NFL Preseason: Handing out the Hardware to the NFL's Best and Worst

Every preseason, a number of unheralded players step up and make a name for themselves. Sometimes, these performances translate into regular-season success. 

But more often, they do not.  

NFL preseason is a time for rookies and unknown veterans to get their chances to shine. Some take full advantage of the opportunity, while others fall flat on their faces.

At this point in the preseason, players, coaches, fans and the media want to get it over with and begin playing real football; football that actually means something.

All that said, there are a number of players who took full advantage of their opportunity this preseason.

With just one week of meaningless games left, I am going to focus on the best and worst of the 2011 NFL preseason.  

Quarterback: Matthew Stafford and Cam Newton

Best: Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions

Preseason Stats: 77.4% completion, 356 yards, 5 TDs, 0 INTs

The former No. 1 overall pick has not been able to stay healthy over his first two NFL seasons.

But when Matthew Stafford is on the field, he is a legitimate starting quarterback in the league.

The Detroit Lions have a ton of offensive weapons this season, and Stafford will utilize them all in what appears to be one of the best offenses in the NFL.

The Lions are averaging more than 30 points per game this preseason, and I don't think it is a mirage. Look for Stafford to take the next step and become an elite quarterback in 2011.

Worst: Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers

Preseason Stats: 40.4% completion, 275 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs

You could argue with me having Newton here and be 100 percent right.

After all, he hasn't thrown an interception this preseason. That is a good sign for a young quarterback.

But Newton has struggled in nearly every aspect of the game. He is having a hard time reading defenses, cannot put the ball on target and continues to stare down receivers.

Eventually, this will lead to more interceptions. 

The 40 percent completion percentage is a sign of Newton's lack of accuracy. This is something that is hard to teach, and I see him continuing to struggle in regards to it. 

Running Back: Tim Hightower and C.J. Spiller

Best: Tim Hightower, Washington Redskins

Preseason Stats: 25 attempts, 170 yards, 6.8 average, 2 TDs

Many Arizona Cardinals observers were not upset about the trade that sent Hightower to the Washington Redskins a couple weeks ago. 

After all, they had Ryan Williams waiting in the wings, and there appeared to be no room on the roster for the talented back. Williams is now out for the season after a devastating injury in Week 2 of the preseason. 

It isn't like Hightower had exploded onto the scene with the Arizona Cardinals over the first couple years of his career, either.

He was averaging less than four yards per carry, but there were other invaluable factors that led me to believe the trade was a mistake. Hightower was solid in pass protection and caught nearly 120 passes in three seasons with Arizona.

Now he gets the opportunity to be an every-down back behind a much better offensive line. Hightower is averaging more than six yards per rush and looks to be more decisive running the ball this preseason.

Hightower has the ability to be a really nice running back in the NFL, and it appears he is taking that next step. The former Richmond Spiders star could be one of the best "under-the-radar" acquisitions this entire offseason. 

Worst: C.J. Spiller, Buffalo Bills

Preseason Stats: 12 attempts, 34 yards, 2.8 average, 0 TDs

Where to start? 

Spiller, the ultra-talented former first-round pick from Clemson, just has not been able to put it together in the NFL and has been slowly knocked for a loop in regards to the Bills' depth chart. 

Spiller fumbled the ball five times in less than 100 touches last season. He doesn't have the field vision or awareness to be a solid NFL running back. 

This preseason, Spiller has seen the ball only 12 times on the ground and is averaging less than three yards per carry.

Additionally, it seems the Bills are not relying on Spiller for special teams, either. 

It is hard to call a second-year player a bust, but Spiller may be giving himself that label at this point. 

Tight End: Aaron Hernandez and Delanie Walker

Best: Aaron Hernandez, New England Patriots

Preseason Stats: 14 receptions, 156 yards, 1 TD

I was extremely surprised when the Patriots took two tight ends early in the 2010 draft. I know Brady loves to utilize them in their offense, but it seemed like overkill to me.

Well, I was wrong.

Both tight ends, Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, performed at high levels last season. And Hernandez has brought his game to the next level during this preseason. 

Hernandez is averaging nearly five receptions a game for the Patriots thus far and continues to show some of the softest hands in the league.

Look for Hernandez to break out in a big way this season. 

Worst: Delanie Walker, San Francisco 49ers

Preseason Stats: 2 receptions, 33 yards, 0 TDs, 4 dropped passes

It is hard to measure the ability of the San Francisco 49ers' skill-players when the offensive line is playing as bad as it is right now. Receivers are unable to get into their routes, and quarterbacks don't have time to find them.

But Delanie Walker has been a major disappointment this preseason, at least for me. 

I had Walker as an up-and-coming tight end in the NFL. I even said Walker would be a starting tight end on half of the teams.

Well, he hasn't performed up to that level as of yet. 

Walker has dropped, from my estimate, four passes during the first three preseason games—two for first downs. 

As a tight end in the NFL, you have to be reliable in the hashes, and Walker has not shown that ability this preseason. 

Wide Receiver: Antonio Brown and Sidney Rice

Best: Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers

Preseason Stats: 9 receptions, 230 yards and 3 TDs

Think of this:

Antonio Brown, a sixth-round pick in 2010, has twice as many receiving yards in three preseason games than he had all of last season. 

It isn't that Brown didn't perform well as a rookie. He was was standout on special teams last season for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

But his breakout performance this preseason couldn't have come at a better time for the Steelers. Hines Ward is losing a step, or already has, and Big Ben needs another receiver other than Mike Wallace to step up. 

Brown's big game came this against the Atlanta Falcons. He caught a 77-yard touchdown pass and electrified the offense with a couple other great plays. 

It appears the former college star at Central Michigan may be another Pittsburgh Steelers draft steal at the wide receiver position. 

Worst: Sidney Rice, Seattle Seahawks

Preseason State: 4 receptions, 22 yards, 0 TDs

I still cannot believe the Seahawks gave Sidney Rice a five-year contract worth $41 million. He had one great season, and not much after that. 

If you are betting on Rice to be a solid No. 1 receiver in the NFL, I wouldn't count on that this season with Tarvaris Jackson throwing him the ball. Rice has only four receptions in the preseason thus far and doesn't seem to be fully in-sync with the Seahawks' marginal signal-caller. 

I just don't see the former Minnesota Viking (Rice, of course) contributing the way many expect him to this season. 

Offensive Line: Atlanta Falcons and the San Francisco 49ers

Best: Atlanta Falcons

Preseason Stats: 4 sacks allowed

The Falcons did a good job in retaining two of their three best offensive linemen this offseason. They only lost Harvey Dahl to the St. Louis Rams in free agency, retaining both Justin Blalock and Tyson Clabo. 

Matt Ryan has not been sacked in three preseason games, which bodes well for the success of this dynamic offense. If this unit can give Ryan the protection he needs, and open up holes for Michael Turner and Jacquizz Rodgers, this offense is going to be one of the best in the entire league. 

Worst: San Francisco 49ers

Preseason Stats: 11 sacks allowed, 9 points per game

Many expected the 49ers' offensive line to be one of the most-improved units on the team. They "upgraded" at center with Jonathan Goodwin taking over for David Baas.

Additionally, San Francisco's two first-round selections from the 2010 draft, Mike Iupati and Anthony Davis, have another year of experience. 

But it hasn't worked out that way so far this preseason. 

San Francisco quarterbacks have been sacked a total of 11 times and pressured countless more. There have been breakdowns in nearly every aspect of pass protection, mostly in blitz packages. 

If the 49ers' offensive line doesn't improve, this team will not contend for a division crown in the weak NFC West. It really is that simple. 

Offense: Detroit Lions and the San Francisco 49ers

Best: Detroit Lions

Preseason Stats: 32.7 points per game, 408 yards per game, 66 first downs

Anyone who thinks the Detroit Lions' preseason success is a mirage needs to look at their talented roster—especially on offense.

They have playmakers at nearly every offensive position, starting with their two stars, Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson. 

But the talent doesn't end there. Jahvid Best is an explosive back, and the Lions also have two No. 1 tight ends in Brandon Pettigrew and Tony Scheffler. The wide receiver position is also stacked behind Calvin Johnson.

This offense promises to be dynamic in 2011, as the preseason showed. 

Worst: San Francisco 49ers

Preseason Stats: 9.0 points per game, 234 yards per game, 41 first downs

The nine points per game is actually a little misleading considering the 49ers' defense scored the team's only first-half touchdown of the preseason against the Houston Texans this weekend. 

This is how bad the 49ers' offense has been this preseason.

You really cannot blame the quarterbacks for this historically-bad preseason performance. They just haven't had any time to pass the ball. 

Jim Harbaugh hasn't shown his playbook this preseason, so that could be a reason for the 49ers' lack of success on offense.

But it seems there might be more to it than that. 

Defense: Houston Texans and the Jacksonville Jaguars

Best: Houston Texans

Preseason Stats: 12.3 points per game, 248.4 yards per game, 14 sacks

If the Houston Texans' defense only improves a little bit, they could be favorites to win the AFC South.

If the defense improves a lot, you could be looking at a Super Bowl contender. 

This preseason, the Houston Texans' defense looks like a completely different unit under Wade Phillips. They are flying to the ball, getting to the quarterback and stopping the run. 

Rookie J.J. Watt looks like a keeper, and Mario Williams seems to have made a smooth transition to the outside linebacker position. The Texans also added Johnathan Joseph and Danieal Manning to a previously-weak secondary.

If the preseason is any indication, this unit will be vastly improved. 

Worst: Jacksonville Jaguars

Preseason Stats: 31.7 points per game, 394.4 yards per game, 0 sacks

The Jacksonville Jaguars are the polar-opposite of the Houston Texans.

They also added a number of key free agents to the defense, but that has yet to translate to the football field.

The Jaguars' defense has yet to record a sack and is giving up nearly 400 total yards per game. Their secondary looks horrible, and it doesn't look like it is going to get better any time soon. 

Considering the Jaguars' offense will probably struggle, it isn't a good sign that their defense is underperforming during the preseason.

Jack Del Rio could be looking at a pink slip rather early this season. 

Rookie Performance: Von Miller and Jonathan Baldwin

Best: Von Miller, LB (Denver Broncos)

Preseason Stats: nine tackles, three sacks and five quarterback pressures

Many draft experts considered Von Miller the best overall player in the 2011 draft, and at this point, that may be hard to dispute.

Watching tape of preseason games, one thing has jumped out to me: Miller has the ability to absolutely dominate opposing offensive lines and get to the quarterback consistently. 

He has an electrifying first move and amazing speed from the outside linebacker position. Opposing offenses are going to have to scheme against Miller this season, which should open up lanes for other Bronco pass-rushers.

Don't be fooled if he doesn't hit double-digit sacks; Miller's importance to Denver's defense goes far beyond that. 

Worst: Jonathan Baldwin, WR (Kansas City Chiefs)

Preseason Stats: Did not play

Having Baldwin on this list has absolutely nothing to do with my projection that the Chiefs reached for him in the first round of April's draft.

Instead, it has more to do with his perceived lack of character and the locker room incident he was involved in a couple weeks ago. 

If you are a rookie looking to prove yourself to a new team and a new league, there is no reason to carry an attitude into your new career. 

The fight that took place between Jonathan Baldwin and Thomas Jones in the Chiefs' locker room is not a an isolated incident for Baldwin. He continuously caused problems in college with the Pittsburgh Panthers.

The injury that occurred during the fight is also going to hold back Baldwin during his rookie season. Really not a good way to start your pro career. 

Head Coach: Jim Schwartz and Todd Haley

Best: Jim Schwartz, Detroit Lions

Talk about getting your team ready to play after a lockout shortened training camp.

From the first minute of the very first preseason game, the Detroit Lions have been destroying opposing teams.

In fact, they made the New England Patriots' defense look like a Pac-12 defense. It really was that bad.

The Lions have the talent and scheme to win their division this year—or at least battle the Green Bay Packers for the crown. 

This team is hitting on all cylinders, and there is no reason to believe it wont extend into the regular season. 

Worst: Todd Haley, Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs went 10-6 last season, but that success has not carried over to the 2011 preseason, and Todd Haley is to blame. 

The Chiefs are averaging a shockingly horrible 7.7 points per game during the preseason, and their offense just looks downright dreadful. 

Their quarterbacks have been sacked 13 times, and they are averaging just a little more than four yards per offensive play. 

I could actually continue running off statistics like this for the rest of the slideshow, but I don't want to do this to the few Kansas Chiefs fans who are still reading.

I will say they need to improve quickly or face the possibility of taking a huge step back in 2011. 

Teams: Detroit Lions and the Cincinnati Bengals

Best: Detroit Lions

The overriding theme of this slideshow continues to be the Detroit Lions, but it has to be that way. They have simply been the best football team in the league.

When your offense clicks from Day 1, following a shortened training camp session, it will raise some eyebrows. 

But the Lions' defense has actually looked pretty good this preseason as well. I can easily envision the Detroit Lions winning 12 games and taking the NFC North title this season. 

Worst: Cincinnati Bengals 

Most "experts," including myself, knew the Cincinnati Bengals were going to be bad this season. They lost Carson Palmer, Chad Ochocinco, Terrell Owens and Johnathan Joseph—four of their best players. 

But the Bengals have been downright awful this preseason. Nearly every aspect of the team has stunk it up, and there really isn't any end in sight. 

Andy Dalton appears to be their No. 1 quarterback, and he is going to struggle big time as a rookie. The former Texas Christian standout doesn't have the weapons to succeed. 

On the other side of the ball, Cincinnati is picking up other teams' leftovers (Kelly Jennings and Taylor Mays), and it isn't going to be pretty.

Right now, I would say the Bengals are the favorite to land the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 draft.

In fact, it is going to be hard for them to win more than three games—if that. 

Fans: Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers/Oakland Raiders

Best: Philadelphia Eagles

I am not the only football observer to question the decency of the Philadelphia sport fan. They have booed Santa, cheered when Michael Irving got hurt and act the part of fools most of the time.

But you have to give recognition where it is due. 

Thousands of Eagles fans stayed and cheered on scrubs during the end of their preseason game against the Cleveland Browns. Rain was coming down furiously as Irene was making her presence known.

This didn't force these Eagles fans to leave for a drier climate. Instead, they withstood the weather to cheer on football players who wouldn't even be on Philadelphia's roster in a week. 

That is what I call diehard. 

Worst: San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders

I am local to the Bay Area (and a 49ers fan), so the spat between Oakland Raiders and San Francisco 49ers fans was well-covered here. 

But this became more than a local story or even a football story. It became a story that questioned the fabric of American society. 

Normally you don't have multiple shootings, a beatdown in a bathroom and dozens of fights break out during an NFL football game. It just doesn't happen. 

This is something that is usually reserved for Latin American soccer, not United States football.

As a result, the Oakland Raiders-San Francisco 49ers preseason rivalry will most likely be put on ice. It is a sad representation of a usually-bustling Bay Area sports scene.

And for that game alone, both the San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders get my vote for having the worst fans of this preseason.