Hottest Rookie Storylines During NFL Offseason Workouts
If you are a fan of the NFL draft, the developing storylines that immediately follow the first round of rookie minicamps are exciting to follow. This is the time when the opinions of some pundits begin the vindication process, while others do their best to help people forget which players they liked.
Obviously, the lion’s share of the headlines at this point still center on the quarterbacks. Being the most important position on the field in addition to the first players drafted, means Tampa Bay Buccaneer Jameis Winston and Tennessee Titan Marcus Mariota are still garnering most of the attention.
Including the headliners, but expanding beyond that famous duo, let’s take a closer look at eight of the most interesting rookie storylines so far this offseason. If your team has a rookie story that isn’t on the list, be sure to include it in the comments below.
Jameis Winston Winning over Teammates
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When Tampa Bay drafted Winston No. 1 overall, the intention was that his football acumen and natural gifts would equate to early success. Winston’s physical tools and natural football ability are easy to recognize. However, the unknown was how he would handle the mental and emotional side of being an NFL teammate.
Well, immediate indications are that things are going swimmingly. According to fellow rookie Kenny Bell (via the Joe Kania of Buccaneers.com), Winston has been tremendous. Per Bell, "It's been phenomenal. We've been going from about 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., and then we get back to the hotel and he wants to study more ... He's dedicated to his job, that's for sure."
Winston also drew the praise of head coach Lovie Smith. In the same article, Smith was quoted as saying “He’s cramming like it’s the final exam right now and doing a good job. We’ve seen a marked improvement from the moment we gave him his playbook.”
This is precisely what Winston needs to do. The talent has never been a problem. His ability so far to put on his work boots and dig into football as a job is something Bucs fans and coaches have to love.
Mariota vs. Mettenberger
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Anytime you can have a reference to a fight to the death from a quarterback, it’s a good day. Tennessee Titans quarterback Zach Mettenberger has thrown down the gauntlet to the rookie, Mariota, in this battle for the starting quarterback job.
According to ESPN (via ProFootballTalk.com), Mettenberger was adamant that he was not giving up without a fight.
“I don’t [know] what the mindset is, but at the end of the day I can just control what I do and I’m extremely confident in myself, almost to a fault,” Mettenberger said. “But people who know me know I’m not going down without a fight to the death.”
It’s comments like this that conjure up an image of Mariota standing in front of the well on 300, and Mettenberger screaming, “This is Nashville!” as he kicks him in. But in all seriousness, good for him. For all of Mariota’s potential and physical gifts, he is walking into an offense that is foreign to him. Mark this down now: Mariota is not a 16-game starter, and this team is going to need Mettenberger at some point.
Ultimately, the future is Mariota, but Tennessee will be glad they have a guy with the fire of Mettenberger when the rookie struggles. The story is fun and easy to laugh at, but this all points to an intense and entertaining training camp and preseason.
La'el Collins Earning That Starting Spot
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One could view the signing of offensive tackle La’el Collins by the Dallas Cowboys as the coup of the 2015 NFL draft. Many teams, including the Cowboys, had Collins among their top prospects. Getting him without spending a draft pick makes him an incredible steal.
However, even for all his talent, and the value of his signing, could Collins find himself in the starting lineup at the start of the season? Absolutely. According to Foxsports.com, Collins is integrating into the camp and working on getting up to speed.
In the case of Collins, this isn’t a typical UDFA situation. Whereas in many cases, an undrafted offensive lineman is working to make a roster spot, Collins is battling for a starting spot from the jump. With his talent, there’s little doubt he can start, and he probably should.
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Replacing Dante Fowler Jr.
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The Jacksonville Jaguars' 2015 plans took a big hit when ESPN analyst Adam Schefter reported that first-round pick Dante Fowler Jr. tore his ACL and would be lost for the season. There’s little worse this time of year than seeing a young man’s rookie season snatched away like that.
This threw a 261-pound wrench in the plans for how to upgrade the pass rush for Jacksonville. The storyline to watch here pertains to which player or players will step up now that there is an opening as well as a dire need. It might take a village to replace what Fowler's production could have been.
The two guys that will be the front-runners for the spot are likely defensive ends Andre Branch and Chris Smith. Both are similar in size but lack Fowler’s athleticism. Defensive end Chris Clemons is likely the default starter, but don’t be shocked if one of these guys takes this opportunity to step up and make the most of it.
Dealing with the Jeff Heuerman Injury
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Similar to what happened to Fowler, Denver Broncos rookie tight end Jeff Heuerman was also lost for the season to an injury during rookie minicamp. According to Troy E. Renck and Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post, Heuerman is going to miss the entire 2015 season after tearing his ACL just a day after Fowler did.
Heuerman’s situation was ideal as a member of the Broncos. Even with a depth chart full of talent, he was in line to start and have a sensational rookie season. Denver loves to incorporate the tight end into the passing offense, and with Julius Thomas off to Jacksonville, there are a lot of targets on the table.
The debate now as training camp approaches is which tight end is about to seize this opportunity and be that weapon in the passing game. Virgil Green is the leader at this point, with veterans Owen Daniels and James Casey behind him. However, don’t rule out a push by Joe Don Duncan. Coming out of Dixie State, Duncan flashed some tremendous potential. He is the biggest and strongest tight end on the roster and would also aid in the run game.
Ty Montgomery Pushing Davante Adams
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Sometimes what you see isn’t what you get when it comes to prospects. There weren’t many players that took a greater tumble than former Stanford wide receiver Ty Montgomery. There is nothing worse for a wide receiver’s draft stock than a year with quarterback Kevin Hogan throwing you the football.
Early reports are Montgomery is already showing some tremendous skills at Packers voluntary offseason workouts. Sports World Report hinted that Montgomery is already contending with Davante Adams to be the third wide receiver on the depth chart behind Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb. While this might seem presumptuous, it is definitely something to keep an eye on as the offseason progresses.
It is practically a given that Montgomery’s ability to impact the return game will keep him on the roster. However, if he can return to his 2013 form, when he averaged 15.7 yards per catch, it is absolutely plausible that he is the Packers' slot receiver in 2015.
John Miller Working into Starting Lineup
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One of the best things about digging into a piece like this is when you find a story of a lesser-known player already doing big things in his first year. Such is true of former Louisville guard John Miller, now with the Buffalo Bills. Buffalo took him in the third round because of his experience and high football IQ.
And according to Jay Skurski of the Buffalo News, he is impressive so far. Miller has already found his way to the starters after Buffalo’s rookie minicamp, which speaks volumes about his potential. Head coach Rex Ryan said Miller is “running with the first team,” and to say that publicly is huge for this young man’s future.
Tyler Lockett Impressing Early
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It made no sense that former Kansas State wide receiver Tyler Lockett fell to the third round of the draft. Perhaps geography created a bias, but after watching Lockett closely for the past four seasons, it was pretty clear he is going to be a special player at the next level.
Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll must have thought so as well when he drafted him. Gregg Bell of the News Tribune quoted Carroll as saying that Lockett was “all over the field.” It might be early, but this is good news.
Seattle is just itching for a big-play wide receiver, and Lockett more than fits the bill. You can bet that the Seahawks staff will keep finding new and creative ways to get Lockett the football. Don't be shocked when Lcokett outperforms many of the wide receivers taken ahead of him in 2015.
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