As we past the halfway point of the NFL season, some of the 2005 rookies are making an impact while some haven't started yet. Those who have started, frankly haven't really made too much of an impact. Some have excelled, while others are probably making the front office scream. Now, let's review some of the rookies.
RB-Ronnie Brown (Miami Dolphins), started out of the gate pretty slow without posting a 100-yard game in his first two starts, posting a combined 92 yards against Denver and the New York Jets. But when the return of former star RB Ricky Williams looming, Brown stepped up and the former Auburn stud posted 4 90+-yard games in his next 6 games. With Williams now back, Brown's season totals leave him with 611 yards, 3 TDs, ranked #1 and #2 out of all rookies, respectively. Though Williams return has taken away some of Brown's carries, Brown is showcasing his excellent blend of power & speed that made him the #2 overall pick in the draft. Grade B: Needs to step up more in Miami's backfield.
RB-Carnell "Cadillac" Williams (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), unlike fellow Auburn rookie RB, Cadillac Williams exploded out of the gate posting 3 consecutive 100+-yard games and was leading the league in rushing heading into Week 4. But after a dismal Week 4, Cadillac appeared to be wearing down with foot and hamstring injuries that held him out for the next 2 weeks (and the Bucs bye week). Now back from injuries, Cadillac appears to be trying to find his rhythm with a combined 49 yards against San Francisco and Carolina, respectively. Cadillac also endured the loss of starting QB Brian Griese and is now with inexperienced Chris Simms st on but needs to step up, now.
TE-Heath Miller (Pittsburgh Steelers) was drafted #30 in the NFL Draft out of Virginia Tech and was the highest-touted TE of the draft. But Miller also was probably aware of the Steelers never having a TE that made an impact since Eric Green in the early 1990s. After WR Plaxico Burress left for the New York Giants, Miller was supposed to be the vertical and deep threat that QB Ben Roethlisberger needed. Miller hasn't really established himself as a deep-ball threat yet, but has been a great red-zone target and a vertical threat at 6'5. Miller has the most TDs out of all Pittsburgh Steelers wide receivers, rookie reception TDs, tied for 3rd out of the NFL in TD receptions and tied with stud Antonio Gates for TE TDs, with 6. Miller is a front-runner of the rookie of the year battle and with Pittsburgh's emphasis on the run, there is no need he can't keep posting these numbers. Grade B-: Needs to get passes with backup QBs.
QB-Kyle Orton (Chicago Bears), ok if you look at Orton's numbers, 7 TDs, 9 INTs and a 62.5 passer rating (lowest out of all fulltime starters in the NFL) you would think that this was a horribly struggling rookie. But, sometimes you have to look at the situation the player is in. After incumbent QB Rex Grossman severely breaking his ankle and backup Chad Hutchinson struggling as starter, coach Lovie Smith decided to give the 4th round pick out of Purdue a shot at starting. Orton inherited a top-flight defense and a stud wideout in Mushin Muhammad and the #4 overall pick in RB Cedric Benson. Benson held out, though, and former incumbent Thomas Jones exploded and has over 700 rushing yards. But after those two, the offense is beyond suspect. Orton has seemed to find confidence in passing to TE Desmond Clark and FB Mark Edwards including Muhammad and handing off to Jones/Benson. Grade C: Improvement Shown may eventually have to fight off Grossman.
WR-Braylon Edwards (Cleveland Browns) was selected #3 overall in the 2005 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. Given the struggling Browns offense, Edwards did not have too high of expectations. The air offense in Cleveland has struggled and an arm infection sidelining him for 2 games, Edwards has 15 receptions and 1 TD in the games he has played. After the injury, Edwards has been relegated to the slot and with his speed, he could do decent this year. The star receiver at Michigan, expect the 6'3 rook to surpass Dennis Northcutt and play at split end next to Antonio Bryant. Braylon's hopes rely on QB Trent Dilfer (or fellow rookie Charlie Frye) to revive the Browns passing attack. Grade C-: Has all the upside in the world, needs someone to throw to him, though.
WR-Brandon Jones (Tennessee Titans), was thrown into an offense as a #2 receiver and in Tennessee he is more like the 5th wheel. But Jones, a third-round pick out of Oklahoma, is making a case as this year?s best rookie wideout. At Week 6, he was the #1 receiver as Drew Bennett has been battling injuries and after a TD, he suffered a knee injury, which has cost him 2 games. That injury could be costing him as the Titans have two other rookies in the speedy Courtney Roby and Roydell Williams. Jones, in order to have any chance at rookie of the year, needs to get back on the field quick. Grade: C-: Impressing but needs to come back from knee injury.
RB-Cedric Benson (Chicago Bears) will be the last rookie we will highlight extensively. Usually, when you are drafted #4, you are expected to be starting in the NFL. But like San Diego QB Philip Rivers learned last year, holdouts could be disastrous. Benson held out much of training camp and also like Rivers, saw the incumbent in this case, RB Thomas Jones, exploded and is nearing a 1000 yard season. With Benson limited to spelling Jones, we haven't seen anything from this rookie out of Texas University. But do not give up on Benson yet, Jones is struggling from a knee injury that has him contemplating sitting out Week 10 and maybe afterwards. With Benson getting more carries, he now has 187 yards off of 46 carries, with Jones still battling injuries, Benson could be the 2nd-half rookie of the year. Grade D-: Paying the price off of hold out, but he has the physicality to survive.
Of course, these are not the only rookies making headlines, let?s look at some other rookies:
Other Rookies Making Positive Impacts: RB Marion Barber III (Dallas Cowboys), WR Troy Williamson (Minnesota Vikings)
Rookies Making Marginal Impact: TE Alex Smith (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), RB Brandon Jacobs (New York Giants), WR Jerome Mathis (Houston Texans), RB JJ Aarington (Arizona Cardinals)
Rookies to Keep an Eye out for: WR Reggie Brown (Philadelphia Eagles), RB Frank Gore (San Francisco 49ers), QB Alex D. Smith (San Francisco 49ers), WR Mike Williams (Detroit Lions)
Rookies That Will Make An Impact in the Future: QB Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers), Matt Jones (Jacksonville Jaguars)
Article by Joe D.