With the 2008 Regular Season mere days away, here's our quick guide to the ten players who should break into the nation's conscious over the next 6 months. Some are high draft picks who have yet to prove themselves, others are veterans who perhaps needed a change of scenery, and some are almost complete unknowns. Regardless of their background, we think they'll post career numbers this year.
Kevin Walter - WR - Houston Texans
The Texans envisage Walter as the perfect compliment to No.1 Andre Johnson, who faces plenty of double coverage as the team's only proven threat. All that could change this year, as the team elevated Walter to second on the depth chart after a strong Training Camp. He then repaid their faith with an excellent preseason, where his connection with QB Matt Schaub (another candidate for a a breakout year) was especially evident.
Even without elite speed, he has enough to get open, though perhaps his best attribute is quite simply his ability to adjust and catch the ball in situations where lesser receivers will give up on the catch. It has endeared him to coach Gary Kubiak, and it should finally mean that the team is not completely reliant on Johnson in the passing game.
Ernie Sims - LB - Detroit Lions
Sims's 8 tackles and 1 sack in the Lions' third preseason game was simply a continuation of his stellar play towards the end of last season. As a player, he has shown that he is ready to break into the upper echelon of Linebackers, but it is as a leader of the Detroit Defence that Sims has truly established himself.
With the kind of motor that keeps him involved in almost every play, Sims will be guaranteed some big statistics this year, but as we say, statistics alone will not be the only way that Sims contributes to a defence in sore need of someone to step up and establish himself as the true leader of the team.
Cortland Finnegan - CB - Tennessee Titans
Like Sims, Finnegan has the high motor and instincts that keep him involved in plays that he almost has no right to be anywhere near. The Titans coaching staff are so high on Finnegan - the team's 7th round choice in the 2006 draft - that they recently tied him to a 4 year extension worth $17m. Finnegan has earned every single penny, and fought his way up through the team's depth chart in almost the polar opposite manner to Adam Jones, the man he has replaced.
With the intelligence and physical ability needed to progress to the next level, Finnegan has a golden opportunity at the age of just 24, to establish himself in the upper echelon of NFL Defensive Backs.
Jerry Porter - WR - Jacksonville Jaguars
An enigma for much of his time in the NFL, Jerry Porter left Oakland after two years of conflict and injury this season for the Municipal Stadium in Jacksonville. It would be easy to dismiss Porter's chances of repairing his tarnished image, but the guy is not done in this league just yet. If he can stay healthy, Porter has all of the tools to be resuscitate his career.
Another important factor is that throughout his time in Oakland, Porter was hampered by poor Quarterback play and an almost constant revolving door at the position. In Jacksonville, the team has David Garrard established as the starter, and there is no doubt that Garrard has the ability to get more out of the anaemic passing game than his predecessor Byron Leftwich.
The Jags are ready to mount a challenge, and if they are to do so, Porter will need to come up big.
Haloti Ngata - DT Baltimore Ravens
When the Ravens swapped their pick with Cleveland to move up one place during the first round of the 2006 NFL draft, they did so with just one player in mind. Haloti Ngata. The Oregon product would have soldified the Browns' D-line for the following five years minimum, but instead, it is Baltimore that is about to see the best of the mammoth Defensive Tackle.
Ngata has been injured in preseason, something that could curb the amount of time he sees in the early part of the season, but expect him to be a key part of the team's Defence come the latter half of the season. Any successful Defence needs a guy to cause disruption up front, and Ngata should build on a solid 2007 season to become the player that the Ravens need.
Chad Jackson - WR - New England Patriots
This list is full of players whose NFL careers haven't quite panned out as they expected because of injury. None can class themself as unfortunate as Chad Jackson.
Jackson entered the league as a second rounder, hoping to jump start a lifeless New England receiving unit. Unfortunately, after a patchy 2006 season that saw him struggle through countless injuries, he suffered a torn ACL during the AFC championship game against the Colts, thus not only ending his 2006 season, but also his 2007 season.
In that time, not only did many people forget about Jackson, but the team chose the 2007 offseason to upgrade the receiving unit with veterans Randy Moss, Wes Welker, and Donte Stallworth - thus pushing Jackson even further towards the door marked 'bust'. This year, Jackson hopes to make the most of the void left by Stallworth's departure to establish himself on the team. Jabar Gaffney is the team's third receiver, but Jackson will likely field punts and kickoffs in an attempt to get more playing time.
With the ball in his hands, Jackson can be a star. If he is injured again, his time in New England could be up.
Roddy White - WR - Atlanta Falcons
White is one of the beneficiaries of the Michael Vick fiasco. The team invested high picks in White, Michael Jenkins, and Laurent Robinson during Vick's tenure, but none were able to fulfil their promise. There comes a point where you have to ask, were their selections really down to poor personnel skills?
Put simply, no. Vick's tendency to check down to Tight End Alge Crumpler not only inflated his numbers, but also made his Wideouts almost redundant. For everything Vick brought to the team with his scrambling ability and ability to save broken plays, he hindered the progress of three crucial elements in the Falcons' future offensive plans.
With Vick gone, White will thrive. He showed much more promise last year, and this year, we could be about to see the next Manning-Harrison combination in the NFL. Seriously. Matt Ryan has the ability and mentality to bring on the talented receiving corps, and White should be the main beneficiary.
DeAngelo Williams - RB - Carolina Panthers
Many of the players in this list are third year players who should be establishing themselves not only as starters, but as productive players who justify their team's investment. Williams is a classic example. Stuck behind DeShaun Foster (The walking fumble) for two years, he looked fantastic in flashes, often capitalising on weary defences for big gains that perhaps made his statistics slightly misleading.
With Foster's release at the end of last year, Williams was elevated to no.1 back - a situation that was only clear for a few months, as the team again selected a first round Running Back - Oregon's Jonathan Stewart. A big, bruising back who will be the thunder to Williams's lightning, Stewart should wear down defences much more effectively than Foster ever could, and in turn. we could see more carries and more big plays from Williams.
Nate Burleson - WR - Seattle Seahawks
'Speed kills' as John Madden (and countless Government adverts) constantly tell us. If it does, then perhaps Nate Burleson could be set to murder a few Defences this season.
Aquired from the Vikings almost in retribution for the Steve Hutchinson 'Poison Pill' incident - in which Hutchinson was signed to an offer sheet that would have been impossible for the Seahawks to match - Burleson failed to make much of an impact in 2006, but last season started to progress in the manner that the team ahd hoped. Burleson not only returns kicks, but he can be one of the most effective big play receivers in the NFL when he is on form. Unfortunately, he has often struggled with ball security and drops, something that seemed to be ironed out in 2007.
With Deion Branch looking unlikely to play early in the season, Burleson is the natural go-to guy for Matt Hasselbeck. If he gets on the board early, this could be the season that Burleson breaks out and becomes the number two in Seattle.
Eric Weddle - S - San Diego
The Chargers secondary has been a weak point for some time. Safeties Clinton Hart and Marlon McCree, as well as Cornerbacks Drayton Florence and Quentin Jammer, were all considered as players who - despite some talent - were not effective as a unit. McCree and Florence have left the team this season, and one player who stands to benefit is Safety Eric Weddle.
Weddle and CB Antonio Cromartie are the future of this team's Defence. Cromartie broke out in his second year last season, and now it is Weddle's turn. After limited action as the dime back in 2007, Weddle will see his playing time increase dramatically in 2008. Hart's position is not considered secure by any means, and ideally, the team would like to see Weddle push for the starting job early on in the season.
Weddle's biggest attribute is his versatility. Weddle's athletic ability is rare, and this means that he is able to stay on the field in almost any situation. Not only should Weddle be the starter at Strong Safety by the end of the season, but expect him to become one of the leaders on the NFL's most talented roster.
Saturday 30 August 2008
Rudi on the rocks (with no ice)
Word reaches us that Rudi Johnson, Cincinatti's starting Running Back since 2004, is set to be cut.
Johnson has been severely hampered by injuries during the last two years, and it's no real surprise that the team opted to release him. Both parties tried to get a trade done before today, but putting our 'GM hat' on, you'd have to wonder why anyone would take on Johnson's $3.45m salary just days before the Bungles would be faced with a decision of whether to keep him on the roster.
So now Johnson joins Shaun Alexander as a Free Agent RB with a little bit too much wear on the tyres for most team's to take a chance on him.
Johnson has been severely hampered by injuries during the last two years, and it's no real surprise that the team opted to release him. Both parties tried to get a trade done before today, but putting our 'GM hat' on, you'd have to wonder why anyone would take on Johnson's $3.45m salary just days before the Bungles would be faced with a decision of whether to keep him on the roster.
So now Johnson joins Shaun Alexander as a Free Agent RB with a little bit too much wear on the tyres for most team's to take a chance on him.
Giants ditch Woodson
The New York Giants have cut Andre Woodson, the team's 6th round pick in this year's draft.
Woodson, once projected as a first round pick, slid heavily in the build up to the draft after a poor Senuor Bowl. The Giants took a flyer on Woodson late on, but even after letting the hefty Jared Lorenzen go early in camp, Woodson was always a long shot to make the roster.
The Giants have opted for just two QB's on the roster, with Anthony Wright also cut today. David Carr will back up Eli Manning, which means that the team has two former first-overall picks under centre.
Woodson, once projected as a first round pick, slid heavily in the build up to the draft after a poor Senuor Bowl. The Giants took a flyer on Woodson late on, but even after letting the hefty Jared Lorenzen go early in camp, Woodson was always a long shot to make the roster.
The Giants have opted for just two QB's on the roster, with Anthony Wright also cut today. David Carr will back up Eli Manning, which means that the team has two former first-overall picks under centre.
Chiefs roll with Novak
With Kansas City never being the easiest place to kick, the team has gone through kickers at a semi-ridiculous rate over the last few years. Last year's 6th round selection Justin Medlock didn't even make it tgrough Training Camp, and it says a great deal that the team would probably take Lawrence Tynes back in a heartbeat.
This year, the team is relying on former Dallas Kicker Nick Novak to handle Field Goals, following the release of Rookie Connor Barth.
Novak, a third year player who was beaten out by Shaun Suisham in Washington during the 2006 season, has shown good leg strength and accuracy during his time in the league, but has struggled in the clutch. On the other hand, he has been pretty good in the preseason, and given the wind in Arrowhead stadum, it's often better to have an experienced head on the field.
Still, if a veteran kicker is released during today's cuts, don't be surprised to see the Chiefs bring in a little competition for Novak.
This year, the team is relying on former Dallas Kicker Nick Novak to handle Field Goals, following the release of Rookie Connor Barth.
Novak, a third year player who was beaten out by Shaun Suisham in Washington during the 2006 season, has shown good leg strength and accuracy during his time in the league, but has struggled in the clutch. On the other hand, he has been pretty good in the preseason, and given the wind in Arrowhead stadum, it's often better to have an experienced head on the field.
Still, if a veteran kicker is released during today's cuts, don't be surprised to see the Chiefs bring in a little competition for Novak.
Final cuts today
Today marks that most magical of times: Mass Redundancy. Yes, the NFL's 32 franchises will collectively dump around 600 players as they get their final 53 man rosters in order for the 2008 season.
We'll cover some of the bigger cuts today, with plenty of big names rumoured to be amongst those in line for release. Amongst those already cut include:
NY Jets: RB Jesse Chatman (signed from Miami in Free Agency this year) and CB Hank Poteat
Chicago: DE Dan Bazuin (a 2nd round pick in 2007)
New Orleans: S Lance Schulters
Houston: DE Rosevelt Colvin, RB's Darius Walker and Marcel Shipp.
Also on the way out could be Panthers CB Ricardo Colclough, who was arrested last night on a charge of DWI. Colclough has been a target for the Carolina boo-boys this pre-season after muffing a couple of punts. Unfortunately for the team, their options in the return game are limited, especially with WR Steve Smith - who would be an emergency option in any case - suspended for the first two games.
We'll cover some of the bigger cuts today, with plenty of big names rumoured to be amongst those in line for release. Amongst those already cut include:
NY Jets: RB Jesse Chatman (signed from Miami in Free Agency this year) and CB Hank Poteat
Chicago: DE Dan Bazuin (a 2nd round pick in 2007)
New Orleans: S Lance Schulters
Houston: DE Rosevelt Colvin, RB's Darius Walker and Marcel Shipp.
Also on the way out could be Panthers CB Ricardo Colclough, who was arrested last night on a charge of DWI. Colclough has been a target for the Carolina boo-boys this pre-season after muffing a couple of punts. Unfortunately for the team, their options in the return game are limited, especially with WR Steve Smith - who would be an emergency option in any case - suspended for the first two games.
Chad Javon Ocho Cinco
It's official.
The Bengals website has confirmed that Chad Johnson has legally changed his name to "Chad Javon Ocho Cinco". They also report that the NFL are "looking into it".
Chad was reportedly fined $50k in 2006 for wearing an Ocho Cinco nameplate before a game against the Falcons.
This isn't the first time a NFL player has legally changed their surname. Domanick Davis changed his name to Domanick Williams and more recently London Fletcher changed his name to London Fletcher-Baker.
The Bengals website has confirmed that Chad Johnson has legally changed his name to "Chad Javon Ocho Cinco". They also report that the NFL are "looking into it".
Chad was reportedly fined $50k in 2006 for wearing an Ocho Cinco nameplate before a game against the Falcons.
This isn't the first time a NFL player has legally changed their surname. Domanick Davis changed his name to Domanick Williams and more recently London Fletcher changed his name to London Fletcher-Baker.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
