So, which NFL players offer the total package?
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| No quarterback can match the all-around ability of Packers star Brett Favre. |
We defined the most complete player at each position with the use of the scouts' handbook, selecting the player who best represented what scouts look for at that spot. For instance, when it comes to tight ends, the scouts look for a player who has the power and strength to block in-line and the ability to go over the middle and catch the ball in heavy traffic while being hit as soon as the ball arrives. Scouts also want tight ends to have the agility to block downfield and run pass routes; the hand-eye coordination and flexibility to adjust to the ball like a wide receiver; the speed to get deep; the strength, balance and run skills to gain yardage after the catch; and the awareness and football smarts to read coverages and find the soft spots in a zone defense.
Being the most complete player often coincides with being the best player at the position, but that is not always the case. Deion Sanders is the best cornerback because of his superior pass-coverage skills, but he is not the most complete because of the way he tackles and plays the run. Shannon Sharpe might have been the best tight end in the NFL during his best years, but he never was the most complete because of his sub-par in-line blocking. Randy Moss might have been an All-Pro receiver last year, but he was far from the most complete.
What follows is our team of complete players, as selected with tremendous input from scouts, general managers, player personnel and pro personnel directors and some coaches.
Offense
QB Brett Favre, Packers
Favre has the size, arm strength, mobility, awareness and all the other physical skills, but he also has all the intangibles and is one of the toughest players and best leaders the game has ever seen. Similar to John Elway, but better -- if that is possible -- because of the way he was coached in his early years in the NFL.
FB Charles Way, Giants
Way gets very high marks for his blocking and high grades for his pass catching. He is the type of runner who can get the tough, inside yardage. However, he might be down a little bit from where he was a couple of years ago.
RB Terrell Davis, Broncos
Davis makes the team despite his season-ending knee injury suffered in Week 4. He runs with the power of a big back and the agility of a small back. He has great vision, finds the cutback lanes quickly, breaks a lot of tackles and can also make the defender miss. Davis has much better playing speed than stopwatch speed, which lets him get outside and make big plays. He also is a tackle-breaker who gains a lot of yards after contact. He's very good in short-yardage and goal-line situations. A fine receiver and an above-average blocker, Davis rarely fumbles and has been a heavy-duty workhorse who rarely, if ever, has a run for negative yardage. He always finishes his runs and runs with very good body lean.
TE Ken Dilger, Colts
Dilger is not the biggest, fastest, smartest or best pass-catching tight end, and he does not rate at the top of any list. However, he is a good receiver, a good blocker and a good runner after the catch, and he is above average at reading defenses and knowing how to beat zone coverages. In short, he is the most complete tight end in the game.
WR Jerry Rice, 49ers
There is no clear-cut choice, and Rice no longer is the deep threat he once was. However, he still does all the little things -- blocks, catches in traffic and makes something happen after the catch. He also is one of the best at running through the ball and has the ability to make tough catches look easy.
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| 1999 SEASON STATISTICS |
| REC |
YDS |
YDS/R |
TD |
LNG |
FUM |
| 23 |
442 |
19.2 |
3 |
35 |
1 |
|
|
WR Yancey Thigpen, Titans
Not that fast but Thigpen has deceptive speed, runs good routes, makes great catches, runs well after the catch, blocks and is fearless in traffic.
C Dermontti Dawson, Steelers
He still can make all the blocks, is as quick as a cat and has great explosiveness, which enables him to compensate for his lack of great size.
G Larry Allen, Cowboys
Ask a coach what he wants in a guard, and he'll likely just say, "Larry Allen." The physical prototype of an NFL guard, Allen weighs much more than 300 pounds, yet he moves like a smaller man. He has great explosive strength, is as tough as shoe leather and works to finish his blocks.
G Ruben Brown, Bills
Physically, he is all there, and he does have a mean streak. But concentration lapses still get him in trouble and keep his overall rating down.
T Tony Boselli, Jaguars
Not the athlete that Jonathan Ogden or Walter Jones is, but is close in the athletic area. Has the great intangibles and work ethic to go with tremendous size and physicality.
T Jonathan Ogden, Ravens
In terms of ability, he is the closest thing to Anthony Muñoz. Ogden is also as smart as a whip. However, he tends to take some downs off and does not always work to complete his blocks. One scout called Ogden the most athletic king-sized offensive lineman he has seen in close to 30 years in and around the game.
Defense
DE Michael Strahan, Giants
Strahan plays the run, rushes the passer, pursues and chases and can hold the point. He's relentless and a little nasty.
DE Kevin Carter, Rams
Carter is not the meanest, or nastiest player around, but he is tough. He never misses a game with injury and can do everything coaches want a defensive end to do. Carter has played with more tenacity and technique the past two years. He is also very smart.
DT Bryant Young, 49ers
Young is excellent against the run and equally effective as a pass rusher. He has superb techniques, uses his hands well and understands leverage. He's a student of the game, a great worker and a terrific competitor.
DT Travis Hall, Falcons
An overachiever with a tremendous work ethic and superb football skills. Hall is a self-made player who has gone from a late-round pick to the first player opponents must account for when they face the Falcons defense. He plays the run, can keep blockers off the linebackers and still gets a lot of pressure on the quarterback. Watch his angles to the ball and watch how hard he goes on every down, and you will know why he is special.
SLB Mo Lewis, Jets
He can control the tight end and play the run at the point or outside. Lewis also is a fine pass rusher who can still cover downfield.
MLB Levon Kirkland, Steelers
Kirkland looks like a stand-up nose tackle, but he is one of the few inside 'backers who can take on a big man and also has a feel for pass coverage, very good hands and ball skills. However, he is too heavy, which might cost him a step of speed.
WLB Chad Brown, Seahawks
Brown is a tremendous pass rusher who can cover and has great speed in pursuit.
CB Shawn Springs, Seahawks
Springs covers, makes plays on the ball and is a solid run defender and tackler most of the time.
CB Charles Woodson, Raiders
The second-year pro still needs to perfect his technique, but he excels in almost all types of coverage. Woodson is a big-play maker who has tremendous range and closing speed.
S LeRoy Butler, Packers
A converted corner, Butler can play near the line like a linebacker. He has a sixth sense and knows just when to blitz.
S Reggie Tongue, Chiefs
A big corner with the toughness to play inside, Tongue also has the speed to cover half the field in two-deep coverage. The only negative is he is not a real ballhawk.
Specialists
PK Jason Elam, Broncos
Elam has a big leg, comes through in the clutch and handles kickoffs.
P Craig Hentrich, Titans
Hentrich can kick for distance or direct his kicks. He runs and throws well, handles bad snaps and is a kickoff man.
Material from Pro Football Weekly.
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