NFList
Alexander the most improved from rookie year
By Joel Buchsbaum, Contributing editor
As published in print Dec. 17, 2001
|
 |
Seahawks RB
Shaun Alexander
|
We asked our panel of NFL insiders to name the first-round picks from the 2000 draft
who have made the greatest strides from their rookie year to their sophomore year.
1. RB Shaun Alexander / Seahawks — Backup in 2000 who carried the
Seahawks’ offense when Ricky Watters was out in 2001.
2. RB Trung Canidate / Rams — Did nothing but get hurt as a rookie, but he
has filled in brilliantly at times for Marshall Faulk this year. Must do a better job of
protecting the ball and show he can stay healthy over the long haul.
3. CB Ahmed Plummer / 49ers — Struggled as a rookie but has played like one
of the better corners in the NFL this fall.
4. DT Chris Hovan / Vikings — Was OK but not special as a rookie. Now he is
the Vikings’ best defensive lineman and has a great motor.
5. CB Deltha O’Neal / Broncos — Nonfactor at cornerback as a rookie
and has been a hot-and-cold starter this year.
6. WR Plaxico Burress / Steelers — Looked like a total bust as a rookie.
Now he is a hot-and-cold type of starter who mixes big plays with some bad ones.
7. MLB Rob Morris / Colts — A holdout and injuries killed his rookie year,
but now he is starting and playing above average.
8. PK Sebastian Janikowski / Raiders — Much more accurate and reliable on
the field. May have had the best first half of the year of any kicker in the league. |
|
 |
The Archives
2001 - 2002 Season |
| Online writers
— features and columns by our PFW staff, columnists, national correspondent, AFC
reporters, NFC reporters and contributing writers |
| College football
— articles, college notepad, key college game previews, PFW's college top 10,
Scouting Combine, Senior Bowl, top 25 predictions |
| Fantasy football
— articles, injury reports, weekly fantasy tips, weekly matchups, The Fantasy Doctor,
"In our opinion" daily fantasy columns, Fantasy spins |
| Free-agency
— news and notes, updates and features |
| General features
— Internet features, features from our print edition, MVP meter, Rookie meter, They
said it, team reports, training camp reports |
| Handicapper's
Corner — staff selections, games of the week, PFW Players of the Week, NFL
standings, weekly handicapping columns, predictions, trends, tips and timely stats |
| "In our
opinion" daily columns — opinions on general football topics |
| "PFW spins"
— short-takes on current events |
| Joel
Buchsbaum — college player evaluations, NFL player analysis, NFL draft coverage,
NFL notepad, NFList, college game previews and other NFL articles by PFW's contributing
editor |
| NFL Draft —
player evaluations, printouts, feature stories, commentaries, draft recaps |
| Ron
Pollack — articles and commentary by PFW's editor-in-chief |
| Season in
review — the 2001-2002 NFL season |
|
