Positional Classification Discrepancy Thread (1 Viewer)

[Jene Bramel]

There are lots of threads bouncing around the Forum and I've gotten a number of requests concerning those sites other than MFL (RTS, ESPN, Yahoo, CBS etc) that have linebackers listed as defensive linemen, safeties listed as corners, etc.

I think there are enough folks in this community who use league management sites other than MFL to support a catch-all thread for each site for all to use. I have just one non-MFL league, but I'm happy to maintain the first post in this thread with updates if you guys post the key discrepancies in the thread.

Let's keep this thread for hybrid DL/LB who are listed at DL but play LB. Feel free to include Suggs here.

Specifically, I'm looking for something like "Yahoo lists LB A, B, X, Y as DL." I'll keep a running list of each site's loopholes in this post.

 

[gandalas]

In Yahoo there are some differences:

Suggs is listed as LB (no DL eligibility!)

Andre Carter is LB/DE, so dual-eligibility

Aaron Schobel is LB/DE, so dual-eligibility if he comes back somewhere

Michael Johnson is LB/DE

Brian Orakpo is only LB

Mathias Kiwanuka is only DE

Trevor Scott is only DE

Chris Kelsey is LB/DE

Aaron Maybin is LB/DE

Quentin Groves is LB/DE

Chris Ellis is Lb/DE

There are some other ones, but they had less than 20 points last season, so I did not keep going.

 

[Glaven]

Nice idea for a thread. Last year ESPN had a lot of 3-4 OLB's listed as DL for the entire season; this year they finally fixed it, but it looks like they still missed a few. Here are some positional discrepancies I've noticed in ESPN.

Trevor Scott listed as DE (reports so far indicate he'll play mostly LB)

Bryan Thomas & Jason Taylor both listed as DE (both play 3-4 OLB)

Andre Carter listed as DE (expected to be playing 3-4 OLB)

David Bowens listed as DE (expected to be playing ILB in 3-4)

Tamba Hali listed as DE (played well last year as 3-4 OLB)

Those are the major ones I've noticed to this point. I'll post any more I find here as I find them.

 

[tones]

How does ESPN set there positions? I know MFL uses Rotoworld.

 

[massraider]

Nice idea for a thread. Last year ESPN had a lot of 3-4 OLB's listed as DL for the entire season; this year they finally fixed it, but it looks like they still missed a few. Here are some positional discrepancies I've noticed in ESPN.Trevor Scott listed as DE (reports so far indicate he'll play mostly LB)Bryan Thomas & Jason Taylor both listed as DE (both play 3-4 OLB)Andre Carter listed as DE (expected to be playing 3-4 OLB)David Bowens listed as DE (expected to be playing ILB in 3-4)Tamba Hali listed as DE (played well last year as 3-4 OLB)Those are the major ones I've noticed to this point. I'll post any more I find here as I find them.

Those are definitely the big ones. I missed Hali somehow.Just did a draft on Sunday, and about the 5th round of the defensive draft, I took Scott, and kind of winked smugly at the owner next to me, then explained Scott's designation. About 5 picks later, the owner took Hali, and kind of winked smugly at me. I'm all: One more:Alan Ball is Dallas' FS, and listed as CB. Nice little pickup in CB-required leagues.

 

[TheArchitect]

On CBSSports, Michael Johnson (Cin) is designated as a DL, but is lining up at SLB. Could be huge if the Bengals decide to finally move Maualuga inside.

Any other CBSSports info?

 

[Terps2002]

Haloti Ngata plays END in the 3-4. He is designated as a Tackle everywhere because of his old draft status and league laziness.

Ummm no he doesn't. Ngata and Kelly Gregg line up with another DE but they bring down another linebacker (usually Suggs or Johnson) to make it a four man line.There is a bit of a misnomer that the Ravens play a true 3-4 defense. They play more 4-3 and a hybrid version of the 46 defense then they play a true 3-4 anymore. All of their outside LBs and a few of their MLBs rotate playing an elephant position as a stand up rush end. They even rotate some of their DEs to play that elephant position also. It's why Suggs is listed as a DE and was classified by the NFL as a DE when he was franchised. His snaps were determined to be more as an DE (including elephant) then as a linebacker. When they list the starting lineups on Tv they do list the Ravens playing two DT's with a DE and list Suggs as a linebacker. Not sure why they contradict themselves that wayThat is why Ngata is listed as a DT he plays between two DE's. Their is a lot of confusion on this because the Ravens don't designate most of their players as true ends, they prefer hybrids that can do a bit of everything. It's sometimes hard to keep track of who is where, who is coming and who is dropping in coverage. During the preaseason they have played Cody at Dt between Ngata and Gregg and brought both Suggs and the other outside lb down on the line to play a six man pressure front (ala the 46). In effect playing 3 DTs bookend by two DEs who also play linebacker (confused yet?)

 

[jbz]

On CBSSports, Michael Johnson (Cin) is designated as a DL, but is lining up at SLB. Could be huge if the Bengals decide to finally move Maualuga inside.Any other CBSSports info?

CBS looks to be pretty thorough this year. Johnson is the only one I really noticed after looking yesterday.

 

[Terps2002]

Haloti Ngata plays END in the 3-4. He is designated as a Tackle everywhere because of his old draft status and league laziness.

Ummm no he doesn't. Ngata and Kelly Gregg line up with another DE but they bring down another linebacker (usually Suggs or Johnson) to make it a four man line.There is a bit of a misnomer that the Ravens play a true 3-4 defense. They play more 4-3 and a hybrid version of the 46 defense then they play a true 3-4 anymore. All of their outside LBs and a few of their MLBs rotate playing an elephant position as a stand up rush end. They even rotate some of their DEs to play that elephant position also.

It's why Suggs is listed as a DE and was classified by the NFL as a DE when he was franchised. His snaps were determined to be more as an DE (including elephant) then as a linebacker. When they list the starting lineups on Tv they do list the Ravens playing two DT's with a DE and list Suggs as a linebacker. Not sure why they contradict themselves that way

That is why Ngata is listed as a DT he plays between two DE's. Their is a lot of confusion on this because the Ravens don't designate most of their players as true ends, they prefer hybrids that can do a bit of everything. It's sometimes hard to keep track of who is where, who is coming and who is dropping in coverage.

During the preaseason they have played Cody at Dt between Ngata and Gregg and brought both Suggs and the other outside lb down on the line to play a six man pressure front (ala the 46). In effect playing 3 DTs bookend by two DEs who also play linebacker (confused yet?)

But then so can many 3-4 DEs.3-4 DEs act like tackles all day long. At that rate Justin and Aaron Smith should be a DT qualifiers.

Ummm no he doesn't. Ngata and Kelly Gregg line up with another DE but they bring down another linebacker (usually Suggs or Johnson) to make it a four man line.

Which is what James Harrison and Demarcus Ware are doing nearly every play. They shouldnt qualify at DE either.

Just because a De slides inside for a couple plays a game should not make him Dt eligible. The difference between Harrison, Ware and Suggs is Suggs lines up not only on the line, but also in a 3 point stance as a lineman. I have only seen Ware do that a few times and can't ever remember Harrison putting his hand on the ground. There was a big issue with this when the Ravens franchised Suggs and the NFL and the players association broke down every single play for the season and determined the majority of the time he lined up as a DE, ergo making Ngata a DT.

You also don't take into account when they line up in a 3 man front Ngata isn't always on the end. I have seen Suggs,Jarrett Johnson, Jamel McClain,Dwan Edwards, Kelly Gregg and Justin Bannon line up outside of Ngata in their true 3 man fronts. He plays the majority of his team as a DT. Now that they have Cody they may start playing him more as an end in their true 3 man fronts, but that has yet to happen so it is kind of hard to project how often they will use that alignment. All you have to do is look at his sack totals to tell you where he plays.

 

[Terps2002]

The difference between Harrison, Ware and Suggs is Suggs lines up not only on the line, but also in a 3 point stance as a lineman. I

Thats a terrible reason. They play the same position from the same spot.

By your definition, slot cornerbacks who play tight coverage should be consider De's also. We can just agree to see this one differently. I think I made my point quite clearly and you made your stance known also.