The Fred Davis vs. Jermichael Finley Debate

[TeamBuilder]

Redskins TE Fred Davis
Age: 23
Drafted: 2008 Round 2 Pick #48
2008 Stats: 3 Receptions, 27 yards
Madden 10 Potential Rating: "D"


Packers TE Jermichael Finley
Age: 22
Drafted: 2008 Round 3 Pick #91
2008 Stats: 6 Receptions, 71 yards, 1 TD
Madden 10 Potential Rating: "A"


Some Facts
- Fred Davis was drafted 43 spots ahead of Jermichael Finley.

- Fred Davis was the 3rd TE drafted, Jermichael Finley was the 7th TE drafted.

- Most importantly... Neither player had much impact on their team in 2008.


I do not see any evidence as to why Fred Davis has "D" potential, and Jermichael Finely has "A" potential. I am neither a Redskins or Packers fan, and I am not biased towards either team. I fail to understand why there is such a drastic difference in both players' potential rating. Jermichael Finley can become a star, and Fred Davis can't ever move up a depth chart.


Let's take a look at the first 7 tight ends drafted in the 2008 NFL draft.

Round 1 (30) Dustin Keller NYJ - "A" potential (48 rec, 535 yds, 3 TD)

Round 2 (38) John Carlson SEA - "A" potential(55 rec, 627 yds, 5 TD)

Round 2 (48) Fred Davis WAS - "D" potential (3 rec, 27 yds, 0 TD)

Round 2 (61) Martellus Bennett DAL - "B" potential (20 rec, 283 yds, 4 TD)

Round 3 (76) Brad Cottam KC - "B" potential (7 rec, 63 yds, 0 TD)

Round 3 (85) Craig Stevens TEN - "C" potential (1 rec, 9 yds, 0 TD)

Round 3 (91) Jermichael Finley GB - "A" potential (6 rec, 74 yds, 1 TD)


These 7 players are players that have only played in the NFL for 1 year. How is it that Fred Davis with his 3 career catches can be considered a bust, and Jermichael Finley with his 6 career catches, be considered a future star? Also, what about Craig Stevens and Brad Cottam's 8 combined career receptions shows that they have better potential than Fred Davis? The only TE drafted below Fred Davis that necessarily outperformed him and showed a glimpse of what was to come, was Martellus Bennett. So I ask the question again... Why does Fred Davis have a "D" for potential, and why does Jermichael Finley have an "A" for potential?

[emacfenian]

Re: The Fred Davis vs. Jermichael Finley Debate

Jermichael Finley is a hell of an athlete with little football experience when he came out of college, which is why he wasn't taken earlier in the draft, but he definitely has the physical tools to be a star player, which is why he has A potential. The Packers expect him to be a major threat this year, and he showed signs of it at the end of the season last year. He's also had an awesome preseason, which shows that he's beginning to be the player the Packers expected him to be when they drafted him. There's no problem with his potential rating. The guy's lower draft spot does not mean he should have a lower potential.

EA is smarter than you give them credit for with these ratings. They don't just base them off statistics or draft spot, they talk to scouts and player personnel to find out expert opinions. That is where they learned Jermichael Finley has A potential -- not from last year's statistics.

[TeamBuilder]

Re: The Fred Davis vs. Jermichael Finley Debate

Jermichael Finley is a hell of an athlete with little football experience when he came out of college, which is why he wasn't taken earlier in the draft, but he definitely has the physical tools to be a star player, which is why he has A potential. The Packers expect him to be a major threat this year, and he showed signs of it at the end of the season last year. He's also had an awesome preseason, which shows that he's beginning to be the player the Packers expected him to be when they drafted him. There's no problem with his potential rating. The guy's lower draft spot does not mean he should have a lower potential.

EA is smarter than you give them credit for with these ratings. They don't just base them off statistics or draft spot, they talk to scouts and player personnel to find out expert opinions. That is where they learned Jermichael Finley has A potential -- not from last year's statistics.

Totally understandable... Finley probably deserves an "A". But the real question is why does Fred Davis have a "D". How can he be a bust after 1 season when other tight ends drafted lower than him haven't outproduced him and aren't considered busts?

[permanent1]

Re: The Fred Davis vs. Jermichael Finley Debate

Even though martellus bennett is a B i would say he should be an A hes going to be a great player very soon he is as good an athlete at the tight end position as anyone out there in my opinion and better than most athleticaly.

[Meast21Forever]

Re: The Fred Davis vs. Jermichael Finley Debate

the potential crap on this game is awful. the guys at EA 'decided' to make davis a bust. as if it was up to them.. i love the game but this potential/rating capping thing has really pissed me off. worst addition to the game in years in my opinion.

[emacfenian]

Re: The Fred Davis vs. Jermichael Finley Debate

Totally understandable... Finley probably deserves an "A". But the real question is why does Fred Davis have a "D". How can he be a bust after 1 season when other tight ends drafted lower than him haven't outproduced him and aren't considered busts?

No idea, I know nothing about Fred Davis to explain why he deserves a D. Just answered for the Finley part because that's all I know.

[mmorg]

Re: The Fred Davis vs. Jermichael Finley Debate

the potential crap on this game is awful. the guys at EA 'decided' to make davis a bust. as if it was up to them.. i love the game but this potential/rating capping thing has really pissed me off. worst addition to the game in years in my opinion.

It's been in the game since progression has been in the game. This year is just the first year you can see the potential rating.

[TeamBuilder]

Re: The Fred Davis vs. Jermichael Finley Debate

No idea, I know nothing about Fred Davis to explain why he deserves a D. Just answered for the Finley part because that's all I know.

Yea if he does become great, your team is going to be really fun to watch on offense... Rodgers, Grant, Jennings, Jones, Nelson, and Finley are all 26 or younger.

On a side note. I think the Packers have done an amazing job building that team (especially revamping the defense). Only thing I'm a little suspect about is their offensive line.

[AC IS ART]

Re: The Fred Davis vs. Jermichael Finley Debate

Not really suprised. Its pretty much a given once a player becomes a Redskin he gets a raw deal...minus Orakpo because Donny liked him. I also don't understand how one of the best TE's coming out of college will never be better then Todd Yoder in my franchise. As long as Cooley is here he will never be a Pro Bowler...but why can't he be as potentially good as the Cowboys 2nd TE Bennett or 49ers Walker or Bears Clark or Packers Finley? It is what it is.

[Exonerated]

Re: The Fred Davis vs. Jermichael Finley Debate

This is the 3rd thread by the same poster about the same thing.

Face it. Potential is here to stay.

[TeamBuilder]

Re: The Fred Davis vs. Jermichael Finley Debate

This is the 3rd thread by the same poster about the same thing.

Face it. Potential is here to stay.

But it would be great if potential could at least progress, like if Fred Davis could play his way into a "C" or "B" potential and actually become useful. Hopefully it can at least become that.

[kcarr]

Re: The Fred Davis vs. Jermichael Finley Debate

But it would be great if potential could at least progress, like if Fred Davis could play his way into a "C" or "B" potential and actually become useful. Hopefully it can at least become that.

Wouldn't that kinda go against the whole idea of potential? Potential is how good someone can become, if this didn't limit how good they can become then what is the point of having it.

[Potatoes002]

Re: The Fred Davis vs. Jermichael Finley Debate

Wouldn't that kinda go against the whole idea of potential? Potential is how good someone can become, if this didn't limit how good they can become then what is the point of having it.

You would never have a matt hasselbeck or tom brady this way if it wasnt by statistics. They would just stay as backups and suck.

What I think they should do is scrap potential and each player has a certain goal(s) they have to complete for the year. Depending on how they do their ratings will change, decrease, or stay the same accordingly. Say a 50ovr qb has a goal of pass for 350 yards. Depending on how difficult the goal is for the player and what they accomplished they will have their ratings change that way. Just my opinion though.

[kcarr]

Re: The Fred Davis vs. Jermichael Finley Debate

You would never have a matt hasselbeck or tom brady this way if it wasnt by statistics. They would just stay as backups and suck.

What I think they should do is scrap potential and each player has a certain goal(s) they have to complete for the year. Depending on how they do their ratings will change, decrease, or stay the same accordingly. Say a 50ovr qb has a goal of pass for 350 yards. Depending on how difficult the goal is for the player and what they accomplished they will have their ratings change that way. Just my opinion though.

That argument in bold may have had some small amount of merit before the game came out but now that it is out it is pretty ridicules. There are tons of low rated players in this game with the potential to progress into star players and when drafting there is even more opportunity for it (actually too much in my opinion).

As for the "goals" idea, that is so far off from how players really develop and just moves so far in the opposite direction from making this system more realistic.

[Exonerated]

Re: The Fred Davis vs. Jermichael Finley Debate

You would never have a matt hasselbeck or tom brady this way if it wasnt by statistics. They would just stay as backups and suck.

What I think they should do is scrap potential and each player has a certain goal(s) they have to complete for the year. Depending on how they do their ratings will change, decrease, or stay the same accordingly. Say a 50ovr qb has a goal of pass for 350 yards. Depending on how difficult the goal is for the player and what they accomplished they will have their ratings change that way. Just my opinion though.

What?

That makes no sense. Its like you haven't played M10 Franchise for more than half a season.