pakowitz

One thing history tells us is it is very tough to make a huge impact as a rookie. It takes time for the professional game to slow down for nearly every player at just about every position. Still, there will be plenty of rookies who have an impact this season -- and it won't be just those on the good teams.

Rookies on bad teams can step in and provide immediate help, which gives a glimpse of just how much better those players could be with the right people around them. Remember, that is not just based on their stats; it is also about making the players around them better.

So here are 10 rookies who will make the biggest impact in the 2008 season. Even though we do not have any on our list from the draft's later rounds, some impact rookies will also emerge from that group. Note the top two on this list weren't the top two picks in the draft, but I believe they will be the offensive and defensive rookies of the year for the 2008 season.



1. Oakland RB Darren McFadden
It would be hard to go with anyone other then McFadden as the player who will have the biggest impact for his team. Even though he was not the first pick in the draft, he was the best and most explosive player available. He'll be running behind a line that has proven it can open holes. Offensive line coach Tom Cable is one of the best in the business and helped the Raiders grind out the No. 6 rushing attack in the league last year. But McFadden's biggest asset will be the offensive pedigree of coach Lane Kiffin. McFadden is a bigger and better version of Reggie Bush, whom Kiffin coached at USC. McFadden will have an impact as not only a runner but as also a receiver, and expect first-year starter JaMarcus Russell to use him as his outlet receiver. Kiffin will use McFadden in many roles and move him all over the field to create mismatches.

2. New England ILB Jerod Mayo
Though some people felt this move was a reach based on Mayo's overall pre-draft ranking, he has the potential to be a steal. Over the long haul, Mayo will be a better pro player than Keith Rivers, who was selected ahead of him. Bill Belichick's defensive scheme can be tough for a rookie to learn, but Mayo is smart and should be able to handle it. The Patriots also like versatility on defense, and Mayo played OLB at Tennessee before moving into the middle. Look for him to be the weak ILB in the Pats' scheme. This allows him to be protected a little more and use his speed and athletic ability to play sideline to sideline. Mayo could also see some time at OLB in the Patriots' nickel package on passing downs. Mayo is going to be an every-down player who can run, chase and make plays in coverage. If the pattern holds true and no rookie hits the 100-tackle mark, you are looking at your defensive rookie of the year.

3. Detroit RB Kevin Smith
There might not be a lot of wins but there will be plenty of playing time for Smith, who should have the inside track on the starting RB job this season as current starter Tatum Bell is injury prone and does not fit the physical style of runner Rod Marinelli wants in his running game. Smith dropped in the draft due to his lack of big-time speed, but he makes up for that by having excellent feel as a runner. He is a patient runner who has solid vision to find the crease. The Lions offense will not be nearly as explosive with offensive coordinator Mike Martz gone, but they want to run the ball and shorten the game. They can do that with Smith, who is a workhorse who can move the chains on the ground or in the passing game. Smith has the potential to be an every-down back, and based on the lack of depth in Detroit, it would not be a stretch to see him get more carries this season than McFadden.

4. New Orleans DT Sedrick Ellis
Ellis has the best chance of any DT to make an impact in his rookie season. The biggest reason is because unlike the Chiefs, who drafted Glenn Dorsey, the Saints were desperate to find interior line help. Brian Young is a good, try-hard player, and Hollis Thomas is about done, so Ellis can take his game into the starting lineup immediately and be the best DT on the Saints' roster. Though Dorsey will likely fare better statistically, Ellis' presence is going to improve this team at all three levels. His ability to gobble up blocks will protect LB Jonathan Vilma. His ability to push the pocket will allow DEs Charles Grant and Will Smith to see more one-on-one opportunities and get more pressure on the QB. More pressure on the QB is going to result in more opportunities for a pass defense that was among the worst in the NFL last year. Don't look at the numbers to find his value; look at the improvement he will have on the entire defense.

5. Kansas City DT Glenn Dorsey
This is a pretty solid spot for the best defensive player in the draft. Despite our having him third among defensive players on this list, he is going to have a solid impact. The bottom line, though, is the Chiefs needed a DE more then they needed a DT. But expect Dorsey to start for the Chiefs as the 3-technique in the their Cover 2 defense. He will basically play the Warren Sapp spot in the original Tampa 2. One of the things that hurts Dorsey is the Chiefs are still thin at DE with only Tamba Hali after the trade of Jared Allen. This means even as a rookie he might see some double-teams if he plays well early. Statistically he is going to put up good numbers, but I'm not sure it will translate to many wins for one of the worst teams in the NFL.

6. Chicago RB Matt Forte
To make an impact, you need an opportunity, and if the Bears' coaching staff is open-minded and allows a fair and open competition, Forte should win the running back job. Cedric Benson has been a bust his first two seasons and now is in the middle of a miserable offseason. While Forte is not real flashy with the ball in his hands and does not play to his measurables, he is a steady and effective runner. The one area that could move Forte ahead of Benson is that he will run downhill and attack the line of scrimmage. Forte is a good runner and would not rate this high if his team had a back. He was not one of the top 60 prospects coming out of college, but he could produce on a team that wants to run the ball.

7. St. Louis DE Chris Long
Chris Long is going to be a steady player because he has a great motor and gives great effort, but I do have concerns that he is not going to be as effective turning the corner at this level. He also might have trouble at times holding up in the run game because he does not have great size. Still, Long might be able to register eight or more sacks and give the Rams' aging line a spark because of the motor and effort.

8. Miami OT Jake Long
It will be difficult to gauge the impact of Long quickly. Miami still has issues on the offensive line despite the addition of Long. There are questions at running back with Ronnie Brown coming off an ACL injury last year and the uncertainty of Ricky Williams. Also, no one knows who will end up playing QB, which is never a good sign. We saw the impact OT Joe Thomas had in Cleveland, but he was on a better football team. Long is a great worker who plays hard on every snap. That should rub off on other players and make them better. Look for Long to be the starting LOT and the Dolphins to try to establish the run offense behind the first overall pick in the 2008 draft.

9. Cincinnati ILB Keith Rivers
Considering Rivers might be the starting MLB after the team released troubled former MLB Odell Thurman, his numbers will be solid. The problem is that like Patrick Willis in San Francisco did last year, a lot of these tackles are going to be coming five or more yards downfield. The Bengals are just not good enough up front to protect him. Rivers is a solid take-on player who will be able to shed some blocks at the line of scrimmage and stuff the back in the hole. However, Cincinnati must find ways to protect him when he needs to move laterally. He is good playing sideline to sideline, but does not have the elite speed to be able to play over and around blockers and still make plays outside the numbers.

10. Buffalo WR James Hardy
Hardy has a chance to be a real sleeper this season. Though no receiver went in the first round, one of those drafted early is going to step up and deliver. Malcolm Kelly and Limas Sweed were the top-rated receivers and Devin Thomas came in at third, but he and Kelly are on the same team, so only one will see significant time with Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle El as the starters. Hardy has a chance to be a starter opposite of Lee Evans. He is a big target, which should take some pressure off the speedy Evans on the other side. Plus, Hardy has excellent height and size, which will make him potentially the best rookie receiver in the red zone.

Jeremy Green, director of pro scouting for Scouts Inc., has been an NFL scout for more than 10 years.




ESPN - Some called Mayo a reach, but he could be a rookie of the year - NFL

I Live In Beastmode!

saintsfan1976

Agreed.

D_it_up

That is pretty much exactly what many of us have been saying all along.

QBREES9

Sedrick Eliis the right man for the job.