Madden NFL 10 Ratings: Who Got Hosed, Who Lucked Out

Feature Article

Submitted on: 08/03/2009 by Richard Chavez

Madden ratings are not an exact science. For that simple reason, they will be disputed every year until the next version of the game comes out. So with that in mind, it’s time to play the ratings game.

Who Got Burned?

Shaun Hill - 69

Shaun Hill is an undrafted 29-year-old QB out of Maryland that has played in fewer games during his career than last season’s flock of rookies. Yet surprisingly enough, he had great numbers in about half a season for the San Francisco 49ers in 2008. This year he still has the ageless Isaac Bruce and the steal of the 2009 draft, Michael Crabtree.

He’s not on the level of Peyton Manning or Tom Brady, but Shaun Hill is more than serviceable at this point in his career. That 69 overall rating he received will be bumped up after a few weeks of action.

Matt Leinart - 62
Vince Young - 68

Remember these two? They went from being in the 2006 Rose Bowl to being the future faces of the NFL a year later. Their careers have interesting symmetry, Leinart in Arizona and Young in Tennessee. After all the college hype, both of them are now sitting on the pine watching Kurt Warner and Kerry Collins succeed -- those two aged-wonders are now also locked into contracts for the next two years. By the time Collins and Warner go by the wayside, Leinart and Young will be 28, essentially in the physical prime of careers that have hardly begun.

Barring injury or complete collapse, each of these young quarterbacks will be holding clipboards through at least this season. But they are still quality quarterbacks that I’m sure a QB-starved team would take a chance on in a heartbeat. They’re certainly no worse off behind the helm than the current crop of rookies.

Jason Campbell - 77

Jason Campbell deserves better than this. Campbell really came into his own in his first complete season as starting QB for the Washington Redskins. He didn’t throw that many touchdowns (13), but he didn’t throw that many to the other team either (6). He’s not Drew Brees, but he’s also not Brett Favre circa 2008 either. Jason Campbell is better than the above-average backup QB rating he received. He’s a solid young quarterback with loads of potential and an improving team around him.

Who Lucked Out?

T.J. Houshmandzadeh - 91

T.J. Houshmandzadeh recently said he would boycott Madden until his rating was bumped up, blaming the offense in Cincinnati for his woes. But I don't really know what he's complaining about, because he should thank his lucky stars he’s even close to that overall number.

He can point the finger at whomever he wants, but he is only an above-average receiver -- certainly not sixth best in the league. The Bengals have been relatively weak during his career, but he’s leaving the comfort of a Chad Johnson double team to join a Seattle Seahawks squad that’s not so great either.

Ray Lewis - 97

Ray Lewis is a Super Bowl champion, a future Hall of Famer and a current leader in the locker room, but it is also not the year 2000 anymore. Lewis is still a great player, but he is not close to being the best linebacker in football anymore. Patrick Willis is only rated a point higher, and he’s 10 years younger and has room to improve after a beastly 2008. Ray Lewis deserves all the respect he gets from everyone involved in the league, but the ratings in Madden 2010 should not be based on career efforts.

LaDainian Tomlinson - 94

LaDainian Tomlinson is done. You can blame injury or anything else you want, but this is not the same running back we saw in 2006. Look at how San Diego was quick to re-sign Darren Sproles -- it’s obvious that they know where their future lies. Tomlinson can still be a solid NFL running back, but the days of 1,800 yards from scrimmage are over. Only a crazed Charger fan would take him over DeAngelo Williams or Frank Gore at this point in their careers. He may not fall off a cliff like Shaun Alexander, but we have already seen the best of LaDainian Tomlinson.

Am I wrong about LaDainian Tomlinson? Is Shaun Hill getting too much credit? Are Vince Young and Matt Leinart as done as their coaches think they are? Sound off in the comment box below!

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Member Comments

# 1 MADman24 @ 08/03/09 06:15 PM

Devin Hester got screwed!!!! Earl Bennett who rarely played last season for the Bears and who produced 0 catches is 1 OVR better than Hester, who was the Bears top WR last year and is unquestionably at the top this year. Hester's catch is on 73 despite having only 5 drops on the season, yet his teammate Rahied Davis who had 7 drops on 24 less targets catch rating is on 76. This rating is shameful and obviously not based on logic.

# 2 sportzbro @ 08/03/09 06:25 PM

VY is def. underrated, but Campbell is fine imo.

# 3 CW McGraw @ 08/03/09 06:28 PM

Campbell deserves his rating. He had a top 10 defense, a top 5 RB, and his team missed the playoffs.

# 4 ItalianMafia @ 08/03/09 06:30 PM

Hines Ward a 91??? You have to be kidding me. Yes, I know the Steelers won the Super Bowl and all, but they rated him just 1 OVR below Calvin Johnson and Terrell Owens. WAY OVERRATED.

# 5 SteelerSpartan @ 08/03/09 06:34 PM

Lawrence Timmons

He's every bit as good as Larry Foote(And Faster) and has a Higher Ceiling

I like a lot of the ratings this year, but this is one of the very few I'll have to change for my Franchise

# 6 Sherman91587 @ 08/03/09 06:37 PM

Thank you about letting people know that Hill is not garbage like everyone thinks he is. They can say well why are they giving Smith a shot, it is only because Sing wants competition on the team. Hill will be the start and he will help us to the first wining season in years.

Sure he can't zip the deep ball but everyone overlooks Chad Pennigton and he is a solid NFL QB just like Hill will be after his first full season.

# 7 King Gro23 @ 08/03/09 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MADman24


	Devin Hester got screwed!!!! Earl Bennett who rarely played last season for the Bears and who produced 0 catches is 1 OVR better than Hester, who was the Bears top WR last year and is unquestionably at the top this year. Hester's catch is on 73 despite having only 5 drops on the season, yet his teammate Rahied Davis who had 7 drops on 24 less targets catch rating is on 76. This rating is shameful and obviously not based on logic.

Matt Forte was the leading reciever as a RB and Hester is overrated as a WR. TJ is badly overrated, as well as hines I give Hines a 85 & TJ no higher then 86. Vince may be a little hosed, matt I am not so sure about. Ray Lewis I dont know how you lower his rating really? The man is smart, and still explosive just not a force like he used to be. . 92 and lower for me, LT is fine for being hampered all last year, I think the man can still boogie. We will find out soon enough

# 8 woody2goody @ 08/03/09 06:42 PM

Overall isn't everything though. There are many things that we may not pay attention to and new stats, correct me if I'm wrong.

Isn't there a stat for Releasing from the line of scrimmage now? Add things like AWR into the mix and someone can get a solid overall just from, say being a veteran who runs routes well and can catch, like Jerry Rice at the end of his career or Joe Horn.

Case in point, Ray Lewis. I bet he has 99 AWR and almost 99 TAK. Also his coverage ratings will probably be good.

Just because he's not as good in real life as Willis, doesn't mean he can't be as good in Madden. That's how the ratings work in game he may make up for his weaknesses with strengths that people don't notice that much, so he's still a 97 football player if that makes sense.

I was surprised he was still at 97 though. I thought he may have dropped to 92 or 93 by now. I reckon Ernie Sims is probably better now.

Those Leinart and Young ratings are disgraceful, despite the fact the rating system drops quicker than it used to. I'd say Leinart is about a 77, and Young probably an 80.

# 9 Brandwin @ 08/03/09 06:45 PM

Maybe Hill should be a few points higher, but not much, at least right now. With how the ratings are spread out, i would think a 74 would be the max.

# 10 rudyjuly2 @ 08/03/09 06:46 PM

The Dolphins DL got hosed. The Dolphins rookie CBs are lucky to be rated that high - over a veteran like Will Allen. Chad Henne is way too low as well.

# 11 woody2goody @ 08/03/09 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sherman91587


	Thank you about letting people know that Hill is not garbage like everyone thinks he is. They can say well why are they giving Smith a shot, it is only because Sing wants competition on the team. Hill will be the start and he will help us to the first wining season in years. Sure he can't zip the deep ball but everyone overlooks Chad Pennigton and he is a solid NFL QB just like Hill will be after his first full season.

Hill obviously isn't garbage as he played well last year, and Pennington's one of my favourites, and ever so accurate. He may not have the deep ball, but he does zip his short passes in there.

However, back to the SF thing, I have always liked Smith, so we'll see.

# 12 Sherman91587 @ 08/03/09 06:52 PM

I would take a 74 because that would be on the side of an average QB with the ratings. I am really not worried because Madden is solid with updates and once Hill shows he can play then they will show it in the game. He has Bruce to run the hooks and slants to get open in the zones, then Crabtree to come across the middle, and two guys on the brink with Morgan and Hill that can run the long routes and make some sick catches.
Any Niners fan will know that the Morgan catch over OJ Atogwe for the game winnig TD was the play of the year.

# 13 teebee @ 08/03/09 06:53 PM

Shaun Hill isn't even going to start this year so that ratings argument is moot

# 14 milehighmagic303 @ 08/03/09 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by x VooDoo22 x


	the broncos should be way better.

I was thinking the exact same thing

# 15 Sherman91587 @ 08/03/09 07:00 PM

teebee @ 08/03/09 09:53 PM
Shaun Hill isn't even going to start this year so that ratings argument is moot

This is the Martz whoever is my butt buddy will start O anymore. Whoever wins will be the QB and Smith has been a proven bust who can not read a D. No matter how good they say he is in camp once he takes a real snap he will do what he always does throw bad passes into coverage.

I really wanted Smith to do well but it just has not word, I was one of the guys on board excited when we got him. He was a great passer with a running ability. Somehow no matter what O cord was there they never let the guy take off and get us first downs. In his one solid year I remember one play where he beat the whole Seahawks D to the corner and ran for like a 20 yrd TD. Another thing the only thing that bailed his passes out that season was Antonio Bryant who if Sing was coach would have kept him and reshaped him then we wouldnt have even needed to draft Crabtree.

# 16 teebee @ 08/03/09 07:04 PM

No chance Hill starts this year, Smith has been killing him in camp

# 17 Sherman91587 @ 08/03/09 07:12 PM

Hill has never been a good practice player. He has great vision and can pick apart a D with his accuracy. The only time he makes the mistakes is when he has a huge D end on his back, but he is still a shifty pocket guy. That is what Smith should be with his speed but he runs right into the pressure.

# 18 MADman24 @ 08/03/09 07:36 PM

That is beside the point entirely even if you think Hester isn't so good how can Earl Bennett be better than him and Rashied Davis catch better than him. You are not arguing that because you know that would be a ridiculous argument. Say what you will about Hester the WR but there is no doubt he is better than Earl Bennett and can catch better than Rashied Davis.

And on your point, Forte had the most catches on the team last year largely because Orton repeatedly checks down due to his lack of downfield accuracy.

# 19 MattieShoes @ 08/03/09 07:49 PM

The one that bugs me isn't Hill, it's Huard. Huard has a 58 OVR rating in Madden. I know he's 3rd string, and that's probably pretty standard for 3rd string QBs (and nobody cares because they're third string), but Huard has proved himself in ways that Smith and Hill have not. The guy is down the depth chart because he's 35 so they know the future lies elsewhere, not because he's a terrible QB.

Ray Lewis may not be in his prime any more but he WAS a first-team all pro last year. And the guy is 34, not 40. We know his skills are going to drop off a cliff sometime, but they haven't yet. If you had a team for 5 years, obviously you'd rather have Willis. But for a single year? I don't think that's an easy call at all -- 178 games of experience counts for something.

Regarding LT, I suspect he's right. Anything is possible -- Curtis Martin and Tiki Barber both had success past age 30... But this is about the age that RBs fall off drastically, and given the injuries last season... I hope SD splits time more evenly and cut down on the punishment LT takes.

# 20 don28 @ 08/03/09 07:49 PM

As a Titans' fan, I believe that Leinart and Young are rated exactly where they should be. Neither has done anything in the last 2 years to warrant a higher rating. Shaun Hill, however, should be rated in the mid-upper 70's. He's underrated, and has proven he knows how to win.

Tomlinson got a great break, as I believe he is on the way to slowly fading away, like Jamal Lewis of Cleveland. Jamal Lewis used to be an intimidating force to tackle like Marion Barber, but now he's just another back. Ray Lewis is slightly overrated, but the low 90's with 99 AWR would be just about right.

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