4}2009|{colsp=5}Total
Player|TEAM|Snaps|SK|HIT|PR|Snaps|SK|HIT|PR|Snaps|SK|HIT|PR|Snaps/SK
Orlando Pace|CHI|854|1|5|17|675|1|6|36|1529|2|11|53|764.50
Michael Roos|TEN|1003|1|1|12|1039|4|6|23|2042|5|7|35|408.40
Jake Long|MIA|1001|2|9|15|1147|4|5|7|2148|6|14|22|358.00
Jared Gaither|BLT|1095|2|1|17|703|4|2|6|1798|6|3|23|299.67
Ryan Clady|DEN|1079|0|7|37|1096|8|6|20|2175|8|13|57|271.88
Joe Thomas|CLV|990|6|8|10|1016|3|5|7|2006|9|13|17|222.89
D'Brickashaw Ferguson|NYJ|1055|5|3|15|1082|6|3|9|2137|11|6|24|194.27

"Desides wrote:

The only problem with those three you've listed is Bailey at #19. Charles Woodson is still one of the best CBs in the NFL, more or less tied with Nnamdi Asomugha.

Well, I can't say I've seen Woodson(age 33) even play, but as much as I love Andre Johnson, to rank him higher than Fitzgerald and say that he's in his prime (he's 29) seems absurd...Then again it is just a list.

Some thoughts:

Why is Clady so high? He's not better than Jake Long.

Champ Bailey is a good player but not at the level he once was IMO.

Julius Peppers at 31? I know he's talented but he's so lazy.

37. Brett Favre, QB, Minnesota Vikings: It's a shock to me that he's on this list. He really played well in 2009. Can he do it again this season -- if he plays?

If he created the list, how is Favre a shock to him?

"Conuficus wrote:

The funniest part is that he says he has improved as a run blocker, as if it was a negative when he came out of Michigan. At least thats what I got from his choice of words. His pass pro has improved, or at least it did aside from the Falcons game, but he has always been a bell cow in the run game - bar none. It seems Prisco has it the other way around.

We both know that these guys don't watch enough games, if any, to know that lol.

"Pandarilla wrote:

Well, I can't say I've seen Woodson(age 33) even play, but as much as I love Andre Johnson, to rank him higher than Fitzgerald and say that he's in his prime (he's 29) seems absurd...Then again it is just a list.

IMO anyone could argue that Woodson is the NFL's best cornerback. There isn't a thing he can't do. Also, I don't think its that crazy to put Johnson over Fitzgerald. Andre Johnson is pretty damn good IMO.

A list is just a list, a kiss is just a kiss, neither are worth more than the other. :lol:

Hey, anything we can find to argue about this time of year right?

"Pandarilla wrote:

This list seems dated...Andre Johnson#7, Charles Woodson#16, Champ Bailey#19. I think the youngins are ready to stage a coup.

Andre Johnson has every right to be at 7 after back to back years over 1550 yards and 10 td.

Clady at 13 and Long at 29 is flat out idiotic when you consider Jake is by far the better player. The only LT in the same class as Jake is Joe Thomas. That's it. Clady can't run block anywhere close to as well as jake and commits too many penalties and allows too many sacks. I'm not ever sure he's better then Da Brickhouse in ny.

"Conuficus wrote:

The funniest part is that he says he has improved as a run blocker, as if it was a negative when he came out of Michigan. At least thats what I got from his choice of words. His pass pro has improved, or at least it did aside from the Falcons game, but he has always been a bell cow in the run game - bar none. It seems Prisco has it the other way around.

Those were my to thoughts too Con.

37. Brett Favre, QB, Minnesota Vikings: It's a shock to me that he's on this list. He really played well in 2009. Can he do it again this season -- if he plays?

Alen1:

If he created the list, how is Favre a shock to him?

"Conuficus wrote:

The funniest part is that he says he has improved as a run blocker, as if it was a negative when he came out of Michigan. At least thats what I got from his choice of words. His pass pro has improved, or at least it did aside from the Falcons game, but he has always been a bell cow in the run game - bar none. It seems Prisco has it the other way around.

I thought the very same thing. Jake has his run blocking game down and always has. I understand he was very good with pass blocking too but his hips are his weakness along with his feet. He gets them under him but struggles against speed rushers at this level. If there is a weakness in Big Jake's game that is it IMO.

"dolfan7171 wrote:

http://www.mlive.com/sports/flint/index.ssf/2010/07/jake_long_ranked_29th-best_nfl.html

If anyone could find the actual list feel free to add it to this thread. It just caught my attention that Pete Prisco is the one doing the list.

Good article, thanx for sharing. Jake is rapidly becoming my favorite Dolphin. He stays out of trouble, stays away from the media, never complains and you can always count on him to do an awesome job. I can think of no one better to be entrusted with protecting our QB's blind side. What a role model for this draft team. I wish we had 52 more players just like him. :yes:!

"Killerphins wrote:

I thought the very same thing. Jake has his run blocking game down and always has. I understand he was very good with pass blocking too but his hips are his weakness along with his feet. He gets them under him but struggles against speed rushers at this level. If there is a weakness in Big Jake's game that is it IMO.

Lets be real here. The guy has only given up 6 sacks in 2 seasons and has played almost every snap. How much of a weakness in Pass defense does he really have?

"LandShark13 wrote:

Lets be real here. The guy has only given up 6 sacks in 2 seasons and has played almost every snap. How much of a weakness in Pass defense does he really have?

It is an itsy bitsy weakness but I'm picky.
He gets it done and he does get his feet under him but he struggles to get there. His hips are better now and I can't ask him but if I could he might say the same thing IMO.
No negative stuff toward Jake at all really. He is an excellent player.

"Killerphins wrote:

I thought the very same thing. Jake has his run blocking game down and always has. I understand he was very good with pass blocking too but his hips are his weakness along with his feet. He gets them under him but struggles against speed rushers at this level. If there is a weakness in Big Jake's game that is it IMO.

I certainly agree that his hips are tight, but to be honest I think his feet are better than he gets credit for. IMHO his biggest issue is his inability to open his hips freely. Long essentially has to turn his whole body to turn rather than just open up and step. His hips also affect his ability to regain his balance when he rushes in his kickslide.

I still stick by that point IMO, even from the very first time I ever had anything to say about him, when I took a look at both he and Vernon Gholston before the draft.

His feet are adequate, although his hips are not. His hands and his long arms keep him out of a good many jams, otherwise he wouldn't be nearly as unique a talent.

"LandShark13 wrote:

Lets be real here. The guy has only given up 6 sacks in 2 seasons and has played almost every snap. How much of a weakness in Pass defense does he really have?

That maybe true, but I'd be willing to bet a good deal of money that Jake as good as he is gets put on his butt about once a game thanks to his issues with bullrushes.

I **** you not, Jake gets beaten by a bullrush like that about once a game. It is what it is, it happened in college and it happens on this level as well. I'm not saying it's bad, but in comparison to his run blocking, this would be his non throwing arm so to speak.

I don't see any faults considering the loooonnnng struggle we had in finding a good left tackle. Any way you look at it Jake Long is one of the best Left Tackles in the NFL and above average in every department. He is a Dolphin and, I like it!

"Aqua4Ever04 wrote:

Ryan Claddy is a terrific left tackle. He, Joe Thomas and Jake Long are the next Walter Jones, Jonathan Ogden and Orlando Pace.

But I think he's vastly over-rated by just about everyone based on Jay Cutler's release. Cutler only took 11 sacks last year and Ryan Harris surrendered just two at right tackle. Ryan Clady wasn't the only Denver offensive lineman that had a tremendous statisical pass blocking season in 2008.

Jay Cutler was in Chicago last year. They protect Clady a lot man. Just watch the games, and I know you do, there's no way you can say he's not protected by that offense. Gets a lot of help from the left guard and the tight end.

"Conuficus wrote:

I certainly agree that his hips are tight, but to be honest I think his feet are better than he gets credit for. IMHO his biggest issue is his inability to open his hips freely. Long essentially has to turn his whole body to turn rather than just open up and step. His hips also affect his ability to regain his balance when he rushes in his kickslide.

I still stick by that point IMO, even from the very first time I ever had anything to say about him, when I took a look at both he and Vernon Gholston before the draft.

His feet are adequate, although his hips are not. His hands and his long arms keep him out of a good many jams, otherwise he wouldn't be nearly as unique a talent.

I agree. He also needs to continue to keep his arms off his hips, which isn't a huge issue but we saw him do that against John Abraham and get planted on his ass.

All things considered, that's a pretty good list. I didn't really have any "WTF" thoughts when looking at it.

Clady isn't better than Joe Thomas or Long, but these things are all subjective, and not everyone is going to agree.

I like what he said about Peyton Manning though. He's 34 and still getting better. How scary is that?