On Madden NFL 10's Redskins and Ravens Ratings

Since all of you are excited about the pending release of Madden '10, here are the following write-ups and ratings for our two local squads out of Baltimore and Washington.

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The Redskins are one of the more balanced teams in Madden NFL 10. Clinton Portis (93 OVR/91 SPIN/92 JUKE) leads the rushing attack while Jason Campbell (77 OVR/88 THP) returns to lead the passing game. Campbell has some pretty nice weapons in his arsenal. Santana Moss (86 OVR/96 SPD) can score from anywhere on the field and TE Chris Cooley (91 OVR/93 ROUTES) – who set a career high in 2008 in receptions and yardage – is Mr. Dependable in this Redskins offense. The Hogs O-Line ranks as the 8th best unit in the NFL, led by veterans Chris Samuels (93 OVR) and Randy Thomas (89 OVR). On defense, the offseason focus was on the Defensive Line. The Redskins signed free agent Albert Haynesworth (99 OVR/99 STR/98 POW MOVE) who became the NFL’s first defensive $100 Million Dollar Man and spent a 1st round pick on DE/OLB hybrid Brian Orakpo (76 OVR/92 PURSUIT/88 POW MOVE) from Texas. The Redskins now have the 6th ranked D-Line unit in football after those moves. MLB London Fletcher (89 OVR/97 TAK) is back for another season to anchor the LB unit and Rocky McIntosh (77 OVR) is a guy to really watch in franchise mode at outside linebacker. Carlos Rogers (87 OVR/93 PRESS) and DeAngelo Hall (79 OVR/97 SPD/87 MAN COV) are the starters at corner for the 13th best CB unit in the NFL while LaRon Landry (86 OVR/94 HIT POW) is lethal with the hit stick at free safety. The biggest weakness on the Redskins entire team is the special teams. They have the 27th ranked unit with Kicker Shaun Suisham (52 OVR) and Hunter Smith (81 OVR).

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The Ravens have traditionally been very tough on defense over the last decade and things will be no different in Madden NFL 10. Led by perennial Pro Bowlers Ed Reed (99 OVR/97 ZONE/84 CTH) and Ray Lewis (97 OVR/97 TAK), the Ravens are definitely one of the top defensive teams this year in Madden. OLB Terrell Suggs (90 OVR) wrecks havoc on the outside and DE Haloti Nagata (90 OVR/97 STR) is a force against the run. CB Fabian Washington (77 OVR/98 SPD) is back to build on a solid season and he is paired up with free agent pickup Dominique Foxworth (82 OVR/93 SPD), forming one of the faster starting duos in the league. On offense, QB Joe Flacco (81 OVR/97 THP) is back for his sophomore season and is ready to open the offense up a bit more this year. Many of the same faces return: WR Derrick Mason (88 OVR/94 CTH) leads the 20th ranked WR unit, the three-headed monster of Willis McGahee (83 OVR), Ray Rice (78 OVR), and Fullback Le’Ron McClain (92 OVR/89 TRK) will share the carries again this year, and Todd Heap (84 OVR) is back at TE. On the offensive line, the Ravens have some great building blocks in Guard Ben Grubbs (87 OVR) and Tackles Jared Gaither (81 OVR) and 1st Round Pick Michael Oher (77 OVR).

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I have a few questions about these ratings.

One, the Pittsburgh Steelers are 10 points higher than the Ravens in this year’s edition. Super Bowl champions or not, the Ravens played the Steelers closer than any other team throughout the entire season. That has to account for a closer attribution of talent and team ability.

Secondly, what will the retirement of Derrick Mason mean to the offense when the game is released? Will the team drop down to an 80 or a 79? Yeah, Derrick Mason was that important to the offense.

As for Washington, is that the worst they could get? I mean, for half of the season, they couldn’t be touched. By the time it was over, injuries and infighting had done them all but in. I say a 75 is in order for a squad that was totally out of order.