NFL Draft 2011: How the Ex-Husker Draftees Fit with Their New Teams
The best part about the NFL draft for college football fans is finding out where their favorite players will be continuing their careers as professionals. There is a reason every Nebraska fan suddenly found themselves unusually interested in the Detroit Lions last year.
Of course, watching your favorite players is significantly more enjoyable when they are succeeding. However, a large factor in how a prospect turns out is the situation they are drafted into. With that in mind, let's take a look at where the former Huskers who got drafted this weekend will be trying to make their mark in the league.
Prince Amukamara, Cornerback, 1st Round, New York Giants
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Everyone knew that Prince Amukamara would be the first Husker off the board, although he did get picked a bit later than most people originally thought he would. That slide down the first round turned into a gift for the New York Giants, though. Landing a top-10 talent at the No. 19 pick was probably more than the Giants had even dared to wish for.
While Prince may have liked the idea of teaming up again with Ndamukong Suh in Detroit where most experts predicted he would go, Amukamara is likely better off having fallen into the Giants' lap. No doubt the Lions are in the process of building something possibly great, but right now the Giants are simply a better franchise than the Lions.
As a first-round pick at cornerback, the early assumptions are that Prince Amukamara will start from day one and these assumptions are likely correct. The Giants like to be creative with their pass rush packages and having a corner like Amukamara, who they can put on an island, allows them even more flexibility in that area.
Since Amukamara is a rookie, expect opposing quarterbacks to challenge him, especially early in the season. I fully expect Prince Amukamara to meet those challenges and make quarterbacks second guess throwing his way again.
Roy Helu, Running Back, 4th Round, Washington Redskins
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I'm sure Roy Helu would have liked to have heard his named called earlier than the fourth round of the NFL draft; however, he may have found himself in a rather fortunate position. The Washington Redskins' leading rusher last year (Ryan Torain) has a grand total of 811 career rushing yards since coming into the league in 2008. In other words, there likely will be ample opportunities for Helu to get onto the field.
Mike Shanahan has a well-deserved reputation for finding diamonds in the rough at the running back position from his days as the Denver Broncos head coach. While Shanahan was in Denver, the team drafted six running backs outside of the first round that ended up rushing for at least 1,000 yards in a season. Could Roy Helu be the next in this long line of running backs who go from unheralded on draft day to the 1,000 yard club by the end of the season?
I said it before the draft, and I still believe it now: Roy Helu is set up to be a major sleeper. Shanahan's version of the West Coast offense is particularly run heavy (the percentage of run to pass for the Redskins last year was nearly 50/50, as opposed to the league average of about 57/43 in favor of the pass). This means Helu should have a chance to contribute immediately.
My bold prediction for Roy Helu is that he will start at running back for the Washington Redskins at some point this year. Not bad for a guy taken in the fourth round.
Alex Henery, Kicker, 4th Round, Philadelphia Eagles
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For a kicker, getting drafted in the fourth round is pretty much the equivalent of any other player getting drafted in the first round. Henery was the first, and only kicker drafted over the weekend, which is enough to tell you how much the Eagles valued his services.
It may seem strange for a team like the Philadelphia Eagles, who already have a reliable veteran kicker in David Akers, to draft someone at the same position, since most teams only carry one kicker. However, Akers is a potential free agent and had been given the transition tag by the Eagles. The move to draft Henery is obviously an indication that the Eagles are just going to let Akers go.
Alex Henery has added value to Philly due to his ability to punt as well. Simply put, expect Henery to start from day one and be just as successful in the NFL as he was at Nebraska. The biggest factor in succeeding in the NFL as a kicker is being mentally tough and that should not be an issue at all for Henery.
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Dejon Gomes, Safety, 5th Round, Washington Redskins
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When you start getting into the range of fifth-round picks and deeper in the draft, prospects find themselves in an uphill battle to earn playing time. Unfortunately for Dejon Gomes, that is exactly the situation he landed in after being selected by the Washington Redskins.
On the bright side, obviously the Redskins saw something they liked in Gomes to take him in the fifth round, considering that he was graded out by some as an undrafted free agent prospect. While Gomes is a little undersized to play strong safety in the NFL, he does have above average speed, which should help in his efforts to get on the field.
Part of what will be working against Gomes to crack the depth chart at safety is simply the fact that the Redskins already have some players in the secondary that play a similar style as Gomes. Both LaRon Landry and Reed Doughty (the starters at safety in Washington) are run stoppers first who can sometimes struggle in coverage.
While this may indicate that these are the types of safeties the Redskins like to have on their team, it is more likely that Gomes would see early playing time if he brought something to the table the other players do not.
The good news for Dejon Gomes is that he should have no problem making the team, as he is seen as a potential impact player on special teams where he could possibly contribute immediately.
Niles Paul, Wide Receiver, 5th Round, Washington Redskins
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Apparently the Washington Redskins front office spent a lot of time studying the prospects from Nebraska. The Redskins spent three straight picks over the course of the fourth and fifth rounds on former Huskers, the last of which they used on Niles Paul. While I'm sure Paul is grateful for the interest the Redskins had in him, Washington may not the best place for a prospect like Paul.
As I wrote in my story about potential sleepers, I believe Niles Paul had a chance to surprise people in the NFL, but only if he wound up in an advantageous situation. The factors that I believed would give Paul the opportunity to succeed in the league were solid, consistent quarterback play (something he never had at Nebraska) and a group of veteran receivers to help mentor him.
The problem with Paul getting drafted by the Washington Redskins is that they are severely lacking in both of those things. Going into next season, it appears as though Rex Grossman will be the Redskins' starting quarterback. Nothing against Grossman, but he is not exactly known for bringing the best out in his receivers.
When it comes to veteran receivers, Santana Moss is the only established pass catcher on the roster. While this, in theory, will give Paul plenty of opportunities to earn some playing time, it will extremely limit his chances to learn the intricacies of how to play his position at the NFL level.
Paul will likely be seen on the field at first in a special teams role, perhaps as a second return man on kickoffs with Brandon Banks. Paul brings some size to the Redskins' receiving corps that they currently do not possess, so he could get some looks in the passing game because of that.
Until the Redskins find some stability at the quarterback position, though, Niles Paul will most likely continue to tease with his potential, but still suffer from the same struggles that plagued him as a Cornhusker.
Keith Williams, Guard, 6th Round, Pittsburgh Steelers
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I am a big believer in the fact that the better the franchise is that a player gets drafted to, the more likely it is that the player will succeed in the league. Keith Williams got drafted to one of the model organizations in professional sports, so at the very least, he's got that going for him.
Keith Williams also boasts pretty much prototypical size to play offensive line in the NFL, which obviously also helps his chances of sticking around with the Steelers. What Williams does not have in his favor is the fact that he tends to struggle in pass protection and has some issues to get resolve with his footwork.
It is not too much to expect for Williams to make the Steelers active roster as a reserve guard. The Steelers are more than a little thin along the offensive line, so Williams could provided some needed depth along with fellow Steelers draft pick Marcus Gilbert.
Considering offensive line was probably Pittsburgh's biggest need, and they drafted only two prospects in that area, look for Williams to nab a spot as a quality reserve.
Eric Hagg, Safety, 7th Round, Cleveland Browns
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Eric Hagg is an interesting prospect for a seventh-round pick. Most players drafted as late as he was are considered marginal prospects at best. However, Hagg was a first team All-Conference selection as a senior and, despite posting a below average 40-yard dash time at the NFL combine, is considered a very athletic player, especially considering his superior size for the safety position.
Hagg actually possesses better size and measurements than current Browns starting free safety T.J. Ward. Considering how greatly Cleveland has struggled in pass defense the last couple seasons, it is reasonable to think that Hagg will get every opportunity to impress his new team and work his way onto the field.
The early thoughts are that Hagg should see time almost immediately on special teams and substitution packages in the secondary. Considering how frequently teams are going to three wide receiver sets in today's NFL, Hagg could find himself on the field quite a bit.
Eric Hagg should have plenty of chances to prove to the Cleveland Browns that he is better than a seventh-round player, it will be up to him to take advantage of those opportunities.
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