Unheralded but Undeterred: Five Rookies Who Could Surprise in ‘09

June 27, 2009

Tom Brady. Terrell Davis. Deacon Jones. Mel Blount.

This short list of players may seem simply a random collection of past and present football greats, but in fact it’s a small selection of late-round NFL picks who have carved out stellar pro careers. The NFL draft, no matter how much it is analyzed, is an inexact science, and every year it seems like a late-round player makes a big splash at the pro level.

In recent years we’ve seen Marques Colston (7th round), Brandon Marshall (4th round) and Ahmad Bradshaw (7th round) make big impacts for their teams, so who will be the next late-round sensation in the NFL? We at PaP have chosen five possible breakout candidates for the 2009 season, and are only taking one candidate per position. Regular readers will know that we are huge supporters of the forgotten men of the NFL, and would rather root for the small-school hopeful than the megabucks wonderkid, so it is in this tradition that we look at these late-round afterthoughts.

Draft analysts once described Drew Brees as “lacking accuracy” and accused him of being a spread-option miracle, so it’s fair to say that they’ve been wrong before. We hope not to be.

Ramses Barden, WR, Cal-Poly: 3rd Round to the New York Giants

Since the Giants released Plaxico Burress after he infamously shot himself in the leg (seriously, I’m still getting over how ridiculous that debacle is), the Giants have had a big hole at the wide receiver position, physically and metaphorically.

To try and fill some egregiously large shoes (or at least part of them), New York’s blue half drafted the 6′6 Barden, a huge physical presence who figures to compete with positional compatriot Hakeem Nicks (1st round, UNC) to try and replace the massive Burress (when he’s not putting the peepol all on fayahhhhh).

Although Nicks has the first-round pedigree, Barden shouldn’t be ignored. He caught 18 TDs in both his junior and senior years in San Luis Obispo (not quite as catchy as Ann Arbor or Columbus, I know) and his final game was a two-touchdown, 108-yard game against Weber State, so the man has some skills. And it’s going to take more than one large man to replicate Plaxico’s production, so we’ve got high hopes for the young man from California Polytechnic.

Honorable mentions: Patrick Turner, USC (4th round to Miami), Mike Wallace, Arizona (3rd round to Pittsburgh) and Johnny Knox, Abilene Christian (5th round to Chicago).

Nic Harris, S/LB, Oklahoma: 5th Round to the Buffalo Bills

Oklahoma is famous football college, but despite coming straight outta Sooner country, Nic Harris doesn’t have the hype surrounding him that many of his fellow alumni have had in the past (though that Adrian Peterson guy turned out pretty good anyway).

Harris, seen here in a delightfully choreographed training camp photo, played safety in college and is moving to linebacker at the pro level, so he is at a disadvantage straightaway.

But don’t be fooled, Harris can play. He was known for his ferocious hitting in college and he looked pretty comfortable playing at linebacker in the Senior Bowl practices, showing a tremendous work ethic and desire to improve. Plus, at 6′2 and almost 240lbs, he can really grow into his frame and maybe become a starting ‘backer in this league.

Honorable mentions: Jasper Brinkley, South Carolina (5th round to Minnesota), Marcus Freeman, Ohio State (5th round to Chicago) and Jason Phillips, TCU (5th round to Baltimore).

Herman Johnson, G, LSU: 5th Round to the Arizona Cardinals

Herman ‘The House’ Johnson is a seriously big dude. At 15lbs, 14oz., he was the biggest baby ever born in the state of Louisiana, and his size continues to be extraordinary even today – at 6′7 and 382lbs, he’s one of the heftiest men in pro sports.

However, The House’s talent has not always equaled his size. In his four-year college career he started 38 games but was always seen as unskilled technically, relying more on bulk than brains.

Big Herm may not be the most polished prospect, but he anchored an offensive line that led the Tigers to a national title and his freakish size makes him a quality project to work on. With some good coaching (which former NFL guard and current Arizona offensive line coach Russ Grimm is sure to provide), Johnson could easily become an elite interior lineman, and clear the way for fellow Cardinals draftee Chris Wells (RB, 1st round, Ohio State) for years to come.

Honorable mentions: Kraig Urbik, Wisconsin (3rd round to Pittsburgh), Duke Robinson, Oklahoma (5th round to Carolina) and George Bussey, Louisville (5th round to New England).

A.Q. Shipley, C, Penn State: 7th Round to the Pittsburgh Steelers

A.Q. Shipley won the Rimington Trophy as the country’s best collegiate center in 2008. He was also the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year. He was also an All-American selection. At a glance, it would seem that he would be the first center taken and a hot prospect. But that wasn’t the case in the 2009 draft.

In fact, no-one seemed to want to touch the gifted blocker, as his small stature – he stands just six feet – caused him to tumble down the draft board. He was the last player at his position drafted.

However, more than a few people (myself included) cheered when the Steelers took a chance on him in round 7. Players do not have excellent college careers by accident. Shipley beat out two first-rounders (Louisville’s Eric Wood and California’s Alex Mack) to the Rimington Trophy and is a tenacious blocker inside. He’ll maul anyone who gets near him, and all he ever did at Penn State was block anybody in his eyeline.

So let’s all stand up and give a big hand for the little guy!

Honorable mentions: Antoine Caldwell, Alabama (3rd round to Houston), Jonathan Luigs, Arkansas (4th round to Cincinnati) and Blake Schleuter, TCU (7th round to Denver).

Rashad Jennings, RB, Liberty: 7th Round to the Jacksonville Jaguars

Rashad Jennings is the ultimate late-round selection: small school, huge production, great work ethic.

The running back played eight games at Pittsburgh in his freshman year but transferred to Liberty College (go Flames!) in Virginia for his final three years to see more of the field. That could turn out to be a very smart move indeed.

While at Liberty, Jennings led the Flames to back-to-back Big South Conference titles and ripped the conference to shreds, scoring a whopping 36 total TDs his final two seasons and amassing 4,051 rushing yards in three years. Needless to say, Jennings has got game.

Ranked by ESPN as their 7th best running back in the draft, Jennings was overlooked by many NFL franchises due to his program’s obscurity, but the Jags may have gotten a huge steal at pick no.250.

Late-round RBs seem the most prone to breakout years (see Washington, Leon amongst others) and Jennings could continue that trend. He may have been an afterthought for many front offices, but he’s not been forgotten by this list.

Honorable mentions: Javon Ringer, Michigan State (5th round to Tennessee), Bernard Scott, Abilene Christian (6th round to Cincinnati) and Chris Ogbonnaya, Texas (7th round to St. Louis).

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The O.W.E.N.S. syndrome: What’s the problem with NFL Wide Receivers?

June 16, 2009
Burress: Not that fussed about gun safety.

Burress: Not that fussed about gun safety.

For years, it seems that the highest-maintenance and most difficult-to-please players in the NFL have been wide receivers, and with recent developments in the Plaxico Burress, Donte’ Stallworth and Brandon Marshall stories, it doesn’t seem like a trend that is fading away any time soon. Receivers seem to always be making headlines, whether it’s T.E.O. (the E is for Eldorado) conjuring up yet another media firestorm or the seemingly endless parade of pass-catchers who yearly want to be traded.

Wideouts tend to suffer from inflated egos and distorted self-images (and in extreme cases, just being batshit crazy), along with the classic ‘I’m always open’ philosophy which means they need to get the ball. A lot.

I’m not heartlessly victimising a position in the NFL – your esteemed author used to play wide receiver in his playing days – but it seems that there are an endless number of ‘troubled’ wide receivers whose talent is often outweighed by their mouths or off-field problems.

In the ’90s the likes of Cris Carter and Michael Irvin were well-known as big trash-talkers and, although they are both HOF-quality players (seriously, Carter is a first-ballot player who’s been screwed thus far), their attitude is remembered just as often as their considerable achievements. Now, Outspoken Wideout Egotistical Nepotism Syndorme (appropriately acronymed to O.W.E.N.S.) is widespread and the NFL’s equivalent of a swine flu pandemic.

Marshall, Burress, Johnson/Ochocinco, Chris Henry et al are giving receivers a bad name – this is also a position with some consummate pros like Larry Fitzgerald and Reggie Wayne – but there seem to be more problematic wide receivers than any other position in the NFL. So why all the problems? We’ll look to diagnose the symptoms.

O.W.E.N.S. Symptom 1 – Realization/inflation of own talent

R Kelly hit The Worlds Greatest is the O.W.E.N.S. sufferers inspiration.

The O.W.E.N.S. sufferer's inspiration.


OK now this would seem like an obvious point for all NFL players, but wide receiver is a position in which to be exceptional you really have to be unbelievably talented. It seems that every year a late-round running back takes the league by storm or an unknown linebacker makes waves in the NFL, but at wide receiver, this doesn’t seem to be as common. For every Marques Colston we see come out of nowhere, there are 10 Mike Williamses who flame out when they’re expected to succeed.

It’s arguably the biggest boom-or-bust position in the league (except maybe 1st-round QBs), where a single mistake or dropped pass can cost your team the game. Thus when players like Owens, Boldin or Marshall ascend into the position’s upper echelon, they see themselves as above criticism and worthy of huge cash payouts – their self-image becomes distorted and this is the first step toward an O.W.E.N.S. meltdown.

O.W.E.N.S. Symptom 2 – Mo’ money mo’ money mo’ money

Take this down: Biggie. Was. Right.

Take this down: Biggie. Was. Right.

After the effects of the first symptom have taken hold, the patient begins to display an unstoppable level of greed. Anquan Boldin was irate about not being paid as well as Larry Fitzgerald and demanded a trade citing this problem. Fitzgerald (in a shocking buck of the O.W.E.N.S. trend) offered to restructure his own deal to get his teammate and friend more money. Whadda guy.

Some players, (case in point Chad Johnson) receive megabucks deals which in a few years are no longer at the top of the position, causing the player to try and welch on his deal after only a couple of years. Thus trade demands are issued (and normally totally ignored by the front office) and the player loses any popularity he still had with the fans.

O.W.E.N.S. Symptom 3 – GIVE ME THE BALL

This can often coincide with either of the first 2 symptoms, as the patient becomes so utterly full of themselves that they demand the ball from their QB, whether it’s feasible or not. The very very well-publicised spat between Romo and Owens (he really sets the bar, doesn’t he?) about Jason Witten getting more looks than T.O. is an obvious example.

Wide receivers always tend to believe that they’re open at all times, thus when they’re not targeted 10 or more times (if they’re a no.1 wideout) per game, they become disgruntled, to the point where sometimes they very publicly berate the QB/OC for ignoring their ‘obvious’ talents.

O.W.E.N.S. Symptom 4 – Universally hated

After all the previous symptoms have been seen, the final (and often fatal) one comes into play – the hatred of not just rival fanbases, but the entire league. Johnson and Owens are now almost completely despised by all franchises and fans. They’ve painted themselves as money-grabbing egotists who just want the ball regardless of win tallies or team chemistry. When this final symptom is diagnosed, it’s time to let the receiver go and put him in your team’s past – he’s now likely to go out and party, causing off-field problems and, in some cases, self-shooting.

Just as there are a number of receivers who are suffering deeply from the symptoms of O.W.E.N.S., there are some guys – Fitzgerald, A.Johnson, C.Johnson, Marvin Harrison – who just keep their heads down and act like professionals. And to them we offer as much money and as many passes as we damn well please.

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Restoring the roar: how the Lions can battle back

June 8, 2009

The Detroit Lions sure have some committed fans. They sat through one measly playoff win in half a century. They sat through decades of horror and countless rebuilds. They sat through the worst season in NFL history. They sat through the godawful Matt Millen era. They sat through watching multiple first-round draft picks suck their way out of the NFL. Sure, they also sat through 10 amazing years of Barry Sanders, but it would seem the Lions’ fans are due some good news. And with the complete renovation of the front office (and a minimally altered logo), perhaps they can take a small step on the road to redemption in ‘09.

So how can the Lions possibly hope to rebound from 50 years of bad luck and worse play? Here’s the 3-step plan the Lions should follow to restore the roar and finally give Ford Field something to cheer for.

Culpepper: Will throw for food.

Culpepper: Will throw for food.

Step 1: Trust your veterans

This is something the Lions have not done for the best part of 2 decades. Instead of grounding the roster in experience, they turn the keys over to the first rookie they see and set the franchise back 10 years. Andre Ware and Joey Harrington are just two of a number of high-profile busts in Motor City (see also: Williams, Mike and Rogers, Charles) in recent times, and the drafting of Matthew Stafford might indicate they’re going to once again trust the inexperienced hand rather than the savvy one of NFL vet Daunte Culpepper.

The percentage of QBs in the NFL who started from day one and made it work is minscule, so new coach Jim Schwartz should learn from others: the likes of Romo, Rivers, Palmer and Brady all sat for a while before starting and have developed into stars, whereas the likes of Leaf, Couch, David Carr et al have started day one and flamed out spectacularly. Detroit cannot afford to start Stafford only for him to get snapped in half in year one and lose all confidence.

However, it would seem that Schwartz (and new GM Martin Mayhew) are not being rash in their personnel decisions, but adhering to this concept by adding veteran defenders like Julian Peterson and Larry Foote instead of trying to draft their way out of trouble. Rebuilding is (more often than not) a marathon, not a sprint, and the Lions seem to only now be acknowledging this.

Step 2: Establish continuity

Megatron Johnson: enemy of short cornerbacks. And Optimus Prime.

'Megatron' Johnson: enemy of short cornerbacks. And Optimus Prime.

The Lions are now on their sixth head coach in the last decade, and every position seems to have been permanently fitted with a revolving door. A young nucleus has begun to emerge – Kevin Smith, Stafford, Calvin ‘Megatron’ Johnson and Ernie Sims – and Detroit needs to build around this talented group if they are to succeed. Although I don’t think they should start Stafford this year, trying to establish an off-field chemistry between him, Johnson and Smith would seem prudent in the hope that they can become the hugely talented triple threat they have the potential to be.

The franchise must give its new staff time to acclimatise to new surroundings because even if it takes 2 years before the team is challenging in the division, surely it’s worth the wait? The Lions gave Matt Millen a five year contract extension (not a typo, a five year deal) after not winning on the road for an NFL-record 3 seasons in a row. If he can swing that, then Jim Schwartz should be able to buy himself a few years on the job before his seat heats up.

Step 3: Don’t be reactionary

The average NFL fan (no offense to all of you out there, I’m one too) is the most knee-jerk critic in the known universe. Every time our QB throws a pick, we want him benched, and every tackle our linebackers miss is like a dagger to our souls. Teams who listen to fan hoop-la often end up benching players just because they had a bad game, and don’t see the bigger picture.

Take Philadelphia as an example: Eagles fans bayed for Donovan McNabb’s blood to the point that he was benched during a game (allowing Kevin Kolb to throw Ed Reed a record-setting 108-yard interception TD return), but Andy Reid stuck with to his quarterback and put McNabb back under centre the following week. The result? A 48-20 crushing of the Cardinals and an eventual NFC championship berth. Reid saw what happened without his offensive catalyst, and was able to revert back to the formula that works before too much damage was done. Instead of benching starters because of a bad play or two, stick with them, and see how much player trust can gain you in the win column.

NFL fans may be a hugely important part of the game, but the minute a GM or coach starts letting fan hype get in his head, he needs to pack his bags. The Ford Family, Jim Schwartz, Martin Mayhew and the whole Lions franchise needs to keep a cool head or risk having (yet) another decade of disappointment. The key to success is patience, and if the Lions want to succeed, they should follow this virtue.

Oh, and don’t let Matt Millen come within 400 miles of Ford Field.

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Posted by distantblues