It's probably a bit early to compile an impact rookie list, but I figured what the heck.
It'll at least elicit some discussion among you NFL gurus.
So, here goes.
10. James Hardy, Buffalo Bills WR: I like Hardy to win the wide receiver spot alongside Lee Evans. With Evans' ability to stretch a defense and go deep, Hardy, at 6-foot-5, should have no problems catching some balls across the middle and in the end zone.
9. Keith Rivers, Cincinnati Bengals LB: Rivers will start right away at linebacker for the struggling Bengals, and could be higher on this list. Rivers could have a rookie season similar to that of DeMeco Ryans in his first year with the Texans.
8. Kevin Smith, Detroit Lions RB: Running back isn't the strongest position for the Lions, so Smith should see adequate playing time early on in his career. I expect some long touchdown runs from Smith during his rookie campaign.
7. Jake Long, Miami Dolphins OL: Sure, Long was the first pick of the draft, but this team has so much more to worry about. He'll start from Day One at left tackle, but the Dolphins will still struggle all season.
6. Malcolm Kelly, Washington Redskins WR: I think Kelly will have an impact similar to that of James Hardy of the Bills. He should push the more experienced receivers for playing time, and will get possession receptions with down-the-field threat Santana Moss playing alongside him.
5. Darren McFadden, Oakland Raiders RB: McFadden will put up solid yards per carry numbers, but won't get as many carries as Adrian Peterson did a year ago. Justin Fargas and Michael Bush will be getting carries, too.
4. Jerod Mayo, New England Patriots LB: Mayo will definitely find his way onto the field as a rookie in New England's 3-4 defense. He'll make his playing time worthwhile, no matter how much he gets. I've learned not to bet against the Patriots' personnel.
3. Jonathan Stewart, Carolina Panthers RB: McFadden was all the talk at the running back position during the 2008 draft. However, I think Stewart will have a more immediate impact for a Panthers squad that is thin at the running back position. He could rush for 1,000 yards in his rookie campaign.
2. Glenn Dorsey, Kansas City Chiefs DT: The Chiefs were one of the worst teams in the NFL last year in terms of rushing yards allowed. Adding Dorsey immediately fixes that, and he'll come up with a lot of stops in the middle for K.C.
1. Sedrick Ellis, New Orleans Saints DT: This pick could be somewhat of a stretch, but I'm really high on Ellis. The Saints were solid against the run in 2007, but the addition of Ellis is huge. I think he'll lead all rookies in tackles for loss.
Comments (17) Add a comment »
from 4 days ago
Where was dorsey when Mcfadden ran for 180 and 200 yards against lsu?
from 3 days ago
David Dorsey played injured besides he was there when it really counted for the championship!
Don't act like the Georgia fans give LSU the credit the school deserves - they won it all.
Of course McFadden is a great college back.
from 1 day ago
LSU "won" it all after losing twice--yuck. Glenn Dorsey was overrated, and the trade of Jared Allen just means that the Chiefs have a lot of ground to make up in order to come even close to what they ha with Allen. Darren McFadden was underrated--his fumbling in particular. Over half his collegiate fumbles came on special-teams as a returner and when dropping back to pass. As well, he also held the ball improperly but has listened to correction from coaches. I think it's a very real possibility that D-Mac will go for 1200 rushing yards and 400-500 receiving yards and a combination of 12 TDs--even with Justin Fargas and Michael Bush. Remember, the Oakland offensive coordinator is Gregg Knapp who was once the OC of the Atlanta Falcons in 2006 when they had two 1,000 yard rushers in Michael Vick and Warrick Dunn and 600+ from Jerious Norwood. I can imagine D-Mac making big plays, Just Fargas getting it done, and Michael Bush running inside for the "tough yards," -- and Knapp knows how to coordinate that and has his fullback, Justin Griffith, from the Atlanta days.
from 4 days ago
I have to think that Jake Long will be a bigger impact than number seven. Offensive tackles help teams so much, and much of it goes under the radar. If they are not talked about, they're doing their jobs.
from 4 days ago
What about Joe Flacco in Baltimore or Jacob Hester in San Diego?
from 4 days ago
No Chris Long??
He'll get as much playing time as any rookie in Stl.
Good list though.
from 4 days ago
I will help do some defending here...Sean, Flacco may play, but as a rookie will most likely only have a negative impact on the team, there is nothing he can do that Boller can't at this juncture in his career; Hester, is a good football player, but he will only be getting consistent playing time on special teams, because as I see it he is behind LT and Sproles at RB and Neal at FB.
Peter, think Mario Williams rookie year when you want to talk about how Long is going to do. On the other hand you can say that Julius Peppers was a beast his first year, but I think that now tackles take extra pride in not getting beat by rookie ends.
To give my own short handed crack at the article, I think that Ellis and Dorsey are going to be good this season, but it is going to be really hard to measure what type of impact they are going to have. They both play on suspect defenses in the first place, but the DT position does not really rack up stats, unless you are Warren Sapp, and I don't see either being that good their first year.
Personally, I think that a guy like McKelvin will be pretty good next year, also Chris Johnson may be the next kick return super star, which we have all seen in Devin Hester, makes a huge impact on a team.
from 4 days ago
Remember that rookie DTs usually take a year to make the jump.
This is not always the case, but it usually is. I'd go with three RBs at the top of my list
1) Stewart
2) McFadden
3) Mendenhall
Rookie RBs usually have bigger impacts than other positions.
Mind you, I'm not ruling out anyone- I'm just going by history here.
from 4 days ago
nice article... how about Vernon Gholston as a pass rushing linebacker
from 3 days ago
Actually, as far as players go, I think McFadden will have an easier time to play, simply because, if he hits a cold spell, you switch in Bush, who's looking great so far in training camp. It's almost like the Raiders had two RBs picked in the first round, because Bush is ready to fly.....bringing back a lot of memories, of the dual RB sets the Raiders had, with Allen and Jackson, or more recently, Garner and Wheatley.
Fargas simply adds an extra element, but once Fargas's contract expires, he's either going to another club, or, retire.....Bush and McFadden will shoulder the load for a number of years.
from 2 days ago
There's one player thats not the list thats going two have a huge impact for the cheifs defence RON GIRAULT. played at rutgers as bone crushing saftey.
from 2 days ago
I think Detroit RB Kevin Smith could have an impact this season too. Not exactly great competition for carries in Motown.
from 1 day ago
I think kenny phillips from the heralded university of miami should have crept on this list. The giants lost gibril wilson to free agency which opens a spot right away for phillips, and after watching him in college he reminds me of the late sean taylor without the height. But he is an ed reed type ballhawk and will have his hands and more often his helmet in many plays down the field for the reigning champs
P.S. As a patriots fan that hurt to even write.........however I do love the addition of Jerod Mayo for the pats and think that under the tutelage of Seau, Bruschi, Vrabel and Thomas he'll be making an impact now and for years to come.
from 1 day ago
How is Matt Ryan not on this list, he will probably have the starting job by the end of the pre-season and if he plays well they might have a chanse to have a decent season. they do have some talent on O, Turner and Norwood are both young and have made an impact on the nfl. Roddy White and Mike Jenkins were first round picks and have never had anyone to consistantly get the ball to them.
from 1 day ago
i don't even think Mcfadden is going to be a top 15 rookie. i think Bush is going to be the man before long in Oakland, Mcfadden couldn't hold on to the ball in college just wait till he's in the pros with players that know how to knock the ball out
from 1 day ago
nah, don't think so mike.
First of all, as in the words of House MD, everyone lies.
It said that McFadden fumbled 15 times.....but, of those 15, 5 was when he played QB, 5 as a punt returner, and 5 as a running back.
He was a running back for 350+ times, which isn't a bad stat....you'd like zero, if you could get it.
But I think you'll see a nice tandem, with him and Bush tearing it up, until defenses grow tired....
and then it's ouch time.
from 1 day ago
thats whats great abt this time of year everybody feels good and has hope
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