Preseason Week 1 Report Cards for Notable Rookies and Vets

Week 1 of the 2015 NFL preseason is officially in the books, and plenty can be learned about teams and players even during limited appearances. 

The development of rookies and some of the league's top veterans operating at a high level jumped to the forefront of the conversation. 

Everyone also wants to see how their favorite team's offseason investments are going to perform as well. 

While it's only one contest—two if you're the Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings—positives and negatives can be drawn as each franchise works toward building its final 53-man roster. 

As with any week in the NFL, a few names forced viewers to take notice. Some of them were rookies, while others were established veterans. A couple were even young players placed in unenviable positions that still responded positively. 

Providing grades is certainly a subjective venture, but it's done to place context around each player's particular performance. The grading scale became a sliding scale based on an individual situation: How did the chosen players perform based on what was expected of them? And those performances varied from dominant to highly inconsistent. 

We'll start by looking at five impact rookies and continue with five veterans who made a major difference at the onset of the preseason.

1. Jameis Winston, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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With a rookie quarterback, the good must be taken with the bad. 

Even as the No. 1 overall pick, Jameis Winston was destined to struggle during his first preseason start against the Minnesota Vikings. 

The key to his performance, however, was still showing signs of progress and his immense potential. The Florida State product finished 9-of-19 passing for 131 yards and an interception. His overall play proved to be erratic. His head coach, though, was optimistic about his effort. 

"He threw some good balls at the end," Buccaneers head coach Lovie Smith said, per ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas. "Pretty good decisions. We'd like to have that one interception back, but I thought he threw some pretty good balls. That's what you judge your quarterback on, decision making. For the most part, I think it was pretty good."

Winston added, ""You pick up the game and you see how things are flying at you, you get into that mode of just playing football. I'm getting better every single play."

All a coach, team and fans can ask for is to see a rookie consistently improve. Winston suffered through a rough start, but his ability to play through it and still make some impressive throws should translate as he prepares for the Cincinnati Bengals during Week 2 of the preseason. 

Grade: C

2. Marcus Mariota, QB, Tennessee Titans

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Marcus Mariota probably couldn't dream of a worse start to his NFL career than what actually occurred Friday against the Atlanta Falcons. 

While Matt Ryan and his Falcons cruised to a 17-0 lead in the first quarter after the veteran completed all six of his passes on the opening drive, Mariota threw an interception on a scramble and was stripped of the football within his first two series. 

"You lose games because of turnovers, and I was upset with myself because both of those I could control," Mariota admitted after the game, per ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky. 

The No. 2 overall pick's franchise potential became apparent during the Titans' third offensive series. What proved to be the most promising aspect of Mariota's play at that point was his cool, calm demeanor and how his previous mistakes didn't faze him. 

"To go 90 yards after a penalty, [face] 1st-and-20, to have a big third down and make a great throw in there, you could tell it didn't rattle him too much," Titans head coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "I thought that was a tremendous sign."

Rookies will make mistakes. It's inevitable. How they respond to adversity is a true indication of their overall potential. Mariota showed the makings of a franchise quarterback even during his first preseason contest. 

Grade: C+

3. Amari Cooper, WR, Oakland Raiders

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One thing is certain in Oakland: Wide receiver Amari Cooper is going to be a focal point of this year's offense. 

Even as a rookie, Cooper looks and acts like a polished veteran. The Alabama product snagged three receptions during the team's opening drive Friday against the St. Louis Rams. 

"It was awesome," Raiders quarterback Derek Carr said, per the Associated Press. "I knew I wanted to get him some touches. I want to get him as many as we can in the preseason. That way he just gets the feel for it and all those things."

Three catches for 22 yards certainly isn't the most impressive stat line for a wide receiver, but Cooper's overall usage is a telltale sign he'll be targeted early and often this fall. During the Raiders' first series, this year's fourth overall pick touched the ball four times in 11 plays. 

Last year, Carr targeted veteran James Jones a team-high 111 times. A healthy Cooper will almost certainly surpass that number this season.  

Grade: B+

4. Danny Shelton, NT, Cleveland Browns

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Last year's 32nd-ranked run defense needed help. A lot of help. 

The Cleveland Browns decided the answer to their problem came in the form of a mountainous nose tackle by the name of Danny Shelton. 

Shelton is a massive, wide body with a relentless motor in the middle of the defense. The rookie run-stuffer immediately impacted the Browns' first preseason contest against the Washington Redskins. 

Browns head coach Mike Pettine identified Shelton as one of the young players who stood out during the game, according to ClevelandBrowns.com's Andrew Gribble.

Pettine's assessment might have been a slight understatement. 

At 6'2" and 339 pounds with tree trunks for legs, a thick upper body and long flowing locks, Shelton is impossible to miss (especially when he wears a lavalava during pregame preparation). Plus, he demands a constant double-team. 

Due to his presence in the middle, the Browns experienced instant improvement in their run defense. 

According to ClevelandBrowns.com's Kevin Jones, the Browns only surrendered 34 yards on 17 carries when Washington attempted to run between the tackles. 

Shelton served as the spark plug to an unyielding run defense in Cleveland during his first appearance. He might not solve all of the team's ills, but his presence already changed how the Browns defense should be attacked.

Grade: A-

5. Eric Kendricks, LB, Minnesota Vikings

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A competition continues in Minnesota for the Vikings' starting middle linebacker spot. 

Second-round pick Eric Kendricks is already making a strong case to claim it through his first two preseason games. 

The reigning Butkus Award winner already registered 10 tackles during his limited opportunities, but his performance Saturday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers may have put him in the pole position to win the job. 

"He flew around well," Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer said, per Viking Update's Eric Oslund. "He had one sack, so that one wasn’t too hard; no one blocked him. He’s a good kid that has some ability and flies around. He’s got good speed and made a good tackle with the guy going out on the flat there."

Kendricks' performance consisted of more than an unblocked sack. The rookie tied for the team lead with six total tackles. Two of those tackles were for a loss. The linebacker also deflected a pass. 

The difference in his play from the first preseason game to the second was noticeable. 

"I’ve got to have more patience; I learned that a little bit this game," Kendricks said. "There were some times when I had a little too much patience and some times I didn’t have enough. I have to find a happy medium."

As Kendricks continues to get more comfortable and grow into his role throughout the final three preseason games, the starting middle linebacker spot should be waiting for him. 

Grade: B

6. Tyrod Taylor, QB, Buffalo Bills

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The Buffalo Bills are desperately searching for an answer at the quarterback position. The organization just might have found it in Tyrod Taylor. 

Taylor wasn't considered the first or second option to lead the Bills offense this season after signing with the team as a free agent. After all, the organization traded for Matt Cassel during the offseason, and EJ Manuel is only two years removed from being a first-round pick. 

The dual-threat quarterback brings an entirely different dimension to the Bills offense, though. A dimension offensive coordinator Greg Roman knows how to exploit if his time with the San Francisco 49ers and Colin Kaepernick is any indication. 

During Friday's contest against the Carolina Panthers, Taylor completed 5-of-8 passes for 49 yards. He also contributed 47 rushing yards on just six carries. As a result, the young signal-caller will start against the Cleveland Browns during the Bills' second preseason game. 

"Tyrod will get the first reps, he’s going to start," Bills head coach Rex Ryan said after Friday's game, per BuffaloBills.com's Chris Brown. "He’s going to get a lot of the first reps so we’ll do it business as usual, but he’ll be getting the first shot at it, so he’ll probably be getting a few more reps."

For Taylor, consistency will determine whether he remains atop the Bills depth chart.

"Continue to keep doing the things that I’m doing," he said. "Staying more consistent. Continue to keep practicing well and let everything else take care of itself. I’m just glad for the opportunity to start next week."

Grade: B-

7. Julio Jones, WR, Atlanta Falcons

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A healthy Julio Jones is a very good Julio Jones. Unfortunately, no one has seen Jones fully healthy over a 16-game schedule. 

Last season, Jones exploded. He set a franchise record with 259 receiving yards against the Green Bay Packers only to get hurt late in the game and miss the following week. 

As the 2015 preseason started, the Falcons wide receiver looked completely healthy, and it's a scary proposition for opponents. 

No single player looked more dominant during the first week of preseason action than Jones. His performance Friday against the Tennessee Titans was reminiscent of the wide receiver and quarterback Matt Ryan running patterns against air during practice. 

Jones played only one series and finished with four catches for 61 yards and a touchdown.

Teammate and fellow wide receiver Roddy White gave his assessment of Jones, per ESPN.com's Vaughn McClure:

"

He doesn’t have really any weaknesses in his game. And every year, he’s gotten better. It’s amazing for me to see how football-savvy he has gotten over every year. He’s just gotten better and better mentally, in just understanding what people are trying to do to him and what he has to do to go out there and win on routes. I mean, the sky’s the limit for him. I just want to see him go out there and play 16 regular-season games and see what type of numbers he puts up.

"

The sky remains the limit as long as Jones stays healthy. 

Grade: A+

8. Josh Hill, TE, New Orleans Saints

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No one expects Josh Hill to completely replace Jimmy Graham, but he shouldn't be overlooked in the New Orleans Saints offense, either. 

Hill can be a weapon for quarterback Drew Brees even as the focus of the offense continues to shift toward other targets. 

Brees sat out the Saints' first preseason contest against the Baltimore Ravens. Hill still found a way to contribute with the scheme, though. 

The tight end caught three passes for 40 yards. His presence became extremely important as the second quarter waned. Third-string quarterback Ryan Griffin found Hill three times during the drive to set up the Saints' second touchdown of the evening.

While Hill won't be a primary target, Thursday's showing is a perfect example of how he can be used in the offense. The Idaho State product can be a chain-mover who is also athletic enough to stretch the field down the seam. In fact, Hill tested nearly as well as Graham during predraft workouts.

The preseason is a perfect opportunity to work the third-year tight end into the offense more to fill the void left by Graham. 

Grade: B

9. Ndamukong Suh, DT, Miami Dolphins

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Ndamukong Suh didn't register a single tackle or sack during his first official, albeit preseason, contest as a member of the Miami Dolphins. 

Some might view this as a disappointment after the defensive tackle signed a six-year, $114 million contract in the offseason. 

His overall presence, though, was immediately felt by the Chicago Bears and his Dolphins teammates. 

It all began simply enough. Suh lined up opposite Bears right guard Kyle Long and right tackle Jordan Mills for Chicago's first offensive series. Mills became so eager to get his hands on Suh for an upcoming down block that he jumped the snap. The Bears' first offensive play of the year resulted in minus-five yards all because Suh lined up on the other side of the ball. 

The defensive tackle's dominance at the point of attack also makes life much easier for his linebackers. 

"It just makes it easier," Jelani Jenkins said, per the South Florida Sun Sentinel's Chris Perkins. "Y'all saw it. He's a monster."

Kelvin Sheppard added, "It gives you an extra confidence, extra, should I say, extra edge, extra swagger going out there, getting lined up, and pretty much knowing you're about to dominate somebody."

Suh doesn't need to fill the stat sheet to live up to his massive contract, because he's already making everyone around him better. 

Grade: B+

10. Shayne Skov, LB, San Francisco 49ers

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Negativity ran rampant in San Francisco this offseason due to multiple surprising departures from the 49ers franchise. 

The team's first preseason game, however, provided a few glimmers of hope. First, a former rugby star, Jarryd Hayne, became an overnight sensation when he ran for 63 yards on only five carries. But the defense also received a boost from a first-year linebacker. 

After losing Patrick Willis, Chris Borland and Aldon Smith, quality linebacker play and depth at the position became a major concern for the 49ers. Shayne Skov stepped up against the Houston Texans and could ease the team's transition along its second line of defense. 

Skov started in place of NaVorro Bowman and played the entire game. According to Pro Football Focus, the Stanford product finished the contest with the second-highest grade of any player. 

While the linebacker was called for a personal foul, he accumulated eight total tackles, a tackle for loss and helped stuff the Texans offense at the goal line. 

Both Skov and Nick Moody played well in Bowman's and Michael Wilhoite's absence. By doing so, the team's linebacker depth, particularly on the interior, became far less of a concern.

Grade: B