It's time once again for my impact prospects list...last year's (see further down on this page) has been a mixed bag, WRs D.Terrell and S.Moss have disappointed greatly, but Andre Carter, Travis Henry, Shaun Rogers, LaDanian Tomlinson and Fred Smoot have all have improved their teams. Everyone on the list except Moss and McAllister have started this season. Too bad my "Shh" Selection didn't exactly work out...0/1.
(*) denotes underclassmen
1. John Henderson, DT, Tennessee--I'm baffled as to how Henderson isn't being considered by the Houston Texans as the No.1 overall selection. I wouldn't trade Hendo for BOTH Julius Peppers and Dwight Freeney, two of the Texans' top considerations. DT is by far the most talent-devoid position in the league, and just watching what Shaun Rogers (Detroit) has done this year is reason enough to believe Henderson will do just as much and plenty more. If the Texans pass him up, and the Lions lose their last two games, they could have the makings of an incredible D-line next year: Luther Ellis-S.Rogers-Henderson-Robert Porcher. YIKES. Bet nobody will be laughing at my Lions 2002 playoff prediction then.
2. Quentin Jammer, CB, Texas--How could you not want to draft a shut-down corner in today's pass-happy NFL? KC, Indy and Cincy all need one badly, so Jammer will be a top ten pick, no question. When Keyou Craver (GO BIG RED!) is considered the second best senior CB, Jammer becomes even more important in this draft.
3. Antonio Bryant*, WR, Pitt--Character concerns aside, there's no denying Bryant's talent. He must keep an level head to succeed immediately in the NFL, but if the Lions or Chiefs (and you know my good buddy loves WRs) grab him, he could easily be in the starting lineup on opening day.
4. Bryant McKinnie, OT, Miami--McKinnie's performance as a Hurricane cannot be questioned, but that whole "never allowed a sack" business will be dismissed early in his NFL career. Nonetheless, he will be rock solid protecting the blind side...perhaps of the pocket-presence devoid QB Rob Johnson in Buffalo.
5. Josh Reed*, WR, LSU--If you've seen just one of LSU's games this year, you know how good Reed is. It's amazing how tough this guy is to bring down after the catch, just ask Tennessee about that...and I don't think I've ever seen Reed drop a pass.
6. Willie Green*, RB, Boston College--Green was the nation's best RB this year, and his off-the-field problems make the decision to declare for the draft all the easier. More character issues here, but how can you pass up a pure runner like Green? Conceivably, Green could go top 3 to Carolina, who are in desperate need of a RB, but since the Panthers have an awful history of off-field drama, they may shy away from Green. If so, he will likely fall to the Cowboys or Jaguars, who may be looking for replacements, or even as far as the Falcons (don't be surprised if they axe Jamal Anderson for cap and durability reasons).
7. Wendell Bryant, DT, Wisconsin--Another one of those hard-to-find explosive and dominating DTs. The Cowboys or Chiefs would love to have Bryant on their thin D lines.
8. DeShaun Foster, RB, UCLA--Few players on this list don't have off-field problems, and Foster is the rule, not the exception. His boneheaded SUV lease cost him a chance at the Heisman. At least he'll be fresh when the combine comes around. Cleveland would love a RB like Foster if they think James Jackson isn't going to work.
9. Julius Peppers, DE, UNC--TSN Radio's Bob Kemp said something that made me think--you have no idea how rare that is--Peppers had a grand total of 3 tackles against Florida State and Georgia Tech this year. This is why he won't be as great as everyone makes him out to be, but he will indeed have a solid rookie campaign...albeit quite possibly more indirectly than directly.
10. Roy Williams*, S, Oklahoma--This guy has a nose for huge plays, no doubt about it. As a safety, he'll never go top 10, but he will definitely be a first round pick if he declares. Imagine that solid SF defense adding Williams to the core of incredibly young players...I support anything that would cause the Rams problems, this would unquestionably do that.
2nd ever "Shhhh" Selection: Adrian Peterson, Ga. Southern--How can a guy with Peterson's resume' possibly not succeed in the NFL? Countless 100-yard games and ironman-like durability. He also averaged somewhere in the neighborhood of 180 yards rushing a PLAYOFF game. (*Nudge* "Hey, Denny, what do you think about a change of pace back....")
Best All-Around Players
1. Kevin Garnett, F Minnesota-- you name it, and The Kid can (and does) do it
2. Tim Duncan, C/F San Antonio--put team on his back during 1998-1999 Championship run...has not been 100% since that time
3. Grant Hill, F Orlando--it's a shame he just can't get healthy...such a pure player, excels at shooting, rebounding, passing, dribbling, etc. etc.
4. Jason Kidd, G Phoenix--just as the three ranked above him, Kidd is a triple-double threat every single night
5. Chris Webber, F Sacramento--his game has improved every single year...will be the biggest free agent of next off-season
6. Rasheed Wallace, F Portland--if he could get his head straight, this ranking would not be controversial, and he'd get alot more respect for his game and less for his mouth
7. Allen Iverson, G Philadelphia--has finally taken the team-approach and expanded his game as a result...but he still has the occassional 8-25 FG game
8. Shareef Abdur-Rahim, F Vancouver--gets absolutely no media love despite all-world talent
9. Gary Payton, G Seattle--the Glove is the only thing keeping Seattle competitive these days
10. Shaquille O'Neal, C LA Lakers--free throw shooting the reason why he's down here and not up next to Garnett and Duncan...he's a late-game liability more than an asset
Offensive Playmakers
1. Jaromir Jagr W, Pittsburgh--the best in the world, without question
2. Peter Forsberg C, Colorado--best all-around player in the league, doesn't get a chance to show his scoring prowess as much as he would in a more openly offensive system
3. Mike Modano C, Dallas--unmatched speed, and like Forsberg would put up ungodly numbers if playing in a offensive-minded system rather than Hitchcock's grinding style
4. Pavel Bure W, Florida--the best pure goal scorer in the world, is such an electric presence on the ice
5. Paul Kariya W, Anaheim--does not get enough media attention because of his location
6. Zigmund Palffy W, Los Angeles--the Islanders lost a franchise player when they traded the current NHL scoring leader
7. Theoren Fleury W, NY Rangers--a rebirth after ridiculously lackluster effort last season, 5 shorthanded goals says enough in itself
8. Vincent Lecavalier C, Tampa Bay--the best player no one knows about
9. Pierre Turgeon C, St.Louis--still doing it in StL
10. Joe Sakic C, Colorado--a point machine in the regular season, needs to rebound from two terrible postseasons in a row
Most Valuable Players (in relation to their team)
1. Dominik Hasek G, Buffalo--the world's best goalie over the last several years has barely adequate defensive support, without him, Sabres would have no playoff aspirations
2. Curtis Joseph G, Toronto--without CuJo, the Leafs would be desperate to contend for playoff berth...with him, they are Eastern Conference threats
3. Tommy Salo G, Edmonton--best unknown goalie in the league (nosing out San Jose G Nabakov), the Oilers are building a potential Stanley Cup threat in a couple of years
4. Olaf Kolzig G, Washington--Olie the Goalie picks this team up for one incredible hot streak during the year every season...three years ago it took them to the Stanley Cup Finals
5. Ed Belfour G, Dallas--the NHL's best now and over the last 2 years has a solid defense in front of him, but they have underachieved and in turn forced Eddie the Eagle to prove his worth...and oh, man has he...robbed of 1999 Conn Smythe by teammate Joe Nieuwendyk
6. Pavel Bure W, Florida--just about all the Panthers have in terms of top-tier NHL talent, and this year that has been exposed
7. Scott Stevens D, New Jersey--does absolutely everything that does not show up on the scoresheet
8. Jaromir Jagr W, Pittsburgh--Penguins are loaded with offensive talent, but the loss of the world's best player would be crippling to any team
9. Mark Messier C, NY Rangers--like Stevens, does the unseen things...epitome of a leader
10. Chris Pronger D, St. Louis--a Stevens & Messier-esque General in the making
2000 Rookie IMPACT Players
Players who have already significantly aided their team in 2000...
1. Jamal Lewis RB Baltimore -- Though he and backup Priest Holmes are almost equals, Ja has provided a spark and seems to have left his lackadaisical efforts in Knoxville now that he's been drafted
2. Darren Howard DE New Orleans -- The missing link to a great defensive line was drafted in the second round (Denny...Howard would have been a better choice than Hovan)
3. Brian Ulracher LB Chicago -- All the makings to be better than Zach Thomas
4. Shaun Ellis DE New York Jets -- I guess UT can't pay enough to get these guys to stay
5. Mike Anderson RB Denver -- Honestly, Denver's offensive line deserves the most credit for Anderson's "emergence"
6. Corey Simon DT Philadelphia -- Silently having a huge year
7. Chris Samuels LT Washington -- Not yet as great as he will become
8. Na'il Diggs LB Green Bay -- Wolfe got a gem here, in time he will flourish
9. Travis Prentice RB Cleveland -- If not for Prentice, the Couch-less Browns would be hard pressed to ever score a touchdown
10. MarTay Jenkins KR Arizona -- the #1 kick returner in the NFL, 4.2 speed
Draft 2001 IMPACT Prospects
** These are the players who will make the most immediate impact for their teams, not necessarily the best players over the long-haul...
1. David Terrell* WR Michigan -- If he declares, he will have the second biggest WR rookie year ever (dependent on QB throwing to him of course)
2. Santana Moss WR Miami (FL) -- Absolute playmaker who can do anything and everything, if Terrell stays, Moss will have the rookie impact like his namesake in Minneapolis did instead
3. Andre Carter DE California -- Is as effective stopping the run as he is getting to the QB
4. Travis Henry RB Tennessee -- Absolute horse. Better than Jamal Lewis in college, but on the highest level it will be hard to top his ex-teammate's impact
5. Deuce McAllister RB Ole Miss -- Has it all except health...his career will depend on staying healthy
6. Shaun Rogers DT Texas -- Stud at the hardest postition to find talent at in the NFL
7. Dan Wilson LB Miami (FL) -- Should stay at LB though some teams have speculated that he could be converted to DE a la Kearse, plays eerily similar to Zach Thomas
8. Jamal Reynolds DE Florida St. -- Has Kearse-like potential to blow up early, but when teams watch tape, they'll block him...but it may be too late by then
9. LaDanian Tomlinson RB TCU -- The ultimate question mark...can he do it against talent light years ahead of that he has been facing?
10. Fred Smoot CB Mississippi St. -- Pure man-to-man cover ability with size and speed, which he will need all of at the next level
"Shhh.." Selection: Bobby Newcombe WR Nebraska -- Newcombe could go as early as the late first round, but if utilitzed correctly (unlike this year at Nebraska), Newcombe is better than a poor-man's Peter Warrick...stock will likely rise at combine.