Saints vs. Packers Thursday Night: 4 Rookies Who Need Big Games

The New Orleans Saints and Green Bay Packers will kick off the 2011 NFL season Thursday night, as the Saints travel to Lambeau Field to take on the defending Super Bowl champions.

The NFL opener is also a matchup of the past two Super Bowl champions. New Orleans beat the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV.

In a game that will feature stars like Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Clay Matthews and Jonathan Vilma, it could be some of the lesser-known players who make the biggest difference. 

In fact, rookies on both sides will play big roles under the bright lights of the first NFL game in nearly seven months. 

Let's take a look at some of the first-year players from both the Saints and Packers who need to play well. 

WR/KR Randall Cobb, Packers

In a game that might be predicated on high-flying passing offenses, field position might not seem like a huge deal. Good offenses should be able to make up the difference in bad special teams play, right? 

To a certain extent, you could make that argument. But asking your offense to go 80-plus yards on every drive is a recipe for disaster no matter how good your unit is.

That's where Cobb comes into play for the Packers. Green Bay hasn't had an impact returner since possibly Allen Rossum or Roell Preston, and that's a span that reaches 10 or more years.

If he can flip the field on either punts or kicks, it will go a long ways in deciding how this game turns out. Sometimes, in games as close on paper as this one, special teams makes all the difference.  

DE Cameron Jordan, Saints

A first-round pick in 2011, Jordan isn't slated to start along the Saints defensive line. He'll still see the field, however, as part of a rotation behind Turk McBride.

When Jordan does get playing time, he'll need to make the most of it, especially as a pass rusher.

The Packers will likely throw the ball 35 or more times, giving Jordan somewhere around 15 opportunities to make a play.

As we've seen from Aaron Rodgers, he can be deadly when given enough time. It will be Jordan's job to help collapse the pocket when on the field.   

Packers Special Teams Rookies

This might seem like a cop-out pick, but the fact is that the Packers don't have another rookie outside of Cobb who will contribute heavily on offense or defense. 

That leaves special teams, where the Packers will have several first-year players who will play big roles. Like we discussed with Cobb, special teams can be the difference in big games like this. 

Rookies such as D.J. Smith, Ryan Taylor, Davon House and Alex Green will all need to be solid in their respective special teams duties. The Packers had troubles giving up big special teams plays in 2010, and the Saints could turn the tide of a game with one big return or mistake from that unit.

It's the young players' job to ensure that doesn't happen Thursday night.  

RB Mark Ingram, Saints

Cameron Jordan's fellow first-round rookie will likely be counted on for big carries against the Packers.

Mark Ingram has looked impressive in camp and the preseason, displaying the kind of vision and nose for the end zone that helped him win the Heisman Trophy at Alabama.

He'll need to carry that over into the regular season. The Saints will be more balanced this season than in 2010, and Ingram will be a big part of that.

In addition, the Packers sometimes struggled stopping the run last season. If the Saints can get Ingram going, they could expose that weakness again in the opener.