Every year, Michael Lombardi at NFL Network does a list of “blue chips” and “red chips,” meaning the top 5 players at each position, “blue chips” and then players 6-10, “red chips.” Normally, this is a pretty good list, although this year I had some major disagreements, especially the placement of Red Bryant as a blue chip defensive end when he has 2 career sacks in 5 seasons. I don’t care how good you are at stopping the run. Defensive ends get paid to get to the quarterback (in addition to stopping the run). If you can’t get to the quarterback, you’re not a blue chip. You’re not even a red chip. If a player was a great pass rusher and couldn’t stop the run, I would feel similarly (although in a passing league, I prefer the one dimensional pass rushers over the one dimensional run stuffers). Anyway, here’s Lombardi’s list on defense. And below is mine for the defense.
DT
Blue Chips
Geno Atkins (CIN)
Jay Ratliff (DAL)
Kevin Williams (MIN)
Haloti Ngata (BAL)
Sione Pouha (NYJ)
Red Chips
Richard Seymour (OAK)
Cullen Jenkins (PHI)
Alan Branch (SEA)
Marcell Dareus (BUF)
Kyle Williams (BUF)
Notes
These are 3-4 nose tackles, 4-3 defensive tackles, but not 3-4 defensive ends.
DE
Blue Chips
Justin Smith (SF)
Jared Allen (MIN)
Jason Pierre Paul (NYG)
Julius Peppers (CHI)
Cameron Wake (MIA)
Red Chips
Calais Campbell (ARZ)
Trent Cole (PHI)
Ray McDonald (SF)
Mario Williams (BUF)
Jason Babin (PHI)
OLB
Blue Chips
DeMarcus Ware (DAL)
Von Miller (DEN)
Clay Matthews (GB)
Aldon Smith (SF)
Tamba Hali (KC)
Red Chips
James Harrison (PIT)
Brian Orakpo (WAS)
Terrell Suggs (BAL)
LaMarr Woodley (PIT)
Daryl Smith (JAC)
MLB
Blue Chips
Patrick Willis (SF)
Brian Cushing (HOU)
Derrick Johnson (KC)
Ray Lewis (BAL)
NaVorro Bowman (SF)
Red Chips
Stephen Tulloch (DET)
Lawrence Timmons (PIT)
London Fletcher (WAS)
Brian Urlacher (CHI)
Paul Posluszny (JAC)
CB
Blue Chips
Darrelle Revis (NYJ)
Brent Grimes (ATL)
Cortland Finnegan (STL)
Lardarius Webb (BAL)
Brandon Flowers (KC)
Red Chips
Brandon Carr (DAL)
Ike Taylor (PIT)
Asante Samuel (ATL)
Nnamdi Asomugha (PHI)
Leon Hall (CIN)
S
Blue Chips
Troy Polamalu (PIT)
Ed Reed (BAL)
Eric Weddle (SD)
Adrian Wilson (ARZ)
Jarius Byrd (BUF)
Red Chips
Earl Thomas (SEA)
Michael Griffin (TEN)
Kam Chancellor (SEA)
Kenny Phillips (NYG)
Tyvon Branch (OAK)
HC
Blue Chips
Bill Belichick (NE)
Mike Tomlin (PIT)
Mike McCarthy (GB)
Tom Coughlin (NYG)
Jim Harbaugh (SF)
Red Chips
Pete Carroll (SEA)
Sean Payton (NO)
Andy Reid (PHI)
John Harbaugh (BAL)
Jim Schwartz (DET)
Notes
Notice, 4 of the 5 blue chippers have won Super Bowls. The only Super Bowl winning coach not in there is Sean Payton, who is suspended for the season.
Jim Harbaugh takes the spot of Payton, winning out over long time coach Andy Reid. Reid has had a great career, but doesn’t have a ring and Harbaugh has a better chance of getting one in his coaching career than Reid.
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