ESPN Preseason Power Rankings

[Losac]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/powerranking?season=2006&week=1

Ravens #18. Just a blurb about McNair about us. Surprisingly the Seahawks are #1. Not that it means anything - but these preseason rankings are always funny to look at at the end of the year.

[Bez513]

How can we be ranked lower then the Redskins?:grbac: We win in TB we'll be up near they top 10.

[RavensDomination]

I'd probably move us up to 16.

How in the hell are the Texans ranked 24? Because of Eric Moulds?!?

The Saints at 29?

I'd move the Giants down a few slots. They are so overrated.

[highwater]

Overall, these ratings aren't bad, but the Raiders at 25? There's no way they're better than seven other teams, they are going to be terrible. And the Dolphins are rated a bit too highly -- people are reading too much into their six game winning streak at the end of last season. But now that I think about it, they did add Culpepper over the offseason, so maybe it's not that far off after all.

The Ravens at 18 sounds about right. We have to prove something (like win a game on the road) before anyone takes us seriously. It's okay with me -- maybe we can fly under the radar for a while.

[Mista T]

How can we be ranked lower then the Redskins?

You serious? They were 10-6. we were 6-10. They have an offense that is starting to work. We don't.

#18 sounds about right for the present. We have a lot to prove.

:mrt:

[lance1086]

They have an offense that is starting to work.
0 points, in FOUR pre-season games, for their starting 'O'. I wouldn't categorize that as "starting to work".

That said, 18 is about right. Until we show in a regular season game, that we're better than a 6-10 team, we shouldn't expect very much praise at all.

[52decleetzu]

An offense that is starting to work?????

[camdenyard]

I would have figured us to come in at #12 but not lower than 15. Oh well, it's just an opinion poll.

[ExiledRaven]

Sometimes I think even the writers take "preseason means nothing" too seriously.....

You can never glean too much from preseason play, especially with teams that like to hide the ball like the washington O, which I assure you will look very very different in the real season.

But then 0-4 and an offense with, what? no points?, in the top 5 is in my opinion just playing homer to last year.

[Bez513]

You serious? They were 10-6. we were 6-10. They have an offense that is starting to work. We don't.

#18 sounds about right for the present. We have a lot to prove.

:mrt:

That was last year T. Washington has looked like crap this off-season. We made good FA moves and have played pretty well so far. Their offeense is starting to work....huh?

[EAP52]

When I opened this thread, in my mind I thought we would be 19. I wasn't too far off. Since these things are based on starting line ups, there is no doubt that is where we should be. Preseason should have NOTHING to do with it. Offseason moves are important, but not preseason games since the starters don't play much. Yes, the Skins had an awful preseason, but they were 10-6 last year and made the second round of the playoffs. No doubt they should be ahead of the Ravens.

[Ravenshon]

0 points, in FOUR pre-season games, for their starting 'O'. I wouldn't categorize that as "starting to work".

That said, 18 is about right. Until we show in a regular season game, that we're better than a 6-10 team, we shouldn't expect very much praise at all.

good point about the our expectations.

[General Lee 01]

I'd probably move us up to 16.

How in the hell are the Texans ranked 24? Because of Eric Moulds?!?

The Saints at 29?

I'd move the Giants down a few slots. They are so overrated.

yep. Giants=most overrated team in the NFL.

[birdbrain]

so true about the skins...they have no business being where they are...

[Irishraven]

I would have figured us to come in at #12 but not lower than 15. Oh well, it's just an opinion poll.

Was just gonna type that exactly... defo would have thought with our D upgrade at QB that we would come in higher...

again, like the best message board, i don't think it will hurt anyone here too much!:thumbup:

[Heap86]

You serious? They were 10-6. we were 6-10. They have an offense that is starting to work. We don't.

#18 sounds about right for the present. We have a lot to prove.

:mrt:

:grbac: Give me a break!!

At least our first team offense managed to score points in the preseason.

For a long time poster, that was an extremely trollish post.

[Losac]

:grbac: Give me a break!!

At least our first team offense managed to score points in the preseason.

For a long time poster, that was an extremely trollish post.
We DO have a lot to prove, Heap. These preseason rankings are pretty much entirely based on last year anyway. The Skins were a playoff team and we stunk it up.

The Deadskins are not as bad as they have looked in the preseason. I hate to admit it, but I think they will be contenders in the NFCE.

[FellsPointRaven]

I'm absoulutely fine with that. Ranked slightly below average when we haven't played a down of meaningful football yet, after a 6-10 season and yet to prove we can win a game on the road.

I agree that the Skins have looked AWFUL in the pre-season, but would not be surprised to see them step it up signifcantly when the proper stuff begins.

Remember people had us ranked around the top 10 last year when we all felt similar promise going into the season. For now I'll take 18 and leave it to the team to prove people wrong. Actions speak a lot louder than words, so let's have at it.

[GreenWave52]

I'm absoulutely fine with that. Ranked slightly below average when we haven't played a down of meaningful football yet, after a 6-10 season and yet to prove we can win a game on the road.

I agree that the Skins have looked AWFUL in the pre-season, but would not be surprised to see them step it up signifcantly when the proper stuff begins.

Remember people had us ranked around the top 10 last year when we all felt similar promise going into the season. For now I'll take 18 and leave it to the team to prove people wrong. Actions speak a lot louder than words, so let's have at it.
Agreed Fells. T was not even close to trolling he was stating facts. I'm confident that we will bounce up to the top 12 by the end of the season but right now we have A LOT to prove. Besides, as a preseason power ranking it already holds even less value than the dubious in season ones.

[Sports Steve]

I have the top (5) like this:

1 Panthers
2 Colts
3 Patriots
4 Bengals
5 Steelers

I would move us to 14th

:jester: :jester:

[Heap86]

We DO have a lot to prove, Heap. These preseason rankings are pretty much entirely based on last year anyway. The Skins were a playoff team and we stunk it up.

The Deadskins are not as bad as they have looked in the preseason. I hate to admit it, but I think they will be contenders in the NFCE.

I agree 100% with the rankings, but to say that the Redskins have made progress on Offense and the Ravens haven't is rediculous. Its safe to say that the Redskins are learning a new Offense and are starting out slow, Steve McNair is also still learning a new Offense and looks ahead of schedule.

[highwater]

:grbac: Give me a break!!

At least our first team offense managed to score points in the preseason.

For a long time poster, that was an extremely trollish post.

You must be kidding -- you can disagree with T about the Redskins offense, but to call that post "trollish" is ridiculous. As he pointed out, the Redskins were a playoff team last year, so there isn't anything crazy about them being ranked ahead of us in some preseason power ranking.

I'm not predicting they'll be better than the Ravens, but it's certainly not crazy that they would be ranked ahead of us at this point. Trollish? Give US a break!

[APerfect10]

The most meaningful power rankings:

Jeff Sagarin's of USA Today
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/sagarin/nfl06.htm

As accurate as it'll get throughout the season.

[52decleetzu]

Notice how there is only 3 NFC teams in the top 12? That is by far the best rankings I have seen yet.

[Mista T]

For a long time poster, that was an extremely trollish post.


:229031_confused2: :229031_confused2: :229031_confused2: :229031_confused2: :229031_confused2: :229031_confused2: :229031_confused2: :229031_confused2:

Whoa! Who are you calling a troll? Calling fellow Ravens fans trolls isn't really in the spirit of this board. I try to be objective, not looking through purple colored glasses, at an aging team that was 6-10 last year.

The Landovers (I hate 'em too!) were a playoff team, and our guys were horrible last season. Preseason means nothing - check out many examples of SB teams that had poor preseasons. Most preseason power polls have them in the top ten or lower teens, with the good guys in the high teens. Who do you think is being more realistic here, Heap: me or you? This isn't a rah-rah pep rally, but rather an opinion forum.

:mrt:

[Heap86]

Ok then, Sorry about that. I'm not trying to start any trouble. I just disagree with the fact that based on what we have seen so far with the Redskins you can say that they are ahead of us Offensively, they have not looked good Offensively and thier New Offensive scheme does not seem to be working.

Just my opinion :thumbup: