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Seahawks QB
Matt Hasselbeck
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At this time last year, Donovan McNabb was a big question mark after a very erratic
rookie campaign. He was the biggest question mark the Eagles had. Marcellus Wiley was best
known as the player who would get the first chance to replace Bruce Smith at defensive
right end for the Bills. The Packers’ Darren Sharper was viewed as an underachiever,
coach killer and a mistake waiting to happen who belonged at cornerback or on waivers.
Giants QB Kerry Collins was a big question mark, and so were Sam Adams, Kim Herring and
Duane Starks in Baltimore.
But by the end of the season, McNabb was second in the MVP voting, Wiley was the
hottest free agent on the market, Sharper and Herring were two of the best free safeties
in the game, Adams had shaken the underachiever tag and Collins was the starting
quarterback in the Super Bowl.
With all this in mind and with the help of scouts and other personnel experts, what
follows is a team of players who could be this year’s Wileys, McNabbs, Herrings and
Sharpers.
(Players in parentheses received considerable support.)
Matt Hasselbeck / Seahawks — Head coach-general manager Mike
Holmgren did not give Hasselbeck a big contract because Holmgren believed Hasselbeck was a
stiff. While Hasselbeck is no Brett Favre, he has a good minus arm, timing, touch,
receiver anticipation, above-average mobility and a good feel for the game. He also is a
tough guy.
(Tim Couch / Browns)
Thomas Jones / Cardinals — Jones must regain his confidence and
start running decisively, the way he did at Virginia. He looked very tentative as a
rookie.
(Ron Dayne / Giants — Dayne has lost a lot of weight and is
showing much better quickness, but he is a finesse runner with very quick feet and good
power only after he gets going, not a quick-hitting power runner. He struggles as a
receiver and blocker but is getting better.)
Bubba Franks / Packers — Franks still may be a year away, but he
is getting better, and the Packers need him badly.
Travis Taylor / Ravens — Taylor had his moments as a rookie
before being injured. Now he is starting to put it all together.
Peter Warrick / Bengals — Warrick could be an impact player
lining up in the slot, where he will be almost impossible to jam and should see a lot more
single coverage.
Dennis Northcutt / Browns — If he is healthy, he can turn short
passes into big gains, making him ideal for the Browns’ new style of offense.
(Ron Dixon / Giants; Kevin Dyson / Titans)
Chris Samuels / Redskins — Very impressive as a rookie and has a
chance to be really special. Big, quick, agile and powerful with a fine work ethic.
Todd Wade / Dolphins — Big, strong, physical right tackle who
helps make the running game go and holds his own on passing downs. Has a mean streak.
Chad Clifton / Packers — Is learning to get his great workout
numbers to translate onto the field. Really came on late in his rookie year.
Lennie Friedman / Broncos — Smart, quick, tough, agile guard who
fits the Denver system.
Cosey Coleman / Buccaneers — Still needs work on pass protection
but can be a force in the running game.
Courtney Brown / Browns — Brown has all the tools and now has a
better idea of what goes on in the league. Either this year or next, he will show why he
was the first pick in the draft. As a result of a knee injury, Brown will miss the start
of the 2001 season.
John Abraham / Jets — Should be a double-digit sack man in the
Jets’ new defense.
(three-way tie)
Cornelius Griffin / Giants — Is a powerful 300-pounder who shows
catlike quickness and plays hard all the time.
Chris Hovan / Vikings — Most improved player on the Vikings now
that he is getting to play the three-technique tackle, where he lines up on the
guard’s outside shoulder. Very quick with excellent hand use and a great, great
motor.
Anthony McFarland / Buccaneers — Quick as a cat and has learned
how to shed blocks and at times even beat a double-team block. Overshadowed by Warren Sapp
but is outstanding in his own right.
LaVar Arrington / Redskins — May not be Lawrence Taylor, but no
longer is a clueless rookie and has great, great ability.
Keith Brooking / Falcons — Moving to the middle to replace Jessie
Tuggle and give the Falcons more speed at the position. Has a great work ethic and very
good speed and is just starting to see the big picture.
Nate Webster / Buccaneers — If he can learn to control his
emotions better and play under control, Webster could be a mini Ray Lewis. Great hitter
with great instincts.
(Julian Peterson / 49ers — Depends how quickly he recovers from a
preseason ankle injury.)
Shaun Williams / Giants — A big-time hitter with excellent range
who is starting to see the big picture.
(Mike Brown / Bears)
Greg Wesley / Chiefs — Big, strong, physical and smart with a
nice feel for the game.
Mike McKenzie / Packers — Appears to be past the sophomore jinx
and headed for big things.
Chad Scott / Steelers — A big, strong, physical corner who can
play bump, zone or man-off.
(Fernando Bryant / Jaguars)
Read Joel Buchsbaum's take on the NFL's most indispensable players, the players their
teams could least afford to lose, including a list of the top 10 players and a
team-by-team look at the best of the rest, in the current print edition of Pro Football
Weekly, dated Sept. 17, 2001. You can buy this issue at a local newsstand or bookstore
near you, or you can subscribe and receive it at your door. Call 1-800-FOOTBALL
(1-800-366-8225) to subscribe, or subscribe online by clicking here |
