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Vinnie Iyer
Posted: May 5, 2009
We're only 10 days removed from the 2009 draft, so naturally the spotlight in minicamps around the NFL has shined on rookies.
But don't overlook second-year players who had limited impact as rookies last season. We're not talking about the likes of Matt Forte and Matt Ryan, who looked like seasoned veterans in their first go-around. Instead, consider the players who weren't quite ready for extended playing time or had promising starts cut short by injury.
Today, we look at 10 offensive sophomores who will be vital to their teams' performance in '09. Thursday, we'll look at crucial players on the defensive side of the ball from the '08 class:
1. Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Steelers. Pittsburgh won the Super Bowl despite ranking 23rd in the league in rushing yards per game and 29th in yards per carry. Mendenhall is key if the team wants to re-establish its smash-mouth identity.
The team drafted Mendenhall 23rd overall last year, hoping he would be a complementary power back to Willie Parker. Unfortunately for the Steelers and Mendenhall, he didn't last long when he got his chance to start for the injured Parker in Week 4. He fractured his shoulder against the Ravens after only nine carries and was lost for the season.
The news has been good so far this year: Mendenhall's shoulder has mended well enough for him to participate in minicamp. The Steelers need him to stay strong and durable to relieve Parker, especially in short-yardage and red-zone situations. A healthy Mendenhall also will mean a healthier, fresher and faster Willie late in the season.
2. Felix Jones, RB, Cowboys. It didn't take Jones long to provide a spark in Dallas. In just six games as a rookie, he scored four touchdowns, including one on a 60-yard run and another on a 98-yard kickoff return. But he lasted only two more weeks than Mendenhall, as a slight hamstring tear led to Jones missing the final 10 games.
The Cowboys really missed Jones' home run flair, and it was part of the reason they missed the playoffs. The one positive was it allowed them to see what they had in fellow rookie Tashard Choice, who turned out to be much more than a third-down type reserve back.
With Dallas planning to go back to a formula that emphasizes defense and the running game, Jones' presence is key to its backfield. A running game featuring Marion Barber, Choice and Jones would have a similar makeup to the Giants' successful "Earth, Wind and Fire" of 2008.
3. Davone Bess, WR, Dolphins. The latest of Bill Parcells' undrafted offensive gems, Bess was Miami's best wideout as a rookie. He ended up with a modest 54 catches for 554 yards and a touchdown, but with his 5-10, 190 frame, good hands and great speed, he has the potential to emerge as a consistent big-play threat in his second year.
With Chad Pennington, the Dolphins made heavy use of the short passing game last year. Bess joined the backs, tight ends and other wideouts as short-to-intermediate options. Bess can really boost Miami's 15th-ranked passing game if he is let loose downfield more. The key just might be a potential midseason quarterback change to Chad Henne, who has a bigger arm than Pennington.
4. Mike Pollak, RG, Colts. Coach Jim Caldwell wants the Colts to get back to being respectable in the running game, and last year's 79.6 yards per game (31st in the league) and 3.4 yards per carry (32nd) won't cut it. The coaching staff showed it was serious by using a first-round pick on Donald Brown, a talented back to supplement Joseph Addai.
But everything starts with the blocking up front. Pollak settled in as a starter four games into his rookie season and never relinquished the job. He has the benefit of playing next to and learning from center Jeff Saturday, whom the team was wise to re-sign. The pressure is on Pollak to help Indianapolis significantly improve its rushing attack between the tackles.
5. Earl Bennett, WR, Bears. Despite being an early third-round pick, Bennett saw limited action and never caught a pass. Still, Chicago's coaches have great expectations for him this year.
Bennett is expected to start opposite Devin Hester, and the team hopes he will form a dandy Vanderbilt connection with Jay Cutler. The Bears didn't really find a replacement for Bernard Berrian last season, and Bennett (6-0, 202) will get plenty of chances to prove he can be the guy.
6. Ray Rice, RB, Ravens. Baltimore is another team expected to unleash a versatile three-headed monster in the backfield. Willis McGahee will be spelled by the powerful Le'Ron McLain and the quick Rice. Rice showed his big-run flair in rushing for 154 yards against the Browns, and he also provided a spark in the short passing game. A calf injury, and then a shin contusion, caused him to miss the final three regular-season games.
Rice came back in the AFC title game at Pittsburgh and showed his value with three catches for 43 yards. He's much like Jones in Dallas — he can go a long way with each touch of the ball, and Baltimore needs that element in its offense.
7. Duane Brown, OT, Texans. Like Jake Long and Ryan Clady, who carried the banner for the eight offensive tackles selected in the first round last year, Brown (the last of the first-rounders selected at No. 26 overall) got a chance to play from the beginning and started all 16 games.
Houston's pass protection problems over the years have been well noted, and Brown got off to a so-so start, giving up a dozen sacks unofficially. The Texans have potential for an explosive passing game, if they can keep Matt Schaub upright and healthy to get the ball downfield to Andre Johnson and Kevin Walter. Brown needs to get better at extending the time on Schuab's blind side.
8. Dustin Keller, TE, Jets. Keller became a reliable target for Brett Favre rather quickly, and emerged as a consistent pass catcher by the middle of the season. He got limited looks in December, however, when New York went 1-3 and fell out of playoff contention.
Whether it's Kellen Clemens, Erik Ainge or first-rounder Mark Sanchez replacing Favre, the Jets will have a very inexperienced signal-caller. The winner of the competition will lean heavily on Keller. A tight end with Keller's athleticism and receiving skills provides a great security blanket for a young quarterback, and besides, the Jets currently have a major void in their wideout unit.
9. Josh Morgan, WR, 49ers. The Niners' drafting Michael Crabtree was the best thing to happen to Morgan. Morgan got a lot of rookie buzz in training camp as a potential immediate-impact player, but he couldn't quite outrun a nagging groin injury. But when he got the chance to go downfield at full speed, Morgan came through with some long gains and three touchdowns.
He looks like a sixth-round steal, and with Crabtree having the chance to start right away on the opposite side, it would allow Morgan to use his speed and 6-0, 219-pound frame to burn No. 2 corners in single coverage. The key for San Francisco is choosing the quarterback who can best get the ball to Morgan. Shaun Hill is the best bet.
10. Donnie Avery, WR, Rams. No wide receiver was drafted in the first round last year, but Avery was the first off the board in the second. He played like a first-rounder as a rookie, starting 12 games and producing several highlight plays with his special speed and downfield burst. Now, without the venerable Torry Holt playing on the other side, Avery will need to make another adjustment.
The potential Hall of Fame combo of Holt and Isaac Bruce is officially in the Rams' past. The present now includes Avery as the No. 1 and fellow second-year man Keenan Burton — a fourth-rounder last year — as the likely No. 2. Avery, marked for great success as an outside speed receiver, will need to get used to being a marked man.
Vinnie Iyer is a staff writer for Sporting News. Email him at viyer@sportingnews.com.
http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=545771
Posted: May 5, 2009
We're only 10 days removed from the 2009 draft, so naturally the spotlight in minicamps around the NFL has shined on rookies.
But don't overlook second-year players who had limited impact as rookies last season. We're not talking about the likes of Matt Forte and Matt Ryan, who looked like seasoned veterans in their first go-around. Instead, consider the players who weren't quite ready for extended playing time or had promising starts cut short by injury.
Today, we look at 10 offensive sophomores who will be vital to their teams' performance in '09. Thursday, we'll look at crucial players on the defensive side of the ball from the '08 class:
1. Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Steelers. Pittsburgh won the Super Bowl despite ranking 23rd in the league in rushing yards per game and 29th in yards per carry. Mendenhall is key if the team wants to re-establish its smash-mouth identity.
The team drafted Mendenhall 23rd overall last year, hoping he would be a complementary power back to Willie Parker. Unfortunately for the Steelers and Mendenhall, he didn't last long when he got his chance to start for the injured Parker in Week 4. He fractured his shoulder against the Ravens after only nine carries and was lost for the season.
The news has been good so far this year: Mendenhall's shoulder has mended well enough for him to participate in minicamp. The Steelers need him to stay strong and durable to relieve Parker, especially in short-yardage and red-zone situations. A healthy Mendenhall also will mean a healthier, fresher and faster Willie late in the season.
2. Felix Jones, RB, Cowboys. It didn't take Jones long to provide a spark in Dallas. In just six games as a rookie, he scored four touchdowns, including one on a 60-yard run and another on a 98-yard kickoff return. But he lasted only two more weeks than Mendenhall, as a slight hamstring tear led to Jones missing the final 10 games.
The Cowboys really missed Jones' home run flair, and it was part of the reason they missed the playoffs. The one positive was it allowed them to see what they had in fellow rookie Tashard Choice, who turned out to be much more than a third-down type reserve back.
With Dallas planning to go back to a formula that emphasizes defense and the running game, Jones' presence is key to its backfield. A running game featuring Marion Barber, Choice and Jones would have a similar makeup to the Giants' successful "Earth, Wind and Fire" of 2008.
3. Davone Bess, WR, Dolphins. The latest of Bill Parcells' undrafted offensive gems, Bess was Miami's best wideout as a rookie. He ended up with a modest 54 catches for 554 yards and a touchdown, but with his 5-10, 190 frame, good hands and great speed, he has the potential to emerge as a consistent big-play threat in his second year.
With Chad Pennington, the Dolphins made heavy use of the short passing game last year. Bess joined the backs, tight ends and other wideouts as short-to-intermediate options. Bess can really boost Miami's 15th-ranked passing game if he is let loose downfield more. The key just might be a potential midseason quarterback change to Chad Henne, who has a bigger arm than Pennington.
4. Mike Pollak, RG, Colts. Coach Jim Caldwell wants the Colts to get back to being respectable in the running game, and last year's 79.6 yards per game (31st in the league) and 3.4 yards per carry (32nd) won't cut it. The coaching staff showed it was serious by using a first-round pick on Donald Brown, a talented back to supplement Joseph Addai.
But everything starts with the blocking up front. Pollak settled in as a starter four games into his rookie season and never relinquished the job. He has the benefit of playing next to and learning from center Jeff Saturday, whom the team was wise to re-sign. The pressure is on Pollak to help Indianapolis significantly improve its rushing attack between the tackles.
5. Earl Bennett, WR, Bears. Despite being an early third-round pick, Bennett saw limited action and never caught a pass. Still, Chicago's coaches have great expectations for him this year.
Bennett is expected to start opposite Devin Hester, and the team hopes he will form a dandy Vanderbilt connection with Jay Cutler. The Bears didn't really find a replacement for Bernard Berrian last season, and Bennett (6-0, 202) will get plenty of chances to prove he can be the guy.
6. Ray Rice, RB, Ravens. Baltimore is another team expected to unleash a versatile three-headed monster in the backfield. Willis McGahee will be spelled by the powerful Le'Ron McLain and the quick Rice. Rice showed his big-run flair in rushing for 154 yards against the Browns, and he also provided a spark in the short passing game. A calf injury, and then a shin contusion, caused him to miss the final three regular-season games.
Rice came back in the AFC title game at Pittsburgh and showed his value with three catches for 43 yards. He's much like Jones in Dallas — he can go a long way with each touch of the ball, and Baltimore needs that element in its offense.
7. Duane Brown, OT, Texans. Like Jake Long and Ryan Clady, who carried the banner for the eight offensive tackles selected in the first round last year, Brown (the last of the first-rounders selected at No. 26 overall) got a chance to play from the beginning and started all 16 games.
Houston's pass protection problems over the years have been well noted, and Brown got off to a so-so start, giving up a dozen sacks unofficially. The Texans have potential for an explosive passing game, if they can keep Matt Schaub upright and healthy to get the ball downfield to Andre Johnson and Kevin Walter. Brown needs to get better at extending the time on Schuab's blind side.
8. Dustin Keller, TE, Jets. Keller became a reliable target for Brett Favre rather quickly, and emerged as a consistent pass catcher by the middle of the season. He got limited looks in December, however, when New York went 1-3 and fell out of playoff contention.
Whether it's Kellen Clemens, Erik Ainge or first-rounder Mark Sanchez replacing Favre, the Jets will have a very inexperienced signal-caller. The winner of the competition will lean heavily on Keller. A tight end with Keller's athleticism and receiving skills provides a great security blanket for a young quarterback, and besides, the Jets currently have a major void in their wideout unit.
9. Josh Morgan, WR, 49ers. The Niners' drafting Michael Crabtree was the best thing to happen to Morgan. Morgan got a lot of rookie buzz in training camp as a potential immediate-impact player, but he couldn't quite outrun a nagging groin injury. But when he got the chance to go downfield at full speed, Morgan came through with some long gains and three touchdowns.
He looks like a sixth-round steal, and with Crabtree having the chance to start right away on the opposite side, it would allow Morgan to use his speed and 6-0, 219-pound frame to burn No. 2 corners in single coverage. The key for San Francisco is choosing the quarterback who can best get the ball to Morgan. Shaun Hill is the best bet.
10. Donnie Avery, WR, Rams. No wide receiver was drafted in the first round last year, but Avery was the first off the board in the second. He played like a first-rounder as a rookie, starting 12 games and producing several highlight plays with his special speed and downfield burst. Now, without the venerable Torry Holt playing on the other side, Avery will need to make another adjustment.
The potential Hall of Fame combo of Holt and Isaac Bruce is officially in the Rams' past. The present now includes Avery as the No. 1 and fellow second-year man Keenan Burton — a fourth-rounder last year — as the likely No. 2. Avery, marked for great success as an outside speed receiver, will need to get used to being a marked man.
Vinnie Iyer is a staff writer for Sporting News. Email him at viyer@sportingnews.com.
http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=545771
