I make no guarantees, save to say this will be a wholly over reactive and subjective look at the top rookie performances this week. I was going to include a ‘most disappointing rookie’ section, but I think it’s safe to say Brandon Weeden has enough on his plate right now.
1. Robert Griffin III – Quarterback – Washington Redskins – Round 1, Pick 2
19/26 – 320 yards passing 2 touchdowns, 10 – 42 yards rushing
The Heisman trophy winner will play against better defenses, more potent rushes – he was sacked just once. The most impressive thing about Griffin on Sunday was not his gaudy passing yardage – only three quarterbacks have thrown for more in their NFL debut – or his weekend leading 139.9 passer rating. It was his poise. He looked like he was running his college offense, one of the biggest staples of which was the broad smile on his face. He enjoyed his first NFL touchdown pass relaxing on the seat of his pants, looking like nothing in the world could bother him, including the big shot he had just taken from Malcolm Jenkins. With forty seconds left in the second quarter, with the Redskins up 20-7, Martez Wilson blocked a punt which skipped into the hands of Courtney Roby who waltzed into the endzone. The Superdome exploded, putting me in mind, and I couldn’t have been alone in this, of Steve Gleason’s punt block (www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIGgBhNtOP4) on the Saints’ return to New Orleans post Katrina. Then it was a fanbase released and united after unspeakable tragedy. On Sunday, it was a moment of defiance and togetherness after Bountygate. I honestly thought the Saints would come out in the second half and roll. Griffin’s response after receiving the second half kickoff: 3 of 3 for 47 yards, plus a 32 yard pass interference penalty, on a drive which resulted in a one yard touchdown run and a 27-14 Redskins lead. The Saints never got that close again.
Signature Moment
With 10:44 left in the 3rd quarter, Griffin handed off to the right to Alfred Morris, who cut the run all the way back to the left and burst down the sideline. Suddenly, he had a blocker in front and it was Griffin, putting everything on the line for his team. Was it smart? No, but considering what Washington gave up to get him, the fearlessness, commitment and tenacity must have been exciting for Skins fans to see.
2. Stephen Hill – Wide Receiver – New York Jets – Round 2, Pick 43
5 – 89 receiving, 2 touchdowns
Lets look at the offseason for Stephen Hill. Declares as a junior despite only having 49 career catches at Georgia Tech, with questions abound regarding his craft as a wide receiver. Goes to the NFL combine, where he earns the the annual label of ‘combine freak’, as if that title in itself is some kind of indictment. Then after being drafted in the second round by the Jets organisation his own coach comes out and says he didn’t want him on his team. Add that to the ongoing, will she/won’t she, ‘Tebow should be a tight end’, ‘Mark Sanchez is terrible’, backfield debate, it hasn’t been the most auspicious start to an NFL career in living memory. Hill put all of that behind him Sunday, along with Bills rookie cornerback Stephon Gilmore, who, despite possessing more than adequate size himself for a defensive back, clearly struggled with Hill’s physicality. Rangy and long striding, Hill demonstrated a nice ability to snatch the ball with his hands and should become yet more of a threat as he develops his skills as an NFL route runner – he did little outside of go, slant, curl and drag patterns in this game. The biggest feather in his cap Sunday could be that he was looked for by Mark Sanchez three times on 3rd down. He caught each one and converted all three for first downs. I’m not saying he’s the new Wayne Cherbet (would that be a compliment?) but for a player who was thought by a lot of people as a deep threat, at least at this early point in his career, it was a very positive sign for the Jets.
Signature Moment
On the Bills 17 yard line, facing a 3rd and 6, Sanchez found Hill underneath against man coverage at the 12. Catching in stride, he shrugged off the attentions of Leodis McKelvin and nipped the ball inside the pylon for his second touchdown of the game. The play demonstrated impressive ability to gain yards after the catch, the strength to break away from defenders and nice situational awareness to keep his balance and extend the ball across the goaline – a collection of skills that some, including perhaps his own head coach, might not have believed he possessed.
3. Doug Martin – Running Back – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Round 1, Pick 31
24 – 95 rushing, 4 -23 receiving
It’s well documented how wrong the NFL’s experts can be when it comes to assessing draft prospects, and I get it. It’s a long offseason and you have to say something about somebody. The college game has different rules, requires a different skill set, and it’s easy to become enamoured with a player running, jumping and playing against inconsistent competition. I mean, I remember watching the NFL combine and becoming more and more convinced that Dorin Dickerson – zero career catches – was ready to revolutionise the NFL. However, the general assessment of Doug Martin as a ‘bellcow’ seems like it might be one that keeps a few faces in work, because he looked every bit the durable pacemaker of the Bucs offense. He ran hard all game, and still seemed to have something left late on – his last carry, a 15 yard scamper in the waning minutes, was his longest of the contest. With his diminutive stature, Martin put me in mind of Warrick Dunn, a player who found success late in his career as a grinder, move the chains type, having been a big play threat early on. Tampa Bay will hope that Martin can develop some of that home run ability, if only to prove the experts are never 100% right.
Signature Moment
Martin, and the Buccaneers coaching staff, set the tone early in the 1st quarter with a sequence of a 1 yard run, an 11 yard catch, a 6 yard run and a 2 yard catch. After taking the next play off, Martin returned with an 11 yard run down to the Carolina 6 yard line. The next play was Tampa Bay’s first touchdown of the season.
4. Alfred Morris – Running Back – Washington Redskins – Round 6, Pick 173
28 – 96 yards rushing, 2 touchdowns
I honestly can’t think of a better place for an unheralded, late round rookie running back to land than in the care of Mike Shanahan. So many guys, who were probably just that, had moments in the sun under Shanahan’s watchful, one cut, eye. We all know Terrell Davis but remember Mike Anderson? The party starter, Reuben Droughns? Madden Cover Peyton Hillis? Olandis Gary? Luggage thief Tatum Bell? What about the one that got away, Quentin Griffin? This list is long and for the most part, with the brief exception of Peyton Hillis, undistinguished when the next man came along. All of which is both a chronicled boost and a warning from history for Morris, who came to the Redskins from FAU via the 6th round of the draft. For the Redskins head coach is not about your name, it’s about your production and whether or not your put the ball on the ground. Morris had both boxes ticked on Sunday, running with a power and verve which belied his 5-10, 218 pound frame. Washington’s coaching staff showed they were prepared to back his efforts, handing him 28 carries, the most among all players in the NFL in week one. The worry for Morris will be Roy Helu’s constant presence on 3rd down, suggesting the faith shown in his carrying ability does not extend to his skills in the passing game, but Shanahan will, as ever, ride the hot hand and Morris’ are the hottest at this point.
Signature Moment
With 3:23 left in the game, taking a hand off at the 3 yard line, Morris was stoned, cold in the hole by linebacker David Hawthorne. Giving away two inches and twenty-five pounds to the veteran, who signed for the Saints as a free agent from Seattle in the offseason, Morris kept his legs churning, and power slammed his way into the endzone for his second touchdown, icing the shock result from week one.
5. Blair Walsh – Kicker – Minnesota Vikings – Round 6, Pick 175
4 – 4 Field goals, Long 55
A kicker. Alshon Jeffery is steaming right now, and from what I’ve seen, he does have a temper on him (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXBsz1bBfF0). Nevertheless, rookie kickers have it tougher than most amongst first year NFLers. Even those who, like Walsh, are lucky enough to get drafted, must come in and perform at the level of veterans or their careers could be shorter than an extra point. A replacement committee is just a few phone calls away. The NFL does not seem to have enough good quarterbacks for all 32 teams. There seems to be far too many kickers, who could take a job in a heartbeat. To accommodate Walsh, the Vikings cut Ryan Longwell, whose career kicking conversion rate comfortably eclipsed Walsh’s success percentage in his playing time at Georgia, ramping up the pressure for the young man. It would be like the Colts drafting Andrew Luck and cutting Peyton Manning. Thankfully for the Vikings, and to the probable dismay of men across the country, quietly strengthening their quads and waiting for the phone to ring, they needn’t have worried about Walsh, who sat calmly on the bench for most of the first three quarters, only rousing himself to kick two out of three touchback kickoffs and convert two extra points. Walsh never blinked at the prospect of kicking three fourth quarter field goals, of 20, 42 and 55 yards, and standing tall to boot the Vikings to victory from 38 yards in overtime. The only thing that might have bothered him was having to wait another minute to be confirmed as having won his first game as a pro for his team, courtesy of the new NFL overtime rules, but if it did, I expect he probably got over it quickly. Kickers have to have short memories.
Signature Moment
Minnesota’s coaching staff didn’t hesitate at giving their rookie kicker the opportunity to attempt the a 55 yarder, only one yard short of his career long, with no time left in the game. Walsh stepped up and drilled it, like an archer hitting gold, to tie the game at 23 a piece. Some players wait a whole career to have the chance to put their team on their back. Some players never get it. To a kicker, it’s just another Sunday. Next.
Bonus Looks
I’ve already mentioned Alshon Jeffery, whose 3 catch, 80 yards and a touchdown performance might be the first argument in his case against those who overlooked him. Blair Walsh’s late game heroics might not have been possible if Matt Kalil hadn’t added blocking extra points to his offensive line prowess – Adrian Peterson 4.9 yards a carry and just one sack of Christian Ponder in the pocket. And as I’ve mentioned one specialist it would be churlish of me not to champion the efforts of St Louis’ all rookie kicking staff. Greg Zuerlein kicked two extra points and was 3 from 3 on field goals, with a long of 48. Meanwhile, Johnny Hekker had 5 punts averaging 49 yards, booting a 57 yarder in the fourth quarter. Exciting stuff, no? It’s a long time though before I will have a punter in the main list. I mean he would literally have to break one of Dallas’ videoscreens.
Monday Morning Sports 