"Out of the 2006 rookies who didn't start last year for your team, which one
is most likely to get noticed by fans during his sophomore season in the NFL
... and why?"
That's the question we recently posed to our Scout
NFL publishers and writers. Check out who sixteen of them picked
below.
Craig Massei, SFIllustrated.com
San Francisco 49ers
With Frank Gore producing a breakout season for the 49ers in 2006, when he
set a franchise record with a NFC-leading 1,695 yards rushing, rookie Michael
Robinson didn't get a lot of opportunities out of the San Francisco backfield.
But the versatile Robinson, still making the transition to running back after
starring at quarterback in college for Penn State, is primed to emerge as a
power complement to Gore's slashing style in 2007.
Robinson scored two touchdowns while toting only 38 carries as a rookie, but he
figures to get a lot more work this season as the 49ers look to keep Gore fresh
after he recorded a franchise-record 312 carries in 2006. Robinson, now up to
228 pounds, has great hands and will be used more often as a third-down
back. And he should see his carries increase manifold while becoming a
frequent contributor in one of the NFL's rising offensive attacks.
Tim Yotter, VikingUpdate.com
Minnesota Vikings
It’s possible that all but one (fifth-round safety Greg Blue)
of the Vikings’ 2006 draft choices will be starting in 2007, but their
first-round choice - linebacker Chad Greenway - never got the opportunity to
play in 2006. Greenway tore his ACL covering a kickoff in the team’s preseason
opener last year, but he’s slated to start on weak side this season, and that’s
the playmaking position in the Tampa 2 defense.
In spring practices, Greenway hasn’t shown any effects of being hampered by
the injury. In fact, he has intercepted numerous passes in practices and showing
much of the athleticism that initially attracted the Vikings to him. As much as
2006 second-round pick Tarvaris Jackson will be counted on to direct the offense
from his quarterback position, Greenway will be counted on heavily on the
defensive side of the equation.
Barry McBride, TheOBR.com
Cleveland Browns
Browns GM Phil Savage has talked of "redshirting" some
young players as the team rebuilds its roster, and two great examples of 2006
draft choices who fit that category are WR Travis Wilson and RB Jerome Harrison.
Of the two, Harrison might have the greater potential to become prominent in
2007, although Wilson should compete for the team's third WR role. Running back
Harrison, who ran for 1900 yards for Washington State in 2005, has bulked up to
212 pounds and has been working to resolve the poor blocking skills which kept
him off the field for the most part in 2006. With only the aging Jamal Lewis (on
a one-year contract) and Jason Wright ahead of him on the depth chart, Harrison
could turn out to be the prime beneficiary of the Browns much-improved offensive
line this season.
Brad Thomas, PantherInsider.com
Carolina Panthers
Most NFL fans didn't hear much from Panthers RB DeAngelo
Williams last season. That should change in 2007.
The Panthers have switched to a zone blocking system which is much like the
system Williams ran in during his collegiate days at Memphis. Look for Williams
to get the bulk of the carries in 2007 and beyond as he establishes himself as
the lead back for the Panthers.
Steve Waters, BroncosUpdate.com
Denver Broncos
 |
WR Domenik Hixon
(Brian Bahr/Getty Images) |
Wide receiver Domenik Hixon spent most of the 2006 season on the injury list
with a broken bone in his foot, but with rehabilitation complete he has been
turning heads in the Denver Broncos’ minicamps. Pro Bowl cornerback Champ
Bailey has been defending Hixon and predicts the second year player’s
combination of speed and skill will make him a star of the future.
Hixon (6-foot-2, 185 pounds) was Denver’s fourth-round draft choice from
the University of Akron, where he was one of the top performers in school
history. The Broncos were primarily looking at Hixon as a returns specialist,
but his play so far at wide receiver indicates he’ll probably get a shot at
both roles.
Jon Scott, PatriotsInsider.com
New England Patriots
A couple months ago the answer to this question would have been very
different. The Patriots offseason changed the prospects for some of the
promising youngsters on the roster.
These are players who should have seen their roles increase: LB Pierre Woods,
LB Corey Mays, WR Chad Jackson and OT Ryan O'Callaghan. Of those, Woods and Mays
(2 undrafted free agents) may have trouble making the roster, while Chad Jackson
will be buried under an avalanche of talent - including someone named Randy
Moss.
O'Callaghan - who was sidelined by a neck injury in 2006 - is in a battle
with Nick Kaczur for the starting role at right tackle. Fans probably won't know
he won the job unless he messes up and gets Tom Brady killed in the pocket. He
did start six games last year as the line dealt with injuries.
Alain Poupart, DolphinDigest.com
Miami Dolphins
Since the Dolphins were the only team in the NFL not to have a single start
from any of their rookies in 2006, there are plenty of candidates to choose from
here. There's not one guy among the six
draft picks from last year who really jumps out as being ready to break through,
but the one guy with the most upside appears to be defensive end/tackle Rodrique
Wright. He sat out all of last season
after undergoing shoulder surgery, but he has looked good in the offseason camps
so far.
Matthew Postins, BucsBlitz.com
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Second-year wide receiver Maurice Stovall stands the best chance of making an
impact among the Buccaneers' second-year players. He's the kind of target head
coach Jon Gruden likes in the red zone. He's tall (6-foot-5), has great leaping
ability and controls his body well. He showed flashes of that once the Bucs
began using him late last season (he started the last two games).
Stovall only caught seven passes for 102 yards, but he averaged 14.6 yards per
catch and had two carries for a 14.5 yard average, so he has the speed to
stretch defenders. The struggles of Michael Clayton the past two seasons have
opened a door for Stovall to become a more vital part of the offense.
At the least, his combination of speed and athleticism will make him the Bucs'
No. 3 receiver. Ike Hilliard, last year's No. 3, is on the downhill slide. At
best, he has enough talent and drive to push Clayton for the No. 2 spot, a
competition that would likely help both players during training
camp.
Jim Wexell, SteelCityInsider.com
Pittsburgh Steelers
It could be any of three for the Steelers: O-lineman Willie Colon, return man
Willie Reid or free safety Anthony Smith.
I'll go with Smith since he has the edge on Ryan Clark for the job. Smith is a
rangy, hard-hitting ball hawk who has fit in with the vets since he arrived.
Jerry Langton, ColtPower.com
Indianapolis Colts
 |
LB Freddy Keiaho
(Brian Bahr/AP) |
It seems like every year the Colts let a linebacker go, and every year they
find some guy to take his place. This year, Freddy Keiaho is expected take
weakside linebacker Cato June's place in the starting lineup.
Many were shocked when the Colts picked him in the third round of the 2006
draft as draft guides had him pegged as a late rounder or free agent. He's short
(only 5-foot-11) and only started one season at San Diego State. But the Colts
saw an excellent athlete who tracks runners like a Labrador retriever and plays
with the same kind of hair-on-fire urgency as the Colts' best defensive player,
Bob Sanders.
Keiaho was something of a terror on special teams last year, recording 12
tackles and 4 assists. But when he filled in for a week for injured starting
middle linebacker Gary Brackett with just two days of practice, he looked like
an old pro and the Colts won 27-20.
Just imagine what he can do at his natural position with a full year's of
practice behind him.
Denis Savage, SilverandBlack.com
Oakland Raiders
There is a reason the Oakland Raiders kept Rob Ryan as their defensive
coordinator and went outside to look for their head coach - consistency.
One player who will benefit from this is safety Michael Huff, a first-round
pick last year. He played a smart, instinctive game last year but did
not make the big play that put his name in lights.
Things will change this time around, as his natural athleticism combines
with his understanding of the system to give the Raiders emerging defense
another elite defender.
Todd Korth, PackerReport.com
Green Bay Packers
Keep an eye on cornerback Will Blackmon, who was selected by the
Packers in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL draft by the Packers. Blackmon
missed most of last season with foot and rib injuries, but has shown in
offseason practices that he can be an asset as a nickel or dime cornerback and
kickoff return specialist.
At Boston College, Blackmon had 2,700 career kickoff return yards, 222 yards shy
of the Division I all-time mark.
Charlie Bernstein, JagNation.com
Jacksonville Jaguars
The most likely non-starting second-year player to garner national attention
in 2007 is last years' first round pick, Marcedes Lewis.
Lewis injured his ankle in the Jaguars' first preseason game in 2006 and missed
most of training camp, as well as the majority of the first quarter of the
season. When Lewis became healthy, he was playing catch-up, trying to learn a
new offense while spending most of the season playing with a backup quarterback
who has problems getting past his first progression.
The Jaguars now have a new offensive coordinator in Dirk Koetter who likes to
use more two tight-end sets, and Marcedes Lewis will finally have the benefit of
participating in a full camp. Lewis has displayed great hands and was a primary
target for returning starter Byron Leftwich in minicamps - and should continue
to be in the regular season.
Doug Farrar, Seahawks.net
Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks got good production from their 2006 draft, as CB
Kelly Jennings, G Rob Sims, DE Darryl Tapp and P Ryan Plackemeier all stepped in pretty quickly.
Tapp didn’t technically start, though he got quite a few reps in rotation. If
there’s one player I think fans should look out for from that draft class, it’s
former Auburn WR Ben Obomanu. Obomanu didn’t play in Seattle’s overstuffed
receiver corps in 2006, but the Seahawks threw from four-wide sets more than any
other team in 2006, and with the continued questions about the tight end
position, the trade of Darrell Jackson and the fact that Nate Burleson has been
somewhat of a disappointment so far, someone’s going to have to fill the role
of third and fourth receiver. Team President Tim Ruskell likes Obomanu’s
skillset, and he’s looked good in this year’s minicamps. He’ll most
certainly get a chance to succeed going forward from training camp.
Dan Leberfeld, JetsConfidential.com
New York Jets
WR Brad Smith. Last year was a learning experience for this college
quarterback. He spent the season figuring out how to play wide
receiver.
This year, he could take a quantum leap. He is an amazing athlete, and expect to
see him make some highlight film catches in 2007.
Nick Athan, Warpaint Illustrated.com
Kansas City Chiefs
Last year the Chiefs had two savvy veterans patrolling the deep secondary.
Sammy Knight and Greg Wesley were starting safeties, but as the season wore on
they saw their playing time decrease. Seventh-round pick Jarrad Page and
second-round pick Bernard Pollard began to intertwine with the starting
defensive unit.
Page saw far more action late in the season as he quickly became a favorite
of head coach Herm Edwards. In fact, Page was a hit at the first minicamp. He
has speed, can hit, has a nose for the football and his versatility is something
this secondary has longed for in recent years.
Pollard was a slow starter and had to make his mark on special teams where he
blocked three punts including one for a touchdown in the season finale against
Jacksonville. Both are locks to start in 2007.
With a youth movement in full swing in KC, Edwards' secondary will be faster,
stronger and more active then it was a year ago to being the 2006 season.
John Crist, BearReport.com
Chicago Bears
Assuming Lance Briggs stands by his threat to never play another down for the Chicago Bears, second-year man Jamar Williams will most likely open the regular season as the starter at weakside linebacker.
Briggs was a fairly unheralded prospect coming out of Arizona in 2003, but he's turned himself into one of the most productive tacklers in the NFL and a two-time Pro Bowl performer. Williams, a fourth-round draft choice from Arizona State last year, had an excellent preseason and was just starting to make an impact on special teams as a rookie before a shoulder/pectoral ailment put him on injured reserve after Week 3. Much like Briggs, Williams possesses great speed and excellent quickness, plus playing next to perennial All-Pro Brian Urlacher will only make his job easier.
In an interesting twist, Briggs has positioned himself as President of the Jamar Williams Fan Club because if the youngster plays well, perhaps the organization will make more of an effort to finally ship the veteran out of town.