NFL Preseason Week 1: Breaking Down the Top Rookie Performers

The first week of the 2012 NFL preseason is nearly complete, with the Dallas Cowboys and Oakland Raiders finishing up Monday night in Oakland. 

Following weeks and months of OTAs, minicamps and the start of training camps, having real football games back—for five nights in a row, mind you—was just what every NFL fan was looking for. It also gave fans an opportunity to see their top rookies in action for the first time. 

In the following slides, we break down the rookies who had the most impressive debuts in Week 1 of the NFL preseason. 

Andrew Luck, Colts

The preseason is the preseason, but the Andrew Luck era in Indianapolis really couldn't have started any better. 

Luck threw a touchdown pass on his first NFL throw, a short shovel completion to Donald Brown that went for a 63-yard score. In 1998, Peyton Manning also threw a touchdown on his first ever preseason attempt.

It was after the first throw that Luck really shined, however. 

Facing pressure for most of the afternoon, Luck displayed pocket presence and maneuverability that you'd expect from a 10-year veteran, not a rookie making his NFL start.

He also manipulated safeties with his eyes, with a 23-yard touchdown pass to Austin Collie in the second quarter standing out. Luck kept the deep safety in the middle of the field, then darted his attention to Collie, who ran a corner route to the end zone.

The pass-and-catch looked simple, but Luck's attention to detail when dealing with the safety made the play possible. 

Overall, Luck led touchdown drives on three of four chances and finished 10-of-16 for 188 yards and two touchdowns. It terms of preseason debuts, few have done it better than Luck did Sunday afternoon. 

Robert Griffin III, Redskins

Three days before Luck lit up his preseason debut, Griffin III started his NFL career with a similar bang in Buffalo. 

Griffin III, the No. 2 overall pick, led the Redskins to the game's only touchdown in a 7-6 win for Washington.

While Griffin III had just one scoring drive in three drives, he was poised and confident while finishing 4-of-6 for 70 yards and a score. He also had some bad luck (non-catch along the sidelines on a third down, fumble by Evan Royster) in the two non-scoring drives.

During the touchdown drive, however, Griffin completed three passes to Pierre Garcon, including a short screen that Garcon took into the end zone. On one other completion to Garcon, Griffin III went through his progressions and then came back to Garcon in the middle of the field for a 20-yard gain.

I provided a full breakdown and report card of Griffin III's night here. 

Like Luck, Griffin III didn't look like a rookie quarterback making his debut. It's only been one preseason game, but it sure looks like we have two rare talents at the quarterback position in Luck and Griffin III. 

Quinton Coples, Jets

Coples has struggled at times during Jets training camp, but he certainly showed up when the lights came on Thursday night in Cincinnati. 

Over almost 40 snaps and four quarters of action, Coples induced one holding penalty, recorded a strip-sack and was generally very active in Rex Ryan's defense. 

Ryan was impressed with Coples, according to the New York Daily News. 

“Quinton Coples I thought had a tremendous game,” Ryan said. “I saw some real encouraging things by Quinton.”

Kendall Wright, Titans

Wright was the second-to-last first-rounder to sign from the 2012 NFL draft, and his training camp has had its ups-and-downs. But Saturday in Seattle, Wright showed why Tennessee was comfortable taking the play-making receiver out of Baylor with its first pick in April.

Wright caught three first-half passes for 47 yards, including a 18-yarder from Jake Locker in the second quarter that helped set up a score. He was quick in and out of his breaks and elusive once the ball was in his hands. 

The Titans are expecting a lot from Wright in 2012, especially with Kenny Britt's status up in the air. Saturday's debut was an encouraging one.

Chandler Jones, Patriots

Jones was impressive enough during his debut against the New Orleans Saints that Peter King of Sports Illustrated named him his defensive player of the week. 

According to King, Jones recorded three quarterback pressures and induced two holding penalties on Jermon Bushrod in just 13 snaps. New England gave him looks as both a 4-3 end and 3-4 rush linebacker, and he appeared comfortable doing both. 

For the defensively-starved Patriots, Jones could be a revelation. 

Ryan Tannehill, Dolphins

Matt Moore started for the Dolphins at quarterback Friday, but it was Tannehill who delivered the more impressive performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

After going three-and-out on his first drive, Tannehill led a scoring drive that saw him complete 7-of-8 passes, including a touchdown to Charles Clay.

Tannehill finished his impressive debut 14-of-21 for 167 yards and a score, leading Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin to declare the gap between his rookie and Moore "close," according to the Miami Herald. 

Expect Tannehill to get more reps with the starting offense as the preseason continues. He still has a shot to start Week 1 of the regular season. 

Luke Kuechly, Panthers

Every so often, one can watch an NFL game—even in the preseason—and a rookie can immediately show he belongs. That happened Saturday with Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly. 

The rookie out of Boston College has been a standout throughout Panthers training camp, and he again showed up in a big way against the Houston Texans Saturday. 

Kuechly started at right outside linebacker and recorded four tackles and a forced fumble.

He stood up Ben Tate near the goal line on his second series, then jarred the ball loose from Pro Bowl back Arian Foster a series later. 

"Luke came out and showed what he's capable of doing in terms of football plays," coach Ron Rivera said, according to the Sacramento Bee. 

Russell Wilson, Seahawks

Matt Flynn played the entire first half for the Seahawks at quarterback, but it was Wilson who continued to make the competition at that position an interesting one moving forward. 

On Saturday night against the Titans, Wilson completed 12-of-16 passes for 124 yards and both a touchdown and interception. He also ran three times for 59 yards and another score. 

At one point, Wilson completed six straight passes, including a 39-yard, jump-ball touchdown to Braylon Edwards. He later scrambled for a 32-yard score, showing that he can be a threat to run at the NFL level. 

Flynn may still hold a slight edge to start, but this position battle is from far settled. 

Others

Lavonte David, Buccaneers

David was all over the field for the Bucs on Thursday night. He doesn't have perfect size, but Tampa Bay may have found an impact linebacker here.

Nick Perry, Packers

Perry played well into the second half for Green Bay, but it was his first series that showed why the Packers took him in the first round back in April. Perry bull-rushed right tackle Jerome Clary early and then notched a hustle sack of Philip Rivers. A ridiculously-called unsportsmanlike conduct penalty was one of the only blemishes. 

Whitney Mercilus, Texans

Mercilus did his best to help the Texans get over the loss of Mario Williams. In his NFL debut, Mercilus tallied 1.5 sacks for a Houston defense that recorded eight total.