Home

Madden NFL 16 Player Ratings - Top Outside Linebackers

This is a discussion on Madden NFL 16 Player Ratings - Top Outside Linebackers within the Madden NFL Football forums.

Go Back   Operation Sports Forums > Football > Madden NFL Football
MLB The Show 24 Review: Another Solid Hit for the Series
New Star GP Review: Old-School Arcade Fun
Where Are Our College Basketball Video Game Rumors?
Reply
 
Thread Tools
Old 07-27-2015, 03:01 PM   #17
MVP
 
MoneyOvaHuds's Arena
 
OVR: 0
Join Date: Jul 2014
Madden NFL 16 Player Ratings - Top Outside Linebackers

The measurables: These two pass rushers are an interesting comparison because of their respective paths. Both were drafted in the 2011 NFL Draft, but Miller was taken second overall by the Broncos while Houston fell to the Chiefs in the third round due to off-field concerns. Since coming into the league, Houston's had a clean off-field run while Miller's dealt with various issues, including a suspension in 2013 that involved issues with urine collection. He has also been frequently injured.

One of those injuries is a torn ACL suffered in 2013 (rough year!) which Miller returned from last season. It makes the linebacker's performance even more impressive. Miller recorded 14 sacks, 66 total tackles, two passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. For a guy whose career felt in the balance heading into 2014, it was a statement season.

In terms of raw numbers, it fell short of Houston's 2014, however. Take Texans freakshow and superhuman J.J. Watt out of the equation and Houston has a legitimate case for Defensive Player of the Year in 2014.

The Chiefs outside linebacker recorded an NFL-high 22 sacks (a half-sack shy of the NFL record), 68 total tackles, five passes defensed and four forced fumbles. He was an absolute monster down the stretch, recording 10 sacks in Kansas City's final six games.


The sacks came in spurts for Houston, but he still only had three games without a sack. He also recorded 56 total quarterback hurries, according to Pro Football Focus data. By comparison, Miller finished with 40 quarterback hurries per PFF.

Miller graded out better against the run, posting the second-highest run score by any linebacker at PFF. You can see Miller working as a spy against speedy quarterbacks too, nullifying their ability to change the field with their feet. As Prisco wrote, Miller's "ability to influence the quarterback is much greater than that sack total."


He's not alone, though. Houston was good against the run too, totaling 50 stops ("solo defensive tackles which constitute an offensive line failure") per PFF. Miller recorded 37.

Both guys have the benefit of playing on impressive defenses. Miller plays across/near DeMarcus Ware, while Houston gets Tamba Hali (and a stout Chiefs defensive line anchored by Dontari Poe).

The difference in defense here is an interesting one. Houston gets a slight advantage rushing the passer out of the 3-4, while Miller is probably asked to do more moving around as an outside linebacker in a 4-3 formation.

That will change in 2015 with Wade Phillips taking over Denver's defense and shifting the Broncos to a 3-4 full time. There were plenty of principles in use with John Fox's regime, but Phillips is a diehard 3-4 guy and has a nice setup to operate with when it comes to the Broncos.

"I think we have guys who can play in lots of spots," Miller said. "I think you look at the guys we have, we can do a lot of things, we can line up in whatever defense they want us to and make plays."

If we're basing this strictly on flatulence, Miller is gassing Houston.

Bottom line: You would be perfectly happy taking either guy, because as it turns out, having a top-10 NFL player -- or one who is close to the top 10 -- on your team is a good thing.

Right now, based off of 2014, Houston is the pick. He produced a better statistical season; if the argument is Miller's year was more well rounded well that's just fine.

Predicting forward is a little more tricky. In 2015 Miller might not just be the safer play but the higher upside play too. Houston has only produced one season above 11 sacks and it came in 2014, when he was playing for a contract.

Miller has only produced one season under 11 sacks, his troubled 2013.

Phillips has a history of transitioning highly talented pass rushers from 4-3 defenses to 3-4 and seeing a lot of success, so it's no stretch to think Miller could absolutely explode under his tutelage next season.

Last year's comparison of these two pass rushers is a bit of apples to oranges. With both in 3-4 defenses -- and facing similar divisional schedules too -- we'll have a very nice apples/apples matchup after the 2015 season.

Last edited by MoneyOvaHuds; 07-27-2015 at 03:03 PM.
MoneyOvaHuds is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old 07-27-2015, 03:54 PM   #18
Rookie
 
JohnnyCash2015's Arena
 
OVR: 0
Join Date: Jun 2015
Re: Madden NFL 16 Player Ratings - Top Outside Linebackers

Wish madden was a football game and ranked 3-4 linebackers and 4-3 linebackers instead of "outside linebackers"


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
JohnnyCash2015 is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old 07-28-2015, 03:32 AM   #19
Flyin' High
 
Birdman18's Arena
 
OVR: 8
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: NW Indiana
Posts: 65
Re: Madden NFL 16 Player Ratings - Top Outside Linebackers

Pro Football Focus graded Justin Houston as the #3 overall player in their top 101.. Behind JJ Watt and Aaron Rodgers. Von Miller was 10th on that same list.. I prefer to take their word for it rather than a fan.. Jarebear looks at the entire body of work instead of strictly what happened last season, and Houston had a better year in every statistical category then Miller. If we went by career numbers then Peyton Manning would be a 99 this season


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
__________________
www.twitch.tv/birdman18
Birdman18 is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old 07-28-2015, 07:46 AM   #20
Eagles Fan
 
BleedGreen710's Arena
 
OVR: 6
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Corvallis, OR
Posts: 4,036
Re: Madden NFL 16 Player Ratings - Top Outside Linebackers

Quote:
Originally Posted by The JareBear
Disagree 100 percent

Four year careers

Von - 49 sacks (missed half of 2013 season)
Houston - 48.5 sacks (missed considerable time in 2013 as well)
They are the same, and that's fair

In my opinion of course
If the ratings depended on the players careers, Peyton Manning would have been in the top 5 QBs. Houston was clearly the better player last year, and thats what should matter. In my opinion
BleedGreen710 is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old 07-28-2015, 07:48 AM   #21
Eagles Fan
 
BleedGreen710's Arena
 
OVR: 6
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Corvallis, OR
Posts: 4,036
Re: Madden NFL 16 Player Ratings - Top Outside Linebackers

Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnnyCash2015
Wish madden was a football game and ranked 3-4 linebackers and 4-3 linebackers instead of "outside linebackers"
well they do have 'schemes' that will change the players rating on the depth chart based on what type of linebacker your scheme prefers (havent played much next gen madden so someone please correct me if im wrong)
BleedGreen710 is offline  
Reply With Quote
Advertisements - Register to remove
Old 07-28-2015, 09:48 AM   #22
MVP
 
Sheba2011's Arena
 
OVR: 0
Join Date: Oct 2013
Re: Madden NFL 16 Player Ratings - Top Outside Linebackers

The Patriots have two of the best young LB;s in the NFL in Jamie Collins and Donta Hightower. Good to see Hightower getting the recognition he deserves.
Sheba2011 is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old 07-28-2015, 10:03 AM   #23
MVP
 
Sheba2011's Arena
 
OVR: 0
Join Date: Oct 2013
Re: Madden NFL 16 Player Ratings - Top Outside Linebackers

Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnnyCash2015
Wish madden was a football game and ranked 3-4 linebackers and 4-3 linebackers instead of "outside linebackers"


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
The problem with that would be teams like the Patriots who play 80% of the game in sub packages where they have anywhere from 2-4 LBs on the field depending on the situation. Many teams these days spend most of the game in Sub, the traditional 3-4/4-3 isn't as prominent as it once was.
Sheba2011 is offline  
Reply With Quote
Reply


« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

« Operation Sports Forums > Football > Madden NFL Football »


Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:14 AM.
Top -