Timm Rosenbach
Bye Bye DJ
Notice our boy Timmy H just out of the top 10. Good analysis, but I think Ryan should be higher and Clady lower...
Unbalanced class
Defensive rookies falling short of offensive standard
By Matt Sohn
Oct. 21, 2008
Unbalanced class
Defensive rookies falling short of offensive standard
By Matt Sohn
Oct. 21, 2008
Whatever happened to playing a little a defense? Nearing the midway point of the season, the offensive rookies have clearly bested their counterparts on the defensive side. Only two defenders, Patriots ILB Jerod Mayo and Redskins S Chris Horton, hold a spot in the top 10 this week, after the top 10 was split evenly between players on both sides of the ball in the Week Seven Rookie Meter a season ago.
Last April, 15 of the 31 first-round picks were spent on defense, but many of the so-called “can’t miss” prospects are toiling in relative obscurity. Rams DE Chris Long, the No. 2 overall pick, has had his moments, but for such a polished product, has had trouble adapting to the speed of the NFL. Chiefs DT Glenn Dorsey, whom many in the Rams organization coveted more than Long, has similarly struggled in the trenches. Another, Jets OLB Vernon Gholston, has been physically up to the challenge, but seems mentally lost in his move to the second level after playing with his hand in the ground at Ohio State.
Still others, most notably former USC teammates Sedrick Ellis and Keith Rivers, have been victimized by injuries, with a broken jaw suffered by Rivers prematurely ending what was shaping up as a solid season for the hapless Bengals.
There’s still a ways to go, but thus far, the defensive rookies have been, well, offensive.
1. Titans RB Chris Johnson (first round, 24th overall)
Week Seven stats: 18 carries for 168 yards and one touchdown; two receptions for four yards
Season stats: 103 carries for 549 yards and three touchdowns; 14 receptions for 73 yards and one touchdown
Last week’s ranking: 1
After knocking heads in his previous two games against the likes of the Vikings and Ravens, Johnson feasted upon the moribund Chiefs on Sunday. He and backfield buddy LenDale White systematically obliterated Herm Edwards’ crew, as they accounted for nearly all of the Titans’ franchise-record 332 rushing yards. You know you’re rolling well when you tear off a 66-yard touchdown jaunt, as Johnson did, and yet it’s not even the longest run of the day — that would be round-boy White’s 80-yarder.
2. Bears RB Matt Forté (2-44)
Week Seven stats: 20 carries for 56 yards and one touchdown; two receptions for 17 yards
Season stats: 147 carries for 515 yards and four touchdowns; 29 receptions for 223 yards and two touchdowns
Last week’s ranking: 3
Given the fact that the Bears piled up 48 points in a back-and-forth shootout with the Vikings at Soldier Field, it’s a bit surprising that Forté, the Bears’ most consistent offensive threat, accounted for only 73 yards and one touchdown. Not that he should be ashamed of the effort. When going up against Pat and Kevin Williams, producing pedestrian numbers qualifies as an accomplishment.
3. Broncos OT Ryan Clady (1-12)
Last week’s ranking: 2
For the most part, Clady performed as well Monday night against the Patriots as he had all season. Key phrase, “for the most part.” On the Broncos’ first play from scrimmage, Clady was absolutely steamrolled on a bull rush from NT Vince Wilfork, whose helmet jammed into QB Jay Cutler’s index finger on his follow-through. Cutler, whose passes lacked his customary zip thereafter, simply wasn’t the same because of it.
4. Falcons QB Matt Ryan (1-3)
Week Seven stats: On bye
Season stats: 93-of-161 for 1,164 yards, five touchdowns, three interceptions
Last week’s ranking: 5
Ryan and the 4-2 Falcons had the week off.
5. Eagles WR DeSean Jackson (2-49)
Week Seven stats: On bye
Season stats: 29 receptions for 433 yards and one touchdown
Last week’s ranking: 4
Jackson and the 3-3 Eagles had the week off.
6. Redskins S Chris Horton (7-249)
Week Seven stats: Nine tackles
Season stats: 37 tackles; three interceptions, three tackles for loss
Last week’s ranking: 6
With each passing week, it’s becoming increasingly clear that Horton’s not just a flash in the pan type, as he consistently is ranking among the team leaders in tackles from his largely in-the-box role. On Sunday, he led the charge for a defense that limited the Browns to 236 total yards a week after Cleveland rolled up 454 yards against the Giants.
7. Broncos WR Eddie Royal (2-42)
Week Seven stats: Nine receptions for 71 yards
Season stats: 39 receptions for 392 yards and two touchdowns
Last week’s ranking: 7
Six of Royal’s nine receptions came in the second half when the game was already in the bag for the Pats. But credit Royal and fellow WR Brandon Marshall for adjusting to the fluttering balls that QB Jay Cutler was relegated to throwing after injuring the index finger on his throwing hand.
8. Patriots ILB Jerod Mayo (1-10)
Week Seven stats: Eight tackles
Season stats: 42 tackles, one tackle for loss
Last week’s ranking: 10
After taking a series to adjust to Michael Pittman and the Broncos’ rushing attack, Mayo was a beast the rest of the way. Yet almost as encouraging as Mayo’s development has been the stunningly effective play fellow rookie LB Gary Guyton. Undrafted out of Georgia Tech, Guyton’s raw ability — his 40-yard time at the Combine led all linebackers — prompted the Pats to pick him up as a free agent, and he hasn’t disappointed. With Tedy Bruschi nearing the end of his career, Mayo and Guyton could form a potent ILB tandem down the line.
9. Texans RB Steve Slaton (3-89)
Week Six stats: 17 carries for 80 yards and one touchdown; three receptions for nine yards
Season stats: 89 carries for 423 yards and four touchdowns; 20 receptions for 112 yards and one touchdown
Last week’s ranking: 8
It was business as usual for Slaton, who was his steady self against an overmatched Lions defense. In 109 career touches, Slaton has yet to fumble.
10. Panthers RB Jonathan Stewart (1-13)
Week Seven stats: 17 carries for 68 yards and one touchdown; one reception for three yards
Season stats: 88 carries for 352 yards and five touchdowns; three receptions for 12 yards
Last week’s ranking: On the verge
Given the solid play of DeAngelo Williams, it appears unlikely that Stewart will establish himself as the clear-cut featured back this season. However, with his scary combination of speed and power, he’s the obvious choice to be fed the ball in the red zone.
On the verge (listed alphabetically)
Falcons OT Sam Baker (first round, 21st overall)
Chargers CB Antoine Cason (1-27)
Bears DT Marcus Harrison (3-90)
Cardinals RB Tim Hightower (5-149)
Cowboys RB Felix Jones (1-22)
Dolphins DE Kendall Langford (3-66)
Falcons MLB Curtis Lofton (2-37)
Dolphins OT Jake Long (1-1)
Jets CB Dwight Lowery (4-113)
Giants S Kenny Phillips (1-31)
Last April, 15 of the 31 first-round picks were spent on defense, but many of the so-called “can’t miss” prospects are toiling in relative obscurity. Rams DE Chris Long, the No. 2 overall pick, has had his moments, but for such a polished product, has had trouble adapting to the speed of the NFL. Chiefs DT Glenn Dorsey, whom many in the Rams organization coveted more than Long, has similarly struggled in the trenches. Another, Jets OLB Vernon Gholston, has been physically up to the challenge, but seems mentally lost in his move to the second level after playing with his hand in the ground at Ohio State.
Still others, most notably former USC teammates Sedrick Ellis and Keith Rivers, have been victimized by injuries, with a broken jaw suffered by Rivers prematurely ending what was shaping up as a solid season for the hapless Bengals.
There’s still a ways to go, but thus far, the defensive rookies have been, well, offensive.
1. Titans RB Chris Johnson (first round, 24th overall)
Week Seven stats: 18 carries for 168 yards and one touchdown; two receptions for four yards
Season stats: 103 carries for 549 yards and three touchdowns; 14 receptions for 73 yards and one touchdown
Last week’s ranking: 1
After knocking heads in his previous two games against the likes of the Vikings and Ravens, Johnson feasted upon the moribund Chiefs on Sunday. He and backfield buddy LenDale White systematically obliterated Herm Edwards’ crew, as they accounted for nearly all of the Titans’ franchise-record 332 rushing yards. You know you’re rolling well when you tear off a 66-yard touchdown jaunt, as Johnson did, and yet it’s not even the longest run of the day — that would be round-boy White’s 80-yarder.
2. Bears RB Matt Forté (2-44)
Week Seven stats: 20 carries for 56 yards and one touchdown; two receptions for 17 yards
Season stats: 147 carries for 515 yards and four touchdowns; 29 receptions for 223 yards and two touchdowns
Last week’s ranking: 3
Given the fact that the Bears piled up 48 points in a back-and-forth shootout with the Vikings at Soldier Field, it’s a bit surprising that Forté, the Bears’ most consistent offensive threat, accounted for only 73 yards and one touchdown. Not that he should be ashamed of the effort. When going up against Pat and Kevin Williams, producing pedestrian numbers qualifies as an accomplishment.
3. Broncos OT Ryan Clady (1-12)
Last week’s ranking: 2
For the most part, Clady performed as well Monday night against the Patriots as he had all season. Key phrase, “for the most part.” On the Broncos’ first play from scrimmage, Clady was absolutely steamrolled on a bull rush from NT Vince Wilfork, whose helmet jammed into QB Jay Cutler’s index finger on his follow-through. Cutler, whose passes lacked his customary zip thereafter, simply wasn’t the same because of it.
4. Falcons QB Matt Ryan (1-3)
Week Seven stats: On bye
Season stats: 93-of-161 for 1,164 yards, five touchdowns, three interceptions
Last week’s ranking: 5
Ryan and the 4-2 Falcons had the week off.
5. Eagles WR DeSean Jackson (2-49)
Week Seven stats: On bye
Season stats: 29 receptions for 433 yards and one touchdown
Last week’s ranking: 4
Jackson and the 3-3 Eagles had the week off.
6. Redskins S Chris Horton (7-249)
Week Seven stats: Nine tackles
Season stats: 37 tackles; three interceptions, three tackles for loss
Last week’s ranking: 6
With each passing week, it’s becoming increasingly clear that Horton’s not just a flash in the pan type, as he consistently is ranking among the team leaders in tackles from his largely in-the-box role. On Sunday, he led the charge for a defense that limited the Browns to 236 total yards a week after Cleveland rolled up 454 yards against the Giants.
7. Broncos WR Eddie Royal (2-42)
Week Seven stats: Nine receptions for 71 yards
Season stats: 39 receptions for 392 yards and two touchdowns
Last week’s ranking: 7
Six of Royal’s nine receptions came in the second half when the game was already in the bag for the Pats. But credit Royal and fellow WR Brandon Marshall for adjusting to the fluttering balls that QB Jay Cutler was relegated to throwing after injuring the index finger on his throwing hand.
8. Patriots ILB Jerod Mayo (1-10)
Week Seven stats: Eight tackles
Season stats: 42 tackles, one tackle for loss
Last week’s ranking: 10
After taking a series to adjust to Michael Pittman and the Broncos’ rushing attack, Mayo was a beast the rest of the way. Yet almost as encouraging as Mayo’s development has been the stunningly effective play fellow rookie LB Gary Guyton. Undrafted out of Georgia Tech, Guyton’s raw ability — his 40-yard time at the Combine led all linebackers — prompted the Pats to pick him up as a free agent, and he hasn’t disappointed. With Tedy Bruschi nearing the end of his career, Mayo and Guyton could form a potent ILB tandem down the line.
9. Texans RB Steve Slaton (3-89)
Week Six stats: 17 carries for 80 yards and one touchdown; three receptions for nine yards
Season stats: 89 carries for 423 yards and four touchdowns; 20 receptions for 112 yards and one touchdown
Last week’s ranking: 8
It was business as usual for Slaton, who was his steady self against an overmatched Lions defense. In 109 career touches, Slaton has yet to fumble.
10. Panthers RB Jonathan Stewart (1-13)
Week Seven stats: 17 carries for 68 yards and one touchdown; one reception for three yards
Season stats: 88 carries for 352 yards and five touchdowns; three receptions for 12 yards
Last week’s ranking: On the verge
Given the solid play of DeAngelo Williams, it appears unlikely that Stewart will establish himself as the clear-cut featured back this season. However, with his scary combination of speed and power, he’s the obvious choice to be fed the ball in the red zone.
On the verge (listed alphabetically)
Falcons OT Sam Baker (first round, 21st overall)
Chargers CB Antoine Cason (1-27)
Bears DT Marcus Harrison (3-90)
Cardinals RB Tim Hightower (5-149)
Cowboys RB Felix Jones (1-22)
Dolphins DE Kendall Langford (3-66)
Falcons MLB Curtis Lofton (2-37)
Dolphins OT Jake Long (1-1)
Jets CB Dwight Lowery (4-113)
Giants S Kenny Phillips (1-31)
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