1.
San Francisco: Alex Smith - QB
Smith has looked atrocious so far, he was beat out
easily by Tim Ratay and unable to earn a starting
spot until week 4. Smith has completed 23 of 50
passes for 200 yards, he has 5 INTs with zero TDs
and has completed only 46% of his passes. Surrounded
by very little talent he has not been set up for
success yet. He has that infamous deer in the
headlights look.
2.
Miami: Ronnie Brown - RB
After a slow start due to a contract dispute,
he held
out of training camp and struggled running the ball
in the first two weeks of the season as he rushed
for only 93 yards on 34 carries (2.7 avg.) and no
touchdowns. However, he got on track in Week 3 as he
rushed for 132 yards on 23 carries (5.7 avg.) and
his first career touchdown. He really validated his
lofty draft pick in week 7 against the Chiefs,
busting open the game with a scintillating 65 yards
TD run on national TV. He finished the game with an
impressive 11.7 yards per carry average.
3.
Cleveland: Braylon Edwards - WR
He
held out 17 days in a contract dispute to open
training camp, but then had a break out game against
Green Bay in week 2 where he had 3 catches for 107
yards with an 80 yard TD catch. He then missed games
5 and 6 with an infection in his right elbow. He is
healthy now and I expect him to have an excellent 2nd
half to the season. That is if the Browns can have
some good QB play.
4.
Chicago: Cedric Benson - RB
After an ugly 36 day hold-out Benson has never been
able to crack the starting lineup. It’s much too
early to call anyone in this draft a bust yet, but
Benson is trying very hard. Benson has been benched
by a rejuvenated Thomas Jones. Benson signed a 5
year 35 million-dollar contract and has 29 carries
for 73 yards, a 2.5 yards per carry average and zero
TDs.
5.
Tampa Bay: Carnell Williams - RB
The Cadillac was on his way to setting rookie
records before his injury in week 4 against Detroit.
He rushed for over 127 yards in each of his first 3
games, which is the most rushing yards in the first
3 games for a rookie in the history on the NFL!
Williams sat out the fourth quarter of the Detroit
game after he “felt something tweak” in his left
hamstring earlier in the second half. He also has
lingering discomfort in his left foot, which the
running back sprained on Sept. 18. He has missed 2
straight games but is expected back after the bye
week against San Francisco.
6.
Tennessee: Adam Jones - CB
What an enigma, he will go down in history for being
a part of the longest contract holdout since the
Titans relocated to the state of Tennessee. Jones
missed the first 20 days of training camp. He was
also arrested July 13 and had two misdemeanor
assault charges and a count of felony vandalism
postponed until Dec. 8. On the field he hasn’t been
very effective; he has played to soft and has 23
tackles and zero interceptions. He has repeatedly
hurt the overall defense with his freelancing and
his idiotic personal foul and taunting penalties.
7.
Minnesota: Troy Williamson - WR
The Vikings have worked Williamson in very slowly,
but with Nate Burlson out with a knee injury he will
now be the third wide-out along with Travis Taylor
and Marcus Robinson. So far he has been a
disappointment with only 14 catches for 214 yards
and 2 TDs, but I expect him to have a much better
second half to the season. He might be a guy to pick
up and put on your fantasy team.
8.
Arizona: Antrel Rolle - CB
Unfortunately Rolle suffered ligament damage
sufficient enough to sideline him for the remainder
of the season. The severity of the knee problem came
as not only a surprise to Arizona officials, but
also a blow to the Cardinals' defense. Rolle was
also said to have been shocked by the more serious
knee condition. Rolle was named a starter even
before training camp opened. The former University
of Miami standout started the first three games of
the season until the injury against the Seahawks
sent him to the sideline. Rolle, 22, had 18 tackles
in the three games that he started at left
cornerback. I still think he will eventually be
moved to safety.
9.
Washington: Carlos Rogers - CB
Rogers
really struggled in the pres-season and was beaten
deep on more than one occasion; he had a
first-degree sprain and a bone bruise in his ankle
on 30 June which didn’t help. He didn’t even play
until week 4 and so far has not been impressive. He
played in games 4, 5 and 6 and was benched in game
7. He hasn’t been able to beat out Walt Harris or
Shawn Springs yet.
10. Detroit: Mike Williams - WR
He
hasn’t set the world on fire yet, but with Charles
Rogers’s drug suspension and Roy Williams under
achieving and missing the last 2 games with a leg
injury I look for big Mike to take off in the 2nd
half of the season. Mike had his best game in week 7
with 5 catches for 95 yards. For the season he has
12 catches for 154 yards and 1 TD.
11. Dallas: Demarcus Ware - DE
Ware looks like the real deal. We always knew he
could rush the passer but he looks fluid and smooth
in coverage and has taken nicely to conversion to an
OLB. He already has 4 sacks for the year, he didn’t
get one last week against Seattle’s Walter Jones,
but before that he had one in 4 straight games.
12. San Diego: Shawne Merriman - OLB
Another training camp hold-out that started very
slow. Merriman is starting to come on though; he has
had sacks in 2 of his last 3 games
13. New Orleans: Jammal Brown - OT
Brown has been outstanding; he might be the unsung
steal of the draft so far. The Saints have been
impressed with his work ethic and commitment.
Without any help he held Julius Peppers without a
sack.
14. Carolina: Thomas Davis - S
Not good, the Panthers have tried to convert this
tweener to linebacker without much success. Davis
has only 14 tackles and 1 sack for the season.
15. Kansas City: Derrick Johnson - OLB
Johnson has been outstanding so far this year. His
speed, durability and athleticism have earned him
the respect of the players and coaches. He still
needs to learn how to use his hands better, but he
is getting better every game. He already has 45
tackles, 1 sack and 2 forced fumbles.
16. Houston: Travis Johnson - DT
I
think he is playing out of position at End. He is
much better on the inside; he has been mediocre at
best with only 12 tackles and zero sacks.
17. Cincinnati: David Pollack - DE
The Bengal’s are using Pollack at linebacker. I have
always thought Pollack is much better with his hand
down rushing the passer as a defensive end. He has
been consistent, but largely ineffective this year
with only 13 tackles and 1 sack to date. However he
was another player that retarded his development
with a hold-out in training camp. Pollack was part
of a 19-day camp holdout, during which he missed 24
practice sessions.
18. Minnesota: Erasmus James - DE
What a huge disappointment, the injury prone James
has been an early bust. He is buried on the depth
chart. James has played in only one game this year
and has one tackle. You do the math.
19. St. Louis: Alex Barron - OT
Barron has been a bright spot for the Rams. Inactive
for the first two games as he learned the nuances of
switching from the left to the right side of the
offensive line, but now he is starting, and he looks
like a NFL caliber book-end for years to come. After
Orlando Pace retires I wouldn’t be surprised to see
Barron switch to his normal left side.
20. Dallas: Marcus Spears - DE
Dropped his weight from 305 down to 290 at the
urging of Coach Parcels and is much quicker at that
weight. Spears was looking very good until he
sustained a knee injury right before the season. He
is now healthy and part of a very deep defensive
line rotation for the Cowboys who possess the 7th
ranked defense in the NFL.
21. Jacksonville: Matt Jones – WR
Jones is coming along nicely. Nothing spectacular
yet, but he was widely considered a project. His
transition from QB to WR is right on track. His is
being worked into the line up slowly and has 12
catches for 109 yards and 1 TD.
22. Baltimore: Mark Clayton - WR
After a 5 day hold out in camp Clayton hasn’t been
on the ESPN highlight reels just yet. Since the
Raven’s don’t have a QB to speak of, Clayton might
have to put his career on hold. His numbers are not
impressive: 12 catches for 95 yards and zero TDs.
23. Oakland: Fabian Washington - CB
Blazing speed but very little production yet. He is
still not starting and has only 9 tackles and zero
interceptions to date. He looks like a reach.
24. Green Bay: Aaron Rodgers - QB
Did not look very good in the preseason and hasn’t
really played in the regular season because he is
buried on the depth chart behind future hall of
famer Brett Farvre. He did throw one pass for one
completion in meaningless mop up duty in the 52-3
blow out of the saints.
25. Washington: Jason Campbell - QB
3rd
on the depth chart behind Patrick Ramsey and the
rejuvenated starting QB Mark Brunnell. Has not
played yet in 2005.
26. Seattle: Chris Spencer - C
Hasn’t been able to beat out current starting center
Robbie Tobeck.
27. Atlanta: Roddy White - WR
A
major disappointment so far, White has been buried
on the depth chart and has only 11 catches for 111
yards, but that is about to change. Dez White is as
good as gone and Roddy will be the 3rd
receiver behind Michael Jenkins and Brian Finneran.
I expect Roddy to get plenty of snaps the rest of
the way and he could emerge by the end of the year
in a very explosive Falcon offense.
28. San Diego: Luis Castillo - DT
Castillo has been a force for the Chargers, he looks
like a steal. He just needs to play under control a
little better because he has drawn a couple needless
roughing the passer penalties. He only has 13
tackles and zero sacks, but he has been clogging the
running lanes and pressuring the quarterback.
29. Indianapolis: Marlin Jackson - CB
Looks like one of the best rookie corners so far
along with Darrent Williams and Domonique Foxworth.
Jackson only has 15 tackles and zero interceptions,
but he is starting, and has been delivering some
crushing hits.
30. Pittsburgh: Heath Miller - TE
The Steelers seem to draft so well year in and year
out and Miller is no exception. If it wasn’t for his
late season injury (in College) he probably would
have been a top ten pick. The Steelers just stole
him here. Miller reminds me of Pro bowl TE Jason
Witten, he (Miller) has butter soft hands and is
dangerous around the goal line. Miller already had
16 catches for 182 yards and 4 TDs.
31. Philadelphia: Mike Patterson – DT
Patterson’s solid play was instrumental in the
Eagles decision to release Corey Simon. Patterson is
in the defensive tackle rotation along with Hollis
Thomas and Darwin Walker. His quickness has enabled
him to record 2 sacks and 16 tackles this year
already.
32. New England: Logan Mankins – OG
A
typical blue collar Patriot draft pick. The 6-4 307
pound Mankins was a surprised first round selection
but he has proven that he did belong. He played left
tackle at Fresno State but has shown the ability to
play guard. He has more than held his own there
(left guard).
