Madden NFL 09 Quarterbacks Analysis

Feature Article

Submitted on: 06/03/2008 by Richard Chavez

For the most part, the guys at EA get their ratings largely correct. Every year, there are some suspect ratings that drive people nuts. For now, I’m going to take a look at the quarterbacks you’ll be playing with in August to determine if EA was right or wrong with their ratings. You’ll see which ratings are downright suspect and which quarterbacks made those extra calls to EA.

Who got hosed?

Jon Kitna- 84
Detroit Lions
He threw for 4,068 yards last year, more than Peyton Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, and Philip Rivers, and only behind Tom Brady and Carson Palmer. He will be 36 when the season starts but he deserves much better than an 84.

Jake Delhomme- 85
Carolina Panthers
Delhomme missed most of last season due to injury, but he’s never thrown for less than 3,000 yards when he played for a full season. He should be back in full force this year with Steve Smith and DJ Hackett.

Alex Smith- 80
San Francisco 49ers
As the first overall pick in 2005, Alex Smith hasn’t exactly set the world on fire with his play. He missed plenty of time last season due to a shoulder injury but he had a solid 2006. If he starts over Shaun Hill, he can only improve under his fourth offensive coordinator and should have gotten a better rating than Joe Flacco (rookie with Baltimore, also 80).

Jason Campbell- 83
Washington Redskins
Campbell got as raw a deal as anybody. Although he got hurt and had to watch Todd Collins lead Washington to the postseason, Campbell had a pretty good year. He threw for 2700 yards and 12 touchdowns in only 13 games. For him to be rated the same as players who haven’t shown anything is not fair to him.

Who took extra?

Matt Leinart- 85
Arizona Cardinals
When you are as highly touted as Leinart was, Kurt Warner should have no business fighting with you for the starting job. It shows the lack of faith in him in Arizona. Though, if there were ratings for how many girls you bag in the offseason, Leinart would at least deserve the 85.

Aaron Rodgers- 83
Green Bay Packers
Rodgers was drafted in 2005 to eventually replace Brett Favre. In that time, he has thrown a total of 59 passes for a whopping one touchdown. Green Bay has a ton of faith in him, but he hasn’t shown that he’s in the same league as Jon Kitna or Jake Delhomme.

Matt Ryan- 83
Atlanta Falcons
Ryan was the first quarterback taken in the 2008 draft, but he was occasionally shaky at Boston College. He’s entering a situation in Atlanta where not only he has not thrown an NFL pass, he will also have no one to throw to. Matt Ryan should have the highest rating of all rookie quarterbacks, but he shouldn’t be ahead of or close to proven NFL commodities.

Eli Manning- 93
New York Giants
Yes, the Giants won the Super Bowl. Yes, Eli Manning was a big part of that. Eli enters his fifth season heavier in the hardware department, but nobody really knows which Eli will show up next season.

Your Thoughts?

If your favorite team’s quarterback should have been rated higher, the updated rosters will hopefully reflect real life. If your team’s quarterback got too high a rating, count your lucky stars and use him to the best of your ability. Either way, I’m sure that won’t stop you from picking up Madden 09 when it releases in August.

Are you a cheese head in love with Aaron Rodgers? Have you watched Alex Smith since he came in and think he stinks? Are you a woman with first-hand knowledge of Matt Leinart’s game preparation? Be sure to let me know what you think!

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Member Comments

# 21 Ghettoshark @ 06/03/08 06:53 PM

Kitna should be lower than 80 IMO. He's the beneficiary of a pass-happy Mike Martz offense. His numbers should go way down this year. Remember, he also threw more INTs than TDs, led the league in INTs, and ranked 19th in the QB Rating (despite playing in a Martz offense). That's pitiful production.

# 22 Postman17 @ 06/03/08 07:35 PM

I haven't post on here in a while but I agree Eli's ratinging is way too high. It should be more like an 87. A 93, you'd think he was lighting it up all year. Goes to show you in Madden, all you have to do is win a super bowl and your rating is as good as gold. Oh well, I'll take it though. See some of you online in August.

# 23 AC IS ART @ 06/03/08 08:20 PM

Campbells rating is upsetting. His speed is always underated and his throw power should be higher. Im not saying he should be an 87 or above, but he's better than Matt Leinart..

# 24 N51_rob @ 06/03/08 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AC IS ART


	Campbells rating is upsetting. His speed is always underated and his throw power should be higher. Im not saying he should be an 87 or above, but he's better than Matt Leinart..

Should he be rated higher than Leinhart I don't know. But he should easily be the highest rated QB on the Redskins, and he is not. I am really having a hard time justifying how Collins is higher rated than Campbell. Especially given that this is a new offense for him and it is one that Jason has been in before as far as the basic scheme.

# 25 blackngoldfan @ 06/04/08 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jertwa


	I read that they gave Dennis Dixon a 60 speed rating. I know he tore his ACL, but come on! That's absolutely rediculous! I don't expect his ratings to be amazing, but that should have been one of the good ones.

I guess that's punishment for the way he cheesed in the NCAA games.

# 26 BledsoeHoF @ 06/04/08 02:20 AM

Kitna should be around 78-80..

Delhomme should be 78-80 ( Never thrown for 3000 yards )

Alex Smith at 80 is pretty generous and should be no higher than a 75.

Jason Campbell seems about right.

How Leinart got rated at 85 I do not know. Should be no higher than 70.

Rogers at 83 is definately generous as he has done nothing.

Matt Ryan hasnt even thrown a pass yet and it rated 83? Please.

I think Manning is pretty close at 93 but for me 90 seems about right.

Conclusion... Noone at EA knows anything about football.

# 27 Chavez21 @ 06/04/08 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BledsoeHoF


	Kitna should be around 78-80.. Delhomme should be 78-80 ( Never thrown for 3000 yards ) Alex Smith at 80 is pretty generous and should be no higher than a 75. Jason Campbell seems about right. How Leinart got rated at 85 I do not know. Should be no higher than 70. Rogers at 83 is definately generous as he has done nothing. Matt Ryan hasnt even thrown a pass yet and it rated 83? Please. I think Manning is pretty close at 93 but for me 90 seems about right. Conclusion... Noone at EA knows anything about football.

Jake Delhomme threw for 3000 yards in 03,04, and 05. He also threw for 2800 yards in 13 games in 2006. He was on pace for 3000 yards last year before he got hurt.

# 28 Shadymamba @ 06/04/08 08:03 AM

Eli's a 93 i dont know how high you want him yes he won a super bowl but so did trent dilfer lol 93 is fne if he was 80-something then i'll be like wtf and as for the rookies..every year same ol, thats why if you do a fantasy draft just take rookies lol...you'll have a dynasty for years and a real good team madden always does this

# 29 crques @ 06/04/08 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ceothachosen1


	no way leinart deserves to be a 85 and how is rodgers rated the same as campbell another thing how is matt ryan rated higher then russell who was the first pick in the draft and a much better prospect

Actually, I think that Ryan should be rated higher than Russell. Watching them both play in college, Ryan was far more advanced in mechanics and decision making in my opinion. Russell was the best of a mediocre bunch of QB's in last year's group. I think he would have probably been the 3rd of 4th QB taken in this year's draft. Just my thoughts though.

# 30 crques @ 06/04/08 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BledsoeHoF


	Kitna should be around 78-80.. Delhomme should be 78-80 ( Never thrown for 3000 yards ) Alex Smith at 80 is pretty generous and should be no higher than a 75. Jason Campbell seems about right. How Leinart got rated at 85 I do not know. Should be no higher than 70. Rogers at 83 is definately generous as he has done nothing. Matt Ryan hasnt even thrown a pass yet and it rated 83? Please. I think Manning is pretty close at 93 but for me 90 seems about right. Conclusion... Noone at EA knows anything about football.

Maybe they gave Leinart his rating for "coolness" since he's more interested in living the life of a hollywood star than NFL QB.

# 31 Blazelore @ 06/04/08 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crques


	Actually, I think that Ryan should be rated higher than Russell. Watching them both play in college, Ryan was far more advanced in mechanics and decision making in my opinion. Russell was the best of a mediocre bunch of QB's in last year's group. I think he would have probably been the 3rd of 4th QB taken in this year's draft. Just my thoughts though.

Matt Ryan was the 66th rated QB in college. All this talk that he's a franchise QB is beyond me. Okay so he won games with no talent around him at the college level. The only QB to do that in the NFL is Tom Brady. Do you think he'll be the next Tom Brady? I doubt it. His rating in my opinion is just wishful thinking...

# 32 Ceothachosen1 @ 06/04/08 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crques


	Actually, I think that Ryan should be rated higher than Russell. Watching them both play in college, Ryan was far more advanced in mechanics and decision making in my opinion. Russell was the best of a mediocre bunch of QB's in last year's group. I think he would have probably been the 3rd of 4th QB taken in this year's draft. Just my thoughts though.

i guarantee you russell would have been the top qb picked if he was in this years draft

# 33 Blazelore @ 06/04/08 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ceothachosen1


	i guarantee you russell would have been the top qb picked if he was in this years draft

I'm not counting on Russell to have a great career either. All he has is a strong arm plus nobody knew who the heck he was until that bowl game. So there's some more hype alluded to him. Wait and see the type of success Brohm is going to have.

# 34 blackngoldfan @ 06/04/08 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blazelore


	Matt Ryan was the 66th rated QB in college. All this talk that he's a franchise QB is beyond me. Okay so he won games with no talent around him at the college level. The only QB to do that in the NFL is Tom Brady. Do you think he'll be the next Tom Brady? I doubt it. His rating in my opinion is just wishful thinking...

Yeah, but he knew the defensive signals.

# 35 Blazelore @ 06/04/08 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackngoldfan


	Yeah, but he knew the defensive signals.

LOL

# 36 BledsoeHoF @ 06/04/08 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chavez21


	Jake Delhomme threw for 3000 yards in 03,04, and 05. He also threw for 2800 yards in 13 games in 2006. He was on pace for 3000 yards last year before he got hurt.

I must have been mistaken as I was going off of memory but still 3000 yards is nothing IMO. I guess I am spoiled by guys like Marino , Bledsoe , P Manning , Elway .. ect as I do not view 3000 yards seasons as impressive.

# 37 BledsoeHoF @ 06/04/08 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackngoldfan


	Yeah, but he knew the defensive signals.

Weooooooo.. I guess we now know how a college backup / 6th round pick can have success or why everyone else passed on him

# 38 ChuckMonts @ 06/04/08 05:17 PM

depending on the Madden Generated Draft classes and what can be created with NCAA I plan on doing a HUGE madden Rerating.

# 39 X*Cell @ 06/04/08 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allBthere


	all are way too high. Why is a rating in the 80s bad all of a sudden. Kitna imo should be 78. Actually the whole thing needs to be ajusted to the GOAT, not relative to who's the best this year and rate everyone esle accordingly etc. imo. there should be 2 ab's in the 90s - peyton and brady - that's it. No one else has shown that they'll be a first ballot HOF. That's what HOF's are= 90s, very very good - great players are high 80s, good players are 70s, average are 60s. Everyone needs to come down almost 10 pts. I saw brady's arm strength 99. LOL! his arm isn't strongest in the league let alone close to the GOAT. It would be nice if we could get the ratings back to this planet and down to reality. - maybe then the game would play a little better.

agreed... the difference from top QB to worst QB is not significant enough to really tell anything. I've seen 88 rated QB's dominate in Madden, while the 83 rated QB's suck tremendously. There should just be a bigger difference so it's EASIER to tell.

# 40 Shadymamba @ 06/04/08 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackngoldfan


	Yeah, but he knew the defensive signals.

ROFLMAO!!!!!

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